WILMINGTON — A concert designed to raise funds to rebuild a beloved local institution is almost sold out.
A performance on Saturday, July 14, “A Concert to Rebuild Dot's,” will feature Jon Pousette-Dart and Aztec Two-Step at Memorial Hall, in a drive to match a $50,000 grant from the Wilmington Fund VT.
Pousette-Dart's self-named band “carved a place in the landscape of American music in the 1970s,” according to his website (www.pousette-dart.com).
“They were a mainstay of album radio, a favorite on the college circuit, and became one of the busiest touring groups in the U.S.,” the site continues, noting that Pousette-Dart worked with such acts as The Byrds, Bonnie Raitt, Little Feat, The Eagles, James Taylor, The J. Geils Band, Eddie Money, Manfred Mann, Jonathan Edwards, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Emmylou Harris, Gary Wright, Robert Palmer, Randy Newman, Journey, and Billy Joel.”
Rex Fowler and Neal Shulman have performed folk rock music as Aztec Two-Step since 1972. Their website (www.aztectwostep.com) describes their “intelligent songwriting, dazzling acoustic lead guitar, and inspiring harmonies.”
Dot's and some 39 other businesses were lost either directly to damage from flooding in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene, or could not survive because of the secondary effects of the flooding on the local economy.
“While some business owners have reopened, others have not had the resources to repair their damaged buildings,” wrote Ann Manwaring, the fund's vice president and a state representative whose district includes the flood-ravaged towns.
“We recognize the town's impact on the local economy and we have pledged to help,” she continued. “This will require substantial investment in order to build a stronger and more economically vibrant downtown.”
According to the Wilmington Fund VT's website, the nonprofit's mission is “to support Wilmington's recovery by raising funds to help repair damaged buildings and to promote commerce and business activity through use of grants, low interest loans, real estate ownership, other investment opportunities and partnerships with like minded entities designed to promote job growth and economic opportunity for area residents.”
Donors have raised $500,000, and the organization bought the historic Parmelee and Howe Building, on the corner of Routes 9 and 100, in March.
A “premier seating and artist dinner” before the show, at $150 per ticket, offers dinner, beer, and wine with the artists at 5:30 p.m., at the home of Tamara and Dan Kilmurray at 72 Old Ark Rd.
A silent auction will offer greens fees at Mount Snow Country Club and a weekend getaway for two at the Grand Summit, a “wedding cake table” (on display at the Parmelee & Howe Building) by artist David Ganter.
The concert itself begins at 8 p.m., at Memorial Hall. General admission is $25 at thewilmingtonfundvt.org/concert-to-rebuild-dots/ or by calling Julie Lineberger, the Wilmington Fund VT secretary, at 802-464-2526.
On Tuesday, Lineberger warned via the organization's Facebook group that the concert will most likely be sold out.
Tickets, if they remain, will sell for $30 at the door.