PUTNEY — Next Stage Arts presents a screening of The Reverend, a documentary feature film, followed by a discussion with director Nick Canfield, on Saturday, Jan. 7, at 2 p.m. The subjects of the film, the (1)Rev. Vince Anderson and his band, known as The Love Choir, will perform at Next Stage later that day at 7:30 p.m.
“Monday nights in Brooklyn are world-famous because of Reverend Vince and His Love Choir,” Next Stage executive director Keith Marks said in a news release. “He's the musician of the musicians of New York, attracting a packed house every Monday night with a who's who list of attendees dancing. This has been a dream of ours to bring this documentary film of him, followed by Vince and the Love Choir.”
The band, which defines its style as “dirty gospel,” features trumpets, guitars, and keyboard every week for performances in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.
The Reverend follows the spiritual and musical journey of Anderson. After coming to New York in the 1990s to study to be a Methodist minister, he dropped out to follow his second calling - music. With The Love Choir, he has playedweekly for more than 20 years.
Reconnecting with his faith and using his “intense soulful music,” he began to preach a type of spirituality that “meets people where they are, that is open to all, and that moves everyone who sees him play,” says the news release. Reverend Vince “is also deeply involved in social activism, working with other progressive faith leaders at home and around the country to build inclusive communities.”
The 86-minute concert film was filmed over several years and features Questlove and members of TV On The Radio.
Next Stage is located at 15 Kimball Hill in downtown Putney. Tickets are $20 in advance, $24 at the door and are available at nextstagearts.org. For information, call 802-387-0102. Next Stage will provide a beer, wine, and cocktail cash bar for the evening concert.