Music
• Student concert at Open Music Collective: On Thursday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m., the Open Music Collective will host a student ensembles concert featuring the music of Wayne Shorter and other works by Mongo Santamaría, Coltrane, Monk and Ray Anderson.
Local favorites Steve Frankel (bass), Jon Mack (sax and flute), Kate Parsons (piano), Bahman Mahdavi (guitar) and Dan Borden (drums) have rehearsed challenging Wayne Shorter compositions including Ana Maria, Armageddon, Speak no Evil, and Water Babies. Shorter is commonly regarded as one of the most important American jazz musicians of his generation which included extended relationships with Art Blakey, Miles Davis, and Weather Report.
The other group performing is a youth ensemble including Bahman's son Emmett on trumpet, Quinn Darrow on bass, Fabian Gaspero-Beckstrom on drums, Jaoquin Borofsky on sax, and special guest Sam Indenbaum on piano.
Tickets are (a suggested) $5, available at the door. For more information, visit www.openmusiccollective.org or call 802-275 5054. OMC is located in the Cotton Mill in Brattleboro in Studio A335.
• O'Donovan, Courtin in Putney: Twilight Music presents an evening of progressive folk music with vocalist/guitarist Aoife O'Donovan (of the alternative bluegrass stringband Crooked Still and the folk-noir trio Sometymes Why) and vocalist/violinist Christina Courtin on Friday, Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. at The United Church of Putney, 15 Kimball Hill.
The pair of singer/songwriters will share a back-up band of some of today's top young roots musicians - Jed Wilson (keyboards) of Dominique Eade and Heather Masse, Ryan Scott (guitar) of Josh Mease and Rumblefoot, Jacob Silver (bass) of The Mammals, and Robin MacMillan (drums) of Sugar and Gold and Tao Seeger.
Tickets are $16 general admission, $14 for students and seniors. For ticket reservations and information, call 802-254-9276. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/aoifeodonovan, www.christinacourtin.com and www.twilightmusic.org.
• Legion Band Christmas concerts: The Brattleboro American Legion Band will present its annual Christmas concert on Wednesday, Dec. 15, at 7:30 p.m., at the Legion Hall on Linden Street. There is no admission charge, but donations are welcome.
From the opening strains of A Festival of Carols to the final notes of Let It Snow, the 45-piece Legion Band will feature popular and familiar music of the holiday season. The first half of the concert, led by Bruce Corwin, features old favorites such as Santa Claus is Coming to Town, a George Gershwin Christmas medley, and ends with We Need a Little Christmas, from the musical Hello Dolly. The second half, led by Raymond Brown, features a short visit from The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and a sing-along of familiar carols.
The band will also do its annual “Around Town” tour on Dec. 18.
•TubaChristmas returns to Brattleboro: The second annual TubaChristmas will be held on Sunday, Dec. 19, at 3 p.m., at the First Congregational Church on Western Avenue.
TubaChristmas is a concert held in cities around the world that celebrates those who play, teach, and compose music for instruments in the tuba family, such as the tuba, Sousaphone, baritone, and euphonium horns. It was first held in 1847 in New York City, with more than 300 musicians playing together.
Last year, tuba players from Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and New York State came to Brattleboro for the inaugural TubaChristmas concert.
• Jatoba in Saxtons River: Vermont “groovegrass” trio Jatoba will present a holiday concert on Wednesday, Dec. 22, at 7 p.m., at Main Street Arts in Saxtons River.
Admission is $5 and concert-goers are asked to bring a non-perishable food item for a food drive for the Vermont Foodbank.
• Sing along at the River Garden: Join Ali and your community family members for a Music Together all ages Holiday Sing-Along on Thursday, Dec 23, at 11 a.m., at the River Garden in Brattleboro
Regular Music Together classes will begin again the second week of January at New England Youth Theatre in Brattleboro on Wednesday mornings at 9:30 and 10:30, and Friday monrings at 9:30. For more information, or to reserve a space, contact Ali at [email protected] or call 802-275-7478.
Performing arts
• Poetry reading in Bellows Falls: On Saturday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m., Ben Mitchell will read from his book, Only The Sound Itself, at the Village Square Booksellers in Bellows Falls.
After the reading, the floor will be open for attendees to read their poems as well. This is part of the 2nd Saturday, Poetry Open Mic, hosted by The River Voices writing group. River Voices encourages participants to read from your own poetry, bring a favorite poetry book to read from, or just listen. Call the bookstore at 802-463-9404 to get on the reader's schedule.
• A Christmas Carol in Brookline: The Brookline Players stage reading of A Christmas Carol will be presented Sunday, Dec. 12, at 4 p.m., at the Brookline School on Grassy Brook Road.
The show is a fundraiser to restore the Historic Brookline Church. It is directed by Bob DuCharme.
Visual arts
• Quilt display in Newfane: The Crowell Gallery of the Moore Free Library, 23 West St., is featuring an exciting exhibit of 16 quilts and wall hangings made by members of the Sew What's Group of Newfane. The group has met for over a decade on Tuesday evenings for dinner and craft work at the local Congregational Church.
Members exhibiting work are Pat Bellou, Judy Acampora, Leona Tabel, Jean Wilson, Winnie Dolan, Jane Robinson, Jan Becket, Flo Staats, Jan Knowles, Shirley Hendricks, Betty Horton, Ginny Grabowski, Elsie Garbe, and Betty Ann Nelson.
The show will run through December and be open during library hours: Saturdays 9 a.m.-1 p.m., and Tuesday–Friday 1-5 p.m. For more information, call librarian Meris Morrison at 802-365-7948.
• Grassy Brook Arts Festival in Brookline: The first-ever Grassy Brook Art Festival will be held on Sunday, Dec. 10, from noon until 6 p.m., at the former Brookline School building.
Formerly known as The Artists of Brookline, the group has expanded and changed its venue from an open studio tour to a new holiday event showcasing locally made crafts for sale, including pottery, fiber arts, photography, and other arts and artisanry; a group exhibit showcasing the talents of primarily Brookline artists and artisans; craft demonstrations and a weave-your-own-ornament table. Box lunches will be offered for sale from noon until 2 pm to enjoy while browsing and shopping; baked goodies will also be available.
This event is the first re-use of the school building since its closing and is part of the initiative to explore new uses for the facility, with the hope of building interest in a multi-purpose community center where all types of programs can be held to benefit this community.
The Grassy Brook Art Fest is the newest event of the group formed in 2008 to promote local artists, and by doing so enhance and support the image of Brookline as well as provide an opportunity for sharing experiences and resources among artists and artisans in the community. Artists include Carolyn Albee, Paul Madalinski, Trish Naudon-Thomas, Windmill Hill Alpaca Farms, Whitney Hill Design, Z-pots, Rae Rice, Dandelion Designs, The Ladies Benevolence Society Crafts of the HBCPI, Gary Lavorgna, Suzanne D'Corsey, Chris Thomas, Treah Pichette, The NATCH!, and more.