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Heavyfest 2013!

Come one, come all to the Magic Hat Brewing Company on May 18^th for the third annual Heavyfest! There will be Vermont bands galore, brewery tours, carnival games, delicious Skinny Pancake food, an outdoor beer garden and much, much more from 12-6pm. The greatest thing about it? There’s only a $3 entry fee which, along with all other proceeds from the event will go to benefit Big Heavy World and the preservation and production of local Vermont music.

Featured at Heavyfest will be the jazz trumpet-infused Jennifer Hartswick Band, along with The Brew, Teleport, Casio Bastard, Rumblecat, and Waylon Speed. The music variety ranges from Rumblecat’s rock/jazz/funk to Waylon Speed’s country-punk rock to Teleport’s soul music. Rest assured, there is a little something for everyone, and the positive dynamic of Heavyfest is a great way to kick off the summer season!

The Heavyfest after party starts at 9pm at Nectar’s in downtown Burlington.  The entrance fee is only $5-all of which benefits Big Heavy World, and the evening consists of performances by Sophistafunk and Funkwagon. Suffice to say, the after party will be just as much fun as Heavyfest itself! Be sure to mark your calendars for a day you don’t want to miss.

The Heavyfest AFTERPARTY! May 18, Following Heavyfest!

Pro Tools Audio Studio: Future Music Resource at Big Heavy World

Photo by Lily Chau.

In the photo above, BHW Chief Engineer Brian Dewey is getting familiar with our phat new Pro Tools sound editing system, freshly donated by a good friend of Big Heavy World. Now we’re just a few cables and microphones away from making a real recording studio available to local musicians up at BHW HQ. Stay tuned for updates as we pull it all together! (And feel welcome to get in touch if you’d like to help us complete it!).

Heavyfest CD Release May 18 @ Magic Hat!

This year’s Heavyfest held by the Magic Hat Brewing Company, is proud to announce the release of a CD featuring music from past and present Heavyfest performers. The album will be released at the 2013 Heavyfest, which is being held on May 18, 2013. The album features fourteen different songs by artists that have performed at the festival in the past, and some who will be there this year.

Casio Bastard , Waylon Speed , and Funkwagon are all going to be present May 18^th: the funk fusion Casio Bastard and the Southern-rock infused Waylon Speed will be playing during the day at Heavyfest, and Funkwagon, a band who lives up to their name, will be playing the after party at Nectars in downtown Burlington.

The album features Great White Caps, a surf-rock band, the pop-rock quartet Lendway, the Dirty Blondes rock band and Seed, a progressive funk band. Included as well are the ethereal-jazz group Japhy Ryder, the roots-based Pariah Beat, the rap-infused Steph Pappas Experience, singer-songwriter Myra Flynn, Maine rock band the The Rustic Overtones, electro-pop fusion group Champagne Dynasty, and punk band Trapper Keeper. Needless to say, there’s a little something for everyone on the new release, so be sure to come to Heavyfest and support and discover local music!

National Day of Civic Hacking June 1: Prototype the new BigHeavyWorld.com / Code For BTV Brigade Launches

From June 1-2 at Maglianero Café, Burlington will be participating in the National Day of Civic Hacking, a White House-endorsed event across the nation to promote community improvement through the power of the Internet. Burlington’s event is unique in the fact that they are calling both professionals as well as amateur enthusiasts to help out in the building and prototyping of civic apps. One of the focuses of BTV’s Code for America will be the construction of web apps for Big Heavy World and the preservation of Vermont music!

Bradley Holt, one of the creators of Code for BVT, launched the program based on his experience with non-profit organizations. “While these organizations may be able to find short term help through volunteers or one-time grants, building long term capacity is a larger challenge,” he says. Found Line and Big Heavy World joined forces to create the first “Code for BTV” brigade, part of Code for America, a national organization similar to Teach for America that helps government work better by using the power of the web, and the formal launch of the Brigade is June 1 at the hackathon. The goals are to build a large group of community volunteers who are passionate about coding, designing, and maintaining apps. In 5-10 years, Bradley hopes to see a whole bunch of apps still in production over this time. It would be great if we start to see apps building on other apps using shared and open data. In other words, a true infrastructure of open data and apps working to benefit our community.”

Big Heavy World was an early adopter of the internet, bringing live concert broadcasts to the web in the mid 1990s before streaming technologies were well-stablished, working in partnership with Broadcast.com and Yahoo!Broadcast to achieve wide web-based exposure for local artists. A 24-hour stream of Vermont-made music, 3-D ‘virtual’ spaces, and digital music distribution projects got their first local exposure on the web locally through Big Heavy World, which continues to harness modern technologies to serve local music.

“Big Heavy World has tenaciously seized technology-based opportunities to serve Vermont’s musicians,” says James Lockridge, Big Heavy World’s Executive Director. “Technology has been a great equalizer, giving a grass roots organization like ours - with a strong, independent, “do it yourself” outlook - the chance to contribute meaningfully to our music community. Our partnership with Found Line and with the support of the new Code for America Brigade network and the June 1 Hackathon, we’ll be accomplishing the best volunteer-driven work possible and highlighting the great talent and community values of Burlington’s regional computer programmers.”

“We’re calling all artists, developers, engineers, graphic designers, user experience wizards, educators, content creators, scientists, organizational masterminds, entrepreneurs, students and other creative thinkers and doers in our community,” said Alexandra Tursi, social media strategist at Fletcher Allen Health Care, and one of the event organizers. “Basically, anyone who has a passion for changing their community and is willing to contribute.”

Coders and designers - sign up to be there! Any experience level is welcome! http://codeforbtv.eventbrite.com/

The day ends with a BBQ and live music in the back yard of Jim Lockridge of Big Heavy World, at 56 King Street (a block from Maglianero).

 

 

Call to Artists: Your Music in the Vermont State Information Centers!

Big Heavy World continues to bring Vermont-made music to Vermont’s interstate highway welcome centers, getting exposure to millions of visitors throughout the year. Music is being gathered for the Summer edition - to be considered for inclusion, get your most recent album to the Big Heavy World crew by June 1 with your contact info (email & phone) and a note identifying any non-grandma-safe tracks. Mail CDs to BHW, P.O. Box 428, Burlington, VT 05402 or drop them off at our office on the 3rd floor of 215 College Street in Burlington. All radio-safe tracks will be added to the VT music automation on 105.9FM The Radiator, too!

Magic Hat Brews “Big Heavy Wheat” for Heavyfest 5/18!

Photo by Magic Hat.

Beer nom noms! Magic Hat is serving Big Heavy Wheat at Heavyfest on May 18 at the brewery - dark wheat beer brewed with German hops and their house yeast. In their words, “A big malty concoction brewed specially for Heavyfest! This beer will tantalize the palette with a smooth mouth feel and the perfect hop balance. Poured in the tradition of real ale. Cask beer is naturally carbonated and dry hopped for an incredibly aromatic and smooth drinking experience. Traditional cask serving temperature is a bit warmer than is typical of other draught products allowing the flavor and aromas to be more pronounced.”

Rocket Shop 5/1/2013: James Kochalka Superstar; Tod Moses & Fujita 5

Photos by Lily Chau.

James Kochalka Superstar (above) and Tod Moses & Fujita 5 (Tod, below) joined new host Adam Desroches on Rocket Shop tonight.

New BHW Crew: Scott Dean, Accounting Hellion

Photo by Lily Chau.

“Hi, my name is Scott Dean. I am a junior at Champlain College studying for my bachelor’s degree in accounting. I have always been a lover of music, and began playing at age 13. I picked up bass guitar to join my friends band, and we performed together until my graduation from high school in 2009. While playing with my band in high school, I also developed an interest in playing drums and vocals, joining the chamber choir and performing in New York City and Baltimore. Lately, I have been getting more interested in electronic music production, and have been working on releasing an album of instrumental hip-hop music.

I’m with Big Heavy World for a few different reasons. I am interested in working alongside other music lovers while also learning more about how a non-profit business operates. I would love to work for a non-profit after graduation and this is an excellent opportunity to learn about the intricacies of running a non-profit organization, as well as how they interact with and serve the community that they operate in.”

James Kochalka Superstar ‘Superf*ckers’ Premier Show Pics

Photos by James Lockridge.

Pics from James Kochalka Superstar’s ‘Superf*ckers’ party tonight at Radio Bean. Episodes on YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiX4Vdj0hSkRMvZrvuzY_M7_drTKc6m0Y James and the band played “Bad Astronaut,” made it a better-than-great show. See video of it on the Big Heavy World YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/bigheavyworldvideo

Ivan Voinov, New BHW Audio Engineer

Photo by Lily Chau.

“Hey, my name is Ivan Voinov, I’m a soon-to-be-student at Peabody Conservatory, graduating this year (June 2013). I’m extremely passionate about music, seeing as how music actually, physically saved my life in the past, and has been always there as a support and guide to pull me out of the darker times in my life, I wish to be able to help out the local music scene as much as I can in the last months of my life in Vermont. I’ve built a small, computer-run recording studio at my house where I’ve taken several clients. I run a virtual Logic Pro set-up where I specialize in amp simulation and sound design versus physical recording of things (which is an area that I really wish to get better at).

I’m with Big Heavy World because I see how much the organization does, and has done for the local music scene and I have so much respect for this organization, and I wish to be of as much aid as I can during the time that I work with the wonderful people at Big Heavy World.”

James Kochalka: Superf*ckers Radio Bean Launch Party

Words by Marissa Bucci. Photo by Frederator.

James Kochalka is a versatile cartoonist who’s projects range from works for kids to shows for adults. He’s also the Cartoonist Laureate of Vermont, an amazing honor. “It’s like being the state flower,” quips Kochalka. For 14 years, he was the creative mind behind the cartoon strip American Elf, which ran both online and in the Seven Days newspaper.

His current show is a YouTube sensation called SuperF*ckers, which started initially as a graphic novel. Kochalka was content with it remaining that way, but the independent production company Frederator approached him to turn it into an animated series, and he couldn’t say no. The experience has been considerably different than anything Kochalka had ever participated in before, but it has been an immensely positive experience. “It’s just that with SuperF*ckers I had a ton of really talented people at my disposal to help me make it just the way I wanted,” he says. In terms of the animated series, some of the episodes are based off of events from the SuperF*ckers book, but they are often radically changed to suit the new medium. “Basically, it’s superheroes living in a clubhouse in a kind of college-dorm type situation,” is how Kochalka describes his show. While his characters are not based off of anyone in particular, their situations are often based on experiences that James himself had in high school and college—“of course it’s very very fictionalized,” he’s quick to add.

When he’s not working on SuperF*ckers, James draws for other childrens books, as well as drawing comics for the SpongeBob SquarePants comic book, creating a new line of video games, doing a new comic strip for a local paper, and working on a new book series about Glorkian Warriors. As if that weren’t impressive enough, Kochalka also has a show of 143 of his own paintings at a gallery in Los Angeles, raises his two children, and is also in a band called James Kochalka Superstar.

James Kochalka is passionate about everything that he does: his band has been in existence since his freshman year at UVM (though then it was called Jazzin’ Hell), and he has been drawing comics since he was a young boy (his father was an editor at a paper in Springfield, VT).  His work is both witty and hilarious, so definitely check out his show on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiX4Vdj0hSkRMvZrvuzY_M7_drTKc6m0Y! Kochalka himself plays the characters of Grotus and a newly invented character called Sh*tstorm. On the subject of the latter, all Kochalka has to say is “Sh*tstorm likes to party.” Enough said.

Tim Brick Performs Rocket Shop Live at Main Street Landing 4/17

Words by Ben Fox. Photo by James Lockridge.

Central Vermont country musician Tim Brick will be performing a solo acoustic set Wednesday, April 17 as part of the Rocket Shop Live concert series at Main Street Landing. Brick will bring his brand of soulful, rock-infused country music to the stage without his usual backing band, which consists of Todd Wells on bass, Steve Quennville on drums and George Seymour on the pedal steel, banjo and fiddle.

Brick grew up on country music and has played in multiple rock bands, brilliantly fusing the two together. “My favorite era of country music was the mid- to late-1970’s dubbed “The Outlaw Movement” with Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams Jr., Johnny Paycheck,” Brick says. “That, coupled with my love of Southern rock, which the edgier country artists of that day were really akin to, it was only natural that some of my music would reflect that.”

As for his songwriting ability, that comes from the heart and soul. “Lyrically, I’m inspired mainly by emotions that I’m feeling at the time. I write in the moment… There’s an inherent honesty in music that makes it easy to tackle the tough issues… I like my music a lot like I like life: simple, to the point, honest and real.”

With two albums available through his web site, www.timbrickmusic.com, and lots of shows being played throughout the state, it is clear that Tim Brick is on a mission to bring straight-forward country-rock music to as many Vermont audiences as he possibly can.

Tim Brick; The Dupont Brothers Live in Concert / Free Musicians Panel: Getting Press April 17

Citizens Bank presents Rocket Shop Live at Main Street Landing!

Vermont is a state that excels at creative endeavor and the shore of Lake Champlain is an idyllic venue for showcasing it. A group of local organizations, each with intense respect for Vermont’s vibrant music community, have united to present a monthly music series on Burlington’s beautiful Waterfront.

Once each month for the past six months, a Vermont-based singer songwriter, followed by a band, has performed in the family-friendly Black Box Theater at the Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center on the corner of College Street and Lake Street. With support from presenting sponsor Citizens Bank. Main Street Landing, Big Heavy World, Seven Days and RETN have collaborated to make this final concert - and the broadcast series - possible. Additional support is provided by Stowe Mountain Resort, Advance Music, Moreau Theatrical Services, the Vermont Arts Council, and National Endowment for the Arts. Concerts begin at 8pm sharp, admission is all-ages and free.

‘Rocket Shop’ is Big Heavy World’s local music radio hour, every Wednesday night at 8pm on 105.9FM The Radiator. Rocket Shop has hosted hundreds of Vermont musician guests in its five years on-air and this live concert series is a natural direction for the radio program to go. Host Matt Gadouas will MC Rocket Shop Live, and Big Heavy World’s volunteer crew will engineer videography and live streaming of the performances.

THE DUPONT BROTHERS: Two brothers reunite after years of geographical separation by a fortified collaboration in music. Sam and Zack Dupont are best friends, siblings and now coconspirators in a shared passion that runs deep in their family. After a ground breaking show at Nectars in Burlington, Vermont, it was clear that the next step was to merge the brothers writing styles and form one super group to be known as The Dupont Brothers. The sound is Vermont made folk-rock-Americana. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeMGgMQbamI

THE MUSIC OF APRIL 17: THE DUPONT BROTHERS, THEN TIM BRICK 8pm sharp!

TIM BRICK: Singer, songwriter and guitarist: You could say that Tim Brick is a triple threat, but you’d be wrong. Add entertainer, band leader and all-around working man to that list and you begin to get a sense of what Tim is all about. Raw and real! A born and bred Vermonter and son of a hard living trucker, country music has graced Tim Brick’s life since birth. The influence of fine-crafted songs by Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams Jr. and Don Williams along with the rockier sounds of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Bruce Springsteen has forged Tim Brick’s soulful edge. Standing on stage since the early age of twelve, he is at home entertaining audiences. His ability to engage people from the stage and draw them into his songs is what separates Tim from the average entertainer. Tim says, “It’s about a lot more than just playing the right notes. You have to live it, breathe it, and drink it. The audience has to believe that these songs come from your heart and soul.”

In the early years, He cut his teeth playing guitar in numerous bands. Performing with a number of talented musicians helped educate him in a variety of styles, but it was country music that was always in his heart. Growing tired of bouncing from band to band and the lack of success that each misadventure brought, Tim emerged as an independent country entity with a new sound and a new vision. Tim brought his career to the next level. Playing clubs throughout New England, appearing regularly on country radio, and the independent release of two albums (’Free to Run’ & ‘Borderline’) have made him one of the top country entertainers in the region. The release of his latest CD ‘Free To Run’ puts Tim’s songwriting skills on full display. While on stage, Tim and his band deliver consistent solid performances for country fans throughout the state of Vermont and beyond.

FREE MUSICIANS PANEL, 7pm

Preceding these concerts, artists of every genre and experience level are invited to a music industry social hour in the theater, featuring presentations and workshops fostering success of independent, “do it yourself” music careers that so many Vermont artists experience. The workshops, presented by musician peers and supportive organizations like the Vermont Arts Council, are free and begin at 6pm. Topics include Earning Revenue through Live Performances in Rural Locations; Musician Social Networks - Real & Virtual; Creating, Managing, and Seamlessly Coordinating a Multi-Part Web Presence; How to Build a Fan Following in Vermont; How to Apply for Vermont Arts Council Funding for Performances, Tours, and Album Production; and Getting Sponsored and Raising Funds to Tour and Record.

The panel topic on 4/17 is GETTING PRESS with Dan Bolles from Seven Days and Brent Hallenbeck from the Burlington Free Press.

Brent Hallenbeck has been with the Burlington Free Press since 1999 and became arts and entertainment writer in 2004. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English at SUNY Plattsburgh. He has seen thousands of bands in concert, but don’t ask him to name all of them. He and his wife share a house that’s approximately 92 percent filled with CDs, LPs, cassette tapes and the occasional 8-track tape.

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LARGE-SCALE INDEPENDENT MEDIA SIMULCAST ON RADIO, TELEVISION, & THE WEB

Concerts will be broadcast live on the radio by community media partner 105.9FM ‘The Radiator;’ televised live by RETN on three local cable networks, viewable from Essex to Vergennes, and streamed online with video at www.bigheavyworld.com. RETN is found on channel 16 on cable TV in the cities and towns of Burlington, Essex, Essex Junction, St. George, South Burlington, Williston, Winooski, Charlotte, Ferrisburgh, Hinesburg, Shelburne, and Vergennes (two Comcast cable systems and Burlington Telecom).

The Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center Black Box Theater is located at the corner of College Street and Lake Street in Burlington, VT. For more information about the concert series, visit mainstreetlanding.com or bigheavyworld.com, or contact Mariah Riggs, mariah@mainstreetlanding.com. Performers and workshop topics are subject to change without notice.

About Main Street Landing:
Main Street Landing is an environmentally and socially conscious redevelopment company in Burlington, Vermont that has created over 250,000 square feet of built environment on the Burlington Waterfront.

About Big Heavy World:
Big Heavy World is a volunteer-run nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Vermont-made music. Based in Burlington, “Big Heavy’” operates a record label, public listening library, online music shop, community radio station, and special projects that help Vermont music find a wider audience. Bringing Vermont’s music community together since 1996, Big Heavy World is a high-spirited, independent regional music office and advocate for the arts. For more info: jim@bigheavyworld.com;  www.bigheavyworld.com.

BHW’s Jim Lockridge Joins Nonprofit Conference Panel

In 2012, seventeen Vermont nonprofits took up the challenge to strengthen their measurement capacity, better serve their clients and increase their sustainability through a federally funded project called Benchmarks for a Better Vermont. Leaders from the 12 month BBVT Performance Institute  discuss what they have gained and learned, along with the challenges of building their internal capacity for performance management using Results Based Accountability (RBA).

(Thank you, CCTV Center for Media & Democracy!)

Presented at the Vermont Nonprofit Conference 2013 held at Lake Morey Resort on March 21st. Find more information on the Conference.

Panelists:  Dolly Fleming, Executive Director/Mercy Connections
Sue Graff, Community Investment Director/ United Way of Windham County
James Lockridge, Executive Director/Big Heavy World
Dr. Stacey Miller, Managing Partner/ The Consortium for Inclusion & Equity
Lee Trapeni, Shelter Case Manager/Morningside Shelter
Diana Wahle, Developmental Assets Coordinator/Windham Southeast Supervisory Union
Karina Ware, Executive Director/Youth Safety Council of Vermont

Dupont Brothers: April 17 in Concert and On-Air

Words by Marissa Bucci.

Zack duPont and his brother Sam have recently started seriously collaborating, and the results have been extremely positive, not only for the two brothers, but also for Zack duPont’s fans. The two had performed together a couple times before December, when they played a show at Nectars billed as the DuPont Brothers. Post-show, Sam who had been living in Arizona, moved to Burlington, and the two began to seriously work together as a band.

“We’re not stopping until music becomes a means to live off of,” says Zack, and the duPont Brothers are going full steam ahead to achieve this goal. They recently recorded a session at Egan Media Productions in Burlington, as well as booking slots on the radio, and press in newspaper, magazines, and blogs. Their dedication has inspired people to help them out with show bookings and career advice, and the two have a heavy touring calendar this upcoming spring and fall. Their favorite Burlington venues include Nectars, Higher Ground, and Signal Kitchen, but Zack says it’s hard to narrow it down to just one room; understandable due to the plethora of high-quality venues in Burlington.

Zack describes their influences as including Paul Simon, The Tallest Man on Earth, Ben Howard, and the Avett Brothers, which is evident in their beautiful guitar finger picking and tight harmonies. Personal experiences, and the people they have met along their journey inspire their songs. The two brothers together create beautiful music reminiscent of folk, but tinged with a variety of other genres.

The DuPont Brothers will be performing April 17th at Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, as part of Big Heavy World’s local music radio hour live concert series, ‘Rocket Shop Live at Main Street Landing,’ that showcases local Vermont musicians. The music starts at 8pm and is free for all ages, so be sure to stop by!

Citizen Bare on the TAz Michaels Show

Words by Marissa Bucci. Photo by Lily Chau.

Formed in 2007 in Underhill, Vermont, Citizen Bare is an Americana group whose wide range of influences helps to contribute to their unique sound. Citizen Bare started as a duo between Andy James and John Gratton, and slowly expanded to include Jesse Cowen on bass, Elizabeth Patterson on keys, and Dwayne Doner on drums. The members of the band have known each other for over a decade, which contributes to their fantastic connection that manifests in the cohesion of their diverse individual influences. Elizabeth is majorly influenced by piano based singer-songwriters like Alicia Keys, Norah Jones, and Billy Joel, while the band in its entirety bears a resemblance to the love child of The Eagles, Tom Petty, and The Band.

Andy and John write most of the song lyrics, and then the rest of the band comes in to contribute their own elements.  “We have a lot of messages about social justice, politics, and humanity in our music that you won’t pick up in the first listen,” says Elizabeth.  The combination of the complexity of the individual instruments with the expressive lyrics makes listening to Citizen Bare a wholly enjoyable experience.

Between the five of them, Citizen Bare are the proud parents to 9 children, ranging from 3 to 13. Their kids make them closer as a band says Elizabeth, and inspires them to take their endeavor seriously because they sacrifice family time to work on their music. On the upshot, however, their kids are all close as a result of their collaboration, which further brings them together.

Citizen Bare have played throughout Burlington and the greater Chittenden County area, including The Monkey House, Radio Bean, and the University of Vermont. They are currently working on a 3-song LP that they expect to release this June.

Heavyfest Announced! May 19 @ Magic Hat: Jennifer Hartswick Band, The Brew, Waylon Speed, Casio Bastard, Teleport, & Rumblecat!

On Saturday, May 18th, the Magic Hat Artifactory will kick out the jams as they host the third annual Heavyfest on brewery grounds. From Noon to 6pm, fans of great music will gather to dance, drink and show support for Big Heavy World in their quest to preserve and promote Vermont-made music.

Drink, Dance & Dunk with a Purpose

Revelers of all ages from Burlington and beyond will be welcomed to the brewery by the musical genius of six splendiferous bands. The amazing Jennifer Hartswick Band headlines Heavyfest 2013, with some solid support from The Brew, Waylon Speed, Casio Bastard, Rumblecat and Teleport. As the bands play through the afternoon, visitors can also enjoy:

• Brewer-led tours, in celebration of Craft Beer Week, at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5pm
• An outdoor beer garden featuring casks of Big Heavy Wheat & our current seasonal selections
• Classic carnie games…Test your aim at Dunk-a-Punk and strength with the High Striker!
• Live spray-painting of the Big Heavy World van by Jason “Tooth” Toothaker & Brian “capes1” Clark. Check them out as jasontoothtattoo and capes1 on Instagram!
• Delicious grub from The Skinny Pancake

Proceeds from the afternoon’s events, along with a $3 entry fee, will all go to benefit Big Heavy World.

At 6 o’clock, the party don’t stop! Nectar’s on Main St. in downtown Burlington is hosting the official Heavyfest after-party at 9pm, when Halogen Records presents the musical stylings of Sophistafunk and Funkwagon. The $5 entry fee will also go to benefit Big Heavy World.

Big Heavy World: Preserving Vermont’s Finest Big Heavy World is a volunteer-run nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Vermont-made music. Based in Burlington, “Big Heavy’” operates a record label, public listening library, online music shop, community radio station, and special projects that help Vermont music find a wider audience. Bringing Vermont’s music community together since 1996, Big Heavy World is a high-spirited, independent regional music office and advocate for the arts. For more info, contact Jim at jim@bigheavyworld.com or visit www.bigheavyworld.com.

Heavyfest 2013 would not be possible without great support from Halogen, Big Heavy World, The Radiator, The Buzz, WIZN, Seven Days, Skinny Pancake, Avalon Tent Company, Catalyst Design and Advance Music.

Max McNealy Joins BHW Crew

Photo by Lily Chau.

“My name is Max McNealy and I’m currently finishing up my senior year as a Graphic Designer at Champlain College. As a fan of all types of music, Big Heavy World will be an excellent opportunity to gain experience in my major and hear some good tunes in the process. I play guitar as well as the mandolin and have an extensive vinyl collection that is always growing. I’m looking forward to being a part of some great projects and learning new things along the way.”

New BHW Writer: Ben Fox

Photo by Lily Chau.

“My name is Ben Fox. I’m 28 years old, living and working here in beautiful Burlington, VT. I’ve been here pretty much my whole life and have known about BHW for a long time now, but I only recently decided to join as a writer/ photo-journalist and give a little back to the local music scene I love. I am mostly into punk and hardcore, but my love of music goes  across the whole spectrum. I’ve been playing the bass for about 15 years now, but have not been in a band for a long time. Maybe that can change soon.”

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