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.

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!).

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!

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).

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.”

Photos by Lily Chau.

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

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.”

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

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.”

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.

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.

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.

—

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.

(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

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!

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.

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.

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.”

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.”

Elephants fo Scotland joined host Matt Gadouas on Rocket Shop tonight, Big Heavy World’s local music radio hour.

Photo by Lily Chau.

“My name is Kate and I’m a senior at Colchester High School. I joined Big Heavy World as a writer because I wanted to gain experience and delve deeper into the Vermont music scene.  Music is an extremely important aspect of my life; whether I’m listening to the radio, a CD, or trying to figure out the latest Mumford & Sons song on the guitar, music has always been my happy place.  I’ve spent many, many evenings at Higher Ground and lost several hours of sleep due to late-night live shows, but hey, who needs sleep anyways? If I’m not in class, doing homework, or participating in my school’s theatre company, you can generally find me curled up on the couch re-reading one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 56 Sherlock Holmes stories or re-watching an episode of BBC’s Sherlock.  For the twelfth time. It’s not an obsession, I promise!”

Photo by Lily Chau.

“I’m Marissa Bucci, originally from Connecticut, but now a sophomore at the University of Vermont.  I came across Big Heavy World in my search for something engaging to do in the Burlington area that combined my love of music and writing.  In my free time I enjoy long distance running, reading, coffee, and The West Wing.”

Photo by Lily Chau.

“My name is Joe and I am currently a senior at Champlain College studying communication and its many facets including marketing and video and audio production. I love music in every form, genre and instrumentation that it has to offer. At Big Heavy World I am currently working on filming and recording the inner workings of the organization.”

Benny Nduwayo.

Photos by Lily Chau.

Benny Nduwayo, Sails, and Gregory Douglass all joined host Matt Gadouas for Rocket Shop tonight.

Sails.

Gregory Douglass.

Aaron Flinn performed live at Main Street Landing’s Black Box Theater tonight for Rocket Shop Live at Main Street Landing, presented by Citizen’s Bank.

Patrick Fitzsimmons

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.

On Wednesdays once each month through April 2013, a Vermont-based singer songwriter, followed by a band, will perform 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 concert and 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. The April 17 concert is the last of six concerts in this series. Concerts begin at 8pm sharp, admission is all-ages and suggested $5 donation. Proceeds support the concert series and Big Heavy World.

‘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 MUSIC OF MARCH 13: SAMARA LARK BROWN, then PATRICK FITZSIMMONS, 8pm sharp!

SAMARA LARK BROWN: Fresh out of the Los Angeles Music Academy in 2004, jazz vocalist and songwriter Samara Lark migrated to the Green Mountains of Vermont. Her initiation into the Burlington music scene was an invitation to sit in with Big Joe Burrell and the Unknown Blues Band. Playing with such talented and experienced musicians was just the beginning for Samara. She soon began writing her own songs and performing solo at local venues in the area.

Samara Lark sings from the heart. Always tinged with a notion of jazz, her songs possess a feeling of nostalgia with a playful quirkiness and a sincere honesty. Her voice conveys a message of strength through open vulnerability with a sound as tough as it is tender and as spicy as it is sweet. It was the voice of Billie Holiday that first inspired Samara to sing outside of church when she was a teen. Soon to follow in her album collection were the voices of Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell and Nina Simone. These powerhouse female vocalists energized Samara and ignited her passion for singing, leading her to school in Los Angeles, where she became trained in several styles of music including jazz, blues, bossa nova, rock, pop and soul.

Now, eight years after moving to Vermont, Samara has immersed herself deeply within the music scene in Burlington. She currently performs regularly as a solo act and also with The Wee Folkestra, Wave of the Future, and Mildred Moody. Samara sings yearly during the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival and has been a guest artist for such local talents as Barika, Dr. Ruckus, and the Swingin’ Vermont Big Band. In 2011, she had the honor of singing with piano marvel Marco Benevento and his trio with Andy Borger playing drums (Norah Jones, Tom Waits) and Dave Dreiwitz playing bass (Ween). When she’s not performing live, Samara Lark works hard to pass on the tradition of women in music as Volunteer Coordinator for Girls Rock Vermont, a summer camp whose mission is to teach young women and girls how to empower themselves through playing music.

PATRICK FITZSIMMONS: Vermont singer/songwriter, Patrick Fitzsimmons is a 2011 and 2012 Solarfest national songwriting contest finalist and a three time Ploughshares national songwriting contest finalist. Patrick has just released his sixth CD, ‘Hope Is,’ which has been getting airplay on radio stations all over the country. Relix Magazine called him, “one of the most captivating songwriters around today” and Seven Days  wrote, “Fitzsimmons is an immensely talented singer. With a shimmering, silken delivery, he is effortlessly emotive.” Patrick has shared the stage with some of the acoustic music scene’s biggest names including Shawn Colvin, Dar Williams, Roger McGuinn, Ellis Paul and Vance Gilbert.
Fitzsimmons is a founding member of From Good Homes, a roots rock band signed to RCA Records in the mid to late 90′s. He began his solo career in 2001 and continues to tour throughout the northeast building a large and loyal following with his soulful, captivating performances.

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.

MUSICIANS FOR MUSICIANS PANEL ON 3/13: Talent Buyers Present the Skill to Get Booked with panelists Alex Budney of Nectar’s and Linda Little, Managing Director of the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival.

ABOUT PANELIST LINDA LITTLE: Linda, a jazz saxophonist, brings a vast amount of jazz knowledge in addition to arts administration experience. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Jazz Performance from Berklee College of Music. While at Berklee, she was a member the school’s top ensembles, performing with music legends Joe Lovano, Chaka Khan, Michel Camilo, and Terry Lynne Carrington, to name a few. It’s also where her desire to present jazz began, as she established the college’s first jazz record label. Upon graduating, Linda relocated to London, where she continued to perform and teach for over two years. She has also played at over a dozen jazz festivals, toured Japan, and spent six months performing on a cruise ship. As a high school student, Linda performed at the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival in 1999 and 2000 with the All-State Jazz Ensemble when they opened for Herbie Hancock/Wayne Shorter Duo (’99) and Chucho Valdez (’00). Linda refocused her energy into presenting performing arts after many years of struggling with a chronic injury that made it difficult to perform. Since returning to her home state of Vermont, she has been the managing director of Kingdom County Productions, producing live performing arts in the Northeast Kingdom along with feature and documentary films. She is also no stranger to the Discover Jazz Festival, having managed merchandise for the past three years. In addition, she was the operations manager for the Festival of Fools, and independently produces jazz events at St. Micheal’s College, Catamount Arts, and the Greensboro Country Club.

Panelist Alex Budney.

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.

Photo by Lily Chau.

Vasudo visited TAz and Shannon on the TAz Michaels Show tonight, on tour from Connecticut!

Photo by Lily Chau.

Steve Hartmann joined Taz and Shannon on the TAz Michaels Show tonight.

Words by Mason Smith. Photos by Lily Chau.

Guilty By Association

[With the Vermont hip-hop scene,] “you’ll hear about the green and you’ll hear the people who think they’re gangsters.” Guilty By Association front-man, Paul, has grown weary of the local rap scene and mainstream hip-hop everywhere. He kicks a smooth rap flow and utilizes an easy-going singing voice over repetitive, loopy beats. Paul samples from and appreciates many different types of music that come through clear in his tracks. His listed influences range from Eminem and Linkin Park to Alice in Chains and Incubus. He has also done a freestyle coop with Aaron from Funk Wagon.

Guilty By Association has not crafted a new genre of music. He doesn’t aim to wow the listener with originality. As with most rap styles, it’s all about the delivery. And Paul has that part down. He constantly fine-tunes his vocals by taking pointers from other members of the local talent, staying current with music, and staying hungry. He’s always looking for new topics to spit about, sometimes riding a city bus to find inspiration for new material.
Check out www.Facebook.com/GuiltyByAssociation.GBA.

Johnny Azer

“All’s I wanna say is ‘Honey, why does the sidewalk get to have more fun than I do?’” Johnny Azer is all about the ladies. His track “6 Inch Heels” is weirdly about his fetish for tall ladies’ shoes, and I think he would like to be walked on. He also featured a fresh new tune on Rocket Shop called “Hot Babes.”

There are two things that thoroughly impress me about Johnny. The first is that he plays many instruments. On a given tune he can be playing anything and everything between the bongos and the guitar. He’s a kind of one-man-band. The second thing that really impresses me is the fact that his covers are just as impressive as his originals. Usually musicians get started by covering, or seasoned performers only do a couple to mix things up. Johnny does several covers, but they are successful interpretations. An old Who song was featured on this edition of Rocket Shop.

Check out Johnny’s YouTube page to get in touch with his psychedelic style and show your support for a nationally-acclaimed musician.

Photo by Lily Chau.

Milton Busker joined TAz and Shannon on the TAz Michaels Show tonight!

Citizens Bank presents Rocket Shop Live at Main Street Landing.

NOTE: KATE WRIGHT AND BRETT HUGHES ARE NOT ABLE TO PLAY TONIGHT. We regret this news and hope to reschedule their performance.

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.

On Wednesdays once each month through April 2013, a Vermont-based singer songwriter, followed by a band, will perform 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 concert and 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. Upcoming concert dates are February 20, March 13, and April 17. Concerts begin at 8pm sharp, admission is all-ages and suggested $5 donation. Proceeds support the concert series and Big Heavy World.

‘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 MUSIC OF FEBRUARY 20: AARON FLINN and KAT WRIGHT WITH BRETT HUGHES, 8pm sharp!

AARON FLINN: This music is true. When you hear someone who is meant to make music perform, the impact is certain and powerful. This is the experience that comes with listening to Aaron Flinn (solo or with his band Salad Days). The music is meant to be and anyone who takes the time to hear it will be stronger for it. Elements of folk, indie rock and classic country combine with powerful vocals, poetic lyrics and finger-picking guitar. An eclectic group of americana and rock songs, with an emphasis on lyrical substance and performance from the soul. Aaron began playing and writing in high school. He won numerous competitions in performance and writing throughout his time at UVM and Berklee College of Music (where he graduated Magna Cum Laude – for what it’s worth). He has gone onto release an impressive body of original work, all the while touring such hallowed venues as Red Rocks Amphitheater, The Great American Music Hall and many House of Blues and working with the likes of The Samples, Gov’t Mule, Joe Bonamassa, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Don McLean and Tragically Hip to name but a few. www.aaronflinn.com

KAT WRIGHT: Born in the Genesee Valley Region of Western Upstate New York (aka Rochester), Kat has always had duende. Federico Garcia Lorca writes: “The duende, then, is a power, not a work. It is a struggle, not a thought. I have heard an old maestro of the guitar say, ‘The duende is not in the throat; the duende climbs up inside you, from the soles of the feet.’ Meaning this: it is not a question of ability, but of true, living style, of blood, of the most ancient culture, of spontaneous creation.” Kat has been performing as a vocalist since age 11, and has always been a visual artist as well; she received a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts from Alfred University in 2008. She still participates actively in making visual art, designing menus, graphics, signs and clothing. Kat has always sought adventure- whether studying at The Glasgow School of Art in Scotland, traveling Europe, or spending several months living, learning and working on a Bio-Dynamic Farm in Battle Ground, Washington. From 2008-2010 she focused primarily on forming the folk duo Loveful Heights and touring both coasts of the United States, as well as India. Many of these tours drew her to Burlington, VT where she now lives, loves, learns and works. Shortly after relocating to Burlington she formed The Indomitable Soul Band (with the help of Shane Hardiman) in 2010, and has been overjoyed that many of the most talented musicians in northern New England have sought out an opportunity to play with her band. This is just the beginning. www.katwrightsoulband.com

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.

PANELIST GLORY (DOUGLASS) REINSTEIN: Throughout her adult life, Glory (Douglass) Reinstein has been an avid listener and supporter of Triple-A and Americana radio and independent artists. Her love for indie artists began with her own son, Gregory. Watching him and other local indie artists struggle to be heard, she started a company to help promote them. The company began with radio promotion but now focuses on pitching music to TV/Film music supervisors and licensing agencies. She has capitalized on her many contacts in the industry and continues to provide independent artist support while working within the artists’ budget. Glory completed course work for a Music Business Specialist certificate through Berklee School of Music in Boston working under the tutelage of George Howard (former President of Rykodisc Records). She has since established Brave Bird Music Publishing/ASCAP and Malletts Bay Records and is a member of AMA. Glory is a veteran and award-winning Vermont music educator who has impacted hundreds of high school students throughout her career. She received her B.S. in Music Education from the University of Vermont and her M.S. in Music Education from Central Connecticut State University. Her former leadership roles include President of the Vermont chapters of ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) and MENC (Music Educators National Conference) as well as guest conducting high school festival choirs throughout Vermont and northern New York. Glory has taught voice, guitar, piano, and clarinet, as well as music theory and composition. In addition, she has arranged and composed music, and currently holds the position of assistant conductor for Bella Voce Women’s Chorus of Vermont.

PANELIST SARAH STICKLE: Sarah Stickle is a 20 year-old singer/songwriter, band manager, and an experienced social marketing leader. She has worked in social networking most recently at a small social marketing firm in New York called Sarah Wilson Business Communications. Sarah has worked with businesses such as the Champlain Valley Fair, First Night Burlington, The Amida Bourbon Project, and others in expanding their reach, and utilizing social media for basic promotion, booking, and more. She works with up to 15 clients at once and most enjoys utilizing Facebook, Pinterest, and email marketing.

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.

Photo by Lily Chau.

“My name is Leo Rechetniak and I am a third-year marketing major at Champlain College. I’m originally from upstate New York and some of my hobbies include snowboarding and skateboarding, but I love all types of out-door activities. Music keeps me going, and my real passion in life is playing the guitar (and keyboard)! I’m stoked to be a part of Big Heavy World and the local Vermont music scene. I hope to use my experience here to learn about the music industry, and eventually get into large-scale music and event promotion.”

Phil Yates at Big Heavy World.

Photos by Lily Chau.

Phil Yates and The Dirty Blondes joined host Matt Gadouas in the Radiator studio for Rocket Shop tonight.

Photo by Lily Chau.

Lake Superior joined Shannon on the TAz Michaels show tonight.

Photo by Jake Keohan.

“My name is Joe and I am currently senior at the Champlain College studying communication and its many facets including marketing and video and audio production. I love music in every form, genre and instrumentation that it has to offer. At Big Heavy World I am currently working on filming and recording the inner workings of the organization.”

The Big Heavy Tour vans will get a boost on Wednesday, February 13, 7-9 p.m. at The Skinny Pancake when Josh Panda, Brett Lanier, and Steve Hadeka perform to fundraise for them! The Big Heavy tour vans are loaned to VT musicians so they can bring VT music everywhere, and right now both of the vans need luvin’ at the shop resulting from never, ever not being on the road. Every Wednesday at the Skinny is Heady Hump Day: $5 Heady Toppers and $2 off Heady Hot Dogs, too.

Photo by Jake Keohan.

“Hey, I’m Brandon. I’m currently a senior majoring in graphic design and digital media at Champlain College.  I’m a big fan of punk, hardcore, and alternative music. I’m really excited to be part of the Big Heavy World team, and working on some awesome projects to help promote local Vermont music.”

Photo by Lily Chau.

“My name is Cooper Brown and I’m a music producer/DJ. I am from St.Albans and moved up to Shelburne when I was 14. I have been into the electronic music scene for about 3 years. I love drumming and have a deep passion for using turntables at parties or gigs. The reason why I joined the Big Heavy World Crew, is because I want a good glimpse on meeting new bands and having a full expierence in a studio at all times. Check out my music! https://soundcloud.com/coopdaville“

Photo by James Lockridge.

“My name Jake Keohan and I am a sophomore marketing major at Champlain College. Originally from Cape Cod, I enjoy surfing and snowboarding in my free time. My favorite genre of music is classic rock lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Bob Dylan, CCR, and The Clash. My love of music is one of the big reasons I joined the Big Heavy World marketing crew. I hope to learn a lot about marketing and promoting for bands well working at Big Heavy World.”

Photo by Lily Chau.

“An eye pressed against a machine eyeing the world surrounding.

I live with a mind strongly attracted to attaching my face to the view finder and snapping photographs away.

When my face is not glued to a photograph-apparatus, my arms are playing guitar and feet rhythmically tapping the ground.

I wanted to get involved with BHW because of my two main loves: music and photography synthesizing into one.

I look forward to many new positive experiences and using what I know to help with something I can stand behind.

The music I listen to most is the work of the British band, Broadcast; and the music I grew up on was the Grateful Dead.

Peace and Love, Kevin”

“HELLO guys My name is Mustafa, and I  go to Edmund Middle School. I am in 8th grade and I like to volunteer everywhere that I can. But the best place I ever volunteer was the Big Heavy World because I volunteer at Big Heavy World is that I like to look and listen to  different people’s songs and learn how did they think of that song and why didn’t they wanna to become a DJ.or other things like arts taking picture or making music. BHW is a free place to volunteer but if you volunteer there you need to do your best to keep that place good. You need to work hard and help the other member too if you’re done with your job. Also everyone will do a project and it’s your job to finish it. You can come work whenever you want even in your weekends. If you volunteer at BHW you need to be there at 7:00pm every Tuesday and Wednesday it ends at 9:00pm. And also in Big Heavy World you can be a really good artist or a really good guitar player or a D.J you can make your own songs too.”

Jen has always loved music but recently developed even more of a passion for the world of music since marrying a 33 year old musician by the birth name of Paul Pruessen who goes by the stage name Prism in the Burlington scene. She has an excellent rapport with people which makes her the perfect PR and Advertising Executive for the family business (Guilty By Association). You can follow her and her husband, Paul Pruessen by visiting and liking www.facebook.com/guiltybyassociation.gba. Jen co-hosts a radio show with her husband on Saturday nights from 8-10PM on 105.9FM. ‘Down With The Rooster’ can also be live-streamed at www.theradiator.org Please send a friend request to Down With The Rooster on facebook.

Jen is a 34 year old who has a passion for photography and design in many different forms. She loves taking photos of animals, scenery, people, and events. She’s patient enough to wait to capture the perfect shot. She enjoys graphic design, interior decorating, designing home made greetings cards and doing scrap-booking as well. She loves writing poetry and uses that as a creative expression to tell her testimony.  She also enjoys writing in various forms such as creative, expository, and research as well.

“The biggest mistake people entrusted with running an arts organization make,” Vermont Arts Council executive director Alex Aldrich said, “is assuming that their knowledge of the arts is sufficient to carry them through the many challenges they will face as administrators. Marlboro College has done an outstanding job of identifying and cultivating the people who participate in this program, and in a very short time this will have a significant impact on the health of Vermont’s cultural sector. Bravo Marlboro!”

“Marlboro College is delighted to collaborate with the Vermont Arts Council on this initiative,” Marlboro College President Ellen McCulloch-Lovell said. “For us, it is a wonderful way to work with an important state partner while advancing two of our passions: building capacity in the nonprofit sector and supporting Vermont’s creative economy.”

The four fellows of the Winter 2013 Vermont Arts Council Nonprofit Arts Management Training scholarship are:

Alison Levy is an arts curator with a master’s degree in art history and many years of experience in nonprofit administration. She currently serves as the administrative assistant for the Mahalo Art Center in West Brattleboro, an organization that promotes wholeness and wellness through the arts. Levy is new to Vermont and is excited about expanding the cultural scene in Brattleboro, with a focus on contemporary art and site-specific work.

James Lockridge is the executive director of Big Heavy World in Burlington, an organization that has been archiving and promoting music from Vermont since 1996. “I’ve recognized that our organization could better meet its potential with a Director who is not only fully committed to success, but who has also made the effort to meet their own potential for leadership and management.” In the next five years, Lockridge would like Big Heavy World to participate in arts policy-making in Vermont and gain national recognition as a model youth-driven/ volunteer-staffed music office.

James McDonald is the founder and Artistic Director for Brattleboro’s Open Music Collective, a collection of local, regional and national artists who come together to perform, teach and appreciate music. Over the next five years, McDonald aspires to get his master’s degree in music performance while building his school into a thriving community organization. “Teaching classes and building a curriculum comes easy, but the day-to-day of how to build the business as a fully functioning nonprofit has been more by trial and error,” James says. “Being able to go through a known process will give me a more thorough approach.”

Dominica Plummer, the first-ever executive director of Revels North, a venerable Upper Valley community institution, has a bold vision. “My goal is to lead Revels North towards a bright future that includes a strong fiscal base and a paid professional staff, while maintaining the highest artistic standards.” Plummer has a master’s degree in arts administration from City University in London and several years of experience working with British nonprofits, but notes: “I am keenly aware that there is much I don’t know about successfully running a nonprofit organization in Vermont.”

The Winter Certificate classes begin in February in Barre and Brattleboro. The fall 2013 trimester begins in September in Bennington and Morrisville. Applications will open later this year. To learn more about Marlboro’s program, contact Kate Jellema, Program Director: katej@marlboro.edu or 802-451-7510, or visit their website at www.nonprofit.marlboro.edu. For inquiries about the scholarship, contact Rachel Feldman, Communications Manager: rfeldman@vermontartscouncil.org or 802-828-5422.

Photo by Lily Chau.

“I am a senior at Champlain College studying Graphic Design. I grew up in a house of musicians, which gave me a deep appreciation for the craft and emotion that’s expressed in live music. What drew me to Big Heavy is their recognition of the importance of local musicians and their welcoming attitude.”

Photo by Lily Chau.

Linda Bassick joined TAz and Shannon on the TAz Michaels show tonight.

Tim Brick joined Shannon and TAz on the TAz Michaels Show tonight.

Tim Brick joined TAz and Shannon on the TAz Michaels Show tonight!

Photo by Lily Chau.

A senior from Essex High School, Julian is here as an intern through the Academy for Visual and Performing Arts. He enjoys listening to all genres of music, seeing live shows, and writing. As well as a passionate musician, Julian is here to learn as much about the world of music in the workplace as well as make an impact on the music community.

Photo by Lily Chau.

Katie Trautz and Alec Ellsworth performing at Main Street Landing’s Black Box Theater during Rocket Shop Live at Main Street Landing, tonight.

Update 9:30pm Jan. 23: The concert – and live stream – have concluded. Thank you for joining us!

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. On Wednesdays once each month through April 2013, a Vermont-based singer songwriter, followed by a band, will perform 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 concert series and broadcast possible. Concert dates are January 23, February 13, March 13, and April 17. Concerts begin at 8pm sharp, admission is all-ages and suggested $5 donation. Proceeds support the concert series and Big Heavy World.

‘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 MUSIC OF JANUARY 23: STEVE HARTMANN and KATIE TRAUTZ & ALEC ELLSWORTH: TWIN FIDDLE & COUNTRY SONGS, 8pm sharp!

STEVE HARTMANN: Where it takes some musicians numerous types of tricks, bells and whistles in order to create their musical message, singer/songwriter Steve Hartmann needs nothing more than his voice and a guitar. After years as the front man for Acoustic/Rock group Simon, he is now ready to venture forth as a solo artist with the release of his full-length debut album, “Waking Up the Echoes”. Drawing upon the influences of his favorite performers (U2, The Dave Matthews Band, The Counting Crows, Radiohead, Peter Gabriel and others), he crafts acoustic songs about life and friendship in a variety of tones. Whether a soft ballad or a harsh melody, his songs tell of the high and low points in his life and the lives of his friends, with a comforting conviction and haunting honesty. Almost ten years since his departure from Simon, he has played as much as time and finances would allow and has now released his debut solo album (Dec. 2012) that has been generously 100% fan funded. He says he couldn’t have done it without the love and support of his wife, son, family, friends, and fans. When asked how the last ten years have treated him, he answers, “The last few years have been huge! The birth of my son, a fully fan funded debut solo album… the support has been overwhelming. It’s hard making it work – family, work, playing, repeat. But I have a great support system in my wife, and my son makes every effort worth it. Ten years without playing on a regular basis is a long time, but I haven’t given up. I have grown a lot as a person and a musician over the years. I’m ready to take the chance on myself that we, as musicians at least, sometimes wait for others to take on us. The reasons I play have changed, I’ve changed. I’m excited to be back and am having the time of my life! Life has a way of bringing you home. And that’s where I think I’m headed – home.” http://www.reverbnation.com/stevehartmann

KATIE TRAUTZ & ALEC ELLSWORTH: TWIN FIDDLE & COUNTRY SONGS. Katie and Alec are fiddlers in the Montpelier area who play mainly old-time and cajun music. Vermont-based multi-instrumentalist Katie Trautz is one of the state’s busiest and most creative young folk musicians. She is a fiddler, songwriter, music instructor and director of the Summit School of Traditional Music and Culture in Montpelier, a training ground for aspiring acoustic musicians that features a top-notch teaching staff including some of Vermont’s best acoustic musicians. Trautz has released three albums, and joined ensembles for numerous recording projects over past few years. She tours and performs solo, and with Katie Trautz and the Tall Boys, Mayfly and Wooden Dinosaur. http://www.katietrautz.com/

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.

Panel program JAN. 23, 7pm: THE VERMONT ARTS COUNCIL PRESENTS: GETTING GRANTS AS A MUSICIAN

The Vermont Arts Council makes funding available to Vermont’s artists, to help them create and present their work. Sonia Rae of the VAC explains how to apply for this support, and the details you’ll want to know before stepping into the application process. Grant applications are reviewed by peers from Vermont’s arts community in a very fair model for determining successful applicants – musicians will have a leg-up with the understanding, hints and tips of this presentation.

Panel Facilitator: SONIA RAE. Sonia Rae is the Artist and Community Services Manager at the Vermont Arts Council. In addition to overseeing artist grants and professional development programs for the Council, she supports arts and non-arts organizations around the state in their efforts build a strong foundation for the arts their communities. Prior to moving to Vermont in 2002 Sonia ran a studio jewelry and design business, exhibiting and selling work in fine art galleries throughout England and Scotland. http://www.vermontartscouncil.org/

Panelist JANE BOXALL. Award-winning marimba artist Jane Boxall is “in a genre of one,” according to Vermont’s Seven Days. Jane plays contemporary-classical marimba repertoire with 0 to 8 mallets. Chamber-music collaborations range from Ricochet Duo’s fresh piano-marimba repertoire to Snap-Drag’s double-drumkit experimentation. In the jazz realm, Jane recreates the ragtime sounds of the 1920s on vintage instruments. In January 2013, Jane is celebrating the release of her solo marimba album, ‘Zero to Eight Mallets’. Born in the UK, Jane completed two degrees in music at the University of York before relocating to the United States in 2004. She studied with renowned percussionist William Moersch at the University of Illinois, earning a doctorate in percussion performance. Jane has performed in concert halls, art galleries, cafes, kindergartens, universities and festivals from London to Chicago, and Manhattan to Seattle. She has appeared with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, Guildhall Symphony Orchestra, Prairie Ensemble and the Vermont Contemporary Music Ensemble. In 2012, Jane premiered Garry Jones’s Concerto for Park Bench and Orchestra with the Event In A Tent Festival Orchestra. In 2013-2014, Jane is touring throughout the United States as a concert artist and clinician. Jane’s music has received radio airplay across the United States, on the BBC and on the Dutch radio stations Concertzender and Radio Mona Lisa. Her recordings of Nancy Van de Vate’s marimba compositions are released on the Naxos label. Jane has shared concerts and bills with Vernon Reid, Bradford Reed, Sheesham&Lotus, The Life and Times, Les de Merle and Danny Seraphine. Audience members have compared Jane to Cozy Powell, Evelyn Glennie, Zappa marimbist Ruth Underwood, Sheila E., Carl Palmer and (when wielding 8 mallets) an octopus. Jane plays and endorses Coe Percussion marimbas, District Drum Company snare drums and Vic Firth sticks and mallets. janeboxall.com

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

Concerts will be broadcast live on the radio by community media partners WZXP 97.9 ‘The Album Station’ and 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.

Jimkata joined TAz and Shannon on the TAz Michaels Show tonight!

Lucid: Chris and Lowell at Big Heavy World

Words by Mason Smith. Photos by Lily Chau.

Last Wednesday, Rocket Shop had Lucid and the Gang of Thieves in studio. More accurately, Rocket Shop had the Gang of Thieves on a long-distance phone call. This Burlington-based five piece has been making music since 2009 and touring for up to nine months per year since then. Currently on their Mothership Tour, this funky rock band will bring the party to any venue. Their style is the kind that fits perfectly everywhere from a dirty basement party, to a club, to a concert hall. The high-energy music features a fast-paced rhythm section, quirky guitar riffs, and hip-hop-infused vocals. Claimed influences such as Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rage Against the Machine are quite apparent.

For the crew’s extensive tour dates, videos, photos, and a bunch of other neat stuff, check out www.TheGangOfThieves.com. ‘Like’ them on Facebook and follow @GangOfThieves. Be sure to head down to Nectar’s night club this Saturday to see them perform live — because they won’t be in Burlington for a while after that.

After the Gang of Thieves’ half of Rocket Shop, Lucid entered the studio. This Plattsburgh-based six-piece is a standout in an arguably overpopulated genre. In its barebones form, Lucid is North Country Rock. But with the band’s additional feels (funk, jazz, blues, reggae, folk, and occasionally trance), it rises above the competition. Since Lucid’s formation in 2003, the sextet has gained a strong youthful following and has toured New England and New York. The unique blend of acoustic guitar, electric bass, harmonica, assorted percussion, tight harmonies, and outstanding live performances leave the listener fulfilled and satisfied.

Lucid won’t be in Burlington for a while, but catch them at Jay Peak on the 26th. Visit www.rulucid.com for tour dates and other neat things. ‘Like’ on Facebook (www.facebook.com/rulucid). And check out their YouTube channel to see what all the fuss is about (www.youtube.com/user/rulucid)!

To follow Mason Smith: WordSmith @Big__Mace

Tim Brick was Big Heavy World’s musical ambassador today at the statehouse. We hung out in the card room speaking to legislators throughout the day, promoting our work to support musicians across Vermont. Tim played acoustically all day long and everyone was psyched – music in the halls was fresh!

Visit the Big Heavy World crew at the Vermont statehouse tomorrow – we’re hanging out with visitors and our state legislators from 8am-3pm, talking about the work we do and enjoying some live acoustic country music by our friend Tim Brick. Find us in the card room, next to the cafeteria and the House chamber.

Tim Brick.

Our guest tonight was Mary Collins, Executive Director of the Summit School of Traditional Music and Culture. Located at 46 Barre Street in Montpelier, this not-for-profit organization employs some of the area’s finest musicians and instructors. Most of the student body is composed of adults looking to improve their skills with banjo, fiddle, and ukulele, although children and other traditional instruments are allowed.

Mary was on Rocket Shop to promote the upcoming Summit School Winter Folk Festival. This event, in its third year, occurs at various downtown Montpelier venues from January 18 through January 20.  There are plenty of giveaways, meet-and-greets, concerts, and workshops to check out. Visit www.summit-school.org/events for more information and tickets.

Photo by Lily Chau.

The Aerolites joined TAz and Shannon on the TAz Michaels Show tonight. Visit them at http://www.reverbnation.com/theaerolites

Edgar May, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and Vermont State Senator, passed away on December 27. A public celebration of his life will be held at the Edgar May Health and Recreation Center in Springfield, Vermont on Sunday, January 6 at 2pm. We expect to be posting links to live audio and/or video links here. Edgar’s obituary was published in the Rutland Herald. Edgar is the uncle of James Edgar “Big Heavy Jim” Lockridge, who was named after him.

Update Jan. 7: The live stream is now over, but a video of the event is available on YouTube at http://youtu.be/MN2lXN6qJRU and photos can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/58218387@N08/sets/72157632457162193/

For the first edition of Rocket Shop in 2013, the Radiator hosted DJ BP of the Linguistic Civilians. This Burlington-based hip-hop/rap crew is determined and destined to “keep it real.” This group takes issue with mainstream radio and strives to bring the musical genre back to its roots.  You will never hear auto-tune on a Linguistic Civilians track. This is raw, poetic, “two turntables and a mic”-style rap.

There are five Civilians. The four emcees are LC, Walshie Steeze, Mike Fulton, and Monty Burns (who is also the producer). BP, the Civilian we had in studio, is the crew’s DJ. Together, they have been making music since 2009, doing shows in Burlington and Vermont as a whole. The Linguistic Civilians have generated a fan-base in the area and have received special recognition from Seven Days. Two years in a row, the newspaper titled the group “Best Hip-Hop Artists” and “Best Unsigned Vermont Artists.”
Don’t miss out on this fresh local talent. ‘Like’ the Linguistic Civilians on Facebook, check out www.TheLinguisticCivilians.com, and show your support at www.reverbnation.com/thelynguisticcivilians.

Dj BP is one half of Burlington, VT based Hip Hop crew UnKommon as well as DJ for The Lynguistic Civilians. UnKommon is a local Hip Hop duo focused on making real music that stays original to who they are and the artists that made them fall in love with the music. DJ BP and Kin have known each other since 1989 but recently reunited to start making music together in 2010. Recording tracks at Kin’s apartment the duo has been hard at work preparing for a big 2013.

Aaron Burroughs of Funkwagon (left) & Rocket Shop host Matt Gadouas.

Words by Mason Smith. Photo by James Lockridge.

Under representation of band-founder Aaron Burroughs, the Radiator had Funkwagon on air. It’s good the whole band didn’t come because the small studio couldn’t fit the Funkwagon army.  The ten-piece funk, R&B, and soul group has been together since 2005, playing gigs in the Burlington area and Vermont as a whole.

Funkwagon’s gospel influence comes through regularly in the songs and in Aaron’s description of the band’s feel. “I like to think of it as church with a smoker’s section…and a bar,” says a quote on their Facebook page. The “bar” aspect of the band is prominent. You can’t listen to these soulful songs without swaying back and forth, bobbing your head, and singing along. “It’s not a party until Funkwagon says it’s a party,” Aaron said.

They also have the festival feel that Vermonters tend to love. Songs such as “In My Pocket” have a jam-band aspect that keeps the listener wondering where the song could end up. Get to know Funkwagon better by ‘liking’ them on Facebook and by following them @FunkwagonVT.

Singer-songwriter John Daly.

Words by Mason Smith. Photo by Lily Chau.

Solo-guitarist John Daly dragged his Martin to the Radiator to share some of his tunes with Burlington. Apart from making listener-friendly music, this singer/songwriter’s goal is to “turn transparent on stage.” This comment has mixed meaning. In the physical sense, John was joking. But perhaps spiritually speaking, he wants emotion to be in the forefront, not hiding behind anything.

According to John, songwriting has become a “body function.” He’s gotten to a place in his creative career where he’s finding inspiration in everyday items. The other day he saw a piece of blank cardboard lying on the street. To most people, cardboard on the street is litter. To John, he saw an unwritten song and what he wanted to say articulated itself instantaneously.

John’s songs are quite systematic, but that’s not problematic. His 100+ tracks never stray far from his comfort zone, creating a relaxed atmosphere that’s easy to let your ear live in. Listen in on his YouTube channel (JohnDalyMusic) and find him online at www.reverbnation.com/johndalymusic.

80 Proof Hum in the Big Heavy World green room, with host Matt Gadouas (far right).

Words by Mason Smith. Photo by Lily Chau.

“Real, Honest, Passionate music.”

Kevin and Nick, two guitarists and sole members of 80 Proof Hum shared some tunes with Rocket Shop last Wednesday. The duo met on Craigslist after Kevin put an ad up for a supporting artist. Nick was the first to respond and was decidedly a good match. In Nick’s words, he is a “rudder in [Kevin’s] boat” and Kevin is “ninety percent” of the band. To this end, Kevin is the obvious front man of 80 Proof Hum, but there are no hard feelings about that fact.

Both members of the oddly named pair (80 Proof Hum was chosen after several drafts and a long thought process) feel the need to expand the band. A bass playing friend may be added soon and they are in the hunt for a drummer. Two guitarists and vocalists inevitably create good, simple and low-key music. These proposed additions to 80 Proof Hum would really take the band to the next level by adding more layers and complexity.

Help this group reach their goal of being the “best band in Vermont and beyond. Or at least the best one their friends like” by liking them on Facebook and following them @80ProofHum.

Big Heavy World ws founded in 1996 but our building has been here a long time. Here’s a pic of it taken in 1929, from a special collection at UVM and via Queen City Ghostwalk host Thea Lewis. Our building is on the far left of the photo, which looks down College Street toward the lake from South Winooski Avenue.

Photo By Lily Chau

Dwight & Nicole and The Aerolites joined TAz and Shannon on the TAz Michaels Show tonight.

12/21/12 according to the Mayan Calendar is regarded as then end of a 5,125 year cycle on earth… Others believe that it is the start of time in which Earth and it’s inhabitants may undergo a positive physical or spiritual transformation… No matter what you believe come out to Manhattan’s Pizza on Friday December 21st to party with The Lynguistic Civilians, Learic (of The Aztext) and UnKommon. The night is sponsored by Stash-N-Stowe, Wildlife and Sticky Brand who will be giving away “Survival Packs” to survivors of the night. A portion of the proceeds to benefit The Big Heavy World Van Fund. Free Admission/21+

www.facebook.com/stashnstowe
www.theaztext.com
www.thelynguisticcivilians.com
www.reverbnation.com/unkommon

Biggest props possible to A2VT and the crew of “Winooski, My Town”!

Citizens Bank presents Rocket Shop Live at Main Street Landing.
Family concerts, live broadcasts, musician panel, networking & cash mob on the Waterfront this winter!

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.

On Wednesdays once each month through April 2013, a Vermont-based singer songwriter, followed by a band, will perform 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 and Seven Days have collaborated to make this concert series possible. Thanks also to sponsors RETN, Advance Music Center, Moreau Theatrical Services, Stowe Mountain Resort, the Vermont Arts Council, WZXP 97.9, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Concert dates are December 12, January 23, February 13, March 13, and April 17. Concerts begin at 8pm sharp, admission is all-ages and suggested $5 donation. Proceeds support the concert series and Big Heavy World. After the music, join the cash mob heading to a downtown venue that supports live VT music, for more friend-making & networking!

‘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 MUSIC OF DECEMBER 12: JEN CROWELL AND VEDORA, 8pm sharp!

JEN CROWELL: Developing her skills originally as a Jazz vocalist Jen Crowell graduated into performing original work several years ago, including performances around the area, though her original jazz roots can still be heard in her vocal style. Her most recent release, Cold Front, showcases her broad musical range and has been compared stylistically to work by Natalie Merchant and The Cowboy Junkies. Her repertoire includes influences from Chris Whitley, Richard Thompson, Red Bird and more, with the same, soulful pull. Her songs leave a haunting sense of emotion sure to move even the most jaded of souls. Combining acoustic guitar with her broad vocal range creates an ethereal experience, while her lyrics and music mix roots of bluegrass and folk with haunting phrasing and modern melodies to create more than the sum of the parts.

VEDORA: Sultry vocals, jangly guitars, driving drums, melodic bass lines and gritty lyrics take you out of your self and into a dark forest of moody rock. Vedora’s captivating live performance showcases stormy arrangements, poetic songwriting, and lush harmonies. Coming off the recent release of their debut album, Vedora is ready to play their hearts out for you. Vedora is: Matt Hastings (guitar, vocals), Caroline O’Connor (bass, vocals), and Jeff LaBossiere (drums).

—

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.

Panel program DEC. 12, 7pm: MUSICIANS FOR MUSICIANS: TOURING INTERNATIONALLY.

About the panel moderator: STEVE HARTMANN. Where it takes some musicians numerous types of tricks, bells and whistles in order to create their musical message, singer/songwriter Steve Hartmann needs nothing more than his voice and a guitar. After years as the front man for Acoustic/Rock group SIMON, he has since ventured forth as a solo artist with the long awaited release of his full-length debut solo album, “Waking Up the Echoes” on December 31st 2012 at First Night Burlington. Drawing upon the influences of his favorite performers (U2, The Dave Matthews Band, The Counting Crows, Radiohead, Peter Gabriel and others), he crafts acoustic songs about life, relationships, and the courage to dream. Whether a soft ballad or a harsh melody, his dynamic songs follow the high and low points of his life. “I like toying with the quiet that creeps up just before the storm,” he admits. “I like playing with that part of a song (or themselves) that only the heart can feel and the ears can hear and when it comes, everything falls into place just right… and you can breathe.” http://www.reverbnation.com/stevehartmann

About panelist RIK PALIERI: Rik Palieri- Folk-singer, Songwriter & Storyteller Rik is a talented singer, song writer, multi instrumentalist, storyteller and member of “The Mythical Order of The Rose Tattoo”, who lives the musical life to the fullest. He is a very energetic performer who captivates audiences of all ages with his stories and songs. In a typical performance Rik will sing an old ballad with a fret less banjo, stomp out a Leadbelly style blues on the 12 string guitar, squeeze an exotic instrumental on the Polish bagpipes, spin out a wild and wooly story of his travels, pluck out a tune on the Ozark mouth bow, blow a mournful melody on the Native American flute and end the evening with an original Yodel-sing-a-long Rik has performed at concert halls, schools and festivals throughout the lower 48 states, toured Alaska by float plane, rode camelback in Australia and sung on trains throughout Europe… He has appeared on countless TV programs including recent spots on ABC’s 20/20. He also has his own Public Access TV show “Song Writers Notebook” ( Now archived by the Library of Congress), that has featured interviews with artists like Pete Seeger and U. Utah Phillips. Rik has recorded six albums. His newest CD is called “Hobos & Heroes”. He is also an occasional writer for Sing Out!, Banjo Newsletter and author of a new book “The Road Is My Mistress, Tales Of A Roustabout Songster”

About panelist RYAN KRUSHENICK: Ryan Krushenick of Unrestrained and the legendary My Revenge, two of our region’s most-traveled hardcore punk rock bands, has brought an original Vermont sound to 49 states and the countries of Mexico, Canada, Iceland, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Czech, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, Hungary, Romania, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Russia, and Ireland and others. Touring economically, surviving (and thriving) in foreign cultures, finding support in the underground music communities across the world, and growing personally from these travels are topics Ryan looks forward to sharing.

—

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

Concerts will be broadcast live on the radio by community media partners WZXP 97.9 ‘The Album Station’ and 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.

Photo by Lily Chau.

“I am a recent UVM graduate and I hooked up with Big Heavy World to gain writing experience while pursuing a career in journalism.  I enjoy most sports, most music, and quoting movies.  Follow Word Smith on Twitter @Big__Mace.”

Words by TAz Michaels. Photo by Valerie Terrazzano.

Linda Bassick of Tickle Belly debuts her second CD release ‘Output.’ Linda borught along a special guest, drummer Sean Preece. Linda has been putting out a ton of new music the last 18 months, releasing her debut album ‘Tickle Belly’ just 13 months ago and following with her December release of ‘Output.’ Just in time for the Holidays!

Big Heavy has two weeks to sell 25 tee-shirts with our teespring.com campaign – grab one, youknowyouwantone! They have our slogan, ‘Hate makes you weak.’ on the front, and the Big Heavy World logo on the back. They’re $15, and you deserve one. Check http://teespring.com/hatemakesyouweak

Photos by James Lockridge.

Josh Brooks (above) and Zephrus (below) joined host Matt Gadouas tonight for Rocket Shop, Big Heavy World’s local music radio hour.

Words by Mason Smith. Photo by James Lockridge.

Citizen Bare joined Shannon and TAz on the TAz Michaels show tonight.

Last week, the Radiator had Citizen Bare on air. The dynamic five-piece can be defined most simply as Americana Rock, but it doesn’t need to be that easy. Frequently the guitar riffs come with a country twang, folk influences are apparent, and really anything from blues to hip-hop finds its way in at one time or another. Citizen Bare has spent time experimenting in the Nashville, Kentucky and Belfast, Ireland music scenes. This adds a seasoned and worldly aspect to their music that you just don’t get with every local band.
Although there are five members in the band and they are all full-time participants, some of their songs are duets, according to the band. Sometimes Citizen Bare does a track where one of the male vocalists will sing a verse, Elizabeth (vocalist and keyboard player) will take the next, and then they will come together for a harmonious chorus. This “duet” occurs with the rest of the band playing their usual instruments for accompaniment. Even during these songs, however, it is clear that every band member is valued equally, and a duet doesn’t exclude anybody.

That mentality compliments what the band stands for, in regards to their motto which “highlights an expression of social justice and the human experience.” They have a peaceful outlook on the world we live in and life itself. These topics are abundant in Citizen Bare’s lyrics.

This Jericho, VT-based group has been playing around the Burlington area for the last five years. They’ve rocked the Monkey House, UVM, the Radio Bean, the Art Hop, and various charity events as well. You can catch Citizen Bare in North Woodstock on December 14th and at Metronome on the 27th. www.CitizenBare.com, Citizen Bare on Facebook, and @CitizenBare on Twitter.

Photos by James Lockridge.

Thank you, Good News Garage! GNG helped us get HEAVY1′s driver’s door back together and is outlining improvements to the exhaust system for us. And special thanks to Service Manager Rob Ryan!

Words by Mason Smith. Photo by Lily Chau.

This recovering speed demon has a passion for motorcycles and touring the country. Talk to Stephane before making your next two-wheeled purchase. He’s joining the crew at Big Heavy because he likes what we stand for and wants to learn more about it.

Words by Mason Smith. Photo by Lily Chau.

If you’re ever looking for this Burlington native, head to the closest basketball court. He’s as deadly from behind the arc as he is inside the key. Big Heavy appealed to Josh because he wants to gain experience in recording and one day drop his own hip-hop and R&B tracks.

Words by Mason Smith. Photo by Lily Chau.

Originally from Staten Island, Jessica aims to gain Public Relations experience during her final year at Champlain College. While her busy schedule leaves little room for hobbies, she is learning to play the ukulele and listens to the Beatles in her downtime.

Words by Mason Smith. Photo by Lily Chau.

This Champlain College undergrad hails from Maryland and has joined the BHW crew to gain experience in advertising and artistic design. Reel Big Fish has been a top band of Janina’s as of late, and she may be the best pool player in the office.

The Beerworth Sisters

Words by Mason Smith. Photos by James Lockridge.

The Beerworth Sisters and The Aerolites joined TAz and Shannon on the TAz Michaels Show tonight.

The Beerworth Sisters

On Tuesday, November 27th, the Radiator had the Beerworth Sisters on air. These two soft-spoken young women make music that is difficult to classify, even by them, but has elements of Folk, Rock, and Indy. Fresh off the release of their new album ‘Simple Things,’ the Beerworth Sisters are making local appearances at venues such as Nectar’s and their CD release party at the Marriott.

Julia and Anna both play guitar and trade on and off for lead vocals. This eliminates any air of singular leadership as the spotlight is shared equally. Ukulele is a new addition to some of the tracks and creates an inevitable Hawaiian feel while retaining their classic style. Soothing harmonica and violin are occasional features that really conjure up a relaxed and carefree feel. The Sisters have been playing together for over two years and have brought their similar musical backgrounds together in a successful and enjoyable fashion. Thanks to the influence of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Nora Jones, and the like, Vermont has another great band to look out for.  Pick up ‘Simple Things’ on cdbaby.com!

The Aerolites

Verde Media Group Inc. and The Aerolites

The Radiator had a unique combination of guests on Tuesday, November 27.  Verde Media Group Inc. and The Aerolites were in the studio.  One of Verde’s latest projects has been a ski film called ‘Winter’s Wind.’ In contrast to what Warren Miller has popularized in the ski world (“ski porn,” as it’s known by some), Matty “Moo” Herriger created a real story in this Indy film. In other words, instead of an hour of the craziest ski stunts the viewer has ever seen, ‘Winter’s Wind’ is a tale about travel and life through the vessel of skiing. The film runs about 1.5 hours and premiered at Merrill’s Roxy last Wednesday. Be sure to attend the Stowe Film Festival if you missed it.

High-quality cinematography and narrative aspects are not film’s only strengths.  It also happens to have a killer soundtrack. ‘Winter’s Wind’ features music from The Aerolites.  The relatable lyrics and technical fingerpicking accompany the movie’s storyline impeccably. The five-piece also has that head-bobbing groove that so many skiers crave.  ‘Like’ The Aerolites on Facebook and stay tuned for upcoming tour dates.

Words and photos by As We Were.

This tour was our first time on the road since we got back from Europe. We picked up the van around 12 and headed straight for the border. The show was at 8 but we expected to get hassled by the border patrol especially with HEAVY1. They asked us to pull to the side, and we expected the worst, but after about 15 minutes and some odd looks from the border crossing guards, we were on our way to Montreal.

We played a club called the Katacombes with The Hunters and some other bands, show went well, ate poutine, drank a bunch of Roy Rogers. Slept at a friend’s house and made pancakes in the morning, all and all not a bad experience in Montreal and we hope to be back soon.

The next day we headed down to Plattsburg to play at the Rota Gallery, we’ve played there twice before and we have some good friends in that are who came out and partied with us. It’s always cool to pay DIY spaces that are totally independent so they can make their own rules and are very good to bands like us. After the show we went to a house in the middle of nowhere and played a house party. Small living room that could comfortably fit ten people in it had about 30 and then had four bands all sleeping in it that night. The Hunters brought sleeping bags; we took the couches and got to sleep at about 3 in the morning.

We left Plattsburg at about 9 in the morning to make it to an early show in Boston at the Democracy Center, again a bunch of friends and a really great band called Fucking (F-ing) Invincible!

The weekend with HEAVY1 was a great re-introduction to the road and we’ll hopefully be tearing up the highways with it again very soon. Thanks to Jim and Big Heavy for their continued support of us and all underground Vermont Music.

Photos by Lily Chau.

Our first Rocket Shop Live at Main Street Landing performance and radio/TV/web simulcast is now a great memory – with thanks to everyone involved, from supporters to crew to our panelists Gregory Douglass, Jen Crowell, Zach duPont, Steve Hartmann, and performers Keeghan Nolan and The Beerworth Sisters, it was a beautiful night, and an engineering marvel (for us!). The next concert and live broadcast is Wednesday December 12. Join us at the Black Box Theater at the Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center! (More info to come!)

Big Heavy World experienced the honor of presenting a panel at the Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility Fall Conference at Mount Snow today. We were fortunate to have three great panelists talk about the ways businesses can go above and beyond traditional sponsorships to support the arts in Vermont. Special thanks to panelists Steve Cook, Deputy Commissioner at the Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing; Zon Eastes, Director of Outreach and Advancement at the Vermont Arts Council; and Dani Gleason, Manager of the Artifactory at the Magic Hat Brewing Company. Thanks also to Scott Buckingham at VBSR and all the VBSR members who filled the room!

Words by TAz Michaels. Photo by James Lockridge.

Another great night of music with a man that has shared the stage with great notables as Paul Simon , Bob Dylan, Cheap Trick Ron Holloway and many more… A big thanks to Chad Hollister Band for sharing his music and you can get a chance to see him every 1st and 3rd Wednesday, 7pm On Tap Bar in Essex Junction VT. If you have never seen Chad perform, then , get on out there,,,he is a MUST SEE/HEAR.

45 images from ‘Sound Proof,’ an exhibit of black and white photography by Matthew Thorsen, the go-to photographer for Burlington-area bands during the 1990s, are exhibiting at Dylan’s Cafe in St. Johnsbury through December 29. Thorsen took hundreds of portrait, newspaper and magazine photos, effectively chronicling the local music scene of the era. The photographs of Sound Proof were taken at a time when Thorsen was still working with film. He has since moved to a digital format and these chemical prints have become an artful reminder of a receding era and a valuable contribution to the historic record of Vermont’s musical heritage. Sound Proof is produced by Big Heavy World with Matthew Thorsen and presented by Seven Days, with generous support from Creative Habitat, the Vermont Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts. Dylan’s Cafe is located at 139 Eastern Avenue, St. Johnsbury, Vermont. Photo above: Wide Wail by Matthew Thorsen.

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.

On Wednesdays once each month from November 2012 through April 2013, a Vermont-based singer songwriter, followed by a band, will perform 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 and Seven Days have collaborated to make this concert series possible. Concert dates are November 7, December 12, January 23, February 13, March 13, and April 17. Concerts begin at 8pm sharp, admission is all-ages and suggested $5 donation. Proceeds support the concert series and Big Heavy World. After the music, join the cash mob heading to a downtown venue that supports live VT music, for more friend-making & networking!

‘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 MUSIC OF NOVEMBER 7: THE BEERWORTH SISTERS and KEEGHAN NOLAN, 8pm sharp!

BEERWORTH SISTERS have been playing music together at family functions for a number of years and decided to take their passion on the road. Stylistically, they tend toward a whimsical mix of folk, country and classic rock. They have been playing at various local venues for the past two years as they juggle teaching careers, family, and time on the slopes.  They hope to continue to share their passion for songwriting and live performances and they are thrilled to be releasing their first full-length album, ‘Simple Things,’ in December of 2012. http://www.TheBeerworthSisters.com

KEEGHAN NOLAN: Throw country, rock and blues together and there you have her, Keeghan Nolan. Keeghan is 20 years old, Vermont born and raised and is from a small town not far from the Canadian Border. She grew up listening to country music and started performing on stage when she was twelve years old. She now writes her own music and enjoys playing out with her band. Keeghan travels to Florida and Nashville performing at many venues, festivals, county fairs and benefits. She has opened for national acts such as Craig Morgan, David Alan Coe, Jimmy Wayne, Chris Young, Love & Theft, Clay Walker, Aaron Tippin, Jeff Bates and in November will be opening for John Michael Montgomery at Memorial Auditorium.

—

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.

Panel program NOV. 7, 7pm: MUSICIANS FOR MUSICIANS: DRAWING A MAP TO SUCCESS AS A MUSICIAN. Everyone’s idea of achievement as a musician is different, but the roads to it have been walked before. Learn from the personal stories and get advice from Vermont’s most dedicated and determined musicians about resources and obstacles they’ve encountered in their musical careers, and benefit from a community discussion about planning for success, however you measure it. Panelists include veteran independent Vermont musicians Jen Crowell, Gregory Douglass, and Zach duPont, and are moderated by musician Steve Hartmann.

About the panel moderator: STEVE HARTMANN. Where it takes some musicians numerous types of tricks, bells and whistles in order to create their musical message, singer/songwriter Steve Hartmann needs nothing more than his voice and a guitar. After years as the front man for Acoustic/Rock group SIMON, he has since ventured forth as a solo artist with the long awaited release of his full-length debut solo album, “Waking Up the Echoes” on December 31st 2012 at First Night Burlington. Drawing upon the influences of his favorite performers (U2, The Dave Matthews Band, The Counting Crows, Radiohead, Peter Gabriel and others), he crafts acoustic songs about life, relationships, and the courage to dream. Whether a soft ballad or a harsh melody, his dynamic songs follow the high and low points of his life. “I like toying with the quiet that creeps up just before the storm,” he admits. “I like playing with that part of a song (or themselves) that only the heart can feel and the ears can hear and when it comes, everything falls into place just right… and you can breathe.” http://www.reverbnation.com/stevehartmann

About panelist JEN CROWELL: Jen has been working in the music business world for over 10 years. As a singer/songwriter, tour manager for Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, band manager, owner of her own production company Crow Artists, and current Executive Director of First Night Burlington, Jen brings a wealth of information and experience to speaking about and teaching about how to survive in the music business. She has grown up performing and appreciating music her whole life in Vermont and North New York and currently resides in the Montpelier area. http://www.reverbnation.com/jencrowellthewoodsvehicle

About panelist GREGORY DOUGLASS: Gregory Douglass is an internationally renowned independent musician with eight critically acclaimed albums and a multitude of digital singles & music videos. His recent spotlight on NPR’s “Morning Edition” has coined him “one of New England’s best-kept secrets.” Douglass has sold over 75,000 songs digitally on his own and his videos have amounted to over 600,000 views on Youtube alone. His music videos have charted numerous times on MTV Network’s LOGO TV and his newest single “Naysayer” is slated to air on MTV’s upcoming “World Of Jenks” series.  Douglass was a finalist in the 2011 Mountain Stage NewSong Competition and won Yobi.tv’s “New Stage” competition, an original web series starring Jersey Shore’s Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino. http://www.gregorydouglass.com

About panelist ZACH DUPONT: Zack duPont is a budding songwriter based out of Burlington, VT. At the young age of 27, his music has displayed nothing but natural potential for growth and in return, has served as a vehicle for plays in most of the major cities in America. His finger-style guitar techniques create the illusion of two or more instruments playing simultaneously and are accompanied by intriguing lyrics, haunting melodies and one of a kind harmonic structures.The sound is contemporary folk with a twist of soul and blues.

—

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

Concerts will be broadcast live on the radio by community media partners WZXP 97.9 ‘The Album Station’ and 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. www.mainstreetlanding.com

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.

Visit the event page on Facebook!

Photo by James Lockridge.

Burlington singer-songwriter Christie Belanger joined Matt in the studio for Rocket Shop tonight. See Christie perform at Radio Bean on October 22, 6pm, or hear her at www.christiebelangermusic.com or http://www.reverbnation.com/christiebelanger

Mike Scott & Ken Dunbar

Words by TAz Michaels. Photo by Lily Chau.

Mike Scott of Vermont and Ken Dunbar of Jamaica threw down their sonic, electric, reggae, blues and indie rock sounds “live” on the air. Mike and Ken will be performing at the Antecdote in Vergennes this coming Wednesday, Oct. 24th. Mike and Ken fuse many genres of music to make their unique jamming funk.

Words & Photoby Lynguistic Civilians.

“We forgot how much fun it was taking Heavy1.  With Heavy2 you have the comfort with cruise control and automatic windows and locks, but in Heavy1 you are the center of attention.  We started Thursday night here in Burlington opening up for DJ Shadow at Higher Ground.  An amazing night of music to say the least.  We then took off for Freedom Field in Harmony, ME.  We had perfect weather until half way through our set it started to downpour.  Even with the weather it was one of our favorite sets.  We then headed south to Uncasville, CT for a VH1 Save The Music Fundraiser.  We made a lot of new fans and had fun rocking for a new crowd.  Monday we took off back to VT for a benefit concert to support the Hurricane Irene Relief Fund.  We finished it off back in Burlington for an epic night at Club Metronome.  Sharing the stage with legends like Krumbsnatcha, Block McCloud and Chi-King (ODB’s brother) was beyond memorable.  Thank you to Big Heavy World for supplying us with the transportation to make this “mini” tour happen.”

Dylan Sabo – Hyper|One – joined Matt on Rocket Shop tonight. In the photo: Matt Gadouas, Dylan, and Natasha. Hear Hyper|One at http://soundcloud.com/djhyperone

Photo by Lily Chau.

“My name is John Pastor.  I’m originally from Honduras, but have spent the last four and half years here in Vermont. I’m currently a student in Champlain College studying Business.  I enjoy going outdoors, travelling around, going to concerts and comedy shows. I am a very big Tarantino film fan and my favorite kind of food is Indian cuisine. And in the words of Steve Jobs, “I want to put a ding in the universe.””

Photo by Lily Chau.

“My name is Danny Phillips. I look forward to working with Big Heavy World, filming local musicians at upcoming shows in the Burlington area. I have always been a fan of alternative music, and am currently listening to old R.E.M and Spaceman 3. I grew up in Florida, where I completed my Associates degree in English, and moved to Vermont in late 2011. I hope to attend Burlington College to study Transpersonal Psychology starting in the Spring. I love being inspired by creativity, so please contact me with any suggestions.”

Photo by Lily Chau.

Paul Pruessen joined host Matt Gadouas on Rocket Shop tonight.

L-R, The Band Vedora (Caroline O”Connor & Matthew Hastings), Shannon, and TAz.

Words by TAz Michaels. Photo by Lily Chau.

The band Vedora rocked us to the foundation tonight. Fusing their classic rock sound with strong lyrics, deep bass lines, and illuminating electric guitar riffs with today’s sonic sound has produced one of the best indie rock albums this year. Their new CD, ‘When Dusk Falls’ (debuted on The TAz Michaels Show) is now available at Pure Pop Records and online. If you like classic rock, well, then, check out this new sonic sound!!

CREW JOB: Photojournalists
(Ongoing, Multiple Positions)

Prerequisites: General computer literacy, basic photographic skills, interest and ability to work nighttime hours, responsible and professional attitude in 21+ environments, willingness to learn use of Web-related software, love of live music.

Description: Photograph live performances with Olympus D600L, Fuji FinePix 2800, or Canon GL-1 digital camera; optimize images for the Web on a Macintosh computer with Adobe Photoshop/ImageReady; edit images with captions into the Paparazzi Web pages of the Big Heavy World site with Adobe GoLive.

Practical Objective: Expand a permanent historical online photographic archive of Burlington-area live music performances.

—

Big Heavy World has been promoting and archiving the Burlington music scene since 1996. Our existence and success is due to participation by volunteers and interns who share our extreme enthusiasm; we simply wouldn’t exist without their support.

Our internship program allows a greater level of freedom and creativity than one might expect, but also demands a high level of responsibility and dedication to each mission. As a supervised work experience for academic credit, Big Heavy World internships guarantee personal and professional development.

Contact James Lockridge at (802) 865-1140 for more information.

Photo by Lily Chau.

“My name is Stephanie Dale. I am a sophomore at Champlain College studying graphic design and digital media. I am interning here at Big Heavy World as a crewmember. As the team’s “design girl,” I do designing for promotional material and help out with other related tasks and events that BHW is a part of.

I knew coming into this year at school I wanted to have an outside experience with Burlington beyond the school and begin networking throughout the city. I came across BHW on the search for a job and looked into it, deciding that it was the perfect place to get involved with. I’m thrilled to be working on projects and offering my time to helping such a dedicated group of people promote the local musicians of Vermont.”

Kat Wright & The Indomitable Soul Band

Photos by ValTerrazzano.

Big Heavy World was honored to be involved in the amazing South End Art Hop this year – thank you SEABA for the chance to bring local bands to the big tent! And thank you Burlington College for sponsoring the show (and the too-fun photo booth! – your photography students are GREAT!). Looking forward to Art Hop 2013!

Photos by Lily Chau.

Singer-songwriter Suzanne Friedman joined us on Rocket Shop tonight!

Words and Photos by the Josh Panda Band.

“From September 6 to the 11th we rolled through 5 states (VT NY PA OH MI), 2 provinces (ON QC), played 4 gigs, logged 2300 miles, sold out of CD’s, met Booker T Jones of Booker T & The MGs, partied with Bright Light Social Hour ’til 5 in the morning, won 8 stuffed animals in an arcade mechanical arm grab, and got pulled over and questioned one block from home after dropping the rest of the band off. Rock & roll. A big thanks to Big Heavy World for their support of local music and arts.”