Leo Rechetniak Joins BHW Marketing Crew

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Leo Rechetniak

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.”

Joe Brown Joins BHW Videography Crew

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Joe Brown

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.”

Call to VT Musicians: WIN $25 Advance Music Gift Certificate Taking Quick BHW Survey! Plus, Be Heard on the Radio Every Day…

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Calling all Vermont-based musicians: Take our home-grown music office survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HP6Z23Q , send us your email address (we’re at info@bigheavyworld.com), and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift certificate at Advance Music. We’re doing our best to be the best music office possible – the survey will help us focus and give VT musicians what they want! To join the BHW mailing list and hear about opportunities specifically for Vermont-based musical artists, visit http://eepurl.com/u_kWf The current Call To VT Artists is at http://us6.campaign-archive1.com/?u=658c89567d0f80dcfd1482c14&id=c3dee6d0ed

Josh Panda, Brett Lanier, & Steve Hadeka Perform to Benefit BHW Tour Vans Feb. 13 @ Skinny Pancake

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Josh Panda

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.

Brandon Cohen Joins BHW Crew

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Brandon Cohen

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.”

Cooper Brown Joins BHW Crew

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Cooper Brown

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“

Jake Keohan Joins BHW Crew

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Jake Keohan

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.”

 

New BHW Photo Crew: Kevin Bloom

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Kevin Bloom

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”

Mustafa Barut Joins BHW Crew

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Mustafa Barut

“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 Pruessen Joins BHW Crew

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Jen Pruessen

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.

Big Heavy World Director Receives VT Arts Council Scholarship

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MONTPELIER — The Vermont Arts Council and Marlboro College Graduate School are proud to announce its second group of fellows in the Nonprofit Arts Management Training scholarship program. This partnership between the Council and Marlboro College began in 2012 and supports nonprofit management education for Vermont artists and art managers by awarding up to four $500 scholarships each trimester. Those scholarships are used to subsidize the cost of Marlboro’s Certificate in Nonprofit Management, which assists Vermont artists and the staff of Vermont arts organizations in building the skills needed to run a successful organization.

“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.

Kelsey Belcour Joins BHW Graphic Design Crew

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Kelsey Belcour

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.”

Julian Cunningham Joins BHW Crew

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Julian Cunningham

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.

Live Now: Steve Hartmann; Katie Trautz & Alec Ellsworth at Main Street Landing

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The video embedded below is a live stream of performances tonight of Rocket Shop Live at Main Street Landing – Big Heavy World’s local music radio hour, featuring Steve Hartmann and the duo of Katie Trautz and Alec Ellsworth. See info about the concert, below – it’s also live on 105.9FM The Radiator and the channels of RETN on cable TV!

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

TONIGHT!: Rocket Shop Live at Main Street Landing Jan. 23: STEVE HARTMANN and KATIE TRAUTZ & ALEC ELLSWORTH: TWIN FIDDLE & COUNTRY SONGS, Plus Free Musicians Panel: Vermont Arts Council Grants

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Citizens Bank presents Rocket Shop Live at Main Street Landing!

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

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 and Alec Ellsworth

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.

Sonia Rae

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/

Jane Boxall

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.