Make Music Day 2020: Calamity and Crowe's Trading Post Shirts Released

Jeff Crowe and Jinny Janesik sporting Make Music VT 2020’s official shirt.

For years now, Calamity and Crowe’s Trading Post has been a proud supporter of Vermont music and Make Music Day, creating custom tie-dyed shirts for local artists, bands, and storytellers. They’re once again supporting Make Music Day in style with these rad “sunset fire” shirts, which are available for participating musicians while they last.

We at Big Heavy World are always grateful for those who look out for their community. Those who want to be the change they want to see in the world. For this reason, we want to personally thank Calamity and Crowe’s, and operators Jinny Janesik and Jeff Crowe.

Started in 2013, Calamity and Crowe’s Trading post began as a means of funding Jeff’s Dead Tour. Their roots are still emblematic in their colorful Deadhead sense of style, and their strong connections to the local music scene.

“I have always steeped myself in the local music scene, and honestly, there is nothing like Green Mountain Music,” says Jinny Janesik.

This year’s shirts being “brain” dyed, or known outside of Calamity and Crowe’s as crinkle dyed.

Jinny has worked at Calamity and Crowe’s since 2013, but has also taken the time to provide a helping hand to Big Heavy World in the past, like fundraising for Big Heavy World’s old community CD projects which brought local bands together to support local community causes.

Since their early days, Calamity and Crowe’s have added screen printing and large tapestries to their repertoire, on top of becoming staples of our music scene. They can be found at several music festivals in the area—sometimes hosting tie dye workshops—and maintain close connections within Vermont’s music scene, including working with Phish’s WaterWheel Foundation.

Through all their years they’ve done all they can to become a pillar of our local community. To sum up why, I’ll hand the keyboard to Jinny: “Lastly, I think the reason we support Big Heavy World and the VT music scene with our whole hearts, is because we're teaching our kids to support causes they believe in and to ‘be the change they wish to see in the world.’ We are so very proud to help Big Heavy World celebrate Make Music Day, and we wouldn't miss it for the world.”

Jinny and her daughter at a recent protest, holding a sign featuring BHW’s signature Hate Makes You Weak slogan.

Text by Luke Vidic.

Photos courtesy of Jinny Janesik.