Newz from Big Heavy World

Thanks to all who joined us for the 2005 VMLS Benefit Concert Series at The Great Falls Fine Arts Center in the Frog Hollow District of Middlebury. It was a great pleasure to experience such fantastic regional talent and meet those of you who were introduced to the VMLS mission at the shows. Your support was and is appreciated. In 2005 these artists appeared in performance: Aaron Flinn (4/16); Adele Nicols (4/30); The Steph Pappas Experience & Meagan Walsh (5/6); Rebecca Padula with Mitch Barron, Somebody's Sister, and Colin 'Samy' McClung (5/14); and Patrick Fitzsimmons (7/16). The series was supported by 102.9FM WCLX. Photo: Meagan Walsh by Jensen Studios.

The VMLS is a program of Big Heavy World, celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2006. We celebrated at INDIECON, a free & all-ages two-day music festival in downtown Burlington. On Saturday, November 11 SPENCER LEWIS, LOWELL THOMPSON, AUSTIN SIRCH, and THE SUN & I performed at Contois Auditorium in Burlington's City Hall. Thanks to everyone who joined us there and at the workshops, film, and concerts!

Crew from Big Heavy volunteered at the big computer drop-off event at Small Dog in South Burlington Saturday April 21 - people brought every kind of electronics for recycling, courtesy Small Dog and done by Good Point Recycling in Middlebury. The stuff would either get sent out to be repurposed (monitors go to China and get turned into TV's) or disassembled to re-use the metals inside. Spent the day helping people unload their cars, then putting everything into the trucks. We loaded five trucks, two of them tractor-trailors starting at 8:30am, and got done around 1am the next morning.

Live at the FlynnSpace, Friday May 25
7pm, $17.00, Student/Senior $14

'In Silver Light' is a breathtaking sampler of Vermont's singer-songwriting and instrumental music. Join the artists for a panoramic performance celebrating the release of this critically acclaimed CD and the Vermont Music Library's work to preserve the state's contemporary musical heritage. Performing: Spencer Lewis, Native Daughters (Deb Flanders & Michele Choiniere), Paul Webb, Aaron Flinn's Salad Days, The Cush, Karen McFeeters, Social Band, Lar Duggan, Kris Gruen, James O'Halloran, Ken Mahren (and more!). Made possible by the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts.

Sample the music and learn more about the project here!. Proceeds from this event benefit the Vermont Music Library, vmls.org. Purchase your ticket at: FlinnTix or at the door.

Photos: Above, Aaron Flinn's Salad Days; below, Kris Gruen.

Photo: Below, Karen McFeeters.

Photo: Below, Native Daughters (Deb Flanders & Michele Choiniere).

Photo: Below, Social Band.

Photo: Below, Ken Mahren.

Photo: Below, Paul Webb.

Thank you to everyone who came out May 25th to celebrate the release of the ‘In Silver Light’ CD. Over a dozen singer-songwriters shared the intimate setting of the FlynnSpace stage and performed for a full, appreciative house. Made possible by the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, proceeds from the evening and sales of the compilation CD – a ‘breathtaking sampler of Vermont’s singer-songwriting and instrumental music’ – will benefit the Vermont Music Library and Shop.

From the Native Daughters (Michele Choiniere and Deb Flanders), a duo who combines traditional French Canadian songs with Vermont’s folk roots, to The Cush, an eclectic band fronted by Gabrielle and Burette Douglas, whose influences are old tape delays, wind and constellations, and analog equipment, the night unfolded with the eerie sounds of “The Last Whale,” by Ken Mahren and the joie de vivre of Aaron Flinn who hit us right in the heart and kept on strumming.

The sound filtered across the stage seamlessly and the diversity was captivating. As host, Spencer Lewis shared his genuine appreciation of each piece about to be performed and capped the evening on violin and acoustic guitar.

Our deepest thanks are extended to the artists who performed to celebrate the CD and support our work, and also to Harry Chalkin, Sound Engineer; Sean Larock, Engineering Assistant; Brian Johnson, FlynnSpace Manager; and Arnie Malina, Flynn Center Artistic Director; to the family farmers of Cabot Creamery and Jeb Norris, Mike Luoma, and the on-air staff of 104.7FM ‘The Point.’ And again, if you were able to attend, thank you for your support and for sharing this magical night with us!

You can sample and order the ‘In Silver Light’ CD here.

Photo: Ken Mahren performing ' The Last Whale.'

The Big Heavy World Record Label is working with Maine filmmaker Nikolai Fox to produce the soundtrack to 'Music for the Sky' a documentary video featuring six Vermont fiddlers carrying-forward old time fiddle traditions. A special preview of the film will be shown continuously at the Vermont Music Library & Shop booth in the Vermont History Expo Museum Tent, June 23 & 24, 10am-5pm.

The Vermont History Expo brings together 150 local historical societies, museums and heritage organizations from across the state to gather at the historic Tunbridge Worlds' Fairgrounds. The exhibits, music, food, presentations, performances, and family activities at the Expo are a stellar experience; enthusiasm for Vermont's deep, quirky, and treasured cultural heritage runs high and the annual Expo is always memorable.

The Vermont Music Library & Shop will also be displaying information about our work to preserve Vermont-made music and the 1907 L. S. Gordon general store building we are working to restore to become our archive. T-shirts and copies of the new 'In Silver Light' Vermont artists compilation CD will be available. Come meet Ryan, Jim, and Tonya from the crew!

Directons, admission, and information can be found at the Vermont History Expo web site.

Photo: Michael Donahue, featured in 'Music for the Sky,' photographed by Amanda Kowalski.

Maui In Ithaca played in Dorset Park last night as part of National Night Out - Big Heavy World's first year of working with the event. We had a parking lot and stage of our own; the music was great and the NNO personnel were especially good to us. Thanks to Joe Beaulieu and the 802 Booking Collective for putting and keeping things together, and to Diane and Jasmine Parsia for everything. We know we're all going to heck for stomping the Irish Cloggers with the volume (sorry!) but it was nice to take Sean Larock's new P.A. for a ride. Thanks to his technical genius and the generosity of Recycle North we've got the hardware to do more shows in more places now.

By Tonya West

It was Summer in South Burlington, when the band Maui in Ithaca took to the stage and performed for a gathering of teens and families at the National Night Out event in early August.

For the past 24 years, the first Tuesday of August is officially National Night Out, a 38 million strong event that drew upwards of 5,000 people locally to increase crime and drug prevention awareness and strengthen police-community partnerships. For this event, Big Heavy World collaborated with another organization, Partnership for Youth and Community Empowerment, to support positive youth involvement in the community through music.

“I heard great reviews of the band.” commented Catherine Welch, primary coordinator of the event. "I really hope we can continue this collaboration in the future.”

“I think the band idea was great for this year,” said volunteer Jasmine Parsia, who helped her mother (Diane Parsia, president of the PYCE board) with the event. “I will definitely go and help out again next year."

“National Night Out is a very critical event, particularly in the South Burlington area,” continued Jasmine, whose been attending since childhood. “Not to say that it shouldn't be done in neighboring towns or attended by people within those towns. It's clear that the families in the area are aware of what's going on in the community and want to be involved in fixing anything that may come up. I think National Night Out is great about informing people about resources, while still keeping it fun.”

A volunteer with Big Heavy since the age of 17, Joseph Beaulieu - now 26 -
helped coordinate the music for National Night Out. “I got into underground music through 242 Main (Burlington’s teen center). A lot of Burlington bands in the area are steadfast behind 242 and the kids who go to these events have taken a vow (of abstinence from all narcotics) called the ‘straight edge movement.’ I see that having a lot of draw (for National Night Out) down the road.”

“The whole idea of the National Night Out is great, supporting healthy life styles, drug free, alcohol free and so on” said Christopher Cormier, of Maui in Ithaca, who also performed a solo acoustic set called “A History of Magic.” “Although WE as a band would never push a life style upon someone or, push our life choices onto people, we think that educating people in such areas is vital. Getting information to teens about things they are going to have to deal with is always a good thing.”

Since 1998, PYCE has served the South Burlington community through its mentor program, Reach for the Stars, and Project YES, a weekly team that meets to discuss local, national and international issues. In 2001, PYCE introduced Family Day on the third Monday of September to promote the importance of sharing family meals.