Newz from Big Heavy World

During the month of November, 2004 the VMLS presented an exhibit of black & white portrait photography by Matthew Thorsen at the Metropolitan Art Gallery in Burlington's City Hall, documenting musicians and bands of the Burlington music scene during the 1990’s. The opening celebration on November 12 featured performances by Patrick Fitzsimmons with Rob Meehan, Jenn Karson, and Aaron Flinn at the Arthur R. Contois Auditorium. This exhibit was supported by Burlington City Arts, Advance Music, Circle B Press, and Reprographics and is hung permanently at the VMLS. Photo: Matthew Thorsen by James Lockridge

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.

Burlington Mayor Peter Clavelle has issued a March 30, 2006 Proclamation naming Big Heavy World as "Burlington's Music Embassy" in celebration our ten years of involvement in support and preservation of local music. Peter's kindness and openness through the years has been a source of optimism for us as we've grown. Knowing that Burlington's city administration recognizes and respects the contributions of local artists - musical and otherwise - to the livability and economy of our community has been a sustaining force. We wish Peter well as he follows his muse in the civilian realm, and we welcome our new Mayor, Bob Kiss, to City Hall

'SIGNAL TO NOISE' LIVE CONCERT COLLECTION DONATED TO VMLS
Pete Gershon, publisher and editor of 'Signal to Noise," has contributed a collection of more than 500 live concert tapes to the VMLS. Represented are dozens of performances, circa 1995-1998, by legendary regional artists including Phish, Science Fixion, Belizbeha, and The Pants, and venues like The Front, Club Toast, Sneakers, The Last Elm Cafe, and Rio's Cantina. The collection uniquely captures this vibrant era of live music local to Burlington; we're stunned by this gift and grateful to be trusted with its preservation. "'Signal to Noise' is the quarterly journal of improvised & experimental music, documenting the confluence of avant-garde jazz, electro-acoustics and experimental, modern rock," http://www.signaltonoisemagazine.org

The VMLS is now the delighted steward of the century-old L.S. Gordon general store in Starksboro, Vermont - the future home of our Vermont music recording archive. Friends of our mission to preserve Vermont's musical heritage are making this possible, purchasing the 1907 building and renovating it with a preservation plan made possible by a grant funded through the Robert Sincerbeaux Fund of the Preservation Trust of Vermont.

By Casey Kaufman
Illustration by Ginny Joyner

Can an effort to preserve Vermont's music also help save a historic landscape? That is the goal of Big Heavy World’s newest project; the restoration of a century-old abandoned building to become a climate controlled archive of music from the 'Green Mountain State'.

With headquarters in downtown Burlington, Big Heavy World is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Vermont's original music. Staffed mostly by volunteering teens, it was founded in 1996 and has been collecting and cataloging Vermont-made music as The Vermont Music Library since 1998.

The building is located on a rock ledge overlooking the valley along Lewis Creek at the north end of Starksboro's historic village district. Starksboro is in Addison County, a region that's emblematic of Vermont's agricultural traditions. "Our attraction to the structure arose from its location," says Big Heavy World Executive Director James Lockridge. "The archive building overlooks Lewis Creek Farm and the Hogback Mountains. It's scenic and peaceful, a great home for the music." This restoration will be a nice addition to the area’s recent trend of preserving buildings on the verge of demolition as opposed to neglecting or gutting them.

Volunteers gathered over two weekends in July to prepare our 1908 VMLS Archive building for restoration. They sweat through hot summer days to clear debris from the property, an effort made possible by Myers Container Service which donated two 30-yard dumpsters. Both were filled to the top, with the crews ending up dirty and proud of the work accomplished. Pepsi gave us the drinks that got us through the days. Thank you Myers & Pepsi!

Thanks to all who joined us on Thursday, September 7 at the King Street Ferry Docks in Burlington to help celebrate the launch of the Lake Champlain Basin Program Audio Interpretation Program! A press conference (that also celebrates the unveiling of the new 2009 Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration logo) began at 4pm with Governor Douglas joining us, and at 5pm all were welcome to board the 'Adirondack', America's oldest ferry in continuous service, for a free half-hour cruise. Rik Palieri hosted an acoustic community jam, with thanks to Advance Music for their support.
The LCBP Audio Interpretation Program is an 80-minute audio program that describes the history, culture and recreational opportunities found on Lake Champlain, combined with original Vermont-made music and broadcast to travelers by a micro-radio transmitter from the deck of the 'Adirondack.' The Lake Champlain Basin Program created and directed the project, involving the VMLS in coordination of the audio content.

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!

'In Silver Light' is a breathtaking sampler of Vermont's singer-songwriting and instrumental music. Atmospheric tracks mesh to create a mesmerizing listening experience that will remind you of how fortunate we are as Vermonters to count such talented artists as our neighbors. Order 'In Silver Light' for yourself, family and friends and look here for news of the upcoming CD release celebration! Proceeds benefit the VMLS. 'In Silver Light' artists include: Spencer Lewis, James O'Halloran, Karen McFeeters, Kris Gruen, Jess Clemons, Paul Webb with Patti Casey, Dan Zura, The Cush, Patrick Fitzsimmons, Native Daughters (Deb Flanders and Michele Choiniere), Ken Mahren, Social Band, Lar Duggan, and Aaron Flinn. Above, the CD cover image, "Harvest Time." a hand-colored photograph by Lincoln, VT artist Victoria Blewer.

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.'

Hey philatelists: Big Heavy World and the U.S. Post Office put together a pictorial postmark commemorating May 25 - a special day for us as we released the 'In Silver Light' compilation CD project at the FlynnSpace that night. We produced a few dozen caches that one day on offset-printed envelopes. It has a Henry Wadsworth Longfellow stamp and the Big Heavy World/Vermont Music Library official U.S. Post Office postmark on top of Josh Perrin's photo of the F-Bombs. Grab one for $2 at the Big Heavy office. Big thanks to Ginny Friedman at the USPS and John Lutz at Vermont Stamp for helping us figure this one out.

Big Heavy World has been preserving and promoting the music of Vermont since 1996. Working with a crew of mostly high school and college-aged volunteers, we've archived thousands of recordings by Vermont's musical artists at our Vermont Music Library & Shop and exposed hundreds of Vermont's musicians to new audiences. A lot of this work has been accomplished - and our web sites hosted - on equipment that Small Dog Electronics gave us or helped us acquire.

We've recently been given a century-old general store building in Addison County that is undergoing restoration to become a climate controlled archive for the VMLS recording collection. While raising capital for that effort, we're also fundraising to purchase equipment that will allow us to digitize the collection, aiming to meet the highest standards of digital cultural preservation. Small Dog is helping us with this goal by providing a donations page that accepts contributions to a VMLS-dedicated hardware account at Small Dog.

Your contribution, via a purchase from this page of a donation in any increment of $25, will help us acquire the hardware needed to preserve this unique cultural legacy. Your donation will be added to that of others with a similar interest in this preservation effort, and cumulatively enough funding will be raised to purchase the Apple equipment we need. Thank you for contributing!

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.