Friday, April 27 at 7:30 pm CANTRIP w/ McCLIMENT'S IRISH HOUSE BAND Tickets: $14 General / $12 Students and Seniors Ticket reservations and info: 802-254-9276 Venue: Hooker-Dunham Theater & Gallery at 139 Main Street in downtown Brattleboro, VT

Twilight Music presents an evening of high energy Scottish music from Edinburgh and New England by fiddle/bagpipe/guitar trio Cantrip, and traditional Irish music by fiddler Randy Miller, guitarist Roger Kahle and multi-instrumentalist Ross Kahle.   Cantrip has been stunning audiences on several sides of the Atlantic since the end of the last century with its driving blend of twin fiddles, bagpipes and guitar.  The name is an Old Scots word meaning a charm, magic spell or piece of mischief and it aptly describes the unexpected twists and turns in their musical arrangements as well as the compelling potency of their musicianship.  While firmly rooted in the Scottish tradition, Cantrip's music takes influences from, and excursions into, music from the Scandinavian, Balkan, Basque, Breton and Québécoise traditions.  Founding members Dan Houghton (highland bagpipes, borderpipes and smallpipes, flute, whistles, voice) and Jon Bews (fiddle, mandolin, voice) along with Eric McDonald (guitar) create a sound that is energetic and inspiring in the reels and jigs, sensitive and contemplative in the slow airs and never without a touch of humor.  Cantrip formed itself rather organically from a Thursday-night session in a pub at the top of Edinburgh's Royal-Mile.  By 2002, Jon Bews, Gavin Marwick, Dan Houghton and Cameron Robson had recorded their first album “Silver” and in 2005, the long awaited second album “Boneshaker” was released on the Mischief label, followed by “Piping The Fish” in 2008.  Dan Houghton has played and taught pipes extensively throughout New England, Britain and Europe, and has toured as a soloist as well as in various ensembles, including the Scottish fusion band Salsa Celtica, and the New Zealand Irish band Blackthorn.  In addition to performing with Cantrip and the acclaimed vocal-led Scottish band Malinky, Jon Bews has earned a reputation for himself as a dance fiddler, playing for Scottish Country Dance classes and balls all over Europe.  Boston-based, Berklee College of Music graduate Eric McDonald performs with celtic, contradance band Matching Orange, and New England Scottish Fiddle Champion Katie McNally. Veteran Irish session musicians Randy Miller, Roger Kahle and Ross Kahle (Randy and Roger have hosted the Wednesday night Irish session at J.D. McCliment’s Pub in Putney, VT for the past three years) have played traditional Celtic music throughout the US and Europe.  Randy mixes Irish, Cape Breton and Celtic fiddle styles with his own ornamentation and bowing techniques, accompanied by Roger’s DADGAD rhythm guitar and Ross’ bodhran, tin whistles and 4-string Irish style banjo. For more information, visit www.cantrip-music.co.uk and www.hookerdunham.org.

Sunday, May 6 at 7:30 pm TONY TRISCHKA & TERRITORY w/ HOT MUSTARD Tickets: $18 General / $16 Students and Seniors  Ticket reservations and info: 802-254-9276  Venue: Next Stage at 15 Kimball Hill in downtown Putney, VT

Twilight Music presents International Bluegrass Music Association Banjo Player of the Year Tony Trischka and his band Territory, plus double banjo bluegrass quartet Hot Mustard. Tony Trischka is perhaps the most influential banjo player in the roots music world.  For more than 35 years, his stylings have inspired a whole generation of bluegrass and acoustic musicians, including Bela Fleck – one of his early students.  Trischka has been a key figure in opening the banjo and acoustic music in general to wider influences, having shared the stage and studio with the likes of Steve Martin, David Grisman, John Denver, The Boston Pops, Jorma Kaukonen, Sam Bush, Chris Thile, Peter Rowan, Earl Scruggs and countless others.  He has appeared on “Late night with David Letterman,” Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion" and "Mountain Stage," and is featured on the soundtrack of the film “Driving Miss Daisy’ and the theme song of the NPR show “Books on the Air.” With his fearless musical curiosity as the guiding force, Tony Trischka's latest critically acclaimed release “Territory” roams widely through the banjo's creative terrain, exploring a panorama of tunings, banjo sounds and traditions with fellow banjoists Pete Seeger, Mike Seeger, Bill Evans, Bill Keith and Bruce Molsky.  His previous CD “Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular” received a Grammy Nomination and IBMA awards for Recorded Event of the Year and Instrumental Album of the Year. Trischka’s touring band Territory includes guitarist and vocalist Brandon Rickman, of The Lonesome River Band, fiddler Mike Barnett, from The Deadly Gentlemen and the David Grisman Quintet, and bassist Skip Ward, who has performed with Phoebe Snow, Cyndi Lauper and many other luminaries. “the godfather of what’s sometimes called new acoustic music” - New York Times “One of the most impressive banjoists alive” – Billboard Jenny Brook Bluegrass Festival band competition winner Hot Mustard features hard-driving double banjos, close harmonies and old-time fiddle tunes, all hot and spicy.  The Vermont/New Hampshire-based quartet includes Bruce Stockwell (banjo, vocals), April Hobart (guitar, vocals), Bill Jubett (banjo, fiddle, vocals) and Kelly Stockwell (acoustic bass).  Bruce Stockwell is a member of newgrass/folk trio The Stockwell Brothers, and the winner of the 2005 Merlefest bluegrass banjo contest. The concert is presented in conjunction with Next Stage Arts Project.  For more information, visit www.tonytrischka.com, www.hotmustardbluegrass.com and www.hookerdunham.org.

Coming Soon: June, July, August TWILIGHT ON THE TAVERN LAWN – Twilight Music presents its 10th annual series of free folk, world beat, rock, jazz, zydeco, Celtic, swing, blues and bluegrass concerts on the Putney Tavern Lawn starting June 1 and continuing every other Friday through August 24. 7/20 JONATHAN EDWARDS w/ LISA McCORMICK and THE STOCKWELL BROTHERS – Twilight Music presents an acoustic music triple bill featuring singer/songwriters Jonathan Edwards and Lisa McCorrmick and contemporary folk/newgrass trio The Stockwell Brothers at Next Stage.

 

Twilight Music Info: stobro@svcable.net, 802-254-9276 Hooker-Dunham Theater & Gallery 139 Main Street Brattleboro, VT Next Stage  15 Kimball Hill Putney, VT Greenhoe Theatre Landmark College River Road South Putney, VT New England Youth Theatre 100 Flat Street Brattleboro, VT