Serving Cabot and the Region with Quality Arts Experiences
"Community is what we do together!"
The Cabot Arts and Music Festival
Artists
ROSE & THE BROS
Sat. 8:45-10pm/ Main Stage
Rose & The Bros are a powerhouse ensemble rooted in southern dance tradition with the addition of crooning vocal harmonies and country music influence. The band has a distinctive rhythmic presence which is based in the Louisiana sound, with additional Reggae and melodic drum tones. The band's goal has been to stay true to their own musical voices, while having a strong obligation to the dancer in their tempos and musical feel.
With a shared dream to simply have a blast while making people dance without stopping, Rosie Newton, Paul Martin, and Steve Selin set out to collect tunes and the rare ingredients of a no holds barred dance party. Once the trio had found their undeniable rhythm section in drummer Greg Evans, bassist Angelo Peters, and rub board/triangle player Sally Freund, Rose & The Bros became a six piece instant party and the band was complete. Now, Rose & The Bros continue forward, gathering strength and a warm following with infectious joy, a love for community, and a rollicking good time.
KIERAN KANE AND RAYNA GELLERT
Sat. 7:30- 8:20pm/ Main Stage
Kieran Kane laid the foundation for the contemporary world of Americana music. A successful solo artist, collaborator, and songwriter (with songs recorded by Alan Jackson, John Prine, Emmylou Harris, and many more), Kieran is a musician's musician: his playing is always understated, always groove-oriented, and always serving the song.
If Rayna Gellert seems a preternaturally gifted songwriter, it’s because she’s seen farther into the old songs than most. Growing up in a musical family, she turned to Appalachian old-time music at a young age, becoming a prodigious fiddler and leading a new revival of American stringband music through her work with the acclaimed roots band Uncle Earl. An in-demand collaborator, she has toured and recorded with artists such as Scott Miller, Abigail Washburn, Toubab Krewe, and Robyn Hitchcock.
THE MAMMALS
Sat. 6:00- 7:00pm/ Main Stage
The Mammals are folksingers Ruth Ungar, Mike Merenda, and a cohort of compelling collaborators who form a touring quintet on the fiddle, banjo, guitar, organ, bass, and drums. Over the past 20 years they have quietly composed a canon of original songs (“Some of the best songwriting of their generation” - LA Times) that both reflect our culture and offer a vision of how the world might yet be. “These days we sing about what we’re for over what we’re against,” says singer/songwriter, Mike Merenda, and what they're for is "nothing short of sublime” according to (Americana UK).
“Hailed by many as Americana trailblazers and exuding togetherness on stage, [The Mammals] are also gently-mannered activists with well-crafted songs that successfully ask potent questions and raise issues to probe how we can improve the planet. They deliver their material persuasively and in an eloquent manner with enjoyment of their music underpinning the approach overall. The music is the motivator throughout.”
SOGGY PO BOYS
Sat. 4:00- 5:00pm/ Main Stage
The Soggy Po Boys, native to New England, have quickly become an institution. They are spreading the good news of New Orleans music across the northeast and beyond, playing at concert halls and street corners; music festivals and burlesque festivals; bars and libraries; wherever the party requires. Part of the beauty of New Orleans music is that it's celebrated and appreciated wherever it goes, from the street to the theater.
The Po Boys formed in 2012 to shake the walls of a local club on a Fat Tuesday but have honed their sound and become more than a Mardi Gras centerpiece. Exploring the vast musical traditions of New Orleans and expanding their repertoire to look beyond NOLA jazz, the band includes traditional Caribbean tunes (it’s been said that New Orleans is the northernmost city in the Caribbean), as well as Meters funk, soul, and brass band / street beat music.
The Soggy Po Boys are...
Stu Dias- Vocals / Guitar
Eric Klaxton- Clarinet/Sop. Sax
Josh Gagnon - Trombone
Nick Mainella- Tenor Sax
Mike Effenberger- Piano
Brian Waterhouse- Drums
Scott Kiefner- Bass
BRAD AND KEN KOLODNER
WITH ALEX LACQUEMENT
Sat. 2:00- 2:50pm/ Main Stage
Brad Kolodner is an acclaimed clawhammer banjo player who performs with the chart-topping Irish, Old-Time, Bluegrass fusion quartet Charm City Junction. He’s recorded four albums of Old-Time and original music with his father Ken under the name Ken & Brad Kolodner including their latest Billboard-charting release Stony Run
(2020). He's performed across the country on some of the biggest stages for Folk and Roots music including the Kennedy Center, Strathmore, American Folk Festival, Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Charm City Bluegrass Festival and Old Songs Folk Festival. His debut solo album Chimney Swifts released in the fall of 2021.
Brad is a major driver behind the bustling Old-Time and Bluegrass scene in his hometown of Baltimore. He co-founded the bi-weekly Baltimore Old Time Jam, monthly Baltimore Square Dance and the annual Baltimore Old-Time Music Festival held at the Creative Alliance.
"Banjo player Brad Kolodner takes the clawhammer style to heady heights, soloing with the deftness of a bebop player, despite the physical limitation of doing so on his plunking instrument." - WMOT Radio
MODERN TIMES THEATER
Sat. 1:00- 1:50pm / Main Stage
Rose Friedman and Justin Lander are the founding members of Modern Times Theater. They create traditional Punch and Judy shows about modern life, particularly life in Vermont.
Modern Times Theater has been making and touring puppet shows and variety acts and creating public community events since 2007. They say they pursue a radically divergent model of art making, creating venues in unlikely locations, and revitalizing the historic, run-down, and defunct. Working in populist theater forms, they seek to reinvent and reimagine classic American entertainment.
Co-founders Friedman and Lander are a husband-and-wife duo, producers for Vermont Vaudeville, and alumni of the Bread and Puppet Theater.
BOB AND SARAH AMOS
Sat. 12:00- 12:50pm / Main Stage
Bob & Sarah Amos present a wide variety of songs in an intimate style, with mezmerizing vocal harmonies accompanied by Bob's formidable guitar talents. Bob has written and recorded over 100 songs on 12 CDs over the past 30 years. His songs reflect many influences and styles including folk, bluegrass, blues, Celtic, pop and rock-a-billy. Vocalist Sarah Amos has been singing professionally for over 10 years, and currently performs with her father in their duo and in their full Americana/Bluegrass band. In their duo show Bob and Sarah step outside of their regular bluegrass setting, performing a wider selection of songs from Bob’s diverse musical catalog, plus a few of their favorite traditional and more modern covers.
From 1988-2003 Bob was the lead vocalist, guitarist, songwriter and front man for acclaimed Sugar Hill recording artists Front Range, one of the top contemporary bluegrass bands of that time. Over their fifteen year history Front Range recorded seven CDs, received lots of airplay on americana and bluegrass radio stations, and performed at concert venues and music festivals throughout the United States and in Europe. Their album One Beautiful Day , consisting mostly of original material written by Bob, won the International Bluegrass Music Association's Gospel Recorded Event of the Year.
POINTE NOIR CAJUN BAND
FRIDAY FESTIVAL LAUNCH
7:00- 9:00pm / WILLEY BUILDING
Pointe Noir Cajun Band, Vermont's newest Cajun dance band, plays an uplifting combination of exciting dance music, country songs, and Cajun tunes from Lafayette and beyond.
Katie Trautz is a seasoned fiddle player, who drifted south to the Bayou after many years of playing Old-Time music. Chris Hollis, the Montpelier-based old-time guitar player, also found an interest in Cajun music, and together he and Katie traveled to Louisiana to learn the musical traditions there. Helen Doyle plays bass, and grew up surrounded by many different styles of traditional music. Cannon Labrie is a long-time Cajun and Zydeco accordion player, playing with well-known New England bands Yankee Chank, Jeannie and the High Tops and Planet Zydeco.
CORRUGATED SPECTACLES
Sat. 3:00-3:30pm & 4:00-4:30pm
Common Stage
Corrugated Spectacles are puppeteers Caitlin Ross, Denise Rogers Valenzuela, and musician Arvin Heidari.
United by their interest in cardboard, political puppetry, and whimsy, they created Variety Box in 2021. Since then, they have presented different iterations of their cardboard toy theatre circus at Objecto Festival in Toronto, Café Concret, The Wiggle Room, and OUF! Festival Off Casteliers in Montreal.
After their performance at OUF!, they received the Phenomena Award, which entailed a week-long residency at Festival Phénomena’s studio in February 2023. Corrugated Spectacles continue to develop the show Variety Box, which addresses ecosocial and feminist topics with glitz, humour and everyday materials—especially corrugated cardboard.
DANCE STAGE AT THE WILLEY BUILDING AUDITORIUM
3064 Main Street - Cabot Village
Dance #1 Cabot Family Contra Dance 2-4pm
with The Cabot House Band / Luke Donforth calling
Everyone is welcome, all dances are taught, and don’t require any special skills or level of coordination. Anyone can dance with anyone (the dances don’t rely on gender), generally changing partners with each dance. You can come to the dance alone, with a friend or sweetheart, or your whole family!
Dance #2 Contra Dance 4-6pm
with Oliver Scanlon and Everest Witman / Will Mentor calling
Cabot Arts is thrilled to present the regions most highly regarded Contra Dance musicians: From Vermont, Oliver Scanlon, from Montreal, Everest Witman - plus, Vermont's own dance caller extraordinaire, Will Mentor!
SONGWRITERS
ROUND ROBIN
Sat. 3:00-3:50pm
UNITED CHURCH
The Festival's featured songwriters share the stage for an intimate round robin of songs and stories behind the songs. With Kieran Kane, Ruth Ungar, Bob Amos, and special guests.
OLDTIME SESSION
Sat. 5:00-5:50pm
UNITED CHURCH
This curated jam session features several of our festival performers. Rayna Gellert, Rosie Newton, Brad Kolodner, Alex Lacquement, and special guests.
TIM JENNINGS
Sat. 3:30-4:00pm & 4:30-5:00pm
Common Stage
Tim Jennings is a legendary Vermont storyteller with 40 years of performing all over New England and across North America. His dynamic folktelling style has been featured in such venues as The National Storytelling Festival, Kennedy Library, Nantucket Atheneum, Champlain Festival, Old Songs, Clearwater, Toronto Storytelling Festival, etc. (Not to mention Cabot 12th Night.)
During the 1980s his solo folktale performances were often featured on Vermont Public Television. Since the passing of his wife Tim has resumed his solo career of folk storytelling, concertina music, and vaudeville variety."
Fire dancers and LED flow artists
from NorthEast Fire Entertainment
Sat. 8:30-10:00pm
On the Common
