BELLOWS FALLS — Stage 33 Live, located at 33 Bridge St., will host a special evening of music with Tracy Grammer and Jim Henry on Friday, Oct. 4.
Tracy Grammer has recorded and performed with Joan Baez, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Eliza Gilkyson, and many more; headlined top festivals including Philadelphia Folk and Falcon Ridge, where she holds the record for the most consecutive appearances; and has been one of folk radio's top-played artists for years, both solo and with the late Dave Carter.
According to a news release, she “is among contemporary folk music's most beloved artists, renowned for her pure voice, deft guitar and violin work, and incantatory storytelling.”
Grammer rose to acclaim as half of the “postmodern, mythic American folk” duo Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer; they released three internationally celebrated, chart-topping albums, and were still in their ascendancy when Carter suffered a fatal heart attack mid-tour in 2002. Grammer has continued as a solo artist and with other musicians in a variety of configurations.
Her recent full-length release Low Tide was one of folk radio's top 10 most-played albums of 2018; voted among the top 10 albums of the year at Fish Records UK; and landed in the top ten albums of both the Folk Alley editor's list and reader's poll.
Tracy recently suffered a ruptured ACL, several ligament tears, and a fractured tibia, and consequently had to cancel 22 shows in a dozen western states. For a touring performer, this is a hard hit.
Through the grapevine, it came to Stage 33 Live's attention that shows within hobbling distance might be welcomed to help offset her medical expenses and lost income. (When she's not touring, she lives just across the border in Massachusetts - one of the unexpectedly many celebrated performers residing in the region who maintain a low profile at home.)
“We don't solicit performers, and she's way bigger than we are - but we offered the room anyway for whatever help it might be,” said Mark Piepkorn, founder of Stage 33 Live, in a news release.
All ticket and merchandise sales directly support the artist in a time of need. For longtime fans, tipping her a little extra for enriching your life and generally putting light into a world that can be pretty dark is welcome.
Grammer will perform with multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Jim Henry, who has produced, recorded, played, and traveled the world with Mary Chapin Carpenter, Paula Cole, Shawn Colvin, Alison Krauss, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and many others.
Also a solo artist, Henry's work as a sideman is prized for his ability to add exactly what is needed.
A friend of the Stage 33 Live project since its inception, Will Stahl - songwriter, guitar player, and reluctant vocalist (“I'm the only one who knows the words”) - will open, and promises to play at least one song from his musical, My Little Town About Me.
Advance tickets are $20, and additional tipping is encouraged.
Stage 33 Live has seating for only 40, plus standing room; advance tickets purchased online through stage33live.com will have seats reserved until 40 is reached. All attendees, including day-of-show walk-ups, may bring their own portable seating to set up behind house chairs if they wish.
Online advance ticket sales will close early in the morning on the day of the show. Tickets at the door are $25, and a chair isn't guaranteed.
Doors open at 6 p.m., and the music starts at 7 p.m. The event will be recorded and filmed.