PUTNEY — Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present an evening of contemporary bluegrass and Americana music from far and near by California-based AJ Lee & Blue Summit and Vermont-based The Stockwell Brothers on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Although falling loosely under the bluegrass label, AJ Lee & Blue Summit generally plays without a banjo. Performers Sullivan Tuttle and Scott Gates are on acoustic guitars, AJ on mandolin, Jan Purat on fiddle, and Chad Bowen on acoustic bass.
Drawing from influences such as country, soul, swing, rock, and jam music, band members say they use the lens of bluegrass as a vessel through which to express and explore the thread that binds and unifies all great music.
Since their first concert in 2015, the quintet has performed around the world, released two CDs, and garnered numerous awards, including from the Northern California Bluegrass Society and the International Bluegrass Music Association.
Bruce, Barry, Alan, and Kelly Stockwell's music “spans traditional and progressive styles, but their trademark acoustic sound features new singer/songwriter material recast with banjo, alternative rhythms, and three-part harmonies,” say organizers.
Next Stage is located at 15 Kimball Hill in downtown Putney. Tickets are $22 in advance, $25 at the door. Advance tickets are available at nextstagearts.org. For information, call 802-387-0102. Next Stage will provide a beer, wine, and cocktail cash bar.