BRATTLEBORO — The Brattleboro Music Center's fourth annual Northern Roots Traditional Music Festival will take place on Saturday, Jan. 29. Each year, the festival brings together local and regional musicians representing the best of various northern musical traditions. This year's festival features more than 20 musicians and the rich traditions of Ireland, Scotland, England, Sweden, New England and French Canada.
The festival has become a unique opportunity for Brattleboro's vibrant community of traditional musicians to come together to share their music with each other and the community at large. The festival also draws on the richness of talent in the broader region, with players from throughout New England coming to perform, teach and participate in informal sessions.
“The festival focuses on small ensembles and solo players whose talent brings us to the heart of the beauty of traditional music,” explains festival director Keith Murphy. “Our day of teaching workshops gives a fresh boost to students in a variety of styles and on various instruments, while intimate daytime performances are a unique listening opportunity for all and the series of jam sessions at our local pub are simply exuberant.”
The Northern Roots Festival is a daylong event featuring participation workshops, concerts, pub sessions, a youth session, dance band, and family dance, all of which culminates in an evening performance celebrating the best of the northern musical traditions.
Among the musicians featured in this year's evening performance and leading daytime workshops are Scandinavian fiddlers Bruce Sagan and lydia ievins; Irish fiddler Sarah Blair; singer of traditional American and English songs Jeff Warner; traditional Irish fiddler Elly Marshall; and guitarist Owen Marshall.
An exciting addition to the evening program this year will be the beginning of a new festival tradition - the Traddleboro ensemble. With a name reflecting the rich presence of traditional players in Brattleboro, Traddleboro promises to be a shifting conglomeration of local musicians who create and perform a set of music specifically for the Northern Roots Festival.
This year's Traddleboro will consist of fiddlers Becky Tracy and Lissa Schneckenburger, along with accordionist Andy Davis and a guest appearance from Scottish piper Dan Houghton.
Also leading daytime events are Keith Murphy, Randy Miller, Peter Amidon, Mary Alice Amidon, Tony Barrand, David Cantieni, Jessie Gagne-Hall, Gordon Peery, Mary Cay Brass, Corey DiMario, Mary Lea, Louisa Pugh, and Doug Creighton.
Returning daytime favorites include the Dance Band workshop with Andy Davis and Mary Cay Brass, followed by a Family Dance featuring the newly formed band. Also on the daytime schedule are workshops for Irish fiddle, fiddle styles, DADGAD guitar, Swedish tunes for all instruments, Scottish tunes for all instruments, and singing traditional tunes.
This year's festival, with an emphasis on engaging youth, invites young traditional musicians to learn two supplied tunes before the festival, take part in a day-time Youth Session lead by Jessie Gagne-Hall, and then perform the rehearsed tunes during the evening performance. Tunes to learn in advance can be found on the BMC's website.
For the youngest followers of Traditional Music, Peter and Mary Alice Amidon perform a Family Concert to be immediately followed by the Family Dance.
Daytime performances also include; “Know it? I wrote it!” with original tunes from David Cantieni, Becky Tracy, Lissa Schneckenburger, Corey DiMario, and Owen Marshall; Songs of the Best with Tony Barrand, Jeff Warner, Lissa Schneckenburger and Keith Murphy; and mini-concerts with Randi Miller, Gordon Peery, and Dan Houghton.
“We have so many accomplished traditional musicians here in Brattleboro, many of whom tour widely around the country and beyond,” says Murphy. “Northern Roots has become a wonderful opportunity to bring this community and our regional peers together for a fantastic day of music.”
The majority of the festival events happen at the New England Youth Theatre, which allows for multiple teaching sessions to happen simultaneously throughout the building, along with performances in the main theater and even a family dance on the stage. McNeill's Brewery is only a couple of blocks away and is a perfect place for a rollicking afternoon of jam sessions in various traditional styles.
Tickets for the Northern Roots Festival (combination day and evening $30, daytime only $18, evening only $18; youth combination day and evening $15, youth day only $10, youth evening only $10) are available from the Brattleboro Music Center at www.bmcvt.org or 802-257-4523). Advance ticket purchase is recommended, evening performance seating is limited. Admission at 3 p.m. for the family concert and dance is $5 at the door.
On Saturday, during the festival, tickets can be purchased at New England Youth Theatre, 100 Flat Street, with doors opening at 11:30 a.m. For the complete festival schedule of events visit www.bmcvt.org or call 802-257-4523.