PUTNEY-Next Stage Arts and Twilight Music present a singer-songwriter showcase featuring Joy Clark, Luke Concannon, Midnight Betty, and Lizzy Mandell at Next Stage Saturday, Aug. 8, at 7:30 p.m.
Luke Concannon, Lizzy Mandell, and Midnight Betty will open the concert with an in-the-round set before Joy Clark’s quartet performs.
Joy Clark is a Louisiana-born singer-songwriter. Exploring themes of freedom, love, and self-acceptance, Clark’s music blends orchestral guitar work with bluesy lead guitar.
Like many of her peers, her musical journey began in her father’s church, where she led the congregation in song and created an inviting atmosphere. Her debut album, Tell It to the Wind, released on Ani DiFranco’s Righteous Babe Records, garnered critical acclaim and marked her arrival on the national stage.
She has toured with Grammy winner Cyril Neville and as a member of Allison Russell’s backing band, The Rainbow Coalition, earning opportunities to jam with superstars Brandi Carlile and the Indigo Girls.
Luke Concannon’s musical roots trace back to Irish family gatherings filled with guitars, singing, and dancing. As lead singer and co-writer of the U.K. No. 1 chart act Nizlopi—best known for “The JCB Song” and as a key influence on Ed Sheeran, who interned with the duo — Luke now thrives as a solo artist. His 2022 album, Ecstatic Bird in the Burning, debuted at No. 12 on both the U.K. and U.S. folk charts, earning widespread acclaim.
Midnight Betty — multi-instrumentalists and singers Chelle Martinez and Oriana Barros — mixes folk, country, indie, and pop music.
Lizzy Mandell has released two albums: Made for Flying — which won Times Argus/Rutland Herald Tammie Awards for Best Singer-Songwriter and Best Album in 2012 — and 2025’s To the Moon, created in partnership with fellow Vermonter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, vocalist, and tunesmith Colin McCaffrey.
Next Stage is at 15 Kimball Hill in downtown Putney. Tickets are $22 in advance, $26 at the door, and $10 for access to the livestream. Advance tickets are available at nextstagearts.org. Next Stage will provide a beer, wine, and cocktail cash bar. For information, call 802-387-0102.
This Arts item was submitted to The Commons.