Area musicians will be showcasing their talents throughout the day at CORNSTOCK this Saturday, May 21 from noon to 6 pm at Retreat Farm on Rt. 30 in Brattleboro, Vermont, to benefit Youth Services. Presented by Chroma Technology, the music will reflect distinct genres throughout the day. The line-up starts off with the 7-person ensemble Putney Jazz, followed by a Capella performers Shoulder Narrows, and concluding with the duos Steve Carmichael & Bill Conley and instrumentalists Mary Cay Brass & Laurie Indenbaum.
Putney Jazz is a Putney School student group focusing on improvisation in the jazz tradition, exploring a wide range of classic and contemporary repertoire. According to Director David Ross, previous graduates have gone on to Oberlin Conservatory, New England Conservatory and Berklee College of Music and their interests can be eclectic.
Ross cited the example of Spencer Tepper, the band’s student leader, who is exploring music school in classical and jazz trombone when he is not playing video games competitively at an international level. Another, Emma Townsend, on guitar, Ross described, as currently building her own guitar from scratch as part of a senior project. “The group is regularly featured at Putney events both at the school and in the community and dancing during the performance is encouraged!” Ross said.
Next up is Shoulder Narrows, started in 2004 by male students at Brattleboro Union High School that wanted to sing a Capella. It is presently a student run, low-voice a Capella group with members from all around the greater Brattleboro area. The group can sing just about any genre in the a Capella style, including pop, jazz, R & B, country and Broadway, according to Jonah Johnson, one of the group’s leaders.
Shoulder Narrows create all the melodies, rhythms, and harmonies with their voices alone by dividing into separated voice parts. “Our group continued to sing together during the pandemic doing our best to bring some light into the darkness through music,” recalled Johnson. Cornstock will be their first performance in two years and Johnson said they hope it will be the start of an a cappella music revival in Brattleboro.
Seasoned local entertainers Steve Carmichael and Bill Conley are teaming up to perform for the CORNSTOCK crowds. Steve Carmichael has been singing and fingerpicking the guitar in the Brattleboro area for over thirty years, covering a wide range of styles, genres, and songwriters. Bill Conley, most recently the guitarist for Jazzberry Jam, will play dobro and lap steel guitars.
Mary Cay Brass and Laurie Indenbaum will wrap up the day of musical entertainment performing a mix of French Canadian and Scandinavian tunes on fiddle and accordion.
Up to 24 teams can play cornhole every hour, on the Farmhouse Square through advanced registration at $25 per person. Walk-ups are welcome for $50 per person if space allows. Beyond playing cornhole, there is cheering on the cornhole matches, this live musical entertainment, food trucks, the Thirsty Goat Pub and the Creemie Stand for a $5 per person suggested donation at the gate. Lawn chairs and sunscreen are encouraged by organizers as well as masks (optional) and social distancing.
Youth Services Corporate Sponsors for 2022 include Pacesetters Brattleboro Subaru, The Richards Group and Headwater Precision, Presenters: Chroma, NorthStar, GS Precision. Sustainers:Berkley & Veller Greenwood Country Realtors;Brattleboro Savings & Loan;C&S Wholesale Grocers;DMI Paving; Law Office ofCrispe & Crispe;Edward Jones Investment;H & R Block;New Chapter;802 Credit Union; Silver Forest of Vermont, Inc; Swiss Precision Turning; Vermont Country Deli and VSECU. Patron Sponsors are Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC; Market 32 Golub Foundation; Stevens & Associates; and Trust Co. of Vermont. Associate Sponsors are: Cota & Cota, Inc; ClearChoiceMD Urgent Care;Phillips, Shriver, Dunn & Carroll; Shoe Tree and WW Building Supply.
For more information or to register a team of four or more ahead of Saturday, visit youthservicesinc.org/cornstock; email info@youthservicesinc.org; or call Registrar Kim Bonnette at (802) 257-0361 x131.