Arts Beat 8/30/2010

The Ripton Community Coffee House, a nonprofit community concert series, welcomes award-winning singer-songwriter Devon Sproule on Saturday, at the Ripton Community House.  

The daughter of hippie parents, Devon Sproule was born on a commune in Kingston, Ontario, and shuffled between home schooling, public and private education. She eventually left high school, recorded her first record, and began touring nationally — all before the age of 18. 

Her music crosses a lot of lines stylistically. There is folk, country, bluegrass, and even a little jazz at times. Running throughout it all is a talent for lyrics. She is at heart a storyteller who is able to imprint images into the minds of her listeners. Songs of life, relationships, and some personal philosophy thrown in for good measure are all entertaining and challenging, and they make you think.

Her third CD, “Upstate Songs,” made Rolling Stone’s “Critics’ Top Albums” list in 2003. Paste Magazine called her 2007 recording, “Keep Your Silver Shined,” “the sexiest, sultriest Southern album since Lucinda’s ‘Car Wheels on a Gravel Road.’” Supporting the record, Sproule toured with Woodstock legend Richie Havens and Lambchop frontman Kurt Wagner, and supported back-to-back nights in London with Lucinda Williams herself. In December 2009, the ASCAP Foundation awarded Sproule its prestigious Sammy Cahn Award for lyric writing.

Her newest CD, “Don’t Hurry Heaven,” presents Sproule in a deluxe setting that utilizes slippery folk, country, pop and reggae backdrops for the singer’s refreshingly sunny, surprisingly unguarded lyrical constructs. Husband Peter Curreri produced the recording and provided electric guitars, keyboards and some vocals along with steel guitar legend BJ Cole. Eight of the 10 tracks are originals; covers include a hypnotic, neo-psychedelic take on Black Uhuru’s “Sponji Reggae.”

As always, the concert begins at 7:30 p.m. with a one-hour open-mike set, followed by the featured performers. Open-mike performers are encouraged to call in advance and reserve one of the five open-mike slots.

Admission to the coffeehouse is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and $3 for children. The economically challenged may pay what they can afford. Refreshments will benefit the coffeehouse. The Ripton Community House is wheelchair accessible but the restrooms are not. The coffeehouse is held on the first Saturday of each month, except August. For more information, contact Richard Ruane or Andrea Chesman at 388-9782.

ART EXHIBIT AT BRANDON MUSIC

Brandon Music is announces a public reception for the internationally recognized artist Warren Kimble and an exhibition of his contemporary art. The reception with Kimble will take place on Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m.

The works on display will be from several of his new collections, “Let the Sun Shine,” “Widows of War,” and Kimble’s other contemporary paintings. These works are bright, vibrant and heavily textured abstract paintings, quite different than the pastoral imagery of his earlier folk art paintings. Several beautiful paintings will be included from the dramatic and acclaimed collection recently displayed at the Shelburne Museum, “The Widows of War.” These collections have also recently been on show at Syracuse University and in New York City. Also included will be paintings from the “Let the Sun Shine” collection, receiving the world premiere showing at Brandon, paintings that evoke feelings of hope and promise of the future.

The artwork will be displayed for viewing and sale in the music café  and The Gallery at Brandon Music. Interestingly, the Brandon Music Café is the same studio and gallery that Kimble had worked in several years ago. The show is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily (but closed on Tuesday).

Brandon Music is located at 62 Country Club Road opposite the Neshobe Golf Club on Route 73E in Brandon. For more information call Clare Schick at 465-4071.

LIVE MUSIC AT 51 MAIN

There will be three performances of live music this week at 51 Main. Loose Change will perform at 8 p.m. on Wednesday. Daniel Mench-Thurlow and Eben Schumacher are two high-school students from Vermont who play a mixture of blues, classic rock and original songs. Some of their greatest influences are the Allman Brothers Band, Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, and the Doors. They have been playing together for about two years, and enjoy performing and sharing their music.

Then, at 9 p.m. on Friday, Guagua will play an evening of original “psychotropical jazz” blending guitar, piano and horn melodies with tropical African, Caribbean and Brazilian polyrhythms for a uniquely exuberant and danceable sound.

Finally, at 9 p.m. on Saturday, the Neil Pearlman Band will offer an evening of Scottish music with a heavy dose of Latin, funk and jazz. Pianist Neil Pearlman is rapidly distinguishing himself as a uniquely innovative artist in the contemporary traditional music scene and his newest project continues that trend. Drawing on a wide variety of musical influences, Pearlman and his fellow musicians take traditional Scottish and Irish melodies to unexpected and exciting places.  High-energy and grooving, their music may be difficult to classify but is anything but difficult to listen to.

All ages, no cover. For additional information visit www.go51main.com or phone 388-8209.

TWO BROTHERS TAVERN

On Friday Two Brothers Tavern in Middlebury will feature Wagon, at 10 p.m. A blues-driven, rockin’, rollin’, funky party band, Wagon will keep you dancing all night. There is a $3 cover charge. For additional information, call 388-0002.

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