MIDDLEBURY — Area residents have grown accustomed to seeing Abigail Nessen Bengson on the Town Hall Theater stage as one of the performers in “Night Fires,”  a celebration of the winter solstice.
Well, her Addison County fans will have a chance to see her on a national stage this Friday, May 9. That’s when Nessen Bengson will appear with the Tune-Yards musical group on the NBC-TV’s “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” Nessen Bengson is a vocalist with the very popular group, now in the midst of its “Nikki Nack” tour through the U.S. and Europe.
The news was confirmed on Monday by Abigail’s proud mom, Kathy Nessen.
Nessen Bengson’s musical career has been on an upward trajectory for the past couple of years. She and her husband, Shaun Bengson, perform as “The Bengsons” and recently concluded a triumphant tour of their folk rock odyssey “Hundred Days” in San Francisco. Nessen Bengson, 31, was asked to tour with Tune-Yards, and she accepted.
As a youngster, Nessen Bengson attended both the Bridge School and Gailer School in Middlebury. Her mother, as well as her father, Dick Nessen, continue to reside locally. She has been a performer in “Night Fires” since she was 6 years old, according to her mom.
“The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” airs on NBC at 11:30 p.m. EDT.