Bookstock: A Vermont treasure returns with its full festival experience

The Green Mountains around Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

The written word contains a simplicity and a majesty all its own. Its impact spans the history of the human experience. Writing can inspire, and beyond just that, it can be the catalyst for needed change. 

For all those reasons, books have held a special place in my heart, and I've celebrated their profound influence by enjoying many of them over the course of my life. But this week, the ultimate celebration of the written word returns to Woodstock, in person. That's Bookstock: the Green Mountain Festival of Words.

It was a special experience to write about the first Bookstock, over a decade ago, and it's a great honor to write about it now. Now, as then, something exciting is about to inspire us. For the first time in three years, writers, artists and book-lovers of all ages will gather in Woodstock Village for this special event, running from June 24 to 26. It means the large book sale under the tent will be back, right in the middle of Woodstock's historic Village Green, starting on Friday. And, a great selection of fine vintage books will be available at the nearby Norman Williams Public Library. Around the village at speaker events, authors, poets and artists will share their work with festival-goers, and hearts will be enriched, and minds expanded, from the abundance of ideas imparted.

It's really that act of sharing that makes Bookstock special, unique, and so engaging. That can mean a new idea from the words of an author, or a discussion with friends after learning a new concept, or picking up a new book and finding new inspiration in its pages. For all these reasons, events like Bookstock are vital. This festival celebrates not only Vermont’s rich literary culture — with Robert Frost, Rudyard Kipling, and many other greats calling it home over the decades — but also humanity itself and the rich palate of expression that defines our world, and pushes us to understand it better. 

It goes to the very heart of sharing our deepest thoughts and experiences with each other. It marks our commonalities, the things that bring us together as people. In the era of podcasts and ubiquitous digital content, it is still important to read and celebrate the written word and to interact with its creators. That experience of learning loses something without that personal interaction, that face-to-face connection with no screen in between. So what a treat it will be, to have Bookstock back in person. 

At the end of the day, the literary gem that is Bookstock benefits humanity as a whole. It adds profound meaning to the myriad hues of the human experience. Through our love of the written word, it encourages us to take a moment to open one more door in our busy minds, and to think about ideas in deeper ways. And those ways help us learn, they enrich us, and we grow. What a treasure to share with the world.

— Gareth Henderson

Find the event schedule and full details for Bookstock 2022 at www.bookstockvt.org.

Chester festival returns, adding music and new exhibits

Acoustic trio Moon Hollow, with Tim Cardiello, Charlie Peckar and John Jamison, performs at the Chester Festival on the Green on Saturday. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Reconnecting. It’s been a theme of 2021, and it was certainly happening for those attending the Chester Festival on the Green on Saturday in downtown Chester, Vermont.

The annual two-day festival has made its return after last year’s cancellation due to the pandemic, and it’s got several new features this time around — live music and agricultural exhibits and games, with a hay maze nearby. A variety of food vendors have been added, too. All this brought a big crowd in the mid-morning hours and into the afternoon. 

“I just like the fact that I ran into a bunch of people I haven’t seen for a couple of years,” said Brendan D’Angelo, of Windsor, who was there with some friends Saturday afternoon. 

One of them, Faith Wood, is the bassist with The Break Maids, performing in the music line-up, today, Sept. 19. Wood lives in Chester and was enjoying the atmosphere on the festival’s first day back in 2021. 

“I just love the fact that it’s outside, just a nice walk in a great, little town,” she said. 

The festival has been going for over 40 years, forming an event hub for many crafters and artisans in the region. But this weekend, as people checked out the various vendor booths on the Green and nearby, they’ve heard festival committee member Barre Pinske on his bullhorn, gently reminding people there’s new stuff this time. Saturday brought a great turnout. 

“I believe we killed it,” he said. “It’s been awesome.” 

People check out the various vendor tents in Chester on Saturday. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Pinske said the new additions to the festival were well received. 

“If you drive here or you’re visiting, now you get to experience more things,” he said. 

Ashley Cormack, owner of the Little Art Supply Store downtown, which she just opened on Labor Day, said mid-afternoon Saturday that she’d seen double the amount of cars arriving in town, compared to when she moved here and experienced the festival in 2018. Some of that traffic came into the store as well. 

“We’ve gotten a lot more people than we normally get on a Saturday,” Cormack said. 

Outside, just across the street on the Green, Cormack’s grandmother, Betty Rounds, was doing what she’s done for decades: selling her hand-made sweaters for children and other knitted creations at her tent. She's been knitting since she was a child growing up in Chester, having picked up the skill from her grandparents and her aunt. 

"I guess it’s in the family," she said with a smile, as several customers checked out the items in her tent Saturday afternoon. The crowds were there in droves by late morning, she said. 

Here are some of the sweaters by Betty Rounds, a longtime vendor at Chester’s annual festival. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Some festival-goers enjoyed hanging out and listening to the live music, located behind the Fullerton Inn and Restaurant downtown. The stage was set far back from some bleachers and the lawn, with food and drink offered nearby. In the nearby parking lot, a tractor would occasionally arrive to give wagon rides. 

On Saturday, Royalton-based musician Ali T and her band were providing the musical entertainment in the evening until 8 p.m. She was excited to join her friends on stage, since she usually performs solo. The band includes Bobby Gagnier, Skip Truman and Ed Eastridge — a Grammy award-winning sound engineer.

“It’s a nice opportunity to join my full band for change,” Ali T said, after checking out the hay maze on Saturday. 

The 2021 Chester festival’s final day is today, Sept. 19, with vendors and exhibits going until 4 p.m., and music from noon to 6 p.m. For more information, check out the website. 

— Gareth Henderson

Kids, adults and pets alike enjoyed the new hay maze at the Chester festival. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Venue grants awarded to Pentangle, VINS

A view of the mountains surrounding Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson)

As reopening efforts continue, more financial help is on its way for the many local venues that closed their doors during the pandemic. That’s thanks to the latest round of federal shuttered venue grants. 

Among the 59 Vermont recipients are Pentangle Arts Council in Woodstock, which will get a $96,969 grant, and the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) in Quechee, which was awarded a grant of $248,419. Overall, $18.7 million in grant assistance will go to eligible live music venues, movie theaters, and performing arts organizations in the Green Mountain State.

Alita Wilson, executive director of Pentangle, said the local nonprofit plans to reopen its theater this Saturday for a three-night run of the movie “In the Heights” — the theater had closed in March 2020. Wilson said the federal grant will be a huge help in covering reopening expenses, including the higher wages needed to pay projection staff, after some former employees moved on. 

“We’re thrilled we got this money,” she said.

It also helps add a financial buffer, Wilson added, since it’s not clear how many people will show up or if restrictions may happen again in the future. So far, Vermont officials have kept things as they are — statewide restrictions were lifted in June, including all capacity limits.

As for VINS, the Quechee organization closed for three months in 2020, and went through the winter with all indoor spaces closed. It reopened to full capacity after the state lifted all restrictions last month. Like Pentangle, VINS has used other federal relief, including the paycheck protection loan program, to stay afloat through the many challenges of the past 18 months.

“The whole range of programs designed to help organizations make up for revenue loss have been tremendously helpful,” said Charlie Rattigan, VINS’ executive director. 

With the generosity of many friends and supporters, along with the federal money, Rattigan said VINS was able to avoid layoffs or program cuts. Now, they’re able to run the usual summer schedule of four programs, daily, including camps. 

“It’s fun every day to hear the shouts and laughter of children through the open windows,” Rattigan said. 

Other nearby venues receiving the shuttered venues operators grants (SVOG) include JAG Productions Company, of White River Junction; Northern Stage, of White River Junction; Chandler Center for the Arts, of Randolph; Friends of the Historic Playhouse Theater, of Randolph; and the Paramount Theatre, of Rutland. Click here to access the full list of grantees and amounts.

The support of the Vermont Congressional Delegation was vital to the legislation containing the grants. The money was part of the Save Our Stages Act, which was introduced last year by U.S. Rep. Peter Welch. As chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy played a key role in getting this legislation signed into law and funds appropriated for the grants. In a joint statement, Welch, Leahy and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders noted the importance of these venues to local communities.

“What began as the ‘Save Our Stages’ movement over a year ago, has now materialized into meaningful relief for the venues we know and love,” the delegation said. “Our independent live music and entertainment venues not only bring joy and energy to our downtowns and communities, they are economic engines that help make Vermont such a special place to live and visit.”

— Gareth Henderson

Krishna Guthrie: Honoring legendary roots, and forging his own path

Krishna Guthrie, descendent of American music pioneers Woody and Arlo Guthrie, has forged his own career path in Vermont but also stays close to his roots. (Chris Lillie Photo)

Not surprisingly, Krishna Guthrie’s childhood was steeped in music. He remembers being backstage as a young child, hanging out while his family toured. His famous grandpa, Arlo, would leave the stage briefly after concerts, and come back to be with the fans. 

“The show would finish and he’d walk off-stage and maybe get a beer or something, but then he’d just come back on stage and sit there, and wait and talk with everybody who wanted to have a conversation or get something signed. And me, as a little kid, I loved that, I decided I would do that, too, even though nobody knew who I was. I was like, ‘Does anyone want an autograph from me?’”

Years later, he would join those tours, too, at age 15. Of course Arlo was there, and also Krishna’s dad, Abe — who has been joining Arlo on-stage since his teenage years. 

Fast-forward from there, and today, Krishna, 29, has a growing musical career of his own, but his deep roots running back to the earlier days of folk music are never far behind. Rock, blues and other influences drive the music of his group, the Krishna Guthrie Band, and the Woody Guthrie classic “This Land Is Your Land” shows up, too. Krishna just puts it to a reggae beat, a style that better fits the high-energy rock his band thrives on, and still gets the tune’s hopeful message across. Always a fitting way to wrap up an evening of music. 

“I’ve tried to bring a lot of those songs with me,” Krishna said. “I’m very proud of where I come from.”  

That said, it took a bit of time for young Krishna to get familiar with those substantial family roots. During those long tours, at about age 19, he got curious about what his grandfather was up to when he was his age. Luckily, his grandmother was prolific in taking video footage of the early days of Arlo’s career, which Krishna viewed. There was that awe-struck moment of discovering his family's legendary place in music history. But it also became a calling to carve out his own career from the ground up, rather than follow the footsteps of his world-famous relatives.

"I don't think it's a bad path to follow, by any means, but I don't want to look back one day and say, 'Oh, I play all these theaters just because I'm this guy's grandson, or this guy's great-grandson, or whatever the case may be," Krishna said. 

He has indeed walked a journey all his own. Originally from the small town of Washington, Mass., he played gigs on the side in Massachusetts, while also working at a store. He later accepted an invitation from a friend to play music in Killington, Vermont — that led to Krishna’s decision in 2014 to move to the Green Mountain State, where he’s made a living performing live in southern Vermont and beyond. He would eventually form the Krishna Guthrie Band, teaming up with Bobby Maguire (fiddle), Nicky Fitz (drums), Josh LaFave (bass, vocals) and Josh Cote (guitar, vocals).  

Krishna’s virtuosic guitar skills, wide-ranging solos and bluesy vocals richly express his deep passion for music. Most of his own songs line up with some kind of personal experience, such as “Milfoil Blues”, sparked by his old job uprooting Eurasian milfoil in Addison County’s Lake Dunmore for two summers. Those brutal, eight-hour shifts in scuba gear couldn't be left to the past. 

"It needed a song," as he simply put it. He would spend daytime on the lake, and then perform at night until 2 a.m., followed by a few hours’ rest. It was challenging, but there are worse things, he said. “As far as a day job goes, being on a lake every day isn’t the worst thing in the world.” 

But there are other topics in Krishna’s music, too. 

“I love the idea of alternate realities and questioning what we’re living in,” Krishna said, noting 20-30% of his songs are along that line. For example, “Blue Pill” is based on a central idea from the movie “The Matrix,” where choosing to take a red or blue pill lands an individual either in reality, or a fake simulation blissfully ignorant of the real world.

When performing, Krishna also pays homage to the wider world of rock and blues. At his shows, listeners will find a mix of originals and covers, but they aren’t the covers you might expect — and he brings an original twist to those you would. Case in point: Pink Floyd.

“I do play ‘Breathe’ and ‘Another Brick in the Wall’, but I do it way different than other people do,” he said. 

Now that the region has entered the pandemic recovery phase, more venues — and therefore more gigs — have opened up, and Krishna’s weekends are booked out through July and August. 

“It’s really nice to be able to get out and play again in an almost ‘normal’ world,” he said. “People are very appreciative to have live music back.”

And there’s a festival on the horizon — Krishna and his band will perform at the Mountain Music and Arts Festival in Warren, New Hampshire, on Aug. 14. That performance will come exactly a month after Woody’s birthday, when Krishna took to Facebook, as he often does, to share a tribute to his great-grandfather and his music. The song Krishna played July 14, a Billy Bragg & Wilco tune, "At My Window Sad and Lonely", was written with Woody’s words — out of a treasure-trove of his lyrics discovered some years back. 

Billy Bragg & Wilco crafted many other tunes from Woody’s lyrics, contained in the epic three-volume “Mermaid Avenue”. These songs will keep making appearances at Krishna’s shows, along with his own music and some Guthrie favorites, like “This Land Is Your Land” with its new, lively reggae beat.  

“It’s a nice, light, fun feeling, and just the style conveys the type of message I like to leave: ‘We’re all in this together,’” he said. “It’s kind of an uplifting thing.”

— Gareth Henderson

The omnipresence of music

A field along Route 106 in Weathersfield, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Music is like the abundant goodness in the world: It’s all around and inspires us when we least expect it.

That musical magic came to my virtual doorstep on Thursday afternoon, in the form of a Jakob Dylan song I hadn’t heard before. I’ve been a fan since his famous days as the frontman for The Wallflowers in the 1990s, when a slew of their songs like “One Headlight” and “6th Avenue Heartache” topped the charts. Great songwriting was already in the family, thanks to his dad Bob Dylan, but Jakob also followed his own path — ending up with some real gems during his post-band solo career. 

One of them was “Something Good This Way Comes”, which Jakob wrote in 2008. Perhaps like many who were in high school in Jakob Dylan’s chart-topping days, I lost track of him after the 90s. So, it was a treat to discover this song, with its mellow, laid-back melody and positive message. I was grateful to hear it, as we near the end of a very newsy week which has brought its share of political rumblings and related fears. A simple tune can bring us back to center, and shine a welcome light on the good in this world, giving us hope to face what lies ahead. 

That light, however, is part of a much bigger picture; it’s greater than just a fleeting feeling. When we receive that gentle, calming inspiration from a great piece of art, whatever its form, it’s really part of an ecosystem of reminders telling us about the best parts of life. Like continuous radio signals bringing songs to us, they are everywhere, and always at work. Even when the radio is off, those same ideas are all around us as we look inward and embrace that ever-present goodness and love. They drive progress, and, as we remain open to such moments, they touch the heart with that light of good, and its sweet permanence. As the younger Dylan’s song says, “This kind of day has no night.”

— Gareth Henderson

Ushering in the spring, with ‘MUD (season)’

At right, "Bernie" by Marilyn Syme is shown at ArtisTree Gallery's "MUD (season)” show. At left are Syme's "Classic Jeans Jacket" and "Muck Boots" and Sarah Wesson's "Spade." (Gareth Henderson Photo)

ArtisTree Gallery’s annual springtime show is ushering in the light of spring as the region enthusiastically salutes this hopeful new season.

In this year’s “MUD (season)” exhibit, artists are also reflecting on the pandemic, portraying what they’ve missed most and what they’ve learned. The show at the Pomfret, Vermont, gallery runs until April 17 and is open for public viewing, Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Art enthusiasts can also experience the show online. It features paintings, drawings, mixed-media collage, photographs, sculptures and ceramics from 65 local artists, for a total of 180 pieces.

Deborah Goodwin, exhibits coordinator at the gallery, said not all the work is related to COVID-19, and bright, spring-themed work has the strong presence it always does. But it's a year that drove lots of creativity among all artists.

"I think most people would say it's a solace to them, to make artwork during this weird, terrible time," Goodwin said.

The theme of looking back during this spring of hope is alive and well at this brilliant new show, which notes several topics that will be very familiar. Marilyn Syme's pieces include three works of trompe l'oeil (French for "fool the eye") acrylic painted on masonite, one of which shows U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders wearing his world-famous mittens. "Meet Me on Zoom", by Amy B. Schachter, reflects the all-too-familiar Zoom experience, from happy to tired faces, portrayed with acrylic paint and graphite on a wood panel. Photographer Nicholas Gaffney shows memories from the Tunbridge World’s Fair, juxtaposed with a picture of the empty, sunlit fairgrounds from 2020.

Part of the “MUD (season)” show at ArtisTree Gallery in Pomfret, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Being several weeks into the new season, MUD also beautifully presents the spring flowers we all love, adding to the many bright expressions of life, ranging from the realistic to the abstract. Christine Hawkins, showing her work at ArtisTree for the first time, has several abstract paintings on paper with the varied colors of spring.

"It really does make you smile," Goodwin said of the show. "It's very cheery, the colors are wonderful. In general we've seen artists get extremely creative this year."

Speaking of creativity, the recent months have also brought some great artistic successes: Katie Runde, whose work "What I Miss" is part of the ArtisTree show, was recently selected to paint a portrait of Alexander Twilight to hang in the Vermont State House. Twilight was the first African American elected to a U.S. state legislature; he was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives in 1836.

While many of these artists have displayed work at ArtisTree before, Goodwin said, a number of new artists have also submitted their creations since ArtisTree reopened last June. Many people have come by to see the work displayed in the gallery as well, though the typical openings for shows have not been possible during the pandemic.

"We've had a lot of traffic and a lot of newcomers to the area," Goodwin said.

Given this very welcome start to the spring season, it's fitting to echo the announcement for the show: "Come see more than 180 pieces of remarkable and varied artwork — you will leave with a smile, feeling more-than-cautiously optimistic!"

— Gareth Henderson

ArtisTree Community Arts Center & Gallery is located at 2095 Pomfret Road in Pomfret, Vermont. For more information, call 802-457-3500, email info@artistreevt.org, or go online at www.artistreevt.org.

Concert series to begin in July

Burlington-based trio Pete’s Posse will kick off Pentangle Arts’ “Music by the River” summer concert series at the North Chapel’s back lawn on July 24. From left are Pete Sutherland, Oliver Scanlon and Tristan Henderson of Pete’s Posse. (Photo Provided)

Amid a year of constant change, Pentangle Arts in Woodstock, Vermont, just confirmed its summer concert series will begin later this month. 

It was exciting news, following a springtime that saw the schedule wiped clean due to the pandemic. 

"It feels really good to have some programming, I can tell you that," said Alita Wilson, Pentangle's executive director. "Any opportunity to support artists and present entertainment to our community and visitors is welcome."   

The weekly concerts are in partnership with the North Chapel, which will still be hosting the series on its back lawn at 5:30 p.m. The line-up for 2020: Pete's Posse on July 24; Interplay Jazz on July 31; Emerald Rae on Aug. 7; VSO's Jukebox Quartet on Aug. 14; and Jay Nash on Aug. 21. 

"I think it's a good representation of Vermont artists," Wilson said, noting the addition of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra's Jukebox Quartet this year.  "I'm thrilled to have them; it's classical with a twist." 

Wilson said she's looking for some clarification from the state on what the mask requirement will be, since a number of patrons usually bring something to eat. She said there will be social distancing, with groups asked to enter the event six feet apart. Wilson said there will be sufficient distance between the performers and the audience, as well. 

"We will ask when patrons leave, that they put their masks back on," she said. There will be no tables at the concerts, and no food served. 

Despite the changes, Wilson is just glad to have this series going forward, noting how important it is to support the musicians. 

"This is going to be part of our new world, trying to support our local artists in our state, so they can get their feet underneath them and have the opportunity to perform," she said.   

Throughout that very long, difficult springtime we had, music and the outdoors are two things that gave people a sense of peace, and continue to do so. This series combines them, and people are sure to love the opportunity to enjoy both. 

This welcome news follows several statewide reopenings connected with outdoor fun in the warmer weather — still a very attractive notion after those many weeks stuck at home.  On Monday, Vermont cleared playgrounds to reopen amid guidelines such as six feet of social distancing. State parks reopened Friday. 

For more information about "Music by the River", go to www.pentanglearts.org or send an email to info@pentanglearts.org. 

— Gareth Henderson