This month, photographer Nicolas Sohl ‘10 will present, “Madagascar’s Antandroy: People of the Thorns: Food Security, Family, and Climate Change in Southern Madagascar.”

The Antandroy of southern Madagascar embody the meaning of their name– “people of the thorns”.  They have inhabited Madagascar’s austere landscape of thorn trees, spiny underbrush, and dry soils since the 16th century.  They are a tough, fiercely passionate, and resilient people; shaped by their harsh surroundings and often obstinate in the face of outside authority.

Cyclical droughts, poor soil, and locust have always been a part of life in the south, however climate change and local deforestation appears to be pushing their hardship to the extreme.  Severe drought has plagued the south for three of the last of the five years, and crop production was down thirty to forty percent in 2009.  According to the World Bank, average rainfall in Madagascar has fallen by 10 % and average temperature has risen by 10%. The UN World Food Program has warned of famine, calling for food aid in many areas to make up for the shortfall in 2009 crop production.  This series of images provides an honest and dignified look at the struggles and successes of the Antandroy in farming for their families.  The images attest to the resilience and strength needed to deal with a changing climate and serve as an indicator of the challenges to come from climate change on a global scale.

Nicolas Sohl ‘10 is a Geography major from Long Beach, California.  His passion for photography began at the age of nine and he has nurtured his craft without formal training.  His work has been featured in several gallery exhibitions and in local Middlebury publications including the 2009 Middlebury College Calendar, Middlebury Geographic, and emprISe.  He currently works as a photos editor for the Middlebury Campus.

There will be a reception for the exhibit on Thursday, February 11, 7:00 – 11:00 pm. Jazz band Scrambled Legs will provide the evening’s musical entertainment.

Friday, February 5, 9:00 pm – 12:00 am

Crystal 60 is a brand new experimental rock trio hailing from New York’s Capitol Region. Front man Jonathan Lorentz (AKA Dr. Sax) sings, shouts, and banters his way through a heavy set of originals, while taking time along the way to play driving sax lines. Joined by drummer Dave Harris and electric bassist Shawn McCann, the band is now playing their own unique brew of grinding rock, acid jazz, blues, industrial, and electronica throughout the Northeast. Check out Crystal 60’s MySpace for the latest tunes, news, and tour dates.

SnoTown Funk Band, Thursday, January 28, 9:00 – 11:00 pm

The Middlebury College Department of Music presents SnoTown Funk Band, a tribute to MoTown. Featuring Chris Waller & Paolo Barbone, Jess Berry, Alexander V. Eppler, Benjamin Goldstein, Wil Hardcastle, Sarah Harney, Patrick Hebble, Hannah Judge, Matt Kingsbury, Tom Lynch, Annie Mejaes, Lynn Noble, Redwan Rokon, Garron Sanchez, Jay Saper, Jared Stensland, Mac Stormont, and Emma Wollum.

CLOSED for Private Party, Friday, January 29, 8:00 – 11:00 pm

During this time, 51 Main will be closed for a private party. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause. 51 Main will reopen at 11:00 pm on Friday, so keep us in mind for your late night socializing needs. Want to plan a private party of your own at 51 Main? Email Manager Carl Roesch for all the details: croesch [at] middlebury [dot] edu.

Anthony Santor Band, Saturday, January 30, 9:00 pm – 12:00 am

Considered by many to be the hottest and freshest jazz in town The Anthony Santor Jazz Group has become very popular at 51 Main at the Bridge.  With a line up of Anthony Santor (double bass), Nicholas Cassarino (guitar), Gaza Carr (drums) and Brian MacNamera (alto sax) playing bass-driven free jazz.

Panel Discussion & Screening: “Treasures Among the Trash,” Wednesday, January 20, 7:00 – 9:00 pm

For the months of December and January, Middlebury photographer Pam Quinn ‘88 has had her exhibit, “Treasures Among Trash” on display at 51 Main. Tonight, Brad Corrigan ‘96 (formerly of Dispatch and currently of Braddigan) and Dave Campbell ‘09, co-founder with Brad of Lacrosse the Nations, will join her for a panel discussion of La Chureca Garbage Dump in Nicaragua. Brad’s documentary, “Dia de Luz or Lacrosse the Nations?” will be shown, too.

Jounce, Friday, January 22, 9:00 pm – 12:00 am

Jounce is a great melodic band from NJ that mixes covers and originals and mixing their own stew of indie rock and funk set within an environment conducive to improvisation.  Popular throughout the New York City and New Jersey area, the band features Danny Tamberelli on bass, who is well known from acting gigs like Pete and Pete on Nickelodeon and his child actor appearance in Disney’s the Mighty Ducks.  They  have been doing well developing their NYC following at places like the Mercury Lounge and in New England surrounding their former home of Amherst / Northampton, and in the upper south in places like Virginia and the Carolinas where some of the band went to college (James Madison U) and through festival plays in those regions.

Aunt Martha, Saturday, January 23, 9:00 pm – 12:00 am

Coming from NYC, the band called Aunt Martha is made up of Tim Noyes (guitar/vocals), Charlie McCanna (guitar), Garrett Leahy (percussion),and Brian Kim (bass).  Some kind words about Aunt Martha… “Aunt Martha brings you heartfelt, earthy songs, the kind you can put your teeth into and wrap your mind around.” -Jezebel Music (jezebelmusic.com) “The lyrics captivate as the beat dances, tripping, light and upbeat. ” -Soundtrack Revolution (soundtrackrevolution.blogspot.com) “Straight toe tapping fun…” -Sonic You (sonicyou.blogspot.com)

Over the weekend, President of the College Ron Liebowitz announced that 51 Main will remain open. On his blog, President Liebowitz wrote:

It is clear that 51 Main provides an important social outlet for students and gathering place for faculty, staff, and townspeople. More than a bar or restaurant, the venue has become a catalyst for a variety of cultural and artistic activities, which I think is good for both the College and our town.

Please join us in thanking President Liebowitz for his decision!

Verbal Onslaught: MLK Celebration, Thursday, January 14, 8:00 – 11:00 pm

Verbal Onslaught presents a special Martin Luther King celebration with slam poet Crystal Belle, who graduated from Middlebury College in 2004. Crystal Belle is a poet and New York City public school teacher. She teaches 9th grade English. Having travelled around the world doing research on gloabl hip-hop, she now lends herself to her classrom, while still making time for love and revolution…

Jatoba, Friday, January 15, 9:00 pm – 12:00 am

Incorporating a unique blend of three extraordinary acoustic musicians, Jatoba redefines their sound through collective songwriting and extreme rhythmic improvisations. Through the Double Bass, Acoustic Guitars, Baritone Guitar, Mandolin, Sitar and harmonizing vocals, Jatoba displays a very eclectic arrangement of acoustic instrumentation. Jatoba is Jason Scaggs, John Jamison and Jeff Richardson.

Mark Kelly, Saturday, January 16, 9:00 – 11:30 pm

Country/Indie-folk/Hip-Hop. Mark Kelly began singing at age two after his grandmother bought him a karaoke machine and a cassette tape of Billy Ray Cyrus’ Don’t Break My Heart (My Achy Breaky Heart). Hannah Epstein, from Paddington Bear, New Jersey, once studied at a musical conservatory under a scary Bulgarian general named Dr. Ivo Kalchev. Glen Frieden stopped attending classes this past fall semester while learning how to rap over his own catchy piano riffs. Stop by 51 main on the 16th to see these three Midd musicians play a set together.