Upcoming @ 51 Main (May 1-12)

Charter House Benefit Dinner, Tuesday, May 1, 5:30 – 9:00 pm

10% of our dinner proceeds tonight will benefit the Charter House. We’ll have live music throughout the evening by Yuki Takeda, Peter Moore, Julianne Seo, Dustin Lowman, Elise Moody-Roberts, Ethan Mann, and Heather Stefek.

Charlie Hilbert, Thursday, May 3, 8:00 – 10:00 pm

New York City blues legend Charlie Hilbert has played the blues for forty years – from his time in the streets of NYC with harmonica master Nat Riddles to his recent performances with Adam Gussow, headlining Mundharmonikalive in Klingenthal, Germany, and teaching and playing at Hill Country Harmonica in Oxford, Miss. If you like traditional blues, harmonica, and slide guitar, with maybe a country or rock tune thrown in, come on down; you won’t be disappointed.

Green Drinks, Friday, May 4, 5:30 – 7:30 pm

GreenDrinks.org is a global movement aimed at connecting people informally in cities throughout the world for the purpose of brainstorming and networking on green topics in a relaxed, unstructured setting. Middlebury’s version of Green Drinks gathers the first Friday of the month, 5:30-7:30 pm. The focus is on relaxing, getting to know each other and imagining what can come next. The focus is on relaxing, getting to know each other and imagining what can come next. Come and go as your schedule allows.

Folk By Association, Friday, May 4, 9:00 pm – 12:00 am

After ten years of performing as Folk By Association, Karen Krajacic and Jill Cowen have certainly traveled a long and interesting road together. They’ve now played hundreds of shows in 26 states, gaining a reputation for both their top-notch vocal harmonies and their grassroots approach to working as independent artists. With intricate harmonies at the forefront, Folk By Association embraces elements of folk, roots, bluegrass, jazz, and world music, weaving these eclectic traditions together in a unique, contemporary way. The duo uses multiple acoustic instruments, switching off between the guitar and mandolin, throwing in a banjo here, a toy xylophone there. Said to be both nostalgic and modern, soothing and energizing, Folk By Association is both a throwback and a surprise.

Tim Fitzgerald & Paul Cirignano, Saturday, May 5, 9:00 pm – 12:00 am

Tim Fitzgerald was raised in the Burlington, VT area. He began studying guitar at a young age, and has continued to study and develop as a musician. He now performs regularly as a part of the duo The Subtle Bandits and as a solo performer. Tim plays various styles of music, including jazz, classical, rock, blues, country and folk.

Arts Walk/Art Opening/Afrotet, Friday, May 11, 5:00 – 7:00 pm

Downtown Middlebury will become a center for art, music, food and fun. Stores will remain open, becoming galleries displaying the work of dozens of area artists. Art will turn up in restaurants, on the town green, and in other exciting and unlikely places. This is a regular monthly event – visit downtown Middlebury on the second Friday of every month. 51 Main will feature photography by first-year international students who are documenting their transition to life in the US. First-year students participating include: Petr Knor, Fernando Sandoval Jimenez, Krisztina Pjeczka, Rafael Velazco Manyari, Danny Zhang, and exchange student, Emma Griffiths. The opening will feature music by Afrotet, a new ensemble that plays a fusion of African and Western music. The group includes Damascus Kafumbe (various Ugandan instruments); Kareem Khalifa (guitar); Carlos Velez (percussion); Ron Rost (keyboard); Glenn Goodwin (bass guitar).

Jazz Jam, Friday, May 11, 7:00 – 9:00 pm

All jazz musicians and listeners welcome. Less experienced jazz musicians are encouraged to work on specific standards before calling one on stage.

Reggae Night with Select D-RO, Friday, May 11, 10:00 pm – 12:00 am

Selecta D-RO has been at the forefront of the Reggae DJ scene now for nearly 10 years, hosting several radio programs and DJing live at clubs and festivals from coast to coast. He is presently the host, DJ and creator of “Jah Works Radio”, a podcast that has recently become one of Itunes’ Top 20 Reggae Podcasts. He has shared the stage with such reggae legends as Steel Pulse, Mykal Rose, Don Carlos, Anthony B, Pato Banton and Eek A Mouse. Armed with 4 turntables, a mixer, sampler / sequencer and Kaoss FX Unit, Selecta D-RO will be twisting reggae and dub riddims to a new dimension during this night of reggae and live dub mixing.

Lunch: Casual French Conversation, Saturday, May 12, 1:00 – 3:00 pm

For several months now, a group of community members have met at 1:00 pm on the second Saturday of the month to enjoy lunch and French conversation. They invite you to join them for this super casual, super chouette time.

Verbal Onslaught, Thursday, May 10, 6:00 – 8:00 pm

Drawing from our Middlebury community of faculty, staff, students, local community members and other special guests, Verbal Onslaught adds dynamic poetic and cultural diversity to our vibrant town nestled between the Green Mountains and the Adirondacks. Shy and Outspoken Poets, Storytellers, Writers, Artists, and Listeners are more than welcome. This week will feature live visual artist, Kasso! He will create dynamic visual works during performances throughout the night.

Vermont Joy Parade, Saturday, May 12, 9:00 pm – 12:00 am

The Vermont Joy Parade is a six piece ensemble featuring banjo, trumpet, accordion, guitar, upright bass and drums/percussion, playing a fervent and eclectic blend of Americana, old-time, country blues, dixieland, Cajun, jug, and klezmer known as “all-time music” or “suspender fusion”. Their alchemical blend of alternately rambunctious and soulful tunes has been received with enthusiasm by people from all walks of life all over America and Europe. Co-sponsored by Cook Commons.