A mix of the new and the old, the concert features banjo legend Tony Trischka’s brand new quartet, while twin banjo band Hot Mustard reunites after an eight-year hiatus to open the show.

Tony Trischka & Robot Plane

Steeped in Bluegrass, while stretching out into Celtic, Americana, and Progressive music, Tony Trischka & Robot Plane includes acoustic music all-stars Jacob Joliff (mandolin), Jared Engel (acoustic bass), and Hannah Read (fiddle). These extraordinarily versatile and talented musicians are alumni of bands such as Country Cooking, Breakfast Special, Joy Kills Sorrow, Yonder Mountain String Band, and Bela Fleck’s My Bluegrass Heart.

“The father of modern bluegrass” (New York Times), Tony Trischka began playing in NYC in the early 1970s with a peer group of extraordinary musicians who saw American roots music as a thriving, living language that could be expanded and combined with other influences and sensibilities. In his 50-plus year career, Tony has pushed the boundaries of the banjo, performing with everyone from Pete Seeger to John Denver to Miley Cyrus to his most prominent former banjo student, Bela Fleck. He is a three-time Grammy nominee, most recently for producing Steve Martin’s “Rare Bird Alert,” featuring Paul McCartney and the Chicks.

Hot Mustard

Hot Mustard features two couples – Putney’s own Bruce and Kelly Stockwell, and Bill and April Jubett. From 2008 to 2014, the band played traditional bluegrass throughout New England with an unconventional instrumental lineup centered around Bruce and Bill on double banjos. For this reunion concert, Bill adds fiddle to Bruce’s banjo, April’s guitar, and Kelly’s acoustic bass.

Event Details

West River Park is located at 333 Rte. 30 in Brattleboro, VT. Bring lawn chairs or blankets for outdoor seating on the softball field. Tickets are $22 in Advance / $25 At the Door, and kids 12 and under are free. Advance tickets are available online. Next Stage will provide a beer, wine, and cocktail cash bar, and Tandoori cuisine by David’s Catering will be available. For more information, visit nextstagearts.org or call 802-387-0102.

Support for the Bandwagon Summer Series is provided by VTDigger, Brattleboro Reformer, Oak Meadow, Whetstone Beer Co., Landmark College, Barr Hill, Mad River Distillers, The Porch Café and Catering, and People’s United, a Division of M&T Bank.

Next Stage

Next Stage serves southeastern Vermont as a regional cultural hub, arts producer, and instigator of meaningful cultural experiences. Founded in 2010 as a nonprofit organization, Next Stage Arts is a transformative, community-centered project dedicated to revitalizing Putney’s cultural and economic village center through excellence in arts programming valuing diversity as a springboard for nurturing community.

Please visit our Health & Safety page for our current COVID protocols.

For more information and updates please go to: nextstagearts.org