Photos by Nanci Blog

Weathersfield Librarian Teaches Belly Dancing January 29, 2010 7 PM Martin Memorial Hall, Ascutney VT Weathersfield librarian, Amity Aldridge taught a beginner Belly Dancing class for members of the Weathersfield Community on a very cold Friday night in January. Aldridge, 25, who grew up in Westminster Vermont, now living in Brattleboro has been studying Belly Dancing for 6 years. She studied dance in high school and attended Johnson State College and the University of Maine/Augusta with a degree in Library and Information Services. She was hired by the Town of Weathersfield as the librarian of the Weathersfield Proctor Library , located on Route 5 in Ascutney over a year ago and has since implemented many interesting programs for the library patrons. The class involved a brief explanation of Belly Dancing origins, the variety of styles and basic instructions on the various movements. The close to 30 attendees discovered that Belly Dancing originated as a form of folk dancing in the M...

In just seven (7) days Nate Erwin will be running the Boston Marathon. He's half way to his fundraising goal. Help him get to 100% TODAY. DONATE to NATE NOW!!! Nate Erwin grew up outside of Boston MA , left the area to attend college in upstate New York ; and then headed west to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the film industry. While in sunny California he caught the marathon bug and has been running since. On April 19, in a little over 11 weeks, Erwin will be running the Boston Marathon the world’s oldest and most prestigious annual marathon. Erwin will not only be running for himself, he’s running as part of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge Team (DFMC) and he needs your help. Like most people, Erwin’s life has been touched by cancer. When Erwin was five years old, his maternal grandmother died of pancreatic cancer. At that young age, he remembers little of his grandmother other than the cancer. His paternal grandmother battled various cancers all her life and ...

Stevie Nicks Photos by Nanci 1983 – Stevie Nicks marries Kim Anderson in Los Angeles. They split in 1984. "I Don't Like Mondays" 1979 – 16-year-old Brenda Spencer killed two people and wounded nine others when she fired from her house across the street onto the entrance of San Diego’s Grover Cleveland Elementary School . Spencer fired the shot’s from a .22-caliber rifle her father had given her for Christmas. When asked why she did it, she answered “I don’t like Mondays.” The Boomtown Rats went on to write and recorded a song based on the event. More Stevie Nicks photos at: http://www.photosbynanci.com/Fleetwood2009.html

Bedder/Getty Photo By Anjali Khosla Mullany Daily News Writer Originally Published:Friday, January 29th 2010, 7:25 AM Updated: Friday, January 29th 2010, 8:40 AM Howard Zinn, world-renowned historian, teacher, activist, author and playwright, passed away Wednesday of a heart attack while swimming in California, according to his daughter and the AP. He was 87 years old.Zinn had a kind, friendly personality, was generous with his time, and spoke easily with others. He was also relentlessly unafraid to stand up for what he believed in, and speak the truth - even if doing so could cause him distress in his personal and professional life.Over the course of his career, Zinn established himself as arguably the most influential historian in the United States. He led Americans to view their past through a more complex and often darker lens, and helped bring attention to social justice ...

By HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer Hillel Italie, Ap National Writer – NEW YORK – J.D. Salinger, the legendary author, youth hero and fugitive from fame whose " The Catcher in the Rye " shocked and inspired a world he increasingly shunned, has died. He was 91. Salinger died of natural causes at his home on Wednesday, the author's son, actor Matt Salinger , said in a statement from Salinger's longtime literary representative, Harold Ober Associates, Inc. He had lived for decades in self-imposed isolation in a small, remote house in Cornish, N.H. "The Catcher in the Rye," with its immortal teenage protagonist, the twisted, rebellious Holden Caulfield , came out in 1951, a time of anxious, Cold War conformity and the dawn of modern adolescence. The Book-of-the-Month Club, which made "Catcher" a featured selection, advised that for "anyone who has ever b...

Stevie Nicks-Photos by Nanci 1978 – The Fleetwood Mac album ‘Rumours’ went to No.1 on the UK album chart, also a No.1 in the US. The album went on to sell over 15 million copies world- wide and spent over 440 weeks on the UK chart. 1995 – Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page turns up at a Black Crowes show in London. Page plays with the band in Paris on February 4 and in 1999 they both embark on a world tour that ends when Page puts out his back. 2005 – Legendary rock drummer Jim Capaldi with U.K. folk-prog legends Traffic, dies after a brief fight with stomach cancer. He is 60-years-old. More photos of Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac can be viewed at: http://www.photosbynanci.com/Fleetwood2009.html

2000 – As part of the year’s Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, Aimee Mann, Blues Traveler frontman John Popper, Lisa Loeb, and country star Dwight Yoakam perform live on a special webcast edition of VH1’s Storytellers. Birthdays: 1951 – Keyboardist Seth Justman of J. Geils Band is born in Washington, D.C. 1951 – Thin Lizzy drummer Brian Downey is born in Dublin. More concert Photos by Nanci can be viewed at: http://www.photosbynanci.com/concert.html

John Hiatt Photos by Nanci Kirschner Concerts Presents : John Hiatt with the Combo The Music Hall Portsmouth NH Fri, March 5 2010, 8:00 PM Kirschner Concerts Presents-John Hiatt at the Music Hall Portsmouth NH. John Hiatt’s career has spanned more than 30 years and his songs have been covered by everyone from Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and BB King to Iggy Pop, Three Dog Night and The Neville Brothers. John Hiatt began his solo career with the 1974 album Hangin’ Around the Observatory . Hiatt’s landmark 1987 release Bring The Family received critical praise and was his first album to chart in the U.S. In 1993, Rhino Records released Love Gets Strange: The Songs of John Hiatt , which collected many of the cover versions of his songs that were recorded during the 80s and 90s. 2000’s Crossing Muddy Waters was released on the independent imprint Vanguard Records to critical acclaim. In 2003 Hiatt joined forces with New West Records and released Beneath This Gruff Exterior . In 2005 Hiatt ...

Mike Gordon photo courtesy rollingstone.com Higher Ground presents Sunday, March 14th , 2010 - 7:30 pm at the Lebanon Opera House , Lebanon NH MIKE GORDON Phish bassist Mike Gordon’s vibrant newest solo album, The Green Sparrow, is an eclectic album boasting Gordon’s skillful assimilation of free-form rock & roll, calypso, pop, and funk that showcases an unexpected side to Gordon’s songwriting. Gordon's five-piece lineup includes longtime collaborator Scott Murawski on guitar, Vermonters Craig Myers on percussion and Tom Cleary on keyboards, and Brooklyn drummer Todd Isler. Pricing: Section A: $35 In Advance / $38 Day of Show Section B & C: $25 In Advance / $28 Day

Bill Temple at the Local Legends Show 2009 Casa de Sol in Ascutney VT will host the annual Groundhog Day Gully Boys Reunion on Sunday January 31, 2010 from 1-6 PM. It's that time of year when the Gully Boys from all over the upper valley come out of their dens to get together for a huge jam session. There's a good chance they'll see their shadows, as this year's event is being held Sunday afternoon. For intermission don't miss Michael Zerphy's magic show . A portion of the proceeds goes to benefit Zack's Place . You can download tunes from the Gully Boys at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/gullyboys Casa Del Sol, 5803 US Route 5 S Ascutney, VT 05030 ( map ) 802-674-5566 For more events happening this week and all through the year in the Upper Valley please visit: Yellow House Media Calendar More photos of Bill Temple and other Local Legends may be viewed at: http://www.photosbynanci.com/locallegends.htm l

1969 – Led Zeppelin play a four-hour set at the Boston Tea Party . John Paul Jones remembered, “We played four and a quarter hours I think, which, with an hour and a half act, is some going, I can tell you. …” OK...who out there attended this MEGA-Show??? Birthdays: 1948 – Born on this day, Corky Laing , drums, Mountain , (1971album ‘Nantucket Sleighride’). 1949 – Derek Holt , bassist with the Climax Blues Band , is born in Stafford, England. 1950 – Paul Pena , a blues musician who wrote Steve Miller’s hit “Jet Airliner” and then became a Tuvan throat singer as documented in the film Genghis Blues , is born in Hyannis, Mass 1951 – Born on this day, David Briggs , Little River Band , Australian group, (1978 US No.3 single ‘Reminiscing’ plus 12 other US Top 40 singles). 1955 – Edward Lodewijk “Eddie” Van Halen (born January 26, 1955) , is a Dutch guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer most famous for being the lead guitarist and co-founder of the rock band Van Halen . 1957 ...

by The Associated Press Associated Press Abby Sunderland, 16, sets sail on her sailboat Wild Eyes as she leaves for her world record attempting journey Saturday, Jan 23, 2010, in Marina del Rey, Calif. Sunderland is attempting to be the youngest person to complete a nonstop, unassisted solo-circumnavigation of the globe by sea. Associated Press Abby Sunderland, 16, pilots her sailboat Wild Eyes as she leaves for her world record attempting journey Saturday, Jan 23, 2010, in Marina del Rey, Calif. Sunderland is attempting to be the youngest person to complete a nonstop, unassisted solo-circumnavigation of the globe by sea. Associated Press Abby Sunderland's sailboat, Wild Eyes, leaves for a world record attempting journey Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010, in Marina del Rey, Calif. Sunderland is attempting to be the youngest person to complete a nonstop, unassisted solo-circumnavigation of the globe by sea. Associated Press Sixteen-year-old Abby Sunderland stands on her sailboat, Wil...

1963 – Janis Joplin performs in San Francisco for the first time, singing at the North Beach coffeehouse. 1971 – Beatles-inspired nutcase Charles Manson is sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of seven counts of murder in the first degree and one count of conspiracy to commit murder. Three other members of his family are also given life sentences. 1980 – Following his prison ordeal in Tokyo after he was busted with a half-pound of marijuana, Paul McCartney is released and flies from Japan to … Amsterdam. Doh!

Blues and Lasers 2008 Illusion Tournet Music This Burlington VT rock quintet formed in 2007. Scott Tournet corralled a few friends while on break from Grace Potter and the Nocturnals and started the band Blues and Lasers . This debut CD was recorded in November 2007 at the Club Metronome in Burlington VT over a two day period. In this vacant club the guys threw down the tracks in a raw, swampy form then added some funky stuff over the next few weeks via computer wizardry. While this CD was released in 2008 it could easily have been released in the late 70s. It has a classic rock sound with influences of southern rock mixed in. The dueling guitars of Scott Tournet and Benny Yurco makes you want to jump around the room, hips swaying and the solid drumming of Matt Burr and Steve Sharon keeps your head banging. You can hear influences from Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, The Allman Brothers. Bryan Dondero adds a great bass and some interesting sounds on the moog and th...

Friday February 5, 2010 7:30 PM From the Lebanon Opera House Website: Singer/songwriter/pianist Marc Cohn burst onto the scene in 1991 w ith of one of the most personal, resonant songs to make the Top 40 in the past 20 years, "Walking In Memphis", and the Best New Artist Grammy. A spellbinding on-stage performer, Bonnie Raitt calls Cohn "an incredible singer…I marvel at his ability to mesmerize every audience he plays for." Widely regarded as one of the most brilliant songwriters of her generation, Suzanne Vega emerged as a leading figure of the folk-music revival of the early 1980s. Vega’s work, sung in a voice described as "a cool, dry sandpaper brushed near-whisper", is immediately recognizable -- as utterly distinct and thoughtful as it was twenty years ago. Pricing: Section A: $55 Section B: $45 Section C: $35 Discounts available for Seniors & Kids Artist's Websites: www.marccohn.net www.suzannevega.com

1980 – In Los Angeles, a billboard is put up advertising Pink Floyd’s The Wall . Every day a brick is added to the billboard until the entire space is covered. Birthdays today: 1941 – Heavenly voiced singer and, of course, Neville Brother Aaron Neville is born in New Orleans. 1941 – Neil Diamond is born in Brooklyn, N.Y. 1947 – Acerbic songwriter Warren Zevon (“Werewolves of London”) is born in Chicago. 1949 – Saturday Night Live comedian John Belushi is born in Chicago. John performed in the Blues Brothers. 1955 – Born on this day, Jools Holland, keyboards, Squeeze, Jools Holland Big Band, TV presenter on The Tube, Juke Box Dury and Later. (1979 UK No.2 single with Squeeze, ‘Up The Junction’).

"Hope For Haiti," a two-hour telethon broadcast over 25 networks, took over millions of televisions on Friday evening (January) to help in raising much needed money for the country's earthquake relief fund. While it's still unknown how much was raised during the show, the phone lines remain open and the night's musical performances are up for sale on iTunes. Over 100 celebrities answered phones in New York and Los Angeles, after professional operators first talked to donors. "Thank you so much for your donation," actress Reese Witherspoon told one caller at the beginning of the show. "You can't imagine how much love and great, wonderful energy is here today. People are doing everything they can to make a difference in these people's lives." "I'm just calling to help out," the male donor explained. "I couldn't donate a lot, but what I could I did donate." Performers during the evening included Alicia Keys,...

1986 – The first annual induction ceremony for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is held in New York. Among those inducted are Chuck Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Fats Domino, the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley. 1973 – Neil Young is handed a piece of paper onstage in New York and reads out the message that a peace accord has been reached in Vietnam. The audience goes crazy for ten minutes. Neil then plays “Southern Man.” 1970 – The judge in the case of the Chicago Seven turns down the request of Judy Collins to sing as part of her testimony. The judge also didn’t want to hear any warbling from Pete Seeger, Phil Ochs, Arlo Guthrie and especially Country Joe McDonald.

Stars align for Hope for Haiti Now telethon Actor George Clooney was among the lead organizers of the Hope for Haiti Now telethon and will host the segment from Los Angeles. (Peter Kramer/Associated Press) Some of the most famous faces in entertainment are uniting in four locations Friday evening for the Hope for Haiti Now telethon, a U.S-led, multi-network TV event to raise money for earthquake relief for the stricken Caribbean nation. Actor and filmmaker George Clooney, who has taken the lead in organizing the two-hour telethon, will host from Los Angeles, while CNN's Anderson Cooper will appear in reports from Haiti, where officials estimate that more than 200,000 people were killed in the Jan. 12 earthquake. Haitian-born musician and producer Wyclef Jean, who has been among the lead figures appealing for aid for his homeland, will host the segment from New York. Celebrities in London will also host a segment. Hope for Haiti Now will include an appear...

February 14, 2010 Get the Party Started with: See-I The Eames Brothers Blues and Lasers at the Rusty Nail , Stowe VT. The show is presented by 4th Cut a " small special events company located in Stowe, VT, that goes big . Really big ." From 4th Cut's Website: SEE-I is an 9-piece funk ‘n’ soul reggae band from Washington, DC. SEE-I comes from a 1970’s roots angle and there are many other influences that can be heard in the music ranging from blues to rock, latin, soul, funk and brazilian beats. This makes sense because of the variety of bands that the SEE-I band members hail from. 4 of the 8 members are part of Thievery Corporation and other bands represented include All Mighty Senators, Fort Knox Five, Sin Miedo, Thunderball, Wailin’ Love, Nayas, Int… (more)ernational Velvet, Soul Brazil and others. All of these experiences and influences combine on stage to create a unique sound that can best be described as a reggae jam band. SEE-I delivers a positive vibe that kee...