Like a Norman Rockwell painting, or a 1940's movie, most towns and villages here have a town green. At least three of these have band stand's and weekly concerts during the summer. Tonight we attended in a 'military band' concert in Lyndonville. The weather was rainy all afternoon, but cleared just in time for things to be cool (about 75 degrees) and dry for the concert.
We and about 100 other people were scattered all over around the bandstand for the hour-long concert. Mature adults (anyone older than me) were most prominent, but there were people of all ages in lawn chairs, on blankets and on the regular park benches.
The band was small - about 20 instruments. They were so-so, but not bad considering it is a volunteer group and they play weekly throughout the summer. Although billed as a military band, it played a variety of music, including marches, waltzes, polkas and swing blues.
Watching the crowd was almost as much fun as listening to the band. Little kids marching to the music or just playing, lots of dogs and even a couple of knights in armor having a mock-sword battle. Everyone having a good time, and the concert too! In some ways it reminded me of the free concerts at LSU back in the 1960's...
Vermonters are big music and 'culture'. Summer events are to numerous to count, almost too many to classify. At least four towns in the Northeast Kingdom or Northern NH do volunteer-driven summer theater. There are chamber orchestra concerts all over the state, and lots of touring soloists/duets at churches, libraries, and town halls every week. However, the town fathers apparently are quite selective about who/what can play in their villes. Already twice this summer I've read of two concert venues being closed down by town officials. Stopping the one featuring the former members of the Grateful Dead caused quite a stir, but to no avail. Sadly, the show did not go on.
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