R to L: Dwight Ritcher, Nicole Nelson, Kelly Ravin, Kat Wright, Brett Hughes, Francesca Blanchard, Marie Claire Johnson, Stephanie Lynn Heaghney
As 2016 draws to a close, this week we're recapping some of our favorite local singles of the year. The final selection of the year is Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land," arranged by Brett Hughes & Kat Wright in tribute to Bernie Sanders.
While Hughes and Wright helmed the project, which was recorded at Signal Kitchen in Burlington, it really was a group effort. The band features an impressive collection of local talent, including vocalists Dwight & Nicole, Francesca Blanchard, Marie Claire Johnson, Smooth Antics' Stephanie Lynn Heaghney, Kelly Ravin and Wright. Several members of Wright's band turn up, too. Among these are Josh Weinstein (bass), Ezra Oklan (drums), Bob Wagner (guitar) and Shane Hardiman (keys). Rounding out the group are guitarists Lowell Thompson and Hughes, the latter of whom organized the supergroup session with Wright and Sanders' campaign staffer, Luis Calderin.
We should note that we were sorely tempted to close the year with a song — literally any song — from Wright's excellent 2016 record, By My Side. But especially given the social and political anxiety and uncertainty felt by so many this year, the unifying message of this Guthrie classic seemed an appropriate choice as we look ahead to 2017.
Since 2014, Seven Days has allowed readers to comment on all stories posted on our website. While we’ve appreciated the suggestions and insights, the time has come to shut them down — at least temporarily.
While we champion free speech, facts are a matter of life and death during the coronavirus pandemic, and right now Seven Days is prioritizing the production of responsible journalism over moderating online debates between readers.
Bio:
Dan Bolles is Seven Days' assistant arts editor and also edits What's Good, the annual city guide to Burlington. He has received numerous state, regional and national awards for his coverage of the arts, music, sports and culture. He loves dogs, dark beer and the Boston Red Sox.
On Monday, April 8, 2024, at precisely 3:26 p.m., the "Great American Eclipse" is coming to northern Vermont. Burlington, St. Albans, Montpelier and other Vermont towns are lucky enough to be among the North American hot spots in the coveted “path of totality” where one can view a "total" eclipse. In the months leading up to this once-in-a-lifetime event, Seven Days will be covering a variety of eclipse topics, from practical guidance and science-y stories to special events and the best places for viewing. In the meantime, here’s a primer on what to expect.
The fun, creative content isn't going away, it's just moving to different spots on the website. Now you can head to the Arts + Life, Music or On Screen sections in between weekly issues for everything we write about arts and culture, whether it was in print or not.