Arts Alive 2016 in Falmouth MA

Arts Alive is free 3-day celebration of the arts in Falmouth and the Upper Cape. Friday, June 17, 5 to 9pm; Saturday, June 18, 10am to 9pm; Sunday, June 19, 11am to 5pm.

Friday June 17th

5 PM Conservatory Youth Orchestra Brass Ensemble

The Brass Ensemble from the Cape Youth Orchestra is made up of the Cape’s best high school brass players. Led by CSO bass trombonist, George Scharr, the group has tuba, trombones, trumpets and French horns, a total of nine students. The ensemble performs regularly outside of the CYO and the Conservatory in genres such as jazz, classical, pop, sacred and Renaissance.

6 PM Falmouth Academy Jazz Band

Falmouth Academy’s Cool Nights Jazz Band is made up of twelve musicians in the advanced jazz class taught by George Scharr, who is the bass trombonist with the Cape Symphony Orchestra as well as the Director of Community Outreach for the Cape Conservatory and Cape Symphony. The group consists of five saxes, three trumpets, trombone, two guitars, two percussionists, clarinet and flute. They play pop, rock, Beatles, Jazz standards and when each player stands to introduce themselves and the next piece you will be absolutely charmed.

7 to 9 Town Dance with the George Gritzbach Band

Reviewers have called Gritzbach a “sizzling hot, no holds barred electric bluesman” and “brash, tough, and a tantalizing cut below nasty.” A serious blues devotee who studied with the Rev. Gary Davis, Gritzbach caused a sensation when he first debuted on the New England Blues Scene. Now a seasoned slide guitar and vocal virtuoso, he still burns with energy and passion for the music he loves. Backed by the seasoned blues band, George Gritzbach ignites audiences to dance all night and to remember that excitement for a long time to come.

Saturday, On the Lawn

10 to noon the Friday Morning Figure Painters

The Friday Morning Figure Painters from the Falmouth Artists Guild will gather to paint a live model on the Library Lawn. Watch the paintings take shape as various artists interpret the model in their own unique ways, using a variety of media.

Saturday, Performance Tent

10 AM Falmouth Songbirds

The Falmouth Songbirds performs its debut public concert at Arts Alive. A new women’s vocal ensemble directed by Susan Laite, the Songbirds sing classical music, spirituals, jazz, folk, popular music, and standards in three-part harmony. The group encourages the love of music by offering instruction in voice, musical notation, and theory to its members.

11 AM Sonnay Fiddlers

The Sonnay Fiddlers play traditional Celtic and international fiddle tunes. The group is made up of beginning to very accomplished students of Nikki Engstrom, an award-winning fiddler and a member of the Celtic duo Stanley and Grimm. The fiddlers—and one cellist—range in age from young children to adults; Sonnay stands for Students of Nikki, Not All Young.

Noon Falmouth Theater Guild

Members of the Falmouth Theater Guild will perform a medley of show tunes from past and upcoming shows.

1 PM Khadija and Troupe Isis

Troupe Isis is a Middle Eastern dance troupe specializing in Egyptian dance, led by Khadija (Katrina Valenzuela), an adjunct professor of Middle Eastern Dance and Culture and Arabic language. The group’s goal is to inspire and bring joy to both dancer and audience.

2 PM Turning Pointe Dance Studio

Dance students of all ages present classical and contemporary dances, under the direction of Laura Sciortino

3 PM Belly Dancing with Elena

Elena Griffin leads a troupe of Middle Eastern belly dancers in colorful costumes. She teaches belly dancing and believes that people of all ages and body types can learn to dance.

4 PM Puffy Elvis

Puffy Elvis is a big, old-time rock ‘n’ roll band made up of teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators at Falmouth High School. Young in spirit and high in energy, the band plays favorite classic rock hits.

5 PM Dawna Hammers

Singer/songwriter Dawna Hammers has a style similar to that of Joni Mitchell, combining folk, pop, and jazz influences. She has performed Joni Mitchell tribute concerts and has released six CDs of original and cover songs.

6 PM Creadation

Creadation offers rock, pop, blues, standards and originals featuring guitarist Eland Creade, Glenway Fripp, electric bass, sax, drums and special guest, singer/songwriter Andrew Sexton with a few of his mellow originals.

7 PM Unnamed Colors

Unnamed Colors is an original art-rock trio comprising three musical adventurers. Sierra (vocals, keyboard), Andrew (guitar), and Jay (drums) became a musical family in 2012, and they can often be seen performing in and around Boston, or in their hometown of Newburyport, MA. The band joins their wide array of influences to create a unique repertoire that is engaging, richly dynamic, and full of surprises.

8 PM Heartbreaker

Heartbreaker is a Led Zeppelin tribute band featuring Kat Jones on lead vocals and harmonica, Bill Russell on guitars, Ron-Paul Jones on bass, and Rick Silva on thundering drums. The band has been performing in southern New England for close to a decade.

Saturday, Music Tent

10 AM Landscape Oil Painting with Hillary Osborn

Hillary Osborn, co-owner of the Osborn and Rugh Gallery at 114 Palmer Ave in Falmouth, will do a live oil painting demo, laying in a composition and blocking in the colors to finish a quick sketch. Questions are welcome. Hillary has been painting on location throughout the Upper Cape for the last 20 years and draws inspiration by directly painting from nature. The artist has exhibited her work in New York City, Boston, California and Cape Cod. She has received numerous awards for her landscape paintings.

11 AM Alison Heleen, Clarinet

Alison Heleen is a clarinetist and music teacher in the Barnstable School District. She will be playing a variety of solo clarinet music from the Classical styles of the 1800s to the unusually beautiful music of the 20th Century. Alison performs with the Falmouth Chamber Players Orchestra and the Falmouth Town Band and enjoys playing ukulele in her free time.

Noon Sound Lab

Guitarist Justin Sawyer leads this new band.

1 PM Neil Ganju and the Analog Bandwagon

The Analog Band Wagon, a new band led by Neil Ganju on guitar, will play a mix of jazz, delta blues and reggae music. The band includes Chris Harris on bass, Bill Whitney on drums, and Shawn Malcomson on percussion. This is their debut performance at Arts Alive.

2 PM New Classics Company Improv

New Classics Company is a live theater production company from Hyannis that produces original entertainment and fresh takes on classic works. They will offer improv comedy featuring their Friday Night Improv troupe. The performers will act out comedic scenes based on suggestions from audience members, in the style of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”

3 PM Notescape.cod

Notescape.cod is a close harmony a cappella men’s singing group, performing music of the recent past, including ballads, doo-wop, and popular tunes from the American songbook. Notescape members are active in the medical, educational, and scientific fields in the community and have performed extensively for public and private groups in the upper Cape community.

4 PM New Beginnings String Ensemble

New Beginnings is an eight-member ensemble of string players of all ages directed by Lary Chaplan of the Cape Conservatory of Music and Arts. The group performs a diverse repertoire, including classical music, country music, and show tunes. Chaplan has performed with a wide range of orchestras, rock, and jazz bands and currently plays violin with the Cape Symphony Orchestra.

6 PM Rhythm Deacons

Doug Large and the Rhythm Deacons play original blues, R&B, & gospel music. The five-man band performs throughout the Cape and Rhode Island.

7 PM

8 PM Just Like That

Just Like That (aka JLT) is a high-energy dance-party rock band covering music from pop, funk, country, alternative rock, blues, and classic rock in their own special style. The band features Amy Marie on lead vocals, who was named Female Vocalist of the Year 2016 by Limelight Magazine, as well as Mike Guerrieri on bass, Janie MacAuslan on drums, Glenn Davis on guitar, and Mike Santoon keyboard.

Saturday Library Tent

10:20 AM Woods Hole Theater Company

Members of the Woods Hole Theater Company will perform show tunes from past and upcoming productions.

11:20 AM Treasure Time with Lee Drescher

Lee Drescher, of Treasure Time Storybook Theater, will read a children’s book, sing songs and play guitar, encouraging children to actively participate in games, singing, and dancing.

12:20 PM Chappaquoit Cellists

Celeste Newman, an eighth grader at Lawrence School, and Charles Qianlong Xu, a freshman at Falmouth High School, will perform classical, folk and popular music for two cellos. These two talented and accomplished cellists are students of Nikki Patton’s in West Falmouth. They recently participated in a master class with Astrid Schween, the new cellist of the Julliard String Quartet. Calling themselves the Chappaquoit Cellists, Celeste and Charles hope to be performing this summer at gigs throughout the Cape.

1:20 PM Matt Borrello

An award-winning singer/songwriter who writes from personal experience, Matt Borrello draws his inspirations from folk, country, blues, and rock music. He is known for his insightful lyrics and passionate performances.

2:20 PM Cat’s Melodeon

Cat’s Melodon, led by Bill Black on bouzouki, performs Irish traditional music on fiddle, flute, recorder, accordion, banjo, guitar, uilleann pipes, and bodhran. The group’s name comes from a local expression in Ireland’s County Mayo and refers (among other things) to an informal get-together for enjoyable purposes.

3:20 Open Jam Session

Open fiddle tune jam session for all instruments hosted by Bill Black and John Alden. Bring your fiddle, mandolin, guitar, cello, banjo, guitar, tin whistle, flute, accordion, and whatever you may have and play familiar fiddle tunes by ear—or just come to watch this informal performance by local musicians.

5 PM Vic Solo as Elvis

Vic Solo will be performing as Elvis Presley, complete with white jumpsuit and Elvis-inspired gyrations, as he sings Elvis’s greatest hits.

6 PM Afterthought

Afterthought plays ‘90s and modern Top 40 cover rock with a fun party style. Band members Dave Farren on guitar, Shawn Patterson on bass guitar and Jon Vickery on drums have also performed together in other groups, including Shattered and ChainDrive.

7 PM Audiofossil

Audio Fossil is a three-piece band playing classic and newer rock music, including covers of Grand Funk, Tom Petty, Aerosmith, Pink Floyd, and other popular bands.

8 PM Rhythm and Blues Conspiracy

The Rhythm and Blues Conspiracy is a family band playing 50s and 60s blues, rhythm and blues, and rock ‘n’ roll. Band members are the Puopolo brothers, Samuel on lead vocals and bass and Henry on guitar and vocals, along with father Scott on drums.

Sunday Performance Tent

11 AM Smooch Paywell

Smooch Paywell is a blues band influenced by Little Walter, George Harmonica Smith, James Cotton, Snooky Pryor, Carey Bell, Junior Wells, Bill Branch and the Sons of Blues. Band members include Matt Palermo, Trevor Peterson, Rick Orlando, and Dave Trapasso playing harmonica, guitar, bass guitar, drums, and vocals.

Noon Falmouth Fiddlers

The Falmouth Fiddlers play and sing old-time, bluegrass, and Celtic tunes on fiddle, mandolin, guitar, banjo, dobro, tin whistle, bodhran, cello, and string bass.

1 PM Belle Weather

Belle Weather is women’s a cappella chorus singing music drawn from many genres, including American and international folk songs, sacred pieces, pop tunes, and classical music.

2 PM Grace Morrison

Singer/songwriter Grace Morrison incorporates influences from many sources into her music, from country and pop to traditional Celtic music. Her lyrics tell stories of Renaissance women, the “Titanic,” and World War II, as well as her own personal experiences.

3 PM College Light Opera Company

College Light Opera Company brings talented college students from across the country to Falmouth every summer, where they perform nine musicals and operettas, one each week throughout the summer. The entire cast of 32 singers will be on hand to perform an excerpt from “The Sorcerer” by Gilbert and Sullivan, which CLOC will be performing at Highfield Theater June 28 to July 2.

Sunday Music Tent

11 AM Mark Borgman and Friends

Classic Jazz Quartet with vocalist Liz Saunders, Dave Anderson on drums, Lary Chaplan on violin, Mark Borgman on piano.

Noon Ouellette and the Shobijin

Mixing live singing with backing tracks, Daniel Ouellette & The Shobijin fuses New Wave, Techno-Pop, New Age, and World Music with lyrics in English, Spanish, and French, creating an interactive, high-energy, and playful performance.

1 PM Universal Sound

Universal Sound, under the direction of Lisa Esperson will present percussion music from various world cultures.

2 PM Drum Circle

Percussionist Lisa Esperson will lead a drum circle for experienced and new drummers of all ages. Extra drums will be available, but feel free to bring your own.

Sunday Library Tent

11 AM FCTV Youth Producers

Allen Russell and the Falmouth Community Television (FCTV) Youth Producers, a group of seventh-graders, will demonstrate how to create animated videos with clay figures. Fun for children, teens, and adults.

Noon Denise Raney, Poet

Denise Raney will read her poetry. She is author of the book, “So,” a cable TV host, a frequent poetry session leader at Cape Cod Community College, and a member of Guyer Barn Poets.

1 PM The Familiars of Cape Cod

Manny and Linda Dias are The Familiars of Cape Cod. They sing and play folk, fiddle, country, Irish, and popular music from the 1950s through the 1980s. Manny sings and plays guitar, and Linda plays fiddle, mandolin, harmonica, and Irish whistles.

2 PM Ladies Choice

Ladies Choice is a group of women who enjoy singing and playing folk, Celtic, fiddle, popular, and original music on fiddle, guitar, tin whistle, cello, hammer dulcimer, and bodhran.

3 PM Jacob Haller

Jacob Haller is a Providence-based blues/alternative musician whose eclectic original songs cover topics ranging from robots to knitting to substance abuse to kittens. He was nominated for best singer/songwriter in 2010 by the Providence Phoenix and has released five CDS, the most recent of which is “Cabin Fever.”