New World Festival August 7, 2008

CHANDLER'S 16TH ANNUAL NEW WORLD FESTIVAL – SUNDAY AUGUST 31

Once again Randolph's Main Street will be the place to be Labor Day weekend as Chandler presents its 16th annual New World Festival Sunday August 31st. From noon to midnight the center of town will be alive with family activities and traditional – and occasionally not so traditional – Celtic and French Canadian music and dance presented on five all-weather performance stages.

Over the course of its 15-year history, this family-friendly festival has earned a passionate following among both patrons and performers. The intimate nature of the festival site makes for close connections between musicians and audience members and for easy access to all performance venues. Newfoundland guitarist and mandolin player Keith Murphy has called the New World Festival "the torch bearer for traditional music in the United States". More than one band has said, "This is our favorite festival!" because of its celebratory atmosphere, intimate connection with audiences, cheerful volunteers, manageable size (fewer than 2,000 attendees), and superb acoustics within Bethany church and Chandler Music Hall, one of New England's finest concert halls. Pipers, fiddlers, accordionists, drummers, guitarists, step dancers, puppeteers, and dance callers have and give a great time.

The New World Festival celebrates Vermont's Celtic and French Canadian heritage by way of the musical traditions that immigrated to the “New World” with French and Celtic peoples. Performances range from the strictly traditional to music that's based on this vibrant heritage, yet stretched to include modern influences. Many loyal fans are eagerly anticipating the return of one of the festival's favorite bands, Prydein, which will close out the day in the dance tent with its unique Scottish “kilt-rock” now featuring two bagpipers!

Artistic Director Kevin Dunwoody is especially excited to welcome extraordinary Irish guitarist and vocalist John Doyle to the New World Festival. Half of the Liz Carroll and John Doyle duo and a former member of Solas, John has also performed with many greats in the Celtic, folk and bluegrass worlds, including Eileen Ivers, Kate Rusby, Tim O'Brien, Susan McKeown and Cathie Ryan. He has solidly established himself as one of the most versatile, creative and prolific voices in folk and traditional Irish music.

New World Festival fans will welcome the return of Jerry Holland, Cape Breton fiddler extraordinaire, and the dynamic Scottish band Cantrip whose masterful interweaving of fiddles, pipes, guitar and bouzouki brought the house down last year. Gadelle, a new band from Prince Edward Island makes its festival debut. This four-member, all woman, traditional French Acadian band includes former Barachois members, Helene Bergeron and Louise Arsenault. And no festival would be complete without venerable Quebecois fiddler Claude Méthé and Dent-de-lion.

Performers this year also include Annalivia, Nightingale, Raz-de-Marée, Yankee Chank, Triptych, and Pierre Chartrand with Rapetipetam. Mark Sustic returns with his young Fiddleheads and Beth Telford's fiddle students will participate in a Cape Breton ceilidh. Randolph's own No Strings Marionette Company will entertain children of all ages in the family tent, and Midnight Capers brings their Morris dancing to Main Street.

The Festival store is a favorite destination, offering performers’ CDs, including some hard to find on-line or anywhere else. The Food Tent provides a rich variety of international offerings cooked up (or poured) by civic organizations and restaurants. Otter Creek Brewery and Grandview Winery offer the finest in liquid refreshment. Performances in Chandler Music Hall and Bethany Church are augmented by participatory activity in the Dance Tent and a Family Tent with storytelling, marionettes, creative activities, music, and dance by young fiddlers and dancers.

The Dance Tent deserves special note. There, dynamic bands with sought-after callers perform different genres of music from noon 'til midnight, for those who love to dance or wish to learn traditional dance styles. Past years have seen traditional contradance, French, Zydeco, and Celtic Rock bands galvanize grooving festival-goers-all in one day.

Inside the Chandler Gallery and on the streets, Vermont-made jewelry, prints, foodstuffs, instruments, and fabric arts will be for sale, along with traditional crafts from around the world. For a full listing of performers, vendors, ticket, lodging and travel information, visit www.NewWorldFestival.com.

Recognized seven times by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce as one of their Top Ten seasonal events, this music festival was conceived 16 years ago as a community spirit-builder after Randolph suffered three devastating downtown fires. It worked; people felt better having attended, wanted more, and got it. Now an annual event, it is run entirely by 150 enthusiastic community volunteers under the artistic direction of the New World Festival’s music coordinator Kevin Dunwoody. Ticket prices have been level-funded this year and family packages are available in an effort to keep the festival family-friendly and affordable.

The festival returns to its traditional layout this year with Main Street bridge construction complete. This pedestrian-friendly festival will remain easily navigable, rain or shine. All venues are indoors or under tents. Once parked at Randolph Union High School or the Town's municipal parking lots, cars become unnecessary. The Stagecoach will shuttle people to and from lots for free, as always.

The New World Festival enjoys generous support from the Vermont business community. The lead sponsor for all 16 years has been Randolph National Bank. The bank is joined by Gifford Medical Center, The Three Stallion Inn, Cabot Creamery, Vermont Technical College, Casella Waste Management, National Life, Rain or Shine Tent Company, Otter Creek Brewing, Robert Williams Associates, Inner Traditions, and Anichini. The Delegation of Québec also contributes, for the furtherance of French Canadian culture in New England. All festival proceeds go to support programming for youth at Chandler.

All tickets are available at the gate on the day of the festival. Advance tickets and family packages are available at a discounted rate. They must be pre-ordered by calling the Chandler Box Office at 802-728-6464 before August 30. Volunteer opportunities are still available. Free admission to the New World Festival can be earned by working three hours. Call 802-728-5788. All performance spaces are wheelchair accessible. No pets, s'il vous plait. The New World Festival promises a “world of music close to home”.

Official Website: http://www.newworldfestival.com/