PUTNEY, Vt. – The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series and Twilight Music present acoustic-electric, folk-pop, Americana sextet The Slambovian Circus of Dreams on Sunday, Sept. 3, at 5 p.m., at the SVG Multipurpose Field in Bellows Falls, Vt. For over 25 years, the Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.-based Slambovians have expanded the borders of Americana music with a rootsy rocking psychedelica, fantastic stories, and electrifying live performances – a mix of Washington Irving, Woodstock, and British Invasion that’s “mightily impressive and hugely original rock from the cool end of Americana,” according to Maverick Magazine.
The music of The Slambovian Circus of Dreams has been described as “hillbilly-Floyd,” “alt-country, roots-rock,” and “surreal Americana” – a clear indicator of its singularly indescribable uniqueness. The sextet’s melodic avant-folk conjures with an exotic instrumental arsenal (accordion, cello, mandolin, Theremin) in addition to standard rock regalia, and a palette of styles ranging from dusty Americana ballads to huge Pink Floyd-esque cinematic anthems. Dancing freely between all existing religious and philosophical mythologies, the music is uplifting, empowering, and a lot of fun.
The Slambovian Circus of Dreams is Joziah Longo, Tink Lloyd, Sharkey McEwen, RJ McCarty, Bob Torsello, and Matthew Abourezk. They have performed around the world, headlining the likes of the Wickham Festival, Fairport’s Cropredy Festival, Glastonbury, and Celtic Connections in the U.K., and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Philadelphia Folk Festival, Strawberry Festival, and Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in the U.S. The Slambovians have released six critically acclaimed studio albums: “A Very Unusual Head” (2022), “A Box of Everything” (2014), “The Grand Slambovians” (2012), “The Great Unravel” (2008), 2004’s double-disc “Flapjacks from the Sky,” and “A Good Thief Tips His Hat” (1998). Bandleader and songwriter Longo – known for tall tales and philosophizing – has written two musicals with Broadway legend Theodore Mann, headlined at Carnegie Hall, and was the first American musician invited to perform in mainland China in the early 90s, ending a decade-long ban on Western music.
The SVG Multipurpose Field is located at 14 Mill Street in downtown Bellows Falls, Vt. Tickets may be purchased online in advance, or at the gate for an additional fee. Kids under 12 enter for free. For advance tickets and more information, visit www.nextstagearts.org, or call 802-387-0102. Next Stage will provide a beer, wine, and cocktail cash bar, and food by Crossroads Tacos and Vermont Gelato will be available. Bring lawn chairs or blankets for outdoor seating on the lawn.
This performance is sponsored in part by The Richards Group.
Support for the Bandwagon Summer Series is provided by Brattleboro Reformer, Landmark College, Oak Meadow, Barr Hill, Vermont Public, Lawson’s Finest Liquids, M&T Bank, and Vermont Plank Flooring.