Next Stage Arts continues its Bandwagon Summer Series with the Homegrown Festival on Sunday, Aug. 30, at West River Park in Brattleboro. Gates open at 3 p.m., with performances beginning at 4 p.m.
The family-friendly afternoon brings together some of the region’s most exciting performers, featuring The Gaslight Tinkers, a student showcase from the New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA), and Zara Bodé’s Little Big Band. Tickets are $28 in advance, $32 at the gate, and free for children under 12. Tickets are available at nextstagearts.org.
Headlining the festival, The Gaslight Tinkers have earned a reputation as one of New England’s most energetic live bands. Their distinctive sound blends African, Caribbean, funk, reggae, and Latin rhythms with traditional New England fiddle music and Celtic influences, creating an infectious mix that invites audiences to dance. Known for their high-energy performances and joyful stage presence, the band delivers a vibrant celebration of musical traditions from around the world.
Adding a visual spectacle to the afternoon, Brattleboro’s New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA) will present a dynamic student showcase. Featuring aerialists and acrobats trained at the internationally recognized circus school, the performance highlights emerging talent through a mix of aerial artistry, acrobatics, and creative movement that promises to captivate audiences of all ages.
Opening the musical lineup, Zara Bodé’s Little Big Band brings classic American swing, jazz, and vintage country to the stage. Led by acclaimed vocalist Zara Bodé, the ensemble draws inspiration from artists such as Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald, offering timeless songs with elegant arrangements, rich musicianship, and irresistible rhythms perfect for dancing or simply enjoying on a summer afternoon.
Food will be available from Mama T’s Sweet Spot and AlpineGlo Farm Taqueria, along with beverages from the Bandwagon bar.
The Homegrown Festival reflects the spirit of the Bandwagon Summer Series by celebrating artists with strong regional roots while offering an afternoon of live music, circus arts, food, and community in an outdoor setting.
This performance is sponsored in part by Southern Vermont Solar.
The Bandwagon Summer Series is a family-friendly outdoor cultural performance series running from June through September. Featuring a diverse range of musical styles, puppetry, and circus arts, performances take place at parks, farms, and community gathering spaces throughout Putney, Brattleboro, and Bellows Falls. Every show includes a children’s play area, with kids under 12 admitted free. Audiences are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs and enjoy an afternoon of live performance in a relaxed outdoor setting.
The Bandwagon Summer Series is sponsored in part by M&T Bank, Lawson’s Finest Liquids, the Brattleboro Reformer, The Commons, and Landmark College.