Twilight Music and the Next Stage Arts Project will kick off the 23rd annual Twilight on the Tavern Lawn concert series on Sunday, May 31, with a performance by the Vermont Jazz Center Sextet. The beloved summer series brings a wide range of live music—spanning folk, world, jazz, zydeco, bluegrass, pop, and Americana—to downtown Putney every other Sunday through August 23.
All concerts begin at 6:00 pm on the Putney Tavern lawn. Audience members are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket for outdoor seating. In the event of rain, performances will move indoors to Next Stage Arts at 15 Kimball Hill. The series is free and open to the public, with donations gratefully accepted. Food will be available, creating a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere in the heart of the village.
Opening the season, the Vermont Jazz Center Sextet serves as the Vermont Jazz Center’s community outreach ensemble. The group has developed a rich repertoire through weekly rehearsals, performing regularly in schools, assisted-living facilities, and libraries. Their mission is to bring live jazz into more informal community settings, expanding access to audiences who may not otherwise attend traditional concert venues.
Through engaging performances and educational programs, the sextet introduces listeners to the music of jazz legends such as Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, and Art Blakey, while also showcasing original compositions and arrangements by its members. The ensemble features Rob Freeberg on trumpet, Bill Ballard on alto saxophone, Ron Kelley on tenor saxophone, Cathy Martin on piano, Wim Auer on bass, and Steve Rice on drums.
The 2026 Twilight on the Tavern Lawn lineup continues with a diverse roster of regional and touring artists:
June 14 – High and Loathsome
June 28 – Flagship Romance and The Rough & Tumble
July 12 – The Emily Margaret Band
July 26 – Kwartetto Mambo
August 9 – Planet Zydeco
August 23 – The Stockwell Brothers
The series is sponsored by Next Stage Arts, the Town of Putney, and numerous local businesses and organizations.
For more information, visit nextstagearts.org or call 802-387-5772.