Briggs Carriage Bookstore - Events

WILLIAM MCKONE 7:00 PM

2010-09-30T22:08:00Z

“Historian Bill McKone brings to light the life of Captain John Lonergran, Vermont’s Irish Rebel, a single most important Vermont Irishman of his generation. Lonergan's life weaves through the great events of the mid-nineteenth century Irish-American experience", says Vincent E. Feeney, author of Finnigans, Slaters and Stonepeggers: A History of the Irish in Vermont. Originally from south Texas, Bill McKone lives in northern Vermont at the foot of Mount Mansfield. The combination of his own Irish heritage, a deep interest in the Civil War, an MA degree in military history, five years residence in

Canada

, and a taste for Jameson whiskey convinced him that Lonergan's tale should be told. Join us, hear the story of this man’s history, and take home the book.

MAPLE JAM 7:00 PM

2010-09-25T22:07:00Z

Maple Jam sings a range of 4-8 part, a cappella jazz music, in close harmony. They perform arrangements by Gene Puerling, the Singers Unlimited, the Swingle Singers, the King's Singers, the Real Group, Manhattan Transfer and Take 6, to name a few. The arrangements are an assortment of songs by the Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, and Billy Joel, plus jazz standards, pop tunes, and original works. We welcome back this jazz ensemble.

Justin Perdue 7:00 PM

2010-09-24T22:05:00Z

Don't miss the return performance of this talented trio, featuring Justin Perdue on jazz guitar, Jeremy Harlos on bass, and Travis Shores on the drums, playing original compositions. Come give them a warm welcome back at the Ball and Chain!

BILL MORGAN 7:00 PM

2010-09-23T22:00:00Z

For Morgan, The Typewriter Is Holy: The Complete, Uncensored History of the Beat Generation, Ginsberg was the locomotive for the group of travelers, addicts, loiterers, and seekers that came to be known as “beats” and who would act as catalyst for the late 1950s beatniks, as well as the social movements of the 1960s. The essential On the Road manuscript consisted of attached papers fed through Kerouac's typewriter like a roll of paper in an early word processor printer. Readers gain knowledge of the legendary lives and loves of this motley crew that changed the world. Morgan chronicles the mid-twentieth-century writers known as the Beats. During 1944–59, they produce three “holy” books of Beat—Ginsberg’s Howl, Kerouac’s On the Road, and Burroughs’ Naked Lunch— an important literary phenomenon of post-WWII America. Spend an evening listening to their journey and take home as signed copy of this central book about the period.

SNAKE MOUNTAIN BLUEGRASS 7:00 PM

2010-09-18T19:57:00Z

You know them and love them, they're back and better than ever!

NICK KAISER 7:00 PM

2010-09-17T21:57:00Z

Nick Kaiser began making music as a violinist, studying the Suzuki method. Those early years were spent playing at the Interlochen National Music Camp in Michigan. Two years of cello studies followed before Nick turned to acoustic guitar. His writing is smart, firmly planted in the American folk spirit, acoustic rock, Celtic, blues and bluegrass/traditional. Prior to that, some interesting projects included two summers at Tanglewood as recording engineer for the Berkshire Music Center and Boston Symphony Orchestra. In 2007, Nick organized a fundraiser for the Addison County Community Action Group to help alleviate and draw attention to the shortage of affordable housing in Middlebury, Vermont. Now, with the kids grown and gone, Nick is reigniting his passion for performance, constantly smoothing and redressing “Almost True,” a demo-style recording of originals featuring harmony vocals, 6 and 12-string guitars, mandolin, keyboards and percussion.

TERESA STORCH 7:00 PM

2010-09-11T21:55:00Z

Teresa - engaging singer-songwriter who has toured the country sharing her music with fans in taverns, coffeehouses, and theaters - has made the trek up from Boston to Vermont and the Ball & Chain quite regularly. We welcome her back to hear her songs and stories (which she will happily share with the audience). Visit her website for information about her & her musical journey: www.teresastorch.com.

SIMPLY ACOUSTIC CANCELED

2010-08-21T20:31:00Z

This event has been canceled.

WALTER HESS "THE JEW'S HARP" 7:00 PM

2010-08-19T20:27:00Z

Born in Germany, a retired film editor, Walter’s poems have appeared in The American Poetry Review, Barrow Street, and many others. A resident of New York City, Walter has summered in Vermont for many years. The American Book Review said of his poetry collection, The Jew’s Harp, “These are poems of an open spirit toward God and His people.” The book is a remarkable celebration of family, of tradition, and of living through terrible and wonderful times. The obvious themes are love and survival. The controlled lyric and narrative voice of the poems is that of a son, and grandson, speaking about his father, mother, wife, children and grandchildren; they speak of the agony of loss and the joy of retrieval; they speak of journeys, from Hitler's

Germany

, to

Ecuador

, to safety in

America

, and a new life. Join the celebration with this wonderful poet, and take home a copy of this amazing collection of his work.

JON CLINCH "KINGS OF THE EARTH" 7:00 PM

2010-08-12T20:23:00Z

Kings or the Earth, a powerful and haunting story of life, death, and family in rural America, is hailed across the boards as a brilliant work by the likes of Publishers’ Weekly, Oprah Magazine to lead her list of popular summer reads this year, the Washington Post and the LA Times. Vermont author of the brilliant first work, Finn: A Novel, Clinch has hit an amazing and brilliant home- run with his second work. Oprah calls it, “A masterful and compassionate novel…” Publishers Weekly says, “this quiet storm of a novel will stun readers with it’s power.” Compared by many to the works of William Faulkner, the Rutland Herald said, “…Faulkner might well agree.” Two Briggs Carriage book sellers have each created staff picks for this novel. Come prepared to meet a Vermont writer about to enter the realms of the most important American writers of our times. Put this book at the top of your summer reading list!! Don’t miss the opportunity to meet the author and to take home a signed book.

BREAD AND BONES 7:00 PM

2010-08-06T20:22:00Z

Bread and Bones are entertainers of the first order, producing gorgeous harmonies, captivating lyrics, and witty banter. We are always thrilled to welcome them to the Ball & Chain, with their unique blend of eclectic & original folk music performed by Richard Ruane on guitar & vocals and Beth Duquette on vocals as well.

PUTNAM SMITH 7:00 PM

2010-07-16T15:37:00Z

Coming to us from Portland, Maine, is Putnam Smith! Known for his foot-stompin’ banjo, melancholy guitar, spicy mandolin and sexy voice, his music is steeped in “old time” and Americana roots. His songs sound like they come from a porch in the Blue Ridge Mountains or a cabin on the coast of Maine. Putnam lives in a log cabin north or Portland and he loves to compost. Join us in welcoming this “down-east” musician to Brandon.

RICHARD SMITH 7:00 PM

2010-07-15T15:33:00Z

In April 1775, a small band of men set out from Hartford and traveled swiftly north toward the shore of Lake Champlain, recruiting men to their expedition along the way. Within only a few days, this loyal group of volunteers arrived in Vermont and, joining forces with Ethan Allen and his legendary Green Mountain Boys, launched a daring attack to capture more than one hundred cannons stored at Fort Ticonderoga. Richard Smith, in his book, Ethan Allen and the Capture of Fort Ticonderoga: America's First Victory, traces the Patriots’ route. He chronicles the rival expedition led by Benedict Arnold, his confrontation with Allen and the surprise attack that changed the course of the American Revolution. He reminds us that Brandon’s Stephan A. Douglas’ great grandfather play a key role in this history. Richard B. Smith has created historical maps and self-guided history tours. Richard Smith earned degrees in engineering and management from Lehigh University and an advanced degree in economics from Columbia University. He and his wife reside in Manchester, Vermont.

GARRET KEIZER 7:00 PM

2010-07-08T15:30:00Z

Noise is usually defined as unwanted sound. But as Garret Keizer illustrates in his probing new book, The Unwanted Sound of Everything We Want, noise is as much about what we want as about what we seek to avoid. It is a byproduct of human striving since ancient times. Noise provides a key for understanding some of our most pressing issues, from social inequality to climate change. In a journey from the Tanzanian veldt to the streets of New York, Keizer deftly explores the political ramifications of noise,

America

's central role in a loud world, and the environmental sustainability of a quieter one. Garret Keizer is a free lance writer, a contributing editor to Harper's Magazine, and a recent Guggenheim Fellow. He is the author of six books, including the critically acclaimed Help and The Enigma of Anger. His essays and poems have appeared in The Los Angeles Times, The New Yorker, The Best American Essays, and The Best American Poetry. He lives with his wife in northeastern Vermont.

SIMPLY ACOUSTIC 7:00 PM

2010-06-26T19:34:00Z

Mike and Tom Boise entertain with a musical sound they call “simply acoustic.”

Briggs Carriage Bookstore - Events

WILLIAM MCKONE 7:00 PM

MAPLE JAM 7:00 PM

Justin Perdue 7:00 PM

BILL MORGAN 7:00 PM

SNAKE MOUNTAIN BLUEGRASS 7:00 PM

NICK KAISER 7:00 PM

TERESA STORCH 7:00 PM

***SIMPLY ACOUSTIC*** CANCELED

WALTER HESS "THE JEW'S HARP" 7:00 PM

JON CLINCH "KINGS OF THE EARTH" 7:00 PM

BREAD AND BONES 7:00 PM

PUTNAM SMITH 7:00 PM

RICHARD SMITH 7:00 PM

GARRET KEIZER 7:00 PM

SIMPLY ACOUSTIC 7:00 PM

SIMPLY ACOUSTIC CANCELED