Thursday, Aug. 25 — BARNARD — BarnArts Center for the Arts, a small community-based nonprofit located in Barnard presents Mister Chris and Friends, with support from NEFA as part of their Thursday Music Series at Feast and Field. Aug. 25, Mister Chris and Friends, will perform with support from the New England States Touring program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and the six New England state arts agencies.
Beginning at 6 p.m., Mister Chris and Friends will perform for a special family show at Feast and Field’s inviting farm venue. Chris Dorman, known as Mister Chris, is a popular children’s musician, and has a popular VT PBS show, now in production of their fourth season. With support from NEFA and the Barnard Education Fund, BarnArts brought Mister Chris to the Barnard Academy in the spring of 2021 to perform with the pre-K and lower elementary students.
A concert was planned for July of 2021, but was canceled due to rains. Most concerts are now held rain or shine, but due to backlogs in tent orders, the event tent had not yet arrived. Dorman and barnArts music programming director Chloe Powell have been in conversation about this show for three years now. This highly anticipated concert, now delayed two years, will be Mister Chris’s only performance of the season.
Dorman believes that “Children deserve beautiful music that respects their deep emotional intelligence and endless capacity for joy!” This is the belief that guides the music and multimedia experience of The Mister Chris and Friends Band. The band features a revolving cast of musicians, producers, engineers, and educators working hard to express the special experience of early childhood with their songs, videos, and dynamic interactive live performances. Collaboration is the name of the game and the name of the band is Chris Dorman and Friends. The “and Friends” part means everything to Chris. The songs he pens are brought to life by a variety of incredible musicians.
Dorman will be joined by Emma Cook, Noah Hahn, and Jane Boxall, and the show will feature ASL interpretation. The event will begin with a meet and greet with Mister Chris from 5:30-6 p.m. A children’s set will run from 6-7 p.m., followed by a set of Chris Dorman’s singer songwriter material for all ages. Prior to his career as a children’s musician, Chris Dorman released an extensive catalog of music.
The Arts Bus, a traveling art classroom will provide an instrument making craft bag from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
