Saturday, Aug. 12, 7:30 p.m.—BRANDON— Folk singer Alex Smith builds songs from stories that are neither contrived nor romanticized – simply keenly observed and honestly told. Smith sings with a rich baritone often compared to Stan Rogers and Gordon Lightfoot, and his characters live and breathe a balance between beauty and imperfection. Jacob Brillhart, a Cape Breton and Scottish style fiddler, joins Smith for a concert at Brandon Music on Aug. 12.
Smith grew up in Long Lake, in the heart of New York’s Adirondack Park, and his music strives first and foremost to echo the people of that area. He builds songs from a blend of traditional folk harmony and strikingly modern lyrics, confronting today’s most pressing issues with grace while paying homage to the masters who came before him.
Jacob Brillhart grew up in rural Vermont playing Cape Breton and Scottish style tunes on his grandfather’s fiddle. After graduating college — where he met and began touring with Smith — Brillhart moved to Boston where he now studies violin making with master maker Roman Barnas. He teaches fiddle lessons and tours with other groups including his family band Banish Misfortune. Brillhart has now retired his grandfather’s fiddle and performs instead on violins he has built himself.
The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Concert tickets are $20. Reservations are recommended for the show. Venue is BYOB. Call 802-247-4295 for reservations or for more information. Brandon Music is located at 62 Country Club Road, Brandon.
Courtesy of Brandon Music
JACOB BRILLHART, ALEX SMITH
