7:30 Patrick Ross
Patrick Ross
A fiddler since age 5, Patrick Ross knows what it means to be a music-loving kid. As one of Vermont's busiest acoustic roots musicians, he has brought traditional music to audiences of all ages, always giving it a fresh, captivating feel.
A DJ, composer, singer and producer as well as superb multi-instrumentalist, Ross is the very model of the modern traditional musician! He grew up near the Canadian border, and his grandparents came from Quebec, where there's a strong tradition of fiddling. At age 12 he caught the attention of a Smithsonian Folkway Records team documenting regional folk music, who ended up recording him on the front porch of his family's home. He won the Vermont-State Fiddle Championship at age 14 and has been performing professionally since age 19, when he joined Smokin' Grass, a Vermont bluegrass band that blended elements of folk and roots rock.
Now in his mid 30s, Ross has toured with a variety of music ensembles, worked in Nashville with a Celtic band, performed at the Grand Ole Opry and the Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington, D.C., and shared stages with Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Paul McCartney. He's established himself as one of Vermont's top session musicians. He tours the state regularly, has started an annual music festival and opened his own recording label, Rock Farmer Records, dedicated to "roots" music. Always busy, Ross performs with The Fellers with Rusty DeWees and guitarist Doug Perkins, the bluegrass band Mountain Money, and bands Hot Flannel and Atlas Key. His solo concerts include a worldwide range of fiddle styles as well as songs he has written for guitar, banjo, mandolin and cello.
Said Robert Resnik, host of Vermont Public Radio's All the Traditions, "It's not just the technical expertise or the mastery of an amazing variety of styles that puts Vermont fiddler Patrick Ross several steps above and beyond practically all other players; Ross's eclectic taste and raw energy make sparks and create musical magic every time his bow hits the strings." Remarked his performance partner DeWees: "Equal to or perhaps beyond Patrick Ross' virtuosic command of the fiddle is the easy and entertaining style in which he commands a performance. I'm blessed to have shared his stage."
8:00 Lucy Isabel
Lucy Isabel
A great deal has transpired in recent years and Lucy Isabel captures the essence of change in her profoundly touching new album, All The Light. There are the obvious factors: a global pandemic, political turmoil, wide-reaching tragedy. And on a personal level, Isabel has navigated five years of marriage, entry into motherhood, and the unexpected loss of her father. What results is a compelling and vulnerable sonic snapshot into Isabel’s life.
Following her 2019 debut album, Rambling Stranger, Isabel felt both limitless and lost. “I felt like people were aware of and interested in my career in a way they hadn’t been previously and I froze.” Unsure of what to do, she turned to her usual outlet and began touring extensively. Isabel embarked on an ambitious “31 Shows in 31 Days” tour in October 2019 and she found her footing along the way. Her confidence was short-lived, however, when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived and left everyone in fearful uncertainty.
Not one to waste time, Isabel took the opportunity to grow her family, giving birth to her first child in April 2021. “I always expected that I would just continue touring but I was suddenly presented with this opportunity to be home and relax throughout my first pregnancy. We decided to take advantage of that and I couldn’t be more grateful that we did. It was a silver lining in a difficult time.”
All The Light leans more toward the folk side of Isabel’s folk/Americana identity, making use of a live band feel while also incorporating a great deal of acoustic instrumentation. The songs are both introspective and relatable, paying due respect to the fears that form us and the freedom of letting them go.
On All The Light, Isabel reunites with Rambling Stranger producer, Jared Anderson, and the result is a stunning reflection of the growth of a professional friendship. “When Jared and I worked on Rambling Stranger, we were both in our mid 20s and now on this project we’re in our early 30s. A lot has changed. It’s a special thing to return to a producer-artist dynamic at this point in our lives. Making a record requires vulnerability and understanding and a lot of time; I think that’s reflected in the way these songs have turned out.”
