On Sunday afternoon, the ensemble that enchants summer nights around the Twin States — my wife, Goodie, and I particularly enjoyed a sunset show on the Quechee Green in August — takes over the gazebo at the Hartland Recreation Center to play big-band standards and the occasional polka.
They’re also counting on fans old and new to make donations and buy raffle tickets toward their effort to improve their sound equipment.
Band co-founder Janet Hewes said this week that the ensemble now comprises about 15 musicians, including regular contributors saxophonist Fred Haas, bassist and trombone player David Westphalen and trumpeter Gary Hubbard.
The Moonlighters perform the final weekly big-band concert of their mini-series at the Hartland Recreation Center on Sunday afternoon at 3. While admission is free, donations are welcome toward the band’s purchase of sound equipment.
On a swing back through the Upper Valley from his new base in Nashville, Enfield-raised singer-songwriter Brooks Hubbard appears at the Public House in Quechee on Friday night at 7 and at Bentley’s restaurant in Woodstock next Thursday night at 8.
The barbershop ensembles Aged to Perfection and Fast Track join the North Country Chordsmen for the Chordsmen’s annual concert, this year on the theme of “Wonderful World,” at the Lebanon Opera House on Saturday night at 7:30. For tickets ($15 to $25) and more information, visit lebanonoperahouse.org online or the box office at City Hall in person, or call 603-448-0400.
The sextet Out on a Limb plays across a broad spectrum of roots music on Sunday, during the Apple and Cheese Harvest Festival at the Justin Morrill Homestead in Strafford. The festivities run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. To learn more, visit morrillhomestead.org.
Organist Lubbert Gnodde and alto vocalist Hai-Ting Chinn join the Vermont Bach ensemble for a concert of works of Bach, Telemann and Vivaldi on Sunday afternoon at 4, at the Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church in Woodstock. While admission is free, donations are welcome.
Vermont singer-composer Anais Mitchell will perform at the Skinny Pancake in Hanover next Thursday night at 7:30. Admission is $15, plus a handling fee. To reserve tickets ($15 plus fees) and learn more, visit skinnypancake.com/location/hanover-nh-3/ or call 603-277-9115.
On the theme of “Creation Stories,” AVA Gallery and Arts Center tonight resumes The Mudroom, its monthly session of storytelling in the spirit of The Moth Radio Hour. After refreshments at 6:30, the session begins at 7 in the South Studio on the second floor, with live music from Never Too Late. Advance tickets cost $5 for AVA members and $7.50 for others, and tickets at the door are $10. To reserve seats and learn more, visit avagallery.org or call 603-448-3117.
Old Church Theater in Bradford completes a two-weekend run of the Michael McKeever comedy 37 Postcards with performances on Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 on Sunday afternoon at 4. The play explores a young man’s disorientation at unexpected changes in his hometown upon his return from years of travel. For tickets ($6 to $12) and more information, visit oldchurchtheater.org or call 802-222-3322.
Never Too Late performs at Colburn Park from 4 to 7 this afternoon during the second-to-last Lebanon Farmers’ Market of summer.
ToasT serenades the Feast and Field Market in Barnard with an dose of funk tonight from 5:30 to 7:30.
The rock duo Don & Jenn plays a benefit concert for the Bradford Public Library on Friday night at 7 at the Colatina Exit in Bradford.
Jim and Ruth Strout host the first Acoustic Jam of the 2016 season at the Clifford Memorial Building in Woodsville on Sunday from noon to 4. Admission is $3 for spectators. Musicians are welcome to join in the session of country and bluegrass as long as they bring no drums or horns. In the event of bad weather, call 603-747-2839 to learn if the jam is still on. Subsequent sessions are scheduled for Oct. 9, Nov. 13 and 20, and Dec. 4 and 18.
Instructor Jenny Gelfan offers eight weeks of classes in swing, ballroom and Latin dance at the Woodstock Recreation Center, starting on Monday night. The beginner class, also open to rusty dancers seeking a refresher, runs from 6:30 to 7:30. The class for experienced dancers hits the floor at 7:30. Fees are $95 per individual dancer and $175 for couples. Registration in advance is required, at woodstockrec.com or in person at the rec center.
Pianist Bob Lucier commands the keyboard at the Canoe Club in Hanover at 6:30 tonight. Following him to the microphone over the coming week with shows from 6:30 to 9:30 are jazz guitarist Steve Ellis on Saturday, jazz guitarist Billy Rosen on Sunday, guitarist Tom Pirozzoli on Tuesday and Wednesday and jazz singer Cyn Barrette with accompanists Bob Merrill on piano and Peter Concilio on upright bass next Thursday night. And on Monday night between 5:30 and 8:30, Marko the Magician performs his weekly sleight-of-hand.
Sensible Shoes pulls into Windsor Station tonight at 7. Following them to the venue over the coming week are Carton and The Wood Coats on Friday night at 10, The Cornerstone with a set of rock, funk and reggae on Saturday night at 9:30 and singer-songwriter Dan Blaise on Tuesday night at 6.
Bobbi ‘n Me performs in the tavern at Jesse’s in Hanover on Friday night at 5.
Erin Harpe and the Delta Swingers play the blues during a free concert at Taverne on the Square in Claremont on Friday night at 7. To learn more, visit erinharpe.com.
Royalton singer-songwriter Alison “AliT” Turner performs at the Inn at Weathersfield in Perkinsville on Friday night at 7.
Tim Brick plays country-infused rock at the BoHo Cafe in White River Junction on Friday night at 7:30, followed next Thursday night at 7:30 by bluesman Arthur James.
The western Massachusetts-based trio Colorway performs two sets of guitar-centric rock at the Skinny Pancake in Hanover on Friday night, starting at 8:30.
The Gully Boys set the rhythm for dancing at 9 at Skunk Hollow Tavern in Hartland Four Corners, on Friday night starting at 9.
The Friday night lineup at the Upper Valley’s Salt hill Pubs features The Party Crashers in Lebanon, acoustic rocker Bob Rutherford in Hanover and Club Soda in Newport. Stepping to the microphone on Saturday night are Tirade with a set of rock in Newport and the Adam McMahon Trio in Lebanon. All shows start at 9.
Singer-guitarist David Greenfield performs at the Stone Arch Bakery in Lebanon on Saturday, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Moxley Union plays in The Loft at the Silo Distillery in Windsor on Sunday from noon to 2.
Bow Thayer performs his weekly set of Americana at the Skinny Pancake in Hanover on Wednesday night starting at 7:30.
Hayley Jane and the Primates open the fall music series at Springfield, Vt.’s Hartness House Inn and Tavern next Thursday night at 6.
Jim Yeager presides over an open mic at the Boho Cafe downtown White River Junction tonight from 7 to 10
Ramunto’s Brick & Brew Pizza in Bridgewater hosts an open mic at 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Participants get a free large cheese pizza.
String players of all ages and abilities are welcome at the weekly acoustic jam session at South Royalton’s BALE Commons on Friday night, 6:30 to 10.
Joe Stallsmith leads a weekly hootenanny of Americana, folk and bluegrass at Salt hill Pub in Hanover on Monday nights at 6.
Bradford’s Colatina Exit holds an open mic on Tuesday nights at 8
The Seven Barrel Brewery in West Lebanon runs an open mic on Tuesday nights, beginning at 8.
Jim Yeager hosts an open mic at Hartland’s Skunk Hollow Tavern, at 8:30 on Wednesday nights.
David Corriveau can be reached at dcorriveau@vnews.com and at 603-727-3304.
Correction
Jim and Ruth Strout host the first Acoustic Jam of the 2016 season at the Clifford Memorial Building in Woodsville on Sunday from noon to 4. Admission is $3 for spectators. An earlier version of this column incorrectly described the admission policy for the event.