Pete Sutherland will play his deep and wide repertoire of folk and traditional music from North America and the British Isles during two appearances in the Upper Valley this weekend.
While he’s at it, the septuagenarian Vermont native will dispel, as he has for decades, the myth that those who can’t do, teach.
On Saturday night at the Seven Stars Arts Center in Sharon, Sutherland and Strafford accordionist Jeremiah McLane will perform with the two dozen teen musicians who tour as Young Tradition Vermont.
And on Sunday at the Upper Valley Music Center in Lebanon, Sutherland and fellow fiddler David Kaynor will lead a workshop on performing in folk bands, then play a concert and lead a jam session.
“I’m getting so much from playing with and teaching and mentoring other musicians,” Sutherland said last week, during a telephone conversation en route to concerts in central New York with his roots trio Pete’s Posse. “So far, it’s a sustainable enterprise.”
Sutherland has been serving as a mentor-leader of Young Tradition for close to 20 years, and with Kaynor co-leading the Northeast Heritage Music Camp in Starksboro, Vt., for more than a dozen summers. The last couple of years, Sutherland and Kaynor also have been hitting the road for workshops such as this Sunday’s.
“It’s really rewarding,” Sutherland said. “The young folks who have been exposed to this music really have very good chops. It’s kind of like a rocket ride, once they find other musicians like themselves.”
And for Sutherland, who’s battled cancer for several years, it’s been medicinal.
“Even my oncologist says it’s my engagement with my work that’s helping me beat the odds so far,” Sutherland, who has battled cancer for several years, said last week. “It’s at least as big a factor as anything big pharma does.”
Pete Sutherland performs with Young Tradition Vermont on Saturday night at 7 at the Seven Stars Arts Center in Sharon, where fiddle students of Seven Stars teacher Beth Telford also will play. Admission is by donation. And on Sunday at the Upper Valley Music Center in Lebanon, Sutherland joins David Kaynor for a roots-music workshop and performance. Admission to the Saturday events costs $35 combined for attending both the band-performance workshop (2 to 3:30 p.m.) and the concert (4 p.m.); separately $20 each. Free jam session follows at 5:30.
More than a dozen young singers, instrumentalists, dancers and actors from six central-Vermont communities perform at the Chandler Music Hall in Randolph on Friday night at 7. Admission is $6 to $16 to the annual Mini Mud variety show for performers ages 9 to 18; to reserve seats, visit chandler-arts.org or call 802-728-6464.
■The all-female taiko percussion ensemble Genki Spark pounds out two free concerts on Saturday, starting at 11 in the morning at Dartmouth Collge’s Alumni Hall. The troupe regroups at 3 p.m. at the CSB Community Center in Claremont.
■Piano students and colleagues of teacher Sherry Belisle, including veteran jazzman Sonny Saul and Bob Merrill, play duets in many genres on Saturday afternoon at 2 at Norman Williams Public Library in Woodstock. Admission by donation to the library.
■The We the People Project stages the musical Working at the Briggs Opera House in White River Junction through March 17. This weekend’s events include a panel discussion on “Telling Stories of Work” on Friday night; a community conversation on Saturday night; and a panel discussion on “Work: Barriers and Bridges” on Sunday afternoon. For tickets ($11.50 to $50), visit wethepeopleproject.com or call 802-295-7100.
■On the theme of “Revival,” the Vermont Chamber Artists unleash their voices on Saturday afternoon at 2 at the First Congregational Church of Lebanon. In addition to singing classical choral works by Arvo Part and Gwyn Arch, they’ll belt the pop song Somewhere Out There. Admission for adults $10 to $15 in advance; tickets at the door $5 (ages 17 and younger) to $20. To order tickets, visit vermontchamberartists.weebly.com..
■The BarnArts Center for the Arts hosts its seventh annual Masquerade Jazz and Funk Winter Music Carnival on Saturday evening at the Barnard Town Hall. The festivities begin at 5:30 with Woodstock jazz pianist Sonny Saul leading his Bandemonium ensemble onto the stage. Next come trumpeter Jody Henderson with his jazz-funk band from Woodstock Union High School, then the Boston-based Kotoko Brass with a wave of West African dance music. Admission ($10 to $20) includes a mask-making table, a photo booth and a taco bar. To reserve tickets, visit barnarts.org.
■Harold Ford plays tribute to “The Spirit of Johnny Cash” on Saturday night at 8 at the Claremont Opera House. For tickets ($24) and more information, visit claremontoperahouse.org or call 603-542-4433.
Buyer & Cellar, one-man show, at Barrette Center for the Arts in White River Junction. Through March 17. Admission $17.75 to $57.75.
■Comedy Night, with Chad Blodgett headlining roster of six stand-up artists, Saturday night at 7:30 at Newport Opera House. Ages 21 and older. Admission $15.
■Auditions for teen lead roles in Footloose!, Chandler Music Hall on Sunday. Registration deadline Friday; to sign up and learn more, visit chandler-arts.org/youth. Auditions for chorus roles on March 17; registration deadline March 15.
Turnip Truck, roots music, Saturday night at 7 at Coffeehouse Cabaret, North Common Arts in Chelsea. Admission $10.
■Reckless Breakfast, bluegrass quintet, Saturday night at First Congregational Church of Thetford. Rivendell Academy rock duo Combustible Coffee opens at 6:30. Admission by donation to church maintenance fund.
■Saxophonist Cercie Miller and singer Dominique Eade, jazz, Sunday afternoon at 4 at the Center at Eastman in Grantham. Tickets $18 to $20; visit josajazz.com or call 603-763-8732.
■ Mellah, a cappella folk quintet, Sunday afternoon at 3 at First Congregational Church of Thetford. Admission $10 to $25.
Calluna, traditional dance-music trio, Muskeg Music contradance on Saturday night at 8 at Tracy Hall in Norwich. Caller Sandy LaFleur. Admission $8 to $12, with $1 discount for Muskeg Music members. Walk-through for new and rusty dancers at 7:45.
Singer-songwriter Chris Como, Thursday night at 6, Peyton Place restaurant in Orford.
■Sensible Shoes, rock, Thursday night at 7 at Windsor Station; The Pilgrims and Jessica Rabbit Syndrome, Americana and rock, Saturday night at 6:30.
■Saxophonist Mike Parker and keyboardist John Lovejoy, soul and jazz, Friday night at 7 at Farmers Table in Grantham.
■Gold Tooth Gator, blues, Friday night at 8 at Skunk Hollow Tavern.
■Jim Yeager, rock/funk, Friday night at 9, Margaritas restaurant in Lebanon, and Monday night at 7 at Woodstock Inn’s Richardson Tavern.
■Singer-songwriter Jim Hollis, Friday night at 9 at Salt hill Pub in Lebanon.
■Singer-songwriter Derek Johnson, Friday night at 9 at Salt hill Pub in Hanover; guitarist Shane Rice and singer Bob Trabka, rock, Saturday night at 9.
■Rocker Alec Currier, Friday night at 9 at Salt hill Pub in West Lebanon; Occasional Jug Band, Americana, Saturday afternoon at 4.
■John Lackard, blues, Friday night at 9 at Salt hill Pub in Newport; The Repeat Offenders, rock and pop, Saturday night at 9.
■Strangled Darlings, folk-rock, Sunday afternoon at 1 at SILO Distillery in Windsor.
■Singer-songwriter Alison “AliT” Turner, Tuesday night from 6 to 8 at First Branch Coffee/Upper Pass Beer in South Royalton.
■Saxophonist Michael Parker and guitarist Norm Wolfe, jazz, at Quechee Inn at Marshland Farm, Wednesday night at 6.
■Jazz pianist Sonny Saul, Wednesday night at 6:30 at On the River Inn in Woodstock.
Flew-Z frontman Alec Currier’s weekly open-mic at Salt hill Pub in Lebanon, Thursday at 8 p.m.
■Weekly acoustic jam session on Friday night at 6:30, at BALE Commons in South Royalton.
■Al Carruth and EJ Tretter host their monthly open mic on Friday night at 7 at the Sunapee Community CoffeeHouse.
■Joe Stallsmith’s weekly hootenanny of Americana, folk and bluegrass, Monday night at 6 at Salt hill Pub in Hanover.
■Fiddler Jakob Breitbach’s weekly acoustic jam session of bluegrass, Americana and old-timey music, Tuesday night at 7 at Filling Station Bar and Grill in White River Junction.
■Tom Masterson’s weekly open mic, Tuesday night at 7 at Colatina Exit in Bradford, Vt.
■Fu’Chunk bandleader Jim Yeager hosts open mic at Skunk Hollow Tavern on Wednesday night at 8.
Mud Season Motown Madness, community dance at Fairlee Town Hall auditorium, March 16 at 7 p.m. Admission by donation..
David Corriveau can be reached at dcorriveau@vnews.com and at 603-727-3304. Send entertainment news to highlights@vnews.com.