[FM] the good life

[Rachelmail@aol.com]

Hello list,
  Once in a while I see a performer who just sends me. Last Saturday night I 
had the pleasure of seeing Barb Phaneuf (pronounced fan-of, and I am a big 
one) at the Ripton Community Coffeehouse here in Vermont.

  Barb's style goes from good-time swing, to heartfelt serious songs, 
delivered with a voice so sure and pure it makes you melt. And her smile is 
completely infectious. She is totally with her audience, there's never any 
doubt about where she's going. She had the audience in the palm of her hand.

  The first Saturday of every month in the little bitty community of Ripton, 
Richard Ruane started a series some years back, using the town hall (a 
beautiful old wooden building, with a balcony and a full kitchen,  built for 
gatherings such as this).  They host an open mike (sign up at 6:30-7, goes 
for 1 hour only from 7:30-8:30), then the featured performer goes on at 9pm 
for one set, everybody's done by 10:30 and then to the jam session at 
someone's house by 11pm. This is a wonderful way to do a series. The 
community never gets burned out on it (once a month), the open mike is full 
of locals and only goes for one hour, the featured music is always great, and 
everyone's done early.

   I saw grandparents, moms with babies and dads with teenagers, college 
students knitting in the front row, 10 year old boys outside playing in the 
snowbanks. It's a real community event, and everyone comes. This is what the 
music's about for me. 

  My hats are off to Richard and to Sally (who helped conceive of the series 
and is the emcee while Richard is behind the board doing a stellar job on 
sound). I hope the series stays strong for many years to come.

  See you on the road,
Rachel Bissex