NEW THIS YEAR!!!!

Contois Cabaret at City Hall

February 9, 2008

$5 Admission

5:00 - Swing dance lessons with Vermont Swings

6:00 - Jenni and the Junketeers with special guest Sign Language Artist Barry Nicklesberg

8:00 - Music set with Past the Point

The Winter Festival Saturday night feature is the Contois Cabaret with Jenni Johnson and the Junketeers. Joining Jenny this year is Sign Language Artist Barry Nicklesberg. Barry is a professional sign language interpreter and has performed around the country with many nationally know artist. We are thrilled to have him be a part of Winter Festival. Check out his website:  http://www.barrynickelsberg.net/4.html  

"As a professional interpreter in the entertainment field, he is a master at the art of conveying the music into sign language for the audience who are deaf and hard of hearing." - W.N. , Governor Baxter School for the Deaf

5:00 pm - Swing Dance Lessons with Vermont Swings

Vermont Swings is an enthusiastic community of swing dancers creating and promoting opportunities to dance. Our motivation is our love of dancing, our desire to dance more, and to share dance with others. We do this by: organizing classes, workshops, dances, practice sessions, and special events in the greater Burlington, VT, area promoting through our website, word of mouth, email, and distribution of literature any and all swing dance classes, workshops, dances, practice sessions, and special events throughout Vermont and outlying regions.

6:00 - Jenni and the Junketeers

Singing jazz, blues and funk has been a central part of Jenni's life since her teen days in New York City, where she was born and raised. In the 1970's, while working towards her Masters in Education, Jenni was involved in several musical productions at UVM, and sang in various settings, including local clubs, private parties, college campus events, receptions, fraternities and sororities. The 1980's found Jenni completing graduate work and pursuing projects in Houston, Texas and Boston. Among these was a unique repertoire of song and music which included a work she titled "The Billie Holiday Story." Another project kept her busy in a Boston recording studio producing demo tapes for Star Search and the Coca-Cola Company. Soon after returning to Burlington in 1989, she launched Jenni Johnson and the Jazz Junketeers, allowing her to render jazz and blues standards by favorite African-American artists such as Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith, W. C. Handy and others. Since that debut, she has sung with numerous musicians, of local as well as national fame, and in diverse events ranging from local club and school appearances to major community programs. In 1993, The Vermont Council on the Arts asked Jenni to begin a four year tenure as a touring artist. She is currently listed in the register under "Jenni Johnson and Friends" (trio) You will be mesmerized by her versatile renditions. She'll have them smiling from their souls, while their feet dance happily to the beat. For more information about Jenni Johnson and the Junketeers go to: http://www.jennijohnson.net

Special Guest: Sign Language Artist and Performer Barry Nicklesberg

Barry Nicklesberg is a professional sign language interpreter and has performed around the country with many nationally know artist. We are thrilled to have him be a part of Winter Festival. Check out his website: http://www.barrynickelsberg.net/4.html 8:00 pm - PAST THE POINT is a five piece multi instrumentalist band composed of veteran musicians with over 100 years combined professional experience. The bands focus is its own brand of country rock and swing with a healthy mix of original material. Formed in late 2005, PAST THE POINT has played town greens, festivals, pubs, bars and special evnts all over Vermont to great reviews. Some highlights are Burlington's Independence Day Celebration at Waterfront Park, Burlington Winter Festival and the Battery Park series. A large catalog of songs and versatility of the band allows them to meet any playing situation from acoustic to electric; large or small.

8:00 pm - PAST THE POINT is a five piece multi instrumentalist band composed of veteran musicians with over 100 years combined professional experience. The bands focus is its own brand of country rock and swing with a healthy mix of original material. Formed in late 2005, PAST THE POINT has played town greens, festivals, pubs, bars and special evnts all over Vermont to great reviews. Some highlights are Burlington's Independence Day Celebration at Waterfront Park, Burlington Winter Festival and the Battery Park series. A large catalog of songs and versatility of the band allows them to meet any playing situation from acoustic to electric; large or small.