Arts Alive offers an amazing array of talented performers, from aspiring students of all ages to accomplished professional performers. You’ll find music of all genres: jazz, rock’n’roll, blues, bluegrass, Americana, folk, country, Celtic, classical, old-time fiddle, New Age, alternative rock, light opera, choral, a cappella, singer/songwriter, and more. There will be classical and contemporary ballet, belly, and Egyptian dancers, theatrical performances, a television animation demonstration, and activities for kids of all ages. The fun begins Friday evening, June 18, from 5 to 9 PM, and continues Saturday, June 17, from 10 AM to 9 PM, and Sunday, June 18, from 11 AM to 5 PM. The event is sponsored by ArtsFalmouth.

Friday Night: Performance Tent

Falmouth Academy Jazz Band

5 PM Falmouth Academy Jazz Band: Falmouth Academy’s Cool Nights Jazz Band is made up of instrumental musicians in the Jazz II class taught by George Scharr, who is the director of orchestras and chair of the arts department at Falmouth Academy. The band includes saxes, trumpets, trombone, guitars, percussionist, clarinet and flute. The band performs at the end of June every year in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

All-Cape Jazz Band, George Scharr, director

6 PM All Cape Jazz Band: Music lovers and jazz enthusiasts will appreciate this year’s exceptional line-up of high school musicians from across the Cape. Musicians auditioned for this prestigious band in February, and faculty judges selected seven saxophones, four trumpets, five trombones, two percussionists, piano, bass and guitar to play at the Cape and Islands High School Jazz Festival in April. Falmouth High School and Falmouth Academy are well represented in this ensemble with Josh Watson from FA and Jonathan Decker, Jake Luckcraft, Nathaniel Evans, John Turner, Dante Colpus, and Robert Taft, all from Falmouth High School. George Scharr conducts.

Town Dance

7 to 9 Town Dance with the Rip-it-Ups: The Rip-It-Ups are a traditional rock & roll band who play a lot of blues—a rockabilly band with country jazz and soul. Fronted by dynamic vocalist Jodi Birchall, the band plays everything from ballads, originals, country and western to great jazz, blues, and rock, with a lot of energy. Band members include recording artist, trumpet player, and singer/songwriter Kami Lyle; bassist and singer/songwriter Joey Spampinato who, along with his brother Johnny Spampinato, are members of the world-renowned rock & roll band, NRBQ; Paul Dinsmore and Gary Locke, who played with the Bluesdusters for many years in the Cape Cod area; Tad Price, on guitar, who has played with many varied musicians including Sarah Burrill; and Liam Hogg, who has played drums on the Cape for many years with bands like Earth Junior and Sarah Swain.

Saturday, On the Lawn

Painting by Ruth Leech at Arts Alive 2016

1 to 4 PM: The Friday Morning Figure Painters: The Friday Morning Figure Painters, led by Ruth Leech from the Falmouth Artists Guild will gather to paint a live model–Paul Cooper, a local drummer, on the Library Lawn. Watch the paintings take shape as various artists interpret the model in their own unique ways, using a variety of media. Some will  paint only the model, while other artists will paint him as a figure in the landscape.

Monday Morning Painters

1:30 PM to 3:30 PM: Monday Morning Painters: Led by Patty Calkins-Martin, the Monday Morning Painters will paint the Arts Alive Festival as it happens, on the Library Lawn.

Saturday, Performance Tent

Sonnay Fiddlers

10 AM Sonnay Fiddlers: The Sonnay Fiddlers play traditional Celtic and international fiddle tunes. The group is made up of beginning to very accomplished students of Nikki Engstrom, an award-winning fiddler and a member of the Celtic duo Stanley and Grimm. The fiddlers—and one cellist—range in age from young children to adults.

Belly Dancing with Elena

11 AM Belly Dancing with Elena: Elena Griffin leads a troupe of Middle Eastern belly dancers in colorful costumes. She teaches belly dancing and believes that people of all ages and body types can learn to dance.

Falmouth Theater Guild

Noon Falmouth Theatre Guild: Members of the Falmouth Theatre Guild will perform a medley of show tunes from past and upcoming shows. Glenn Starner-Tate will accompany on piano.

Khadija and Troupe Mirage

1 PM Khadija and Troupe Mirage: Troupe Mirage is an Egyptian-style dance troupe of women aged 21 to 60, led by Khadija (Katrina Valenzuela), who teaches Egyptian and Arabic dance both at Cape Cod Community College and at Ballet Works in South Yarmouth. 

Falmouth Songbirds

2 PM Falmouth Songbirds: The Falmouth Songbirds is women’s vocal ensemble directed by Susan Laite. They sing classical music, spirituals, jazz, folk, popular music, and standards in three-part harmony. The group encourages the love of music by offering instruction in voice, musical notation, and theory to its members.

Woods Hole Theater Company

3:00 PM Woods Hole Theater Company: Members of the Woods Hole Theater Company will perform selections from their current offering of “next to normal” the rock musical by Brian Yorkey. The show is playing through June 25 at Woods Hole Community Hall.

Notescape and Friends

4:00 PM Notescape and Friends: Members of Notescape, a close-harmony a cappella men’s vocal group will sing ballads, doo-wop, and popular tunes from the American Songbook. Vocalists for this show include singers Tom Goux, Peter Clark, Peter Hopewood, and Doug Mann, with Bob Vander Pyl on guitar. Friends of Notescape, Oliver Muldoon on piano and Rusty Strange on lap steel guitar, will provide accompaniment, plus a few instrumental offerings of their own.

The Analogues

 5 PM The Analogues: A high-fidelity, low-nonsense trio bringing blues, jazz, and funk to the masses. Featuring Shawn Malcolmson on percussion, Chris Harris on bass, and Neil Ganju on guitar and vocals.

6 PM Rock Fest: Flydown: Rock music by Brian Kerins on vocals and bass, Stevie “Flydown” Kenneally on drums, and Jeff Lawson on lead guitar and background vocals.

Unnamed Colors

7 PM Rock Fest: Unnamed Colors: Unnamed Colors is an original art-rock trio from Newburyport comprising four musical adventurers with a penchant for challenging expectations. The band includes Sierra on vocals and keyboard, Andrew on guitar, Jay on drums, and Michael on bass. Together, they have established a unique, ever-evolving repertoire that is engaging, richly dynamic, and full of surprises.

8 PM Rock Fest: Left of Jupiter: Jason Violette on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Paul Violette on drums,  Rick MacGovern on bass, Daryl Sabine on lead guitar, and back-up vocals.

Saturday, Music Tent

Treasure Time

11 AM Treasure Time Storybook Theater: Mrs. Treasure (Lee Drescher) will read a children’s book, sing songs and play guitar, encouraging children to actively participate in games, singing, and dancing.

Jim Lareau

Noon  Jim Lareau, Singer/Songwriter: Jim Lareau will sing original music, rock and roll songs, and bluesy tunes. He plays acoustic and electric guitar and ukulele.

Yesterday’s Country

1 PM  Yesterday’s Country: Yesterday’s Country plays old-time traditional classic country music from the Golden Era of Country Music throughout Cape Cod, Southeastern Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Members include Ben Carnavale on pedal steel guitar and lead guitar; Jack Meserve on vocals and acoustic guitar; Rich Brown on bass and vocals; Bill Kiesewetter on keyboard; and Paul Fata on vocals and lead guitar.

2 PM  Jeff Brown, Singer/Songwriter: Jeff sings folk, country, and bluesy covers and originals.

Cat’s Melodeon

3 PM Cat’s Melodeon: Cat’s Melodeon, led by Bill Black, performs Irish traditional music—jigs, reels, hornpipes, and more—on fiddle, guitar, flute, recorder, uilleann pipes, banjo, accordion, harmonica, concertina, bouzouki, whistle, mandolin, and bodhran. The group’s name comes from a local expression in Ireland’s County Mayo and refers (among other things) to an informal get-together for enjoyable purposes.

Bill Black

4 PM Bill Black Sings Irish Songs: Bill Black will sing songs of Ireland and songs of the water. Bill is a composer and performer of traditional songs, primarily Irish ballads but also songs inspired by his life-long experiences with ships and the sea. He plays guitar, banjo, and mandolin, and is involved with several traditional groups, including Cat’s Melodeon.

Matt Borrello

5 PM Matt Borrello, Singer/Songwriter: An award-winning singer/songwriter who writes from personal experience, Matt Borrello draws his inspirations from folk, country, blues, and rock music. He is known for his insightful lyrics and passionate performances.

Jody Moore Band

6 PM Jody Moore Band: The Jody Moore Band offers dance party fun, from Benatar to Journey, Blondie to Bon Jovi, with country, dance, and classic hits. Members include Jody Moore, vocals; Chuck Williamson, guitar; John MacFee, bass; and Chris Besegai, drums.

Stomp 86

7 PM Stomp 86: Stomp 86 is an alternative rock cover band featuring Mark Leonar on guitar and vocals, Bob Bearse on bass, Ryan Buckley on drums and vocals, and Dave Carlino on lead guitar and vocals.

8 PM Audio Fossil: Audio Fossil is a three-piece band playing classic and newer rock music, including covers of Grand Funk, Tom Petty, Aerosmith, Pink Floyd, and other bands.

Saturday, Library Tent

Scene from “The Handmaid’s Tale,” on Hulu

10:20 AM Engage Falmouth presents “Women’s Voices”: Engage Falmouth presents: “Women’s Voices,” a performance to highlight the power of women’s creativity to counter discrimination and inequality. Featuring a local chapter of The Handmaid’s Coalition, the acts will include music, literature, and song. Engage Falmouth’s mission is to motivate, mobilize and empower the community to become a force for progressive change.

Liz Saunders

11:20 AM Liz Saunders Trio: Liz Saunders, vocalist, Ted Jellinek, pianist, and Tony Scalisi, will present music from the Great American Songbook.

Old Main Road

12:20 PM Old Main Road: Old Main Road will perform a mix of folk, blues and gospel/spiritual songs. The trio for this performance includes Rich Latimer, Lisa Allen, and Bill Bellamy.

Andrew Sexton

1:20 PM Andrew Sexton Trio: The Andrew Sexton Trio plays great American music from several eras, including standards and originals. The trio features Alec Zeuli on alto sax and Bill Bellamy on bass.

2:20 PM BREAK for technical crew: no scheduled performance

3:20 PM Amy Hart & Co.: Amy Hart & Co. plays acoustic rock music.

Laughing Crow Band

4:20 PM Laughing Crow Band: The Laughing Crow Band plays blues, folk, gospel, and Americana music on guitar, bass, lap steel, and drums. They cover the music of Ben Harper, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Hot Tuna, and many others. They also cover the original sources of this music, which they describe as a grand continuum beneath a very large and welcoming tent.

Michael Shea

5:20 PM Michael Shea, Singer/Songwriter: Michael Shea plays acoustic guitar and sings original songs and covers. He has been influenced by many songwriters, including Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Don McLean, Laura Nyro, Jesse Winchester, Ray Charles, and Jackson Browne.

Rhythm and Blues Conspiracy

6:20 PM Rhythm and Blues Conspiracy: The Rhythm and Blues Conspiracy draws its inspiration from postwar rhythm and blues, 1960s rock, and 1950s to ’70s soul. Their set list features both well-known and underrated cuts from Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Wilson Pickett, the Rolling Stones, The Who, Bob Dylan, Bob Seger, Bo Diddley, and their favorite, the J. Geils Band. Members include brothers Sam Puopolo on bass and lead vocals, Henry Puopolo on guitar and back-up vocals, and their father Scott Puopolo on drums.

Sunday Performance Tent

Puffy Elvis

11 AM Puffy Elvis: Puffy Elvis is a big, old-time rock ‘n’ roll band made up of teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators at Falmouth High School. Young in spirit and high in energy, the band plays favorite classic rock hits.

Falmouth Fiddlers

Noon Falmouth Fiddlers: The Falmouth Fiddlers play and sing old-time, bluegrass, and Celtic tunes on fiddle, mandolin, guitar, banjo, dobro, tin whistle, bodhran, cello, and string bass. Special guests include members of the Pine Street Pickers.

Moonlighters Big Band

1 PM  Moonlighters Big Band: The 19-member Moonlighters Big Band plays dance music from the 20th and 21st centuries, including waltzes, tangos, cha-chas, rhumbas, bossa novas, swing music, foxtrots, and more. Performing on the Cape for 35 years, the band includes 5 saxes, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, guitar, keyboard, electric bass, string bass, drums, and a vocalist.

Cape Conservatory Brass Ensemble

2:30 PM Cape Youth Orchestra Brass Ensemble: The Brass Ensemble of the Cape Youth Orchestra will perform under the direction of Chris Schroeder. The Cape Youth Orchestra program brings talented young musicians of all ages and skill levels together with professional conductors, musicians and educators from the Cape Symphony, Conservatory, and Boston area. Centered on fostering joy in instrumental and orchestral playing, the youth orchestra program provides young musicians with enriching musical experiences that strengthen their musicianship and create lasting memories.

College Light Opera Company

3 PM College Light Opera Company: The College Light Opera Company, the Cape’s only resident music-theatre company and America’s premier training ground for young artists, will be performing a sneak preview of its opening show of the season. Founded in 1969, CLOC strives to provide high-quality musicals and operettas to summer audiences on Cape Cod, while at the same time giving young talent from around the world a chance to begin a career in music theatre.

Turning Pointe Dance Studio

4 PM Turning Pointe Dance Studio: Students from the Turning Pointe Dance Studio will perform a variety of classical and contemporary dances under the artistic direction of Laura Sciortino.

Sunday Music Tent

“Pocketful from the Beach,” painting by Doug Rugh

11 AM Doug Rugh, Artist: Doug Rugh will paint a still life, demonstrating how paint can be applied with a quick brush and using optical tricks to create the illusion of form. Doug is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and also studied the methods and materials of the old masters at the Schuler atelier in Baltimore. He maintains a studio, the Osborn & Rugh Gallery, at Queen’s Buyway with his artist wife Hillary Osborn.

New Beginnings String Ensemble

Noon New Beginnings String Ensemble: New Beginnings is an eight-member ensemble of string players of all ages directed by Lary Chaplan of the Cape Conservatory of Music and Arts. The group performs a diverse repertoire, including classical music, country music, and show tunes. Chaplan has performed with a wide range of orchestras, rock, and jazz bands and currently plays violin with the Cape Symphony Orchestra.

Vic Solo as Elvis

1 PM Vic Solo as Elvis: Vic Sologaistoa is Elvis Presley, complete with his 1962-era gold-and-black suit and Elvis-inspired gyrations, as he sings Elvis’s greatest hits.

The Pioneers

2 PM The Pioneers: The Pioneers, Celtic musicians Austin McEathron and Ryan Grondahl, play a vibrant and cheery combination of Cape Breton and Irish fiddle music that will make you want to get up and dance.

Dawna Hammers

3 PM Dawna Hammers: Dawna Hammers is a visionary singer, songwriter, performer and recording artist. Her original songs are a blend of folk, soft rock, blues, jazz and world beat. She brings truth, hope and inspiration through her songs that are full of melody, harmony and rhythm. She has performed Joni Mitchell tribute concerts and has released six CDs of original and cover songs.

Spinnaker Winds

4 PM Spinnaker Winds: Spinnaker Winds is a woodwind quartet that performs works from the Baroque through the modern wind repertoire, as well as arrangements of tunes from all genres of music. Members are Lorrie Hassan, flute; Melanie Hayn, oboe; Alison Heleen, clarinet; and Emma O’Neil, bassoon. All are members of the Falmouth Chamber Players Orchestra.

Sunday Library Tent

Celandine

11 AM Celandine: Violinist Carol Rizzoli and cellist Ellen Adamson perform as Celandine. The duo will present music by a range of composers from Baroque to contemporary, along with lighter classics and folk songs. Both musicians are members of the Falmouth Chamber Players Orchestra.

FCTV Youth Producers

Noon FCTV Youth Producers: Allen Russell and the Falmouth Community Television (FCTV) Youth Producers, a will create a stop-motion video on the theme of Father’s Day. The Youth Producers will show how to create characters out of clay and what type of clay to use for these productions. They will also show how to animate using backgrounds and a green screen, as well as adding voices and music to create a finished product. Fun for children, teens, and adults, who are invited to gather around and watch.

Dawna Hammers

1 PM Dawna Hammers: Family Show: Dawna Hammers has been teaching music to children of all ages for over 30 years. She will present a fun, interactive sing-along of many of your favorite songs and some cool new ones too. Come sing, drum and dance with Dawna and experience the joy and power of a quality intergenerational musical experience.

Ladies’ Choice

2 PM Ladies’ Choice: Ladies’ Choice will play fiddle tunes written by local musicians and composers, as well as other favorite tunes. Ladies Choice is a group of women who enjoy singing and playing folk, Celtic, fiddle, popular, and original music on fiddle, guitar, tin whistle, cello, and bodhran. Dawna Hammers will join them to sing a tune that she wrote.

Synergy of Sound

3:30 PM Synergy of Sound: For thousands of years, sound, music, and rhythm have been used by indigenous and wisdom traditions for celebration, ceremony, healing, and spiritual growth. Synergy of Sound’s concerts are offered in the spirit of these traditions. Participants are invited to connect to body, mind, and spirit with the support of harmonic, rhythmic sounds of a variety of ancient and contemporary instruments from around the world, including gongs, tingshas, Tibetan and crystal singing bowls, drums, rattles, flutes, voice, and more.