Bandwagon Summer Series: Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber

Start: Sunday, June 8, 2025 6:00PM
End: Sunday, June 8, 2025 8:00PM

Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber, founded by Greg Tate, is a sprawling ensemble of NYC-area musicians whose prodigious chops and adherence to Butch Morris's Conduction system allow them to open the AstroBlack stargates to a darkly energetic, many-splendored celestial realm of cosmic riddim, esoteric rambunctiousness, and eclectic blue cheer! In 2025, Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber celebrates twenty-six years of “never playing anything the same way once.” As always, BSAC pays tribute to their sonic Sensei, Maestro Lawrence Butch Morris (1947–2013), for showing them "THE WAY" of Conducted Improvisation, and to their founder and co-leader, Gregory Stephen Ionman Tate (1957–2021), for creating the caramelized spaceship that grants BSAC access to a vast, darkly energetic cosmic realm of noise and riddim. Now in their twenty-sixth year, BSAC is led by Jared Michael Nickerson, the electric bubble bassist, business manager, and co-leader since the group's inception. As Greg Tate used to say, BSAC is "a territory band, a neo-tribal thang, a community hang, a society music guild aspiring to the condition of all that is molten, glacial, racial, spatial, oceanic, mythic, antiphonal, and telepathic." The lineup: Shelley Nicole - Vocals/Conduction Miss Olithea - Vocals/Electronics Bruce Mack - Vocals/Conduction Lewis “Flip” Barnes - Trumpet “Moist” Paula Henderson - Bari Sax Leon Gruenbaum - Keyboards/Samchillian/Talk Box Ben Tyree - Electric Guitar Marque Gilmore tha Inna Most - Trap Drums/Electronics/Conduction Jared Michael Nickerson - Electric Bubble Bass “A multiracial jam army that freestyles with cool telekinesis between the lustrous menace of Miles Davis’ On The Corner, the slash-and-Om of 1970s King Crimson, and Jimi Hendrix’ moonwalk across side three of Electric Ladyland.” - David Fricke/Rolling Stone “Listening/watching Burnt Sugar playing live is an intense, amazing experience. The passionate, playful, committed way each artist interacts with the others, their deep respect both for the music and for the other members of the band is a show in itself. A band of equals, where every single unique note is part of the game. If there existed a place where Sun Ra’s Arkestra would meet George Clinton’s Funkadelic/Parliament it's there you will find Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber." - Pino Saulo Rai Radio 3 ITALY Funded in part by the New England States Touring program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and the six New England state arts agencies. The Bandwagon Summer Series is a family-friendly outdoor cultural performance series running from May through September. Performances including a diverse group of musical styles will take place at ballfields, farms, and parks throughout Putney, Brattleboro, and Bellows Falls. Kids under 12 always get in for free, and a dedicated play area will be available at all shows. Refreshments are sold onsite, including the return of the hugely popular Barr Hill cocktails, and food from Smokin' Bowls. Bring a picnic and a blanket or fold-up chair to enjoy our concerts.