WORKSHOPS

Saturday, Jan. 23 [1:00 pm - 4:00 pm] Vance’s dicta is that songwriting and performance are inextricable entities. Vance will examine both the song and it’s presentation on a live stage. All of this is done in a supportive atmosphere as if it were an “instructive open mike,” Vance working with one student as the others watch. Then it’s YOUR turn!! In these practical classes Vance gets “under the hood” of what you do and want to do. This is all terrific fun too, cause he is both supportive and very entertaining. This stage/song bootcamp is a class you don’t want to miss. Vance Gilbert burst onto the singer/songwriter scene in the early 90's when buzz started spreading in the folk clubs of Boston about an ex-multicultural arts teacher who was knocking 'em dead at open mics. Once word got to New York about this Philadelphia-area born and raised performer, Shawn Colvin invited Gilbert to be a special guest on her Fat City tour. Gilbert took audiences across the country by storm. After the release of three successful albums, Gilbert’s self-released Somerville Live (2000) was lionized by the Boston Globe as the disc "young songwriters should study the way law students cram for bar exams." Gilbert followed with Side Of The Road (2003), a duo album with Ellis Paul, which was nominated for a 2004 Boston Music Award. Finishing a year and a half as support for George Carlin is the most recent chapter in Gilbert's varied and successful performance history, leading up to the creation and recording of Up On Rockfield. his career-crowning achievement.