The concept behind the title, “The Village Green,” is that the Town Green is a meeting place of people and ideas, and it is our hope that the show will serve the same purpose. I say “our” hope because I am one of the producers. With the assistance of my husband Glenn, and with a tremendous amount of support and help from Alecia, I produced the arts & entertainment segment.

It sounded easy enough, when I first heard about the show. All I had to do was put together a 5-7 minute segment, and other people would put together other segments, and, ta-dah! there would be a show.

Compared with the half-hour children’s show I produced for about 2 years, over 10 years ago, it sounded easy as pie.  On The Village Green, I would only be responsible for 5-7 minutes, I would be part of a knowledgeable team, and nonlinear (digital) editing would make the whole editing process much easier than the tape-to-tape editing process I had used on the previous show .

Taping the interviews went well, but it was difficult to condense my 32 minutes down to 5-7. Digital editing wasn’t that easy either, even with Alecia doing most of the work, as she taught me the basics. I have  a whole new respect for film editors. As with editing writing for length and logical format, you sometimes have to toss out content you really like because it is too long or just doesn’t fit in. Unlike editing writing, though, you can’t create new video in the editing studio as easily as you can manipulate words.

It has been an enjoyable learning process though, and I hope that Falmouth residents will watch the show tonight (it will be repeated at other times and dates; check the FCTV web site for schedule details). And, I hope that others will take advantage of the wonderful resource we have in FCTV. A $30 annual membership gives you free access to training and use of equipment so that you, too, can produce segments for The Village Green, or envision and create your own television show.

This year, a new tradition begins: the Falmouth Theater Guild’s “Holiday Celebration,” with shows at 4 PM Saturday and Sunday. I saw the dress rehearsal last night and enjoyed this folksy Christmas celebration featuring local talent and lots of heart. The show is about an hour long; it is intended for the whole family, featuring music from the Falmouth High School orchestra led by Steve Edwards, the Falmouth Theater Guild Chorus, the Trade Winds barbershop quartet, harpist Katie Lynch Koglin, and singers Jennifer Perrault-Minshall and Abigail Dougherty.

Cleo Zani serves as emcee, introducing the Christmas songs and telling the audience a little about their origins, and Police Chief Anthony Riello did a nice job reading “Twas the Night Before Christmas” to an assemblage of children. The performance ended with a spirited holiday sing-along.

It was a nice, friendly holiday concert–neighbors celebrating with neighbors, a nice way to usher in the season.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. Children 10 and under are admitted free. Maximum fee for families is $30. Tickets can be purchased at the box office by calling 508-548-0400 or at Eight Cousins, 189 Main Street, Falmouth.

Tomorrow and Sunday, there are about 87 holiday fairs and art shows and house tours (only a slight exaggeration) to appeal to every taste, and a Renaissance Fair in Woods Hole, as well as parades in several town. The Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra performs its annual holiday concerts this weekend too.

And if, perchance, you’re still not feeling festive by the end of the weekend, there’s another round of concerts and fairs, and performances next weekend. Ho, ho, ho!

By MARILYN J. ROWLAND (Originally published in the Enterprise on March 14, 2008)

The Third Fret Coffeehouse [Third Fret's MySpace page includes audio files of upcoming or recent performers] springs to life once a month with the sounds of acoustic music and song. Concerts are held from September to May in the friendly, folksy and comfortable atmosphere of Liberty Hall in Marstons Mills. Built in 1859, Liberty Hall has long served as a community center for Marstons Mills and it is well-suited as a coffeehouse. It is located near the center of town at 2150 Main Street right next to the Marstons Mills Library.

My husband and I visited the Third Fret recently to see blues guitar legends Paul Geremia and Bob Martin. Considered to be one of the best country blues finger pickers, Mr. Geremia did not disappoint. He played six- and twelve-string guitars, harmonica, and sang songs of his own composition and songs made famous by legendary blues performers like Ledbelly, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Robert Johnson, Blind Willie McTell, and others. He also told entertaining stories about meeting early blues musicians, or playing in places where they had played.

Mr. Geremia, whose home is in Rhode Island, was accompanied by Cape resident Robbie Phillips on a “strung trombone,” sort of a one-string washtub bass that Mr. Phillips was very adept at playing. The two have known each other for 35 years.
Opening for Mr. Geremia was Bob Martin, another old-time blues guitarist and harmonica player. Also a songwriter, Mr. Martin sang a song he wrote for his father, a housepainter who always wanted to be a tap dancer. Another memorable song was “The River Turns the Wheel,” which Mr. Martin wrote about the mills in his hometown of Lowell.

Liberty Hall has been used as a coffeehouse off and on over the years. The Third Fret Coffee House was run by Eileen DiBouno for the past three years or so, but operations have recently been taken over by Tracey Delfino and Larry Zarella. They are enthusiastic about bringing quality folk and acoustic music to Marstons Mills and giving musicians a great place to play. Many appreciate playing in a coffeehouse in a concert setting, instead of a bar where they must compete with loud conversations and other distractions.

The hall holds about 100 people, fewer if tables are set up for guests and goodies. The goodies are a nice touch. Coffee, tea, and homebaked goods are included in the cost of admission, though donations are also appreciated.
Ms. Delfino’s son, Trevor, helps out too, acting as stage manager, helping with sound checks, supplying the musicians with everything they need; he sets up tables and chairs, and generally makes sure things go smoothly. “He does a pretty amazing job,” says his proud mom, and he is only 9 years old.

Ms. Delfino enjoys the coffeehouse herself, appreciating not only the music, but also the ambiance. Because no alcohol is served, parents can bring their kids.

The next concert, the first one booked by Ms. Delfino and Mr. Zarella, is March 22. It will feature Mr. Zarella, a singer-songwriter whose warm folk-style voice has been compared to James Taylor, and the acoustic folk pop group, Tripping Lily. A native of Cape Cod, Mr. Zarella lived in a remote area of Alaska for 15 years, playing music in a band and as a solo artist. He moved back to the Cape a couple of years ago and has been touring in the area and elsewhere. His CD, “No Place Special” features his original music.

Tripping Lily is a Cape-based folk pop quartet consisting of Demetrius Becrelis on guitar, mandolin, and ukulele, his brother, Alex, on mandolin and guitar, Monica Rizzio on violin, and Laird Boles on string bass. All band members sing, and all write songs, a unique blend of pop, folk, jazz, bluegrass, and classical music. Their influences are diverse, from James Taylor to Nat King Cole to pop singer Colbie Caillat and rock band Starting Line, and their enthusiasm for their music is infectious.

The combination of Larry Zarella and Tripping Lily should be a treat for traditional and contemporary folk music fans. The show is March 22. Doors open at 7 PM, and the show begins at 7:30.

Another upcoming show of special interest to singer songwriter fans is the Songwriter’s Series on April 19 at 8 PM featuring Danielle Miraglia, Jacob Johnson, and Chris Ayer.

For more information on either show, contact Tracey Delfino at tracey@trespassmusic.org.