Farmers Night concert series begins at the State House Jan. 17

January 5, 2024  |  By Waterbury Roundabout 

Counterpoint singers outside Caledonia Grange #9 in East Hardwick. The ensemble performs at the State House on Jan. 17. Courtesy photo

The annual Farmers Night concert series hosted by the Vermont Legislature at the State House kicks off its 2024 lineup on Jan. 17 with a performance by Counterpoint vocal ensemble. 

The weekly series is a tradition during the legislative session dating back over 100 years to a time when lawmakers entertained themselves in the House Chamber mid-week while away from home. Artists from around the state, in genres ranging from classical music to bluegrass to barbershop, perform in the well of the House Chamber each Wednesday night during the legislative session—and the concerts are free and open to the public. 

This year’s schedule has 12 consecutive Wednesdays with a break during the first week in March for Town Meeting.  

The first performance is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 17 in the House chamber. Based in Montpelier, Counterpoint performs choral chamber music around Vermont, New England and beyond, and it works with students and high school choruses as well. Its repertoire is wide-ranging from folk music from around the world to concert works by classical composers including contemporary artists. Their performances and recordings are praised for their “clarity, skill” and “sophisticated musical expressiveness.” 

The Jan. 17 concert is titled “Turn the World Around” which will highlight a collection of a cappella folksongs and the Great American Songbook. The program will feature new works, arrangements from Counterpoint’s early years by the ensemble's founder Robert De Cormier, and a new piece by Vermont composer Erik Nielsen responding to the July 2023 floods.  

Subsequent dates in the series offer a wide range of performances including Moth-style storytelling with musical duo Cricket Blue on Jan. 24; classical dance and strings Jan. 31 by the Tibetan Association of Vermont; the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and Chorus on Feb. 14; Bread and Puppet Theater on Feb. 21; the Vermont Youth Orchestra on March 13; an April 3 concert honoring the late Pete Sutherland, as well as visits from authors, cartoonists and more musical acts. 

The entire schedule is posted online on the Legislature's website.