The Brattleboro Reformer from Brattleboro, Vermont • 20

Dec. 4 www.reformer.com Ovation! Brattleboro Reformer Thursday, December 3, 2009 Josh Ritter's long strange trip lands him at the Calvin tonight NORTHAMPTON. Mass. It takes about an hour and 45 minutes to traverse the 97.41 miles of highway between downtown Providence and The Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton At the outset of his career, Josh Ritter would make that long lonely trek with his acoustic guitar in tow just for the opportunity to play a song or two at open mike nights in front of a handful of mildly disinterested folks for no money. The Idaho-born songwriter has traveled a huge number of miles since then, growing in stature enough to be playing playing theaters (like the Calvin Theater where he performs tonight) with a crack band in front of rabid fans, and making a pretty decent wage.

In a phone interview from his home in New York, Ritter recounted his first very Noho gig. "The first time I ever played the Iron Horse I drove out from Rhode Isand where I was temping for an open mike. A real long drive but it sure paid off." Since that night, Ritter has released four critically acclaimed records and cultivated an adoring worldwide fanbase. I asked the charismatic performer whether he was surprised by his success or right on his planned career course. "It is both where I hoped to be but also beyond my wildest dreams," Ritter said with a laugh.

"When you first get started, you think you are going to be The Rolling Stones, you know? As time goes on you see the enormity and complexity of the whole thing, and also there the stuff that is left to pure serendipity. As I have learned how all this stuff works, it seems all the more unlikely and amazing that am still doing this. It's A career turning point for Ritter occurred when he was still toiling temp jobs and playing open mikes. He was spotted by Glen Hansard and his band The Frames, who were impressed enough to invite Ritter to come home with them to Ireland where he became a huge success, selling enough merchandise to finally quit his day job and devote himself to music full-time. "With any career, whatever it is, DAVE MADELONI Josh Ritter there is a point where something happens where you either scramble to be worthy or you are just prepared for." said Ritter.

"I think was definitely ready for some: thing to happen when I met. the Frames and first started touring Ireland. When that Josh Ritter happened I just grabbed Ritter's music and critical acclaim reached another level after he began to collaborate with Sam Kassirer and bassist Zack Hickman, who would become his musical soulmates on the road and in the studio. Ritter was quick to credit their professional and personal chemistry for his ongoing success. "I couldn't do what I do without those guys.

They are far more than just being my band. The are colleagues and they are friends. I wouldn't have had these last several years without them. They are pretty much inextricable." Their contributions are integral to Ritter's last two CDs, 2006's "The Animal Years" and the following year's "The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter," which drew the attention of a number of critics who included those records on their best-of-year lists. Ritter is particularly proud of his and his colleagues' work on Years." "It was a really contemplative record, one that I felt that I really got to unload everything that was in my head, without being concerned with what people are going to think about it.

I felt that I was getting it all out there. I felt like, if I was in a plane crash, it would be alright. I said what I wanted to say. It was a great feeling." Ritter is also feeling good about the record he just completed at Kassirer's Great North Sound Society in Maine. "It is a lot bigger, more complex.

I think of the last one as kind of splatter-painting, throwing a bunch of paint Weekly Dinners Back by Popular Demand! The Old VERMONT EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT Tavern JUST $25 PER PERSON AT GRAFTON, VERMONT Due to popularity, reservations recommended. Three courses, local menu. 802-843-2231 OldTavern.com 92 Main Street, Grafton, Vt. Loft, BSD join to present Flamenco celebration at the wall. Very Jackson Pollock.

This one feels far more ornate, I have been doing more with the orchestra, and other types of mustcians, like Hilary Hahn, a concert violinist. A lot of that stuff has worked itself into the songs. I worked with Sam. on it so it is pretty ambitious in its sound. I am really excited." Ritter promised to play some songs from the new one at tonight's Calvin Theater gig a show that will show his explosive growth since.

his open mike days. "It is a beautiful theater we are really excited to play The Low Anthem will be 97.41 miles from home when it opens for Ritter tonight at The Calvin. The up-and-coming trio happen to hail from Providence, R.I., where they began at. Brown University in 2006 as a collaboration between Ben Knox Miller, a folk musician, poet and painter and Jeff Prystowsky, jazz bassist and baseball scholar. The two bonded as DJs on the school's radio station's freeform graveyard shift.

They began collaborating with classical composer and NASA technician Jocie Adams at Brown a year later. I asked Miller about the band's growth and their fine new CD, "Oh my God, Charlie Darwin." "Songwriting and arranging has always been our focus." said Miller. "Jocie has a classical musician's ear, so that brought a different approach to arranging. As time went on, we added new instruments, like the crotales and harmonium and have had more practice playing drums. That never deterred us from playing them in the old days, but now we can actually keep a beat." Miller is particularly excited to share the stage tonight with Ritter.

"Josh is a great musician, and has a positive spirit. We've played together once before, but it was many months ago, so it'll be great to hear him again. Dave Madeloni writes a weekly music column for the Arts Entertainment section. He can be reached at BRATTLEBORO On Saturday, 12, The Loft and the Brattleboro School of Dance are teaming up to present A Celebration of Flamenco. During the day, BSD will host a Flamenco dance workshop with Ines Arrubla from 1:45 to 3 p.m.

At night, The Loft will. host two performances of "Lorca: Bajo La Luna Gitana, an origi: nal theatrical dance piece choreographed by Arrubla. The playwright and theater director Gian Didonna, who just moved. to the Pioneer Valley from New York City, served as acting coach. Along with troupe dancers, the piece features Titus Neijens on Spanish guitar and Simon Moushabeck on percussion and piano.

Arrubla is an internationally known.flamenco dancer and choreographer. She is artistic director of the Flamenco Studio Dance Troupe and currently teaches flamenco dance to students across the Pioneer Valley and beyond. Visit www.arrublaflamenco.com. The Flamenco dance workshop runs from 1:45 to 3 p.m., at the Brattleboro School of Dance, 22 High St. The cost is $15..

Participants looking to take the class and see the show at The Loft can do both for $20. There will be two shows at The Loft at 6 and 8 p.m. Admission for each show is $10. Seating is limited, and reservations are recommended. The Loft is in the Cotton Mill and is handicapped-accessible; call to make arrangements.

For more information, reservations or directions, call 802-380- 6360 or e-mail Red Heart the Ticker plays Saturday at Marlboro MARLBORO Red Heart the Ticker will perform in the Marlboro College Campus Center on Saturday at 8 p.m. Admission is $5 for the general public and free for Marlboro College students. Red Heart the Ticker is the musical collaboration of Robin MacArthur and Tyler Gibbons, a husband and wife duo from Marlboro. Their music is a mix of ethereal indie-rock and folk. The duo has toured nationally, and appeared on A Prairie Home Companion in April.

For more information, contact the Marlboro College Public Relations office at 802-251-7644 or In the event of inclement weather, contact the Marlboro College Events line at 802-451-7151..