Provincetown

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Music Fest Promises to deliver plenty of smooth notes

By Melora North

Banner Staff

September 13, 2007

The notes will fly this Saturday when a group of swinging musicians with some smooth sounds hits the stages at the UU Meeting House and Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown for a music fest sure to catapult this little spit into a colorful fall.

Showtime at the UU is at 2 p.m., then later at the Monument another show goes on at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 online at provincetownmusicfestival.org, Muir Music or at the door. Some of the proceeds will be donated to Helping Our Women (HOW) and the Carrie A. Seaman Animal Shelter (CASAS).

Drummer Bart Weisman, a major force behind the endeavor, says “there will be all kinds of music – pop, rock, jazz, cabaret, folk, country and classical.” And the line-up of musicians slated to perform this potpourri of selections is impressive to boot.

The first concert is hosted by Ron Robin, owner of the Mews Restaurant and partner in the Outer Cape’s new radio station, Dunes 102 FM. Dane Vannatter brings jazz and cabaret singing to the table when he performs at the UU venue. Bringing some soul onto the scene is Ptah Brown who will perform some gospel numbers sure to bring a tear or two to someone’s eye. Peter Donnelly plays folk and country, while Jon Arterton, James Mack and John Thomas perform some classic broadway and lite classical favorites. Rounding out the roster of entertainers are Casey Sanderson and Denise Parks and the Grab Brothers.

Weisman will emcee the second concert where a couple of performers from the afternoon will entertain again, but this time they will wear different hats and show off another side of their talents. Ptah Brown is one of them when she switches from gospel and puts on a show of sultry blues. Peter Donnelly is the other one, this time treating the audience to a show of pop & rock songs from his new CD.

“It is so cool to have Ptah perform gospel at one concert and blues at another,” says Weisman. “And Peter moving from folk to pop all in the same day.”

Backed up by Weisman on drums, Steve Hershman on piano and Laird Boles on bass, Lori Colombo, daughter of well-known musician Lou Colombo, performs pop and jazz. Completing the roster of entertainers for the show is Carol Wyeth playing a mean harmonica and playing jazz, swing, latin and blues.

The goal is to present all kinds of music in a format that is accessible to anyone walking down the street," says Weisman. And it looks like the goal has been met with the line-up of eclectic entertainers who promise to treat the audience to a variety of music suited to all ages and preferences. “Why shouldn’t we have the best live music we can?” Weisman asks rhetorically. “That’s why we’re bringing all of this talent to Provincetown. It’s for everyone to enjoy.”