MANCHESTER — Bob Stannard, recently minted chair of the Vermont Blues Society (VBS), will present a “blues picnic” on Saturday, June 20 starting at 2 p.m. at the Manchester Community Library (MCL). The event is designed to raise awareness of the VBS and to help establish a blues scene in southern Vermont.
Stannard, a well-known personality in the Shires, has previously served the community and state as head of the Better Bennington Corporation, chair of the Vermont Arts Council, and as a “citizen’s lobbyist” in Montpelier where he was even honored by Concurrent House Resolution H.C.R. 167 upon retirement which noted that his “gleaming bald head has been a shining presence in the State House’s crowded hallways…”
For five decades Stannard has been a dedicated student of blues harmonica, been a member of and led many groups and shared the stage with a who’s who of blues icons including playing several dates in B.B. King’s band, until stepping back from performing and retiring altogether from producing gigs five years ago.
Now Stannard is coming out of retirement to do it one more time.
What began as a casual picnic and jam with friends has turned into a high-profile show with several of the industry’s heaviest of heavy weights signed on to support Stannard’s initiative.
And it just happens to align with his 75th birthday.
The Vermont Blues Society, whose mission, according to their website, is “to preserve the heritage of blues music, celebrate blues recording and performance, expand local awareness of the blues music, enhance opportunities for Vermont-based blues musicians, and ensure the future of this uniquely American art form is alive and well in Vermont,” vigorously promotes performances by marquee musicians and maintains a list of active blues jams around the state.
If you live in southern Vermont and like to play, you’ll have to drive at least to Middlebury if you want to take a few choruses at a jam session.
That’s a problem he wants to solve by promoting some top-shelf blues locally, including on June 20 in Manchester. For Stannard, this concert is a one-time, mission-driven return to the hustle – a responsibility he was happy to put down when he turned 70.
Stannard initially joined the Blues Society board after being asked by friend and former society Chair, Tom Buckley. Six months later, Buckley stepped down and suggested Stannard take over.
“I thought, ‘Why do I feel like I’m in Venus Flytrap territory?’ but said, ‘Ok, I’ll do it for a year and see how it goes,’’’ Stannard recalled. “I told the board, ‘Careful what you wish for because I’m not just going to sit here and have a monthly meeting and talk about what we’re doing next month,’” he said. “I’m a guy that does stuff.”
When a member pitched the idea of organizing a blues picnic like the one at the Society’s annual meeting, Stannard suggested doing something similar in the southern part of the state. After a call to Paige Vignola, Assistant Director and Education & Community Engagement point person at MCL, he had his venue.
It wasn’t long before film producer and Hammond Organ endorsee, John Fusco, described by Stannard as “an amazing, accomplished cat,” said he’d play at Stannard’s “little blues benefit.”
Next, Grammy Award nominee and 7-time Blues Music Foundation Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year award winner Anthony Geraci said, “I’m in.”
Add in members from Stannard’s old band including perhaps Vermont’s top drummer, Jeff Salisbury, Massachusetts “monster singer” Gina Coleman of Misty Blues, and a few other featured masters and the once humble picnic and blues hang became a high-octane event with world-class musicians.
It’s brought back the old knot of nerves. “I was nervous a week or so ago,” he said. “Now I’m scared sh**less. It’s the feeling that caused me to stop doing this five years ago. This could have been a little picnic with a low-key vibe,” said Stannard. “But now the whole thing is going to be a mega-show.”
He’s not complaining too loudly, though, and knows what’s going to happen on the 20th will be memorable. He’s making sure the details are tied down.
“If it were my band and my gig, I wouldn’t care half as much,” he said. “For this one, I felt like the show needed a little more structure.”
After providing time for each guest artist, Stannard is planning a traditional blues jam in the middle of the show complete with a sign-up sheet, “just like any bar in Vermont,” and will wrap up the show by bringing everyone on stage for a few tunes.
Moonwink Burmese Food, owned and run by Stannard’s son Wes and his wife May, will cater the event and Nature’s Market will sell beer and wine. The Coffee Bar in Bennington is also a sponsor.
“I’m trying to raise awareness and money,” Stannard said. “We all felt strongly that we didn’t want to exclude anyone with a ticket price. But we will have donation buckets all over the place. The players are playing for free. All the money we raise is going back to the Vermont Blues Society.”
“Everyone I talk to down here has no idea the Vermont Blues Society even exists,” Stannard said with a chuckle. “Those days are over. That’s a threat and a promise.”
Learn more about membership and programming at the Vermont Blues Society at https://vermontbluessociety.org/ and find out about upcoming events, exhibitions and updates at the Manchester Community Library at https://mclvt.org/.