Bec's News

Folkin' Blues posted: 7/7/2010 Thanks for stopping by. For more songs, show listings and other social networking hoo ha please also check out facebook & twitter.

Upcoming Performances posted: 7/7/2009 July 28 - Essex Outlet's Summer Concert Series sponsored by Phoenix Books. 7 p.m. Summer Songwriter's Night with Carol Ann Jones and Rachel Hamilton. Route 15 Essex, VT. Aug. 7 - Long Trail Festival - Songwriter's Swap with Phil Henry, Ali Chambliss and Josh Brooks 2 p.m. on the mainstage, Rutland Fairgrounds, Route 7, Rutland, VT. Aug. 21 - The Living Room Concert Series - Re-scheduled solo show For Rachel Bissex fans only featuring a bunch of tunes written by Rachel Bissex plus some by me. 7:30 p.m., $20 limited seating, 794 West Lakeshore Dr., Colchester, VT more info www.livingroomvt.com ** This date is still unconfirmed, check back closer to the show date** Aug. 22 - Lake Monsters Game - Centennial Field at UVM in Burlington, VT. I'll be singing the national anthem before the game at 1 p.m. Come cheer on the home team. Aug. 25 - LCATV's Open Mic Live! 7 p.m. Tune in to Cable Channel 15 in the Colchester, VT area. I'll be hosting, contact me at rebecca@lcatv.org to sign up to perform live on TV. Sept. 3-5 - Maine Countryfolk Music Theatre - Rik & Bec - US Route 2, East Dixfield, Maine. Free, family and musician friendly festival. Sept. 16 - Rik & Bec at Hinesburg Farmer's Market, Route 116, Hinesburg, VT Nov. 7 - Rik & Bec at First Sunday Concert Series, Deborah Rawson Memorial Library, Underhill, VT

My music featured in ACM Award Winning Documentary posted: 10/30/2008 CCTV Productions 13-minute profile of the Vermont Women's Mentoring program has been awarded first place in the documentary profile category of the Alliance for Community Media Northeast Region video contest. Produced for Mercy Connections and Vermont Works for Women, the video tells the story of the Vermont Women's Mentoring Program which connects women leaving prison with mentors in the community. The program includes interviews with program officials, incarcerated women and mentor/mentee pairs. It also features the song "Road to Freedom" by Rebecca Padula and Jess Wilson, written specifically for the project. The prize will be awarded at the Northeast Regional conference on November 15th in Methuen, MA. Watch the winning video here -excerpted from www.cctv.org

About Fire & Water posted: 4/10/2008 "Fire & Water" is finally finished. It took about a year off and on in the studio, but it was worth it. It has 14 tracks, mostly my own tunes, but a few written by some of my favorite Vermont gal songwriters: Carol Abair, Susannah Clifford Blachly and Rachel Bissex. We recorded mostly at the awesome studios of Egan Media in Colchester, VT and had some great guest stars come by and contribute their talents to really make this project sparkle. Guests include: Gregory Douglass (vocals), Paul Asbell (guitar), Phil Abair (hammond B3 & piano), Colin McCaffrey (mandolin), Jamie Masefield (mandolin), Susannah Blachly (fiddle & vocals), Rik Palieri (banjo), Dave Keller (guitar & harmonica) and Martha Seyler (vocals). Thanks gang. The sound is rocked up folk and blues with a bit of jazz and politics thrown in for good measure. Check it out at itunes here .

Consider a Concert at Your Place posted: 6/27/2008 The next time you see one of my shows, it could be in the comfort of your own living room. E-mail me at contact @ rebeccapadula.com if you're interested in setting up a show and check out this video about how house concerts work.

Voices of Friends posted: 6/22/2008 Had a great time last night in Burlington at the release party for Carol Abair's new CD, "Voices of Friends." The project features Carol's pals singing her tunes. I sing Carol's original arrangement of "When I Leave Winooski" -there's an alternate, slightly rocked up version of it also on my CD, Fire & Water. Carol's a great writer and I usually feature a few of her tunes in my setlist. You can find out more about all things Carol at www.carolabair.com.

Peace Out posted: 10/26/2007 The 2007 Vermont Peace Song Contest was held October 24 at the Langdon Street Café in Montpelier. The first place winner was... me? Wow! The ink was barely dry on my new song, "We Are Free" written pretty much the week before the contest- nothing like a deadline to get that songwriterly mojo workin'. Second prize went to Howie Cantor for his "Jesus Went to Gitmo" and the third place to Kristina Michelsen for "One Voice for Peace." Check out the lyrics section to the left, I'll post the lyrics to "We Are Free" soon. And watch your local public access TV station for the contest which was taped and sponsored by Onion River Community Access in Montpelier. -Peace Out

Rockin into Fall posted: 11/2/2006 The turn of the seasons this year marked a personal record for most performances in a month, my first gig with a power trio, and a bunch of chances to play with some old friends. The show at the Brick Box in Rutland with songwriters George Nostrand and Bow Thayer was one of many highlights. Even though what happens in Rutvegas stays in Rutvegas- I have to mention that George did a stellar version of "What's the Point" from my first album which was way cool for me. I perform a lot of songs by other Vermont songwriters, but I think this was my first time hearing things go the other way. Susannah Blachly joined Mitch and I for a seat-of-our-pants, no-rehearsal-neccesary, show at Langdon Street Cafe which was a lot of fun and included a lot of cover songs and collaboration on each other's material as well. I'm starting to notice a cool theme here... Also the Monkey House played host to the first Rebecca Padula Band show- I am now hooked on the sweet groove a rhythm section can bring. Thanks to fab drummer Matt DeLuca for spoiling me. The also groovy Patrick Fitzsimmons brought his djembe along to our co-bill at the Lincoln Inn songwriter's showcase and jammed along to some of my new tunes. Good luck to him as he heads off to Europe in December to man the skins for The Brandos. And in my "spare time" I've organized a new free music series at the Coffee Hound in Malletts Bay, come check out the tunes on Friday nights at 7 when the series resumes after the Holidays.

Champlain Valley Folk Festival posted: 8/8/2005 Wow, The Champlain Valley Folk Festival was a blast this year. Great tunes, great weather and great vibes- plus I got to be "folk famous" for a few days walking around with my guitar and performer wristband. Kingsland Bay State Park is the site, right on the banks of Lake Champlain. A great spot for swimming, picnicing and of course the whole live music thing. The photo here is of Mitch and I performing on the Lakefront Stage only a few yards from the water's edge. It just doesn't get much better than that. I was also honored to be part of a special tribute to Vermont's Rachel Bissex. It was a packed show and lots of her family attended- it was a real tearjerker. She touched so many of us and was a mentor, a special performer and a major influence on me. I also got a chance to hear some of my other favorite Vermonters perform. If you get a chance to see Patti Casey (www.patticasey.com) or Rik Palieri (www.banjo.net) do it! They are both awesome. I also was blown away by the bluegrass rockers, Crooked Still. (I don't know their website yet, you'll have to google them. *webmaster note: how about www.crookedstill.com)

April Fools posted: 4/6/2005 Now I've done it. For the first time ever, I played mostly electric guitar on my set. I joined forces again with the Joe Adler Acoustic project for a rockin' late-night show March 31 at Club Metronome in Burlington, VT to ring in April Fools Day. If you missed our midnight Rolling Stones jam session featuring members of Snmnmnm, Joe Adler Acoustic and Mickey Western- well, you really missed some fun. The electric guitar, which belonged to my late buddy, Chris Burrage, will be back on stage again soon. It's pretty fun to rock out, but don't worry folkies, the acoustic isn't going anywhere.

Media Culture posted: 5/19/2005 For the second year, I added some music to the VT media education in action conference sponsored by the Action Coalition for Media Education (www.acmevermont.org). Check out the lyrics section for my newest tune, "The Wind," about mainstream media. This was inspired in part by the conference title "Remote Control or Self Control: Staying Healthy in a Media Culture." Some video and indie media links can be found at www.cctv.org I also joined some fellow Vermont artists in a tribute to the late Rachel Bissex following the Burlington, VT premiere of Nora Jacobson's new movie "Nothing Like Dreaming," which Rachel appears in. Check out www.nothinglikedreaming.com for more info on the film. Then I made the trek to Middlebury to perform at the new Great Falls Fine Art Center. Mitch joined me again on bass and we were treated to the sweet sounds of accapella group Somebody's Sister and opener Samy. This is a cool funky artist owned club/gallery/cafe and I hope to be back there again to soak up the artsy vibe.

Now at CD Baby posted: 3/25/2005 My latest release, "Time, Speed & Distance" is now available at www.cdbaby.com. If you prefer mp3s you can find me on i-tunes, Rhapsody and now mp3tunes. Check it out at www.mp3tunes.com/RebeccaPadula As always, you can try a few of the free downloads available here on the site as well.

Too Many Goodbyes posted: 2/28/2005 Another beautiful musician and friend fell too young to cancer this year. Burlington's sparkling Rachel Bissex died Feb 20. She was a mentor, a great human and one of my favorite artists. I was lucky to have had the chances I did to sing with her. She was an excellent performer and a loving, giving person. I learned a lot and am grateful for all the advice and the precious little time she had. You are missed, but your music goes on.

January posted: 1/31/2005 I had some great shows in January, rockin' out at Monkey Bar in my former home of Winooski, VT with new friends Joe Adler and Johnnie Durand. I rang in the New Year with a return visit to First Night in Rutland, VT and played for the locals at Charlotte Coffeehouse. But the big story for me in January was the loss of my college buddy Chris Burrage. Chris, a dear friend who played bass on my "Waterfront" album and performed with me at the start of my music career as part of Table Wine, died way too young of cancer on New Years Day. Rest in peace brother, you were one of the good ones.