Warren, VT – The Paul Dunton Quintet, as part of its Escapism Tour, will perform a free concert at Sugarbush Resort on Friday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. at the Vermont ski area’s Gate House Lodge. The concert benefits Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, the largest nonprofit organization in Vermont to provide sports and recreation to people with disabilities. Concert-goers will be asked to make a donation at the door to Vermont Adaptive, which has one of its three winter homes at Sugarbush.
Vermont Adaptive must raise $10,000 in scholarship funds for the upcoming winter season in order to provide children and adults programming at little to know cost. Ten thousand dollars will help 100 participants learn to or continue to ski and enjoy the Vermont outdoors in the winter.
The Paul Dunton Quintet consists of Dunton on piano and vocals, along with violins, cello, flutes, a double bass, guitar, and vocalist Charlotte Andrews. Phoebe Katis is the support artist for the show. In addition to his own songs, Dunton often includes some covers within his live shows resulting in a selection of unique orchestral interpretations of artists such as Nina Simone, The Rolling Stones, Elbow, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Turin Brakes and Massive Attack. Dunton’s Quintet and Orchestra are both comprised of some of the UK’s leading string players, many of which play for the likes of The London Philharmonic Orchestra and The Hallé Orchestra. He is touring the East Coast this fall.
“Dunton’s fusion of classical and modern popular music results in a truly captivating, unique sound,” said Sara Parker of BBC Radio. “His distinct songwriting and arrangements combine the atmosphere of Vaughan Williams and Rachmaninov with the melodic sensibilities found in composers such as Bacharach and Lennon/McCartney.”
The concert is free to the first 350 people who reserve their seat for the show through Vermont Adaptive. Interested parties should call and leave a message at the Vermont Adaptive office at Sugarbush with a name, phone number and number of people attending in the party. These messages should be left at (802) 583-4283. A representative from Vermont Adaptive will make confirmation phone calls up to 350 people, and return phone calls to those who leave messages after the 350 cut-off mark. Donations can be made at the door, or through the Vermont Adaptive Paul Dunton Concert Fund at www.firstgiving.com.
The Escapism Tour is the brain child of Oliver Tully & Paul Dunton. Tully is the founder of Genetic Promotions & Artist Agency UK. Genetic Promotions has been promoting, managing and touring artists around the globe for more than 15 years, having worked with some of the world’s leading DJ’s, live acts and solo artists and has in turn toured U.S. artists across the UK as well and worldwide. Having lived in Vermont some years back, Tully also has had a vested interest in the U.S. ski industry and used to live opposite the Vermont Adaptive ski program at Pico Mountain, where a passion and admiration for the nonprofit organization was born.
“I want to help raise money for those people that show us about independence and accomplishment,” said Tully. “You can overcome anything with determination and the support of those willing to aid others around them. I think Vermont Adaptive and its members do this and show others that life is to be lived and conquered rather than just cruised through.”