Thursday Night Live: Michael Wimberly and Friends

Enjoy a range of Latin, African, and American grooves and melody with both original music and covers by the greats such as Stevie Wonder.

The next event in the Better Bennington Corporation's Thursday Night Live series features Michael Wimberly with Brian DeAngelo and Mowgli Giannitti, at Merchants Park's Thomson Family Stage. Bring your lawn chairs. The event will be canceled or, if possible, postponed in the event of rain. This event is FREE and open to the public.

The three musicians reunite after a well-received concert celebrating Martin Luther King at the Bennington Performing Arts Center. Once again, Mowgli Giannitti on bass and Brian DeAngelo on percussion join Wimberly on a rhythmical journey through his range as a percussionist, a composer, and improviser. They will play a range of Latin, African, and American grooves and melody with both original music and covers by the greats such as Stevie Wonder.  

Wimberly is a percussionist, composer, educator and producer has performed, recorded and toured internationally with innovative artists Charles Gayle, William Parker, Henry Rollins, Steve Coleman’s 5 Elements, Parliament Funkadelic, D’Angelo, Blondie, Angie Stone, and many others. He performed the Lion King on Broadway, The Wiz at the Beacon Theatre featuring Stephanie Mills, and Ntozake Shange’s “For Colored Girls” at the American Place Theatre. He is currently a member of the faculty of music at Bennington College in Bennington, VT since 2012. 

DeAngelo is an active and adventurous educator, composer, and percussionist who resides in Bennington, VT.  Moulding Brian's foundation are his studies at Goddard College's MFA-IA program, the New School's BFA program in Jazz/Contemporary Music, ethnic studies in Senegal and Ghana, and the exploration of nonanthropogenic subcultural sounds. This path has led to privileged collaborations with talented musicians including Reggie Workman, Ahmed Abdullah, Charli Persip, Jon Fishman, Brian Marsella, John Lee, Tim Keiper, Junior Mance, Mike Kammers, George Garzone, Abdou M'Boup, Raymond Sylla, M'Baye Rama Djiange, Assane Sy, Alisanne Sarr, Mohammed Djiabe, Saakumu, Ravi Padmanaba, The Mustn'ts, Ramforinkus, Dali's Ghost and many more. 

Giannitti is Satyrdagg’s Bassist, Backing Vocalist, Composer, Songwriter, Director, and orbiting multi-instrumentalist. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, Latchis Theatre, Higher Ground, Putnam Place, SVAC Arkell Pavillion, and countless venues across the country. Since his years of study at Bennington College (composition, bass & voice performance), and post-graduate with composer W.A. Mathieu, he has played bass, sung, and composed alongside award winning conductors, theatre directors, dancers, and musicians.  

We will run a 50/50 during all performances so bring your singles! Raffle tickets are $2 for 1 or $10 for 12. You can pick up food from any of our downtown eateries to eat during the performance or go out downtown before or after. So many to choose from. Check our website and the DISTRX app to make your choices.  

We are actively seeking sponsors for 2023, Please email Jeanne Mintrone, Director of Operations if interested. operations@betterbennington.com.

For details:
Jenny Dewar, Director of Events
The Old Blacksmith Shop
Beautiful Bennington Downtown
215 South Street, Bennington, VT 05201
Mobile: 802-681-5625