The Springfield Steampunk Festival is a retro-futurist extravaganza Sept. 11-12-13

“This is not your typical ‘vegetable’ festival so popular in Vermont," says Sabrina Smith, festival coordinator and founder of the Steampunk Society of Vermont. This festival embraces what Springfield is all about – a virile, vigorous bustling Yankee industrial mill town—a town seeking a new identity — with a rich history of industry and innovation.
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The Springfield, VT Steampunk Festival is a retro-futurist extravaganza Sept. 11-12-13 Larry Murray / 1 week ago Grab your Goggles, Jump into your Airship and Head to the Springfield Steampunk Festival Benefits Springfield Community Center Springfield, VT— June 25, 2015——Springfield, Vermont is calling all Steampunk aficionados and those curious to participate in the first ever Springfield Steampunk Festival. Presented by the Steampunk Society of Vermont and the Hartness House Inn, the festival is slated for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 11, 12 and 13, 2015 in Springfield, VT. Proceeds benefit the Springfield Community Center. Lead sponsor is J.A.M. Fuel. For those not in the know, Steampunk has been described as an imaginative mix of artisanship, Victorian-era fantasy and reality, the science fiction of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne. Science fiction writer George Mann describes Steampunk as “a joyous fantasy of the past, allowing us to revel in a nostalgia for what never was. It is a literary playground for adventure, spectacle, drama, escapism and exploration. But most of all it is fun!” “This is not your typical ‘vegetable’ festival so popular in Vermont, says Sabrina Smith, festival coordinator and founder of the Steampunk Society of Vermont. This festival embraces what Springfield is all about – a virile, vigorous bustling Yankee industrial mill town—a town seeking a new identity — with a rich history of industry and innovation. Springfield and the Precision Valley are “famous” for their gear shaper, tool, spindle and grinder factories. The turret telescope was invented here as well as the clothespin, jointed dolls, toy carts, and guitar and violin cases, among many other inventions. That’s why we are turning Springfield into the Steampunk Capital of Vermont,” she says. The 3-day festival promises fantasy, reinvention, and a chance to dress up, wear funny hats and goggles and play with gears. It features a Stargazer’s Ball, top bands, workshops, tea dueling, a tweed ride and a real time machine. Vendors from all over the country will be selling everything steampunk and more. There will be children’s activities and games, a telescope observatory tour and a closing event picnic. There are many businesses and individuals who are going “the extra mile” for the launch of the first annual Springfield Steampunk Festival. Honorary chairpersons include Bob Flint, Executive Director, Springfield Regional Development Corporation; Carol Lighthall, Executive Director, Springfield on the Move; George McNaughton, Selectboard Member; Kristi Morris, Selectboard Member; Peter MacGillivray; Selectboard Member; Tom Yennerell, Town Manager; Walter Martone, Selectboard Member; Wendi Germain, Executive Director, Justice Center and Stephanie Thompson, Selectboard Member and Executive Director of the Family Center. The Springfield Steampunk Festival Committee includes Sabrina Smith, Festival Coordinator, and organizers Bonita Walker, Matt Rockwell, Melody Reed, Robyn Priebe. Additional volunteers are needed and those interested can register at the website www.springfieldvtsteampunkfest.com/volunteerapp.html. Volunteers will be assigned to a 4-hour shift and receive free tickets to the festival. Ticket information and additional details can be found at www.springfieldvtsteampunkfest.com. Please find festival schedule below (as of June 25, 2015 and subject to change.) Changes are inevitable for live events, so it’s always a good idea to double check the organization’s website to confirm time and date. Friday, September 11, 7:30p – 9:30p The weekend kicks off at 7:30p with Opening Ceremonies at Hartness House Inn, 30 Orchard Street, Springfield. The Hartness House Inn is one of America’s most unique country inns and a Vermont historical landmark. It’s also on the National Register of Historic Places. It was originally owned by famed engineer James Hartness and known as the Hartness Mansion. The group Rusty Belle follows opening ceremonies at 8p-10p. “Rusty Belle’s songs include a magnificent fusion of genres from country to rock and blues to 80s pop, creating a smoothie of liquid gold…” (Culture Fly, UK ) At 8:30p, those who dare, will be treated to a one-of-a kind Steampunk adventure…a rare visit through an underground tunnel to view the Hartness Equatorial Turret Telescope, one of the first tracking telescopes in America. The Telescope was built by James Hartness and sits outside the Hartness House Inn. The telescope tube points, or declinates, north and south of the equator. This enables the observer to focus on any celestial object that can be seen in full on a clear night. Saturday, September 12, Great Hall, One Hundred River Street, and Hartness House Inn, 30 Orchard Street, Springfield 10a-10p Hartness House Conant Metal & Light Time Machine Exhibition 10a-10p Hartness House Photo booth in the Front Parlor 10a-7p Hartness House Steampunk Clothing Exchange in the Spa Room—Steampunk-style clothing and accessories exchange. Find the perfect outfit or accessories to complete your Steampunk back story. Drop off or exchange Steampunk clothing/accessories that you no longer need or want. 10a-11a Hartness House Dubbed the ‘Steampunk guru’ by the Wall Street Journal, Bruce Rosenbaum presents a talk on Steampunk Creative Problem Solving: How the Past Influences the Present and Inspires the Future. Special Tea (11-12 Noon) following for one on one Q&A with Bruce Rosenbaum and Melanie Rosenbaum. Please register on the a la carte menu for the Tea. 10a-7p Great Hall Trader’s Bazaar— Steampunk Vendors from all over New England will be selling their wares at the Trader’s Bazaar located at both the Great Hall and on the grounds of the Hartness House Inn. All food vendors will be located on the grounds of Hartness House Inn. Festival goers will be inspired by Chris Cleary’s labyrinthine tower of copper pipes and porcelain sculptures that will be on display throughout the day at the Great Hall. Cleary runs a stonework business in Jericho and creates fine-art sculptures. 10-10:30a Great Hall Steampunk clothing workshop by Janel Norris of the Fairy Stitch Factory. Norris has been creating realistic fairytale costumes and accessories for the past 10 years. Her works have been featured in the Springfield Art Museum and in numerous fashion shows and conventions. She ha a BA in Illustration and will be sharing her tips and tricks with festivalgoers. 11a-Noon Great Hall Steampunk Fashion Show—Showcasing retro-futuristic and synthesized imaginative styles that evoke the romanticism, sophistication and glamour of Neo-Victorian Fashion. 12–1p Hartness House Steampunk band Venus Lens Cap — music inspired by Jules Verne and H.G. Wells. Gomez Richardson produces an organic and synthetic sound accompanied by vocalist Stacey Mendyka. The duo released their first CD, Spies of the Silk Trade, based on the illustrated hardcover storybook by D.R. Clarke complete with adventures of a spy named Vienna and an airship captain, McEwin. Takes place in the Victorian Ballroom. 1-1:30p Great Hall Skye Whirlwind will give a workshop on hula hooping and perform. 1-2p Hartness House Tea Dueling Contest in the Victorian Ballroom 2-3p Hartness House Theremins performance and workshop in the Greeting Room with Kevin Colosa. 2-3p Great Hall Matthew Meserve, keyboardist/singer has been performing on stage for most of his life. With a strong stage presence, emotional songwriting, as well soulful interpretations of classics, Meserve has entertained audiences in Vermont and New Hampshire professionally for 10 years. A huge Science Fiction fan, he is very excited to take part in Springfield’s SteamPunk Festival. 2-4p Hartness House Absinthe Tasting and Workshop in the Governor’s Room with S.B. MacDonald – limited to 30 people. S.B. MacDonald has hosted and organized the “Bell Époque Absinthe Workshop” for the last two years at the Steampunk World’s Fair. He is a serious student of absinthe, its history, and its re-birth. He hosts regular absinthe parties featuring absinthe from around the world. 3-3:15 Great Hall Performance by Malice and Mercy sword belly dancing duet based in Vermont with interests that include Steampunk, Goth and Tribal genres. Collectively they have over 15 years of belly dance experience. 3-4p Hartness House Victorian Technology and The Steampunk Vision presented by Jennifer Eifig and Bruce Hesselbach. Museum consultant and author Jennifer Eifrig and Steampunk author Bruce Hesselbach team up for a colorful presentation of Steampunk science, technology, transportation, and weaponry. Feast your eyes on real and imagined inventions of the Victorian age. Let us inspire you to create your own Steampunk reality. Jennifer Eifrig known to anachronauts in the Steampunk dimension as Evelyn (Mrs. Josiah) Grimwood. Grimwood ekes a peculiar living advising hallowed institutions of collecting and learning in everything from securing capital to fighting mummies. She also transcribes her adventures into works of fiction. Hesselback is the author of the Steampunk novel, Perpetual Motion, available from Cogwheel Press. 4-5p Great Hall Ida Mae and the Honest Mistakes. Ida Mae Specker is a 3rd generation fiddle player and a rising fore in American folk and roots music. She is joined by singer-songwriter Faith Wood and Rio Mueller on a homemade washtub bass. The trio plays a rambunctious version of old-time music that features original, contemporary lyrics set to old-time melodies with a rockheartbeat. 4-6p Hartness House Steampunk Author Reading with Andrew Liptak and other authors. Liptak is a freelance writer and historian from Vermont. He is a 2014 graduate of the Launch Pad Astronomy Workshop and has written for a variety of magazines. His first anthology (co-edited by Jaym Gates), War Stories: New Military Science Fiction is now available from Apex Publications. His next work, The Future Machine: The Writers, Editors and Readers Who Built Science Fiction is forthcoming. He is the founder of Geek Mountain State, and the Vermont SF Writer’s Series. 6-6:15p Great Hall Malice and Mercy sword belly dancers Malice and Mercy sword belly dancing duet based in Vermont with interests that include Steampunk, Goth and Tribal genres. Collectively they have over 15 years of belly dance experience. 6-8p Hartness House Dinner is available in the Governor’s Room 7p Great Hall Trader Bazaar closes for the day, Great Hall closes for the day 7-10p Hartness House Stargazer’s Ball (limited capacity) in the wedding tent. The Victorian-style Inn and grounds serve as the perfect backdrop for the Stargazer’s Ball. The atmosphere will be purely Victorian and guests are encouraged to dress Steampunk to mingle and enjoy cocktails and bar fare and especially the performances by Humanwine and Electric Sorcery. (7-8p) Humanwine vocalist, Holly Brewer co-writes and performs with acclaimed multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Matthew McNiss to elaborate on the fictional land they call Vinland; playing festivals, conventions, Steampunk events, theaters and concert halls releasing all of their own music on their record label, Nervous Relatives. “HUMANWINE makes music that dances between raindrops, sending up green shoots between the broken cobblestones of folk, punk, mythology and open revolt… a do-it-yourself apocalypse that is strangely utopian.” -Dan Abbott (8-10p)Headlining from Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom comes the progressive, psychedelic sound that is Electric Sorcery. Their brand of heavy rock music pulls together genres from fusion to reggae to rap and beyond creating a unique and original style that is not often heard in such far off rural locations. Nasty riffs, fluid grooves, far out leads and soulful vocals are the staples of their sound. Their lyrics are ethereal-like, often tongue in cheek, ranging from the surreal to the ridiculous. This electrifying group brings together some of the best-known original musicians in the Northeast Kingdom featuring Derek Campbell, vocals and guitar; Micah Carbonneau, drums; Chris Doncaster, bass and Luke Laplant, baritone sax. Since it’s inception in 2008 Electric Sorcery has released four albums Electric Sorcery I & II (2009), the very twisted, Frank Zappa influenced rock opera Believe In Own Best Friend (2011) and most recently, Book Of Lies (2014). They’re energy packed live show has been heard at venues and festivals around New England and New York from Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom to Brooklyn, Boston, Burlington and beyond with more extensive touring on the horizon. (7-10p) Parlor Games in the Victorian Ballroom. (7-10p) Telescope/Observatory Tour via an underground tunnel. See www.springfieldvtsteampunk for ticket details to the Stargazer’s Ball and other events. Sunday, September 13 Events at the Great Hall, Hartness House and other venues 10-3p Great Hall Trader’s Bazaar 10-11 Great Hall TBD 10-11a Hartness House Theremins Performance & Workshop with Kevin Colosa 11-11:30p Great Hall Steampunk Clothing & Wings Workshop with Fairy Stitch Factory 11-1p Hartness House Sapa TV Film Contest in the Wedding Tent 1-2p Hartness House Tea Dueling Contest in the Victorian Ballroom 1-2p Great Hall Tritium Well — Rocking and irradiating the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont since 2010, Tritium Well is the band that makes you want to dance. Their eclectic mix of originals, traditional American, Cuban, reggae, rock, funk, blues produces ecstatic musical experiences that feel like sonic excursions around the Earth.“Tritium Well is high-energy, local, acoustic, Latin-spiced, folk-rocked, red-barned, reggae, rock, funk, roots, and blues. This is a gifted, fun, passionate and inspiring, local band. As they say up in Jeudevine, their carburetor is adjusted so that they run rich with a sputter, bounce and rhythm. They’ll make you want to sing and dance.”–The Bridge Weekly Sho-Case 2-3p Hartness House TBD 2-3p Great Hall The Suitcase Junket is Matt Lorenz’s nationally touring, slide-guitar playing, throat-singing one-man-band.” …This is one of the most exciting records I’ve heard in years.” – Vin Scelsa of Idiot’s Delight on WFUV and Sirius/XM “Not everyone can pull off the one-man-band gambit without lapsing into schtick, but Amherst’s Matt Lorenz has it all down to an art[…]the songs are what you remember.” -The Boston Globe Sunday Special Event 12:30-2:30p Walking History Tour throughout Springfield “Industrial Archaeology” with Kelly Stettner, Black River Action Team (BRAT) www.BlackRiverActionTeam.org Closing Event Picnic 3p (approx.) Tweed Bicycle Ride and Festival Picnic on the Riverside Lawn at VTEL, 354 River Street, Springfield. Contests for Best Dressed, Best Dressed Bike, Best Moustache, Best Picnic Array. Please pre-register on the Festival’s a la carte menu. Shuttle Buses: Shuttle Buses will be running regularly between Hartness House Inn and the Great Hall. Please see website www.springfieldvtsteampunkfest.com for details.