Article Title: Rock and Roll on Saint Patrick's Day at Friends of Recovery Dance

Edition: March 2001
Category: Dining Out
Author: Jake Brown
Article:

Saint Patrick's Day doesn't have to be about beer, green or otherwise. Not in Montpelier this year, anyway.

Friends of Recovery Vermont is hosting a dance on March 17, Saint Patrick's Day, at the Bethany Church. Local musician Mark LeGrand will be striking up his band "Mark LeGrand and the Joy Junkies" at about 8 o'clock. A potluck supper begins at 6 p.m.

The event is free.

Says LeGrand, who is a member of Friends of Recovery Vermont: "I think the dance will provide the opportunity to get together and have some fun. We're hoping people will say, `hey, here's a band that's rocking, let's get out and have some fun.'"

LeGrand and Sarah Munro, who is Friends of Recovery Vermont's director and a singer as well, are careful to note that the 2 ? year-old-group is not a therapy group and not a self-help group. Much of what the group does is represent the community of people who are recovering from drug and alcohol addiction at the political level. Munro and LeGrand also say they are not anti-alcohol or anti-drug.

"We should not be interpreted as a 'dry' movement, and we are not demonizing alcohol," LeGrand says. "We're simply bringing the voices of recovering people to the table," says Munro.

The band that will be taking the stage is made up of a variety of well-known local musicians.

Dan Haley, originally from Portland Oregon, plays the mandolin electric and acoustic guitar, and is a singer/songwriter. The drummer is Richmond resident Phil Carr (who also plays for the Burlington-based band Viperhouse). David Loveld of Middlesex will be on electric guitar.

Much of the music will be original material, described by LeGrand as "mandolin-driven rocking music that is reminiscent of (Bob) Dylan and (John) Prine and John Hiatt -- it's groove oriented."

The idea for a dance didn't spring up among members of the group just because of Saint Patrick's Day. Friends of Recovery Vermont had been trying to think of a way to "put a face" on the group, and started considering a dance in March. Then Saint Patrick's Day came to mind.

"We chuckled at the irony, but then realized it was a good idea to have an alternative" to traditional revelry of Saint Patrick's Day, Munro says.

"We're not slamming what other people do," says LeGrand. "If beers are your deal, go for it. But we felt that there might not be a place for some people that night," he said.

Friends of Recovery Vermont on April 6 will be going to the State House and holding a event called "Recovery Through Discovery" during which people who are recovering from addiction tell moving stories about their experiences. That will take place from 10 a.m. to 12 noon in Room 11.

For further information about Friends of Recovery Vermont call 229-6103 or E-mail recoveryvt@aol.com

You have reached the end of the article.

Select the following link to see all the listings in the Dining Out category: Dining Out
Select the following link to see all the listings in the March 2001 edition: March 2001
Select the following link to go back to the index page: Index
Select the following link to go back to the introduction page: Introduction