BEHIND THE SCENES
BEHIND THE SCENES
Paul Carroccio:“ From our first meeting, we instantly knew he was the one. First of all, he’ s a musician himself, which was huge. You have to have a love of music to do something this crazy. He also loves Manchester and knows everybody.”
Turpin affectionately refers to Carroccio as the festival’ s“ Godfather,” highlighting his logistical expertise and deep local connections.“ Paul was our bridge to the local area. We could call him during the festival to brainstorm issues, and he’ d find the exact people who could solve each challenge,” Turpin shared an anecdote of Carroccio quickly connecting an artist with local luthier and musician Will Mosheim to fix a broken bass.“ It made the performance possible,” she adds.
Turpin also emphasized critical local partnerships integral to GMBR’ s success, including sponsors like the Drunsic family and Union Underground, and vendors such as Jamaica Cottage Shop.“ Our goal is to have musicians stay the weekend, fostering spontaneous collaborations backstage. Jamaica Cottage’ s structures became homey spaces where artists could find comfort.”
GMBR also intentionally contributes to Manchester’ s cultural and economic vitality. Turpin elaborates:“ Southern Vermont has an incredibly supportive small-town vibe with so much to offer— from food and art to outdoor activities. Our festival introduces visitors to this amazing area, benefiting the town, the music, and the community overall.” Another cornerstone of GMBR’ s mission is giving back. Each year, the festival partners with a local charity, supported by the Vermont Country Store, raising funds for organizations like the Vermont Food Bank and Bennington’ s Vermont Arts Exchange.“ We are so proud of this endeavor and the money we have raised for this community that we value so much,” emphasizes Turpin.
Looking ahead, Turpin is thoughtfully cautious about attendance growth, prioritizing community integration over sheer numbers.“ We don’ t want to change much; we want to enhance what’ s already here. People love the intimate experience. It’ s easy to find a festival with 10,000 people, but that loses its personal touch. We prefer that homey feel— easy accessibility, comfortable accommodations, and a sense of belonging.” Ultimately, GMBR continues to flourish in cultural resonance.“ Our goal is to become woven into the fabric of Southern Vermont,” Turpin summarized.“ Manchester is already rich in arts and culture, and we aim to enrich that tradition further through music that speaks to everyone, from the youngest kids to the oldest music lovers.”
Beautiful homes. Happy clients.
36 manchester life | manchesterlifemagazine. com