Past Events | Greg Matses

VTSU Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble

Johnson VT

It’s that time and the last time I’ll be directing the Vermont State University Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble – Friday 12/5/25 at 7pm, Dibden Center for the Arts, Vermont State University Johnson. Open to all. Info at www.vermontstate.edu .. this is a Creative Audience event for VTSU students. Here’s our set:

Sledgehammer (Peter Gabriel)
Hard Times (Paramore)
Die With A Smile (Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars)
Believe (The Bravery)
Barracuda (Heart)

with: Wilbur Hayes (vocals, keyboards, bass), Jared Bryce (guitar, bass), Abi Cote (trumpet, vocals), Sparrow MacDonald (vocals, drums, guitar, alto sax), Jill Pressman (vocals, keyboards, percussion), Brian Bray (drums, bass) ..

Funk Fusion Program (Fall 2025)

Channel Two Dub Band

Einstein's Tap House, Burlington VT

C2DB follows up their appearance at this year’s Vermont Reggae Fest with a club date at Einstein’s Tap House at 165 Church St, Burlington, VT, formerly Club Toast, our old stompin’ ground in the mid-1990s. Saturday 11/29/25 ~ set times 10pm – midnight.. inna rub-a-dub stylee..

audio fylee..

QUENN-I – Bass and Vocals
c00p – Drums and Samples
FRANKO PAVLIK – Synth Guitar and Vocals
GREG MATSES – Lead Guitar and Vocal
ERO LIPPOLD – Keyboards
ADAM FREHM – Slide Guitar

Channel 2 Dub Band @ Vermont Reggae Fest

Switchback Brewing Co., Burlington VT

39 years after Battery Park ~ looking forward to gearing it up with the C2DB at Vermont Reggae Fest .. a tribute to our roots indeed! 8/23/25 at Switchback Brewing, 160 Flynn Ave, Burlington, VT, 05401. We open the show at 2pm – more deets below..

here’s the set:

Event Details

The Return of the Vermont Reggae Festival – A Tribute to our Roots

VIP includes:

– Dedicated premium viewing area
– Private Bar
– Private Bathrooms
– VT Reggae Fest T-shirts

Rock and Roll Playhouse Performs Bob Marley (Ticket is not part of the main event) Ages 1+ (No ticket needed for adults with main event ticket). Doors 11:00am Show 12:00pm.

Get ready for a day filled with rhythm, roots, and positive vibrations as The Vermont Reggae Fest: A Tribute to Our Roots takes over Switchback Brewing Co. (160 Flynn Ave, Burlington, VT) on Saturday, August 23rd, 2025, presented by True 802 and ElmThree in association with The Reggae Takeover.

This one-day celebration of reggae music and culture features a powerhouse lineup of international icons and beloved local acts, all coming together in the heart of Burlington.

PERFORMANCES BY:

Barrington Levy – Legendary voice of dancehall and reggae
John Brown’s Body – American reggae pioneers
Lambsbread – The New England based reggae band originating from Burlington in 1983
The Skatalites – The original ska trailblazers
Channel 2 Dub Band – Vermont’s homegrown dub ambassadors
Rock and Roll Playhouse Performs Bob Marley – A special morning set for families with kids

SCHEDULE:

Family Show: Rock and Roll Playhouse – Doors at 11:00 AM
- Please Note: This is a separate ticket.
Main Event: Full lineup – Doors at 1:30 PM

This all-day, all-ages event will feature food trucks, artisan vendors, cold brews by Switchback Brewing Co., and a warm, welcoming outdoor environment that honors reggae’s rich legacy while building community. Whether you’re a longtime reggae fan or just discovering the sounds of Jamaica and beyond, The Vermont Reggae Fest is your summer destination for unity, celebration, and roots revival.

..and our early Marley set for the kids~

Quenn-I – Bass and Vocals
Franko Pavlik – Synth Guitar and Vocals
Greg Matses – Lead Guitar and Vocal
c00p – Drums and Samples
Ero Lippold – Keyboard and Vocal
Adam Frehm – Slide Guitar
Tom Baggott – Percussion

Channel Two Dub Band – 1st Vermont Reggae Fest (7/23/86)

Battery Park, Burlington VT

08/15/2025
Greg Matses
· Channel Two Dub Band (1984-now) · Media · Past Events

A pleasant surprise from the archives.. the first performance of the Channel Two Dub Band at the inaugural Vermont Reggae Festival at Burlington’s Battery Park back on 7/23/86. This find was a treat 39 years after the fact – I didn’t even know the event was filmed until now ~ The art stand in action!

Don Quenneville – vocals, bass
Franko Pavlik – guitar synthesizer, vocals
Stu Nelson – drums, vocals
Greg Matses – guitar, vocals, keyboards, art stand

Transferred from the original VHS tape.

VTSU Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble

Johnson VT

Funk Fusion Program (Spring 2025)

Once again.. I’ll be directing the Vermont State University Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble on Friday 5/2/25 at 7pm .. Dibden Center for the Arts, Vermont State University Johnson. Open to all. Info at www.vermontstate.edu .. this is a Creative Audience event for VTSU students. Here’s our set:

Sympathy for the Devil (Jagger-Richards)
Bennie And The Jets (Elton John-Bernie Taupin)
Please Forgive Me (MAN WITH A MISSION)
Back On 74 (Jungle)
The Show Must Go On (Queen)
Paint The Town Blue (Ashnikko, Arcane & League of Legends Music)

with: Elliot Urbina (drums, bass, trumpet), Wilbur Hayes (vocals, keyboards, bass, percussion), Taylor Michaud (keyboards, flute, vocals), Jared Bryce (guitar, bass), Abi Cote (trumpet), Heike Chaney (vocals, Maschine), James Kalbfleisch (Maschine, vocals, percussion, guitar), Sparrow MacDonald (vocals, drums, percussion, guitar), Sergey Vakhrouchev (tenor sax), Zib Miller (drums, percussion, vocals), Jill Pressman (vocals, percussion), Amelia Burger (vocals, percussion) ..

~ we look good .. but there is no sound ~

Fall 2025 courses at Vermont State University

Fall 2025 at Vermont State University :

I’m excited to be teaching (first time!) in the Music Business & Industry (MBI) Dept. on the Lyndon campus for the following courses:

Special Performance (MUS-1730-S01): Thursdays 3:30-6:15pm from 8/25 – 12/19/25 (1-3 credits);
Applied Lessons: Guitar (MBI-2125-S04): Thursdays (TBD) from 8/25 – 12/19/25 (1 credit);

.. and on the Johnson campus for:

Funk Fusion Ensemble (PAT Music Ensembles – MUS-2220-S02): Fridays 3:00-4:50pm from 8/25 – 12/19/25 (0-1 credits);
Guitar, Bass, and Songwriting Lessons (by appointment; credit and non-credit options available);

info / registration at www.vermontstate.edu ..

Highland Jazz Cabaret at Harwood Union Middle and High School

Moretown VT

I’m excited to be participating in the Highland Jazz Cabaret at Harwood Union Middle and High School on Friday 4/11/25 at 7pm. The cabaret is a fundraiser for the Harwood Union private lesson program and will feature student and faculty performances in the auditorium lobby. Sliding scale donations will be greatly appreciated in support of the fantastic music lesson program offered at the middle/high school..

VTSU Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble

Johnson VT

Funk Fusion Program (Fall 2024)

It’s that time! I’ll be directing the Vermont State University Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble on Friday 12/6/24 at 7pm .. Dibden Center for the Arts, Vermont State University Johnson. Open to all. Info at www.vermontstate.edu .. this is a Creative Audience event for VTSU students. Here’s our set:

Evil in your Eye (Church of the Cosmic Skull)
Pour Some Sugar on Me (Def Leppard)
Them Changes (Thundercat)
Got Me All Wrong (Mayday Parade)
Good Luck, Babe! (Chappell Roan)

with: Elliot Urbina (drums, bass), Wilbur Hayes (vocals, keyboards, bass), Taylor Michaud (keyboards, vocals, percussion), Abi Cote (trumpet), Heike Chaney (vocals), James Kalbfleisch (Maschine, vocals, bass), Sparrow MacDonald (vocals, drums, guitar), Sergey Vakhrouchev (tenor sax), Dayne Bell (violin, vocals), Jill Pressman (vocals, keyboards), Amelia Burger (vocals, percussion, keyboards) ..

.. in moving pictures ~

Solo set opening for Tony McManus

Colchester VT

I’ll be performing a solo set at Studio JuJu in Colchester VT on 8/17/24, opening for the great Celtic guitarist Tony McManus. Performance Artist/Musician/Improv Specialist Jonathan ‘Wyld Man’ Crocker is also on the bill. The show is a semi-private garden party that is sold out. I’ll be debuting my new solo setup which features acoustic and electric guitars, vocals, looping, and interactive rhythm parts.. eclectic originals and arrangements from rock’s classic era!

a Grateful clip from the set:

..and a few pics from Ken Mills’ gorgeous gardens (photos by Nicole Bachand):

Guitar 1 and Intro to Rock & Roll at CCV this fall ~

I’m back to teach the following courses at the Community College of Vermont (CCV) for the Fall 2024 semester as follows:

Guitar 1: Online-Synchronous – Tuesdays 3:00-5:00pm from 9/3 – 12/10/24;
Intro to Rock & Roll: Online .. from 9/3 – 12/16/24;

Each course is fun, informative, 3 credits, and open to all – info / registration at www.ccv.edu ..

VTSU Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble

Johnson VT

Excited to be directing the Vermont State University Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble on Friday 5/10/24 at 7pm .. Dibden Center for the Arts, Vermont State University Johnson. Open to all. Info at www.vermontstate.edu .. this is a Creative Audience event for VTSU students. Here’s our set:

Bang Bang (Sonny Bono)
Creep (Radiohead)
House of the Rising Sun (Traditional)
Mosquito Symphony #7 (Wilbur Hayes et al.)
Can’t Get You Out of My Head (Cathy Dennis & Rob Davis)
Sledgehammer (Peter Gabriel)

with: Elliot Urbina (drums, bass), Wilbur Hayes (vocals, keyboards, percussion, bass), Taylor Michaud (flute, keyboards, vocals), Abi Cote (trumpet), Heike Chaney (vocals, keyboards), James Kalbfleisch (vocals, drums, guitar, percussion), Sparrow MacDonald (vocals, alto sax, drums), Sergey Vakhrouchev (tenor sax), Zib Miller (vocals, percussion) ..

livestreamed..

Interview in the Basement Medicine..

After 22 years, I was finally interviewed in the 3/28/24 edition of the Basement Medicine at VTSU Johnson..!

VTSU Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble

Johnson VT

Excited to be directing the Vermont State University Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble on Friday 12/8/23 at 7pm .. Dibden Center for the Arts, Vermont State University Johnson. Open to all. Info at www.vermontstate.edu .. this is a Creative Audience event for VTSU students. Here’s our set:

The Mist on the Mountain (Traditional)
Cosmic Love (Florence + the Machine)
Fame (David Bowie, Carlos Alomar, John Lennon)
The Chain (Fleetwood Mac)
Nights on Broadway (Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb)
Riots (Stuck in the Sound)

with: Elliot Urbina (bass, drums), Wilbur Hayes (vocals, keyboards, percussion, bass), Taylor Michaud (vocals, flute, drums, keyboards), Arlie White (violin, vocals), Heike Chaney (vocals), James Kalbfleisch (vocals, drums, bass, percussion), Sparrow MacDonald (vocals, drums), Sergey Vakhrouchev (tenor sax) ..

** video kicks in at ~ 2 minutes ..

NVU-Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble

Johnson VT

Excited to be directing the Northern Vermont University – Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble on Friday 4/28/23 at 7pm .. Dibden Center for the Arts, Northern Vermont University – Johnson. Open to all. Info at www.northernvermont.edu .. this is a Creative Audience event for NVU students. And, we’re happy to be having B.O.K. featuring Brittney Malik and Kolin Shaw open the show~! Here’s our set:

Crazy (Scary Pockets – Danger Mouse, Cee Lo Green)
In the Middle (dodie)
Fever (Elvis Presley – Peggy Lee, Eddie Coolie, John Davenport)
Locked Out of Heaven (Bruno Mars)
Bang Bang (Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj)

with: Amelia Burger (vocals, keyboards, percussion), Wilbur Hayes (vocals, keyboards, percussion), Taylor Michaud (vocals, flute, drums), Matthew Parker (vocals, keyboards), Korrina Cummings (flute), James Kalbfleisch (vocals, percussion), Sparrow MacDonald (vocals), Kolin Shaw (alto & tenor sax, vocals, guitar), Brittney Malik (trumpet, vocals, drums), Patricia Rivera (vocals, percussion) ..

live stream .. (B.O.K. @ 5:30; Funk Fusion @ 28:25)

Threatened by Machines..

Great fun guitar-ing with my old Spanking Machine bandmate Stu Nelson – for his new project, Threatened by Machines.. you can check the Seven Days review here..

NVU-Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble

Johnson VT

Excited to be directing the Northern Vermont University – Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble on Friday 12/9/22 at 7pm .. Dibden Center for the Arts, Northern Vermont University – Johnson. Open to all. Info at www.northernvermont.edu .. this is a Creative Audience event for NVU students. Here’s our set:

777 (Silk Sonic)
Rapture (Blondie – Chris Stein & Debbie Harry)
Mango (Kamauu)
Is This Love (Bob Marley)
Sweet Dreams / Seven Nation Army mashup (Pomplamoose – Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart, Jack White)

with: Zoe Avent (vocals), Wilbur Hayes (vocals), Spencer Perry (drums), Matthew Parker (vocals, keyboards), Sergey Vakhrouchev (tenor sax), Ethan Kile (guitar), Arlie White (violin, vocals), Katelyn Shaw (alto & tenor sax, vocals, guitar, melodica), Brittney Malik (trumpet, vocals, keyboards), Makayla Jones (alto & bari sax, vocals) ..

live streamed (and a bit distorted)..

Fall 2022 courses at Northern Vermont University

Looking forward to the Fall 2022 semester at Northern Vermont University (NVU)-Johnson. I’m on tap for Social History of Rock & Roll, the Funk Fusion Ensemble, and Guitar Lessons .. info / registration at www.northernvermont.edu ..

NVU-Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble

Johnson VT

Looking forward to be directing the Northern Vermont University – Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble for the Jazz/Contemporary concert on Wednesday 5/4/22 at 7pm .. Dibden Center for the Arts, Northern Vermont University – Johnson .. Open to all.. info at www.northernvermont.edu .. this is a Creative Audience event for NVU students .. here’s our set:

Devil Was an Angel (The Main Squeeze)
Higher Ground (Stevie Wonder)
I’m a Good Woman (Barbara Lynn Ozen)
Nine in the Afternoon (Panic at the Disco)
Fly As Me (Silk Sonic)

with: Makenzi Edwards (vocals, keyboards), Austin White (vocals, keyboards), Jay Stanton (drums), Matthew Parker (vocals), Taylor Michaud (flute, vocals), Timothy Pinckney (bass, cello, vocals), Addie White (violin), Katelyn Shaw (alto & tenor sax, vocals), Randall Ingalls (trumpet), Makayla Jones (alto & bari sax) ..

captured on film..!

Guitar Summit at the ‘Horn..

the Matterhorn, Stowe VT

Great to see and sit in with my guitar buds André Maquera and Jon Finn at the Matterhorn in Stowe on 3/26/22 .. Jon’s band, the Experts, were laying it down..

with the Experts ..

NVU-Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble

Johnson VT

We’re back! After a two-year Corona-break (the virus, not the beer), I’m excited to be directing the Northern Vermont University – Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble for the Jazz/Contemporary concert on Wednesday 12/8/21 at 8pm .. Dibden Center for the Arts, Northern Vermont University – Johnson .. Open to all.. info at www.northernvermont.edu .. this is a Creative Audience event for NVU students .. here’s our set:

I Don’t Wanna Go to Bed (Simple Plan)
If I We’re You (Nothing But Thieves)
River (Bishop Briggs)
Electric Feel (MGMT – Andrew VanWyngarden/Ben Goldwasser)
You Haven’t Done Nothin’ (Stevie Wonder)

with: Makenzi Edwards (vocals), Austin White (vocals, keyboards), Elijah Berry (drums, percussion), Garrett Stanley (vocals, drums, percussion), Taylor Michaud (flute), Timothy Pinckney (bass, vocals), Luke Melamede (tenor sax, keyboards), Katelyn Shaw (tenor sax, vocals, guitar), Makayla Jones (bari & alto sax) ..

and in color..