DUMMERSTON-Rev. Yolanda and The Circle of Love perform in concert as a fundraiser for the AIDS Project of Southern Vermont Saturday, Nov. 8, at 3 p.m. at Dummerston Congregational Church, 1535 Middle Rd.
Rev. Yolanda and The Circle of Love is Rev. Yolanda, Freddy Freeman, Jay Freeman, and Tyler Wansley. They describe themselves as a "nondenominational, interfaith, inter-spiritual, non-dual 'Musical/Spiritual Happening' where everyone is welcomed."
Although they are all seasoned musicians, making music together for more than 20 years, their official debut in this form with Wansley was in February 2025 at the 30th year anniversary of "The Winter Is a Drag Ball," a fundraiser for Vermont CARES AIDS Services.
Yolanda is a trans femme gender queer singer-songwriter-performance artist and interfaith minister, originally from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Her bio states she has worked in music, theater, TV, film, and performance art for well over 40 years, winning the NYC MAC Award twice. She was inducted into both the New York Blues Hall of Fame and StoneWall Society LGBTQAI+ Hall of Fame, as well as winning the OutMusician of The Year Award and several other music awards while releasing nine CDs of her original music.
Yolanda developed a following in Burlington in the 1990s with her public access TV show (with sister drag performer Cherie Tartt) called The Cherie and Yolanda Show before moving to New York City in 2001. She also developed her original musical blend of rock, pop, country, and jazz with her band Yolanda & The Plastic Family and celebrated the release of her first CD, Welcome To Yolanda World.
In 2013, she was featured in the 2013 book, Legendary Locals of Burlington by Robert J. Resnik, with her picture next to Bernie Sanders's on the cover.
Freddy Freeman, aka Goldenheart, is an award-winning singer-songwriter, music producer, festival organizer, and spiritual facilitator. He has produced events like Qnity, Bearapalooza, and Out in the Woods, and has been nominated three times for Outmusician of the year. He is also the creator/facilitator of the spiritual retreat called "Bear Your Soul" at Easton Mountain Retreat Center, where he lives with his husband Jay Freeman.
Freddy has taken his spiritual and musical work to the Midwest, and to Bear Week in Provincetown, where it was featured on the Viceland cable channel. Freddy frequently acts as a co-host and organizer for many other Easton Mountain produced events.
Jay Freeman is a graphic designer, musician, dancer, introvert, and nature-lover. After living his whole life in the American South, he moved in mid-2012 to New York State with his husband, and a few months later they joined the Easton Mountain residential community. They were legally married in N.Y. State in 2012, and yes - they actually have the same last name.
Wansley is a therapist, a musician, and former educator of 10 years. With an interest in queer history and culture, "he brings a little bit of queer magic into everything he does."
Wansley works specifically with LGBTQ+ people as a holistic therapist, helping the community connect with their bodies and true selves. He also has experience offering guided meditations, teaching classes on queer history, and presenting trainings to make spaces more inclusive for the LGBTQ+ family. Outside of this, he is an avid baker, home cook, reader, and gamer. In particular, he has a passion for sourdough baking and weird fiction and fantasy.
The AIDS Project of Southern Vermont, located at 15 Grove St. in Brattleboro, is a regional AIDS service organization providing direct services to people living with HIV/AIDS, and HIV prevention services to those at most risk in Windham, Bennington, and southern Windsor counties. For more information, contact them at 802-254-4444 or mail@apsvt.org. Their website is aidsprojectsouthernvermont.org.
Tickets for the Nov. 8 concert are available at the door. A $20 donation is suggested, but no one will be turned away. For more information, email yolanda@yolanda.net and visit her website, yolanda.net.
This Arts item was submitted to The Commons.