Friday, October 13th, 2023 7:30 PM
Vance Gilbert
Price: $25.00
BUY TICKETS HERE!
We are beyond thrilled that our 2023-24 season opener is the amazing VANCE GILBERT.
“If Joni Mitchell and Richie Havens had a love child, with Rodney Dangerfield as the midwife, the results might be something close to the great Vance Gilbert", says Richmond Magazine.Vance's new album, "The Mother Of Trouble”, features Grammy winner Lori McKenna on background vocals, Juno award recipient and Bonnie Raitt Grammy hit song co-writer Joey Landreth on guitars, and Americana-Roots master mandolinist Joe K. Walsh. With 4 bullies, 4 deaths (3 of them murders), 3 moms, 2 accidents, 2 Black people, 2 dogs, 1 dog ball, 1 gay kid, and 1 missed flight thanks to gas station sushi, this album benefits from the gifts of time and experience honing songwriting skills that put this most vital of acoustic storytellers at the top of the game.
Vance was born and raised in the Philadelphia area. Starting out hoping to be an R&B and jazz singer once at college, there he discovered his affinity for the storytelling sensibilities of the acoustic singer-songwriter thing. Word spread like wildfire about Gilbert's stage-owning singing and playing, and Shawn Colvin invited him to be special guest on her 1992 Fat City tour where he took much of America by storm and by surprise. “With the voice of an angel, the wit of a devil, and the guitar playing of a god..” wrote the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Noted not only for being the ever consummate performer, Gilbert has recorded 13 albums, including 5 for Philo/Rounder Records. Along with being opener of choice for artists as varied as Arlo Guthrie, Anita Baker, The Milk Carton Kids, and Southside Johnny, the mid 2000’s found Gilbert opening 150+ shows for comedian George Carlin.
Gilbert has also been a prominent presence at some of the world’s most prestigious gatherings and halls, among them the Newport, Winnipeg, Rocky Mountain, Calgary, Ottawa, and Falcon Ridge Folk festivals, the Kate Wolf Music Festival, and Australia’s Woodford Folk and Mullum Music Festivals, Mountain Stage, Boston's Symphony Hall, Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium and The Barns at Wolftrap.
Please note: All ticket sales are final. No refunds.
Friday, November 10th, 2023 7:30 PM
Carrie Newcomer with pianist Gary Walters
Price: $30.00
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Carrie Newcomer is a songwriter, recording artist, performer and educator. She has been described as a "prairie mystic" by the Boston Globe and one who "asks all the right questions" by Rolling Stone Magazine. Carrie has 19 nationally released albums on Available Light & Concord/Rounder Records including Until Now, The Point of Arrival and The Beautiful Not Yet. Newcomer has released three books of poetry & essays, A Permeable Life: Poems and Essays, The Beautiful Not Yet: Poems and Essays & Lyrics, and Until Now: Poetry by Carrie Newcomer. Her song "I Should've Known Better" appeared on Nickel Creeks' Grammy-winning gold album This Side, and she earned an Emmy for her PBS special An Evening with Carrie Newcomer.
Recent appearances include PBS Religion and Ethics and Krista Tippett's On Being. In 2009 and 2011 Newcomer was invited by the American Embassy of India to be a cultural ambassador, resulting in her interfaith benefit album Everything is Everywhere with master of the Indian Sarod, Amjad Ali Khan. In 2013 Carrie traveled to Kenya and the Middle East, performing in schools, spiritual communities and hospitals assisting AIDS patients. In 2015 Carrie's first musical, Betty's Diner: The Musical was produced by Purdue University. In 2016 Carrie was awarded an honorary degree in Music for Social Change from Goshen College. In 2019 she received The Shalem Institutes's Contemplative Voices Award.
In recent years Carrie joined with the author Parker J. Palmer on several projects, including The Growing Edge collaboration which explores growing edges, personally, vocationally and politically. Together they create live events, personal growth retreats, and the highly rated The Growing Edge Podcast that features authors, activists, poets and musicians, and online conversation starters for book and other conversation groups. Spirituality and Health Magazine named Parker & Carrie in the top ten spiritual leaders for the next 20 years.
https://www.carrienewcomer.com/
Please note: All ticket sales are final. No refunds.
Friday, December 8th, 2023 7:30 PM
Jonny Kringle & The Wondaland Band Annual Holiday Concert
Price: $25.00
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It's become an annual tradition to hear Jonny Kringle and The Wondaland Band play all your favorite classic rock holiday songs -- and make some kids happy at the same time!
Drummer Tom Maher has been delivering toys to Children’s Hospital for over 20 years. Back in 2012 he had a mission: play rock and roll holiday songs for the children he was delivering the toys to. So he called his old friend Jon Svetkey and asked if he could put a band together. Jon made a few calls and a yearly tradition was born. The band includes Tom and Jon, Everett Pendleton on guitar, Heather Quay & Lyn O'Conor-Ferguson on vocals, Rob Laurens on keyboards, Jason Redi on bass, Jeff Isen on percussion, trombone, harmonica and more!
And don't miss this year's extra special holiday music bonus!
All donations from the concert will go to the Maher Family Toy Drive and will help families spending their holidays at Children's. You can donate online when you reserve your seat or in-person at the show.
We hope you'll join us for this very special Second Friday holiday concert.
Please note: All ticket sales are final. No refunds.
Friday, January 12th, 2024 7:30 PM
Chris Smither
Price: $35.00
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Having distilled his own signature sound of blues and folk for over 50 years, Chris Smither is truly an American original. A profound songwriter, Chris continues to draw deeply from the blues, American folk music, modern poets and philosophers.
From his early days as the New Orleans transplant in the Boston folk scene, through his wilderness years, to his reemergence in the 1990s as one of America’s most distinctive acoustic performers, Chris Smither continues to hone his distinctive sound. He has always traveled his own road and stayed true to his musical vision.
He may be best known for writing "Love You Like A Man" which Bonnie Raitt and, more recently, jazz great Diana Krall have covered. His music has been covered by numerous artists and featured in soundtrack albums, independent film, television, and commercials. Reviewers continue to praise his dazzling guitar work, gravelly voice and songwriting.
More From the Levee (2020 Signature Sounds) is a masterwork and companion release to the celebrated double-CD 50-year career retrospective Still On the Levee that came out in 2014. It sports the unmistakable guitar sound Chris has made his own meshed with spare, brilliant songs, delivered in a bone-wise, hard-won voice."
NEW YORK TIMES: “With a weary, well-traveled voice and a serenely intricate finger-picking style, Mr. Smither turns the blues into songs that accept hard-won lessons and try to make peace with fate."
ASSOCIATED PRESS: "Smither is an American original, a product of the musical melting pot, and one of the absolute best singer-songwriters in the world."
ROLLING STONE: "Bathed in the flickering glow of passing headlights and neon bar signs, Smither's roots are as blue as they come. There is plenty of misty Louisiana and Lightnin' Hopkins in Smither's weathered singing and unhurried picking. So fine."
NEW YORK TIMES: "With a weary, well-traveled voice and a serenely intricate finger-picking style, Mr. Smither turns the blues into songs that accept hard-won lessons and try to make peace with fate."
https://smither.com/
Please note: All ticket sales are final. No refunds.
Friday, February 9th, 2024 7:30 PM
Mark Erelli w/special guest Micah A. John
Price: $25.00
TICKETS ON SALE IN SEPTEMBER!
Mark Erelli turns adversity into finely embroidered rock songs that burn with urgency on his 2023 album "Lay Your Darkness Down." Following full-bodied rock forebears Tom Petty, George Harrison, and Roy Orbison, Erelli's songwriting explores the unknown glories of this planet and love’s transformational power.
Over his two decade-long career, the singer-songwriter-sideman-producer-writer has proven himself equally at home in a multitude of roles: producing albums for artists like GRAMMY-winner Lori McKenna; serving as a sideman guitarist for artists like Paula Cole, Marc Cohn, and Josh Ritter; writing and producing his own material, like 2018’s “By Degrees,” for which he was nominated for Song of the Year at the Americana Honors and Awards; and most recently, becoming an advocate for low-vision artists and working with venues to make their spaces more accessible. Written in the wake of his diagnosis with a degenerative retinal disease, Erelli's 2023 album "Lay Your Darkness Down" is the next step on Erelli's journey, following up on 2020's "Blindsided," which garnered praise from Rolling Stone Country, the Associated Press, NPR, The Boston Globe, and more.
https://www.markerelli.com
Micah A. John
High school senior Micah A. John is a Boston-based multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and singer-songwriter. She plays American Roots Music of several types, including Old Time songs and tunes, Bluegrass, Folk, Country, and Americana.
As a 3-year-old, Micah saw Jake Armerding play fiddle at Club Passim and was determined that she was going to learn to play the fiddle someday. She hung on to that desire, and at age 9, after a friend gave her an old student fiddle, she began taking lessons from Bronwyn Keith-Hynes. Across the last 8 years, Micah has been fortunate to study fiddle with several amazing teachers, including Bronwyn, Bobby Britt, and Bruce Molsky. Micah also plays and studies guitar, and she can contribute to a song on mandolin, bass, and clawhammer banjo as well.
Micah has competed and placed in several competitions. Locally, at the Lowell Banjo & Fiddle Contest she has placed in Twin Fiddle (1st in 2022 with Lillian Chase, and 1st in 2021 with Rosalie Coleman), in Old Time Fiddle (2nd in 2022, and 3rd in 2021), in Bluegrass Fiddle (1st in 2019), and in the Youth Division (Honorable Mention in 2018, and 2nd in 2017). In 2022, at Clifftop, Micah placed 3rd in Youth Fiddle. In 2021, at the virtual Deer Creek Fiddlers Convention Contest, she placed 2nd in the Open Vocal division and 3rd in the Open Bluegrass Fiddle division.
Please note: All ticket sales are final. No refunds.
Friday, March 8th, 2024 7:30 PM
Rising Stars Night! featuring Cold Chocolate & Palmyra
Price: $25.00
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COLD CHOCOLATE
Cold Chocolate is a genre-bending Americana band that fuses folk, funk, and bluegrass to create a unique sound all their own. Featuring Ethan Robbins on guitar and Ariel Bernstein on percussion, this powerful duo from Boston is impressing audiences throughout New England and beyond. Punctuated by tight harmonies and skillful musicianship, and with a focus on songwriting, Cold Chocolate has quickly gained recognition for their original music and high-energy shows. The band has shared bills with Leftover Salmon and David Grisman, and regularly performs at venues and music festivals across the country.
http://www.coldchocolatemusic.com/
PALMYRA
Established in the Shenandoah Valley, Palmyra explores the fusion of traditional folk string instruments, three part harmonies and foot percussion. In 2022, Palmyra made their Newport Folk Festival debut, were named the FloydFest 2022 On The Rise Winner, and performed over 200 tour dates on acclaimed stages up and down the East Coast. The trio captures the collective spirit of three Virginia natives, Teddy (he/him), Manoa (he/him), and Sasha (they/them). Palmyra’s songs are intimate and contemplative, with arrangements that allow them to create the illusion of a full, larger-than-three ensemble. The trio’s sound is a nod to Appalachia and Midwestern Americana, apparent through their stirring craftsmanship and dedication to a folk-driven, innovative experience throughout each live performance.
http://www.palmyratheband.com
Please note: All ticket sales are final. No refunds.
Friday, April 12th, 2024 7:30 PM
Rising Stars Night 2! featuring Sam Robbins & Shanna In A Dress
Price: $25.00
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SAM ROBBINS
Sam Robbins is often described as an "old soul singer songwriter." A Nashville based musician whose music evokes classic 70's singer songwriters like James Taylor and Neil Young, Sam adds a modern, upbeat edge to the storyteller troubadour persona. An avid performer, he has gained recognition from extensive touring and as one of the six 2021 winners in the Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk competition, one of the largest and most prestigious songwriting competitions in the country.
https://samrobbinsmusic.com/
SHANNA IN A DRESS
Shanna in a Dress is your quirky best friend who refuses to wear pants. She says what everyone has felt but no one else with say and you'll get an uncensored journey of clever humor and heartbreak, extreme candor, and a hefty side of entertainment at her shows. This witty wordsmith is known for taking you on an emotional roller coaster, sometimes within the same song. Think John Prine mixed with Ingrid Michaelson with a twist of Phoebe Buffay from 'Friends' all wrapped up in a sweet voice accented by guitar, piano, and ukulele. She's as real as it gets, as anyone who follows her on Facebook or Instagram knows.
https://www.shannainadress.com/
Please note: All ticket sales are final. No refunds.
Friday, May 10th, 2024 7:30 PM
Sol y Canto
Price: $25.00
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Sol y Canto is the award winning Pan-Latin ensemble led by Puerto Rican/Argentine singer and percussionist Rosi Amador and New Mexican guitarist, singer and composer Brian Amador. Featuring Rosi’s crystalline voice and Brian’s lush Spanish guitar and inventive compositions, Sol y Canto is known for making their music accessible to Spanish- and non-Spanish speaking audiences of all ages. On occasion the group is accompanied by virtuoso musicians from Latin America and the U.S.
Sol y Canto’s original songs are distinguished by poetic, often quirky lyrics set in a framework of varied musical styles with surprising twists. They can make you dance, laugh, cry and sigh all in one concert. Their arrangements of classic and contemporary Latin tunes are always fresh and original. With Brian’s commanding, intricate guitar playing, Rosi’s rhythmic drive on cajón and bongos, and liberal use of vocal improvisation, the duo often sounds like a much larger ensemble.
Since 1994, Sol y Canto has brought audiences to their feet from the Kennedy Center to the California World Music Festival, Boston’s Symphony Hall, Puerto Rico’s Museo de Arte and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, as well as countless club shows and house concerts. The Boston Globe hails them as “sublime ambassadors of the Pan-Latin tradition”. Music critic Norman Weinstein of the Christian Science Monitor and Boston Phoenix observes:
“Every Sol y Canto album is a demonstration of what the poet Federico García Lorca identified as deep song. Always they evoke the sensual splendor of simply being vitally, vividly alive in a magical and mysterious universe. Brian Amador is a Spanish modernist poet in the guise of a musician…Together, Rosi and Brian Amador create a musical marriage made in heaven.”
Please note: All ticket sales are final. No refunds.
Friday, June 14th, 2024 7:30 PM
Chris Trapper
Price: $25.00
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"...pure pop perfection." - New York Times "
"His humble sense of humility is what makes Trapper’s songs so strong...He makes you feel like you are the person he’s singing about.” - Popdose
www.christrapper.com
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twitter.com/christrapper
Please note: All ticket sales are final. No refunds.