Concerts

Master Italian guitarist has dazzled the word for 4 decades with his love of bluegrass and American roots music

On Saturday, January 13th, The Blue Moon Coffeehouse in Rockland, MA hosts a CD release party for Sparrow Blue. Sparrow Blue is Katy Boc and Todd Nickerson. They met in 2014 and began writing songs together after discovering a mutual love for American roots music. At the time they were each playing in different bands, but it wasn't long until they began performing together as a duo. Since then, Sparrow Blue has performed at venues such as the Spire Center for the Performing Arts, Club Passim, TOAD Cambridge, Atwoods Tavern, and Rockwood Music Hall. In November of 2015 they released their debut album,Mabel,which Red Line Roots called "a sweet rootsy sound that is clean and crisp as it displays hints of Americana goodness" and South Shore Living called "lilting, dark, and spellbindingly catchy." Although Katy plays the guitar on this song, she's actually known for her killer fiddling! The address is 45 Webster St. Rockland. Tickets are $10 at the door. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., and there's an open mic in between sets by the band so bring along your instruments. The band's website is https://www.thesparrowblue.com/video. You can also check out these Youtube links: https://youtu.be/OnocSGQ_OzY and https://youtu.be/aqyvCWQxgok.

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present International Bluegrass Music Association Banjo Player of the Year Tony Trischka and his band Territory, plus contemporary folk and bluegrass quartet The Stockwell Brothers Band at Next Stage on Saturday, January 20 at 7:30 pm.   In a consistently adventurous musical career that spans nearly half a century, Tony Trischka has established himself as one of America’s foremost visionaries of the five-string banjo and perhaps the most influential banjo player in the roots music world.  Widely regarded as the most innovative banjoist of his generation, Tony’s dexterity and restless creative spirit have inspired generations of fans and acoustic musicians, including Bela Fleck – one of his early students. Tony’s influence in igniting the world of progressive acoustic music permanently altered the face of American roots music.  He has been a key figure in opening the banjo and acoustic music in general to wider influences, having shared the stage and studio with the likes of Steve Martin, David Grisman, John Denver, The Boston Pops, Jorma Kaukonen, Sam Bush, Chris Thile, Peter Rowan, Earl Scruggs and countless others.  He has appeared on “Late Night with David Letterman,” Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion" and "Mountain Stage," and is featured on the soundtrack of the film “Driving Miss Daisy’ and the theme song of the NPR show “Books on the Air.”  In 2012, Tony was awarded the United States Artists Friends Fellow in recognition of the excellence of his work.  Tony embraces all manner of possibilities, while keeping one foot firmly planted in the traditional bluegrass roots that first inspired him to make music. Tony’s instrumental expertise and boundless imagination are as sharp as ever on his latest album "Great Big … Read More »

NOTE:  changed location! Barn Burners String Band will be opening for our friends Mountain Weekend at PINZ in Kingston, MA.   Join us and start the new year off right with some great food, drink and Americana music!

GROUNDBREAKING ACOUSTIC SEXTET NIGHT TREE RETURNS TO THE RIVERWALK CAFE ON JANUARY 28th   Night Tree continues to celebrate the release of their self-titled debut album at the Riverwalk Café and Music Bar in Nashua, NH on Sunday, January 28th at 7:00PM, during their a 20-date East Coast winter tour from the East Coast to the heart of the Midwest.  This exciting show will feature the album’s ten new compositions, ranging from somber and plaintive melodies to raucous and energized tumult.  The album was produced by Séamus Egan, a founding member of SOLAS, who says, “I’m thrilled to have been part of this brilliant young band’s debut album. They play with such spark and musicality. Thoughtful compositions, precise, inventive arrangements. An absolute joy. Go hear them!” In September of 2016, six diverse musicians came together unexpectedly within the walls of Boston’s New England Conservatory to form New Acoustic band, Night Tree.  The sextet of attracts dramatic attention not only for its abnormal instrumentation of two fiddles, cello, accordion, saxophone, percussion, voice, and the occasional viola and mandolin, but for their collective representation and incorporation of traditions from Irish, Classical, Swedish, Jazz, Klezmer, and Afro-Cuban music. Night Tree was named the NEC Wildcard Honors Ensemble for 2016, granting them sponsorship from NEC, a headlining performance at the historic Jordan Hall, and a year of working with Winifred Horan, fiddler and co-founder of Irish super-band, SOLAS.  Brian O’Donovan, Senior DJ at Boston’s WGBH, calls Night Tree, “One of the most exciting roots-based music groups to emerge from the New England Conservatory in many years.  Their individual chops and adventurous approach make Night Tree a band to watch for.”