Concerts

Afro-Celtic funk band Soulsha will play an early set 7-9pm April 22, 2017, at The Burren Backroom in Davis square, 247 Elm St, Somerville. Tickets are $18 in advance, $22 at the door, available at tickets.burren.com. Soulsha brings together bagpipes and fiddle from Scotland, sabar drumming from Senegal, trumpet, saxophone, and a tight rhythm section for a mind-bending, high-energy, danceable show. The band came together in the thriving multi-cultural music scene of Boston, through chance meetings and connections. They have brought audiences to their feet at local festivals ranging from Outside the Box Boston and Wake Up the Earth, to Glasgowlands Highland Games and Boston Celtic Music Festival. Each of the members is deeply grounded in their own tradition, but they share a love for musical exploration and breaking down boundaries. “Being able to come from such different angles and put that experiment in front of an audience is really thrilling,” says founding member Elias Alexander (vocals, bagpipes). “Every show we get to watch people’s habitual associations vanish, until nothing is left but the pure joy of the music. No more separation.” World-renowned Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser had this to say about the group: “Multi-talented and visionary, Soulsha is more than a fresh breeze blowing; it’s a tsunami of hope and high energy intercultural awareness washing onto our shores just when we need it. DANCE and ACT now!” The backroom at the Burren, a legendary Irish pub that has hosted many world-renowned artists, will host Soulsha for the first time on April 22nd. You can find more info at soulshamusic.com, burren.com, or search Soulsha on Youtube.

Canada's hottest young bluegrass band

LOCUST HONEY STRING BAND w/ Heather Pierson Band Riverwalk Cafe & Music Hall Thursday, May 4th, 2017 8 pm Tickets: $5/7 http://riverwalknashua.com/checkout/4644   As Locust Honey, Chloe Edmonstone and Meredith Watson bring their experience in Old-Time, Bluegrass, and Pre-War Blues to both their original material and the traditional songs and tunes of the American Southeast.  With a rotating instrumentation of fiddles, open-back and resonator banjos, acoustic and resonator guitars, they set an emphasis on lively arrangements that showcase their signature vintage vocal harmonies.  Joined by John Miller, (The Fox Hunt, The Hackensaw Boys,) on upright bass, they have been touring the US, UK and Ireland since 2012. Locust Honey is featured as one of Merlefest's "Must See Fresh Faces" of this year's festival, alongside Sierra Hull, Chris Jones, and Front Country. Their original song, "When The Whiskey's Gone," was featured in the 2014 film "Time Out of Mind," starring Richard Gere and directed by Oren Moverman.  Their record "Never Let Me Cross Your Mind" was released to critical acclaim in 2014 and remained inthe top ten onthe Folk DJ Charts for 4 months. http://www.locusthoney.com/ http://facebook.com/locusthoney  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6yyDDY0zdI For interviews, CDs, and further information please contact: - Mollie Farr [email protected] Lost Buffalo Artists (941) 356-3118 www.lostbuffaloartists.com

Fund raiser to help with medical bills for  Cancer Patient Tom Fadden

Railroad House Band’s Stow concert, originally scheduled for April 1, has been rescheduled for May 20. The band will perform at 7:30 p.m. at the New Revival Coffeehouse. Doors open at 7 p.m. Railroad House is a six-piece band featuring lush two-, three-, and four-part vocal harmony. They play a diverse blend of Americana music, from straight-ahead bluegrass to western swing and beyond. Says Rounder Records co-founder Ken Irwin, "Jonathan Campbell sings with heart with a strong lead vocal, and I enjoyed the band's versatility/interchangeability of the banjo/Dobro." As usual, desserts and beverages will be available for purchase. New Revival Coffeehouse is located in the Fellowship Hall of First Parish Church of Stow & Acton.

Hot young Boston/Berklee bluegrass band, with lots of chops, fine vocals and a bunch of good original songs.

The Sandy Ridge Boys will be performing at the Main Streets Market and Cafe in Downtown Concord on June 21, 2017

Bluegrass Music Performance

Dietrich Strause and The Blue Ribbons, Boston based folk and rock artists, will be performing together on Friday, June 23rd at Riverwalk Cafe and Music Bar in Nashua, NH. It's a classic love story. A young doe-eyed literate songwriter meets a dangerous avant-garde rock and roll band. Such is the story of Dietrich Strause and The Blue Ribbons' burgeoning collaboration. They met seven years ago sharing back to back Tuesday night residencies at Toad, a small rock club in Cambridge. Now with funding from Passim's Iguana Grant, Dietrich Strause and The Blue Ribbons recorded together in Maine in January 2017. Immediately following the session they collaborated live for the first time, with three shows throughout New England, bringing the magic and glow of the record making process straight into the venue. The Boston Globe has said The Blue Ribbons “combine upbeat disillusionment and celebratory fatalism with musicianship." An unlikely and exciting match for Dietrich Strause’s meticulously crafted songs - which WBUR says are a mix of timeless melody, literate lyricism, and a "virtuosic command of imagery." Boston Music Award winning four piece band, The Blue Ribbons have a fearless sound; evolved over a decade of tirelessly and joyously playing bar rooms, clubs, and festivals. Their influences are rooted deeply in the jazz and rock and roll anti-traditions, described as “Ray Charles and Tom Waits on a pirate ship with Sun Ra and Captain Beefheart." In his eight years living in New England, Dietrich Strause has evolved in his own parallel way, from writing Appalachian nostalgia porn to mid-century modern pop in the vein of Nick Lowe and Randy Newman. He spent the fall living alone in London and traveling extensively throughout the United Kingdom, touring … Read More »

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present an evening of contemporary bluegrass and folk music with The Lonely Heartstring Band and The Stockwell Brothers Band at Next Stage on Friday, June 30 at 7:30 pm. The Lonely Heartstring Band is Berklee College of Music graduates George Clements, Patrick M'Gonigle, Matt Witler, Gabe Hirshfeld and Charles Clements.  Their music is a combination of old and new styles, melding the sounds of traditional bluegrass with modern songwriting and arranging.  Featuring soulful instrumental virtuosity and soaring three-part harmonies, the quintet has generated a devoted following of music-lovers across North America, performing and headlining at major music festivals and venues since 2012.  Whether it’s a festival stage, theater or intimate listening room, The Lonely Heartstring Band always delivers a dynamic, diverse and heartfelt performance.  “These are musicians of dynamic imagination and massive musical talent” -  Elmore Magazine.  “The Lonely Heartstring Band, may well be a precursor of what bluegrass music will sound like in the future" - Bluegrass Today Bruce, Barry, Alan and Kelly Stockwell's music spans traditional and progressive styles, but their trademark acoustic sound features new singer/songwriter material recast with banjo, alternative rhythms and three-part harmonies.  They cover straight ahead bluegrass songs, finger picked acoustic guitar ballads, full tilt breakdowns and traditional mandolin tunes mixed in with more unusual fare - Americana melodies riding world beat grooves and Celtic, jazzy, even neo-classical instrumentals.   Featuring 2005 Merlefest bluegrass banjo contest winner Bruce Stockwell, The Stockwell Brothers have performed alongside artists from Bill Monroe, Doc Watson and Earl Scruggs to Mary-Chapin Carpenter, Jonathan Edwards and Asleep At The Wheel, recorded with Mike Auldridge and Phil Rosenthal of the bluegrass supergroup The Seldom Scene, and toured throughout the … Read More »