Upcoming Bluegrass Related Events

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Recurring

The Pied Picker at Puppet Showplace Theater

Puppet Showplace Theater 32 Station Street, Brookline, MA

The Pied Picker by David Stephens, All Hands Productions July 31- Aug 3 (Wed-Sat) | 10:30 am & 1:00 pm With his banjo in hand, Picker Pete sets off seeking fame and fortune. When he finds that the big city of Hamlin has been taken over by roaches, he realizes that his journey to stardom might not be what he had in mind! “The Pied Picker” features a colorful cast of fairytale characters, skillful moving-mouth puppetry, live banjo music, and lots of laughs! Mention the BBU for a discount on tickets!

$12.50

John Gorka

Spire Center for Performing Arts 25 1/2 Court St, Plymouth, MA

From New Jersey, John Gorka is a world-renowned singer-songwriter who got his start at a neighborhood coffeehouse in eastern Pennsylvania. Many well known artists have recorded and/or performed John Gorka songs, including Mary Chapin Carpenter, Nanci Griffith, Mary Black and Maura O’Connell. John has graced the stage of Austin City Limits, Mountain Stage, etown and has appeared on CNN. He continues to tour, playing festivals, theaters and clubs all over North America and Europe. Though small, Godfrey Daniels was and is one of the oldest and most venerable music institutions and has long been a hangout for music lovers and aspiring musicians. In the late 1970’s, John was was one of these aspiring musicians. Although his academic coursework at Moravian College lay in Philosophy and History, music began to offer paramount enticements. Soon he found himself living in the club’s basement and acting as resident MC and sound man, encountering legendary folk troubadours like Canadian singer-songwriter Stan Rogers, Eric Andersen, Tom Paxton and Claudia Schmidt. Their brand of folk-inspired acoustic music inspired him, and before long he was performing his own songs – mostly as an opener for visiting acts. Soon he started traveling to New York City, where Jack Hardy’s legendary Fast Folk circle (a breeding ground for many a major singer-songwriter) became a powerful source of education and encouragement. Folk meccas like Texas’ Kerrville Folk Festival (where he won the New Folk Award in 1984) and Boston followed, and his stunningly soulful baritone voice and original songwriting began turning heads. Those who had at one time inspired him – Suzanne Vega, Bill Morrissey, Nanci Griffith, Christine Lavin, Shawn Colvin – had become his peers.In 1987, the young Minnesota-based Red House Records caught wind … Read More »

$26

Mipso

Shalin Liu Performance Center 37 Main Street, Rockport, MA

Mipso is born from North Carolina’s broad range of disparate musical influences, their distinctly unique sound an undeniable alchemy of the historical musical traditions of the rural south and their progressive home of Chapel Hill.

$18

Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots Festival

Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots Festival 410 Hunter Park Road, Manchester, VT

A four-day music festival featuring a variety of bluegrass, roots and Americana music from both icons of the industry and innovative up-and-coming artists. Featuring a main stage, dance tent, camping, and more , plus a magical Green Mountain setting!

$20 – $120

Darrel Scott

Shalin Liu Performance Center 37 Main Street, Rockport, MA

One of Nashville’s most beloved songwriters, Darrell Scott’s tunes have been covered by the likes of The Dixie Chicks (”Long Time Gone”), Brad Paisley and Tim McGraw among many others. Though lauded for his songwriting, Scott’s a powerful and soulful singer in his own right, as well as a nimble multi-instrumentalist, releasing a handful of solo and duo recordings with bluegrass hero Tim O’Brien.

$26

Phillips, Grier and Flinner: 20th Annniversary Tour

Best Video 1842 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT

Three of the very best musicians in bluegrass and acoustic music in general, they play exquisite versions of Bill Monroe, the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and McCoy Tyner, among others. Grier on guitar, Flinner on mandolin, and Phillips on bass, are veterans of the most acclaimed bands in bluegrass. This is the 20th anniversary of their debut album.

$35

Jam in Boarding House Park

Boardinghouse Park 40 French St., Lowell, MA

To get folks ready for the Lowell Banjo and Fiddle Contest (Sept 7th), we are going to meet in Boarding House Park in Lowell on August 17th for jamming.  We will play from 10AM until 2PM or so.  We will break up into separate jams for different styles if there is interest in doing so.  Bring instruments, a chair, and your own water and food.  There won't be any vendors around but there will be open restrooms in some of the park buildings.  Backup rain date is August 18th.

Free

TD Bank Spire Irish Festival featuring the John Doyle Trio

Spire Center for Performing Arts 25 1/2 Court St, Plymouth, MA

With Mick & Oisin McAuley. The Lindsays open the show. Name many of the most notable recordings and/or performers in Irish music and it's a fair bet that John Doyle had something to do with them. Liz Carroll; Eileen Ivers; Karan Casey; Solas; Michael Black; Mary Black; the trio of McCusker, McGoldrick and Doyle; The Teetotalers (Martin Hayes, Kevin Crawford, John Doyle); and now Usher's Island (Andy Irvine, Donal Lunny, Mike McGoldrick, Paddy Glackin and John Doyle) - a veritable who's who of the greatest names in Irish music. These are just a very few of the stellar artists for whom John Doyle's signature guitar sound, singing or songwriting is essential.From a musical family in Dublin, John’s influences include well known English folk singers Nic Jones, Martin Carthy, Richard Thompson, and The Watersons; Scottish singers Dick Gaughan and John Martin; and fellow Irishmen Paul Brady and Al O’Donnell as well as his father, Sean Doyle - probably the biggest influence of all. John went on the road as a pro at 16 with the group Chanting House which he formed with Susan McKeown and which eventually included such great players as Seamus Egan, Eileen Ivers, & Donogh Hennessy.  John went on to form the highly acclaimed super group, Solas, with Seamus Egan, John Williams, Karan Casey and Winifred Horan which took the folk and Celtic music worlds by storm, in no small part due to John’s powerhouse rhythmic guitar style and innovative arrangements. As a member of Solas, John performed to sold out audiences nationally and internationally as well as appearing on many national TV and radio programs: NBC’s The Today Show, various programs for National Public Radio and Public Radio International, A Prairie Home … Read More »

$30

The 5th Annual Oldtone Roots Music Festival

Cool Whisper Farm 1011 Co. Rd 21, Hillsdale, NY

The 5th Annual Oldtone Roots Music Festival: Preserving American Music Musicians and Festival Attendees Dedicated to Preservation through Participation September 5-8, 2019 1011 Co. Rd 21, Hillsdale, NY 12529 [email protected]    www.oldtonemusicfestival.com HILLSDALE, NY. The Oldtone Roots Music Festival features three stages with traditional music performances, dances, workshops, contests, and children’s activities. The founders’ goal is to preserve American roots music and dance with an intimate and interactive festival that includes opportunities to engage with main stage artists in workshop settings. Jamming in the campground late into the night is encouraged. In the evenings festival goers and artists dance under a tent that perches over a spectacular view of the rolling upstate NY farm valley of Matt and Lisa Schober’s Cool Whisper Farm. It is not unusual to find main stage performers dancing in the dance tent or jamming late into the night in the camping areas. Caleb Klauder of the Foghorn String Band has this to say about Oldtone 19: “I’m going to the Oldtone Roots Music festival because their hearts are in the music and the music there has soul.” The festival is unique amongst Roots music festivals for its popularity with the artists themselves as well as the attendees, who can often be heard talking about the “Oldtone vibe”.  Well known cajun Artist Jesse Lege (Bayou Brew) stated; “If I had to pick one best festival, and I have traveled to many, near and far....Oldtone is the biggest, most relaxed, friendliest little festival you’ll ever spend a weekend at... like having it in your own backyard.” The festival has a core of returning popular Oldtone veteran artists: the Foghorn String Band, Tuba Skinny, the Down Hill Strugglers, Jesse Lege & the Bayou Brew, Run Mountain, Tamar Korn, Travis Stuart, and theRusset … Read More »

Lowell Banjo and Fiddle Contest

Boardinghouse Park 40 French St., Lowell, MA

The 39th Annual Lowell Banjo and Fiddle Contest (Platinum sponsored by the BBU) will be held on September 7th, 2019 in Boarding House Park, in Lowell Massachusetts with workshops at 10AM, organized jams at 11AM and the contest beginning at noon.  Informal jams happen all day long.  For more details visit: http://lowellsummermusic.org/page.php?wpage=root/eventdetail.htm&Event=LSMS-E67225  

Free