Upcoming Bluegrass Related Events

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Chris Smither & Tim O’Brien with Jan Fabricius

The Center for Arts in Natick (TCAN) 14 Summer Street, Natick, MA

Born in Miami, during World War II, Chris Smither grew up in New Orleans where he first started playing music as a child. The son of a Tulane University professor, he was taught the rudiments of instrumentation by his uncle on his mother’s ukulele. “Uncle Howard,” Smither says, “showed me that if you knew three chords, you could play a lot of the songs you heard on the radio. And if you knew four chords, you could pretty much rule the world.” With that bit of knowledge under his belt, he was hooked. By the early ’90s, Smither’s steady nationwide touring and regular release of consistently acclaimed albums cemented his reputation as one of the finest acoustic musicians in the country. In October 2020, More From The Levee, the follow up to the 50-year career retrospective Still on the Levee, was released. "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." -Rolling Stone Born in Wheeling, West Virginia on March 16, 1954, Grammy winning singer songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tim O’Brien grew up singing in church and in school. Gaining attention in the 1980’s with Colorado’s Hot Rize, O’Brien scored a country hit with Kathy Mattea’s cover of his song Walk the Way the Wind Blows in 1986. Soon artists like Nickel Creek and Garth Brooks also covered his songs. Collaborators include his sister Mollie O’Brien, old time musician Dirk Powell and songwriter Darrell Scott, as well as Steve Earle, Bill Frisell, Mark Knopfler and Sturgill Simpson. O’Brien formed his own record label, Howdy Skies Records, in 1999, and launched the digital … Read More »

$40 – $45

Sandy Ridge Boys (and girl) at Verrill Farms

Verrill Farm Harvest Festival 11 Wheeler Road, Concord, MA

The Sandy Ridge Boys will be playing their style of bluegrass at Verrill Farms for their Harvest Festival. Come on out and support the Pediatric Unit at Emerson Hospital.

Jordan Tice

GuitartownCT 166 Mather Street, Hamden, CT

Brilliant solo guitarist, he's also a wonderful singer and songwriter who is making his name as a solo performer.  This is an outdoor concert, so bring a chair and refreshments.

$30

Rushad Eggleston

notloB Parlour Concerts at Fivesparks 7 Fairbank Street, Harvard, MA

Rushad is a mystical realm-hopping jester of infinite glee, whose unprecedented extremely fast bouncy cello style blows minds of all kinds.  A charming entertainer with unbridled passion, his joy is so contagious that many showgoers complain of sore facial muscles afterwards (the name Rushad means “joyful soul”). A whimsically adventurous sense of melody shines through in all shades & styles on any of the many instruments Rushad bejicks “to keep it fresh”.  Sometimes he reads mystical poetry in his own language, speaks in tongues, channels aliens, throat-sings, beat-boxes, or does skits as different characters such as Negative Ralph, Country Bob, The Goblin, or Guru Fafa which he has a right to embody because of his half-indian heritage. Somewhat of an acrobat, Rushad can spin on one leg, hang upside down, do splits, play in plough pose, and catch flying fruits in his mouth while playing fast intricate cello rhythms.  A distinguished flatpicker, his innovation and skill are admired by many guitar luminaries. Although some of his music is avant garde and experimental (he has an amazing deathmetal cat-voice), he is an expert at making personal anthems to those for which he is playing. ADMISSION: By free-will offering, suggested cash donation adults $15-20; teens and seniors $10; children $5. 100% of patron donations go to the artist. RESERVATIONS: http://notlobmusic.eventbrite.com ARTIST’S WEBSITE: https://fliartists.com/artists/american-traditions/rushad-eggleston/ VENUE: The concert will be presented at FIVESPARKS - https://www.fivesparks.org/ - 7 Fairbanks Street, Harvard, Massachusetts 01451, the restored 1890 town library building. Doors Open 30 minutes prior to showtime. Patrons are welcome to view the galleries. COVID PRECAUTIONS: Full vaccinations, boosters, and masks requested. Please read additional Fivesparks' COVID-19 protocols for events at https://www.fivesparks.org/ ABOUT NOTLOB PARLOUR CONCERTS: Since 2007, notloB has presented … Read More »

Tony Trischka – Deep Dive Earl Scruggs Show

Belleville Congregational Church 300 High Street, Newburyport, MA

Belleville Roots Music Series presents Tony Trischka in a Deep Dive Earl Scruggs Show Featuring Michael Daves on vocals and guitar, Maddie Witler on mandolin, Brittany Haas on fiddle, and Jared Engel on bass. Banjo master, composer, and instructor, Tony Trischka, has created the Deep Dive Earl Scruggs Show as a tribute to the man who inspired him to take up the banjo, Earl Scruggs. One of the most influential banjo players in the roots music world, Tony Trischka has achieved legendary status in his 50+ years as a consummate artist. He's inspired generations of acoustic musicians with his technical and conceptual advances, and opened the way for such players as Béla Fleck, Alison Brown, and Noam Pikelny. His seventeen solo albums are part of every banjo-lover's musical reference.

$10 – $40

The Splinters at BPM

Boston Public Market Boston Public Market, Boston, MA

The Splinters, a bluegrass and old time band from Boston, will play on the patio as part of the Boston Public Market October festival. Brunch and bluegrass! The market is right above the Haymarket T Station. Validated parking is available! splintersmusic.com

Southern Rail concert in Saco, ME

First Parish Saco, ME 12 Beach St, Saco, 04072, Saco, ME

Celebrate the season with an evening of high energy bluegrass!   Bright spacious hall with wonderful acoustics.' Tickets will be available at the door. Masks are currently optional.  Check their website for any updated Covid guidelines.  www.firstparishsaco.org Tickets $10 available at the door More info:  https://www.facebook.com/136510359702558/photos/a.820446711308916/5694691317217740/  

$10

Southern Rail bluegrass and BBQ in New Bedford

Pilgrim United Church of Christ New Bedford 635 Purchase St, New Bedford, MA

Bluegrass and BBQ! What could be better? Southern Rail's bluegrass is high octane exuberant fun with lush harmonies, irrepressible good humor and sparkling banjo, guitar and mandolin.  Come early for an amazing BBQ buffet! Buffet: 5:30-7:00 634 Purchase St. New Bedford, MA 02740 (Church Hall) Show:  7:00- 9:00 635 Purchase St. New Bedford MA 02740 (Church) ticket prices:  Concert $25  Concert plus BBQ $35  

$25

The Splinters at Nick-a-Nee’s

Nick-A-Nee's 75 South Street, Providence, RI

Every Wednesday night in Providence is bluegrass night, with the finest bands in the region. The Splinters will be there - show starts at 8:30. Plenty of parking and restaurants nearby (we favor the Xaco Taco). splintersmusic.com

Liz Longley

The Center for Arts in Natick (TCAN) 14 Summer Street, Natick, MA

Best known for her stop-you-in-your-tracks voice, Liz Longley is an accomplished singer-songwriter based out of Nashville, TN. With her deeply emotional music, Longley has earned accolades from some of the most prestigious songwriting competitions in the country, including the BMI John Lennon Songwriting Scholarship Competition. Her self-titled debut album received critical acclaim, being described as “something more; a cleverness, a wit and a mix of musical styles” (Dallas Morning News) and “stunning” (HuffPost). Her follow up album Weightless, released in 2016, was praised as “a thing of beauty” (Pop Dose) and “packed with instantly memorable pop rock songs…” (Popmatters). The Berklee College of Music grad worked alongside 5-time Grammy-nominated producer, Paul Moak, on her much awaited sixth album, Funeral For my Past. The journey of her self-release made music industry headlines when her devoted fanbase raised over $150,000 to help her purchase the rights to and independently release the album. Longley became the #4 most funded solo female musician in Kickstarter history – a story covered by Billboard Magazine. Embraced by the press and music fans alike, Funeral For My Past was described as a “…stunning new album!” (Forbes), “…from Americana to gospel-flavored soul to shimmering pop anthems” (Billboard), and included in “100 Albums Released in 2020 to Put on Your Radar” (Newsweek). The Nashville-based musician has found a loving give-and-take with listeners: Longley shares her music with the world, enriching fans’ lives, and in return, they provide her with the means necessary for her to make music on her own terms. Opener: Brooke Annibale Not confined by any one genre, Brooke Annibale's expressive and beautifully thoughtful songwriting creates a dreamy, dark, and enticing sonic landscape. She has been a favorite among music supervisors and featured in such media as Stereogum, Under The … Read More »

$20 – $25