Past Bluegrass Related Events

/The Center for Arts in Natick (TCAN)
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Jeff Scroggins & Colorado

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

Fronted by the two-time National Banjo Champion, Jeff Scroggins & Colorado is a high energy, high mountain “bluegrass explosion."  The group’s distinctive sound showcases an eclectic range of influences, delivering a unique experience that captivates audiences and keeps them guessing.  It’s a powerful, high mountain “bluegrass explosion” that features world-class instrumental prowess, tight vocals, an insistent rhythmic pulse, and an easy stage banter that has delighted listeners all over the world. This band simply “loves to pick” all the time, whether on stage or off, as countless festival goers can attest. The band’s distinct style is immediately recognizable. The band also features incredible bluegrass vocals, led by the powerful voice of frontman Greg Blake. Greg has twice been nominated for SPBGMA’s “Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year” award, and his phenomenal bluegrass guitar playing has earned him 9 nominations and an amazing 5 consecutive wins as SPBGMA’s Guitarist of the Year.

$25

Andy Statman Trio

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

Jewish Arts Collaborative presents the Andy Statman Trio. Mandolinist, clarinetist and American musical master, Andy Statman, performs his eclectic repertoire of Jewish, bluegrass, and Americana. Andy has performed and recorded with an incredible range of artists including Itzhak Perlman, David Grisham, Ricky Skaggs and David Bromberg.  

$36

The HillBenders: WhoGrass at Lookout Farm

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

TCAN presents THE HILLBENDERS live and in concert, outdoors at Lookout Farm in South Natick, MA.  DOORS at 4:30pm CONCERT at 5:30pm The HillBenders present... WhoGrass A chronological journey of The Who’s legendary catalog through the wood and wire of bluegrass instrumentation. Framed as a follow-up to The HillBenders 2015 acoustic interpretation of The Who’s TOMMY, WhoGrass now gives audiences a high-energy acoustic twist on the catalog of one of Rock ’n’ Roll’s greatest bands. From the early hits all the way through The Who’s discography, and even a peek into Pete Townshend’s solo career, the rolling banjo, intense dobro percussion, and thunderous vocals have the biggest Who fans pumping their fists and singing along!

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

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

Darin and Brooke Aldridge

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

Darin and Brooke Aldridge are excited. And why not? With two new band members, a new record label, and five original songs on their latest album, the bluegrass and Americana duo are back with This Life We’re Livin,’ their ninth recorded project together and first release on Billy Blue Records. This Life We’re Livin’ celebrates the space the husband-and-wife team now occupies - the top of bluegrass music. Armed with the talents of the proverbial Triple Threat of uniquely distinctive singing, commanding instrumental skills, and accomplished songwriting, Darin and Brooke continue to ascend to new heights in the industry while maintaining their easy-going, down-to-earth connection with audiences everywhere. Brooke, a former runner-up on TV’s Nashville Star, is a four-time consecutive winner and reigning Female Vocalist of the Year for the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA). She is nominated for a fifth time in 2021. Once a six-year member of The Country Gentlemen with the late Charlie Waller, Darin is a former IBMA Mentor of the Year and a truly gifted singer and multi-instrumentalist. Together with their band - Billy Gee on bass, Samantha Snyder on fiddle, and Jacob Metz on banjo and resonator guitar - Darin and Brooke have been recognized with the IBMA’s nomination for 2021 Vocal Group of the Year. They have had multiple nominations over the years from the IBMA, the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA), and the Inspirational Country Music Association. They have enjoyed top spots on the Billboard, SiriusXM, Bluegrass Today, Bluegrass Unlimited, Americana/Roots, and Gospel charts. Their music videos have been featured on Country Music Television (CMT), CMT Edge, Great American Country (GAC), Bluegrass Ridge TV, and The Bluegrass Situation. Their television appearances include … Read More »

$30