2019 Concerts —-> Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | August | September | October | November | December
Stay Tuned ~ Some 2020 Dates will be posted soon!
To RSVP for a concert or to ask questions, you can use this FORM or you can also email me directly abbiew@froggie.com. Unless noted, concerts start at 7:30 w/ potluck at 6:30 PM. “Suggested donation” is $20-$25 depending on the show. In general ~ pay what you can. All income levels welcome.
Jan 2019
Jan 17, 2019 (THURS) ~ (SOLD OUT / Waitlist) Cillian Vallely & Kevin Crawford duo show – (of Lunasa) — RESERVE SEATS – Cillian Vallely is the uilleann piper and low whistle player with the traditional Irish ensemble Lunasa, described as the “hottest Celtic band on the planet” (Irish Voice). In recent years he has played and toured with Natalie Merchant, Mary Chapin-Carpenter, Riverdance, and Tim O’Brien’s Crossing, in addition to recording as a guest on over 40 albums. He appeared on Bruce Springsteen’s 2014 recording High Hopes. Most recently, he released his second solo recording, The Raven’s Rock. Kevin Crawford was born in Birmingham, England, and lived for many years in Ennis, County Clare. He is an exceptional flute and whistle player. Kevin was awarded the title of Irish Echo Musician of the year in 2000, following the release of his two highly-successful solo albums, “In Good Company” and “D Flute.” In 2012, his third solo CD came out, “Carrying the Tune.” Now a member of Lunasa for over 18 years, Kevin previously made two albums with the acclaimed instrumental band Moving Cloud, 1995’s self-titled album, followed by “Foxglove” in 1998.
Jan 18, 2019 (FRI) ~ BILL EVANS BANJO — RESERVE SEATS – Back with new material and some favorites too. – (www.billevansbanjo.com) – Bill Evans returns with his Banjo in America show, showcasing new material and some old favorites. Bill brings 250 years of banjo music and manages to fit about 8 banjos on our stage. From West African ekonting music, through 19th century minstrelsy, early 20th century classic/ragtime and folk and bluegrass styles, all the way to Bill’s original music, there’s nothing quite like The Banjo in America. Not just for banjo players – but all lovers of American music!
Feb 2019
Feb 1, 2019 (Fri) – Wes Corbett & Simon Chrisman (www.simonandwes.com)- – RESERVE SEATS – Wes and Simon started down the musical road at around the same time, on the same small island, but only met by chance and with the accidental help of Bill Frissell and a local noodle shack. Fast friends from the start, they’ve made music together every chance they’ve had along the way, making two records with chamber grass outfit the Bee Eaters, and stealing chances to get in a tune or two when passing through each other’s city of residence while on tour with other bands. Now, sixteen years after meeting, they’re releasing their first duo recording.
A native of the Pacific Northwest, Wesley Corbett has been playing the banjo since he was 16, after a split from the classical piano. He has performed with many of the most influential acoustic musicians of our time, including Mike Marshall, Darol Anger, Sarah Jarosz, Sierra Hull, Bruce Molsky, Robert Earl Keen, Tony Trischka, Molly Tuttle, and Laurie Lewis (among many others), as well as touring internationally with the Indie-Popgrass band Joy Kills Sorrow. From 2011-2015 Wes was the professor of banjo at Berklee school of music in Boston MA. He now lives in Nashville TN and plays in the Molly Tuttle Band.
Hammer dulcimer virtuoso Simon Chrisman brings an unusual style to an instrument that has previously been thought to have limited range and technique… his inventive virtuosic touch and sophisticated rhythmic sensibilities are redefining the instrument and earning the attention of musicians from all over the world. He tours with the Jeremy Kittel Band and the Bee Eaters, and has performed with Darol Anger, Bruce Molsky, Mike Marshall, Laurie Lewis and Seamus Egan.
Feb 3, 2019 (Sun) – Mike Block (cello) – RESERVE SEATS – Mike Block is a cello player, singer and composer who is a Grammy Award-winning member of the Silk Road Ensemble. Block’s solo show features a mixture of original compositions and songs, arrangements of traditional folk music, and classical selections that draw inspiration from his diverse collaborations with artists such as cellist Yo-Yo Ma, fiddler Mark O’Connor, Indian tabla player Sandeep Das, and pop stars such as will.i.am, Stevie Wonder, and Bon Iver. www.MikeBlockMusic.com
Feb 8, 2019 (FRI) – TRUE NORTH – *Sold Out/ Waitlist* – RESERVE SEATS – Kristen Grainger (vocals), Dan Wetzel (guitar, vocals), Martin Stevens – (mandolin, fiddle, octave mandolin, vocals), and Josh Adkins (bass, vocals)— “True North plays tunes so smooth they bring to mind bluegrass-pop artists like Alison Krauss and Union Station, as well as old country legends like Hank Williams, Sr.” — Kim Ruehl, music reviewer, No Depression/West Coast Performer
Americana quartet True North is a powerhouse of intelligent, memorable songs, and lush instrumental and vocal performances, with the crazy-good picking and harmonies of a band deeply rooted in traditional folk and bluegrass genres. Fronted by award-winning singer-songwriters Kristen Grainger and Dan Wetzel, True North is rounded out with Pacific Northwest bluegrass superstars Martin Stevens and Josh Adkins. (Visit : https://www.truenorthband.com/)
Feb 13, 2019 (Wed) – GENTICORUM – *Sold Out/ Waitlist* – (www.genticorum.com) – RESERVE SEATS — Pascal Gemme (fiddle/feet), Yann Falquet (guitar), Nicholas Williams (flute) —
Over the past 18 years the trad Quebec group Genticorum has become a fixture on the international world, trad, folk and Celtic music circuit. The band’s six albums met with critical acclaim in Canada, the United States and Europe, assuring the band a brilliant future. Known for its energy and its stage presence, Genticorum has given more than a 1000 concerts in more than 15 countries.
Firmly rooted in the soil of their native land, the energetic and original traditional ‘power trio’ also incorporates the dynamism of today’s North American and European folk cultures in their music. They weave precise and intricate fiddle, flute and accordion work, gorgeous vocal harmonies, energetic foot percussion and guitar accompaniment into a big and jubilant musical feast. Their distinctive sound, sense of humour and stage presence makes them a supreme crowd pleaser.
Feb 21 (Thurs) 2019 – MOLSKY’S MOUNTAIN DRIFTERS – *filling up / reserve soon* – Visit : https://www.mountaindrifters.com/ – RESERVE SEATS – Bruce Molsky (Fiddle/Banjo/Guitar/Vocals), Allison de Groot (Clawhammer Banjo) and Stash Wyslouch (Guitar / Vocals) — (Suggested $20-25 Donation at the door)
Grammy nominated and Visiting Scholar at Berklee College of Music, Bruce Molsky, “one of America’s premier fiddling talents” (Mother Jones) presents his new group and self-titled debut album “Molsky’s Mountain Drifters” featuring two of the best next gen trad players, Allison de Groot (The Goodbye Girls) and Stash Wyslouch (Deadly Gentlemen).
Allison de Groot is known for her great clawhammer banjo technique, exquisite tone, timing, and taste. She has deep roots in the old time tradition and yet she’s fearless when it comes to breaking new ground.
Stash Wyslouch is one of bluegrass’s great young genre-bending pioneers. Coming over from the punk-metal world, Stash brings great sensitivity and real emotion to the trio, plus superb guitar and vocal chops.
These striking musicians have come together for a new sound within the traditional music genre through their audacious approach. “I was looking for a new voice,” says Molsky, “a new avenue of expression using old time mountain music as the jumping-off point, but not being constrained by hard core traditionalism. Allison and Stash are showing me the way, just where the music is headed, in directions I never would have imagined when I started my own journey into the mountains a long time ago.”
Mar 2019
March 2, 2019 (Sat) – Gideon Freudmann (Electric Cello) – Gideon will be joined by Ji Tanzer, a wonderfully inventive drummer and percussionist (Blue Cranes / Swansea) RESERVE SEATS – Gideon Freudmann is a composer, performer and cello innovator. His music is sweet, soulful, playful and it rocks. He composes for film, theater and dance and has recorded 21 CDs. He is a founding member of the Portland Cello Project, a TEDtalk speaker, contributor to NPR and This American Life, has performed in Europe, Australia and Taiwan… Catching him at a house concert is rare treat. His music comes to life in front of an audience where he delves in to adventurous improvisations alongside his layered, nuanced tunes. www.cellobop.com
Mar 7, 2019 (Thurs) – Daymark – RESERVE SEATS – (www.daymarkmusic.com/) – Daymark is an international trio performing traditional Irish music infused with infectious energy, raw power, and Northern swagger. Fusing the talents of Will Woodson (flute, uilleann pipes), Dan Foster (fiddle) and Eric McDonald (guitar, vocals) the group presents a classic blend of wind and string as driving flute meets virtuosic fiddle, underpinned by well-considered and expertly delivered guitar.
Mar 9, 2019 (Sat) – Tony Furtado & Radim Zenkl – RESERVE SEATS – Tony and Radim met at a jam session in Bay Area, California in 1990. They have been crossing paths at various music festivals and events since that time, though this is the first time they will play a joint concert, which will feature their solo performances as well as duets on variety of instruments.
Tony Furtado – (banjo, slide guitar, cello banjo, baritone ukulele & vocals) (https://www.tonyfurtado.com)
A native of Pleasanton, California, who now makes his home in Portland, OR. The acclaimed and award-winning singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, is an acknowledged master of many different styles and sounds. Relix Magazine put it best when writing of Tony’s music, “True talent doesn’t need categories.” From bluegrass to blues, from folk to rock, from banjo to slide guitar, the music of Tony Furtado knows no boundaries.
“Tony Furtado is a major musical force without a doubt. He has his black-belt in voice and bottleneck guitar and his banjo playing scares the crap out of me.” – David Lindley, musical adventurer
Radim Zenkl – (mandolin, mandola, ukulele, ethnic flutes, didgeridoo & vocals) (https://www.zenkl.com/) _ Radim is back with new tunes and a CD to celebrate! ~
A US Mandolin champion, Radim Zenkl redefines the mandolin and its role in music. His style features progressive original and eastern European traditional music flavored with string jazz, new age, bluegrass, flamenco, Celtic, classical and other styles. He has developed a technique where one mandolin sounds like two. He also plays a variety of ethnic flutes from different countries around the world and sings traditional European songs.
“Radim Zenkl has reinvented the mandolin in several different ways!”- David Grisman
“Imaginative and great.” – Jerry Garcia
Mar 14, 2019 (Thurs) – Paper Bellows + Creosote : Accordion Quartet & Duo! – – RESERVE SEATS –
Paper Bellows –~ an accordion quartet comprised of: Courtney Von Drehle (3 Leg Torso), Jetty Swart (internationally known accordionist/singer known under the name Jet Black Pearl), Mike Danner (Trashcan Joe, Saloon Ensemble), and Jenny Conlee (The Decemberists, Black Prairie).
Paper Bellows celebrates the many styles of accordion music. Their repertoire includes Argentinian, Turkish and French music, along with original compositions and covers of popular songs. The full sound of 4 accordions is also sometimes augmented by Jetty Swart and Mike Danner’s vocals.
Creosote is accordion duo Jamie Maschler and Gabriel Rodrigues, playing a dynamic array of original and world music. Maschler and Rodrigues are seasoned musicians and are individually and collectively mastered at their craft. Expect to hear virtuosic and elegant arrangements of new Brazilian and World music classics. https://www.creosoteduo.com/
April 2019
April 6, 2019 (SAT) – Lisa Ornstein & Dan Compton (www.lisaornstein.com/lisa-ornstein-and-dan-compton/) – SOLD OUT – For waitlist –> RESERVE SEATS – Virtuoso fiddler Lisa Ornstein and ace guitarist Dan Compton relish in musical conversation. They transcend the form of the fiddle-and-guitar duo by playing completely together from somewhere deep inside the music.
Although they are both accomplished virtuosos on their instruments, what is really exciting about them is the interplay between the two. They’re definitely awake and listening, and no two performances are ever quite the same.
A concert with Lisa and Dan takes you on a journey deep into the musical heartlands of Quebec and Appalachia, with side trips for songs, stories, and original compositions. The depth and diversity of Lisa’s musical experiences and her powerful playing find their match in Dan’s imaginative, innovative approach to guitar. The result is a dazzling array of tunes and styles. Real deal music from players who know the traditions inside and out, served up fresh with a side of new tunes.
April 13, 2019 (Sat) – True Life Trio – SOLD OUT – For waitlist –> RESERVE SEATS— Leslie Bonnett: voice, fiddle, percussion, Briget Boyle: voice, guitar, percussion, Juliana Graffagna: voice, accordion, percussion –
Since its inception in 2010, True Life Trio has enchanted audiences all across the West. Their concerts take audiences on a borderless journey through the villages of Ukraine, the mountains of Bulgaria and Louisiana’s Cajun country, demonstrating the beauty, power and diversity of vocally driven folk music from Eastern Europe and North America. TLT honors these traditions while adding their own unique spin via innovative arrangements and folk-inspired compositions. The trio’s fiery and supple vocals bridge musical worlds and deliver them right to the listeners’ ears.
Featuring the powerful vocal talents of three dynamic performers whose musical collaboration was forged in Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble, this Bay Area–based trio delves deep into a vast array of folk music that lends itself to three-part vocal harmony, massaging and expanding the boundaries of these traditional styles. Visit : http://www.truelifetrio.com/
April 17, 2019 (Wed) – The Wiesenekker-Lysov Trio & Tim Connell and Mike Burdette . The Wiesenekker-Lysov Trio is a Russian-Dutch collaboration presenting a colourful repertory of all epochs and styles – from the baroque and classical periods to blues, polkas, and klezmer featuring sister and brother duo Marijke (mandolin) and Michiel Wiesenekker (guitar) from Amsterdam – also known as the Amsterdams Gitaar en Mandoline Duo, and Maxim Lysov (Russian 7-string & flamenco guitar). (Visit : http://wiesenekker.com / http://maxim-lysov.com/)
Joining them will be local favorites Tim Connell (mandolin) and Mike Burdette (guitar). (https://www.timconnellmusic.com/)
April 24, 2019 (WED) — Raz-de-Marée – RESERVE SEATS -traditional Quebecois music
Eric Favreau, fiddle, Sabin Jacques, button accordion, Rachel Aucoin, piano, Stuart Kenney, bass and banjo Raz de Marée, or Tidal Wave, with its cross-border personnel from Quebec and New England, invites cultures to meet and share the love of traditional music and dance. Since 2003, Tidal Wave has evolved as a Quebecois and contradance band, carrying through time the most relevant aspect of Quebec traditional, instrumental music: playing for live dancing. In that sense they are not reflecting the past but writing the book of a strong, living current. Their liveliness and outgoing personalities have led them to teach workshops and school programs, as well as perform concerts on the folk music planet. (aucoinjacques.com/ , https://tradnation.com/2017/08/eric-favreau/, http://www.stuartkenney.com/)
April 28, (Sun) 2019 — Colleen Raney Band – RESERVE SEATS – colleenraney.com/ ~ Join the original lineup of Colleen Raney, Hanz Araki, and Cary Novotny for a very special concert celebrating the release of her fifth studio album, Standing in Doorways. In the ten years since the release of her first title, Colleen has traveled the world appearing on stages all over the US, Ireland, and Japan alongside a whole host of musical colleagues. For one weekend in April, Colleen will return to her musical and touring roots and share music from the new album as well as favorites from the last decade and before. Come raise your voice to the next ten years of music and stories. Visit : www.colleenraney.com
May 2019
May 5, 2019 (SUN) – TRIO BRASILEIRO – RESERVE SEATS ~ Trio Brasileiro is dedicated to performing the great traditional choro music of Brasil by Jacob do Bandolim, Ernesto Nazareth and others, as well as their own compositions, which are modern reflections of that great traditional musical form. Formed in 2011, Trio Brasileiro quickly made a name for itself as an ensemble worthy of international attention. And, after four recordings and successful tours through Europe and North and South America, they are receiving more than their share of it. Among the many accolades, their 2017 recording with the brilliant Israeli clarinetist Anat Cohen, Rosa Dos Ventos, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best World Music Album, and was named one of the top twenty jazz recordings of the year in the Downbeat Magazine Readers’ Poll. (Suggested donation $25 at the door.) (www.triobrasileiro.com)
May 7, 2019 (TUES) – Suzy Thompson – RESERVE SEATS ~ www.ericandsuzy.com/suzy-bio.html – This will be a rare solo performance for Suzy Thompson, dubbed a “torchbearer for traditional music” by SingOut! magazine. Well known and loved in the fiddle and acoustic blues world, she has collaborated with such great artists as Geoff Muldaur, Del Rey, Jim Kweskin, the California Cajun Orchestra, Laurie Lewis, Mary Flower, the Todalo Shakers, Eric Thompson and many others. In this solo show, she’ll perform with fiddle and guitar and of course her powerful voice. Expect old time music (rare fiddle tunes and even a few unaccompanied ballads!), classic blues songs from the likes of Memphis Minnie, Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey and other blues queens, and of course she’ll also play some Louisiana Cajun and Creole music.
May 10, 2019 (FRI) – Ben Hunter & Joe Seamons ~ RESERVE SEATS ~ Seattle songsters Ben Hunter & Joe Seamons give life to voices that have long been silenced in American culture. Their award-winning performances are highlighted by story-telling that, rather than bringing the past to life, vividly shows how the past still lives in the present.
Through their songs, audiences witness current issues crop up again and again in folk songs, dance tunes, acoustic blues, and prison ballads. Ben & Joe bounce from fiddle & banjo breakdowns to a cappella field hollers, early jazz to gospel songs featuring Piedmont guitar style and rattlin’ bones.
With the same versatility that won them the International Blues Challenge in 2016, and allowed them to record with National Heritage Fellow Phil Wiggins, the duo celebrates the ways Americans have triumphed over oppression through the vitality of their art. Audiences walk away from Ben & Joe’s concerts and workshops inspired to learn more of their own history and engage more deeply with their communities. Visit : https://www.benjoemusic.com
May 19, 2019 (SUN) – PAPER WINGS ~ (CD Release) – RESERVE SEATS – Emily Mann (banjo/vocals) and Wilhelmina Frankzerda (fiddle/vocals/guitar) ~ Paper Wings captivates their listeners with a sound that is delicate, powerful, and refreshingly intimate. The stunning vocal blend of Emily Mann and Wilhelmina Frankzerda soars over a rotating cast of banjo, guitar, and fiddles. These two blossoming songwriters have a distinctive way of weaving traditional Appalachian music in to their thoughtfully crafted songs leaving you feeling nostalgic and exhilarated. They are both exceptionally accomplished multi-instrumentalists, and walk the line between vibrant originality and a deep care for traditional music and its history. They are the 2018 recipients of “A Good Idea” fund from Australian Folk-Pop duo Oh Pep! to sponsor a week dedicated to songwriting. Paper Wings released their self-titled debut album in 2017. Their second album, “Clementine”, will come out in the spring of 2019. (Visit : www.paperwingsmusic.com)
May 30, 2019 (Thurs) – STUMPTOWN SWING – RESERVE SEATS – Tim Connell (mandolin), Mike Burdette (guitar), Keith Brush (upright bass), Ben Blechman (violin) ~ Stumptown Swing takes audiences back to 1920’s Paris, when gypsies with guitars, violins and upright basses made the leap from French musette to American “hot jazz” and kept Parisians floating on their feet to this evocative new sound. Stumptown Swing performs a set of hot, cool and sultry classics, all resting on a bed of pure swinging groove, featuring gorgeous acoustic instruments played with intelligence and passion by four masters of the craft. (Visit : http://www.stumptownswing.com/)
JUNE 2019
June 5, 2019 (WED) – World Mandolin Concert ~ Featuring Brian Oberlin, Paul Glasse, Mike Compton, Tim Connell. RESERVE SEATS ~ Four stellar mandolin players; one house, solos, duo, trios, quartets, amazing chicken legs, and a one-of-a-kind experience. Hear the instructors of the 2019 River of the West Mandolin Camp play a concert open to the public! ( https://www.mandoberlin.com/ | paulglasse.com | Mike Compton | Tim Connell)
June 12, 2019 (WED) – Mile Twelve ~ (Evan Murphy – guitar
David Benedict – mandolin, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes – fiddle
Nate Sabat – bass, BB Bowness – banjo) ~ Bluegrass . RESERVE SEATS –“Mile Twelve’s instrumental skills reflect natural abilities enhanced by serious study of bluegrass tradition and a fearless desire to create fresh pathways. Their trio blend is as tight as it gets. Their duo and solo singing is equally praiseworthy. The arrangements often surprise with subtle twists and turns… delicious false endings, dropped beats, arco bass and fiddle duets, and on and on. Mile Twelve is carrying the tradition forward with creativity and integrity.” — Tony Trischka~ (http://www.miletwelvebluegrass.com)
June 15, 2019 (SAT) – Hanz Araki ~ CD Release . RESERVE SEATS ~ http://www.hanzaraki.com . More details coming soon… Considered one of the most talented Irish musicians in America today, flautist, whistle player, singer, and Juno Award-winner Hanz Araki has been lauded by publications and audiences alike. Three decades of musical exploration into Irish, Scottish, Japanese, and American traditions has yielded his distinct style described by Fatea Magazine as “achingly beautiful.”
As the sixth generation of his family to bear the title Araki Kodo, Hanz (short for Hanzaburo, his great-great grandfather’s name) spent his formative years mastering the Japanese end-blown bamboo flute. Discovering and relishing the melodic and mechanical similarities between shakuhachi and Irish whistle, Hanz applied his natural capacity and boundless curiosity to his Irish heritage. Taking advantage of the rich Irish music scene in Seattle, where he spent his youth, Hanz quickly became known for his exquisite instrumental work on both Irish whistle and flute and a haunting singing voice that was born to tell tales.
AUGUST 2019
August 28, 2019 (WED) – CHORO DAS 3 Brazilian Choro – Corina (flute), Lia (7 string guitar) and Elisa (mandolin), and their father Eduardo (pandeiro) RESERVE SEATS – Choro das 3 plays, “. . . some of the most inspired and inspiring music . . . the highest level of musicianship and presentation . . . the highest quality of Brazilian Choro music that can be heard any place today.” – Mike Marshall
Jazz guitarist and recording engineer George Petit, says, “(…) I was shocked and amazed to hear their expertise; they are far beyond their years . . . they have honed their music and their craft to perfection. Added to this, the musicians in the group are generous, respectful professionals that exemplify what is ‘good’ about art, culture and music (…)”(www.chorodas3.com.br (Watch)
SEPTEMBER 2019
September 16, 2019 (MON) – The Albanie Falletta Band – Albanie Falletta, Cindy McDermott, Ronnie Ontiveros, Ben Bonham ~ Traditional Swinging Jazz and Blues from New Orleans ~ RESERVE SEATS ~ Albanie is a rising star in the New Orleans jazz world – she was recently featured in Acoustic Guitar Magazine – NOLA musician Albanie Falletta has an irresistible voice is that is at the same time early jazz and completely honest – Louis and Billy would be proud and smiling. As a guitarist she has the chops and panache to hang with the best jazzers around and an uncanny ability to keep the groove rock solid as she weaves her melodic lines in and out of the tune. Her songwriting is deep, interesting and easy as a walk in the park.
Cindy McDermott (Asheville, NC) is a first class mandolin player and singer, with a soft and sultry voice that will lure you into a false sense of security and then slap you back to reality with a wicked turn of phrase. Her mandolin playing is fresh, exciting and can be at the same time blisteringly hot and heart achingly sweet. Ronnie Ontiveros and Ben Bonham (Hood River, OR) form a tight musical team that has worked together for many years. Ben is an accomplished guitar and steel guitarist. Ronnie holds down the bass duties with a rare skill and delight – and he drives the van, handles the ruffians and shouts a bit. Together they provide the perfect backdrop on which these master musicians works their magic.(…)” https://www.albaniemusic.com https://www.mandocynmusic.com/
OCTOBER 2019
Oct 3, 2019 (Thurs) – The Bywater Band – RESERVE SEATS – The Bywater Band is one of Boston’s fiercest and most innovative Celtic ensembles. The band draws on their roots in the Scottish and Irish traditions to create blazingly tight tune sets and emotional song renditions. Their music is infused with original compositions, improvisation, and tones of American roots music, giving it a fresh and unique feel.
The band is lead by singer/piper Elias Alexander, (Soulsha, MAC, Seven Nations, Fàrsan). It also features the talents of Scottish National Fiddle Champion and Glenfiddich champion Maura Shawn Scanlin on fiddle, Eamon Sefton on guitar, and Patrick Bowling on flute, whistle, bodhran, and step dance.
Coming together in the thriving traditional music scene of Boston, the band combines Scottish and Irish aesthetics in a way not often seen this side of the pond.
The Bywater Band’s dedication to infusing the tradition with new tunes and songs, plus their passionate performances and instrumental virtuosity, has made their debut album, “Bywater,” beloved of listeners around the country, reminding us of why traditional music continues to be relevant across continents and generations.
“A fiercely melodic and compelling sound…. Each number is something of a marvel.”
~Jerome Clark, Rambles | VIDEO: https://youtu.be/pNZG-THhJJM
Oct 16 (Wed) 2019 – MOLLY’S REVENGE – RESERVE SEATS – Celebrating their 14th Album ~ The Lucky Set ~ David Brewer: Highland bagpipes, border pipes, uillean pipes, whistles, bodhran. John Weed: Fiddle. Stuart Mason: Guitar, mandola. The Lucky Set, it includes authentic Celtic tunes, both new and traditional, from Scotland, Ireland, Brittany, Britain, Cape Breton, America, and even Japan. Molly’s Revenge is a dynamic, acoustic Celtic band known for its unique and infectious enthusiasm. The classic combination of bagpipes, whistle, and fiddle, with a backdrop of guitar, mandola, and bodhran guarantees an enjoyable experience for all fans of Scottish and Irish music. Molly’s Revenge has performed at many of the top folk festivals and performing arts events in the USA, and prestigious events in Scotland, Australia and China. Their arrangements of traditional Celtic jigs and reels bring these dance tunes up to date with a driving, hard-edged accent that always leaves audiences shouting for more. – Please visit -> (http://www.mollysrevenge.com)
Oct 19 (Sat) 2019 – SAM REIDER & THE HUMAN HANDS – RESERVE SEATS (Suggested $20-25 or what you can) – The Human Hands is a ensemble of acoustic musicians based in Brooklyn led by composer, accordionist, and pianist Sam Reider. Since the release of their debut record “Too Hot To Sleep” in early 2018, the band has appeared at major festivals throughout the US, performed live on the BBC, and completed a ten day tour of the UK. Their 2019 season includes headline performances at the Savannah Music Festival and Jazz at Lincoln Center. This “staggeringly virtuosic band” (RnR Magazine) of musicians includes Alex Hargreaves (Live From Here, Sarah Jarosz) on violin, Eddie Barbash (Jon Batiste and Stay Human) on saxophone, Dominick Leslie (Hawktail, Ricky Skaggs) on mandolin, Roy Williams (Stephane Wrembel) on guitar, and Dave Speranza (Jim Campilongo) on bass. Irresistible melodies, fiery improvisation and otherworldly sounds collide in what Songlines Magazine has dubbed “mash-up of the the Klezmatics, Quintette du Hot Club de France and the Punch Brothers.”. – Please visit – http://www.samreidermusic.com/thehumanhands
Oct 26, 2019 (SAT) – McKasson, McDonald, McLane – RESERVE SEATS – Ryan McKasson (fiddle), Eric McDonald (guitar / vocals), Jeremiah McLane ~ traditional and original music.
Ryan McKasson, Eric McDonald and Jeremiah McLane are masters of tradition who purposefully explore the dark corners floating on its edges. Their individual artistry is enhanced when together. In short, the sum creates a greater whole. The result is an alluring complexity, full of spontaneous musicality. Pulling from parallel strands of influence, they create a swirling level of intensity that traverses darkness, light, and everywhere in between. An air of mystery pervades a sound compelling enough to transcend boundaries and appeal to music lovers of all stripes. Devon Leger of Hearth Music says, “This trio really shows how masterful musicians listen and play off each other.” The music they create is to share, and live performance is the forte. But their mutual attitude stretches beyond the music. They have been good friends ever since they met, and this is present in their live performances, which are full of organic banter and good humor to go along with the music. They create an environment of their own design, drawing in listeners without pretense. Despite living active musical lives thousands of miles apart these musicians have committed to working together to forge a new musical path.
(Visit : www.mckassonandmcdonald.com )
NOVEMBER 2019
Nov 3, 2019 (SUN) – Il Violoncello Capriccioso ~ Diane Chaplin (solo cello) ~ Sparkling capriccios, virtuoso works and music that stirs the soul: a program of music for cello all by itself! – RESERVE SEATS – (https://www.cellochaplin.com/) ~ Cellist Diane Chaplin has recently returned from a summer in Italy, where she presented her solo recital, “Il Violoncello Capriccioso” to great acclaim. The word “capriccio” in Italian suggests, as it does in English, something quirky, fun and a bit whimsical. Contrasting with the virtuoso works is the poignant and stirring Suite No. 3 of Ernest Bloch, written in 1957 at Agate Beach, Oregon, just a year before the composer’s death in Portland. With this collection of Capriccios, Variations and Suites, Diane has crafted a unique and fascinating program that she will accompany with verbal descriptions of the works.
Nov 7, 2019 (Thurs) – Winifred Horan with Special guests Utsav Lal (piano) & Cary Novotny (guitar / vocals) . CD RELEASE TOUR for ‘The Memory of Magic’ – RESERVE SEATS – winhoran.net– Winifred Horan was born in New York City to Irish parents and studied piano (taught by her father, a carpenter and musician) and Irish fiddle playing at a young age. She attended and graduated from the New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts, where she studied classical violin and the Aspen Music Festival and School in Aspen, Colorado. She played with multiple orchestras, including the Boston Pops Orchestra, and string quartets, before joining the all-female Celtic music ensemble Cherish the Ladies in 1990. She co-founded Solas in 1994, and is on fiddle and backing vocals. On her participation in Solas and, in particular, touring with the group, Horan expressed in a 2008 interview: “Traveling the world with Solas has been one of the best things about being in the band.” (http://www.winhoran.net/)
Young Steinway Artist, Utsav Lal (born August 18, 1992) is an Indian pianist, improviser, educator and composer. At 26 years of age, Utsav Lal is recognized as a musician extraordinaire who has set a precedent in the world of music with his rendition of Ragas on the Piano. An impressive sixteen year music career behind him, Utsav is often known as the Raga Pianist for his innovative handling of the Indian Classical music genre. He has gained international recognition for his groundbreaking work with performances across the world in countries including Italy, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Hong Kong, Sweden, Kuwait, The Netherlands, USA, Canada, Singapore and India. (http://www.indianragapianist.com)
Cary Novotny has asserted himself in the pantheon of Irish guitar players with his seemingly unending energy. Varying from breakneck speed to delicate finger-style in the blink of an eye, he makes up for an entire rhythm section with his one-of-a-kind approach.
Nov 14, 2019 (THURS) – Michael Winograd (clarinet) & Christina Crowder (accordion) – Klezmer – RESERVE SEATS – Join Klezmer clarinet virtuoso Michael Winograd and Accordion whiz Christina Crowder for over 100 years of Jewish music in one night! Critics will say it can’t be done! “Impossible!” naysayers will cry out! “A century’s worth of music in a single concert??!!” ; But Winograd & Crowder, against all odds, will prove them wrong. Don’t miss out on this historic occasion.
“Winograd is not a dabbler. He isn’t an aspiring 12-tone composer who can play some klezmer. He isn’t a punk-rocker looking for a new angle on approaching his songwriting. He IS a klezmer. He knows klezmer. He fucking blows away the room at klezmer. – Geoff Berner, “Kosher Style” Liner Notes
In 2019, clarinetist Michael Winograd released his long awaited LP “Kosher Style,” re-affirming his central role in today’s international Klezmer landscape. He tours the world performing with his band The Honorable Mentshn, collaborates with Pakistani superstar Zeb Bangash in the group Sandaraa, records and plays with a veritable who’s who of today’s top Klezmorim (Frank London, Itzhak Perlman, Geoff Berner, Alicia Svigals, The Klezmer Conservatory Band, Daniel Kahn, to name a few), appears in stadiums with Vulfpeck, produces records and is the Artistic Director of KlezKanada and a founder of the Yiddish New York festival. (https://www.michaelwinograd.net/)
Christina Crowder has been performing and researching Jewish music for over twenty years, beginning in Budapest, Hungary and continuing with a Fulbright grant to Romania to document Jewish music. Her current research is examining the connections between Jewish, Bessarabian, and Greek music through a project with Walter Zev Feldman at NYU Abu Dhabi, and she is the Operations Director of the newly-founded Klezmer Institute. She has been a guest instructor in klezmer accordion and ensemble performance in the US, Canada, and Europe, and was both musical director and performer in the 2019 Oregon Shakespeare Festival production of the Broadway play “Indecent.” (http://christinacrowder.cc/)
Nov 16, 2019 (SAT) – Trio Musicorum Medicorum (TM²) ~ Classical – RESERVE SEATS – Andrew Bonner (piano), Alistair Leon Kok (violin), Rebecca Reese (cello) ~ Trio Musicorum Medicorum (TM²) is a Portland, Oregon-based piano trio including Andrew Bonner (pianist), Rebecca Reese (cello), and Alistair Leon Kok (violin). Each member has worked or is currently working as a professional musician and as a professional healthcare provider. The group was formed in September of 2015, and made its debut performance along with guest flutist, Janet Bebb, in March of 2016 at The Old Church Concert Hall in downtown Portland. Each member finds that whether their weekly rehearsal is focused on a performance or just reading through challenging classical repertoire, that sharing music as an avocation allows them such great freedom to express their artistry joyfully.
Andrew Bonner – piano, has degrees in music from Harvard and Brandeis University. He concurrently studied piano with Katja Andy and Russell Sherman at the New England Conservatory of Music, and was a freelance musician in Boston for 20 years. He has also directed choirs and was the organist for the Emmanuel Music complete Bach Cantata series for five years. He is currently a naturopath, but continues to perform and compose music as much as his schedule allows.
Rebecca Reese – cello, studied cello at Carnegie Mellon University (B.F.A.) and the University of Denver (M.A.). She taught cello at the University of Alaska and then moved on to Los Angeles, where she worked as a freelance musician for many years. She performed in many classical orchestras and chamber music groups as well as playing studio-recorded background music for TV and movies such as: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Ghost Busters, Color Purple, The Natural and Star Trek III to name a few. She is currently a physician (M.D.) with a practice in cranial osteopathy and homeopathy.
Alistair Kok – violin, was born in Blacksburg, Virginia. He graduated from Virginia Tech before attending the Ohio State University College of Dentistry, and currently works for NARA Northwest (Native American Rehabilitation Association) in Portland. Alistair earned a Graduate Performance Diploma from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and has performed professionally with orchestras and chamber groups throughout New England, Ohio, Virginia, Washington and Oregon. He moved to Portland, Oregon, in June of 2015 and joined the Newport Symphony Orchestra shortly after, where he serves as violin section member and orchestra librarian. Alistair also performs regularly as violinist and violist with the Yakima, Vancouver (WA), Salem (OR), and Oregon East Symphony Orchestras, and has served as concertmaster for the Corvallis Repertory Singers chamber orchestra. He was recently featured as violin soloist with the Newport Symphony Orchestra at their 2019 Fourth of July celebration concert.
Nov 23, 2019 (SAT) – Gerry O’Beirne – RESERVE SEATS – New Album ~ Swimming the Horses ~ ( http://www.gerryobeirne.com/ ) ~ Born in Ennis, County Clare, along Ireland’s music-rich west coast, Gerry O’Beirne is a renowned singer, songwriter, record producer and guitarist (6 and 12 string guitar, tiple, and ukulele, slide guitar among others). He grew up in Ireland and in Ghana in West Africa, and has since lived in England, California, and Mexico. He lives now near Dingle in Co Kerry. His own compositions blend the passion found in traditional music with the freshness of contemporary song.
His much loved first solo album Half Moon Bay features The Holy Ground, Half Moon Bay, Western Highway and The Shades Of Gloria which have been sung by Maura O’Connell, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Mary Black and many other great singers. His second album The Bog Bodies And Other Stories: Music For Guitar was named CD of the Month on the American radio show Echoes, and one of its essential albums of the year. “Yesterday I Saw The Earth Beautiful”, a duet album with fiddler Rosie Shipley featured his own songs, settings of poems by Paddy Kavanagh and Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill along with traditional tunes from Ireland and Cape Breton.
Gerry has toured the world as a solo artist and with the Sharon Shannon Band, Patrick Street, Midnight Well, Andy M. Stewart, Kevin Burke, Andy Irvine, and the Waterboys. He has performed at the White House, opened for the Grateful Dead, played electric guitar with Marianne Faithfull and thought nothing of playing with a Romanian orchestra and choir in a cemetery in Transylvania at night. He has written music for film and theatre and appeared on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion. Recently he has been working with New York composer Peter Gordon on a recording of the music of the legendary Arthur Russell, and recorded recently with Peter Gordon and Tim Burgess of the Charlatans.
His songs were celebrated in a special concert at Sligo’s Fleadh Cheoil in August 2015.
DECEMBER 2019
DEC 5, 2019 (THURS) – Kathryn Claire ~ Winter Songs with Sid Ditson & Don Henson – RESERVE SEATS – With her violin and voice at the center of her music, Kathryn Claire weaves together stories and melodies rooted in her classical and traditional musical background while infusing each song and composition with an energy and electricity that is palpable. Her musicality and joy on stage is infectious. Honest and poetic writing, crystalline vocals, impassioned violin compositions, and an ability to move seamlessly across genres, are the hallmark of Kathryn Claire’s original and diverse sound.
This show, Winter Songs, is inspired by the season with music to honor the shortest days and longest nights. Weaving together songs, instrumentals, traditional and original music and a few covers, Kathryn Claire invites the audience to join together in celebration of the season.
Kathryn Claire will be accompanied by Don Henson on piano and percussion and Sid Ditson on violin. (www.kathrynclairemusic.com)
DEC 7, 2019 (SAT) – Jamie Stillway & Ara Lee James – RESERVE SEATS – After years of orbiting in the same musical circles Stillway and James crossed paths. They discovered a mutual love for deconstructing songs, whether it be standards, blues, or 60s pop. The combination of their two distinct styles brings a fresh take on much beloved covers, and this rare run of Northwest shows is not to be missed.
Jamie Stillway ~ Hailed by Fretboard Journal as “One of the best fingerstyle guitarists around today,” Jamie Stillway is widely known as one of the top guitar players of her generation. A regular contributor to Acoustic Guitar magazine and nationally in-demand instructor, Jamie is generally recognized as a master of her craft both as a soloist and teacher. Her last album of original compositions was named by Paste Magazine as one of the best of the year, and when you hear her live you’ll experience the spell described by guitarist Mark Goldenberg as “whimsical, sardonic, and reflective…a beautifully foreign yet familiar place.” jamiestillway.com
Ara Lee James ~“Captivating… powerful… commanding…you have to see her live” the National Rock Review wrote about Ara Lee James, and when you hear her voice you’ll understand why. Internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter, and truth-teller, Ara Lee James has a vocal mastery that is undeniable. Rooted in the traditions of gospel and deep South soul, James (formerly Ara Lee) holds court on stage like a modern-day mystic. Perhaps best summed up by Anna Tivel, “Ara travels all around making people hold their breath with her crazy soul molasses voice.” http://www.araleemusic.com/
DEC 12, 2019 (THURS) *new date* – Tony Furtado Duo featuring Luke Price – RESERVE SEATS – (www.tonyfurtado.com) ~ Tony is an evocative and soulful singer, a wide-ranging songwriter and a virtuoso multi-instrumentalist adept on banjo, cello-banjo, slide guitar and baritone ukulele who mixes and matches sounds and styles with the flair of a master chef (he’s also an accomplished sculptor, but that’s another story). All of the music of America is in Tony’s music. Relix hit the nail on the head when writing of Tony: “True talent doesn’t need categories.” Tony will be joined by 3 time National Fiddle Champion Luke Price. In addition Tony will be bringing some of his wonderful sculptures.
Some 2020 Dates will be posted soon!