Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | Oct | Nov | Dec
To RSVP for any show, click RESERVE SEATS in the the show description. For general questions, you can email me directly abbiew@froggie.com. Unless noted, concerts start at 7:30 w/ potluck at 6:30 PM. There is a “Suggested Donation” for each show to be paid at the door. In general ~ pay what you can. All income levels welcome. Our address in SE Portland will be emailed when you reserve a seat. [Current Covid Policy]
JAN 2025
Jan 23, 2025 (SAT) ~ Thunder & Rain ~ RESERVE SEATS ~ (Suggested donation $25 at the door) – (WATCH) – Erinn Peet-Lukes (Lead Vocals, Guitar), Amelia Ransom (Fiddle/Vocals), Laura Ray (Banjo/Vocals), Andrew Tyler Brown (Bass) – “fits perfectly within the sort of urban, pop-grass vibe ” — Bluegrass Today In their decade-long career, the band has shared the stage with Billy Strings, Krueger Brothers, Peter Rowan, AJ Lee and Blue Summit and Brothers Comatose. “Run With You”, a single released in 2020, was selected for the IBMA Songwriter Showcase 2023. Founding member and band leader Erinn Peet Lukes pursued her songwriting and performing career through major music hubs until she landed in Colorado in 2013, where Thunder and Rain formed from the Denver bluegrass scene. They’ve recorded three studio albums and toured the US, Canada, Ireland and the UK. The band’s bluegrass take on popular songs on YouTube have amassed hundreds of thousands of views. After the pandemic thwarted tour plans and band momentum in 2020, Lukes’ moved to Nashville where she met Amelia Ransom (fiddle) and Laura Ray (banjo). They hit it off right away, and decided to reform the band with an emphasis on their strong three part harmony and more traditional feel. They are releasing their fourth studio album in Fall 2024. Rounded out on tour by upright bassist Andrew Tyler Brown, the band is excited to be on the road while creating and arranging new material.
Jan 31, 2025 (FRI) ~ Tony Furtado & Stephanie Schneiderman Duo Show – RESERVE SEATS – (Suggested $30 at the door) ~ Tony Furtado (banjo / cello-banjo / slide guitar/vocals) , Stephanie Schneiderman (vocals / guitar) –
TONY FURTADO 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.”
STEPHANIE SCHNEIDERMAN is an award winning songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and activist with nine solo albums to her credit. She plays drums for all-star roots pop act Dirty Martini, produced a humanitarian concert series for refugees in Uganda, and produced the soundtrack for three popular children’s DVDs. Starting her solo career with a coveted spot in the Lilith Fair, she has shared the stage with Aimee Mann, Hall & Oates, Marc Cohen and Sarah McLachlan. Her lush, dark introspective 2022 album, Crossfire, combines folk, Americana and pop.
FEB 2025
Feb 19, 2025 (WED) ~ GENTICORUM – (Quebecois) – RESERVE SEATS – (Suggested $30 at the door) ~ Pascal Gemme (fiddle – mandolin – foot percussion – voice), Yann Falquet (guitar – jaw harp – voice), Nicholas Williams (accordion – flute – voice) With multiple Canadian Folk Music Awards, as well as Juno and ADISQ nominations, GENTICORUM have earned a reputation as a leading voice in the evolution of Québécois traditional music. … Weaving intricate fiddle, flute and accordion lines, gorgeous vocal harmonies, subtle guitar textures and exhilarating foot percussion, the pleasure that these three musicians have creating and playing together is palpable, both in the studio and on the concert stage.
Feb 21, 2025 (FRI) ~ STEEPLECHASE ~ RESERVE SEATS – (Suggested $25-30 at the door) ~ Traditional Music of, but not limited to, Ireland and Scotland – Hanz Araki (Flute Whistles Vocals), Zach Bauman (Bouzouki, Vocals), David Lofgren (Bodhrán, Vocals), Sam Vogt (Guitar, Whistles, Vocals) — Steeplechase came about in the tried and true manner of Irish music bands throughout the centuries, which is to say, at the session. It became clear that these horses could pull in the same direction, and thus a band was born. Three of the four members have connections to Maine, but they all managed to find their way to the northwest corner of these United States—fortunately for them, you can get heeyah from theyah. In addition to the multi-generational representation, there is a tremendous height disparity; a fact they try to mask unsuccessfully by playing seated. While their paths to taking up traditional music may vary wildly, their passion for, and love of this art form is unquestionably shared.
MARCH 2025
MARCH 8, 2025 (SAT) ~ Kristen Grainger & TRUE NORTH – RESERVE SEATS – (Suggested $25-$30 at the door) – 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.
April 2025
April 2 (WED) ~ HILDALAND – RESERVE SEATS – (Suggested $25 at the door) – Orkney (Scotland) born fiddler Louise Bichan and Indiana (USA) mandolinist Ethan Setiawan – (Watch)
Orkney (Scotland) born fiddler Louise Bichan and Indiana (USA) mandolinist Ethan Setiawan present a collaboration and meeting of their musical worlds in Hildaland. A path steeped in the fiddle traditions of their respective sides of the Atlantic, the journey taken wends through Scottish and American soil, celebrating their foundations while intertwining with contemporary composition. Bichan’s fiddle is a melodic foil to Setiawan’s counterpoint and harmonic depth, and the two weave in and out seamlessly. Setiawan has won such accolades as the 2014 National Mandolin Championship, the 2017 RockyGrass Mandolin Championship and has shared the stage with the likes of Julian Lage, Darrell Scott, Bryan Sutton, Mike Marshall, Tony Trischka, Darol Anger, Casey Driessen, the Steel Wheels, Don Stiernberg, Matt Flinner, and Jacob Jolliff. Bichan has won awards for her compositions and playing, and has travelled far and wide to perform in various line ups since a young age. She has appeared at the likes of the BBC TV’s Hogmanay Live show, Edinburgh Castle, Reading Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival, Lorient Interceltique Festival, Milwaukee Irish Festival and Sligo Live festival. In 2016 she released her first solo album, Out of My Own Light, to great acclaim.
April 6 (SUN) ~ NATALIE CRESSMAN & IAN FAQUINI – RESERVE SEATS – (Suggested $25 at the door) – Natalie Cressman (Trombone, vocals), Ian Faquini (guitar, vocals) – Describing the musical partnership of Natalie Cressman and Ian Faquini as a duo is accurate, but their collaboration contains multitudes. She’s a trombonist, vocalist and songwriter from San Francisco. He’s a composer, guitarist, and singer from Brasilia. Together they’ve honed a singularly expansive creative communion encompassing their love of the Brazilian songbook, jazz, Impressionism and sophisticated pop songcraft.
May 9, 2025 (FRI) ~ Gordie Tentrees & Jaxon Haldane ~ RESERVE SEATS (Suggested donation $25 at the door) ~ Gordie Tentrees (Guitar/Vocals/Harmonica) / Jaxon Haldane (Guitar/Vocals/Banjo/Mandolin) – “Majestic songwriting, genuine authenticity, incredible insight” – AMERICANA UK – GRIT – RESILIENCE – HEART = GORDIE TENTREES –
International touring award winning Canadian (Yukon) artist has arrived. This authentic road poet travels North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, UK/Ireland and Scandinavia with 8 records behind him either solo or with legendary sideman Jaxon Haldane (famed Winnipeg band-D-Rangers) never repeating himself on stage. From Celtic Connections (Glasgow, Scotland) to the National Folk Festival (Canberra, AU) his ability to hold an audience, weave melody, while juggling the dark with the light is infectious. Born in Hamilton, Ontario the product of a broken home raised on a family farm before bouncing around in foster home homes finding focus in sport even becoming a golden glove boxer. From the ring to the stage with stops in between as a school teacher and youth worker grateful for every moment. “I feel fortunate to have had such unfortunate moments that have enabled me to become who I am today”
2023 International Acoustic Music Award (IAMA) winners Gordie Tentrees (Yukon) and Jaxon Haldane (Manitoba) met in 2005 (Fred Eaglesmith Picnic, Ontario) and swapped records before hitting the road with disparate musical aspirations. They have performed over 1000 concerts in 11 countries, creating an unscripted, dynamic electric/acoustic show built on brotherly harmonies and masterful storytelling.
May 13, 2025 (TUES) ~ TONY MCMANUS ~ (guitar) ~ RESERVE SEATS ~ (Suggested $25-30 at the door) – Hailed by John Renbourn as ‘the best Celtic guitarist in the world’ Tony McManus has been listed as one of the 50 transcendental guitarists of all time by Guitar Player Magazine. Conjuring a unique but universal language from that most ubiquitous of instruments, the acoustic guitar, Tony McManus has both extended and transcended the parameters of contemporary Celtic music. Ranked by peers and predecessors alike alongside the guitar world’s all-time greats, his fiendishly dexterous, dazzlingly original playing draws on traditions from the entire Celtic diaspora – Scotland, Ireland, Brittany, Galicia, Asturias, Cape Breton, Quebec – along with still further-ranging flavours, such as jazz and east European music.
☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ SUMMER BREAK ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
