BACHA

18th Annual Ballad Contest
2025-03-29 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | South Shore Folk Music Club, Duxbury MA, 842 Tremont St, Duxbury, MA, 02332, United States
Young Singers Traditional Ballad Singing Contest – This year’s 18th Annual Traditional Ballad Singing Contest for contestants in grade 4 through age 25 will be held at 7 p.m. Friday March 29, 2025 at South Shore Folk Music club, located at First Parish Duxbury, 842 Tremont St., Duxbury. Club member Karen Haffner and Lynn Feingold, past president of the Folk Song Society of Greater Boston, organize this contest through the South Shore Folk Music Club! The hosts love the traditional ballad so much, they’ll pay young people to learn and perform a song this night! Contestants must sign-up ahead by March 22 so the night can be planned and to confirm the ballad they have chosen meets the criteria established for the contest.
Note the criteria: A ballad is a song that tells a story. A traditional ballad is so old that nobody knows who wrote it. Your song must be a traditional ballad from England, Ireland or Scotland such as Barbara Allen, Molly Malone, Jock o’ Hazeldean, The Golden Vanity, Mattie Groves, Clerk Saunders, Spencer the Rover, The Cruel Mother, Lord Randal, Henry Martin, John Riley, Ned of the Hill, Two Bonnie Boys, Young Waters, The Downie Dens of Yarrow, The Wild Rover and many others you may choose.
Every year there are some returning balladeers and some new musicians. Every contestant receives a CASH prize or CASH participation awards thanking them for sharing their ballad and listing Karen Haffner and Lynn Feingold as contacts for future interest in traditional ballads. If you would like to hear some wonderful young people sing traditional ballads and lift your spirits, come on down to the contest. If you have any questions, please email Karen at haffnerk@hotmail.com or text her: 517-875-2047. Or contact Lynn at 781-227-7500.
Visit www.ssfmc.org for details, poster and contest form. Follow us on Facebook: Traditional Ballad Singing Competition for Students. Note: All performers – no charge!

Sean Magwire Trio
2025-03-29 19:00 - 21:00 | House of Play Houseconcerts, Newton MA, Newton, MA, United States
“His music captures the essence of human connection, weaving stories of resilience, hope, and shared experience.“
“With just a couple of chords, Sean Magwire envelopes you in a melody that seems to tell secrets.”
Come join us for our next house concert with award-winning Massachusetts-based contemporary Folk/Americana singer-songwriter SEAN MAGWIRE AND TRIO. A high school adjustment counselor by day, and a two-time Grand Prize winner in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest by night. Sean’s music has been featured on All Things Considered, The Boston Globe, PBS, NPR, and in the feature film Fly Old Birds:Escape to the Ark. He has performed at festivals across the country, including Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Whitefish Songwriter Festival, Red Lodge Songwriting Festival, and Falcon Ridge Folk Festival.
You will be welcome in our spacious home. Drinks, snacks, and plenty of joy provided as we connect through music to the larger circles among us. Sean will be releasing his new album ‘Echoes in the Wind’ on 3/28. This album delves into the highs and lows of human experience, weaving relatable stories of everyday life. This concert will serve as the album release event and Sean will be joined by multi-instrumentalists, Steve & Tommy Combs. They will perform the album in its entirety as well as other fan-favorites.
RSVP as soon as you can (seating is limited) by sending your name and phone number to houseconcertsnewton@gmail.com. The info and address will then be sent to you. $25 suggested minimum donation goes directly to the musicians.

Margaret Ferri Coffeehouse Feature with Mini Open Mic
2025-04-04 19:00 - 21:15 | South Shore Folk Music Club, Duxbury MA, 842 Tremont St, Duxbury, MA, 02332, United States
A musician whose inspiration to play guitar was Buffy St. Marie’s ‘Until It’s Time for You to Go’ Margaret Ferri’s roots are in folk music and lyrics are her passion! She covers Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell and many others. She says, “I play songs that speak to me and my life’s experiences. The emotions you hear in the songs are deep and real.” Margaret has dedicated her ‘life in music’ to ensure that excellent songwriting from the past is not forgotten and her audience reacts with smiles and positive energy when they hear a song they love. Margaret Ferri considers this to be her gift and offers up these songs up to those who want to listen.

Guy Davis
2025-04-04 20:00 - 22:00 | Me&Thee, Marblehead MA, 28 Mugford St, Marblehead, MA, 01945, United States
Back-to-back Grammy nominee Guy Davis brings his exceptional traditional blues, roots and world music to the Me&Thee stage on Friday, April 4th at 8pm. Davis is more than a musician. He’s also know as an actor, author, and songwriter who uses a blend of roots, blues, folk, rock, rap, spoken word, and world music to sing about, comment on, and address the issues of social injustice, historical events and common life struggles.

Cormac Mc Carthy
2025-04-05 19:30 - 21:30 | Off the Common Coffeehouse, Bridgewater MA, 50 School St, Bridgewater, MA, 02324, United States

Emma's Revolution
2025-04-05 19:30 - 21:30 | New Revival Coffeehouse, Stow MA, 353 Great Rd, Stow, MA, 01775, United States
The New Revival Coffeehouse is pleased to present national touring musicians Emma’s Revolution on April 5, 2025.
Known for fearless, truth-telling lyrics and melodies you can’t resist singing, Emma’s Revolution is the dynamic, award-winning activist duo of Pat Humphries & Sandy O. The duo are in their 20th year performing together. Emma’s Revolution’s songs have traveled around the world and have been sung for the Dalai Lama, praised by Pete Seeger and covered by Holly Near.
With one eye on the news, Emma’s Revolution consistently writes songs about critical issues happening in the world and enthusiastically lends their voices to the movements those issues inspire.
As independent artists and queer and non-conforming women, Emma’s Revolution has a national presence among communities, organizations and venues that share the duo’s vision of valuing people over profit, choosing compassion over violence, demanding accountability, and building a more just and sustainable world.
The New York Times praised Emma’s music as “fervent and heart-felt.” Deb Andersen of The Wimmin’s Show, KZUM, described it as “beauty, power and ferocity all mixed together with love and hope.”
The New Revival Coffeehouse is located at First Parish Church of Stow & Acton, 353 Great Road, Stow MA. Tickets are $20 in advance at EventBrite. and $25 on the day of the show. Doors open at 7:00 and the concert begins at 7:30.

Double Bill of Cosy Sheridan and David Roth
2025-04-05 19:30 - 22:00 | Music on Centre, West Roxbury MA, 1859 Centre St, West Roxbury, MA, 02132, United States
Revered acoustic folk veterans and songwriting workshop organizers offer memorable songs of our time.
Music on Centre concerts take place in the comfy parish hall located at 70 Corey Street behind the Theodore Parker UU Church in West Roxbury. Lots of free parking across the street and in two city lots nearby. Reserve seats by emailing musiconcentre@gmail.com. There are no advance tickets. Cash is preferred but credit card payments are possible. General admission. For more information, go to artist websites (www.davidrothmusic.com and www.cosysheridan.com) or www.tparkerchurch.org/events where you can access a digital photo to send to friends and family. Or call 617-327-0542.

The Kennedys
2025-04-05 19:30 - 22:00 | Circle of Friends Coffeehouse, Franklin MA, 262 Chestnut St, Franklin, MA, 02038, United States

Vance Gilbert - Joe Wilkins opens
2025-04-05 19:30 - 22:00 | Old Sloop Presents, Rockport MA, 12 School St, Rockport, MA, 01966, United States
Advance tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for those age 18 and under. Visit oldslooppresents.org, John Tarr Store in Rockport, or The Bookstore of Gloucester. The suggested contribution at the door is $25 for adults, $5 for those age 18 and under, and $40 for families.
Tickets and more information
Vance Gilbert started as a jazz singer, switched to folk music, and became an integral part of the national folk scene. He is known for his improvisational rapport with his audiences. He speaks, as he sings, with sincerity and depth. He has a wide range, covering Joni Mitchell one moment and doing what sounds like a jazz classic (but is actually his own song) the next. Many songs tell profound stories and touch on important topics.
Joe Wilkins is a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Known locally for his bluegrass guitar and mandolin skills, Joe is also a musical storyteller, crafting songs about real life, real people, and situations to which we can all relate.

Award winning Tim Grimm returns to Linden Tree
2025-04-05 19:30 - 22:00 | Linden Tree Concerts, Wakefield MA, 120 Chestnut St., Wakefield, MA, 01880, United States
Tim Grimm returns to the Linden Tree on Saturday April 5th
Winter Potpourri Winner Tom Hanlon will open.
The Linden Tree Concert series is pleased to announce the return of Indiana Actor and Singer Songwriter Tim Grimm on Saturday, April 5th at 7:30 pm. The Linden Tree is now in the social hall of the Wakefield Lynnfield United Methodist Church on Vernon St. Wakefield. This year’s Winter Potpourri winner Tom Hanlon will open the evening’s concert.
Tim Grimm is a bit of a Renaissance man in the performing arts world, forging a rich and varied career that blends his love of songwriting, travel, and acting in theatre, film and television. Mike Davies, Folk Radio UK says Tim is “one of America’s finest songwriters.” For most of his 25-year career as a storytelling balladeer in the tradition of John Prine, Woody Guthrie, and Bob Dylan, Tim has written primarily about community, history, family, and social issues – often framed by his strong sense of place and the many years he spent on the family farm he built in rural Indiana. His songs are filled with rural characters and landscapes, written and sung with vivid warmth and intimacy. On April 4th, Tim’s brand new album Bones of Trees will be released on radio.
Tim’s 2023 album, THE LITTLE IN-BETWEEN was an evocative evolution from his previous albums – and considered his most personal to date, written in three intense months during the winter of 2021-22. This album traced his travel between the hills of southern Indiana and the Oklahoma prairie – and his internal journey from a rich past to an unexpected future – using a first-person voice in every song to illuminate a deep inner territory that historically remained more submerged in his work. This fertile creative year also yielded forays into visual art, with Tim using pastels and charcoal to create striking folk-art style triptychs, pieces of which now form the visual art featured on the new album cover and booklet.
After several years of working as an actor in the 19990s where he co-starred on the NBC drama Reasonable Doubts and appearing in the film A Clear and Present Danger with Harrison Ford, he returned with his famiy to small town southern Indiana. Where he continued to compose music for a number off stage plays including Amber Waves and The Grapes of Wrath produced in Indiana and New York. Two PBS documentaries he wrote songs for received nominations for EMMY AWARDS.
.Each new recording by Tim Grimm represents a poetic, intense, exciting, passionate immersion in the heart of America….an excellent storyteller, one of the most incisive of the last few decades. Remo Ricaldone- Lonestartime, Italy
Tom Hanlon, an award-winning singer-songwriter, grew up in the 60’s, when folk music was in all its glory. Tom branched into rock and roll in high school, and joined “The Long Island Sounds” out of New Haven CT, opening for such acts as the Beach Boys, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, and the Zombies. He studied Classical guitar at NE Conservatory, taught there for several years, and–more recently–began writing songs. He collaborates now with Leslie Bryant, of Ergo Canto. The title track from their CD, “This Train,” was a finalist in the American Songwriter Awards. His “Nail Care and Repair for Guitarists” video on YouTube with 90K hits. Tom’s songs are on Reverbnation, where he is often Number 1 in “Folk” for the Boston Region.
The Linden Tree Coffeehouse is located in the social hall of the Wakefield Lynnfield United Methodist Church, 273 Vernon Street in Wakefield. There is a parking lot behind the church and it is handicapped accessible. The show begins at 7:30 pm, doors open at 7:00. Homemade baked goods and beverages are available. Tickets are $25 (those under 18 $10) Pay cash or check at the door. Reservations: for preferential seating. 978- 326 7905. www.LindenTreeCoffeehouse.org

Mark Stepakoff
2025-04-06 14:00 - 17:00 | Lakeview Houseconcert Series, Sharon MA, Sharon, MA, United States
RSVP to info@lakeviewhouseconcerts.org to reserve a seat. You must get an invitation email from me to attend.
For more info about him see www.markstepakoff.com/
Call 508 528 0026 for questions leave a message.
$25 suggested donation in the tip jar but payment is optional. 100% of the donations go directly to the artists. There are no tickets, but please RSVP so I know how many will be here. Join us at 1PM here for a potluck lunch. Bring a dish, we supply drinks and ice cream.
Mark is someone I have known about for a long time but just recently met. I am very excited we were able to present him here in Sharon.
REVIEWS
“Singer-songwriter-guitarist Mark Stepakoff is no stranger to the pages of Metronome Magazine. A well known local folk and roots tactician that’s been the recipient of many music and folk awards, Stepakoff is known for his humorous material and light-hearted ballads.
For his latest offering, The Sound of That, Mark delivers a collection of songs that are stamped with his trademark lyrics and playing. Just listen to his songs “We’ve Gotta Stop Meeting Like This”. “I Like The Sound Of That”, the Shel Silverstein cover “My Own Wikipedia Page” with clever new lyrics by Mark, and the upbeat “I Can’t Wait To Wake Up Tomorrow” and see if he can’t make a believer out of you. Good Stuff!” Metronome Magazine on “The Sound Of That”

John Henry’s Hammer Coffeehouse – Open Mic - Friday 4/11/2025
2025-04-11 18:30 - 21:30 | John Henry’s Hammer Coffeehouse, Worcester MA, 90 Main St, Worcester, MA, 01608, United States
Here are the usual IMPORTANT details for JHH Open Mic:
2nd and 4th Fridays (except when noted)
First Unitarian Church, 90 Main St, Worcester, MA
Doors open and performer sign-up at 6:30 p.m.
Performances begin @ 7 p.m.
10 minutes in the limelight- spoken word or music (usually two songs unless you choose to sing American Pie or some sea shanty with fifty verses). Duos or groups are considered one act and CANNOT sign up as single performers too. Wearing a fake moustache will NOT fool us. $3.00 admission for everybody. Performer or spectator. Payable to the lovely lady at the folding card table.
Refreshments & snacks (donation appreciated).
PLEASE enter State Street upper parking lot door. Handicap parking and accessibility at the other side of the church on Court Street by the Courthouse apartments. If you DO park on Court Street only park on the church side of the street or you could get towed. The parking meters on Main Street and State Street require money until 8:00 pm. The meter maids and dudes love to hand out tickets.
We are recording the performances. We intend on starting a NEW YouTube site in the future and would like to post selective performances. If you DO NOT want your video online please inform the JHH volunteer (Bob) recording with the smart phone at the center table.
Excellent alcohol-free venue for people from their teens and upward to perform in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.
Come to perform or just listen. The JHH crew is looking forward to seeing you! John Henry’s Hammer – It’s that traditional coffee house feel without the (cough!) cigarette smoke.

Brooks Williams
2025-04-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Bass Hall at Monadnock Center, Peterborough NH, 19 Grove St, Peterborough, NH, 03458, United States
QUOTES:
“A lovely player, a lovely singer and a great writer. The real thing.” (Martin Simpson)
“Surely one of the finest acoustic musicians in the UK!” (Kontra Concerts)

BIO:
Cambridge UK-based, Statesboro, Georgia US-born guitarist, singer and songwriter Brooks Williams is admired by both listeners and fellow musicians, and has been a leading light on the acoustic music scene for three decades. “He was playing Americana before it had been given the name” (CMP).
Brooks Williams’ guitar skills are evident as he effortlessly slides in and out of folk, blues and country. It comes as no surprise he is listed in the Top 100 Acoustic Guitarists.
He wraps that guitar playing around songs with rich narratives about gold prospectors, guitar players, motorcycle riders, golden palominos and ne’er-do-wells, and sings them with a voice you ‘melt into.’
Born in Statesboro, Georgia USA, Williams moved to Boston at the height of that city’s burgeoning singer-songwriter scene. In the early 1990s, he did his apprenticeship in the bars and clubs in New York and New England and cut his teeth supporting artists like Shawn Colvin, Chris Smither, Rory Block, Leo Kottke, Odetta, Billy Bragg and Taj Mahal.
His first album, North From Statesboro, caught the attention of The Washington Post and National Public Radio, which set the ball rolling and Williams never looked back. People took notice and acoustic music radio played him from the very beginning, including WUMB-FM in Boston, where Williams is one of their Top 100 Artists Of All-Time.
In subsequent years he has released a staggering 33 recordings in 34 years for labels like Green Linnet Records, Solid Air Records, Signature Sounds and Reveal, including Diamond Days, which At The Barrier calls a “stunning collection from chocolate-voiced, guitar maestro, Brooks Williams.”
Never one to shy away from the road, the list of venues and festivals Brooks Williams has played is staggering. Newport, Winnipeg, Cropredy, Cambridge, Philadelphia, are but a few of many.
Alongside his solo shows, Brooks Williams regularly performs with a host of fellow-musicians.
One such collaboration is his duo with fiddler Aaron Catlow. With three albums under their belt (Ghost Owl, short-listed 2021 Instrumental Album Of The Year, Ready For The Times, and Greens And Blues), AmericanaUK says the duo is “live music at its best.”
Over the years other collaborations include singer-songwriter Boo Hewerdine (they’ve recorded four albums under the name State Of The Union), banjoist Dan Walsh, singer Sloan Wainwright, bluesman Hans Theessink, and the late-great singer-songwriter Rab Noakes (with whom Williams recorded Should We Tell Him: Songs By Don Everly).
Brooks Williams is “quite simply one of the most unassuming, natural performers on the circuit, and his easy, relaxed manner conceals the greatest level of true expertise.” (Fatea)

Rachel Sumner and Traveling Light
2025-04-11 19:30 - 21:30 | Second Friday Concerts at First Church Belmont, 404 Concord Avenue, Belmont, 02478

Lisa Sheldon / Rick Drost - Split Bill - Concert
2025-04-12 19:00 - 21:15 | South Shore Folk Music Club, Duxbury MA, 842 Tremont St, Duxbury, MA, 02332, United States
Lisa Sheldon’s debut album Lost and Found, coming out in June, shows her gift for discovering something new in the familiar. She writes about the ‘wild ride’ of life with keen insight and playful humor, serving up truth with the wry wink of the eye. Her warm sound is always honest and compelling and her guitar skills are a delight. Lisa Sheldon will be joined by Richard Brech (Natural Born Fools) on percussion.
Songwriter Rick Drost, writes and sings songs with depth and heart, songs worth re-listening to, as they convey a long love of classical music, natural wonders and poetry. His writing took early inspiration from Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen; his recent influences include Vance Gilbert and David Wilcox. Rick’s CD ‘Turning the World’, which a reviewer called “a true folk album with a universal style,” charted on the Folk DJ list in its first month and continues to garner airplay from across America to New Zealand. You can learn more about Rick Drost at https://www.rickdrostsongs.com before we showcase him at South Shore Folk Music Club (SSFMC).

The Honey Badgers
2025-04-13 15:00 - 17:00 | Whale Cove House Concerts, Rockport MA, Rockport, MA, 01966, United States
This concert will be indoors at the hosts’ home in Rockport, Mass. and capacity will be limited to 30. The suggested contribution is $20, payable at the door by cash, check, or Venmo. Send email to info@whalecove.org to get more information or to request an invitation.
The Honey Badgers are a folk/Americana duo who are known for their intense, sparkling harmonies, their honest lyrics and melodies, and their undeniable onstage chemistry. Weaving their voices together with Michael’s driving guitar and Erin’s wistful violin, they spin stories and songs about finding yourself, finding each other, and finding your way in the world. They were voted #1 “Most Wanted” at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artist Showcase 2023 and recently won Susquehanna Folk Festival’s Emerging Artist Showcase 2024. Their new album “The Earth Turns and So Do We”, released 6/20/2024, was #15 on the July 2024 FAI Folk Radio Chart.

Roslindale Open Mike
2025-04-14 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-04-28 19:00 - 21:00 | Online
A semi-monthly virtual open mike sponsored by Roslindale Open Mike. Watch on YouTube.
Performers are welcome! Visit Roslindale Open Mike for more information.

Friday Folk Coffeehouse Presents the Cooke Family Singers on 4/18!
2025-04-18 19:30 - 21:30 | Friday Folk Coffeehouse, Dedham MA, 670 High St, Dedham, MA, 02026, United States
Friday Folk Coffeehouse at First Church Dedham
670 High Street, Dedham, MA
(781) 326-7463
Contact: Geoff Tegnell
First Church Friday Folk Coffeehouse presents its 8th concert of the 2024-2025 season featuring the Cooke Family Singers at First Church and Parish Dedham 670 High Street, Dedham on Friday, April 18, 2025 at 7:30 pm in the Auditorium. There will be refreshments for purchase. Tickets are $15 and are available online at Folk Coffeehouse | dedhamuu and at the door. Doors open at 7:00 pm.
The Cooke Family Singers is comprised of family members Frances, Ruth, and George, plus an ever-changing and unpredictable set of special guests that can range from their 8-year-old niece to lifelong musician friends. Their sets are constructed and tailored to each performance venue, so they can range from an intimate trio with acoustic guitar to a full band. Vocal duties rotate throughout the performance as our goal is a variety of styles and textures. Cooke Family Singers sets will feature George’s original songs, which tend to be humorous and slightly cynical takes on the foibles of our everyday lives. Some examples are the song “I Didn’t Know that You Owned This Road” about driving in Boston or “I’m Going to be a Park Ranger”, which is a wistful fantasy about a job change. Cooke Family Singers’ other songs are curated covers that feature Ruth and Frances’ tight harmonies and can range from Lake St. Dive to Johnny Cash to songs from the musical “Hamilton”. They perform at porch fests and other musical events in the Northeast. During the pandemic, the Singers did a biweekly series of online “hootenanny’s” that were broadcast on Facebook. The Cooke Family Singers felt it was a small way to try to build some sense of community during a very difficult time. They are looking forward to participating in the Friday Folk Coffeehouse Series on Fri, April 18, 2024. Their music can be found on George’s Bandcamp site: https://georgecooke.bandcamp.com/.
First Church and Parish Dedham Unitarian Universalist was first gathered in 1638 and is located in Dedham Center at 670 High Street. Its lively music program includes choir at Sunday services, the Parish Players theater troupe, and First Friday Jazz & Classical Concerts, in addition to our Friday Folk Coffeehouse events.

North Reading Community Coffeehouse April, 2025 Showcase
2025-04-19 18:30 - 21:30 | North Reading Community Coffeehouse, North Reading MA, 147 Park St, North Reading, MA, 01864, United States
The North Reading Community Coffeehouse is proud to present its April, 2025 Showcase. The performers are Jay “Singing Spirit” Cunningham, The Fretbenders featuring Dee and Bob Kordas, Chris Murray and Andrew Sexton. We have a group of very talented musicians this month with a nice variety of music which will make for a very entertaining show. Each performer will do about a 30 minute set.The event is free but donations will be gratefully accepted and we will be offering refreshments with all the proceeds going to the Friends of the Flint Memorial Library in North Reading with whom we will be doing these concerts in conjunction with, to help support the library.

The event will also be livestreamed on the North Reading Community Coffeehouse Facebook page and on the YouTube channel the following day!
We are located in the Activity Room of the Flint Memorial Library at 147 Park Street in North Reading. There is plenty of free parking. We start at 6:30. Please come, sit back, relax and listen to some terrific music! If you have any questions, please contact Art Grossman at NRCoffeehouse@gmail.com.

Tret Fure
2025-04-19 19:30 - 22:00 | New Moon Coffeehouse, Haverhill MA, 16 Ashland St, Haverhill, MA, 01830, United States
Seventeen albums and 50 years later, Tret still delivers songs of love in her vibrant style. A real winner!
New Moon concerts take place in the meeting room of the Haverhill UU Church at 15 Kenoza Avenue. Enter by the back door off the parking lot. Reserve seats at the New Moon website www.newmooncoffeehouse.org. Pay CASH ONLY when the doors open at 6:30. General admission. Building is wheelchair accessible. Save some cash for our famous homemade desserts. For more info, go to www.tretfure.com or call 617-327-0542

Danielle Miraglia - April 19, 2025
2025-04-19 19:30 - 22:00 | Rose Garden Coffeehouse, Mansfield MA, 17 West St, Mansfield, MA, 02048, United States
Showtime: 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 7.

Danielle Miraglia comes armed with a strong steady thumb on an old Gibson and an infectious stomp-box rhythm with tunes ranging from heart-felt to socially conscious that will move both your heart and hips. Her latest “Bright Shining Stars” debuted at #15 on the Billboard Blues Charts. Cascade Blues Association calls it “… tough as rawhide, but smooth as blended whiskey.” Released Oct 2020 with Vizztone Label Group, it’s a solo acoustic folk/blues record that highlights the one-woman-band live sound she’s honed over the years, featuring guest appearances by talented friends Laurence Scudder, Peter Parcek and Richard “Rosy” Rosenblatt. It includes originals as well as a collection of songs she’s been covering at live shows over the years, paying homage to influences like Big Bill Broonzy, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin and more, plus the title track “Bright Shining Stars,” written by her husband, Tom Bianchi.
“Americana and blues practitioner Danielle Miraglia wisely avoids fuss and clutter on her latest album, Bright Shining Stars. Fingerpicking and strumming on acoustic guitar are central to her sound, with percussion frequently provided by the infectious stomp of her foot. Three of the 11 tracks here are solo recordings, reinforcing a truism that the artist frequently has proven on Boston-area stages: A charming voice and fluid guitar prowess are all an artist needs to keep a listener rapt.” – Bobby Reed, Downbeat Magazine
“Straddling the line where folk/roots meets rock/blues, Miraglia has a voice that can go from a raspy come-hither purr to an Etta James-esque powerhouse belt, although she may be best known for her lead thumb — a heavy, thumping strike on her Gibson that’s backdrop percussion in itself.” – Lauren Daley – The Boston Globe
“Danielle Miraglia is like a musical butterfly who’s been granted unlimited creative metamorphoses. Even her musical chrysalis stage was a surprise emergence. Unlike so many Boston artists who attended one of the city’s many music schools, Miraglia went to Emerson College, graduating with a creative writing degree. Though she owned an acoustic guitar she seldom played anywhere but at home, she hadn’t given any thought to making a career as a singer-songwriter until one fateful night at the famous, now-defunct Kendall Cafe. She went to an open mic at the Kendall just to watch and absorb. It didn’t take long for it to register with her: “I thought, ‘That’s what I want to do: Get on stage to do my storytelling that way.’” Voila!
Her evolution as a songwriter and performer since then has been remarkable. She quickly won great acclaim and a faithful national and regional following after beginning as a “folk-blues” picker, and it’s a persona she still skillfully embraces in solo shows, but to hear her musical storytelling with such a fine backing band as the satirically named Glory Junkies (Laurence Scudder, viola; Erik White, guitar; Chris Anzalone, drums; and Jim Larkin, bass) is an entirely different dimension. That soul of a creative writer thrives in a vast range of musical styles. Danielle now rocks an electric guitar with equal aplomb, and all with a rocking and soulful energy that pays homage to top influences such as Janis Joplin, Prince and the Stones. No matter how Danielle Miraglia’s stories unfold on stage, they are a joy to hear.
She and the Glory Junkies wowed the sellout crowd during their live-stream taping at the Fallout Shelter, playing tunes from the band’s second album, “All My Heroes Are Ghosts ” — now billed under the moniker “Danielle M & the Glory Junkies (sparing DJs the quandary of the pronunciation of her last name). Those stories she dreamt of telling musically on stage are now like butterflies of their own.” – Nate Dow – https://asheardhere.com/
“Danielle is a dynamic and captivating musician; her rich soulful voice and blues guitar mastery resonate in a performance both rare and unforgettable.”
– Paul Patchel, State Street Blues Festival – Media, PA
“The genius of Glory Junkies is that Miraglia successfully pokes fun at a proverbial “selfie nation,” while also fully owning that tendency. Glory Junkies offers up deeply narrative lyricism and carefully crafted compositions…Glory Junkies boasts a song about reality TV, and one (the title track) that pokes fun at immortalizing one’s own image. Others stray into more personal territory, hitting close to home on Miraglia’s family dynamic, but the concept of the album remains a mainstay throughout.” – Liz Rowley, BestNewBands
Danielle has toured and played major venues across the United States and beyond, shining in both the Folk and Blues circuits including New York State Blues Festival, New Bedford Summerfest, The Narrows Center for the Arts (Fall River, MA), The Birchmere (Alexandria, VA), The Ramshead (Annapolis, MD), Sellersville Theater (Sellersville, PA) and the list goes on….
She has opened for Buddy Guy, George Thorogood, Joan Osborne, John Oates, Colin Hay, John Mayall, Johnny Winter, Bettye Lavette, John Hammond Jr., Sonny Landreth, Robert Cray, Rodney Crowell and performed side stages at events with The Black Crowes, Mary J Blige, The Indigo Girls and many more.

John Henry’s Hammer Coffeehouse – Open Mic - Friday 4/25/2025
2025-04-25 18:30 - 21:30 | John Henry’s Hammer Coffeehouse, Worcester MA, 90 Main St, Worcester, MA, 01608, United States

Jon Pousette-Dart Acoustic Duo
2025-04-25 20:00 - 22:00 | Me&Thee, Marblehead MA, 28 Mugford St, Marblehead, MA, 01945, United States
Jon Pousette-Dart, best known as an American Classic and Folk Rock songwriter, musician, and performing artist, returns to the Me&Thee on Friday, April 25 at 8pm. Growing up in Suffern, NY in a household of artists (including his father, grandfather, and sister), he separated himself by picking up a guitar at the age of 10 and mapping out a life in music before he ever attended a little league game. Since then, it’s been a long and well-traveled road in the world of music.

Laurie MacAllister of Red Molly
2025-04-26 19:00 - 21:00 | Bass Hall at Monadnock Center, Peterborough NH, 19 Grove St, Peterborough, NH, 03458, United States
We are thrilled to bring Laurie MacAllister, of Red Molly, to Peterborough on her 1st solo tour.
QUOTES
“Is Laurie MacAllister seeking perfection? Whether she is or not, her latest album “The Lies the Poets Tell” is defining—a curated collection of songs packed with emotional vibrancy.”
-Mary Sue Twohy, Program Director, SiriusXM Satellite Radio
“Ms. MacAllister wholly inhabits these songs [on her album “The Things I Choose to Do”]. In each, as subtly as a chameleon, she convincingly takes on the persona’s skin. Her commitment to the magic of this material has her, quite simply, singing her heart out.”
-Barnes & Noble
BIO
In 2024, Laurie MacAllister launched her solo career with a sold-out show at legendary Club Passim. Two decades before, she co-founded the beloved Americana trio Red Molly, touring the US and abroad for 16 years, including appearances at MerleFest, Cayamo, and Boston Symphony Hall. Along the way, Laurie was tapped to sing the iconic Folgers Coffee jingle in a national TV commercial. Her 2018 self-produced solo album “The Lies the Poets Tell” was hailed by SiriusXM as “Defining. A curated collection packed with emotional vibrancy.” Laurie’s Solo Debut Tour 2025 includes headlining shows throughout the Northeast.
Laurie MacAllister held a quiet dream of being a singer since she was a very young girl. Her voice finally came alive years later when, on a dare, she was convinced to sing spontaneously for a crowd in New York City, in Washington Square Park. A career began in that very moment. Laurie began with a steady stream of nights on open mic stages around NYC, and then landed a regular Monday night gig at the The Grey Dog’s Coffee in the West Village. She released her first album of ten original songs called “These Old Clothes” soon afterward. In 2000, she discovered a passion for harmony singing while touring the country with folk luminary Cliff Eberhardt. Eberhardt produced Laurie’s next solo album, “The Things I Choose To Do”, which was first released independently, and then picked up by Barnes & Noble and re-released on their label.
In 2004, at a campsite at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Laurie began making music with her campmates, weaving their voices together in harmony. In an impromptu and magical moment, the Americana trio Red Molly was born. With a focus on beautiful songs, soaring harmonies, and a deep relationship with their fans (who dubbed themselves RedHeads), the band quickly became the darlings of the folk/Americana scene. Prior to the 2020 pandemic, Red Molly shared their voices around the country—and the world—for 16 years, playing 100 shows annually in front of thousands of fans, frequently selling out venues, and releasing seven acclaimed albums.
Along the way, in 2010, Laurie’s voice was featured in a national television commercial for Folgers Coffee.
In 2018, Laurie produced and released a new solo album called “The Lies the Poets Tell”, a collection of some her most beloved songs. The album features duets with six male vocalists, including the late Americana master Jimmy LaFave. Laurie has composed and sung harmony parts on dozens of recordings, including those by Cliff Eberhardt, Susan Werner, and Ellis Paul.
She’s also taught singing and stage performance around the country, including at the Swannanoa Gathering, Folk Alliance International, Targhee Music Camp, and the New England Songwriters Retreat.
In May 2024, Laurie happily announced the next big leap forward in her life as a singer and entertainer—headlining solo shows! Kicking it off in style, her debut solo concert will take place at legendary folk music venue Club Passim, on November 16 in Cambridge MA.
Laurie’s powerful yet delicate voice stretches octaves, warm and romantic one moment, playful and irreverent the next. One song at a time, one show at a time, over the course of more than two adventuresome decades, Laurie has turned her quiet dream into a joyous reality.
https://www.lauriemacallister.net/about

Christine Lavin
2025-04-26 19:30 - 21:30 | New Song, Bedford MA, 10 Mudge Way, Bedford, MA, 01730, United States
Called “wildly entertaining” by The New Yorker, “the unsung heroine of the latter-day folk movement” by Janis Ian and “a fresh kick in the pants!” by the late Paul Newman, Christine Lavin performs throughout the US, Canada and beyond. She is known for her sense of humor and her songs range from poignant observations about love, history and science to gentle mocking of cultural trends. She has won five ASCAP Composer Awards, The Kate Wolf Memorial Award, and Album of The Year from the National Association of Independent Record Distributors. Her 26th solo album, Drum School Droput, will be released later this year.

Deidre McCalla and Joe Jencks
2025-04-26 19:30 - 22:00 | Old Sloop Presents, Rockport MA, 12 School St, Rockport, MA, 01966, United States
Advance tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for those age 18 and under. Visit oldslooppresents.org, John Tarr Store in Rockport, or The Bookstore of Gloucester. The suggested contribution at the door is $25 for adults, $5 for those age 18 and under, and $50 for families.
Tickets and more information
Deidre McCalla – a Black woman, mother, lesbian, feminist – has long been in the forefront of Black musicians expanding the understanding of how Black folk can do folk. She learned at an early age that life begins with an acoustic guitar, and her songwriting reveals an unyieldingly honest perspective expressed with a lyric touch that relentlessly celebrates the power and diversity of the human spirit.
Sing Out! praises Deidre as one of our generation’s most important singer-songwriters and The Austin-American Statesmen describes her as a highly distinctive voice in a crowded field of contemporary folk music. With five independent albums to her credit, Deidre McCalla has touched audiences from Maui to Maine, church basements and college coffeehouses to Carnegie Hall.In 2023 Deidre’s song Shoulder To The Wheel won the 19th Annual International Acoustic Music Award for Best Folk/Americana/Roots song.
Joe Jencks is an 25-year veteran of the international folk circuit, an award-winning songwriter, and celebrated vocalist based in Chicago. Merging conservatory training with his Irish roots and working-class upbringing, Joe delivers engaged musical narratives filled with heart, soul, groove and grit. Having penned several #1 Folksongs including the ever-relevant Lady of The Harbor, Jencks was also co-founder of the harmony trio, Brother Sun. From Festivals like Falcon Ridge, Kerrville, Mariposa, and Old Songs, to venues like Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, Jencks has enthralled diverse audiences with his approachable style. Joe is noted for his unique merging of musical beauty, social consciousness, and spiritual exploration. Blending well-crafted instrumentals and vivid songwriting, Jencks serves it all up with a lyric baritone voice that has the edgy richness of a good sea-salt caramel.
“The spirit of Folk music is people working together. Joe is a fantastic singer who carries on the traditions.” ~ Pete Seeger

Progressive folk duo Aaron Nathans and Michael G. Ronstadt in Wakefield
2025-04-27 14:00 - 16:30 | Temple Emmanuel, 120 Chestnut St, Wakefield, MA, 01880, United States
Linden Tree Concerts with Temple Emmanuel presents
Aaron Nathans and Michael G. Ronstadt in concert, Progressive Folk. SUNDAY, April 27th at 2 pm
NOTE ADDRESS: 120 Chestnut St. Wakefield, MA 01880
Linden Tree Concerts with Temple Emmanuel of Wakefield invite area folks to hear live in person the folk duo. Aaron Nathans and Michael G. Ronstadt on Sunday afternoon at 2 pm on April 27th. The concert will be held at Temple Emmanuel at 120 Chestnut St. Wakefield, MA 01880, a wonderful chance to experience their music in a small intimate setting.
Cello-guitar songwriting duo Aaron Nathans & Michael G. Ronstadt never lose their capacity to surprise. This progressive folk act combines uninhibited musical creativity and mastery with accessible story songs and an oddball sense of humor. Audiences will see and hear things done with a cello they never thought possible, meandering stories as captivating as the music, and hook-filled story songs that you’ll remember long after the lights come up. Guitarist/vocalist Nathans, from the Philadelphia area, is an award-winning leader in the Philly songwriting community. Cellist/vocalist Ronstadt, nephew of Linda Ronstadt, is a Cincinnati-based cello bandleader, teacher, touring artist, and much in-demand studio sideman.
Guitarist/vocalist Aaron Nathans, from the Philadelphia area, is an award-winning leader in the Philly songwriting community. Aaron Nathans is a Philadelphia-based alternative folk music singer, songwriter and recording artist with a distinct sound, due in large part to a combination of rhythmic acoustic guitar, wide-ranging baritone vocals and beautiful melodies that you won’t soon forget. When pairing that with talented songwriting that touches on everyday life and easily connects with audiences, you’ll see why Aaron is someone you won’t want to miss.
Aaron, a 2024 Kerrville New Folk Finalist, has a unique brand of storytelling. He writes about things no one else has written about before—like a song about male bonding between a guy and his barber. Or the onslaught of the outside world upon a new parent. Surely somebody’s written that song, right? Ok, find it.
Aaron describes his songs as, “wild-mind, bittersweet acoustic music.” This doesn’t mean somber. It means you’re in for a treat whether you’re watching Aaron at a live show or tuning in to his extensive Spotify and YouTube playlists. He creates an unforgettable listening experience that keeps audiences on the edge of their seat.
Cellist/vocalist Ronstadt, nephew of Linda Ronstadt, is a Cincinnati-based cello bandleader, teacher, songwriter, and touring artist. Musician Michael G. Ronstadt has traversed a wide range of musical styles from singer-songwriter, folk, jazz, classical, Americana to new age. Ronstadt displays genre-blending explorations on cello and guitar in complement to thought-provoking lyrics, as well as instrumental work. In addition to his solo and group recordings with Ronstadt Brothers, Trotta & Ronstadt, Serenity Fisher & The Cardboard Hearts, Aaron Nathans & Michael G. Ronstadt, he is a much sought-after studio musician, who has appeared on more than 200 albums in the last 20 years. Michael has recorded in studios across the United States, Germany, & North Wales (UK). He has appeared in performances at numerous folk festivals.
Hello World! Their recent recording is nothing like anything you have heard. Aaron & Michael transport us out of these uncertain times and into stories of the past and future, building a dream world on a foundation of lush cellos and otherworldly acoustic stringed instruments.
This collection of songs reflects a changed world and a closer focus on the things that matter: Kindness. Empathy. Appreciating the simple pleasures of life. Reinventing ourselves. And preserving our stories during our short time here on earth.
“The duo never disappoints. Everything is well-disciplined & engaging. There’s salt & there’s sugar… Entertaining? Absolutely.” – Americana Highways
To reserve tickets, call Temple Emmanuel at 781-245-1886 and select option 5. Tickets for adults $25 and under 18 $10. Cash or check will be accepted at the door. Doors open at 1:30, show will begin at 2. Temple is wheelchair accessible.
Temple Emmanuel is located at 120 Chestnut St. Wakefield, MA 01880. WakefieldTemple.org. All are welcome, a community event.

Heather Maloney
2025-05-02 20:00 - 22:00 | Me&Thee, Marblehead MA, 28 Mugford St, Marblehead, MA, 01945, United States
Massachusetts-based “writer song-singer” Heather Maloney headlines at the Me&Thee on Friday, May 2 at 8pm. Maloney found music in the midst of three years at a meditation center, honing a sound moored in days of silent reflection and reverence for storytellers like Joni, Rilke, Ken Burns, and the anonymous authors of Zen parables. While she eventually traded the quiet, structured life of a yogi for the kinetic life of a touring musician, the core of her songwriting has remained centered around the same curiosity about our inner world and the desire to articulate it through storytelling.

The Cadleys at Harmony on the Green in Lexington (singer-songwriter Mel opening)
2025-05-03 07:30 - 21:30 | Harmony on the Green Coffeehouse Lexington MA, 1912 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA, United States
The Cadleys will close out Harmony on the Green’s third season. They have entertained audiences throughout Upstate New York and New England with their powerful mix of traditional bluegrass and “new acoustic” a la Alison Krauss. They offer live performances with hair-raising harmony singing, and virtuoso musicianship.
Mel is a singer-songwriter creates music steeped with soul and rock ’n roll. Her singing is reminiscent of Miranda Lambert, Bonnie Raitt, and Stevie Nicks. Her healing voice & poetic lyrical work has been praised by audiences. Mel has done collaborations with electronic producers that have been likened to the stylings of Maggie Rogers. She has shared stages with Matt Hartke (a Billboard Top 40 Platinum-Selling Songwriter), Troy Ramey and more.
Harmony on the Green has free parking, including ADA parking in our back lot. Our building is accessible from our front door with an elevator up to our Clark Hall to your left as you enter. We have single user accessible bathrooms. Light refreshments are served in our intimate hall. Tickets are $25 or pay-what-you-can, and will be available at the door, and on our website closer to concert date.
