Karla Bonoff has been described as one of the finest singer/songwriters of her generation. That description is not hyperbole. Bonoff has enjoyed critical acclaim, commercial success, enduring popularity, and the unwavering respect of her peers. Karla has seen her songs become hits for Bonnie Raitt, Wynonna Judd, and Linda Ronstadt. Many of Bonoff’s ballads are classics. Karla has continued to record and tour extensively, playing sold-out shows worldwide.
Hearing Karla’s moving vocals on her rich, expressive songs is like standing beneath a sparkling waterfall–refreshing, exhilarating, and restorative. Experiencing them live can be transformative. Fans and critics agree that Bonoff’s songs, as are her recordings, are timeless. Many prefer her versions, live with instrumentation that is clean and spare, giving Bonoff’s voice room to work its emotional magic.
“Long before Alanis and Jewel, there was a breed of singer/songwriters whose earthly anthems of soul-searching, heartache and joy touched souls in a way few can muster today. Billboard Magazine.
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Barry Goudreau, formerly of Boston, recently announced the release of his new CD, “The Road” from his band Barry Goudreau’s Engine Room. Barry’s blues/rock ensemble includes his former RTZ bandmates Brian Maes on lead vocals and keyboards, as well as Tim Archibald on bass. Both Maes and Archibald were members of Peter Wolf’s House Party Five, playing on two of his records and touring the world extensively. The band is rounded out with “Old” Tony DePietro on drums and Mary Beth Maes, Terri O’Soro and Joanie Cicatelli on background vocals. Expect some favorites like “Smokin” and “Long Time” in their live set, alongside songs from the new CD as well as tracks from “Full Steam Ahead”, the 2017 release from Barry Goudreau’s Engine Room.
Join us on Saturday, October 5th from Noon – 6pm on Coddington Street from Quincy High School to Thomas Crane Public Library and at the Coddington Building for our Food Truck & Music Festival!
Piano Men, The Music of Elton John & Billy Joel. Joe Boucher and Chris Eastburn are proud to present a truly dynamic and highly acclaimed concert that combines a four-piece classic rock band featuring Joe on piano/vocals backed by a string quartet led by Chris.
The performance is a tribute to the exhilarating music of Elton John and Billy Joel…and the concert could be unlike any you’ve seen before! It will combine a five-piece rock band featuring Joe Boucher on the piano singing lead vocal, backed by a four-piece string orchestra section arranged by Christopher Eastburn.
The music of “Piano Men” concentrates heavily on the recordings by John and Joel during their 1970’s heyday, when their many hit albums featured lush orchestrations. The concert opens with Billy Joel’s thrilling Prelude / Angry Young Man and works its way through a veritable hit parade alternating songs between the two composers.
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Barry Goudreau, formerly of Boston, recently announced the release of his new CD, “The Road” from his band Barry Goudreau’s Engine Room. Barry’s blues/rock ensemble includes his former RTZ bandmates Brian Maes on lead vocals and keyboards, as well as Tim Archibald on bass. Both Maes and Archibald were members of Peter Wolf’s House Party Five, playing on two of his records and touring the world extensively. The band is rounded out with “Old” Tony DePietro on drums and Mary Beth Maes, Terri O’Soro and Joanie Cicatelli on background vocals. Expect some favorites like “Smokin” and “Long Time” in their live set, alongside songs from the new CD as well as tracks from “Full Steam Ahead”, the 2017 release from Barry Goudreau’s Engine Room.
Divas with a Twist is a group of five powerful female vocalists backed by Grammy-nominated musicians. They’ll perform classic holiday songs with fresh new arrangements and harmonies. Get in the holiday spirit with selections including a rocking “Drummer Boy,” “Do You Hear What I Hear,” Aerosmith’s “Rocking on Top of the World” from The Polar Express, “O Holy Night,” a beautiful a cappella version of “Have Yourself a Very Merry Christmas,” and some of their regular rock songs that you’ll recognize! Don’t miss out on this rocking holiday show!
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Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin were best of friends, some would even say brothers. The fact that they were two of the biggest stars of the 20th century was beside the point. One For the Road pays homage to these “brothers” and to a bygone era of swagger and living life to excess.
Patrick Tobin and Jimmy Mazz come together to bring you the ultra cool personalities of “The Chairman Of The Board”, and “The King Of Cool.” Patrick’s look and sound of Sinatra is amplified as he belts out hit after hit while his dry wit is sure to strike your funny bone. Jimmy portrays Dean’s signature look, swagger and smooth vocal style as he sings the hits while delivering the one-liners and jokes that made Dean a phenomena.
In addition to Sinatra and Martin classics, the show will sprinkle in holiday favorites, like “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Happy Holidays,” “Let It Snow,” “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” “The Christmas Waltz,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “Jingle Bells,” “White Christmas,” and many more!
Together these two bring back old Vegas, with a new twist or two as they’re sure to wow you with their wit and classic style entertainment.
Ring a ding ding baby!
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Ash & Eric, a married duo from Worcester, are known for their genuine storytelling through music. Their songs navigate the intricacies of love, capturing both its triumphs and tribulations. Their album, “Sure,” touches on love’s dynamics, offering both solace and reflection. Having been a team since 2012, their knack for transforming life’s challenges into lyrical narratives stands out. Their beautiful harmonies, acoustic guitar work, and warm stage presence have led them to perform alongside folk stalwarts like Livingston Taylor and Mark Erelli. Their latest album, “Sure,” was entirely produced by Eric, and a visual album based on “Sure,” called “A Song for Every Sadness,” was released June 2024.
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Mike Laureanno hails from Fall River, MA an old mill-town infamous for its axe wielding resident Lizzie Borden and famous for its chow mein sandwiches and pork pies.
A passionate performer, Mike’s songs are visceral and evocative. He is proud of his roots and many of his songs deal with his gritty blue collar hometown and the lives of his family and friends. He is a winner of the 2017 Wildflower, TX songwriting contest, the 2016 Woody Guthrie songwriting contest and a 2016 Kerrville New Folk, TX finalist.
Mike is also a skilled recording engineer, producer and veteran sideman. He produced and recorded all of his albums in his home studio and he served twelve years as the bass player for the legendary New York City FAST FOLK Musical Magazine founder, Jack Hardy.
Mike has released four albums to date, Pushing Back Wintertime (2013), Road Signs (2015), Tightrope (2017) and I come from Fall River (2021)
Bristol-RI-based singer-songwriter Michelle Saylors was raised on a 30-acre farm in bible-belt Tennessee. Early musical inspirations include country, bluegrass-gospel, folk and Memphis blues. Michelle performed bluegrass music in the early 90s at festivals such as Lester Flat Bluegrass Festival and the Country Showdown. Michelle moved to New England in 1998 and landed in Rhode Island in 2009 where she became involved in the Rhode Island Songwriters Association. Michelle played at the Bluebird Café in Nashville at Songwriters open mics on several occasions. Michelle performed at the Providence Folk Festival in 2014 and the Rhode Island Folk Festival in 2022.
In July of 2024, Michelle released her solo debut album titled “Hit the Creek” which features 10 original songs written solely by Michelle. The album has been well-received by fans and continues to gain momentum on streaming platforms nationally and recently hit the UK. Her songwriting is rooted both physically and metaphorically by the space and distance between small town Tennessee and coastal New England. Michelle is currently working on her second album. She identifies her musical style as Nashville blues-country/bluegrass/folk.
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Presenting the Reunion Tour of “On A Winter’s Night” from veteran singer-songwriters who remain among the brightest stars of the singer/songwriter movement for the past three decades. In 1994, Christine Lavin gathered them together, along with folk and Americana artists, to showcase the music of the Winter Season on the now-classic On A Winter’s Night CD, followed by several years of touring collaborations. These artists have released dozens of recordings and toured steadily through the decades, with fond memories of their touring days together. The winter season is again celebrated by these unique and popular performers, back together by popular demand.
One of the most original songsmiths currently on tour, Eberhardt is a highly intelligent, articulate artist whose penetrating and profound lyrics are sometimes overshadowed by his extraordinary guitar playing. Upon close listening, the Philadelphia-born singer’s gift for the English language is abundantly clear. The words that tumble from his mouth are framed by a raspy yet deeply elegant voice. Like John Hammond and Richie Havens, Eberhardt continues to carry the torch for traditional and contemporary folk music through his strong live shows. Whether he’s out on tour solo or with a small band, Eberhardt’s guitar playing, singing, and original folk songs and blues make for a compelling, thought-filled, emotional roller coaster of a concert.
Hailed by Rolling Stone as “the leading singer/songwriter of the New Folk movement,” John Gorka is perhaps the quintessential singer-songwriter of the 90’s folk scene. Originally from New Jersey, John served an apprenticeship at Godfrey Daniels coffeehouse in Bethlehem, PA, then the Greenwich Village Fast Folk scene. Winning the prestigious New Folk award at the Kerrville Folk Festival, in 1984, he was then signed to Red House Records on which he released his landmark first of 17 recordings, I Know. Boston Globe penned Gorka “for the sophisticated intelligence and the provocative originality of his songs.” Recent accolades include 2016’s Indie Acoustic Project’s Best Singer/Songwriter CD of the Year for Before Beginning (Red House Records). 2018 brought his latest release, and 14th of his career, True In Time (Compass Records). True In Time (Compass Records).
“A truly gifted performer…full of enchanting songs” (New York Times). Blending country, folk and pop styles, Lucy has the unique ability to make every song sound fresh, whether singing her own sweet originals, covering country classics by June Carter Cash and Gram Parsons, or singing pop favorites by Lennon/McCartney and Nick Lowe. Lucy’s iconic voice has been featured in film and on television, including commercials like Chevrolet’s iconic “Heartbeat of America” jingle. A Billboard-charting singer and one of the top-selling artists on Red House Records, she has topped the folk and Americana radio charts and has been featured on shows throughout the world from NPR’s Weekend and Morning Editions to BBC Radio to CBS Sunday Morning. One of the most in-demand harmony singers, Lucy has sung on countless records, performing with Suzanne Vega, Bryan Ferry, Nanci Griffith, and Shawn Colvin.
She redefines the boundaries of folk-urban pop music with her inventive guitar wizardry and uncompromising lyrics and vocals. Acoustic Guitar Magazine hails her, “soundscape experiments” while Rolling Stone praises her, “evocative and sonic shading.” She has been described as, “riveting” (Chicago Tribune), “hypnotic” (Entertainment Weekly), and a “drop-dead brilliant” performer (Performing Songwriter). Recently an Artist-in-Residence at Berklee College of Music – and now on the faculty at Fine Arts Work Center – Larkin reflects, “I have been energized by the poets, writers, and artists I have met while teaching, and find myself on a journey to break down some of the predictable pathways that songs can travel.” Bird in a Cage, her 14th CD now available, puts poems from ten notable poets to song, including US Poet Laureates William Carlos Williams, Stanley Kunitz, Kay Ryan, Robert Pinsky, and Billy Collins, for a new and haunting collection that pulses with the magic of lyricism. Poems are made to be shared aloud, and with Bird, Patty takes up that tradition and sets it aglow.
You’ll undoubtedly be warm On This Winter’s Night.
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The Folk Collective, normally at Club at Passim in Cambridge, MA, is an initiative focused on empowering diverse folk artists across New England by using music as a catalyst for community impact and social change. The Collective operates on a two-year, cohort-based model, specifically designed to address the unique challenges faced by underrepresented artists in the folk music scene. Through this model, participants receive performance opportunities, mentorship, and collaborative space, all aimed at helping them cultivate sustainable, creative careers.
The Collective serves not only the artists themselves but also the wider New England community by broadening the reach of folk music and making it more accessible. Success for the Folk Collective is measured through various metrics, including audience attendance, diversity of participants, engagement levels at events, social media interactions, and feedback from artists and the community. Partners supporting the initiative include institutions like Berklee College of Music, the Cambridge Arts Council, and the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation, among others.
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