The Cambridge Historical Society and the New England Folk Music Archives announce an evening of conversation and music at the Cambridge Historical Society, November 21, 2013.
At 6:00pm, a lively conversation between former WUMB program director Brian Quinn and Lorraine and Bennett Hammond will discuss and explore the rich history of folk music around the greater Boston area. This conversation will be recorded and deposited into The New England Folk Music Archives’ growing oral history collection.
Following the conversation, Lorraine and Bennett will perform traditional and original compositions on guitar, dulcimer, and harp, drawing on a long folk tradition.
Suggested donation for this event is $10 at the door, however additional support would be greatly appreciated to help the Cambridge Historical Society and The New England Folk Music Archives continue their important work in the community.
Lorraine and Bennett Hammond play and sing in perfect complement: blending their instruments with consummate skill, they create a new voice for music that ranges in style from classical through Celtic, blues and contemporary. The joy they take in their music is contagious, and their flair for tailoring their selection of songs and tunes for individual audiences lends a lively freshness to each performance.
Brian Quinn spent over 20 years managing all aspects of public radio station WUMB in Boston, recognized as the nation’s premiere station for folk and acoustic music. For most of these years he served as the station’s program director. Brian also was instrumental in planning and overseeing the annual Boston Folk Festival, which annually drew thousands of participants to the University of Massachusetts. He has several years of experience producing events on The Boston Common, Copley Square, Sanders Theater and The Somerville Theater.
•The Cambridge Historical Society
Venue Address: 159 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA 02138
Venue Web Site: http://www.cambridgehistory.org/
Cambridge Historical Society Phone: (617) 547-4252
The New England Folk Music Archives
Promoter Address: 319 Hurley St. #3, Cambridge, MA 02141
Promoter Website: http://www.newenglandfolkmusic.org
Info Phone: 508-789-7611 (Brian Quinn)
Time Line
5:30 pm Doors open
6:00 Oral History with Lorraine and Bennett Hammond
7:00 Concert
Lorraine and Bennett Hammond
A Tribute to Todd Rundgren, Gary Backstrom’s Road to Utopia, comes to the Regent Theatre, 7 Medford Street, Arlington, MA on Friday, June 7, at 8 pm. Tickets here.
Todd Rundgren
Considered by many to be the “Ultimate Rock Cult Hero” Todd Rundgren has maintained a legion of fans through four decades. Todd’s searing guitar work reached a nationwide audience in his role as lead guitarist for the blues-psychedelic band Nazz. He wrote and arranged almost all of the work that went into the three albums the group produced.
His first big solo success was in 1971 with “We Gotta Get You a Woman” and in 1973 from the double album “Something/Anything?” He scored big on the charts with “I Saw the Light” and a revision of a Nazz song, “Hello, It’s Me.”
Rundgren has scored huge as a music producer, most notably on Meat Loaf’s “Bat Out of Hell” opus. In the late 1970s and through the 1980s Todd formed the group Utopia, each member an accomplished musician and vocalist. He has also been called on by films and TV for his musical scores and sometimes tours with Ringo Starr as a member of his All-Star Band.
Gary Backstrom
Gary is the founder and frontman of the acclaimed Jam Band “Jiggle The Handle.” The Gary Backstrom Band is a Boston-based Band that mixes Soul, R&B, Funk, Rock and Latin grooves blended into a unique sound. Their sound features exciting, unpredictable improvisation that can only be heard in the best live acts on the scene today. Gary is considered “one of the most underrated, fluid, and melodic players in the Northeast.”
Some of the proceeds from this concert will go to
The project brings personalized iPods to people living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, helping them reconnect with the world through the music they love.
This will be a quite the night for a great cause.
“Piano Men – The Music of Elton and Billy” is a tribute featuring the amazing songs of Billy Joel and Elton John. This concert experience features Joe Boucher on piano and vocals, combined with a four-piece band and a stringed quartet section. With spectacular arrangements by Chris Eastburn, these songs have rarely been performed live in this way!
The music of “Piano Men” concentrates heavily on recordings by Elton and Billy during their 70s heyday when their many hit albums featured lush orchestrations. The concert works its way through #1 hits including Tiny Dancer, Scenes From an Italian Restaurant, Your Song, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Piano Man, and MANY more!
About Joe Boucher
Joe grew up in the quaint seaside village of Biddeford Maine on the New England coast. He is a singer and songwriter who, for eight years, fronted the power pop band Frotus Caper. They recorded and released four critically acclaimed albums while performing constantly. Throughout that time he worked regularly as a studio session musician, playing piano and arranging pop, rock and folk songs for many artists. For fifteen seasons Joe has acted as the Concert Manager for The Portland Symphony Orchestra.
What They Are Saying:
“This show masterfully blends the hits of Billy Joel and Elton John with the sophistication and energy of a full orchestra. You must not miss the opportunity to experience Piano Men!!!!”
Suzanne Nance, WFMT – Chicago
“Piano Men is a wonderful, surefire hit. Joe Boucher’s first rate singing and playing of these classic and ever-popular songs is brilliant. Backed up by Chris Eastburn’s masterful lush orchestrations, Billy and Elton’s classic songs sounded better than ever. This show really connects and resonates with the audience.”
Robert Lehmann, Conductor, North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra
Joe Boucher
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Presented by Patio Records
Laurie Young (vocals, trumpet) brings the role of the goddess to the forefront and co-fronts the band
Joe Donnelly (drums) of the Del Fuegos, Swinging Steaks, and Wall of Grass
Pat Dreier (Keyboards, vocals) of the Lines and the Drive
Dave Weden (guitar/banjo) and Clayton Young (bass, vocals) of John Cate and the Van Gough Brothers
Dennis Semprebon (drums and percussion) of Craig Carter and the Hurricanes
Brad Kohl (saxophone) of Hot Acoustics and Group Therapy
Presenting the Reunion Tour of “On A Winter’s Night” from veteran singer-songwriters that 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 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).
On A Winter’s Night
“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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