CHRIS MCDERMOTT
guitar player, songwriter, singer

www.chrismcdermott.com

Currently celebrating the long awaited release of his fifth CD “RADIO GHOSTS”. Chris has been playing regularly in Europe and the U.S for over sixteen years promoting his own original music as well as backing some of the world’s greatest Blues artists (Carrie Belle,Eddie Kirkland,Nappy Brown, Hubert Sumlin, Zorah Young, Marva Wright, among others). This CD represents the maturity of an American guitar player songwriter singer who has spent much time absorbing the music
of his travels.As always, Chris’ live performances are what it is all about showcasing masterful musicianship, fire, funk, and fun.

KATRIN
acoustic guitar and vocals

www.katrinrocks.com

Katrin takes original acoustic-based rock to new and exciting places. Her skillful guitar work and powerful voice make Katrin shine wherever she appears. Katrin uses many different guitar tunings that weave her voice and music into a lush tapestry. Her diverse background, playing with different bands and as a solo artist has given her great command of the stage. Katrin's performances are riveting, with nothing but her acoustic guitar and a voice that will send shivers up your spine.

Brendan Carey Block

Cape Breton Fiddler

Constantly in pursuit of the boundaries of the violin, and in turn pushing them as far as he can, Twenty-two year-old Brendan Carey Block (the 2000 - 2001 US National Junior Scottish Fiddle Champion) has been performing since the age of ten. His love for the traditional fiddle music of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia has had a huge part in crafting his current innovative and energetic sound which now incorporates Jazz and Rock elements as well as ideas from the many Celtic regions of the world. Brendan has toured and recorded with many great artists including the renowned Glengarry Boys and now plays with the new Boston- based band Annalivia, and his own duo project with guitarist Flynn Cohen.

Chris Mc Dermott & Brendan Carey Block

Acoustic Celtic Jazz

Guitarist songwriter singer producer, Chris Mc Dermott best known for his own recordings is collaborating with extraordinary Celtic Fiddler Brendan Carey Block for a night of acoustic music which promises to be a virtuosic alloy of Celtic improv mixed with songs currently featured on Mc Dermott's new release " Radio Ghosts". Brendan Carey Block's love for the traditional fiddle music of Cape Breton Island and Novia Scotia has a huge part in crafting his current innovative and energetic sound which now incorporates Jazz and Rock elements as well as ideas from the many Celtic regions of the world.
Chris Mc Dermott's live performances are what it is all about showcasing masterful musicanship, fire and fun.

Laurel Martin Traditional Irish Fiddler

Traditional Irish fiddle player Laurel Martin performs in a subtle, lyrical style reminiscent of the regional music of County Clare and East Galway, areas in western Ireland rich with musical history. Laurel’s deep affinity and love for the old regional fiddle styles of Ireland distinguish her both as a performer and as a teacher of traditional Irish music. She has engaged audiences throughout the United States and Ireland with lively jigs, reels, waltzes, and airs. Laurel learned her music from master fiddler Seamus Connolly with whom she studied from 1990 to 1993 under a Traditional Arts Apprenticeship grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Laurel teaches Irish fiddle at Boston College and has taught and performed at numerous festivals in the United States and in Ireland.
Laurel is currently celebrating the release of her new CD The Groves

Matt and Shannon Heaton

www.myspace.com/mattandshannonheaton

Their playing is masterful and inventive,
Their arrangements city-smart and spacious."
The Boston Globe

Matt and Shannon's shows feature stunning musicianship that honors the Irish tradition, an easy rapport with audiences, and a selection of music that you won't hear anywhere else. Their shows feature strong and lean acoustic music that leaps from one mood to the next, with a killer sense of time, bucket loads of emotion and plenty of fantastic stories from the road

Matt and Shannon met playing tunes in the irish traditional music hot bed of Chicago. Since then they have spent many nights playing sessions in the States and in Ireland and performing in festivals, concerts and clubs throughout America. This Boston-based husband-and-wife pair blend Irish traditional music with original songwriting. Matt's inventive guitar and bouzouki playing provides a rich framework for Shannon's timeless, evocative lyrics and her stunning Irish flute playing. Their masterfully-arranged songs move seamlessly from full harmony singing, to driving wood flute riffs, to lush guitar lines, creating a big, layered, modern sound.

Two Fiddles

Dudley Laufman

Jacqueline Laufman

Since 1986, Jacqueline and Dudley Laufman have been playing for dances as Two Fiddles. Prior to that, Dudley, who has been playing and calling dances for over fifty years, has been the leader of the Canterbury Country Dance Orchestra, the first dance band to make an LP recording, in 1971, of the New England jigs and reels most often used for dancing.

As dance fiddlers, Jacqueline and Dudley have an earthy sound that combines with the beating of their feet as they call out the figures for old time New Hampshire barn and square dances. They are self-taught and play by ear, having learned by the oral tradition. They continue this tradition through their own students and apprentices.

The kinds of dances they do are Virginia reels, circle dances, square and contre dances, and dances from the colonial period to the present. Everyone is able to join in the dances; no experience needed.

They play in barns, private homes, town halls, schools, fairs, festivals, weddings, camps, etc. They average about 300 engagements per year and are often booked 6-9 months in advance.

Playing their fiddles for dancing is what they love best.

"The two fiddles have strength and unison...The circulation of the melodies quickly links itself to their calls. Rarely getting out of their seat, giving clean but brief instructions, they allow the dance to organize itself as it proceeds."

- Kevin Gardner

The Contra Banditos

www.contrabanditos.com

The Contra Banditos are a New England Contra Dance Band. We play traditional old time fiddle and celtic music for dances, parties and festivals.
Music at a dance is both live and lively and is provided by a band which typically includes fiddles, piano/keyboard, guitar, flute and whistle.
Musicians play traditional jigs, reels, waltzes and polkas. We throw in other styles of music and songs...cajun, old time, blue grass and so on...
We formed in the late eighties as a small group of friends playing music together The band has since evolved into a larger group of regular players on all the traditonal instruments.
The Contra Banditos enjoy playing music for the benefit and enjoyment of our community. We would like to preserve and promote the knowledge and practice of traditional New England dancing and to keep the spirit of old time music alive.

Mel

play irish music for your event, party or wedding.

Mollie's Misfits


Dave Medvitz — guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, and vocals
Bill Perry — guitar, mandolin, and vocals
Melinda Rhinelander — fiddle and baritone fiddle
Phil Dench — guitar and vocals

The Misfits are an acoustic band that specializes in traditional Celtic music original vocal and fiddle tunes, and and 60s rock..

The Misfit repertoire includes:

Standard Irish pub songs (Wild Rover, the Unicorn, Mermaid Song, Hills of Connamara, Whiskey in the Jar, etc.)
Rousing fiddle medleys (Irish, Scottish, Appalachian, French Canadian, and originals)
60s acoustic rock (The Beatles, Bob Dylan, etc.)
Contemporary folk/rock (Waterboys, Steve Earl, Saw Doctors, etc.)
And a variety of original songs
The Misfits are:

The Rambling boys: Bill Boule, guitar ,mandolin, John Shea, Fiddle, Steve Brown, TinWhistle, Bodhran, Bones and Vocals,
FrankWoulfe, concertina , vocals

The Rambling boys play traditional Irish music as its played in the pubs and sessions in Ireland. Focusing on the dance music of Reels, Jigs, Slip jigs, Hornpipes, slides, Polks, and Waltzs, with the occasional acapella pub song thrown in there for good measure. Featuring the traditional instruments of fiddle, flute, concertina, whistle, with back up on guitar, bodhran (the goat skin drum) and bones, the music will bring a bounce to your step and a smile to your face. This is the music which has been played in Ireland for hundreds of years and helps to make it the exciting place it is today. Join the boys for an inspiring evening of music, and you may find yourself doing an Irish jig!

ANNALIVIA

Annalivia is one of the latest hip young alt-traditional bands to emerge to from the potent Boston fiddle music scene. The acoustic quartet features the beautiful voice of Liz Simmons, a New Hampshire native and protegé of famed Irish singer Karan Casey. Liz has performed with the group North Cregg from Co. Cork, as well as the U.S. based band The Sevens. Liz is joined by fiddle ace Brendan Carey Block (formerly of the Glengarry Bhoys), guitarist/vocalist Flynn Cohen (who has toured and recorded with John Whelan, Adrienne Young, Aoife Clancy, Halali, The Sevens and others), and bass player/banjo picker Stuart Kenney (The Sevens, Wild Asparagus). Together, their music combines Anglo-Celtic ballad singing and fiddle music traditions with their North American counterparts-Appalachia and Cape Breton-all with a groove-centric contemporary flair.

Meredith West
Pianist for All Occasions

Meredith draws from a range of styles including jazz, classical, Latin, Celtic, pop, rock, Broadway, and original compositions. This colorful mix allows her to create an elegant, festive atmosphere for each occasion. She also performs with other outstanding artists, especially guitarists.
Meredith’s reputation as an artist is built on dedication to excellence in performance. She takes pride in delivering the ideal ambience for each special event. She starts on time every time, treats clients and guests with warmth and respect, and appears with other musicians committed to these same high standards
Erik Ringstad, Outstanding performer, prolific composer, patient teacher of many
Instruments: Guitar, banjo, bass
Education: Berklee graduate
Styles of Music: Jazz, Latin, classical, blues, rock, Irish, pop, originals

.Meredith and Erik

The Trude Witham Group

www.trudewithamgroup.com
The Trude Witham Group plays a variety of jazz standards and contemporary pieces, including those by local composers. The group consists of saxophonist Trude Witham, pianist Steve Esposito, bassist Justin Maynard and drummer Jim Gaudette. Witham has performed extensively as a saxophonist in several jazz combos and in the Chelmsford Community Band concert and big bands. Before that she performed as a solo folk singer/guitarist/composer and was a member of the folk duo, Hummingbird. Esposito is a member of Blue Plate Special. Maynard is the bassist for the Indian Hill Big Band. Gaudette is a guitar, bass and drums instructor, and performs with several other bands in the Boston area.

Jazz Trio – Sax, piano and bass combine to provide smooth yet unique renditions of the jazz standards.Led by Trude Witham on alto and tenor sax, pianist Steve Esposito and bassist Justin Maynard create a classic jazz sound.”

Arte Kenyon

Arte is a singer/songwriter playing acoustic guitar and upright bass. His original material is an interesting mix of blues-based music with rock, cajun, zydeco, country, and folk influences. He is currently working on his first CD of completely original tunes, while continuing to play local original music clubs and coffee houses. Typically, Arte is accompanied by a keyboardist, but sometimes adds a second guitarist, and on occasion even a full band.

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