Upcoming Bluegrass Related Events

The Concord Conservatory of Music is set to host an extraordinary evening of traditional bluegrass music with a twist on April 27th, as The Ruta Beggars take the stage. The band is made up of talented musicians who studied together in the American Roots Program at Berklee College of Music. Micah Nicol on guitar, Sofia Chiarandini on fiddle, Ariel Wyner on mandolin, Trevin Nelson on banjo, and Noah Harrington on bass make up the impressive ensemble. The Ruta Beggars are celebrated for their imaginative musical arrangements, their intricate vocal harmonies, and their impressive musicianship. They have earned a well-deserved place among the top-tier of the bluegrass community, and their live performances are known for their vibrant energy and engaging showmanship. Combining bluegrass with early swing, The Ruta Beggars' music is a unique and captivating sound that's not to be missed. This talented group of musicians has received recognition for their musical talents and was the winner of the Thomas Point's band competition in 2019. Now, they're set to thrill the audiences at the Concord Conservatory of Music with their infectious melodies and dynamic musicianship. Tickets for the show are now available at ConcordConservatory.org. The concert is part of the 2023-2024 CCM Concert & Lecture Series, made possible thanks to the generous support of our Lead Sponsor, Emerson Health, and our Supporting Sponsor, Middlesex Savings Bank. The Concord Cultural Council and Acton-Boxborough Cultural Council, local agencies that the Mass Cultural Council supports, have also provided grants to support the event. Thanks to our sponsors, we are able to bring diverse and high-quality concerts to our community, and we hope you'll join us for this exciting performance. About CCM Concord Conservatory of Music: It is a community … Read More »

“You want some authenticity in your folk music or bluegrass – I give you Kaïa Kater.” – No Depression Montreal-born Grenadian-Canadian Kaïa Kater’s jazz-fueled voice and deft songcraft have garnered acclaim from NPR’s Tiny Desk, The Guardian, Rolling Stone and No Depression. Kaïa draws on influences rooted in Quebec, the Caribbean, and Appalachia, all of which reflect the diversity of her background; her family’s deep ties to the Canadian folk music scene; her college years spent soaking up Appalachian music in West Virginia and her father’s experience growing up in Grenada, arriving in Canada in 1986, after the U.S. invasion. Kaïa released her first EP Old Soul (2013) when she was just out of high school. Since then, she’s gone on to release three more albums, Sorrow Bound (2015), Nine Pin (2016) and Grenades (2018).  For the JUNO-nominated and Polaris Music Prize long-listed Grenades, Kaia leaned into a wide array of sounds and styles in order to convey a broad range of emotions and topics, most notably her Caribbean ancestry and her father’s experience as a refugee in Canada.  In 2020, Kaïa took part in the Slaight Music Residency at the Canadian Film Center, released a new single, and wrote original music for The Porter (BET+ 2022).

The Goldenrod Bluegrass Festival-2024 will be held on Saturday July 6, 2024 from 09:00 AM to 5:00 PM, at the Goldenrod Grange Hall located at 625 Olde Homestead Highway in Swanzey New Hampshire. Returning are Southern Rail, The Splinters and The New Englanders and for the first time in Swanzey, Mr. Bill.  People of all ages will enjoy a day of traditional bluegrass including standards, originals and gospel tunes. Inside the Goldenrod Grange Hall, patrons will find the Goldenrod Coffee Shop serving coffee and goodies, the gift shop selling clothing including tee shirts as well as mugs and other items related to the festival.  Seating for the BBQ will also be available. Tickets are 40.00 each and include: the day long music festival,  Firefighter's open fire chicken BBQ.  Field Picking near the grounds and plenty of parking at any of the town's school lots conveniently located across the street from the Grange Hall.