Upcoming Bluegrass Related Events

Bluegrass supergroup Mr Sun performs a new interpretation of Ellington’s legendary Nutcracker Suite! If you haven’t heard of the cheerfully named supergroup Mr Sun, you’ve certainly heard its proponents, four of the finest musicians on the American roots scene: Renowned fiddler Darol Anger, Professor Emeritus at Berklee College of Music, who has released many solo albums in addition to his work with David Grisman and Mike Marshall, and founded the Turtle Island Quartet, Psychograss, and Republic of Strings; Joe K. Walsh, mandolin virtuoso and vocalist who spent four years with the award-winning bluegrass act the Gibson Brothers before becoming solo artist and songwriter and Strings Department Professor at Berklee; all-around guitar genius Grant Gordy, a former member of Dawg Music guru David Grisman’s band; and the phenomenal Scots bassist Aidan O’Connell, who has backed harpist Maeve Gilchrist and countless modern Jazz heroes.

A joyous evening of Bluegrass Gospel and Holiday favorites at the Homegrown Coffeehouse!  Wonderful home baked holiday goodies during intermission. Not to be missed! Note the new starting time for this season!

The New York based Progressive Americana group Nefesh Mountain Band has been hailed as one of the formative boundary-pushing ensembles in roots music. The band's creators and dynamic husband and wife team of Eric Lindberg and Doni Zasloff have created a world and sound all their own; blurring the lines between Americana, Bluegrass, Folk, Jazz and Blues with a masterful hand as songwriters, instrumentalists and composers alike.

Southern Rail's concerts are joyous and engaging with stunning harmonies, irrepressible good humor and sparkling banjo, guitar and mandolin. Their repertoire is fresh and diverse, featuring lots of originals plus a kaleidoscope of covers. Two of the band's founding members (guitarist Jim Muller and bassist Sharon Horovitch) were recently inducted into the RIBA Hall of Fame. Tix in advance and at the door.  Doors open at 7.  Great refreshments during intermission.

Two legends of the folk/roots world—Grammy-nominated fiddler extraordinaire Bruce Molsky and banjo master Tony Trischka— return to Meadow Hall for an evening of old time string band wizardry. The two will trade songs from their broad and beloved catalogs as well as the deep well of American traditional folk tunes, both well-known and recently unearthed. Groton Hill Music Center

Mardis Gras Night  featuring a Southern style home cooked dinner and a the high energy exuberance of  Southern Rail!   Snow date will be Sunday Feb. 9. Appetizers at 4:30.  Dinner 5-6.  Cash bar.  Concert 6-8.  A limited number of concert only tickets will be available.  Last year was a complete sell-out, so reservations highly recommended. Free parking is available at First Parish's Meetinghouse, 327 Concord Road, Sudbury, or across the street, behind Sudbury Town Hall

A century of forgetfulness and erasure has led to diminished public awareness of the Black string band tradition – and equally diminished numbers of Black string bands. Once numerous, these ensembles have grown few and far between. In recent decades, only one Black string band has emerged per generation. The 1980’s saw the birth of the Ebony Hillbillies. Nearly three decades later, the Carolina Chocolate Drops formed and took the tradition to new heights. As of 2023, a new Black string band has emerged to carry the torch: New Dangerfield. New Dangerfield was originally conceptualized by award-winning bluegrass banjoist Tray Wellington, who enlisted three other acclaimed Black roots musicians: multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Kaïa Kater, bassist Nelson Williams (Chris Jones & the Night Drivers), and fiddler and singer Jake Blount. Irrepressible and adventurous from the start, the band is musically versatile and charismatic. Groton Hill Music Center