Upcoming Bluegrass Related Events

The Blue Moon Coffeehouse in Rockland opens its new season of shows on Saturday, Sept. 17th at 7:30 p.m. with the Lula Wiles! All the members of Lula Wiles have spent their lives grounded in songs. Born in Maine to musical families, they began playing music together as kids at Maine Fiddle Camp, and eventually each made their way to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music. Isa Burke and Ellie Buckland began performing as a duo in 2013, and Lula Wiles was born when Mali Obomsawin joined the band a year later. Based in Boston's thriving roots music community, The Lula Wiles have performed at premier festivals and clubs throughout the East Coast, including Club Passim, FreshGrass, the Sinclair, Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Ossipee Valley Bluegrass Festival, and the Green River Music Festival. They were selected as Official Showcase Artists for the 2016 Folk Alliance International Conference. Roots authority No Depressions predicts the Lula Wiles "will be a huge force on the Americana scene for years to come." All proficient vocalists, multi-instrumentalists, and songwriters, the three women of Lula Wiles are each uniquely powerful in their own right; but combined, they are a force to be reckoned with. Check out their music on their website: www.lulawiles.com. Tickets are $10 at the door; children 12 and under are free. The Blue Moon is located at Channing Church, 45 Webster Street, Rockland, MA. For more information, visit www.thebluemooncoffeehouse.com.

This is the 11th year we have had the privilege to host The Bluegrass Gospel Project.  The will perform on October 14, 2016 at 7:30 Groton Congregational Church, 162 Monument Street, Groton, CT - 860-445-7409 A free-will offering will be taken.

On Saturday, October 15th at 7:30 p.m. the Blue Moon Coffeehouse in Rockland, MA features the bluegrass band, Four Bridges.  A show by Four Bridges is as much fun as you are allowed to have in church. They bring tons of energy and personality to their music, and their set list includes some creative departures from bluegrass standards. They play music all over the northeast and as far away as Norway. They are rated #1 bluegrass band for the Boston, MA/Manchester, NH area on Reverbnation. Here's a link to a video: https://youtu.be/iuuUffp5YJs of the band playing their original tune, Whiskey and Gold, and a link to a video about one of their tours of Norway set to their own music: https://youtu.be/XnhiN6jVfmU. Between sets by Four Bridges, there will also be an open mic. Tickets are $10 at the door. Children 12 and under are free. The address is Channing Unitarian Universalist Church, 45 Webster St., Rockland, MA, located just beside the post office. You can listen to the band on Facebook.   For more information about this and upcoming shows, visit www.thebluemooncoffeehouse.com.

The 2016 "Christmas in the Valley" concert tour will kick off its 13th season this December. This one of a kind Christmas show features traditional, contemporary, and original Christmas music performed with acoustic instruments and vocals.   The music got its start back in 2003 with Blackstone Valley Bluegrass' Bob Dick's solo CD "Tidings of Comfort and Joy" which in turn, got New Hampshire songwriter Rick Lang interested in writing original Christmas songs and the subsequent recording of  his "The Season of  My Heart" CD.  The first Christmas in the Valley concert was held in Northbridge MA, and then Stratham, NH.  The concerts series eventually expanded to the hometowns of the various performers of the show as well as a couple of new venues. Today, Blackstone Valley Bluegrass along with Rick Lang, Karen Lincoln Wilber, Roger Williams, and Amy Gallatin have put together a broad spectrum of Christmas music set in an acoustic style that is truly a unique experience. Due to strong attendance and growing interest, “Christmas in the Valley” is fast becoming an annual tradition all across New England; its popularity growing each year.  The 2016 tour will include a total of five concerts in three states (NH, MA, and CT).   “Christmas in the Valley” showcases holiday music from…   A New England favorite, Blackstone Valley Bluegrass Band has garnered a reputation for high-energy shows laced with powerful three and four part harmonies and fast but tasteful picking, coupled with winning on-stage camaraderie. Their show will feature songs from Bob Dick's solo bluegrass Christmas project Tidings Of Comfort And Joy performed by the Bluegrass “fab four”…Bob Dick, Dave Dick, Ken Taylor and Dan Nowlan.    Acclaimed vocalist Amy Gallatin will be lending … Read More »

The 2016 "Christmas in the Valley" concert tour will kick off its 13th season this December. This one of a kind Christmas show features traditional, contemporary, and original Christmas music performed with acoustic instruments and vocals.   The music got its start back in 2003 with Blackstone Valley Bluegrass' Bob Dick's solo CD "Tidings of Comfort and Joy" which in turn, got New Hampshire songwriter Rick Lang interested in writing original Christmas songs and the subsequent recording of  his "The Season of  My Heart" CD.  The first Christmas in the Valley concert was held in Northbridge MA, and then Stratham, NH.  The concerts series eventually expanded to the hometowns of the various performers of the show as well as a couple of new venues. Today, Blackstone Valley Bluegrass along with Rick Lang, Karen Lincoln Wilber, Roger Williams, and Amy Gallatin have put together a broad spectrum of Christmas music set in an acoustic style that is truly a unique experience. Due to strong attendance and growing interest, “Christmas in the Valley” is fast becoming an annual tradition all across New England; its popularity growing each year.  The 2016 tour will include a total of five concerts in three states (NH, MA, and CT).   “Christmas in the Valley” showcases holiday music from…   A New England favorite, Blackstone Valley Bluegrass Band has garnered a reputation for high-energy shows laced with powerful three and four part harmonies and fast but tasteful picking, coupled with winning on-stage camaraderie. Their show will feature songs from Bob Dick's solo bluegrass Christmas project Tidings Of Comfort And Joy performed by the Bluegrass “fab four”…Bob Dick, Dave Dick, Ken Taylor and Dan Nowlan.    Acclaimed vocalist Amy Gallatin will be lending … Read More »

Traditional Folk Concert Sunday, November 6, 2016 at 3:30 PM First Parish in Lexington 7 Harrington Rd. Lexington, MA 02421 781-862-8200 www.fplex.org   John Kirk and Trish Miller, the nationally known folk duo, will join the First Parish sanctuary and children's choirs for a concert on Sunday, November 6, 2016 at 3:30 p.m. at First Parish, Unitarian Universalist, in Lexington.  An ensemble of guitars, fiddle, banjo, string bass, mandolin and other folk instruments directed by Rip Jackson will join the vocalists. The musicians will perform music featuring Appalachian fiddle tunes, Irish and Scottish folk tunes, music from the 1960’s, shape-note choral pieces, folk trios and solos, and other Celtic music.  Some of the songs, both instrumental and choral, to be featured in the concert are “Ashokan Farewell” (made famous in the Ken Burns documentary, The Civil War), an original shape note setting of “Wayfaring Stranger” and an ancient Celtic lullaby “Enini.” First Parish is handicapped accessible.  Parking is available behind the church on Harrington Road.  Suggested Donation $10-$20 (more if you can, less if you can't). For more information, call the church at 781-862-8200 x4, or visit www.fplex.org.

On Saturday, November 12th at 7:30 pm, Cold Chocolate takes the stage at the Blue Moon Coffeehouse in Rockland, MA. Cold Chocolate has had some big doin's lately, including opening for David Grisman last April in Medford, MA at The Chevalier Theater and releasing their new CD "The Way Back" at The Lizard Lounge. They are a fresh and exciting Americana band with a unique sound that fuses bluegrass and folk with a dash of funk. With original tunes and technical prowess, this trio from Boston is mesmerizing audiences with guitar, upright bass, percussion, and three-part harmony. Since their formation in 2011, Cold Chocolate has been quickly gaining recognition for their high-energy performances. The band has shared bills with such bluegrass giants as Leftover Salmon and David Grisman, and has performed at numerous prominent East Coast festivals, including the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, FloydFest, FreshGrass Festival, and the Ossipee Valley Music Festival.   Tickets are $10 at the door. Children 12 and under are free. The address is 45 Webster Street, Rockland, MA. For more info, visit www.thebluemooncoffeehouse.com. To listen to the band, check out their website at www.coldchocolatemusic.com.