Author: MFS

☼ ☼ ☼ Peterborough First Saturday Contra Dance | February 7, 2026

Contra Dance

Saturday, February 7, 2026

Liz Nelson calling with music by the Star Charters (Mark Price, guitar; Jess Newman, fiddle; and Cecilia Vacant, fiddle).

The dancing from 8:00 PM until 11 PM. 
Workshop for dance basics at 7:30 PM.
Admission is sliding scale $12-20. $30 family, or pay what you can.
Gender-free roles will be used for this evening: Larks and Robins.

Contra dance is a fun, easy style of folk dance that has flourished in New England since the 1700s. Partners form lines and dance a short sequence of steps with their neighbors. Over the course of the dance, each couple travels the length of the line and dances with every other couple. Dancers are welcome to bring a partner or a group of friends but it’s not necessary – traditionally, dancers are encouraged to change partners throughout the evening.

The dance takes place in the historic Town House in Peterborough, NH at 1 Grove Street. For more information, call 603-547-5831 or visit www.facebook.com/peterboroughcontra.

The Monadnock Folklore Society has presented contra dances and concerts of traditional music since 1982.

☼ ☼ ☼ Los Sugar Kings | Nelson Town Hall | January 30, 2026 7:30 PM

About, Concerts, Dance Music, Events

You’re invited to leave the comfort of your wood stove and get out on the town for an energizing evening of music from the Afro-Cuban band, Los Sugar Kings. Admission $25/$20 (in advance).

Sugar Kings (named after a Cuban baseball team) is a Boston-based quartet known for their dynamic live performances, rich harmonies, intense musicianship and ability to transcend genres with an authenticity rarely heard. In their world, respect is paid to the forefathers of Afro-Cuban Son, Salsa, and Rumba-Flamenca. But that’s only part of their story. Sugar Kings also actively draw on influences from nearly every continent in their unique Roots-Rock-Reggae repertoire. All are highly accomplished on their instruments, however the true magic of Sugar Kings is how these four individuals come together to put on a performance worthy of any festival, party, club or concert hall. Every show is an intimate, spontaneous and joyous dialogue between the band members on stage and their audience.

“You gotta see this band… Patino Vazquez is a dynamic performer and singer who is at once approachable, intimate and completely mesmerizing. Mik Mersha brings in the Funk, Reggae and harmonic and rhythmic influences from Ethiopia. Then Dan Abreu hits you with soaring, take-you-for-a-ride solos and harmonic accompaniment. Underneath all of that is the hidden gem in the band, the soulful voice and rhytmic talents of Tony Curtis Hall. Put these guys together on a stage and it’s impossible for a party to stop from breaking out, wherever Sugar Kings perform.”  

☼ ☼ ☼ Peterborough Snow Ball | January 24, 2026

Contra Dance

The 30th Annual Snow Ball
Saturday, January 24, 2026

Dancing from noon to midnight

Peterborough Town Hall
1 Grove Street
Peterborough, NH 03458

$35

Seniors 65+ $25

Under 25 pay your age

Liz Nelson
Anna and the Alphabet
Anna Patton Sarah-Hadley Yakir Michael Friedman

Nils Fredland
Riptide
Alden Robinson Glen Loper Owen Marshall Mark “Pokey” Hellenberg

Lyss Adkins
Springtide
Willy Clemetson Elsie Gawler Ethan Tischler

Steve
The Dam Beavers
Ben Schreiber Scotty Leach

Role terms: Larks and Robins

Masks optional but recommended

COVID policy

Please bring a clean pair of shoes to protect the dance floor

☼ ☼ ☼ Nelson Solstice Party | Nelson Town Hall | December 20, 2025 ***SOLD OUT***

About, Concerts, Contra Dance, Events

On Saturday, December 20, we’ll hold our Annual Solstice Party starting at 7:00 PM`

The Monadnock Folklore Society brings this community event to the Nelson Town Hall each year, admission is $10, and treats are appreciated for the dessert potluck.

Tickets are SOLD OUT, do not attend if you don’t already have a ticket! Our apologies for the amazing and wonderful popularity of this event.

This year the evening will begin with a holiday concert featuring a selection of traditional and original seasonal music performed by The Solstice Sisters (Alouette Iselin, Kim Wallach, Heather Bower, Margaret Iselin, Natalie Backes, Grace Johnson, & Patricia Blanchard) and friends. The Folklore Society invites you to bring along your favorite holiday dessert and we’ll supply the beverages for the intermission. After the concert the chairs and benches are cleared to make way for a traditional New England Contradance. Unfortunately, or not, the dance is often interrupted by various groups of unsavory characters presenting their idea of seasonal entertainment. These diversions, sometimes involving costumed individuals making complete fools of themselves or performing ancient ritual dances to help us through this dark time of the year, are generally tolerated as once they are applauded and fed we can return to dancing the night away.

 

☼ ☼ ☼ Peterborough First Saturday Contra Dance | January 3, 2026

Contra Dance

Peterborough, NH First Saturday Contra Dance on Saturday, January 3. Steve Zakon-Anderson will be calling with music from Julie Metcalf and friends.

This January dance is FREE in honor of long-time contra dancer Bob Jervis, who passed away one year ago. He requested and sponsored this free dance.

Contra dance is a fun, relaxed style of folk dance that has flourished in New England since the 1700s.

Partners form lines and dance a short sequence of steps with their neighbors.

Dancers are welcome to bring a partner or a group of friends, but it’s not necessary – traditionally, dancers are encouraged to change partners throughout the evening.

The dancing begins at 8:00 PM.
Workshop for new dancers and all interested at 7:30 PM.
Admission is sliding scale $12-20, $30 family, or pay what you can.

Positions will be Larks and Robins.

The Monadnock Folklore Society presents this dance in the historic Town House in Peterborough, NH at 1 Grove Street.

For more information call 603.547.5831.
The Monadnock Folklore Society has presented contra dances and concerts of traditional music since 1982.

☼ ☼ ☼ Peterborough First Saturday Contra Dance | December 6, 2025

Contra Dance

Peterborough, NH First Saturday Contra Dance on Saturday, December 6. Don Veino will be calling with music from the band Joy Factor.

Contra dance is a fun, relaxed style of folk dance that has flourished in New England since the 1700s.

Partners form lines and dance a short sequence of steps with their neighbors.

Dancers are welcome to bring a partner or a group of friends, but it’s not necessary – traditionally, dancers are encouraged to change partners throughout the evening.

The dancing begins at 8:00 PM.
Workshop for new dancers and all interested at 7:30 PM.
Admission is sliding scale $12-20, $30 family, or pay what you can.

Positions will be Larks and Robins.

The Monadnock Folklore Society presents this dance in the historic Town House in Peterborough, NH at 1 Grove Street.

For more information call 603.547.5831.
The Monadnock Folklore Society has presented contra dances and concerts of traditional music since 1982.

☼ ☼ ☼ Cosy Sheridan and Sloan Wainwright | Friday, September 19, 2025

Concerts

Cosy Sheridan & Sloan Wainwright will appear in concert at the Nelson Town Hall on Friday, September 19 at 7:30 PM. Admission is $20/$17 (in advance).

 

 

This will be the opening night concert for The Song Sessions weekend of song, voice, & guitar workshops featuring the songwriting of Cosy Sheridan and Sloan Wainwright, accompanied by Charlie Koch and Glen Roethel.

Cosy Sheridan has been called one of the era’s finest and most thoughtful songwriters, and also ‘a buddhist monk trapped in the body of a singer-songwriter’. Her music regularly tops the folk radio charts. Her CD, Pretty Bird, was listed among Sing Out Magazine’s Great CDs of 2014. Her concerts are wide-ranging explorations: ragtime guitar and social satire, modern renditions of mythology (meet Hades the Biker) and tales of modern adulthood. Her alter ego, Chlamydia, sometimes appears with songs such as “Botox Tango” or “Multiply Pierced.” The Cornell Folksong Society wrote: “Sheridan is frank, feisty, sublimely and devilishly funny. She fuses myth with modern culture; Persephone with Botox.”

A guitar student of instrumental luminaries Guy Van Duser and Eric Schoenberg, and a voice student at The Berklee School of Music, she brings a depth of experience to her craft. She plays a percussive bluesy guitar style – often in open tunings and occasionally with two or more capos on the guitar.

Sloan Wainwright is a songwriter, singer, performer, teacher, mentor and collaborator. A unique hybrid of pop, folk, jazz and blues, Wainwright’s music is unified by her melodious tone and rich, powerful contralto. Over the course of a 30-year career in music, she has played the great concert halls, the most storied listening rooms and top music festivals while also teaching at the nation’s leading music retreats. She has inspired hundreds of students on their creative journeys and collaborated with dozens of musicians, writers, choreographers and performers.

Most of all, Wainwright is an artist. As a member of an acclaimed family of artists (brother Loudon Wainwright, sister-in-law Kate McGarrigle, nephew Rufus Wainwright and nieces Martha Wainwright and Lucy Wainwright Roche), Wainwright has charted an artistic path all her own, one based in close observation, joy, and spiritual connection.

Now, standing on the foundation of a rich and diverse career, Wainwright is tapping into fresh material as she continues to provide transformative, healing, and energetic experiences for her audiences. Always looking to grow as an artist, these days Wainwright is pursuing new collaborative partnerships, exploring traditional music, and developing fresh avenues for teaching and mentorship.

The Song Sessions: Workshops in Songwriting, VOICE, and Guitar | September 19-21, 2025

Songs, Workshops

Workshops in Songwriting, VOICE, and Guitar
DATES: Sept 19-21, 2025

Tuition $325

Tuition includes Friday night concert and pizza party on Saturday night. After dinner on Saturday, we will have Student Coffeehouse in Nelson Town Hall.

BASIC SCHEDULE

Friday night • Concert at Nelson Town Hall
Saturday and Sunday • Workshops
Saturday night • Student Coffeehouse

WORKSHOPS

Cosy Sheridan | Songwriting: Finding Creative Lift-Off
Sloan Wainwright | Voice: Sing Heart Body and Soul
Charlie Koch | Guitar
Glen Roethel | Harmony Singing
Join us for two days of creativity, fun and friendship at our 3rd year of The Song Sessions. Classes begin Saturday morning.

To register, or for more info, send an email to cosysheridan (at) gmail.com.

Local housing available: $60/room per night.

☼ ☼ ☼ Troy MacGillivray/Cape Breton Concert POSTPONED &/or CANCELED

About

Despite having submitted an application for a work permit in January for a US Tour this fall Troy has yet to receive the necessary permit. This appears to be another consequence of the current administration’s immigration policies.

Therefore our previously scheduled September 13 Cape Breton Music Concert will not be happening. We hope to be able to reschedule this for October or November. There’s always hope.

Troy writes: “I absolutely cant believe we are in this situation. You know how much we/I/CDNs love New England.”