Category: Events

☼ ☼ ☼ Mari Black Trio Concert | Nelson Town Hall | October 4, 2026

About, Concerts, Dance Music, Events, Songs

We are excited to welcome back the Mari Black Trio for a weekend of events in the first weekend of October. On Saturday night, October 3, the trio will play for the Peterborough Contradance in the Peterborough, NH Townhouse. Then on Sunday morning the trio will be offering workshops in musicianship, splitting into two groups, one for melody and one for accompaniment. On Sunday afternoon at 3:00 PM the trio will present a concert program titled ‘Fiddling Around the World’. The workshops and the concert will take place at the Nelson Town Hall.

 

Concert admission is ‘pay what you can’ $20 suggested/under 16 FREE with paying adult. Workshop is $35 and includes concert admission.

 

World champion fiddler MARI BLACK presents a joyous extravaganza of dance-inspired music from around the globe! With her virtuosic playing, sparkling stage presence, and fun-filled stories tying the whole journey together, Mari will have you tapping your toes and dancing along to fiddle music from around the world: Celtic, Canadian, and American fiddling, swing, tango, klezmer, and more. Family-friendly and full of fun, fiddling, and musical surprises! 

Called “one of the brightest fiddlers around today” (Brian O’Donovan, WGBH radio), multistyle violinist and champion fiddler MARI BLACK delights audiences around the world with her energetic playing, sparkling stage presence, and dazzlingly virtuosic fiddling. Raised on a rich blend of traditional musical styles, Mari burst onto the international stage when she became Scotland’s Glenfiddich Fiddle Champion, 2-time U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion, and 2-time Canadian Maritime Fiddle Champion, all within a three-year period. Ever since then, she has been spreading her love for dance-based music, performing as a featured artist at performing arts centers, Celtic festivals, Scottish Highland Games, celebrated folk venues, world music concert series, and acclaimed classical venues including Carnegie Hall. She can even be heard (and seen!) in the award-winning video game BioShock: Burial at Sea. Mari has appeared with such diverse artists as Irish fiddle master Liz Carroll, Americana master Mark O’Connor, and jazzman Willie Ruff, and been featured on the BBC Radio Scotland, Fox and CBS morning news, and NPR’s “Here and Now.” She has played concerts in Brazil, Scotland, Canada, China, Korea, Zimbabwe, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Italy, and France…and she can’t wait for the next stop! Currently touring nationally with her trio, Mari’s favorite thing to do is sweep audiences away on a spirited musical adventure featuring dance music from around the globe: Celtic, American, and Canadian fiddling, jazz, tango, klezmer, folk, original works, and more!

https://vimeo.com/865612346/6ac88d64cf?fl=pl&fe=vl



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☼ ☼ ☼ Mari Black Trio Workshops | Nelson Town Hall | October 4, 2026

About, Concerts, Dance Music, Events, Songs, Workshops

 
 
Join a pre-concert Workshop with Mari Black and her trio on Sunday, October 4 from 11:00AM -12:30 PM at the Nelson Town Hall
 
 
Tuition is $35 and includes concert admission. Children under 16 FREE w/paying adult.
 
 
 
“Get Jammin’!” Workshops, with Mari Black & her trio
No matter what instrument you play, come join Mari and her band to learn some snazzy fiddle tunes AND how to put them together in a full ensemble!  To begin, all melody players (fiddle, flute, accordion, etc) will join Mari to learn some fun tunes, while all backing instrument players (guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, piano, ‘cello, bass, etc) will work with Adam and Noah to learn how to accompany the same tunes … then we’ll all join up in the second half of the workshop to put the whole ensemble together!  Melody players, you’ll explore how to learn melodies more quickly and comfortably by ear, and discover how to inject your tunes with stylistic flair and authenticity (phrasing and groove, bowings, ornaments, etc).  Backers, you’ll improve your fluency with picking up chords for tune melodies, and expand into ideas for different rhythmic and harmonic options to add variety and zest into your playing.  When we all come together at the end of the workshop, you’ll get a chance to put your new tunes and skills into practice as a part of one big, awesome band.  Come join in the fun!
 
Pack a picnic lunch or visit a local eatery and come back for the concert!


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☼ ☼ ☼ Cosy Sheridan & Sloan Wainwright w/Charlie Koch & Glen Roethel | Nelson Town Hall | September 18, 2026

About, Concerts, Events, Songs, Workshops

 

Cosy Sheridan & Sloan Wainwright will appear in concert at the Nelson Town Hall on Friday, September 18 at 7:30 PM. ‘Pay what you can’, suggested Admission is $20 and children under 16 are admitted free with a paying adult.

 

Join two master performers, singers and songwriters Cosy Sheridan and Sloan Wainwright for the opening night concert for The Song Sessions workshops. Add in Charlie Koch on bass and Glen Roethel on lead guitar and you have a night of uplifting and joyous songs. They will each be performing separately and together as a quartet.

Sloan Wainwright 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. 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. A unique hybrid of pop, folk, jazz and blues, Sloan’s music is unified by her melodious tone and rich, powerful contralto. She will be backed up by Glen Roethel on guitar and harmonies.

Cosy Sheridan has been called “a buddhist monk in a twelve-step program trapped in the body of a singer-songwriter” and also one of the era’s finest and most thoughtful songwriters. She has performed at Carnegie Hall and The Cowgirl Hall of Fame, as well as coffeehouses, festivals and concerts throughout the country.* “*An unapologetically tuneful writer with sticky lyrics,*” *wrote* Sing Out Magazine. *Backed by the rhythms and harmonies of bass player Charlie Koch, she is a top shelf guitarist with
a distinctive percussive right hand technique* .“*You can’t make it into double digits, and continue touring for twenty or so years, unless you know what you’re doing, and do it well*,”* wrote *The Chicago Examiner. *Cosy is the founder and director of The Song Sessions, and also Moab Folk Camp in Moab, Utah.



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☼ ☼ ☼ Aurora Nealand & the Royal Roses | Dublin School | July 3, 2026

About, Concerts, Events, Songs

 

 

Join us for a special evening of traditional New Orleans jazz with Aurora Nealand and the Royal Roses at the Dublin School in Dublin, NH. This will be an outdoor event, weather permitting, Friday, July 3, 7:30 pm at the Fountain Arts Building on the Dublin School campus.

 

The concert is co-sponsored by The Walden School  and the Monadnock Folklore Society and is FREE and open to the public.

The Royal Roses grew out of the rich resurgence that traditional jazz is seeing in New Orleans amongst the younger generation of musicians today. Saxophonist/vocalist Aurora Nealand has been playing in various groups in New Orleans since 2005, and the Royal Roses, founded in 2010, is her first venture as a bandleader. The Royal Roses draw their repertoire heavily from Sidney Bechet, Django Reinhart and traditional jazz of New Orleans. Comprised of some of the finest young players on the New Orleans music scene today, the Royal Roses are seeking to breath new energy, arrangements and compositions into this genre of music while exploring and learning from its rich history and tradition. They’ve performed in New Orleans at the French Quarter Festival, Satchmo Festival and Preservation Hall, as well as in NYC at Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival. In the Spring of 2018 The Royal Roses were voted “Best Traditional Jazz Band”  at the Big Easy Awards!! Their first album “A Tribute to Sydney Bechet: Live at Preservation Hall” was released in 2011 to national acclaim. Their second album “The LookBack Transmission” was released in 2014 and includes original and traditional compositions including one Ms. Nealand wrote for the HBO series “Treme”. Inn 2016 they released a third album, “Comeback Children”.

This year’s line up: Aurora Nealand (Vocals, saxophone, clarinet), Dave Boswell (Trumpet), Aani Kisslinger (Trombone), Josh Dunn (Guitar), Jared Engel (Bass), and Tanner Gus s(drums).

This is the first in a series of FREE concerts that the Walden School offers. Click here for a complete look at their 2026 concert series.

☼ ☼ ☼ Ishna “Slí Amach”: from There to Here | Nelson Town Hall | May 29, 2026

About, Concerts, Dance Music, Events, Songs

 

Ishna “Slí Amach”: from There to Here

A joyous exploration of the music & stories of Ireland

Friday, May 29 at 7:30 PM in the Nelson Town Hall.

Admission $30 ($25 in advance, under 16 free w/paying adult)

Ishna is a Boston-based contemporary Irish folk band, exploring the traditional repertoire of Ireland within the context of a global setting. It is fronted by husband-wife duo Ciaran Nagle and Tara Novak, and has been together as this lineup of 6 musicians for more than a decade. Over that time, the group has evolved, honing in specifically on the acoustic traditional music of Ireland, while finding ways to allow each band member to bring their unique musical vocabulary to the overall sound.
 
Their show, “From There to Here”, features the music from their debut album, “Slí Amach: Way Out”.  The album was recorded over a week in 2025, in a barn in Peterborough NH. It was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Oscar-and-Grammy-winning Robert L. Smith at Defy Recordings, and the artwork was designed by the legendary Steve Averill (creator of all the logos and artwork for U2).
 
Ishna is fronted by Irish Tenor Ciarán Nagle and fiddler/vocalist Tara Novak (both of Riverdance and the Three Irish Tenors). The husband-and-wife duo bring their humor and dynamic energy to the stage, and are accompanied by their stellar band of traditional musicians: Dan Meyers: uilleann pipes/whistles; Bjorn Wennas – guitar; David McGrory – piano/accordion/banjo; Brian O’Neill – bodhrán/percussion.
 
Ishna’s performance is energetic and uplifting, infusing new rhythms and harmonies into their traditional repertoire. For Ishna, music is about finding common connections. They invite the audience into the fold of their community and to experience the beloved music of Ireland in a new way.
 

☼ ☼ ☼ Scottish Fish | Nelson Town Hall | March 15, 2026

About, Concerts, Dance Music, Events

Join us for an exciting afternoon of traditional and original music at the Nelson Town Hall on Sunday, March 15 at 3:00 PM. Admission is $25/$20 (in advance).

Scottish Fish present a fiddle-forward infusion of original and traditional Scottish and Cape Breton music. After growing up steeped in the Boston Celtic music scene, these five young women began touring at an early age, quickly enchanting domestic and international audiences with their youthful enthusiasm, creative arrangements, and sensitive performances. As described by a concertgoer, “this powerhouse quintet wows listeners with a luscious and exciting sound, at times five instruments sharing one voice, and others a dynamic orchestra of harmony. Their years of friendship cultivate a truly unique musical bond. Their love for each other and the music they create is a gift they offer to anyone willing to listen.”

In their decade of bandhood, the Fish have performed at a wide variety of venues and festivals across the U.S. and Europe, including Celtic Connections (Scotland), Festival Interceltique de Lorient (France), and Festival de Ortigueira (Spain). Their music and performances have earned them features on WGBH, KALW, and in American Girl and Folkworld Magazines; attracted the attention of programs such as America’s Got Talent; and secured an international audience of over four hundred thousand followers across social media platforms. In 2017, the group released their debut album, “Splash,” and followed it with “Tidings,” a 5-track holiday EP, in 2019. “Upscale,” produced by pianist and composer Neil Pearlman, was released in October, 2022, marking the band’s ten year anniversary. Scottish Fish’s newest record “Currently” was released in July, 2025.

Scottish Fiddler Hanneke Cassel has described the Scottish Fish sound as “both incredibly musical, and just a little unusual.”

“Individually they are all creative and talented,” writes Cassel, “and together they spark each other, pushing each other even further to make amazing music.”

“One of the most energetic and creative acts to take root in the local Celtic music scene this century… the Scottish Fish ensemble has made the transition from carrying the mantel of the ‘future of Celtic music’ to thoroughly occupying the present”

– Sean Smith, the Boston Irish Reporter (2023)

☼ ☼ ☼ Lissa Schneckenburger Trio | Nelson Town Hall | February 27, 2026 – 7:30 PM

About, Concerts, Dance Music, Events, Songs

On Friday, February 27 join Lissa (fiddle and vocals), Rachel Aucoin (piano), and Samuel Foucher (accordion) for a night of traditional fiddling, folk songs, and more! The concert begins at 7:30 PM. Admission is $25/$20 (in advance).

Over the last several decades Schneckenburger has made music that showcased everything from traditional New England dance tunes, to original songs inspired by her experience as a foster and adoptive parent. Her new album, Falling Forward, has blended her love of traditional music with her love of writing, in her first fiddle forward album in over a decade. Raised in a small town in Maine, Schneckenburger grew up with music. She began playing fiddle at the age of six, inspired by her parent’s interest in folk music. In 2001 she graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music with a degree in Contemporary Improvisation. She has been writing, performing, and teaching music around the world ever since.

“To me, music creates community,” Schneckenburger says. “Music is what people sing along to, dance to, fall in love to… music brings people together. These songs are part of all of us, and it’s an honor to have had the chance to record them.”

Rachel Aucoin – “I have been playing and writing music since I was a child growing up in Southern Maine and wrote my first song about my dog, Red, at the age of seven . Recently I have been compelled to share my music and hopefully others will enjoy listening as much as I enjoy writing. My style is alternative rock, pop, instrumental rock, and singer/songwriter to folk.”  

Samuel Foucher – “I grew up in the Monadnock region of southern New Hampshire. My love for the accordion began at a new years’ eve concert at a young, impressionable age. Bob McQuillen, Jimmy Keane and Jeremiah McLane were some of my mentors and sources of inspiration on this versatile instrument. Contra dancing was a frequent and beloved part of my childhood, and I have a deep appreciation for music and dance traditions of all sorts. I also love song, especially songs about the land and local history. While not playing my instrument, I enjoy woodworking and carpentry, riding bicycles, growing food, making useful and beautiful items, and anything that can serve as a catalyst for building community.”

For Advance Reservations, Click Here.

☼ ☼ ☼ 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.”  

☼ ☼ ☼ 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.

 

☼ ☼ ☼ Summer Solstice Concert | Nelson Town Hall | June 21, 2025

About, Concerts, Events, Songs

 

The Solstice Sisters return for a celebration of the Summer Solstice on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 7:30 PM at the Nelson Town Hall. Admission is $12/$15(day of show), children under 16 FREE w/adult.

 

Alouette Iselin, Kim Wallach, and Heather Bower have been mainstays of our Nelson Winter Solstice party for years, presenting a program of original and traditional and sometimes just wacky seasonal music. Margaret Page Iselin completes the line up along with new sisters Patty Blanchard, Grace Johnson & Natalie Backes. Please join us for this biannual celebration of the seasons and come celebrate the Summer Solstice, Fathers Day, the end of black fly season, St. John’s Day, the longest day of the year, Midsummer, Ivan Kupala night, Wianki, Jani, the shortest night of the year, the Red Sox or whatever floats your boat with a selection of music that only the Solstice Sisters could pull together!