Solstice Party(return to archive index)
Sat, Dec 20, 2025 – 7:00 PM – Nelson Town Hall – Nelson NH
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 will be sold online beginning around December 1. 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.
Cosy Sheridan and Sloan Wainwright(return to archive index)
Fri, Sep 19, 2025 – 7:30 PM – Nelson Town Hall – Nelson NH
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.
Solstice Sisters(return to archive index)
Sat, Jun 21, 2025 – 7:30 PM – Nelson Town Hall – Nelson NH
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 special guests Patty Blanchard, Grace Thompson & others(?). 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!
Lui Collins(return to archive index)
Sun, Jun 1, 2025 – 3:00 PM – Nelson Town Hall – Nelson NH
Lui Collins and Anand Nayak will appear for a concert on Sunday, June 1 at 3:00 PM in the afternoon at the Nelson Town Hall. Admission is $20/$25(day of show).
Folk singer/songwriter Lui Collins has been performing, writing and recording for 50 years, earning international acclaim for her music. Her clear voice and engaging presence on stage remain to this day as vibrant as ever. Her repertoire, accompanied on tenor ukulele and banjo, ranges from original and traditional folk songs and American standards to bossa nova in the original Brazilian Portuguese. Lui has shared the stage with such notables as Tom Rush, Bonnie Raitt, and Stan Rogers. Renowned guitarist Dave van Ronk called her “one of the best guitarist-arrangers I have heard in years.”
Lui will be joined by guitarist/Grammy-nominated producer and longtime
collaborator, Anand Nayak. Immersed in music at an early age, and building on
years of classical piano, Anand turned to the guitar as a teenager, teaching
himself to play anything and everything he could. An equal love for acoustic and
electric music kept him stylistically open in those formative years, creating a
foundation for a unique ability to play with and enhance the music of a wide
variety of musicians.
Lui and Anand’s nearly two decades of creative collaboration are evident in the
fluid musical dialogue and joy of their live performance.
Pine Tree Flyers(return to archive index)
Fri, May 9, 2025 – 7:30 PM – Nelson Town Hall – Nelson NH
We managed to snag the Pine Tree Flyers en route to a festival in Burlington, VT for a concert at The Nelson Town Hall on Friday, May 9 at 7:30 PM. Admission is $20/$25 (day of show).
Four of the finest voices in New England’s traditional music scene shine a renewed light on the tunes of the Northeast with excitement and respect. From festival stages and concert halls to raucous August nights at fiddle camp, the Flyers are here to make sure New England music has a seat at the table as a distinct and vital American tradition. All residents of the great state of Maine, Katie McNally (fiddle), Emily Troll (accordion), Benjamin Foss (guitar), and Neil Pearlman (piano) cut their teeth playing for contra dances and learning from the greats. Individually, they’ve toured the world playing Irish, Scottish, and Quebecois music and they bring this wellspring of knowledge and technical prowess to the American music that was born from these traditions.
Each member of the band brings years of experience and dedication to their craft: Foss and Pearlman have taught at Maine Fiddle Camp since they were teens, Troll plays in the acclaimed contra dance band Anadama, and McNally performed for over a decade with New England supergroup Childsplay. The Flyers have toured internationally and domestically, gracing the stages of festivals such as Celtic Connections, Celtic Colours, Festival of Small Halls, Ossipee Valley Music Festival and playing concerts and dances across the Northeast. They released their self-titled album in May 2024 and appear on the Celtic Colours Live, Vol. 10; both recordings feature founding band member Owen Marshall on guitar.
In the liner notes of their debut album, Amelia Mason writes “Practically every aesthetic choice the Pine Tree Flyers make is in service to New England music’s fundamental accessibility and appeal. In essence, they are repaying the music for its gift to them: a sense of joy, communion, and one’s place in the world.” While New England tunes may not be well known outside of the Northeastern United States, the Flyers are proving that their musical heritage is as vibrant and vital as any American folk tradition. Make way for…THE PINE TREE FLYERS!
“Inspirational” (The Strad)
“Infectious” (Strings Magazine)
“a lightness of being, a sweet soulful exuberance and palpable delicacy” (Songlines)
“…delightful speed and ferocity.” (Kithfolk)
“Striking” (Boston Irish Reporter)
Cold Chocolate(return to archive index)
Sun, April 6, 2025 – 3:00 PM – Nelson Town Hall – Nelson NH
Ethan Robbins and Cold Chocolate, will be at the Nelson Town Hall on Sunday, April 6, 2025 for an afternoon concert starting at 3:00 PM. Admission is $15/$20(day of show).
Cold Chocolate is a genre-bending Americana band that fuses folk, funk, and bluegrass to create a unique sound all their own. Featuring Ethan Robbins on guitar, Ariel Bernstein on percussion, and backed by some of the root’s music scene’s finest players, this group from Boston is impressing audiences throughout New England and beyond. Punctuated by tight harmonies and skillful musicianship, and with a focus on songwriting, Cold Chocolate has quickly gained recognition for their original music and high-energy shows. The band has shared bills with Leftover Salmon and David Grisman, and regularly performs at venues and music festivals across the country.
Natalie Backes & Garrett Cameron(return to archive index)
Sun, February 23, 2025 – 3:00 PM – Nelson Town Hall – Nelson NH
Natalie Backes and Garrett Cameron will present an afternoon concert on Sunday, February 23 at 3:00PM. Admission is $10 in advance/$12 day of the show.
We’re excited to see these talented musicians from our Monday night contradances show us what they’ve got outside the structure of dance music!
Natalie and Garrett together create a sound, rooted in the Celtic traditions, that branches out in unexpected directions. Garrett’s mandolin can sparkle in the upper octaves above Natalie’s guitar, or blend in rich harmonies or percussive force with Natalie’s fiddle- a stripped down sound from the contra dances which are their common ground.
SOLD OUT Nelson Solstice Party(return to archive index)
Sat, December 21, 2024 – 7:00 PM – Nelson Town Hall – Nelson NH
On Saturday, December 21, 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. 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) 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.
There will NOT be any tickets available at the door!!
Lui Collins & Anand Nayak – Canceled(return to archive index)
Sun, November 10, 2024 – 3:00 PM – Nelson Town Hall – Nelson NH
Lui Collins and Anand Nayak will appear for a concert on Sunday, November 10 at 3:00 PM in the afternoon at the Nelson Town Hall. Admission is $25/$20(senior, student, or in advance).
Folk singer/songwriter Lui Collins has been performing, writing and recording for
50 years, earning international acclaim for her music. Her clear voice and
engaging presence on stage remain to this day as vibrant as ever. Her repertoire,
accompanied on tenor ukulele and banjo, ranges from original and traditional
folk songs and American standards to bossa nova in the original Brazilian
Portuguese. Lui has shared the stage with such notables as Tom Rush, Bonnie
Raitt, and Stan Rogers. Renowned guitarist Dave van Ronk called her “one of
the best guitarist-arrangers I have heard in years.”
Lui will be joined by guitarist/Grammy-nominated producer and longtime
collaborator, Anand Nayak. Immersed in music at an early age, and building on
years of classical piano, Anand turned to the guitar as a teenager, teaching
himself to play anything and everything he could. An equal love for acoustic and
electric music kept him stylistically open in those formative years, creating a
foundation for a unique ability to play with and enhance the music of a wide
variety of musicians.
Lui and Anand’s nearly two decades of creative collaboration are evident in the
fluid musical dialogue and joy of their live performance.
Tigh na Coille with Elvie Miller & Denis Liddy(return to archive index)
Tue, October 29, 2024 – 7:00 PM – Dublin School – Dublin NH
Elvie Miller and her husband Denis Liddy will be visiting the Monadnock region the last week of October with their twin daughters and a group of twenty of their music students. The Monadnock Folklore Society in conjunction with the Dublin School will be presenting the group, Tigh Na Coille, for a concert of traditional Irish music, dance, & song from County Clare, Ireland. The event will take place in the Louise Shonk Kelly Recital Hall on the campus of the Dublin School on October 29 at 7:00 PM.
Admission is $15 ($10 in advance).
Tigh na Coille, a super-group of teen and young adult musicians from County Clare, has toured widely, including recently at the National School for Performing Arts in Kotel, Bulgaria, and at the All-Ireland Fleadh in Co. Wexford. Tigh na Coille (named for the specific place the group comes from and translating from Irish Gaelic to ‘house in the woods’), play traditional Irish instruments including fiddle, concertina, bodhran, wooden flute, whistle, harp, banjo and Uilleann pipes. They are taught by Denis Liddy, well-known Clare fiddler, and Elvie Miller, pianist/accordionist originally from New Hampshire, who studied traditional music in Ireland as a Watson scholar and now lives and teaches music in Co. Clare.
The multi-talented group also includes several step dancers and sean-nós, or ‘old style’ step dancers, and several prize-winning traditional singers and lilters. The evening will feature solo and group performances along with some dancing. Families are welcome and the evening will be an inspiring cultural exchange and fun for all.
Cosy Sheridan and Sloan Wainwright(return to archive index)
Fri, September 27, 2024 – 7:30 PM – Nelson Town Hall – Nelson NH
Cosy Sheridan & Sloan Wainwright will appear in concert at the Nelson Town Hall
on Friday, September 27 at 7:30 PM.
Admission is $20/$17(seniors, students, & 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.
Troy MacGillivray and Andrea Beaton(return to archive index)
Sat, September 14, 2024 – 7:30 PM – Nelson Town Hall – Nelson NH
We are excited to welcome back Andrea Beaton and Troy MacGillivray for a concert of Cape Breton music on Saturday, September 14 at 7:30 PM at the Nelson Town Hall. Hear airs, marches, strathspeys, reels, jigs and perhaps a waltz or two for good measure performed in the distinct style of Cape Breton. Admission is $25/20(Sr/Jr/Advance)
Two of the finest fiddlers from the East Coast of Canada in concert!
Andrea Beaton comes from a long line of Beaton and MacMaster musicians, which explains why her music is her own and deeply rooted in the Cape Breton tradition. Like her father and grandfather, she is a composer, adding fine new music to the island’s repertoire.
Andrea tours internationally and is in great demand as a teacher at music camps. Her passion for Cape Breton fiddle, piano, step dancing, and comical stories are sure to delight any crowd.
Troy MacGillivray is from Lanark, a small community on the north-eastern shore of Nova Scotia. Troy’s commitment to music has spanned 30 years and includes both practical and academic accomplishments – most recently an M.A. in Ethnomusicology from the University of Limerick in Ireland. From as young as six years old, Troy was impressing audiences step dancing and soon after, fiddle and piano skills. His roots-centered approach has the power to inspire audiences and comes from a family of proud Scottish heritage where fiddle playing and Gaelic traditions runs in the bloodline. Troy is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal for contributions to culture in Canada.
Separately they have strong careers that have brought them around the world playing and teaching from the North Pole to the Middle East. Solo recordings by both artists have been acknowledged with East Coast music awards over several years. Andrea and Troy share a musical ancestry – they are distant cousins where many of their relatives are excellent and prolific musicians!
Together these two accomplished solo artists offer a taste of Nova Scotia’s best traditional music. Andrea and Troy will captivate and enchant the audience with contemporary tunes fused with the music of their Highland ancestry.
Kim Wallach & Andy Davis(return to archive index)
Sun, August 4, 2024 – 3:00 PM – Nelson Town Hall – Nelson NH
We are excited to kick off Nelson Old Home Week with a concert featuring Kim Wallach and Andy Davis at the Nelson Town Hall on Sunday August 4 at 3:00 pm. Kim and Andy have been music educators for years in their respective states of New Hampshire and Vermont and both are committed to promoting traditional dance and music in their communities. The concert will feature songs they have collected or written celebrating life on each side of the river that separates us physically but not culturally. This will be a FREE concert presented in conjunction with Nelson in Common. Donations accepted.
Kim Wallach is a seasoned performer with an extensive repertoire of original songs, traditional ballads and other gems. While she loves singing harmony, she happily takes the lead at a solo concert, accompanying herself on guitar, banjo and piano. She tells stories about the songs and sometimes really bad jokes and has mostly stopped threatening to send you to the office if you talk during the concert.
Andy Davis plays accordion, piano and banjo, as well as calling dances. Andy taught music for 32 in Windham County Vermont, helped create New England Dancing Masters—publishers of traditional dance books and recordings—and performed with Nowell Sing We Clear for many years. Andy has appeared as a dance musician, leading dance and song at many well-known traditional music and dance camps throughout the United States.
Andy’s songs are inspired by local stories, American history, dear friends, farmers, pub singers, dance callers, sailors on the high seas, political turmoil and environmental concerns. Anecdotes from his years of teaching music have found their way into these songs that reflect on life in New England – and beyond.
For other Nelson Old Home Week events, see: https://nelsonincommon.org/old-home-week-2024-august-4-10/
Solstice Sisters(return to archive index)
Sat, June 22, 2024 – 7:30 PM – Nelson Town Hall – Nelson NH
The Solstice Sisters return for a celebration of the Summer Solstice on Saturday, June 22, 2024 at 7:30 PM at the Nelson Town Hall. Admission is $15/$12(Sr/Jr).
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. This past winter they were joined by Margaret Page Iselin. They decided that getting together for the solstice concert was so much fun that it was a shame it was only once a year; But wait …….. there are two solstices in the calendar year, what better excuse could there be?
For this show Patty Blanchard joins the ‘Sisters’ onstage. So 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.
Mari Black(return to archive index)
Sat, May 18, 2024 – 7:30 PM – Nelson Town Hall – Nelson NH
Join us for a concert of ‘Fiddling Around the World’ with the Mari Black Trio on Saturday, May 18 at 7:30 PM at the Nelson Town Hall.Admission is $20/$15 (seniors, students, or in advance).
Multistyle violinist & champion fiddler MARI BLACK returns to our Nelson stage with her virtuosic fiddling, sparkling stage presence, and commitment to bringing people together through music which has made her a favorite with audiences across the country and around the world. A master of diverse musical styles and winner of several major international competitions, Mari sweeps her 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. She and her dynamic band will treat you to an unforgettable experience that will have you tapping your toes and dancing in the aisles!
Eloise & Co(return to archive index)
Sun, April 14, 2024 – 3:00 PM – Nelson Town Hall – Nelson NH
Join us on Sunday afternoon, April 14 at 3:00 PM at the Nelson Town Hall for a concert with local legends ‘Eloise & Co.’. Admission is $20/$15 (seniors, students, or in advance).
Brattleboro-based band Eloise & Co. is a shapeshifting ensemble, often a duo and, at other times, a trio with piano or guitar. With Becky Tracy on fiddle, octave fiddle, and vocals and Rachel Bell on accordion and vocals, Eloise & Co. plays a dynamic range of music including gritty French bal folk groove tunes, energetic Celtic reels, soulful waltzes, and lively Quebecois tunes. The band travels extensively, performing for festivals, concerts, bal folk, and contra dances, but they are also committed to exploring ways to enrich the music and dance scene right here at home in New England.
Becky and Rachel found themselves in a spontaneous jam session with Quebecois pianist extraordinaire Rachel Aucoin at a music camp in 2017. The musical chemistry was instant and palpable, and the three decided right then and there that they had to play together again. Rachel Aucoin’s piano playing is unmatched. Her classical background is mind-boggling, and her work with dance bands like Domino and Raz-de-marée over the years cemented her position in the pantheon of legendary rhythm backup players. Based in Beaumont, Quebec, she continues to tour widely with a dazzling array of musicians.
It’s hard to pin down exactly what sparked the creative synergy Becky and Rachel Bell felt while playing with Rachel Aucoin, but there is something transcendent about the blend of their rhythmic grooves and musical energies. The three began rehearsing, recording, and playing concerts just before the pandemic but then got interrupted by Covid. They are thrilled to present this cross-border reunion in a weekend of concerts in New England. Becky, Rachel, and Rachel are excited to invite you into their shared musical delight with a variety of music ranging from old traditional tunes to their own new compositions, all infused with the magnetism that drew them together in the first place.
Alex Cumming(return to archive index)
Sat, March 16, 2024 – 7:30 PM – Nelson Town Hall – Nelson NH
Join us for a concert with critically acclaimed folk singer and accordionist Alex Cumming as he celebrates the launch of his brand new album, ‘Homecoming’, an exciting album full of toe-tapping tunes, beautiful ballads and rollicking choruses. The concert will take place at the Nelson Town Hall at 7:30 on Saturday, March 16. Joining Alex will be virtuosic fiddler and singer Audrey Jaber, known for her work with The Gaslight Tinkers, Wake Up Robin, Larry Unger, Free Raisins and more. Admission is $20/$15(seniors, students, or in advance).
Alex Cumming is a traditional Singer, Accordionist, Pianist and dance caller hailing from Somerset, England, now living in Brattleboro VT, USA. He performs songs and tunes from around the United Kingdom and America with a great depth of knowledge of the tradition. Alex has made his mark on the folk scene with his rhythmic dance-able accordion style, strong voice and his fun and engaging stage presence. After over a decade of recording albums and touring with various bands, 2024 sees Alex release his debut solo album, ‘Homecoming’, featuring fiddler Audrey Jaber (Wake Up Robin, Free Raisins), guitarist Max Newman (Stringrays, Nor’Easter) and regular recording collaborator Pete Ord (Haystack Records).Alex is a member of Celtic trio Bellwether (with Louise Bichan, Eric McDonald), award winning a capella quartet The Teacups and critically acclaimed duo Alex Cumming & Nicola Beazley. You may also catch him playing for dances in many combos, including Stuart Kenney’s Red Case Band and trio Crossover. Alex is also Artistic Director for Revels North. AlexCummingMusic.com
You know Audrey Jaber is performing if the room is buzzing at a higher level. Her fiddling, featured in bands including The Free Raisins, The Gaslight Tinkers, Audacious (with Larry Unger), and Wake Up Robin, has electrified dance and concert halls across the US and Europe. Hailing from Honolulu and now living in California, she cut her folk teeth in the Boston area, attending Berklee College of Music and spending years exploring the thriving New England folk scene. Audrey’s fiddle playing is rhythmically lively and spontaneous; she’s guaranteed to get you up and dancing. She specializes in English dance, New England, Celtic, and Old Time tunes (and did we mention she’s also an audio engineer?!). You might also have taken a workshop with Audrey, as she’s been on staff at various camps including various weeks at Pinewoods, Ashokan Northern Week, BACDS American week, New London Assembly and Halsway Manor. For more on Audrey, visit her at audreyknuth.com
Claudia Schmidt (return to archive index)
Sat, November 11, 2023 – 7:30 PM – Nelson Town Hall – Nelson NH
CLAUDFEST! What is it? This year marks the 50th year that Claudia Schmidt has been weaving her musical magic for countless delighted audiences. It begins with her multi-octave voice, 12 string guitar and mountain dulcimer. But then the language leaps in, and it all comes together. Her love of language is obvious from the moment she opens her mouth. Her songs are pure poetry, and along her way she began adding spoken word and story, so that her listeners get to go on a deep journey with her, returning refreshed and replenished from the experience. She has recorded 22 albums and there is much more to come. Why don’t you come and help this amazing performer celebrate as she begins her 6th decade of composing and performing?! CELEBRATE CLAUDFEST! Join us on Saturday, November 11, for a 7:30 PM concert at the Nelson Town Hall celebrating Claudia’s 50 years of performing. Admission is $25/$20(senior, student).
Claudia Schmidt has been perfecting her craft of writing and performing for 50 years. It is a quirky and wonderful hodge-podge (her word) of music, poetry, story, theater, all invoking the whole gamut of emotions and leaving the listener refreshed and thoughtful. Using her incredible multi-octave voice, 12 string guitar and mountain dulcimer, and a deep love of performing, every concert is a true celebration of the moment. Work in clubs, theaters, festivals, TV and radio has continually added depth and dimension, so whether it is her own work or very personal versions of the work of others, what you get is a unique look at the world from someone who says what she sees with clarity, humor, and wonder. The San Francisco Bay Guardian said: “Schmidt’s shows are a lot like falling in love. You never know what’s going to happen next, chances are it’s going to be wonderful, every moment is burned into your memory, and you know you’ll never be the same again.”
During the Covid lockdown, she created weekly concerts on Facebook to stay connected with her fans. all of which (along with many more videos!) are archived at her website www.claudiaschmidt.com
She released her 22nd recording in autumn of 2022, called Reimagining, and continues writing toward a new project. She is at her peak in terms of performance, and is so happy to be doing live concerts again, and shows no sign of slowing down or stopping. She describes the stage as ‘her natural habitat’ and thrives there. So, in turn, do her listeners.
Cosy Sheridan and Susie Burke (return to archive index)
Fri, October 13, 2023 – 7:30 PM – Nelson Town Hall – Nelson NH
Sloan Wainwright has come down with the flu and Susie Burke is stepping in to fill her shoes for both the Friday night concert and weekend workshops.
Cosy Sheridan & Susie Burke will appear in concert at the Nelson Town Hall on Friday, October 13 at 7:30 PM. Admission is $20/$15(seniors, students, & 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 Berkelee 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.
Susie Burke has been singing on Seacoast stages since the early 80s, as a soloist, a member of several local bands, and in several duos, including one with guitar whiz Harvey Reid. Her musical tastes and influences are varied and many, encompassing contemporary and traditional folk, swing, country, topical songs, and a capella singing, with detours along the way for Broadway show tunes and classic ballads. Before devoting her energies to music full-time, Burke worked as a day-care teacher, and her love of kids is evident in her wonderful participatory children’s concerts. Burke’s vocal style is at once stunning and heartfelt, and is well-respected within the folk music community, as is demonstrated by the fact that she has appeared as a backing musician on numerous recordings.
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.
Troy MacGillivray and Kimberly Fraser (return to archive index)
Sun, May 28, 2023 – 3:00 PM – Nelson Town Hall – Nelson NH
Troy MacGillivray and Kimberly Fraser
Sat, September 16, 2023 – 7:30 PM – Nelson Town Hall – Nelson NH
Join us for an evening of 
music from Cape Breton and Nova Scotia with Troy MacGillivray and Kimberley Fraser at the Nelson Town Hall on Saturday, September 16 at 7:30 PM. Admission is $25/$20(senior, student, or in advance). Troy and Kimberley will accompany each other on fiddle and piano in the classic Cape Breton style, and if past performances are any guide, treat us to some step dancing. This will be our first Cape Breton concert in quite some time and will be a night to remember.
Troy MacGillivray is from Lanark, a small community on the north-eastern shore of Nova Scotia. Troy’s commitment to music has spanned 30 years and includes both practical and academic accomplishments – most recently an M.A. in Ethnomusicology from the University of Limerick in Ireland. From as young as six years old, Troy was impressing audiences step dancing and soon after, fiddle and piano skills. His first teaching gig was at 13 years old at the Gaelic College in St. Ann’s, Cape Breton. His roots-centered approach comes from a family of proud Scottish heritage where fiddle playing and Gaelic traditions runs in the bloodline.
In 2012, Troy was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal for contributions to culture in Canada. Troy’s strong career has brought him around the world playing and teaching from the North Pole to the Afghanistan while solo recordings have received numerous nominations and awards from East Coast Music Awards and the Canadian Folk Music Awards.
Kimberley Fraser was born on Cape Breton Island, and nurtured within its rich musical heritage. She first began to impress audiences at the age of three with her step-dancing talents. Soon after that she took up both the fiddle and the piano. Kimberley’s career is a distinguished one; she has traveled the world, from Victoria to Afghanistan, performing at venues such as The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. bringing Cape Breton music with her wherever she goes. Dan MacDonald of the Cape Breton Post says about Fraser’s versatility, “She has matured to become one of the stellar players of the Cape Breton fiddle tradition, equally at home at a house party, playing for a square dance or on stage for a concert in Bras d’Or or Boston, Scotsville or Scotland.” Kimberley has shared the stage with the finest acts in Celtic music, such as Alasdair Fraser, Martin Hayes and Lunasa. Kimberley is also in demand for her piano skills, accompanying musicians at home and abroad.
Kimberley holds a degree in Violin performance from Berkelee College of Music in Boston as well as a BA with Honours in Celtic Studies and major in Jazz piano from St Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Education is important to her, reflected in Kimberley’s dedication to teaching Cape Breton music both at home and abroad. A master at the trio of fiddling, step dancing and piano, Kimberley is a much sought after teacher for all three. Her reputation as a teacher has brought her to conduct workshops at many camps and festivals, including Alasdair Fraser’s Valley of the Moon Fiddle Camp, the Swannanoa Gathering in Asheville, North Carolina, and The American Festival of Fiddle Tunes in Port Townsend, Washington to name a few. She is now a full-time faculty member for the Music Arts program at the Nova Scotia Community College’s Marconi Campus in Sydney, NS where she teaches music theory, ear training, piano keyboarding skills and a variety of ensemble classes.
Kimberley has released 2 studio albums: Heart Behind the Bow in 2000 and Falling on New Ground in 2006 which earned her an East Coast Music Award for Best Roots/Traditional Record in 2008.
Tim Eriksen (return to archive index)
Sun, May 28, 2023 – 3:00 PM – Nelson Town Hall – Nelson NH
The Monadnock Folklore Society is excited to welcome back Tim Eriksen to the Nelson Town Hall for an afternoon concert on Sunday, May 28 at 3:00 PM. Admission is $25/$20 (senior/student/advance). Masks required, please see our COVID policy.
Tim Eriksen is acclaimed for transforming American tradition with his startling interpretations of old ballads, love songs, shape-note gospel and dance tunes from New England and Southern Appalachia. He combines hair-raising vocals with inventive accompaniment on banjo, fiddle, guitar and bajo sexto – a twelve string Mexican acoustic bass – creating a distinctive hardcore Americana sound.
Cold Chocolate (return to archive index)
Sun, April 16, 2023 – 3:00 PM – Nelson Town Hall – Nelson NH
Ethan Robbins’ was the first concert we canceled due to the COVID outbreak in early 2020 so it seems appropriate that we welcome him back to the Nelson Town Hall as we return to the local concert calendar. His band, Cold Chocolate, will be at the Nelson Town Hall on Sunday, April 16 2023 for an afternoon concert starting at 3:00 PM. Admission is $18/$15(senior, student, or in advance).
Cold Chocolate is a genre-bending Americana band that fuses folk, funk, and bluegrass to create a unique sound all their own. Featuring Ethan Robbins on guitar, Ariel Bernstein on percussion, and backed by some of the root’s music scene’s finest players, this group from Boston is impressing audiences throughout New England and beyond. Punctuated by tight harmonies and skillful musicianship, and with a focus on songwriting, Cold Chocolate has quickly gained recognition for their original music and high-energy shows. The band has shared bills with Leftover Salmon and David Grisman, and regularly performs at venues and music festivals across the country.
Cosy Sheridan (return to archive index)
Sun, November 13, 2022 – 3:00 PM – Nelson Town Hall – Nelson NH
Cosy Sheridan will appear in concert at The Nelson Town Hall on Sunday, November 13 at 3 pm. She will be accompanied on bass and keyboards by Charlie Koch and Kent Allyn.
This will be MFS’ first indoor concert since early 2020. There is NO ADMISSION FEE, but we will have a basket out for donations to cover our presentation costs. We are still in the midst of a pandemic and require that masks be worn indoors and there will be no refreshments served. Help us return to the world of music presentation while keeping everyone safe.
Cosy Sheridan first appeared on the national folk scene in 1992 when she won the songwriting contests at The Kerrville Folk Festival and The Telluride Bluegrass Festival. The Boston Globe wrote: ”she is now being called one of the best new singer/songwriters”. She plays a percussive bluesy guitar – often in open tunings and occasionally with 2 or more capos on the guitar. She is backed up with the strong rhythms and harmonies of bass player Charlie Koch and keyboardist Kent Allyn.
Cosy continues to be one of the most prolific songwriters in the folk scene. My Fence & My Neighbor was number four on the folk radio charts in 2018. Pretty Bird was listed in Sing Out Magazine’s Great CDs of 2014.
She learned guitar when she was nine years old from her babysitter – using an old guitar she found under the family piano. She was a voice student at The Berklee College of Music, and a guitar student of legendary fingerstyle players Eric Schoenberg and Guy Van Duser. She has played at Carnegie Hall, The Cowgirl Hall of Fame, and on the Jerry Lewis Telethon.
She teaches classes in songwriting, performance, and guitar at workshops and adult music camps across the country. She is the director of Moab Folk Camp in Moab, Utah.
“Her user-friendly musical philosophy sets her happily apart from the myopic, self-involved songwriters… she is a wonderfully lively, very funny and enormously amiable entertainer with a keen and wicked eye for the excesses of our fast-food, tv-happy and noisome culture.” – The Boston Globe
“A Buddhist monk in a 12-step program trapped in the body of a singer/songwriter.” – The Albuquerque Journal
“Sheridan is frank, feisty, sublimely and devilishly funny. She fuses myth with modern culture, Persephone with Botox.” – Cornell Folksong Society