Call in your reservations for our April 22 show with Sultans of String to 401-725-9272.

3-time JUNO (Canada’s Grammy) nominees Sultans of String are an energetic and exciting band thrilling audiences with their genre-hopping mix of Celtic reels, Flamenco, Gypsy-jazz, Arabic, and Cuban rhythms as fiery violin dances with kinetic guitar while funky bass lays down unstoppable grooves. Throughout, acoustic strings meet electronic wizardry to create layers and depth of sound. Celebrating 10 years together, Sultans of String have hit #1 across Canada on Top 10 national radio charts, #6 on Billboard (world), and received multiple awards and accolades, including three Canadian Folk Music Awards, plus invitations to perform/ record with such luminaries as The Chieftains, Sweet Honey In The Rock, and David Bromberg. Sultans of String is led by violinist Chris McKhool who was raised in a Lebanese-Egyptian household bursting with music and diversity. When he first heard founding guitarist Kevin Laliberté’s rumba rhythm, their musical synergy created Sultans of String’s signature sound – the intimate and playful relationship between violin and guitar. From this rich foundation, the duo grew as they added in-the-pocket bass master Drew Birston. The group has performed live on BBC TV, BBC Radio, and the internationally syndicated shows WoodSongs, World Cafe, and on SiriusXM in Washington. Don’t miss their Rhode Island debut!

*All ticket prices include a $1.00 per ticket restoration charge

Call in your reservations for our April 21 show with Frigg to 401-725-9272.

Frigg has been conquering the world with a fusion of western folk music styles, leaning strongly towards Nordic folk music, for which the world music media has coined the term "nordgrass" referring to the bluegrass influences of the group. The tight interplay of four violins, string instruments and contrabass, fine-tuned to perfection and spiced with sparkling, humorous live energy has made an impact on listeners all over the world. Apart from relentless touring in Europe, Frigg has done seven North American tours, including a long list of prominent festivals. Frigg has released eight albums. "Polka V," from 2012, was chosen the folk music record of the year and was nominated for a Teosto Prize in Finland. The world music publication Songlines has singled out two of the group’s albums for its “Top of the World” chart. In 2017, the eighth album by Frigg, "Frost on Fiddles," was released. The originally Finnish-Norwegian group has now become wholly Finnish, but Nordic influences remain strong. The delicate and beautiful Scandinavian language has been dipped in BBQ sauce and it is being served fresh with pálinka, to be enjoyed in good company!

*All ticket prices include a $1.00 per ticket restoration charge

Call in your reservations for our March 8, 2020 show with Matthew Byrne to 401-725-9272.

Storytelling through song is a fundamental duty of traditional music and Matthew Byrne does this brilliantly with his latest recording, "Horizon Lines." Byrne was born into a family of Newfoundland music makers and this newest collection of traditional material explores a unique repertoire of songs from both sides of the Atlantic continuing Byrne’s journey through his musical lineage. This tradition thrives on the song – the weaving of a great story with a beautiful melody – and Byrne's music reminds us how satisfying traditional songs can be when stripped down to these basic elements. Since bursting on to the trad scene in 2010 with his debut recording, “Ballads," Matthew has swiftly earned his place as one of Canada’s most authentic and vital traditional voices backed by his masterful guitar playing. Byrne’s second solo CD "Hearts & Heroes” won “Traditional Album of the Year” at the 2015 Canadian Folk Music Awards. "Horizon Lines" - a collection of traditional material from both sides of the Atlantic that continues Byrne’s journey through his own unique musical lineage, won Traditional Recording of the Year at the 2018 Canadian Folk Music Awards. Having received this distinction for a second time, Matthew Byrne continues to establish himself as one of today’s most authentic and vital traditional voices.

*All ticket prices include a $1.00 per ticket restoration charge

Call in your reservations for our April 7 show with The Gothard Sisters to 401-725-9272.

The Gothard Sisters are a dynamic group of three sisters, whose impressive array of talents have set them apart as one of the most refreshing and compelling acts in Celtic music today. The sisters' theatrical flair brings a youthful splash to the time-honored tradition of Celtic folk music, bridging the gap between modern pop and Folk-Rock with an upbeat style that has been described as "beautifully-arranged Celtic Folk-Pop.” When sisters Greta Gothard, Willow Gothard, and Solana Gothard fuse their musical talents together, the result is an irresistible mix of spritely violin and fiddle tones, pure sibling vocal harmonies, mandolin and pennywhistle accents, all supported by the exuberant rhythms of the Irish bodhran, African djembe, and acoustic guitar. They won many fans at our Summer Solstice Festival two years ago and we are thrilled to finally have them play at Blackstone River Theatre itself! After ten years of playing together and a lifetime of getting to know one another, The Gothard Sisters' eclectic style has truly evolved into a jubilant live performance, full of entertaining sibling-banter, Irish step-dancing, foot-stomping tunes, lyrical melodies, storytelling, and a genuine lightness of heart that leaves audiences feeling refreshed and inspired. 

*All ticket prices include a $1.00 per ticket restoration charge

Call in your reservations for our March 24 show with The April Verch Band to 401-725-9272.

Bow. Feet. Vox. A trifecta of talent, keeping tradition feisty. While April Verch is perhaps best known for playing traditional fiddle styles from her native Ottawa Valley, Canada, her performances extend into old-time American and Appalachian styles and beyond, for a well-rounded tour-de-force of North Americana sounds. Verch tours with world-class musicians as a trio, featuring acoustic guitar, mandolin, bass and clawhammer banjo in addition to Verch’s vocals, fiddle and foot percussion. One might suspect a performer with as many talents as Verch would pause to take a breath, or need to compartmentalize her skills during a live performance. But on stage, Verch is almost superhuman, flawlessly intertwining and overlapping her talents. She step dances while fiddling. She sings while step dancing. Sometimes she sings, steps and fiddles all at once, with apparent ease and precision. Touring the world to share songs from her 11th album (The April Verch Anthology), April returns to Blackstone River Theatre with her band featuring bassist and clawhammer banjo player Cody Walters, and guitarist Alex Rubin. Even as she plays with the tradition she inherited in her native Ottawa Valley, Verch’s breathtaking performances speak to the heart of roots music with mature and reflective songwriting, interpreting, and storytelling.

*All ticket prices include a $1.00 per ticket restoration charge

Call in your reservations for our March 11, 8 PM show with The High Kings to 401-725-9272.

BOTH THE 4 PM AND 8 PM SHOWS ARE SOLD OUT as of 2/26/18! There comes a time when the dues have been paid and when the tools of the apprenticeship are neatly stowed away. The honing of the craft continues, but the dust – so to speak – has settled. Almost ten years ago, four Irish singers, performers and songwriters decided to take a calculated risk. The constituent parts of The High Kings – Finbarr Clancy, Brian Dunphy, Martin Furey and Darren Holden – each had a wealth of history in the music business behind them, but knew that in order to maintain any level of creative interest they would have to go where no other Irish ballad group had gone before. In the late ‘90s, the heyday of ballad groups such as The Clancy Brothers and The Dubliners was a distant memory for generations of music fans. To have another bunch of Irish lads taking up the baton and continuing the tradition was great news to thousands of fans worldwide. Their 2008 self-titled debut album reached number two on Billboard Magazine’s World Music chart. But it was during their 2nd tour of the US in 2011 that everyone involved realized the fanbase was growing into something no one had predicted. More was to come in 2013 with the group’s third studio album, "Friends For Life," which featured original songs among the traditional fare. The development of original songwriting – ballad-style but with contemporary touches – from each member continues but The High Kings decided balance must be maintained so their 4th studio album, "Grace & Glory," takes them back to the essentials that kick-started their career in the first place. To say that The High Kings are charting a new course for Irish ballad music – equal parts rousing and reflective, energetic and insightful – is an understatement. They are, essentially, marking out a new and bright era for Irish folk music, and aiming to bring a broad demographic along for the journey. The High Kings have vowed to continue for another decade following the departure of Martin Furey in late 2017, the addition of new member George Murphy, and their first ‘Best Of’ collection “DECADE" was released to critical and popular acclaim in November, 2017. 

*All ticket prices include a $1.00 per ticket restoration charge

The 4 PM AND 8 PM shows with The High Kings are completely SOLD OUT as of 2/26/18.

There comes a time when the dues have been paid and when the tools of the apprenticeship are neatly stowed away. The honing of the craft continues, but the dust – so to speak – has settled. Almost ten years ago, four Irish singers, performers and songwriters decided to take a calculated risk. The constituent parts of The High Kings – Finbarr Clancy, Brian Dunphy, Martin Furey and Darren Holden – each had a wealth of history in the music business behind them, but knew that in order to maintain any level of creative interest they would have to go where no other Irish ballad group had gone before. In the late ‘90s, the heyday of ballad groups such as The Clancy Brothers and The Dubliners was a distant memory for generations of music fans. To have another bunch of Irish lads taking up the baton and continuing the tradition was great news to thousands of fans worldwide. Their 2008 self-titled debut album reached number two on Billboard Magazine’s World Music chart. But it was during their 2nd tour of the US in 2011 that everyone involved realized the fanbase was growing into something no one had predicted. More was to come in 2013 with the group’s third studio album, "Friends For Life," which featured original songs among the traditional fare. The development of original songwriting – ballad-style but with contemporary touches – from each member continues but The High Kings decided balance must be maintained so their 4th studio album, "Grace & Glory," takes them back to the essentials that kick-started their career in the first place. To say that The High Kings are charting a new course for Irish ballad music – equal parts rousing and reflective, energetic and insightful – is an understatement. They are, essentially, marking out a new and bright era for Irish folk music, and aiming to bring a broad demographic along for the journey. The High Kings have vowed to continue for another decade following the departure of Martin Furey in late 2017, the addition of new member George Murphy, and their first ‘Best Of’ collection “DECADE" being released to critical and popular acclaim in November, 2017. 

*All ticket prices include a $1.00 per ticket restoration charge

Call in your reservations for our March 4 show with O'Connell & Clancy to 401-725-9272.

Robbie O'Connell returns to Blackstone River Theatre for a duo performance with dynamic fiddler Rose Clancy. Singer-songwriter Robbie O'Connell was born in Waterford, Ireland, and grew up in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary. In 1977, he joined the legendary Clancy Brothers with whom he recorded 3 albums. With the 1982 release of his first solo album Robbie emerged as an artist of major stature. Soon after, he began touring with Mick Moloney and Jimmy Keane, and also with Eileen Ivers and Seamus Egan in the Green Fields of America. Robbie has earned international acclaim as a singer-songwriter by making it quite clear that there's more to being Irish than filling stereotypes. The Boston Globe describes him as "a writer of timeless-sounding, emotionally powerful and often hilarious songs" and places him "among the most respected guitarists, singer and songwriters in Celtic music." Rose Clancy is a respected, high-energy musician playing fiddle, mandolin and banjo at concerts and festivals throughout the Northeast. A graduate of the violin making program at North Bennet Street School in Boston, Clancy founded and runs The Chatham Fiddle Company in Massachusetts where she also produces traditional music concerts.

*All ticket prices include a $1.00 per ticket restoration charge

Call in your reservations for our March 3 show with RUNA to 401-725-9272.

Quickly gaining recognition as one of Irish music’s new “super-groups,” RUNA has been enchanting audiences by pushing the boundaries of Irish folk music into the Americana and roots music formats since their formation in 2008. Interweaving the haunting melodies and exuberant tunes of Ireland and Scotland with the lush harmonies and intoxicating rhythms of jazz, bluegrass, flamenco and blues, they offer a thrilling and redefining take on traditional music. The group has been honored internationally, winning Top Group and Top Traditional Group in the Irish Music Awards and four Independent Music Awards including Best Live Album, Best World/Traditional Song and Best Bluegrass Song. RUNA consists of vocalist and step-dancer Shannon Lambert-Ryan of Philadelphia, Dublin-born guitarist Fionán de Barra, Cheryl Prashker of Canada on percussion, Zach White of St. Louis on guitar, vocals and mandolin, and Maggie White of Kentucky on the fiddle and mandolin. RUNA recently released their fifth album, “RUNA: LIVE” which was recorded at the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Maryland on March 17, 2016 and is receiving praise on both sides of the Atlantic. Seeking to preserve and continue a traditional culture in a modern age, RUNA creates the backbone of its signature roots sound from the musical and geographical diversity of its individual band members. Their strive for excellence and creativity blazes a trail for the future of folk music, earning them the reputation as one of the most innovative Irish folk groups of this generation.

*All ticket prices include a $1.00 per ticket restoration charge