KITTEL & CO.

Or call in your reservations for our February 11, 7:00 p.m. concert with Kittel & Co. to 401-725-9272.

Led by acclaimed violinist Jeremy Kittel (formerly of the Grammy-winning Turtle Island Quartet), Kittel & Co. (“Kid-dle and Koh”) inhabits the space between classical and acoustic roots, Celtic and bluegrass aesthetics, and folk and jazz sensibilities. Some of the greatest musicians in the incredible acoustic scene, the members of Kittel & Co. have collaborated with Béla Fleck, Sarah Jarosz, Chris Thile, and Yo-Yo Ma. Together, Jeremy Kittel and mandolin phenom Josh Pinkham, transcendent guitarist Quinn Bachand, bassist Jacob Warren, and hammer-dulcimer wizard Simon Chrisman coalesce into a singular voice that’s thrilled audiences from the Telluride Bluegrass Festival to A Prairie Home Companion. “[Kittel & Co.] takes the string band tradition to marvelously rarefied levels of collective virtuosity…. thrillingly spontaneous” –Times UK. Grammy-nominated Kittel & Co. will get your toes tapping and lift you out of your seat. Don't miss this incredible evening of music!

STEFAN COUTURE and the MOONDOG / COLD CHOCOLATE

Or call in your reservations for our February 17, 8:00 p.m. concert with Stefan Couture and the Moondog and Cold Chocolate to 401-725-9272.

Stefan Couture and the Moondog will redefine your idea of an acoustic duo with a sound so big it feels more like a band than it does a duo. A melting pot of Stefan’s soulful modern folk and great songwriting fused with the dynamic 12 string guitar of Matt Nolan. Stefan’s songs are written with heart and uses lyrics that are personal, yet completely relatable to all at the same time. True poetry of the human condition, Stefan’s music is like an old friend that captures the same type of spirit as troubadours like Tom Petty and more modern songwriters such as Ray Lamontagne and Ryan Montbleau. Nolan’s virtuosity on the 12 string can be heard in the first few notes. He doesn’t play these songs, but explores them with emotional, spacey textures touching on elements of blues and psychedelia. Their chemistry together is evident, making audiences wonder if they’re telepathically communicating with each other while they touch both your heart and mind. They are currently performing throughout the northeast and are currently working on an EP titled, “A Brief and Binding Light."

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 and Ariel Bernstein on percussion,  this duo 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 up and down the East Coast.

Cathy Clasper-Torch and Shelley Katsh / Torrin Ryan and Amy Law

Or call in your reservations for our February 26, 3:00 p.m. concert with Cathy Clasper-Torch & Shelley Katsh and Torrin Ryan & Amy Law to 401-725-9272.

Multi-instrumentalists Cathy Clasper-Torch and Shelley Katsh bring years of music making as well as friendship to a virtuoso collaboration of musicianship and spirit. Their repertoire, as heard on their CD, "From the Inside Out" is infused with both the sublime and lively – melodies ancient and contemporary – played "straight from the heart." Clasper-Torch performs violin, cello, erhu and piano with a diverse range of RI-based bands and musicians, and has recorded on over 3 dozen albums. Cathy has also been the fiddle instructor at Blackstone River Theatre since 2006. Shelley Katsh, on piano and accordion, performed klezmer and Hassidic music with Fishel Bresler and a range of Boston-based klezmer musicians for 20 years. She accompanies and sings with several Rhode Island musical groups and is the Music Director of The Miracle Project-New England.  

Torrin Ryan, of Attleboro, Mass., has grown up at Blackstone River Theatre having performed solo and with many groups over the past 12 years. Ryan specializes in the uilleann pipes and has gone on to win five All-Ireland medals in Ireland competition including being named the 2013 All-Ireland champion for slow airs on uilleann pipes. The Irish bagpipes, with air pumped from a bag squeezed by the elbow rather than blowing into it like Scottish bagpipes, is recognized as one of the most difficult traditional instruments to master. Torrin also performs on tin whistle and flute. He is joined today by fiddler Amy Law and they will join Cathy and Shelley at the end of the concert for a set of tunes together! Amy Law is an Irish fiddler, step dancer, and Sean-nós dancer who has been playing music since the age of 3 and performing for almost as long. A San Diego native now living in Southeast Mass., she is a student of renowned Seattle-based Irish fiddler Dale Russ. Amy has been inspired by Dale’s unique style as well as many of the great Sliabh Luachra-style fiddle and accordion players throughout the decades.

BILL HARLEY and THE COMMENTS

Or call in your reservations for our March 4, 3:00 p.m. concert with Bill Harley and the Comments to 401-725-9272.

Bill Harley is well‐traveled, well‐read, well‐educated, well‐spoken and well‐loved. Accompanied by his guitar, his songs and stories, both original and traditional, are a celebration of our common humanity. A two‐time Grammy winner and an inductee of the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame, Bill is outrageous, unpredictable and genuine with songs and stories about growing up, schooling and what it is to be human — our connections with one another and with the planet we share. Recognized by audiences and peers as one of the finest performing storytellers in the country, his work has influenced a generation of children, parents, performing artists and educators. Bill tours internationally as a performing artist, author and keynote speaker from his home in Seekonk, Mass. He'll be joined for this adult concert by Marty Ballou on bass, fiddler Rachel Panitch and Dick Reed on accordion. He’ll do a wide collection of his songs including some from his recently released recording “Walking Each Other Home” in addition to songs from some of his favorite songwriters, and a few stories underscored by these great musicians. From coyotes to trespassing through the suburbs to environmental disasters the size of the biggest little state, there will be something for everyone!

GUY DAVIS

Or call in your reservations for our March 5, 7:00 p.m. concert with Guy Davis to 401-725-9272.

One of the most gifted acoustic musicians on the planet, Guy Davis mixes light and airy melodies with profound observations about life in a troubled world on his latest album, a tour de force follow-up to "Sonny & Brownie’s Last Train," which earned him and his partner, Fabrizio Poggi, his second Grammy nomination in 2017. The son of Ozzie Davis and Ruby Dee — two of the brightest lights in the Civil Rights movement and foremost actors of their generation – Guy carries forward the songster tradition here, weaving together tunes that invoke images of prejudice, separation, tragedy and discord in a manner that’s both subtle and moving in its simplicity without being overbearing, something a lesser artist would find impossible to achieve. A mix of blues and Americana, Davis penned 12 of the 13 tracks on “Be Ready When I Call You" – a rarity in a career that spans 27 years and 14 albums. A gifted storyteller, his pleasant mid-range voice is more road-worn than ever while his talents on acoustic guitar, banjo and harmonica remain first-class. Don’t miss his Blackstone River Theatre debut!

Lúnasa with special guest Daoirí Farrell

Or call in your reservations for our March 12, 3:00 p.m. concert with Lúnasa to 401-725-9272.

We are thrilled to bring back our friends Lúnasa so close to St. Patrick’s Day for a two concerts featuring special guest singer/bouzouki player Daoirí Farrell. Named for a Celtic harvest festival in honor of the Irish god Lugh, patron of the arts, Lúnasa is indeed a gathering of some of the top musical talents in Ireland. For 25 years its members have formed the backbone of some of the greatest Irish groups of the decade. Bassist Trevor Hutchinson was a key member of The Waterboys. Kevin Crawford, considered to be among the finest flutists in Ireland, played with Moving Cloud and piper Cillian Vallely comes from the same talented musical family as brother Niall, of the Karan Casey Band. Dynamic guitarist Ed Boyd made a name for himself with bands such as Flook, Kate Rusby, and Cara Dillon and is joined by award-winning fiddler Colin Farrell. Inspired by the legendary Irish group The Bothy Band, Lúnasa uses melodic interweaving of wind and string instruments pairing flutes, fiddle, whistle and pipes in breathtaking arrangements. They are universally acclaimed as one of the best Irish bands in the world and will be joined by Dublin-born traditional singer and bouzouki player Daoirí (pronounced ‘Derry’) Farrell who has been described by some of the biggest names in Irish folk music as one of most important singers to come out of Ireland in recent years.

Lúnasa with special guest Daoirí Farrell

Or call in your reservations for our March 12, 7:00 p.m. concert with Lúnasa to 401-725-9272.

We are thrilled to bring back our friends Lúnasa so close to St. Patrick’s Day for a two concerts featuring special guest singer/bouzouki player Daoirí Farrell. Named for a Celtic harvest festival in honor of the Irish god Lugh, patron of the arts, Lúnasa is indeed a gathering of some of the top musical talents in Ireland. For 25 years its members have formed the backbone of some of the greatest Irish groups of the decade. Bassist Trevor Hutchinson was a key member of The Waterboys. Kevin Crawford, considered to be among the finest flutists in Ireland, played with Moving Cloud and piper Cillian Vallely comes from the same talented musical family as brother Niall, of the Karan Casey Band. Dynamic guitarist Ed Boyd made a name for himself with bands such as Flook, Kate Rusby, and Cara Dillon and is joined by award-winning fiddler Colin Farrell. Inspired by the legendary Irish group The Bothy Band, Lúnasa uses melodic interweaving of wind and string instruments pairing flutes, fiddle, whistle and pipes in breathtaking arrangements. They are universally acclaimed as one of the best Irish bands in the world and will be joined by Dublin-born traditional singer and bouzouki player Daoirí (pronounced ‘Derry’) Farrell who has been described by some of the biggest names in Irish folk music as one of most important singers to come out of Ireland in recent years.

OPEN THE DOOR FOR THREE

Or call in your reservations for our March 18, 7:00 p.m. concert with Open the Door for Three to 401-725-9272.

We couldn't be more excited to present the R.I. debut of the amazing trio Open the Door for Three on St. Patrick's Day weekend! Open the Door for Three is fiddle player Liz Knowles, uilleann piper Kieran O’Hare, and Dublin-born singer and bouzouki player Pat Broaders. Their music is a rare combination of unearthed tunes from centuries-old collections, newly composed melodies, fresh arrangements of songs old and new, homages to the musicians and bands they grew up listening to, and the unmatched energy of a trio of good friends playing great Irish music together. Liz, Kieran, and Pat have been mainstays of the Irish music scene around the world, having distinguished themselves over the last two decades as soloists with Riverdance, Cherish the Ladies, String Sisters, Anúna, and more. As a trio, they have played to a wide range of audiences from Irish festivals, to concert halls, to pubs. They have performed at Carnegie Hall, at L'Olympia and the Palais des Congrès in Paris, in theatres from Shanghai to São Paulo, and even in a bullring in Mallorca. Most recently, they have been featured at The Kennedy Center’s Ireland 100 festival, the Celtic Colours festival in Cape Breton, at The Milwaukee Irish Festival, and in The Masters of Tradition series in Bantry, County Cork, Ireland. Not to be missed!

Máire Ní Chathasaigh and Chris Newman

Or call in your reservations for our March 25, 3:00 p.m. concert with Máire Ní Chathasaigh and Chris Newman to 401-725-9272.

The celebrated virtuoso partnership of Máire Ní Chathasaigh – “the leading figure of Irish harpers” (Scotland on Sunday) and Chris Newman – “one of the UK’s most staggering and influential acoustic guitarists” (fROOTS), has brought its special musical vision to venues large and small in 22 countries on five continents. Shows are a breathtaking blend of traditional Irish music, hot jazz, bluegrass and baroque, coupled with striking new compositions and Chris’s delightfully subversive wit. Chris was  named "Male Musician of the Year” in the 2019 Live Ireland Awards. Gradam Cheoil TG4, the national Irish-language TV station’s Award for Irish Traditional Musician of the Year was presented to Máire in 2001 “for the excellence and pioneering force of her music, the remarkable growth she has brought to the music of the harp and the positive influence she has had on the young generation of harpers” at a televised ceremony in the Cork Opera House. The Gradam is the highest, most prestigious honor for a traditional Irish musician and Máire is the sole harpist recipient to date.

Väsen Duo

Or call in your reservations for our March 26, 7:00 p.m. concert with Väsen to 401-725-9272.

After 30 years Väsen has moved into a new phase. Olov Johansson and Mikael Marin continue as Väsen, but now as a duo with exciting new material. Roger Tallroth has chosen to leave the band for new projects. Mikael and Olov have refined their sound and their stage presence to the extent that today they are quite unique. With their playful and perfect interplay, they seem to have telepathic communication as musicians, now touring and recording exclusively as a duo. They started playing together as teenagers around 1980 when they would regularly visit Curt and Ivar Tallroth and Eric Sahlström, older musicians who lived nearby in the Uppland region, where they would play and learn traditional music from them. In this way they became a link in the living tradition that Swedish folk music has enjoyed through the centuries. In 1990, Olov became the first world champion of the nyckelharpa. He began to play the nyckelharpa in 1980 as a fourteen-year old, and was named a 'riksspelman' (master musician) in 1984. He is regarded as one of Sweden's most prominent nyckelharpa players, and is an inspiration for numerous young performers on the instrument. As always, Mikael Marin’s five-string viola adds richness to every tune.

RUNA

Or call in your reservations for our April 1, 8:00 p.m. concert with RUNA to 401-725-9272.

Celebrating its 14-year anniversary as a band, Celtic-American roots group RUNA continues to push the boundaries of Irish folk music into the Americana and roots music formats. 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. Earning them the reputation as one of the most innovative Irish folk groups of this generation, RUNA consists of vocalist and step dancer, Shannon Lambert-Ryan of Philadelphia, Dublin-born guitarist, Fionán de Barra, Cheryl Prashker of Canada on percussion, Jake James of New York on fiddle, and newest member Tom Fitzgerald of Canada on mandolin and vocals. The group has been honored internationally, winning Top Group and Top Traditional Group in the Irish Music Awards and three Independent Music Awards including Best LIVE Album, Best World/Traditional Song, and Best Bluegrass Song. 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 individually established band members. Always a Blackstone River Theatre fan favorite, we are thrilled to welcome them back!

Rock Hearts – CD release!

Or call in your reservations for our April 8, 8:00 p.m. concert with Rock Hearts to 401-725-9272.

Formed in 2013, Rock Hearts brings together five veteran musicians from Southern New England who love to sing and pick bluegrass, old country tunes, and seek out newer tunes from other genres to “bluegrass-ify.” Since the release of their well-received debut in 2020, "Starry Southern Nights," they have experienced tremendous success on the national bluegrass charts and were selected as one of 20 Official Showcase Bands at the 2021 IBMA World of Bluegrass in Raleigh, NC. Their videos have amassed 250k views and the band has been featured in magazines including Bluegrass Unlimited, Bluegrass Today and the Bluegrass Situation. Tonight will be the CD release of “Wanderlust” – their debut project with The 615 Hideaway Record Label. Joe Deetz’s career on banjo spans over 40 years. A New England Bluegrass Boy with Joe Val, Joe has also worked with Back Eddy and many others. Alex MacLeod grew up in bluegrass. With a classic leading voice and rock-solid rhythm guitar, Alex has served as front man for several bands in the region including Northern Lights and Southern Rhode. Billy “BT” Thibodeau boasts an undeniable bluegrass pedigree and he brings his high tenor and lead vocals, along with his rock solid mandolin and guitar playing to Rock Hearts. He cut his teeth with his dad, Sam Tidwell and Uncle Bob in the Kennebec Valley Boys. Rick Brodsky is a multi-instrumentalist and a regular on the CT / New York bluegrass scene. Austin Scelzo was introduced to various fiddle traditions at Mark O’Connor’s early Berklee String Camps. He created the Bluegrass Coffeehouse, and launched the Connecticut Bluegrass Music Association.

Hanneke Cassel Band – CD release!

Or call in your reservations for our April 15, 8:00 p.m. concert with the Hanneke Cassel Band to 401-725-9272.

Effervescent and engaging, Boston-based fiddler Hanneke Cassel’s fiddle music fuses influences from the Isle of Skye and Cape Breton with Americana grooves and musical innovations. She has performed and traveled across North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. Hanneke’s music is a blend of the contemporary and traditional, described by the Boston Globe as “exuberant and rhythmic, somehow wild and innocent, delivered with captivating melodic clarity and an irresistible playfulness.” Her incredible band features Jenna Moynihan on 5-string fiddle/vocals and Keith Murphy on guitar/vocals. Jenna Moynihan is regarded as one of the best in the new generation of fiddle players. Versatile and inventive, her fiddling style draws strongly from the Scottish tradition, but is in no way bound by it. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Jenna performs as part of a duo with cutting edge harpist Mairi Chaimbeul and is the regular fiddler for the Seamus Egan Project. Newfoundland-born guitarist Keith Murphy began absorbing his native musical languages – folksongs, ballads and dance music – from an early age. A proficient multi-instrumentalist, he has long applied considerable energy to the rhythmic side of music, becoming a valued band member and highly sought-after sideman on guitar, mandolin and foot percussion.

É.T.É – Québec traditional music

Or call in your reservations for our April 30, 7:00 p.m. concert with É.T.É to 401-725-9272.
 
Awarded the OPUS prize for “Discovery of the Year 2017-2018” among many other accolades since their debut album in 2017, this trio is quickly winning over the hearts of listeners worldwide. É.T.É are Élisabeth (fiddle, step-dancing, vocals), Thierry (bouzouki, podorythmie, vocals), and Élisabeth (cello, vocals). The word été in French means summer – a fitting tribute to how their original, lively take on Québec traditional music is infused with a new vitality. With lovely vocal harmonies, deep groove, and rich instrumentation, É.T.É are an explosive trio on stage, transforming the nostalgia of a kitchen party into an unforgettable show experience that celebrates the joie de vivre of Québecois culture. We are thrilled to host their first Rhode Island appearance; there are no Boston-area shows on this tour.

SEAMUS EGAN PROJECT

Or call in your reservations for our May 6, 8:00 p.m. concert with Seamus Egan to 401-725-9272.

It’s hard to think of an artist in traditional Irish music more influential than Seamus Egan. From his beginnings as a teen prodigy, to his groundbreaking solo work with Shanachie Records, to his founding of Irish-American powerhouse band Solas, to his current work as one of the leading composers and interpreters of the tradition, Egan has inspired multiple generations of musicians and helped define the sound of Irish music today. As a multi-instrumentalist, he’s put his mark on the sound of the Irish flute, tenor banjo, guitar, mandolin, tin whistle, and low whistle, among others. As a composer, he was behind the soundtrack for the award-winning film "The Brothers McMullen," co-wrote Sarah McLachlan’s breakout hit, “I Will Remember You.” As a bandleader, Solas was the pre-eminent Irish-American band of their generation for decades, continuously renewing Irish music with fresh ideas. As a performer, few others can make so many instruments or such wickedly complex ornaments seem so effortless. Music comes as naturally to Seamus Egan as breath, but his mastery of the tradition is only one facet of his plans to move the music forward. He’ll be joined by Owen Marshall on bouzouki, mandolin and banjo and guitarist Kyle Sanna who has shared the stage or studio with many of today’s virtuosos, including Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, and Chris Thile.

OLD BLIND DOGS

Or call in your reservations for our May 13, 8:00 p.m. concert with Old Blind Dogs to 401-725-9272.

Old Blind Dogs have long been at the forefront of Scotland's roots revival, fusing dynamic percussion, polished vocals, soaring fiddle and stirring pipes. The current band line up has been settled for several years now and consists of four of Scotland’s finest traditional musicians at the top of their game. Original member Jonny Hardie (fiddle/vocals) is joined by Aaron Jones (cittern/guitar/vocals), Ali Hutton (pipes/whistles) and Donald Hay (percussion/vocals) and collectively they comprise one of the hottest live tickets on the traditional Scottish music scene today. The musical evolution of Old Blind Dogs began in Aberdeen in 1992 with roots that grew from the eclectic music scene that flourished there. Four musicians from very different musical backgrounds came together to create a full-time professional touring band with the aim of showcasing the rich tradition of songs and tunes of the North East of Scotland on an international stage. As recent inductees to the BBC ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards ‘Trad Music Hall of Fame’ Old Blind Dogs celebrated 30 years on the road in 2022 by launching their 14th studio album "Knucklehead Circus,” a joyous, uplifting album full of energy and intoxicating rhythm on which ‘OBD’ continue to innovate within their tradition while faithfully revealing its essence.