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On Saturday, March 13, an era of fine music will end in New England. The “mighty fine” New England bluegrass band Northern Lights will play its final show at the Rose Garden Cofeehouse in Mansfield. I´ve had the privilege of seeing and hearing a lot of bluegrass music over the years. My initial interest began in […]

Garrison Doles was the winner of the 2009 Rose Garden Coffeehouse’s Performing Songwriter Competition. As part of his winnings from last season, he was given a performing gig at the Rose Garden. Last Saturday, Doles came up from Florida and gave a heartwarming performance of very personal or spiritual songs, some speaking of his home, […]

Alastair Moock’s show at the Rose Garden Coffeehouse last Saturday night contained a mixture of songs in the folk tradition, some sing-alongs, and even a children’s song or two, in light of his recent CD release, “A Cow Says Moock.” Here are some videos from the show:

f you enjoy great songwriting mixed with excellent guitar playing, then you’ll enjoy this weekend’s adventure with Alastair Moock and Garrison Doles at Mansfield’s Rose Garden Coffeehouse. Doles, a Florida songwriter and harmonica player with an engaging stage presence, fine voice and meticulous flat-picking style on guitar, won the Rose Garden’s prestigious performing songwriter competition last […]

oe Singleton not only shares a first name with the late Joe “Val” Valiente. He also shares a similar high tenor voice. Singleton was a huge treat at this weekend’s 25th annual Joe Val Bluegrass Festival, the event that each year honors Framingham-born Joe Val, a popular mandolinist and singer of the New England Bluegrass […]

I’m enjoying the first night at the 25th annual Joe Val Bluegrass Festival in Framingham, Mass., at the Sheraton Hotel. Hot guitar-picker Josh Williams finished up on the main stage and fine tenor vocalist Danny Paisley is kickin’ it on stage now. Tomorrow’s show promises to be amazing, from Joe Singleton performing songs of Joe Val […]

Martin Sexton, The Guthrie Family, Meg Hutchinson and a half-dozen other artists will perform a benefit concert for the people of Haiti on Feb. 14 at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, Mass. This Valentine’s Day show, called “A Concert for Loved Ones in Haiti,” will send 100% of the net proceeds to the United Nations Foundation’s […]

New England was at the forefront for so much of the folk revival. Club 47 (now Club Passim) in Cambridge, The Old Vienna Kaffeehaus in Westboro and The Newport Folk Festival are just a few of the places and events that helped introduce musicians like Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Tom Rush and others considered icons […]

Every now and then, a group emerges that makes you want to take notice. Connecticut-based The Backwater Racket reminds me of a blend of Old Crow Medicine Show and The Band, bringing a great mix of folk, bluegrass, country and more on its new six-song CD, “When the Morning Comes.” he six-person ensemble has a […]