Marblehead Musings

Laney Jones is one spunky bluegrass musician.  You’ve gotta love it.  She’s got the chops. She’s got the tunes.  She’s tearing up the bluegrass circuit with her band, The Lively Spirits. A DJ once referred to her voice  as “mixture of lemon, molasses, gin and gun powder.” After listening to her songs, I totally understand that comparison. Laney Jones and The Lively Spirits are one of 24 Emerging…

Music has a way of burrowing into my psyche. I don’t know if everyone is wired this way or whether it’s my own peculiar emotional telemetry. I wanted to celebrate the Cowboy Junkies and to me that means celebrating their landmark album, The Trinity Sessions.  Nearly 53 minutes of musical bliss was recorded in the Church of the Holy Trinity in Toronto using a single mic back in 1987. The result is…

There are some changes happening at my blog. I started this blog way back in the mid aughts—just about twenty years ago. A lot has changed in my life since that time but there’s one constant: music appreciation.  My passion for supporting independent musicians and live music remains steadfast.    I started my life as a devoted music fan around age 6.  I don’t have many recollections of being…

Quick Q and A with Conor Ryan Hennessy Imagine my surprise when I got notice of this year’s New Folk at the Kerrville Folk Festival (a legendary fest that has a distinct position among all festivals in that it’s an 18-day event and many folks stay for the duration.  A lot of stellar songwriters set up camp on the festival site and collaborate with others throughout the fest. This year one of the…

Music fans come in all shapes and sizes and also come with a wide range of experience and knowledge. Fans of popular music may never have made a connection between Bach and the Beatles, but if you connect the musical dots (or notes!), you’ll see how much of an influence the masterful genius of Bach has been used by Paul McCartney on his beloved song “Blackbird.” You’d probably not be surprised to…

There’s something very magical that occurs when musicians use their talents to inspire, soothe, and help heal audiences with their music.  The spirit of giving to one’s community and being present for those who could use some peace and solace to forget their troubles is most admirable. Adrian Anantawan is the Artistic Director of Shelter Music Boston and he is a force to be reckoned with for his…

Quick Q and A with Julia McKenzie

Julia McKenzie is the co-director of Eudaimonia, a purposeful period band from the greater Boston area. As her bio on the group’s website details, Julia is a most versatile musician and tastemaker in the Boston music scene. Notable associations are with the Handel and Hayden Society and Boston Baroque. One of her passions is taking part in Eudaimonia performances that are directly involved with…

Getting to Know Tunefoolery

Tunefoolery is a true gem of an organization located in Boston, Massachusetts. Musicians have reaped its benefits of trusted guidance and support as well as camaraderie and community since the doors opened over 25 years ago. It has given musicians a place to come and be among other musicians who are recovering from mental health issues that have affected their lives and sometimes even their…

Getting to Know Improbable Beasts

How can one not gravitate to the name of a band called Improbable Beasts?  Improbable Beasts is a Boston-based professional bass clarinet ensemble –15 members strong — dedicated to bringing the deeply expressive power of multiple bass clarinets before a broad audience. Their repertoire ranges from Renaissance choral music to brand-new compositions to klezmer tunes and holiday songs. Their mission…

Getting to Know Eudaimonia

If you had asked me what the word “Eudaimonia” means a while ago, I would have shrugged my shoulders and asked for an explanation. Life is funny though. I was asked Vivian Montgomery, the leader of Eudaimonia, to help them with some publicity for an upcoming concert in November so that led me to the dictionary to see what this mysterious word meant. As it turns out, it’s a wonderful word from the…

Quick Picks #2 Joan Shelley, Alan Williams, and Bella White

Joan Shelley “The Spur” Photo by Amber Thieneman Joan Shelley hails from Kentucky and there’s something very rural and very real about her sound. Her musical influences range from the traditional music of the United Kingdom to the familiar names from the world of country music like Tom T. Hall, Dolly Parton, and Roger Miller. My own personal take: Joan Shelley is Gillian Welch meets Sandy…

Natalia Zukerman is one of fourteen acts to appear at the 2022 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Thursday Night Music Stage. I can’t recall the first time I heard Natalia Zukerman but I can tell you that I was riveted. She has exceptional command of her guitar and her lyrical rootsy voice is captivating. The New Yorker rightly described her: “Natalia’s voice could send an orchid into bloom while her…

Meet Erin Ash Sullivan

Erin Ash Sullivan is one of fourteen acts to appear at the 2022 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Thursday Night Music Stage. It’s only been a short time that I’ve known Erin and her music. She contacted me and asked if I could interview her for this blog. I agreed that I’d listen to her music and see if my journalistic muse prompted me to ask some questions. And, boy, I hit the jackpot when I sat down…

Annie Sumi (with Travis Knapp) is one of fourteen acts to appear at the 2022 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Thursday Night Music Stage. Thank you to a friend who suggested that I ask Annie Sumi to play on the Thursday Night Music Stage. I had totally forgotten that Annie and her musical partner, Travis Knapp, were living in New York State and might be interested in a trek over to Connecticut to play…

Grace Morrison is one of fourteen acts to appear at the 2022 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Thursday Night Music Stage. Take a little bit of folk music, add a heaping of country, toss in some Americana, and top it off with a whole lot of honesty and authencity and you’ve got Grace Morrison. As someone who has watched from the sidelines for quite a few years, I’d also have to add that this talented…