Cantrip

A couple of years ago I was performing with clawhammer banjoist Ken Perlman at the fabulous New World Festival in Randolph VT, and had the great fortune to wind up in a jam session with the members of Cantrip. They are a superb Scottish/American trio who play traditional Celtic instrumental music with a distinctly contemporary… Continue reading Cantrip

Some updates at MPMS

-Local duo Captain Bob Griffin and Linda Wade, guitar, vocals and concertina, finishing up a charming collection of ‘Old Chestnuts’. Great songs from the 20s and 30s, augmented with some New England folk music favorites feature their warm vocal blend and Bob’s chiming 12-string guitar interwoven with Linda’s delicate and inventive concertina. -Emery Hutchins has… Continue reading Some updates at MPMS

Brendan Tonra and his legendary fiddle at MPM Studio!

[youtube hd]http://youtu.be/84wW9KZDeeI[/youtube] Renowned Boston-based Sligo fiddler plays one of his recent compositions accompanied by the stellar Helen Kisiel on piano. Some of Brendan’s compositions have become standard repertoire in traditional Irish music, notably Tonra’s Jig (aka Tone Rows). An honor to have these two cornerstones of Boston’s Irish music scene recording at Mill Pond Music! Read… Continue reading Brendan Tonra and his legendary fiddle at MPM Studio!

The Fireflies: from London to Portsmouth (again!)

Harry and Luca, from London, England, formerly known as The Pilgrims-now the Fireflies, were back at MPM Studio for their third time a few weeks ago. As usual it was an intensely creative week of tracking, vocals, guitar overdubs (ranging from beautiful acoustic to funky electric) and some last-minute songwriting. What to call their style?… Continue reading The Fireflies: from London to Portsmouth (again!)

Ellen Carlson – E.C. and the Moonshiners- Hillbilly Jazz!

It’s been a privilege and a delight to be making music during the past year with the illustrious NH fiddler Ellen Carlson. She’s an expert country player, well-versed in old-timey, New England  and Celtic styles, and a fine bluegrass-er. Her band High Range has wide renown, and her teaching skills legendary. Lately, she, drummer Robbie Kneeland,… Continue reading Ellen Carlson – E.C. and the Moonshiners- Hillbilly Jazz!

With Ken Perlman @ Summit School Winter Folk Fest

Melodic clawhammer banjo wizard Ken Perlman and I were happy to be a part of Montpelier Vermont’s Summit School Winter Folk Fest, along with Dirk Powell, Riley Baugus, the amazing Swedish fiddler Anna Lindblad (with RyanDricky), Katie Trautz and others. Tony DeMarco showed up for the after-concert jam, which threw a number of styles into a yummy… Continue reading With Ken Perlman @ Summit School Winter Folk Fest

Tony Giblin’s CD Launch – A Promise Kept

Last night at Rory O’Connor’s Pub in Georgetown, a good number of musical friends gathered to help Tony Giblin launch A Promise Kept.       Tony kindly let me play bouzouki and guitar on this one:      

Summer re-cap: Natalie McMaster, Joan Osborne, Joe Deleault and more…

Finally getting around to a chronicle of some of this summer’s activities, one of which was my adventure into the musical world of Manchester NH’s composer/songwriter/pianist extraordinaire Joe Deleault. NH Screenwriter/director Ernest Thompson (‘On Golden Pond’, etc.) is just finishing a new film (headed for Sundance Film Festival) called Heavenly Angle, for which Joe has… Continue reading Summer re-cap: Natalie McMaster, Joan Osborne, Joe Deleault and more…

The Nashville Years: singers and players

A lot of interesting artists and musicians recorded at my studio in Nashville during its twenty years of operation, giving me ample opportunities to make a lot of mistakes and to learn how to avoid them. Some of their names are well-known, others’ should be. Here are some of the names I remember off the… Continue reading The Nashville Years: singers and players

MPM Studio’s You Tube Channel

Link to MPM Studio’s You Tube channel In 1976 I was playing with a Boston-based Country/Swing band called the Rockabilly Shufflers, doing venues like The Hillbilly Ranch, Kevin’s, The Blue Star, Jack’s, Inman Sq. Men’s Bar, etc. We eventually landed a house band gig 5 nights a week at the Turtle Lounge in Ashland MA… Continue reading MPM Studio’s You Tube Channel