Darren Beachley & The Legends of the Potomac, from left: Norman Wright, Mike Auldridge and Darren Beachley - photo by Stephen Ide

I had not heard of Darren Beachley and the Legends of the Potomac until my recent visit to the International Bluegrass Music Association’s World of Bluegrass. What I didn’t know was that it was a band whose members I actually DID know, though not by that name. In fact, I had seen Darren Beachley at the Podunk Bluegrass Festival just a couple of years ago when he was performing as a member of Doyle Lawson’s band, Quicksilver.

A couple of the members of the Legends of the Potomac really are legends in bluegrass music, so I had seen them or followed them in bluegrass for some time. Mike Auldridge (dobro) is best know for his signature sounds in the famed bluegrass band The Seldom Scene and later in the progressive folk-pop-rock ensemble called Chesapeake. Bassist Tom Gray was in the legendary group The Country Gentlemen and it was his snapshot of the band (also with Charlie Waller, John Duffey and Eddie Adcock) who were inducted into the IBMA Hall of Fame. Other members of the Legends include Norman Wright and Mark Delaney.

The group will perform Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. in Lexington, along with another group that showcased at the recent IBMA conference in Nashville: Audie Blaylock and Redline, which features some rising stars in bluegrass.

Sierra Hull

On Saturday, Dec. 12, celebrate the first day of Hanukkah with The John Cowan Band, featuring “The Voice” of New Grass Revival, along with 17-year-old mandolin phenom and singer Sierra Hull, who studies at the Berklee College of Music in Boston when she’s not dazzling people on stage. Hull will open with a straight-out bluegrass set, while Cowan’s band will follow with an all-acoustic set of holiday music, with selections from their CD “Comfort and Joy” (Pinecastle Records).

The shows are sponsored by the Boston Bluegrass Union. Members of the BBU get show discounts. So it’s worth checking into that, if you are not yet a member. For tickets for either show, visit the BBU web site.

Mac McLanahan Guest writer Mac McLanahan runs the Rose Garden Coffeehouse in Mansfield, a non-profit group that holds shows at the Congregational Church.

This sad turn of events is scheduled to occur on December 1 and is a result of WGBH acquiring the classical music station WCRB 99.5. All of WGBH’s classical programming will move to 99.5 and will be replaced primarily by news, information, and analysis. Although they are retaining “A Celtic Sojourn” and “A Prairie Home Companion,” their venerable shows “Folk on WGBH” and “Blues on WGBH” are ending up in the dustbin. Fortunately, WUMB 91.9 is still going strong with a mix that includes folk and becomes the only viable local outlet for this musical art form.

There is a movement afoot among the member coffeehouses of the Boston Area Coffeehouse Association to contact WGBH and ask them to rescind this decision. Those wishing to add their voices and tell the station how important folk music is to the cultural life of this area can do one of two things. You can write a letter to Audience Services/ WGBH/ One Guest Street/ Boston, MA 02135, or you can send them an e-mail through this link: http://wgbh.org/about/contact.cfm.

If you disagree with WGBH’s decision to drop folk and blues programming, now is the time to speak up!

Mac McLanahan
Artistic Director
The Rose Garden Coffeehouse

[Added by Steve Ide]: It’s unfortunate that WGBH doesn’t see the value in the fact that all of their stations may not have geographic reach. Not everyone lives in Boston. If you live in southeastern Massachusetts, good luck tuning in the suggested alternative stations. Here is what WGBH posted on its web site:

“In December, WGBH is bringing WCRB 99.5 into our family of noncommercial, listener-supported public broadcasting stations, a move that preserves full-time classical radio in Boston.

With the acquisition of 99.5, we are revising 89.7’s schedule to develop a new service for our listeners that focuses on news, information, and analysis. And our classical music will move exclusively to 99.5, where we will continue the tradition of an all-classical format.

Although we are very proud of the Folk and Blues programming we have offered, and of the many contributions that WGBH and our hosts have made to these genres, we have made the difficult decision to discontinue Blues on WGBH and Folk on WGBH. As we refocus the 89.7 schedule on news and information, it became apparent that it would not be possible to retain all of the non-news elements of our schedule. We have chosen to keep a select group of programs, like “A Celtic Sojourn” and “A Prairie Home Companion” that listeners cannot find elsewhere in Boston.

We are grateful to folk hosts Naomi Arenberg and Brad Paul, and blues host Brendan Hogan for sharing their passion, knowledge, and experience with listeners over the years.

Folk music fans can continue to find options on WUMB 91.9FM Boston, WNEF 91.7 FM Newburyport, WFPB 1170AM Orleans, WICN 90.5FM Worcester, WOMR 92.1FM Provincetown, or New Hampshire Public Radio. Blues fans can tune in to WUMB 91.9FM, WHRB 95.3FM, WZLX 100.7 FM, and WUML 91.5 FM.

We appreciate your support of our work and hope that you will enjoy the new offerings on 89.7 WGBH and 99.5 All Classical. For the latest information about what’s on our air, please visit wgbh.org/listen.”

Red Molly ~ Click photo for more images

Red Molly is a hot female trio from New York playing fun, infectious Americana. They will perform at the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse in Franklin on Saturday, November 21st at 8 p.m. Red Molly consistently brings concert-goers to their feet with stunning three-part harmonies, crisp musicianship, and a warm, engaging stage presence. Abbie Gardner, Laurie MacAllister and Carolann Solebello (shown above, left to right) have a lot of fun on stage, and it’s contagious.

Jake Jacobson Guest writer Jake Jacobson runs the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse in Franklin, a non-profit organization affiliated with Franklin’s First Universalist Society.

In 2006 their first full length CD “Never Been to Vegas” quickly climbed into the Top 30 on the Radio & Records Americana chart, a rare accomplishment for an independent album. And listeners of WUMB radio Boston voted the CD one of the Top 10 CDs of 2006. Red Molly’s newest release, “Love and Other Tragedies,” their first full length studio album, combines their original songs with traditional American gospel tunes, and standards from the bluegrass and jazz worlds. It reached #3 on the Roots Music Report chart (June 2008), and entered the Folk DJ Top Albums list at #1 (July 2008). A new, as yet unnamed CD, will be released next month.

“Everything Red Molly sings is delivered with tick-tight arrangements, crystalline vocals, and caramel harmonies. But what is most striking is the ardor they bring to everything they do, whether snuggling into the sweet parochialism of an old spiritual, or the gritty pathos of a Gillian Welch tune.” -Scott Alarik

Red Molly last January in Mansfield:

Austin singer-songwriter Molly Venter opens the show. Pairing creative hooky melodies, smart lyrics, and a voice that stops listeners in their tracks, Molly Venter successfully combines alternative folk pop with strong undertones of soul, gospel and a hint of country.

“Few singers turn first time listeners into eternal fanatics as effortlessly as Molly Venter… Her voice is like an unbelievable Burgundy; many notes, flavors, fragrances, and it all goes down like silk.” – American Songwriter Magazine

The Circle of Friends Coffeehouse is a non-profit organization affiliated with Franklin’s First Universalist Society. Concerts are presented in a smoke free and alcohol free environment at the Society’s handicapped accessible Meetinghouse, 262 Chestnut St. in Franklin, and begin at 8:00 PM; doors open at 7:30 PM. Beverages and gourmet desserts will be available. Admission is $20. Please call (508)528-2541 or visit http://www.circlefolk.org/ to purchase tickets or for more information.

Upcoming Shows
Dec 5th A Celtic Christmas with Robbie O’Connell and Aoife Clancy
Jan 9th Antje Duvekot with special guest Flynn
Jan 23rd Buskin & Batteau with special guest Danielle Miraglia
Feb 6th David Francey
Feb 27th Susan Werner with special guest Natalia Zuckerman

Kate Campbell - Photo by Stephen Ide

Kate Campbell brings her warm songwriting sensibilities to the Rose Garden Coffeehouse in Mansfield on Saturday, Nov. 7. Kate, who has pretty much sold out the Rose Garden in the past, will also be offering a songwriting workshop to people working on their craft. The workshop will be from 3-5 p.m. The doors for the show open at 7:30 and the show starts at 8 p.m.

I recall hearing some of Kate’s early work, reviewing her debut “Songs From the Levee” CD back in 1995. Her songs blend folk, country and blues. Since then, she has released numerous CDs, delving into other styles including gospel, r&b and pop. She is known for having taught songwriting at the Summer Acoustic Music Week, held in New Hampshire, where students from all over get first-hand help and critiques from one of this country’s finest song-smiths.

Click the Play button above to hear a clip of “Miles of Blues.”

Click the Play button above to hear a clip of “Save the Day.”

Click the Play button above to hear a clip of “Freedom Train.”

To hear more clips, visit the Rose Garden web site or check out Kate’s discography page.

The stories in her music are part of the appeal; they are real or inspired by real life.

“I’ve always written stories about people and everyday living,” Kate writes in her bio. “I just find certain things interesting and pay attention to them. That’s the way I’ve always been.” Her latest CD, called “Save the Day,” is less thematic than other works, but no less poignant, with songs like “Looking for Jesus,” described as “a unique spin on modern-day pilgrimages.” In “Fordlandia” she tells of automotive pioneer Henry’s Ford’s failings of building a tire factory in the Amazon.

Visit the web site for the Rose Garden for tickets or to sign up for the workshop.

Here are some Youtube clips of Kate of varying quality:

Opening for Kate will be Mia Boostrom, a young lady from Dighton, Mass., who made it all the way to the quarterfinals on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” This is a unique opportunity for this 16-year-old phenom, who plays guitar with a blend of blues, jazz and pop.

Take a listen to one of Mia’s demos on Youtube, and you can tell this young lady has vocals to spare:

Melissa Gosule - Click image to read article about the case.

Folk music touches people in very personal ways.  Quincy’s Chris Pahud, a deep baritone singer and song interpreter, admits he doesn’t write songs very often. But when he was asked to write a song by the father of a murdered local woman, Melissa Gosule, Pahud couldn’t say no.

Pahud wrote “Song for Melissa” with the help of Melissa’s father, Les Gosule, and musician friend Jim Ryan. The song is on Pahud’s newest CD, “Red Sky in Morning.” Melissa Gosule, a 27-year-old Randolph, Mass. native who lived in Jamaica Plain, had been raped and murdered when her car broke down in Bourne and she sought help from a stranger in July 11, 1999.

Michael Gentile had more than 20 prior criminal offenses when he was charged with her rape and murder, and he now is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. The case prompted the passage of “Melissa’s Bill,” which removes the possibility of parole for offenders after three felony convictions.

Chris Pahud

So Pahud went about writing the song. “The melody came to me in a dream along with the basic verses. We met again and he commented that many of my words were what he used in his eulogy for her,” Pahud said.

Song for Melissa

We’re gathered here together in remembrance of you
Your kindness and your goodness, your spirit shinin’ through
All that you stood for, so strong, so true
Compassion for others less fortunate than you.

Sleepless nights, didn’t know what to do
We were learning to live without you

How could we find hope, our hearts torn in two
How could we see again the world as once did you
Life to the fullest was the path you did pursue
Thoughts turned into actions was the wealth you would accrue

We have come together, hope you know it’s true
We’re still learning to live without you

We would give everything to see you once anew
But we’re still learning to live without you

Life to the fullest was a path you did pursue
Thoughts turned into actions was the wealth you would accrue
And we’re still learning to live without you

Click the Play button above to hear “Song for Melissa.”

“I had a deadline to finish it and I had to perform it with Phil Kissinger at her memorial in front of family and friends … I further tweaked the words and my friend Jim Ryan ‘gifted’ me the lyrics that became the chorus.”

The song later was presented to The Compassionate Friends, a group of people who have lost children. “It sort of went off like a bomb for some people. I got some moving letters,” Pahud said.

Before further distributing the song, he opted to polish the lyrics. And though he wrote a poetically “better” version of the song, he said, he dropped those new lyrics when woman who had lost two children said to him “‘Yes, the new lyrics are better and more poetic, but those are not the words we use amongst ourselves when we get together and talk about our dead children. We use words like you used originally.’ Who was I to argue with that?” Pahud said.

The song features Seth Connelly on piano and mandolin.

Del McCoury

Celebrating 50 years in bluegrass music, the band released a commemorative set in 2009 called “Celebrating 50 Years of Del McCoury.”

Despite being in bluegrass for 50 years, Del has not been one to rest on his laurels, performing new material, delving outside bluegrass as he did with Richard Thompson’s “Vincent 52 Black Lightning”  and always playing it fresh.

He and his band are among the hardiest players in bluegrass, having played at festivals all over the country this year, including his own, Del Fest. The band includes family members Ron (mandolin) and Rob (banjo), along with fiddler Jason Carter (fiddle) and Alan Bartram (bass).

The group has a new ensemble non-gospel CD due out Oct. 27, 2009, called “Family Circle” (McCoury Music), and they will announce the 2010 lineup for Del Fest that day as well.

The music is classic McCoury, high, emotive, and playful tenor vocals and some of the most dynamic musicianship out there today. And like on most of the band’s CDs, Del just sounds like he’s having fun and offering up a big grimace on the high notes and a big ol’ grin on the rest.

The CD is available online, and McCoury Music has offered a preview of the songs that you can check out below and on their downloads page:

David Francey - click image to see more photos

Well, folks, David Francey is on the road, but he authorized the following videos from the Rose Garden show on Saturday night. So get some coffee, kick back, make sure you have no emails to read, and enjoy this playlist of songs from this wonderful Canadian/Scottish singer-songwriter. Joining him is Craig Werth, who adds delightful instrumentation including an Indian instrument called a Shruti Box on “Leaving Edmonton,” and just the right harmonies. It was a great show, with an audience eager to sing along and enjoy David’s stories.

Click here to see videos of Craig from that same show.

Chris Pahud

Years ago, I became enamored with the music of Canadian folk singer Stan Rogers. With his untimely death in 1983, I never thought I would hear a folk singer with a gut-deep baritone that could ever compare. Little did I know that such a singer would today be in my back yard. Quincy, Mass.’s Chris Pahud has a voice that reminds me of Stan’s, and has just released a new CD called “Red Sky in Morning.”

It is nice to hear Pahud’s voice right out front on this CD, despite including instrumentation from a half-dozen other musicians. In fact, it was Pahud’s choice of performers to join him and a tasteful production that serve to enhance the songs and his own voice. Below is a playlist that includes many of the songs included on his new CD:

Hatrack Gallagher

Joining Pahud are Seth Connelly on acoustic, electric guitars and mandolin and even Stan Roger’s brother, Garnet Rogers, who adds a touch of telecaster, steel guitar and vocals on a couple of songs and developed the meticulous four-part harmonies in the traditional “Around the Bay of Mexico.” Another nice addition is Hatrack Gallagher, whose salty-sweet harmonica works in beautiful contrast to Pahud’s warm vocals, particularly in songs like Tom Russell’s “Blue Wing,” a song about a destitute parolee. Gallagher also steams in Jerry Corbitt’s (Youngbloods) rocker “Grizzly Bear,” which also features Corbitt on bass and lead guitar.

Pahud chose a cross-section of other songs familiar to folk music fans in the past decade or two: songs like Bob Dylan’s “The Girl From the North Country,” Townes Van Zandt’s “Pancho and Lefty,” or a tender renditions of Dave Alvin’s “The Man in the Bed” and Lucinda Williams’ “Sweet Old World,” a song that draws on the suicide of a friend.

Besides the cover songs, however, Boston-born Pahud is true to his roots. The cover of the CD was shot one early morning on Wollaston Beach in Quincy, near the 1625 settlement of Thomas Morton. Pahud wrote music to accompany “The Songe,” written by Morton for his scandalous May Day celebration in the Merrymount section of Quincy. On the sleeve, Pahud says the project began as a project for the Quincy (Mass.) Historical Society: “Like the 17th century Beastie Boys, Morton and his men were ready to fight the Pilgrims of Plymouth for their right to party,” Pahud writes. “Alas they did it poorly, but some say the partying tradition continues along Quincy Shore Drive to this very day.” Here are some of the lyrics, no doubt scandalous in their day, as taken from a Wiccan web site:

“Give to the Mellancolly man
A cup or two of ‘t now and than;
This physick will soone revive his bloud,
And make him be of a merrier moode.”

“Drinke and be merry, merry, merry boyes;
Let all your delight be in the Hymens ioyes;
Iô to Hymen, now the day is come,
About the merry Maypole take a Roome.”

Pahud includes a couple other originals, including the bluesy, rollicking melody “Robbie and I” that draws on other songs and speaks of days spent in his youth with a friend in Vermont. “Song for Melissa,” meanwhile, draws on painful memories and is a tribute to a young woman murdered in 1999. Penned by Pahud with Les Gosule and Jim Ryan, its truthful and painful words “we’re still learning to live without you” are said to be those spoken by grieving parents.

Check out Chris at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, at a CD release party at the Homegrown Coffeehouse, 23 Dedham Ave., Needham, Mass. Tickets are $16. For information, call (781) 444-7478.

Read more about Chris in an article from Jay Miller in The Patriot Ledger.

Craig Werth ~ Click photo to see more photos

If there is one good thing about the Red Sox not continuing in the playoffs this season it’s that about 100 people had the night off to come to Mansfield, Mass. to watch Craig Werth and David Francey.

Werth, who was raised in New York and admitted to at one time being a Yankees fan, joked that he smartened up when he moved to New Hampshire and became a fan of the Sox. He performed songs like “Something in Us All,” in which he learned about the world being a much bigger place than where he grew up. He also made the audience laugh with a performance of “Pidey Eyes,” the look he got when seeing a large spider in Australia.

Enjoy these videos below from Craig’s solo performance as the opener at the Rose Garden. When I get permission from David Francey, I will post a few videos from his show, too:

Sam Bush - click photo to see more images

“Newgrass” musician Sam Bush’s latest CD, his first since 2006, is a wonderful mix of traditional and classic bluegrass and several new songs.

The 14-song CD, called “Circles Around Me” (Sugar Hill Records), is being released Oct. 20, 2009. Bush’s seventh CD, it features a fine supporting cast, including his most recent band of Byron House (bass), Chris Brown (drums), Scott Vestal (banjo) and Stephen Mougin (guitar). Bush adds fiddle and mandolin and sings, of course. Also contributing are Jerry Douglas on dobro and Del McCoury on guitar and tenor vocals on “Roll On Buddy, Roll On” and the traditional “Midnight On The Story Deep,” both sung by Father of Bluegrass Bill Monroe.

The first clip below includes Bush and McCoury in
“Roll On Buddy, Roll On,” at BB King’s after the recent IBMA awards…

The pensive title track, written with Jeff Black, has an infectious newgrass-like chorus:

Hey, hey, hey, how in the world did we get this far
Hey, hey, hey, holding tight to the tail of a shooting star
Hey, hey, hey, you’re running circles around me, circles around me now

On his web site, Bush says the song “is about being thankful that you’re still here, that you’re still alive walking around. Why are we the ones still here when we’ve had fallen comrades and loved ones?”

Click below to hear clips of some of the tunes on the CD:
Circles Around Me
The Ballad of Stringbean and Estelle
Midnight on the Story Deep
Blue Mountain

Bush wrote “The Ballad of Stringbean and Estelle” with Guy Clark and Verlon Thompson about the 1973 murder of David “Stringbean” Akeman, a star of the Grand Ol’ Opry, and his wife. Its meloncholy melody and haunting banjo make for a classic bluegrass murder ballad and sounds like it was written a hundred years ago.

There also are what we’ve come to expect from three-time Grammy winner Bush, blazing fast instrumentals, like in “Blue Mountain.” He also adds traditional songs like “Diamond Joe,” “Midnight On The Story Deep” and the fiddle tune “Apple Blossom,” with banjo New Grass co-founder Courtney Johnson (posthumously), added from newly found recordings.

The Bluegrass Blog conducted a video interview with Bush. To watch that, click here.

Bush is known as the King of Newgrass, which stems from being the co-founder in 1972 of a ground-breaking group called New Grass Revival, which fused bluegrass with rock, jazz, blues and many other styles. The genre called “newgrass” has come to be synonymous with any progressive bluegrass sound, though few bands have ever come close to matching the power and drive of NGR. Bush is known for his performances at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and for late-night shows at the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival. It’s my belief that Bush’s late-night, progressive jams opened the door to younger crowds and newer jam bands like Railroad Earth, The Waybacks and the Yonder Mountain String Band.

You can see some of that energy here,
in a 2007 performance at the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival:

Closing out the CD are tunes that might be familiar to early New Grass Revival fans, updates of “Souvenir Bottles” and “Whisper My Name.” But make sure you don’t pop out the CD when “Whisper” is over. That’s all I’m saying.

A couple of new videos have been placed on YouTube, including one from the photo shoot for the new CD:

And another after Sam won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association: