last updated 8/7/05
John is a singer and guitarist from Littleton, MA. In his teens, he played folk music on the radio, in coffeehouses and in other venues around New England. Now, several decades later, he plays celtic instrumental music and sings a variety of celtic, folk and popular songs. He is a member of "Another Jig Will Do," and was a member of AuCONTRAire, and the C.A.V.E. Jug Band. Currently, he accompanies a number of celtic musicians, participates in Irish sessions around New England, and hosts the weekly Sunday Irish music session at Mr.Dooley's pub on Broad St. in Boston.
John will sing and play Irish and Scottish and early American songs. He will also play some traditional instrumental tunes and sing a few contemporary songs. He will be assisted by talented and spirited friends with an interest in traditional music. Traditional music is a music of friendship and enthusiasm, more at home in taverns and kitchens than in concert halls. The music is ideally suited to an informal outdoor concert in a historic setting.
Pan is a software engineer from Arlington, MA. Despite entering Berklee College of Music as a long-haired heavy-metal guitarist back in the 80s, and graduating with a Music Education degree, it wasn't until the mid 90s when he was asked to provide accompaniment for a New England contradance that he discovered his musical destiny in playing fiddle, banjo, and mandolin in the Celtic and old-time traditions. Pan will lead Pandemonium in an open session, inviting all musicians who love tunes from the traditions of Ireland, Scotland, Quebec, Appalachia, 18 - 19th centuries, etc, to join in on these tented outdoor afternoon sessions on scenic grounds. Please contact him at panvanchan@gmail.com w/any questions.
Gregor has been an instrumentalist and a performer for well over 20 years. He has been playing Irish music in Boston for 10 years, and is often found at the Irish Cultural Center in Canton. As half of Bedlam, he has performed at numerous Irish festivals, pubs, fairs and coffeehouses, from Maine to Miami, singing old songs and playing guitar, mandolin, and bouzouki.
Guitar accompanist and mandolin player in a wide number of genres and groups over the years, including the Strathspey and Reel Society (of New Hampshire), the Boston Scottish Fiddle Club, the Roaring Jelly contradance band, and Westford-based contradance band Au Contraire.
Laura (fiddle) and Jim (concertina, flute) will host players from several Boston area participatory traditional music groups. The sesson will feature traditional tunes played in the early days of the republic (the USA, that is) brought to New England by English, Scottish, Irish, and French Canadian settlers, as well as more recent tunes in those traditions.
Leslie is a member of the contra dance band, Roaring Jelly. She was a member of the committee that organized the second Saturday dance in Concord, MA for many years, coordinating with the caller and providing music for the band. She is both a dancer and a musician, enjoying both sides of the hall. She studied violin from the 7th to 12th grade, and in college, put her violin under the bed where it resided for about 30 years. Loving contra dancing and the music, she pulled out the violin (now referred to as the fiddle) and has been enjoying the jigs, reels etc. She particularly enjoys the sessions at the Old Manse.
Having left the West Coast spellbound with their traditional old-time and celtic fiddling, "Notorious" duo Eden MacAdam-Somer and Larry Unger returns home for a performance at the Old Manse in Concord. Seasoned dancers know Larry Unger not only as a performer who sparks nationally renowned bands but also the composer of countless fiddle tunes and lilting waltzes. Declared “guitar genious” by Sing Out Magazine, Unger brings along exciting and versatile young fiddler Eden MacAdam-Somer whose classical and jazz background merges with Larry's driving style to push the envelope towards swing, blues and Gypsy modes. Come see how many ways they can metamorphosize 64 beats!
Larry has been a full time musician since 1984 and has presented a diverse range of musical performances at dances, festivals, and concerts across the United States, Canada, France, Scotland, Denmark, and Sweden. He has played guitar, banjo, and bass with many top contra dance bands, including Reckless Abandon, Uncle Gizmo, Big Table, and the Reckless Ramblers, and has accompanied such fiddlers as Judy Hyman, Elke Baker, Rodney Miller, Alisdair Fraser, Matt Glaser, Ralph Blizard, and Lissa Schneckenburger. His solo concerts include a wide variety of music, including fingerstyle blues and slide guitar, rags, and oldtime banjo tunes as well as melodies played on a handful of unusual instruments including banjo-guitar, fretless banjo, and piano-harp. Larry’s original waltzes and fiddle tunes have been played and recorded by musicians around the world. He has a great breadth of understanding of traditional music to complement his considerable technical proficiency and enjoys telling stories about the origins of his music and the people who taught him.At home in the worlds of both classical and popular music, Eden is one of the most exciting and versatile young violinists performing today. She has been a featured soloist with symphony and chamber orchestras, jazz and swing bands, bluegrass, DAWG and American folk groups. Eden is also well versed in the music of other cultures, including Irish music, Gypsy music, Sephardic music, and European music from the Medieval and Renaissance periods. She has been a guest artist at the Aspen and Beijing International Music festivals, soloist at Texas and Wimberly jazz festivals, performer at Texas and St. Louis Renaissance fairs, and has appeared on numerous recordings in folk, rock, jazz, and classical genres.
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