notloB Music Alumnae Album Release Tirfecta

Congrats Laura, Mike, and Molly, we knew you when!

Laura Cortese & The Dance Cards California Calling October 6 “... using traditional forms to subvert the tradition.” —No Depression

Mike Barnett Portraits in Fiddles October 13 With: Mike Bub, Michael Daves, Stuart Duncan, Casey Campbell, Chris Eldridge, Grant Gordy, David Grier, David Grisman, Sam Grisman, Alex Hargreaves, Bobby Hicks, Ethan Jodziewicz, Dominick Leslie, Rob McCoury, Jesse McReynolds, Tim Mensy, Tim O’Brien, Jeff Picker, Noam Pikelny, Buddy Spicher, Bryan Sutton, Tony Trischka

Molly Tuttle Rise (EP) October 13 “Her songs, singing and solos, much like her demeanor, tend to have an inward-looking elegance to them; they’re the outward expressions of a searching mind and a longtime dedication to cultivating her craft.” —Jewly Hight, NPR Order yours now.

Fiddle Deis comes to Brandeis, 3/15-17

FOLK/CELTIC/JAZZ/CAJUN/KLEZMER/BAROQUE/BLUEGRASS, etc.

Thanks to Barbara Cassidy for alerting me to this. "Fiddle Festival at Brandeis University, Waltham, is coming up in March. Three days of workshops and performances."

What a lineup! I am posting this today because you will want to get tickets before it sells out.

Go all three days if you can, but if you cannot I highly recommend, because 100% of the musicians have either performed in my own notloB Folk Concerts series or have very close ties, going Friday night. But if you prefer jazz, Saturday looks to be the day. But if you prefer Baroque / classical. Sunday is your day.

A word of warning, unless the situation has changed, parking at Brandeis can be a challenge.

FIDDLE'DEIS
March 15-17
Brandeis University, Waltham
http://www.brandeis.edu/arts/concerts/fiddledeis.html

A Cross-genre progression of the violin in performance. From Medieval to Traditional to Electronic. All strings (violin, viola, cello, bass, viola da gamba, guitar, mandolin, etc.) are invited to take part in the workshops, master classes and jams on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. (Music: Hunt for the Quail Egg - Casey Driessen)

FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 7:00 P.M.
Mariel Vandersteel
Reiner Family Band (David and Andy Reiner, Eric Eid-Reiner, Cindy Eid)
Laura Cortese Acoustic Project (Laura Cortese, Mariel Vandersteel, fiddles; Valerie Thompson, cello)
Jeremy Kittel Band (Jeremy Kittel, fiddle; Josh Pinkham, mandolin; Nathaniel Smith, cello; Simon Chrisman, hammered dulcimer)
Tickets: $20/$15 seniors/Students with ID $5

SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 7:00 P.M.
Meena Kothandaraman
David Greely and Chris Stafford
Ben Powell Jazz Quartet (Ben Powell, violin; Tim Ray, piano; Bob Nieske, bass; Bob Tamagni, drums)
Casey Driessen
Tickets: $20/$15 seniors/Students with ID $5

SUNDAY, MARCH 17
1:00 p.m. Medieval Vielle with Shira Kammen
3:00 p.m. Fiddling in the 17th Century
with Sarah Mead, Emily Walhout, Shira Kammen and Cathy Liddell
4:30 p.m. Luck of the Irish with Dave and Andy Reiner
(Reinharz Residence Hall)
7:00 p.m. Daniel Stepner Baroque Project
Tickets for Sunday's performances: $20/$15 seniors/Students with ID $5 (includes all performances)

Workshop and Master Class Schedule http://www.brandeis.edu/arts/concerts/Fiddledeisworkshops.htm

Indoor Celtic Festival in Cambridge Friday and Saturday

If not yet on your radar, place the 10th annual BCMFest, which will be produced at three venues in Harvard Square this Friday and Saturday, dead center.

Like notloB Parlour Concerts*, BCMFest is an all-volunteer effort (in fact they are still seeking volunteers - contact them though their website and get free admission).

There will be a very strong notloB alumni presence, including.....
Katie McNally and Eric McDonald
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Molly Pinto Madigan
Laura Cortese
Matt Heaton
Flynn Cohen and The Deadstring Ensemble
Sean Smith
Cliff McGann
Hanneke Cassel

About BCMFest BCMFest (Boston’s Celtic Music Fest) showcases Greater Boston’s best musicians, singers, and dancers from Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton, and other Celtic traditions. BCMFest hosts an annual weekend-long festival in January that features more than 100 performers. All of the profits from BCMFest are used to fund the next festival. Throughout the year, BCMFest organizes the Celtic Music Cruise, Boston Urban Ceilidh, and monthly Celtic Music Monday Sessions at Club Passim, which spotlight local Celtic musicians and singers. Laura Cortese, Shannon Heaton, Leanne McNally, Rachel Reeds, and Sean Smith head the BCMFest committee. Please contact themwith any questions about the festival. The mission of BCMFest is To produce locally-based Irish, Scottish, and Cape Breton music and dance in an upbeat and friendly environment. To bolster appreciation for traditional Celtic music and dance among youth and the Greater Boston community. To support a living, changing tradition by encouraging cross-genre collaborations and innovations among dancers and musicians of all generations. To produce a variety of collaborative projects and performances for the Greater Boston community.

Follow BCMFest on facebook and get BCMFest       news year-round on the BCMFest blog.

The 10th annual BCMFest will be held January 11-12, 2013.

Advance tickets available now! Click here for full lineup, schedule and ticket links.

History:

BCMFest was born after Laura Cortese (Scottish fiddle) and Shannon Heaton (Irish flute) realized that recently they had seen many great, traditional Celtic music acts playing it the area; they thought it would be exciting if more of the Boston-area trad players worked with local folk music venues like Club Passim, the Burren, Johnny D’s, and the Canadian American Club. Soon after their talk, Laura and Shannon began planning a weekend-long showcase of local traditional talent—a Boston Celtic Music Fest to celebrate the rich, diverse pool of traditional music and dance in the Boston area.

The festival has become a hub for generating ideas, energy, and community support for local, traditional Celtic music and dance performers. In 2011, BCMFest became an official program of Passim. Today, in addition to the annual festival in January, audiences and artists can enjoy monthly concerts at Club Passim that feature a broad selection of Boston-based Celtic music and dance acts.

As BCMFest enters its tenth year, the festival is stronger than ever, and its vision is more refined. By presenting touring professionals, tradition-bearers, and young performers, the festival offers a variety of music not found anywhere else. The list of performers and fans involved in the festival continues to grow, a sign that BCMFest is a vital addition to the Boston music community.

*Upcoming notloB and related concerts:

01/18/13	Loring-Greenough House	Katie McNally & Eric McDonald
02/18/13	Watertown private residence	Brittany Haas, Lily Henley and Kellen Zakula
02/23/13	Loring-Greenough House	Fellswater
03/05/13	Johnny D's	Richard Wood & Gordon Belsher
03/09/13	Loring-Greenough House	Bronwyn Keith-Hynes and Catherine Bowness w/ George Clements

p.s. I will be managing the BCMFest's sanctuary stage, stop by to say 'hello.'

notloB Alumni Perform at Pete Seeger's 90th B'day Party!

On May 3, FOUR notlob alumni artists ~ Peggy Seeger, Mike and Ruthy Merenda (with Will) and Laura Cortese ~ performed before 18,000 people at Madison Square Garden for Pete Seeger's 90th birthday celebration concert.











See ~80 more concert photos here and a 48-photo slide show (with artist names) here.

And Laura on YouTube!