Buy an Early Bird Season Ticket before the start of the season and save over 20% at-the-door admission to Opera House events for the year. Once the season starts, for $125, you can receive a season ticket that gets you in the door for all of this season’s performance series events.
Ecstatic Dance DC is the dance-iest dance floor in all of DC.
Rappolla Entertainment Presents The Rock Revival
Featuring Tributes to Tool | Korn | System of a Down | Godsmack
Relive the nu-metal and metal anthems that shaped the landscape from Woodstock ‘99 to today! This one-night-only event features top-notch tribute bands who tour some of the finest venues across the nation. We’re honored to welcome them to Zen West on November 22nd for Rappolla Entertainment’s Thanksgiving Edition of The Rock Revival.
Performed By
4 Degrees (Tool Tribute)
Realign (Godsmack Tribute)
T.O.A.D. (System of a Down Tribute)
Issues (Korn Tribute)
Awesome Live Maryland Bands performing tributes to legendary Rock, Metal, and Pop Rock Classics! Discounted Themed Drinks And More!
Discount Deal
Buy Two Tickets in Advance and Get One Free ($30)!
Each ticket bought in advance includes a Drink Ticket (domestics only).
Prepare to Be Amazed: Craig Karges to Continue the 25th Season at the Pocahontas County Opera House!"
The Pocahontas County Opera House is thrilled to announce the continuation of its stellar 25th season with an astonishing performance by the renowned "extraordinist" Craig Karges on November 23 at 7 PM.
Craig Karges combines the art of magic with the science of psychology to create an experience that defies logic and leaves audiences spellbound. With over 5,000 appearances spanning 27 countries and all fifty states, Karges's "Experience the Extraordinary" show features mind-bending feats where tables float, minds are read, and metal bends. His talents have earned him over 40 national television spots, including appearances on The Tonight Show, CNN, and Fox News Channel. Performance Magazine has hailed his act as "The next era in mystery entertainment," and he has been repeatedly honored as Entertainer of the Year by the National Association for Campus Activities.
The Pocahontas County Opera House is committed to providing a family-friendly and accessible environment for all. Special accommodations are available upon request to ensure that every attendee can enjoy the show. With a first-come, first-served seating policy, we encourage guests to purchase their tickets in advance to secure their place for this enchanting evening.
Tickets are available for a $10 donation for adults, while admission is free for attendees aged 17 and younger. Tickets can be acquired through multiple channels: online at pocahontasoperahouse.org, in person at the 4th Avenue Gallery in Marlinton, or at the venue on the evening of the performance.
The Pocahontas County Opera House extends its deepest gratitude to the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, the West Virginia Commission on the Arts, Pocahontas County Dramas, Fairs and Festivals, Mid-Atlantic Arts, and the Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau for their invaluable financial support. We also thank the local community for its continued support and enthusiasm for our historic venue.
Festival of Trees will return to the Maryland State Fairgrounds on Thanksgiving weekend, November 29 to December 1, 2024!
This three-day holiday celebration benefits the patients, students and programs at Kennedy Krieger Institute and kicks off the most wonderful time of the year for families throughout the region.
Hundreds of designer-decorated trees, wreaths and gingerbread houses will be on sale and displayed throughout the Cow Palace, which will be transformed into a winter wonderland for this festive weekend.
Festival of Trees Event Hours:
- Friday, November 29: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Saturday, November 30: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Sunday, December 1: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
TFP Entertainment: Jazzzy Presents & Mr Incredible… & The Super Powers
Presents
“HISTORY“
Black Friday November 29
The Biggest Baltimore Party Reunion …
From All The Parties Bmore : Miami : DC : LAS Vegas from 2000 to Present Tag a Friend..
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Lady Day Production ||Pank Boss Entertainment
Certified Dennis Presents || Corey Presents
Young Gunner || Star Status : Pee Wee
K & D || Skrued Marcus || First Man Ty
The Flywire || Jay & Marty Mc Fly || Dchase presents || Diwee || JAY & Marti Overachievers || Chopper & Eric B
KS Entertainment ||iDREAMeventS Wic
Good Life Lowe || KP EVENTS
Celebrate the season with AIA Baltimore and Baltimore Architecture Foundation.
Enjoy networking with fellow professionals in the field. This event will feature delicious local fare and refreshments.
Contemporary folk songs, at their very best, offer an insight into the hardships, attitudes, and resolve of characters and events that shape our day-to-day lives. You can dress these songs up in inspired arrangements and intricate instrumentation but, at their very essence, the archetypal folk song is all about stories. Stories and people. Something such compelling songwriters as Eric Bogle, Si Kahn, Ewan MacColl, and Stan Rogers … all understood and mined so effectively.
James Keelaghan, too, burrows into that same rich seam with equal ability and comparable conviction. To quote Eric Bibb, the award-winning American acoustic bluesman, after listening to Keelaghan perform: “[You’re] a joy to hear, just beautiful. Reminded me of the best of the best of another time – Liam Clancy, Tom Paxton etcetera.” Less colourful but more succinct, Dave Marsh, the eminent Rolling Stone critic, simply described Keelaghan as “Canada’s finest songwriter.”
Truly, throughout a career that now spans almost four decades, the Juno and Canadian Folk Music Award winner has created a repertoire of incalculable importance – a unique body of work, either inspired by or drawn from the folk tradition. Ten solo albums flush with enduring lyrical relevance. Take the beautiful but heartbreaking ballad, Jenny Bryce, for example. From any point of view, it’s indistinguishable from the numerous traditional tracks covered on his disc A Few Simple Verses.
What’s more, various other originals from the Keelaghan canon must surely enter the domain of traditional folklore. Most notably, Small Rebellions (highlighting the 1931 slaughter of peaceful striking miners in Bienfait, SK); Hillcrest Mine (a prelude to the worst coal mining disaster in Canadian history); Kiri’s Piano (a triumph over adversity amidst the shameful, racist treatment of Japanese-Canadians during WW II); Cold Missouri Waters (a harrowing portrait of the 1949 Mann Gulch Fire in the mountains of Montana) …
A relentless musical spirit, Keelaghan has surrounded himself with a variety of crackerjack companions down through the years that have largely included the late, innovative, free-spirited fiddler and composer, Oliver Schroer, the exuberant, Chilean, Latino-fusionist guitarist, Oscar Lopez (with whom Keelaghan made two albums under the banner of Compadres), or the ubiquitous, former Spirit of the West anchor and multi-instrumentalist, Hugh MacMillan. Scrupulous audiences from Alberta to Australia bore witness to the sum of these resourceful parts.
There have been several mouth-watering collaborations in the writing department, too. Celebrated names in the folk world such as Karrine Polwart, Jez Lowe, Catherine MacLellan, David Francey, Lynn Miles, Dave Gunning, Cara Luft and J.D. Edwards … all contributed to notable Keelaghan releases.
“I love co-writing,” he says, “it’s the spark that gets me motivated – the fresh approach to a lyric or a different way of forming a melody for a song is so stimulating. Besides, it’s also a great impetus to finish the damn song.”
James Keelaghan grew up in a bungalow in northwest Calgary, AB, with six siblings, an Irish father, and an English mum. His brother Bob would develop into a noteworthy guitarist with the excellent, but now defunct, Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir. From his father, Jim, James developed a love of history. The family record collection provided further inspiration. Traditional folk LPs by the likes of The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, Séan Ó Riada, and Harry Belafonte certainly caught young Keelaghan’s ear. He still cites Belafonte At Carnegie Hall as a recording that changed his life at age six!
Incidentally, Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy would live in Calgary in the mid-‘70s where they recorded a weekly TV show that James and his father routinely attended. “They were stunning performers,” says James. “I can still hear aspects of Tommy Makem’s sound in my voice. He was a fabulous singer, fabulous.”
And so, another link in a storied musical chain was forged. James Keelaghan, as they say, is “a man you don’t meet every day.”
Besides having quick wit and an irreverent sense of humor, Sean McGhee is a master of the 12-string guitar and has an engaging tenor voice. He has been featured at the Birchmere as one of the "Three Folk Tenors". Doris Justis and Sean McGhee were Side by Side. Their close vocal harmonies and guitars backed their original songs and original interpretations of the best songwriters. The duo shared the stage over the years with the Chad Mitchell Trio, Bill Danoff, Nanci Griffith, Debi Smith, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Tom Paxton, Schooner Fare and the Limeliters to name just a few. They performed on stages from the Kennedy Center to the Birchmere Music Hall (headliners at both in 1999), Baldwin's Station, Center Stage and at Washington's Starland Café. They were featured each summer at the annual Paw Paw Folk Festival in West Virginia. Doris and Sean performed with John Denver's band in two tribute concerts in Aspen, Colo., and were featured on the CD from that event.
Ecstatic Dance DC is the dance-iest dance floor in all of DC.
Astronaut Country Club’s long-awaited debut closes out Rappolla Entertainment’s schedule for 2024, featuring an all-star lineup of some of the best emerging alternative, pop-punk, and punk bands from the Mid-Atlantic region. Jeff Hans, known for performing with the likes of Pat Renny and Distance to Dawn, has worked tirelessly to build a name for Astronaut Country Club, his original project. With several releases available on all streaming platforms and a growing presence on social media, the anticipation from fellow musicians, fans, friends, and family has reached a fever pitch. The long-awaited live performance debut is finally here!
Featuring Special Guest
We Are Not Spies" is an alternative rock band from Maryland. They have gained recognition for their energetic live performances and engaging presence.
Shuttlecraft is a pop-punk band from Maryland, known for its nerdy, quirky style that combines emo vibes with a playful approach. Formed in the wake of the 2020 pandemic, the band seized the opportunity to release music, including creative covers of iconic songs such as "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid, as well as tributes to films like Moana and Tangled
Their performances gained attention, including a Green Day tribute where the band covered every song in Green Day's catalog, which eventually caught the attention of Billie Joe Armstrong. He praised Shuttlecraft for their impressive performances in tribute to the legendary band
JD Rotten is a Maryland-based musician making a name for herself in the local music scene. Known for her charismatic stage presence, she has performed in various tribute bands, such as Cross Eyed Bear, a tribute to Alanis Morissette, and Banana Kingdom, a tribute to No Doubt. These performances, alongside prominent Maryland musicians like Isaac Krapf, Nic of Rappolla Entertainment, and Steve Sladski of Bloomr, helped establish her as a standout talent in the region. JD Rotten's music blends rock and punk influences with local Maryland vibes, contributing to her growing popularity in venues in Fells Point, Federal Hill bars, and festivals such as Maryland Day in Power Plant Live.
Her performances, including a recent opening for Afroman at Zen West, have earned her a strong following. As she crafts more original music, her reputation continues to rise in the Maryland music scene.
Letterbox is an alternative rock band based in Baltimore, Maryland. The band has been active for several years and features a sound influenced by groups like Jimmy Eat World, Foo Fighters, Death Cab for Cutie, Mae, and The Spill Canvas. Their music combines heartfelt lyrics with engaging melodies, creating a powerful blend of rock and emo vibes.
Join the Maryland Chapter of ASLA for our Annual Holiday Party at Little Havana in Baltimore!
Ecstatic Dance DC is the dance-iest dance floor in all of DC.
The Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys, West Virginia's longest-running bluegrass band, will return to the Opera House on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at 7 p.m. Led by Mill Point local Richard Hefner for over half a century, the band is renowned for its traditional bluegrass sound, tight vocal harmonies, and deep roots in the local music scene.
Joining Hefner is Mill Point neighbor Joanna Burt-Kinderman on bass, who will add her local influence and musical expertise. Dave Bing, renowned for his skillful fiddle playing and significant contributions to West Virginia's musical heritage, will also be on stage. Danny Arthur on guitar will complete the ensemble, bringing his personal touch to the group's rich and dynamic sound.
Fans eager to learn more about the band can explore the Opera House Story Sessions, which include engaging videos and podcasts that delve into Richard Hefner's early days and showcase some of his favorite songs. Richard's Story Session also includes tales of playing music with the father of bluegrass, Bill Monroe. Additionally, a separate Story Session focused on Dave Bing offers insights into his pivotal role in the state's music scene, including his time with local musical legends, the Hammons Family.
Tickets for this highly anticipated performance are $10 for adults, while young music lovers 17 and under can attend for free, making it an accessible event for families. Subject to availability, tickets can be purchased online at pocahontasoperahouse.org, at the 4th Avenue Gallery in Marlinton, or at the door on the night of the show.
Grants from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the West Virginia Commission on the Arts proudly support the Opera House Performance Series. Additional support comes from Pocahontas County Dramas, Fairs and Festivals and the Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau, reflecting the community's dedication to preserving and promoting its cultural heritage.
Faith Noel is a Nashville recording artist, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, known for her unique voice and powerful vocals. Endorsed by InTune Guitar Picks, WBGear, and S.I.T. Strings, she first gained recognition at age 12, performing with bluegrass legend Rhonda Vincent at the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival.
As a member of the Seven Mountains Bluegrass Association, Faith was awarded the Youth Music Scholarship in 2020 and the Dick Laird Memorial Scholarship in 2021. She is a two-time CPMA award winner, performing across multiple genres and sharing the stage with acts like Brett Michaels, Sam Grow, and American Idol winner Chayce Beckham.
In 2024, Faith performed at the Barefoot Country Music Festival and opened for Jimmy Charles, Dylan Marlowe, and LoCash. She has released two of her four recorded songs, with the remaining tracks coming soon. Recorded at Blackbird Studios with producer Bryan Clark, these songs reflect her rising impact in the music world.
Free Event
7PM to 9PM
https://faithnoel.com/
Ecstatic Dance DC is the dance-iest dance floor in all of DC.
Ecstatic Dance DC is the dance-iest dance floor in all of DC.
Ecstatic Dance DC is the dance-iest dance floor in all of DC.
Eightlock, officially known as Paul Reed Smith Eightlock, is a Maryland-based band formed by the renowned guitar maker Paul Reed Smith. Known for their fusion of Baltimore funk, DC go-go, and New Orleans swing, they deliver an intense, rhythmic experience featuring a "3 drummer groove." Their lineup includes prominent musicians such as Dennis Chambers (who has played with Santana and Parliament-Funkadelic), Greg Grainger, Ju Ju House, Gary Grainger, Mia Samone, Michael Ault, and Bill Nelson, bringing a unique, high-energy performance style to their shows.
Their debut album, Lions Roaring in Quicksand, was released in late 2023, highlighting their innovative sound and electrifying live presence, often described as "explosive" and "jumping out of the speakers." They’ve recently performed at venues across Maryland, and local music festivals.
Odd Foxes is a Maryland-based supergroup featuring talented musicians with significant followings in the local music scene. The lineup includes Kevin Hock (formerly of Loving The Lie and The Henchmen), Brian Reilly (formerly IMBUED), Lauren Padgett (of Ebb and Nova), along with Jim Nicolas, and Darian Bess. Kevin Hock and Brian Reilly are also recognized for their work with Transcendent Events, Hock's promotion , party planning, and event booking company.
The band skillfully merges genres, including funk, indie rock, folk, and alternative, creating an engaging sound that draws on each member’s unique background and influences. Known for vibrant live shows, Odd Foxes has become a must-see act in Maryland, especially with their recent release, Slow Blade, which has resonated strongly with fans both at live events and online. This release has amplified their reach, solidifying them as a standout in the local music community.
Krapf is a progressive rock band from Baltimore, Maryland, led by Isaac Krapf with Delroy from Ignant Exposure. Initially a solo project, it evolved into a full band and recently opened for Black Stone Cherry at The Recher. Their music, known for combining melodic and aggressive rock elements, is thematically centered on a character named "Autumn," providing a unique narrative across their releases.
Their discography includes the debut album Seasick (2020), The Hollow, and Gates. A recent remaster of “Autumn” has drawn interest from Pavement Entertainment, which manages artists like Plush and Powerman 5000, and they also collaborate with JVP Sound, known for work with Nickelback and Simple Plan. Locally, Krapf performs both original and tribute sets, including collaborations with Mikka Lee on Myphase.
No Promises is an alternative punk band from Abingdon, Maryland, known for its energetic live shows and growing fanbase. Drawing influence from bands like The Doors, Led Zeppelin, and Foo Fighters, they blend alternative rock with punk elements. The band gained attention for their March 2023 performance as direct support for Cold, leaving a lasting impression on local audiences as they prepare for their return.
A wordsmith and poet of rare clarity, John Flynn writes powerful songs of humanity and hope. His dynamic performances are known for their disarming honesty and humor. Songwriter and activist John calls himself a “hopeful pessimist.” John sings from the heart. His powerful songs of humanity and hope are deeply rooted in the traditions of Woody Guthrie. From barbed political verse to joyous fun-loving lyrics for kids, John paints vivid, lasting images with words and music drawn from a palate of awareness, irony, humor, and compassion. He opens one of his recent CDs, The End of the Beginning, with the lines “Like river stone, it may be that some edges get worn smooth, or maybe it’s just that these days you don’t have as much to prove.” These words seem to capture not only the mood of the disarmingly acoustic release, but also something of the 59 year-old singer-songwriter himself. In 2005, Arlo Guthrie invited John to join his post-Katrina “Train to New Orleans Tour.” Arlo says of John, “More than just a good song writer, performer, or guitar player, John Flynn is a friend because he actually does the kinds of things to help make the world a little better.”
Joe Jencks is an international touring musician, award-winning songwriter, and celebrated vocalist known for his performances of musical beauty, social consciousness and spiritual exploration. A 25-year veteran of the international Folk circuit, Jencks has released 15 CDs in that time. Merging conservatory training with his Irish roots and working-class upbringing, Joe delivers engaged musical narratives filled with heart, soul, groove and grit. Blending well-crafted instrumentals and vivid songwriting, Jencks serves it all up with a lyric baritone voice that has the edgy richness of a good sea-salt caramel.
In August of 2022, Jencks released his 17th recording, The Coming of the Years, an album that stands firmly in the modern Celtic traditions and is still quintessentially a Joe Jencks record. Centered around songs Jencks wrote while on tour in Ireland over a 12-year period, this album emerges as a synergistic blend of past and present merging with themes of immigration spanning multiple generations. The album was received with critical acclaim.
If you have young kids, you already know all the words to the soundtracks of the movies "Frozen 1 & 2." Now you can see them live, in a fun & funny stage show for the whole family.
Anne Hills has become one of the better known voices of the contemporary folk music scene, receiving awards and recognition for her live performances (2009 Bound for Glory live radio show favorite- Ithaca, NY), her unique solo and collaborative recording projects (2001 WAMMIE for duet CD with Tom Paxton, Under American Skies), and her overall artistry and benefit work (2002 Kate Wolf Award, Carole Robertson Award & Kerrville Female Vocalist of the Year 1997). Her song “Follow That Road” was the title cut of the Martha’s Vineyard Songwriter Retreat and has enchanted audiences for over a decade. Whether she is singing her own song, the words of 6-year-old Opal Whiteley, or the Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley; accompanied with her guitar, banjo, or simply a Tibetan bell, she puts her whole heart and soul into the moment. So, even if you haven’t become familiar with her voice (featured often on XM/Sirius Folk Radio, The Midnight Special and many other folk shows) you won’t want to miss a chance to hear her songs and stories in person. She’s just begun touring more extensively, winning over audiences with her warm, lively and humorous performances. The AllMusic Guide says, “A stunning soprano tone has made Anne Hills one of contemporary music’s premiere vocalists … Her knack for writing heartfelt songs [has] brought her to the upper echelon of her craft.” and Tom Paxton says, “Anne Hills is such an exquisite singer that it’s understandable that people might be swept up in the pure beauty of her voice and thereby overlook her writing. That would be a mistake. For me, Anne’s writing, in songs like ‘Follow That Road’ and many others, is as direct, melodic and deep as any work being done today. She is quite simply one of my absolute favorite songwriters.”
Jay Ansill became interested in folk music while in high school, before long he was playing mandolin and fiddle at square dances Irish Ceilis. While still in high school, he formed the Schuylkill Valley Nature Boys, a band that played all kinds of folk music. He became well known in Philadelphia in the early 1980s for a station ID they recorded for WXPN FM. Jay Ansill is a composer and folk musician, known primarily as a Celtic harpist and fiddler. The emotional power and stylistic adventurousness of Ansill's music also owes a great deal to the literature of the twentieth century. Ansill was nominated twice as Best Folk Instrumentalist by the Philadelphia Music Foundation and in 1990 his album Origami, a collection of original compositions, was voted Best Folk Recording. He was also nominated for two Barrymore Awards in the same year for theatrical scores for productions of The Grapes of Wrath and Charlotte's Web at the Arden Theatre in Philadelphia. Ansill is a regular collaborator with Mabou Mines theater company. Jay Ansill is a composer and folk musician, known primarily as a Celtic harpist and fiddler. The Folk Harp Journal says that "He has created a new language for the Celtic harp."
Armed with her unusual guitar style and crystalline soprano voice, Kate McDonnell teamed with her twin sister to perform around their Baltimore hometown during their high school and college years. After a four-year sabbatical from performance in the mid-80s, Kate returned to music by partnering with guitarist Freddie Tane, at one time a member of Bill Haley’s Comets.
In 1989, Kate started writing her own songs and began racking up serious critical recognition in the early 90s, she was named a New Folk Finalist at the Kerrville Folk Festival and a finalist at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Showcase in New York State. In 1992, she released her self-produced debut album, “Broken Bones.” The CD was praised in prestigious folk periodicals. Sing Out! called her a “strong vocalist and guitarist [with an] outstanding ability to write excellent first-person songs,” and Dirty Linen described “Broken Bones” as “a striking showcase for her skills as a songwriter and performer” and called Kate’s voice “flexible, adventurous and moving.”
Kate has appeared on the internationally syndicated “World Café” radio show and performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C She hit the studio in the summer of 2020 to record her 5th album “Ballad of a Bad Girl.” Here latest CD is "Trapeze."
Blend a powerful singer, crisp acoustic guitar player and a heartfelt observer of the world and you will have singer-songwriter, Lynn Hollyfield. Layers, her new solo recording, exploded on the folk scene in 2010, receiving air play and positive reviews-nationally and internationally-marking her as a rising star of contemporary folk music.
Hailing from Staten Island, NY, Lynn picked up a guitar at age 10 and started playing, learning from great jazz artists like Ella Fitzgerald and contemporary influences like the Beatles, CSNY, Shawn Colvin and John Hiatt. She soon started writing her own songs infusing these sounds to find her own voice, mingling contemporary folk, pop, blues and jazz. The resulting blend has been called an “indie-folk-pop style which could have (her) opening up for 10,000 Maniacs or Cowboy Junkies.” (Leicasterbangs, UK).
She was first heard in the DC area as part of the duo, Hollyfield & Spruill, releasing two recordings, Slipping Time and Blue & Green. Layers, marks a turning point in her work, and brings together her wit, smoky sweetness and a thoughtful reverie to her first, solo recording. The Maryland Independent praised Layers as “a pensive, roots-driven collection which features the artist's angelic voice and fluid guitar picking.” Layers, has been listed as one of the Top Albums of 2010 on the Folk DJ Playlist and her work landed her 4 WAMMIE (Washington Area Music Association) nominations in 2011. Her songwriting has received recent Honorable Mentions in the MASC (Mid-Atlantic Songwriting Contest) and The Indie International Songwriting Contest-Folk Category. Jane Woods, from Fanrealm said, “Hollyfield’s songs are beautiful and contain a universal wisdom we can all identify with. (Her songwriting) celebrates the truly important things in life – the journey not the destination.”
Lynn supports other local musicians and songwriters by hosting monthly a SAW Open Mic (Songwriter’s Association of Washington) in Greenbelt, MD and is a founding member of the Homegrown Coffeehouse, Accokeek, MD, now in its 12th season.
This show will be among Tom’s last tour dates. After 60 years of touring and recording, recording and touring, Tom will be retiring from the road in Spring of 2025. This will be your last opportunity to see Tom and to sing along to all his songs, so known and loved.
Tom Paxton has become a voice of his generation, addressing issues of injustice and inhumanity, laying bare the absurdities of modern culture and celebrating the tenderest bonds of family, friends, and community.
In describing Tom Paxton’s influence on his fellow musicians, Pete Seeger has said: “Tom’s songs have a way of sneaking up on you. You find yourself humming them, whistling them, and singing a verse to a friend. Like the songs of Woody Guthrie, they’re becoming part of America.” Pete goes on: “In a small village near Calcutta, in 1998, a villager who could not speak English sang me What Did You Learn In School Today? in Bengali! Tom Paxton’s songs are reaching around the world more than he is, or any of us could have realized. Keep on, Tom!”
Guy Clark adds: “Thirty years ago Tom Paxton taught a generation of traditional folksingers that it was noble to write your own songs, and, like a good guitar, he just gets better with age.” Paxton has been an integral part of the songwriting and folk music community since the early 60’s Greenwich Village scene, and continues to be a primary influence on today’s “New Folk” performers. The Chicago native came to New York via Oklahoma, which he considers to be his home state. His family moved there in 1948, when Tom was 10 years old, and he graduated from Bristow High School and The University of Oklahoma, where he majored in drama while his interest in folk music grew and eventually predominated.
Brought to New York courtesy of the US Army, Tom remained there following his discharge. His early success in Greenwich Village coffeehouses, such as The Gaslight and The Bitter End, led to an ever-increasing circle of work. Then in 1965 he made his first tour of the United Kingdom — the beginning of a still-thriving professional relationship that has included at least one tour in each of the succeeding years.
He and his late wife, Midge, have two daughters, Jennifer and Kate. All three women have served as inspiration for many songs, and now three grandsons, Christopher, Sean, and Peter are adding to the sources of inspiration.
He has performed thousands of concerts around the world in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Scandinavia, France, Italy, Belgium, Holland, England, Scotland, Ireland and Canada. That these fans still enjoy his work is a testament to the quality of his recent work, and to the enduring power of modern standards like The Last Thing On My Mind, Ramblin’ Boy, Bottle Of Wine, Whose Garden Was This?, Goin’ To The Zoo and The Marvelous Toy. Paxton’s songbooks, critically acclaimed children’s books (available from HarperCollins – see the page for children), award-winning children’s recordings, and a catalog of hundreds of songs (also recorded by many renowned artists including Willie Nelson, Placido Domingo, Paul Simon, Townes Van Zandt and Tiny Tim), all serve to document Tom Paxton’s 40-year career.
Tom received a 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy during the 51st Annual GRAMMY® Awards. He was nominated for a GRAMMY for Comedians and Angels in 2007, and Live in the U.K. in 2006. He was also nominated for GRAMMYS in 2003 for his Appleseed Records CD, Looking For The Moon, and in 2002 for his children’s CD, Your Shoes, My Shoes. He has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from ASCAP, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the BBC in London.
Tom Paxton’s place in folk music is secured not just by hit records and awards, but by the admiration of three generations of fellow musicians. An internationally recognized and loved cultural figure, he has always chosen goodwill over commercial success. His generosity has taken the shape of a benefit concert performance for a little girl fighting leukemia, or a personal note of encouragement to an up-and-coming songwriter. This is the man who wrote and lives the words, “Peace will come, and let it begin with me.”
He is one of the great songwriters of the last century and will be reckoned as one of the greats in this new century, as well. He is a man we have come to regard as our friend.
“Tom Paxton’s songs are so powerful and lyrical, written from the heart and the conscience, and they reach their mark, our most inner being. He writes stirring songs of social protest and gentle songs of love, each woven together with his personal gift for language. His melodies haunt, his lyrics reverberate. I have sung Tom’s songs for three decades and will go on doing so in the new century, for they are beautiful and timeless, and meant for every age.” (Judy Collins)
“Tom Paxton embodies the spirit of folk music in the most beautiful sense. Not just in his song crafting, his work ethic, his politics and his dedication to people’s music, but also in his kind and generous heart. When I first started playing folk festivals, I was all of eighteen, shaved headed and politically outspoken. Many people in the folk community at that time seemed defensive and threatened by me, but I remember Tom was a notable exception. He was nothing but warm, welcoming and supportive to me from the git go. He’s the coolest.” (Ani DiFranco)
“Every folk singer I know has either sung a Tom Paxton song, is singing a Tom Paxton song or will soon sing a Tom Paxton song. Now either all the folk singers are wrong, or Tom Paxton is one hell of a songwriter.” (Holly Near)
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner and folk icon, Tom Paxton, teams up with the Grammy winning singer/songwriter duo The Don Juans - Don Henry & Jon Vezner.
Collectively, their songs have been covered by: Harry Belafonte, John Mellencamp, Miranda Lambert, Neil Diamond, Ray Charles, Nancy Griffith, Judy Collins, Pete Seeger, Janis Ian, Kathy Mattea, John Denver, Faith Hill, B.J. Thomas, Blake Shelton, Peter, Paul & Mary and Bob Dylan… just to name a few! Within days of writing and playing together, they knew they were onto something. Now they’re taking it on the road!
Wednesday 13 is an American horror-punk and heavy metal band fronted by musician and songwriter Joseph Poole, known by his stage name Wednesday 13. Formed in 2004, the band is recognized for its macabre themes, blending horror-inspired lyrics with punk, glam, and metal influences. With a theatrical stage presence and albums like Fang Bang and Condolences, Wednesday 13 has cultivated a dedicated fanbase that appreciates dark humor, horror aesthetics, and high-energy performances. As a co-creator of the band Murderdolls, Wednesday 13 has captivated audiences globally and toured with icons such as Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, Cradle of Filth, and more.
With Special Guest
Stitched Up Heart is a Los Angeles-based rock band with over a decade of electrifying performances worldwide. Known for their intense, melodic sound, they blend hard rock with alternative and metal, crafting anthems of resilience. Their 2020 album Darkness featured Godsmack's Sully Erna and followed the success of Never Alone. In 2023, they joined Escape the Fate to launch their latest album, To the Wolves. With a loyal fanbase, they’ve toured with acts like Godsmack, Halestorm, and In This Moment, solidifying their place in modern rock.
I Ya Toyah is the solo project of Polish-born, Chicago-based artist Ania Tarnowska. Known for her unique blend of industrial, electronic, and darkwave sounds, she crafts music that explores themes of alienation, mental health, and resilience. Her atmospheric vocals and synth-driven soundscapes create a haunting, cinematic quality. A fierce advocate for mental wellness and human and animal rights, I Ya Toyah donates 15% of her music and merchandise sales to organizations like the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and the Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation, actively supporting these causes.
All Ages
$25 Advance
Door 6PM | Music 7PM
With 26 recordings and hundreds of songs in his repertoire, Tom Chapin serves up a tasty mix of story songs, ballads, comedic and political songs, family music, sing-alongs, old-time folk classics and a favorite song or two of his late brother Harry’s. Tom accompanies himself on guitar, banjo and autoharp.
In a career that spans five decades and three Grammy awards, Hudson Valley Troubadour Tom Chapin has covered an incredible amount of creative ground. In addition to his work as a recording artist and concert performer, Chapin has acted on Broadway, as well as working extensively in films, television and radio. As a music-maker, the multi-talented singer/songwriter/guitarist has maintained two long and productive parallel careers, both as a highly respected contemporary folk artist and as a pioneer in the field of children's music. Chapin has established a reputation for insightful, heartfelt songcraft, masterful fingerpicking, and charismatic live performance.
In addition to his varied musical and media endeavors, Chapin is a board member of
WhyHunger, the organization which Tom's older brother, the late singer-songwriter/activist Harry Chapin, founded in 1975. He also remains active in a variety of environmental causes, as well as efforts on behalf of music and the arts in our public schools.
"The greatest interpreter and vocalist performing in the contemporary folk scene." ~ Sing Out
Born in Hamilton, Ontario to parents of Nova Scotian descent, Garnet Rogers spent many hours in front of the old floor model radio listening to Grand Ol' Opry broadcasts and harmonizing with his brother, the late folk legend Stan Rogers. Two years later, Garnet was playing the definitive 8-year-old's version of "Desolation Row" on his ukulele. He soon abandoned that instrument to teach himself the flute, violin and guitar. At 18, Garnet was on the road as a full-time working musician with brother Stan. Together they formed what has come to be accepted as one of the most influential duos in the history of North American folk music. Garnet acted as producer and arranger for his older brother from 1973 to 1983, when Stan died tragically in a plane crash. Since then, Garnet has courageously established himself as a formidable solo artist. Hailed by the Boston Globe as a "...charismatic performer and singer — one of the major talents of our time," they continue by saying that "Garnet's vocal and instrumental talents are complimented by an undeniably powerful physical presence — close to six and a half feet tall — with the lungs to match."
With his "smooth, dark baritone," (Washington Post) his incredible range and thoughtful, dramatic phrasing, Garnet is widely considered by fans and critics alike to be one of the finest singers anywhere. His music, like the man himself, is literate, passionate, highly sensitive, and deeply purposeful. Cinematic in detail, his songs give expression to the unspoken language of the heart. An optimist at heart, Garnet sings extraordinary songs about people who are not obvious heroes and of the small everyday victories. As memorable as his songs, his over-the-top humor and lightning-quick wit move his audiences from tears to laughter and back again. Rogers has been the featured performer on numerous television and radio programs including Much Music, Mountain Stage, and All Things Considered. He has been a headliner at concert venues and festivals such as Wolf Trap, Lincoln Center, and Art Park; sharing the stage with performers such as Mary Chapin Carpenter, Billy Bragg, Bill Monroe, Ferron, Greg Brown, and Guy Clark. Though Garnet has enjoyed much popularity over the years, he remains resolutely independent, turning down offers from major labels to ensure that he continues doing music his own way.
Garnet Rogers recently published a memoir, Night Drive: Travels with my Brother.
"I have found strength and comfort in his songs. This is good and rich and big music. Welcome one and all. Come on in. Get down." ~ Greg Brown
"Celtic guitar god." ~ Baltimore City Paper.
"Breathtaking...brilliant technique, always in service of the music." ~ Guitar Player.
"A musician whose technical skill and stylistic expertise are second to none...a time-served folkie of the highest calibre." ~ Classical Guitar (U.K.).
Robin Bullock is a prolific composer and multi-instrumentalist, whose virtuosity on guitar, cittern and mandolin blends the ancient melodies of the Celtic lands and their vigorous Appalachian descendants into one powerful musical vision. The 17th-century harp tunes of legendary Irish bard Turlough O'Carolan, the spirited jigs and reels of rural Ireland, the haunting ballads of the southern Appalachians and evocative original compositions all find a musical common ground in Robin's music, where lightning-fast fingerwork one moment is perfectly balanced with tender, quiet intimacy the next. A warm, friendly presence onstage, Robin effortlessly creates a magical world for the audience with his multi-instrumental wizardry, taking them on a journey to the heart and soul of Celtic and American traditions.
"Dazzling spirit... what he offers is not just virtuosity for the sake of virtuosity, but also the sensibility of one on a quest between past and present, traditional and modern." ~ Trad Magazine (France).
Originally rising to prominence as a founding member of the innovative acoustic world-music trio Helicon, Robin's solo career has won him three Washington Area Music Association WAMMIE Awards, a Governor's Award from the Maryland State Arts Council, and a feature broadcast on National Public Radio's hugely popular Celtic music program "The Thistle and Shamrock."
Buskin & Batteau have been winning hearts and minds with their soulful acoustic balladry and fun-filled performances for more years than they care to remember. "We're not from the Cambridge, came-over-on-the-Mayflower first wave of folkies [Joan Baez, Tom Rush, Eric Von Schmidt]," says Buskin, "but we'd like to think we've stolen many of their licks." The Washington Post called their work "an irresistible amalgam of melodic, sensual pop, folkie grit and killer wit.” And while their humor runs the gamut from topical irony ("Second Homeless") to terminal silliness ("Jews Don't Camp"), it's their unique combination of instrumental virtuosity (piano and violin, primarily, though both play other instruments as well), soaring vocal harmonies and unparalleled lyric-writing that prompts the standing ovations and rhapsodic reviews: "The most musically sophisticated act in folk" — The New York Times; "Acoustic Heaven" — The Boston Globe. Famous in the eighties as superstar jingle writers — Batteau's "Heartbeat of America" heads a list of a hundred or more hits — they've also divided their time between writing songs for other artists — e.g., Judy Collins, Tom Rush, Astrud Gilberto, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Peter, Paul and Mary and Bette Midler; helping a diverse group of non-profits — Paul Newman's Hole-In-The-Wall Camps, Harry Chapin's WhyHunger, Roger Payne's Ocean Alliance, among others; and hosting their quirky, unpredictable Radio B&B show on WPKN-FM and WPKN.org. Their latest CD, Love Remembered, Love Forgot, was recorded at Neale Eckstein's Fox Run Studios in Sudbury, MA, features some delightful guest appearances.
More than a decade touring the U.S., Heather Aubrey Lloyd has brought her lush, passionate voice to every type of venue, from folk festivals and bars to bait shops and clothing-optional resorts. A recovering reporter, her songs drift from journalistic to deeply personal, each narrative offered up in her distinctive alto and layered over finger-picked guitar. Her sets are rounded out with a few pieces on djembe, the instrument that earned her primal reputation as co-front for the Baltimore-based band ilyAIMY. She’s backed and supported Dar Williams, Ellis Paul, Shawn Mullins, performed as a 2012 Most-Wanted Artist at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival and was a DC Lilith Fair Talent Search finalist. In Jan. 2015, she began work on her second solo CD, “A Message in the Mess,” a collaboration with Reno band, The Novelists.
“Lloyd’s voice has a powerful emotional and technical range, using everything from a delicate whisper to a bluesy growl to breathe life into the folk narratives.” ~ Michael Duck, The Morning Call
“…the leading singer/songwriter of the New Folk movement”
– Rolling Stone
“Gorka is widely heralded for the sophisticated intelligence and provocative originality of his songs.” ~ Boston Globe.
John Gorka is an honored icon of folk tradition. Energetic acoustic music that is not a trend, not a fad, but an expression of everyday life, is his trademark.
“He weaves wry, slice of life observations . . . ” ~ Associated Press.
Rising from a milieu of lovelorn singer/songwriters, John Gorka illuminates instead with his trademark wordplay, twisting, tuning and typing words and phrases in the way a balloon artist creates complex creatures from simple balloons. Few contemporary songwriters coax language as deftly as Gorka. For over three decades Gorka’s keen ear has picked up the stories of those along his path, folding them into poetry and song. His keen perceptiveness inspires people from all over the world to share their stories. By involving those tales in his music he escapes the trap of introspection that hobbles less gifted singer/songwriters. John Gorka flies below the pop culture radar with an almost cult-like following that never fails to fill concerts. Speak with any of his fans and one instantly feel’s their enthusiasm and genuine affection. His shy, almost self-effacing stage presence, rightfully focuses attention on the songs. John’s versatility on guitar and piano keeps his sets musically interesting while his rich baritone effortlessly executes his bidding. And he’s never short of the sly comment or clever joke that invariably ignites his audience. So for your next magical spell, just wave your wand and … “Gorka!!” ~ Baltimore Sun.
