Music has a way of burrowing into my psyche. I don’t know if everyone is wired this way or whether it’s my own peculiar emotional telemetry. I wanted to celebrate the Cowboy Junkies and to me that means celebrating their landmark album, The Trinity Sessions.  Nearly 53 minutes of musical bliss was recorded in the Church of the Holy Trinity in Toronto using a single mic back in 1987. The result is a captivating album that contributed to my knowledge of music, past and present. It was the ultimate simple gift that soothed my soul. When The Trinity Sessions was released, I was a brand-new m ..read more

Imagine my surprise when I got notice of this year’s New Folk at the Kerrville Folk Festival (a legendary fest that has a distinct position among all festivals in that it’s an 18-day event and many folks stay for the duration.  A lot of stellar songwriters set up camp on the festival site and collaborate with others throughout the fest. This year one of the designated New Folk members of the class of 2023 is Conor Ryan Hennessy. His name popped out at me because he lives in the city I was born in and lived for many years and it’s also a neighboring city to my town of Marblehead. I contact ..read more

Joan Shelley “The Spur” Photo by Amber Thieneman Joan Shelley hails from Kentucky and there’s something very rural and very real about her sound. Her musical influences range from the traditional music of the United Kingdom to the familiar names from the world of country music like Tom T. Hall, Dolly Parton, and Roger Miller. My own personal take: Joan Shelley is Gillian Welch meets Sandy Denny. There’s something translucent about her songs–the lyrics and the music weave in and out and allows you to absorb every last nuance as you listen. Joan’s latest album, The Spur is Americana at its best ..read more

Natalia Zukerman is one of fourteen acts to appear at the 2022 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Thursday Night Music Stage. I can’t recall the first time I heard Natalia Zukerman but I can tell you that I was riveted. She has exceptional command of her guitar and her lyrical rootsy voice is captivating. The New Yorker rightly described her: “Natalia’s voice could send an orchid into bloom while her guitar playing can open a beer bottle with its teeth.” She has a quiet gentle quality but she can make her guitar stretch and groan with the best of them in the blues tradition. Natalia’s music also incor ..read more

Erin Ash Sullivan is one of fourteen acts to appear at the 2022 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Thursday Night Music Stage. It’s only been a short time that I’ve known Erin and her music. She contacted me and asked if I could interview her for this blog. I agreed that I’d listen to her music and see if my journalistic muse prompted me to ask some questions. And, boy, I hit the jackpot when I sat down and listened to her collection of story songs included on her debut album, We Can Hear Each Other. Each song was like opening a new gift on Christmas morning; there were tales to tell and emotions to e ..read more

Annie Sumi (with Travis Knapp) is one of fourteen acts to appear at the 2022 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Thursday Night Music Stage. Thank you to a friend who suggested that I ask Annie Sumi to play on the Thursday Night Music Stage. I had totally forgotten that Annie and her musical partner, Travis Knapp, were living in New York State and might be interested in a trek over to Connecticut to play at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. I was delighted to receive an affirmative response and now we get to present Annie and Travis for the first time at FRFF. Annie’s bio describes her as an “ethereal” artis ..read more

Grace Morrison is one of fourteen acts to appear at the 2022 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Thursday Night Music Stage. Take a little bit of folk music, add a heaping of country, toss in some Americana, and top it off with a whole lot of honesty and authencity and you’ve got Grace Morrison. As someone who has watched from the sidelines for quite a few years, I’d also have to add that this talented musician originally from Wareham, Massachusetts, has lots of spunk, humor, and determination! The fact that Grace has accomplished so much in recent years, even during the pandemic, is jaw-dropping, espe ..read more

Crys Matthews is one of fourteen acts to appear at the 2022 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Thursday Night Music Stage. Crys Matthews is one of the most exciting songwriters to hit the music scene in some time. The songs that Crys writes and delivers to us are powerful tools to remind us all that change is possible and that we are not invisible. Her song “Changemakers” was named the International Folk Music Award song of 2022. Crys is not afraid to back down and her honest evaluations of the state of the union and about the need for more love, compassion and respect are being heard. Reminscent of t ..read more

Peter Lehndorff is one of fourteen acts to appear at the 2022 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Thursday Night Music Stage. Peter Lehndorff is an integral member of the western Massachusetts music community. He is also a familiar face having volunteered for many years at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. It’s high time to celebrate his presence among us and to simultaneously rejoice upon the release of his latest recording, Don’t Be Discouraged. The more I get to know Peter, the more I realize that he is a hero among us. He was the caretaker for his wife, Kathy, who eventually died of Huntington’s Disease ..read more

Phil Henry is one of fourteen acts to appear at the 2022 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Thursday Night Music Stage. If you’ve ever spent any time at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, you have probably seen Phil Henry. He can be spotted wearing a bright orange vest in the parking lot and welcoming everyone to this wonderful fest or he can seen and heard at his late-night camp leading song circles with many musicians. This year we get to see Phil on the main stage as an Emerging Artist and we couldn’t be more excited for him. This music teacher from Vermont personifies the spirit of our community; his son ..read more