Or call in your reservations for our November 12, 8 p.m. show with Mile Twelve to 401-725-9272.
Mile Twelve is a progressive string band from Boston, Massachusetts. Winners of the 2020 IBMA New Artist of the Year award, they have been making waves in the acoustic music community with their seamless blend of expertly-crafted songs, creative arrangements, and virtuosic execution. The band takes their name from the mile marker that sits at Boston’s southern border on Route 93, a road sign they’ve passed countless times while heading out on tour. They’ve found receptive audiences across the globe, touring throughout North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. The Mile Twelve lineup offers five of the most promising young musicians in bluegrass: Catherine “BB” Bowness (banjo), Evan Murphy (guitar, lead vocals), Nate Sabat (bass, lead vocals) and new members Ella Jordan (fiddle, vocals), and Korey Brodsky (mandolin). Join us for a great night of bluegrass!
Due to visa/passport issues affecting their travel from Ireland, our concert with Máire Ní Chathasaigh and Chris Newman will be rescheduled to March 25, 2023.
The celebrated virtuoso partnership of Máire Ní Chathasaigh – “the doyenne of Irish harpers” (Scotland on Sunday) and Chris Newman – “one of the UK’s most staggering and influential acoustic guitarists” (fROOTS), has brought its special musical vision to venues large and small in 22 countries on five continents. Shows are a breathtaking blend of traditional Irish music, hot jazz, bluegrass and baroque, coupled with striking new compositions and Chris’s delightfully subversive wit. Chris was also named “Male Musician of the Year” in the 2019 Live Ireland Awards! Gradam Cheoil TG4, the national Irish-language TV station’s Award for Irish Traditional Musician of the Year, was presented to Máire in 2001 “for the excellence and pioneering force of her music, the remarkable growth she has brought to the music of the harp and the positive influence she has had on the young generation of harpers” at a televised ceremony in the Cork Opera House. The Gradam is the highest, most prestigious honour for a traditional Irish musician and Máire is the sole harpist recipient to date.
Or call in your reservations for our October 7, 8:00 p.m. concert with Symbio to 401-725-9272.
The music of Symbio has been described as musical storytelling where folk, minimalistic art music and electronic dance music meets and becomes a cinematic experience for the listener. Symbio is regarded as one of the most prominent new bands from the Swedish Folk & World music scene. With their strong stage presence, original compositions, and a magical interplay of hurdy-gurdy and accordion – the duo constantly surprises their audience and takes them on a moving and dreamy musical journey. During concerts the duo perform with both seriousness and joy, telling personal and vivid stories about the music. Through a playful, energetic and close interaction Symbio creates new music where two becomes more. The duo was awarded as ”Best Newcomer of the Year” at the Swedish Folk & World Music awards in 2016, and received the”Scholarship for young music ensembles” from the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in the same year. Since the release of their debut album in 2016 they have been touring extensively in Sweden and 20 different European countries. This will be their first appearance in Rhode Island … don’t miss it!
As of 9/12, this concert has been cancelled as Kerri has tested Covid positive just this afternoon. Both Kerri and Lauren will be re-booked in 2023 as their schedules allow. Lauren will be moving to Colorado in November so we will work to schedule a homecoming concert with her when a date for a visit is certain. Kerri will be releasing a new CD next year so we will make her concert a release party.
Drenched in the emotions of blues, folk and country music, roots singer/songwriter Kerri Powers uses her dramatically dark and beautiful voice to mine the depths of romantic heartbreak and broken dreams in the edgy narratives of her songs. A native of rural Massachusetts, Powers sings the blues with such authentic, down-home grit that you might well think she’s from Mississippi. Besides being a consummate chronicler of disappointment and despair, she can also morph into an impishly naughty rebel with a cause, a Mark Twain-like trickster whose wry words and phrasing can also celebrate joy and hope. Says John Apice, of No Depression, “I don’t know where this young lady came from but it’s got to be a secret place. This is not the kind of singing and performing that can be easily taught. It has to be in your spirit, in your blood and the fact that she is from the Northeast is going to confound the artists down South, in the Delta, in Memphis, Clarksdale, Austin, and Nashville.” Raised in Smithfield, Rhode Island, Lauren King is a 25-year-old singer-songwriter with a penchant for pairing poetic lyrics with memorable melodies. Lauren recently won two 2022 RI Motif Music Awards for Best Singer-Songwriter and Best Country Act. King’s album “The Wolf is Back” won a 2021 RI Motif Music Award for Americana Album of the Year.
Or call in your reservations for our September 3, 8:00 p.m. concert with The Karan Casey Trio to 401-725-9272.
Legendary Irish folk singer Karan Casey has released 11 albums to date and has toured extensively throughout North America, Europe and Japan singing songs charged with a sense of social responsibility in a career spanning more than 25 years. We are thrilled to have her back at Blackstone River Theatre for the first time in 5 years as Karan will be joined by Niamh Dunne on fiddle and vocals, and guitarist and accordionist Sean Óg Graham (both of the Irish folk band Beoga). This evocative trio has toured together for several years and tonight’s show premieres new material developed and recorded since the start of the pandemic as well as favorites from Karan’s back repertoire. The songs draw inspiration from a wide range of sources from the personal to the historical and political, touching on themes of family, loss, love, the empowerment of women and Irish revolutionary struggle. Casey has long been recognized as one of the most innovative, provocative and imitated voices in Irish traditional and folk music. In 2017, Karan was Traditional Artist in Residence at University College Cork, toured the UK with the Transatlantic Sessions, performed at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections, and toured in the U.S. both with her own band and with Lúnasa. In 2018 Karan helped found FairPlé, an organization aimed at achieving fairness and gender balance for female performers in Irish traditional and folk music. Join us as we kick off our fall season with one of Irish music’s most distinctive voices!
Or call in your reservations for our August 18, 8:00 p.m. concert with Frigg to 401-725-9272.
One of Finland’s hottest musical exports, the sizzling Nordic septet Frigg have carved themselves a top spot in folk music with their dynamic, life-affirming, feel-good tunes and precision musicianship. Named after the Norse goddess of love and fertility, Frigg has been conquering the world with a fusion of western folk music styles leaning strongly towards Nordic folk music, for which the world music media has coined the term nordgrass, referring to the bluegrass influences of the group. The tight interplay of four violins, string instruments and contrabass, all fine-tuned to perfection and spiced with sparkling, humorous live energy has made an impact on listeners all over the world. “FRIXX” released in 2020 was their first album since 2017’s “Frost on Fiddles,” Songlines ‘Top of the World’ album. Their highly acclaimed “Polka V” — was named Finnish Folk Album of the Year and a nominee for the Teosto Prize. This prestigious award is handed out annually by Finnish composers — recognizing the fact that Frigg almost exclusively perform their own infectious original tunes. This will be Frigg’s third appearance at Blackstone River Theatre and you know they are great when Russell books them on a Thursday … in August! Don’t miss out!
* Ticket price includes a $1.00 per ticket restoration charge.
Or call in your reservations for our August 21, 4:00-5:00 p.m. concert with The Johnson Girls to 401-725-9272. This will be the 4th of a series of OUTDOOR CONCERTS held on Sundays behind the theatre building!
Internationally acclaimed, The Johnson Girls have been a force on the folk and maritime music scene for 25 years as the leading all-woman, a cappella maritime group in the world. Believing that sea chanteys and sea songs were the first real “World Music”, Joy Bennett, Alison Kelley, Bonnie Milner, and Deirdre Murtha each bring a special influence to their music. Whether performing chanteys with hair-raising harmonies or sharing tender ballads at intimate venues, folk clubs or packed international folk festivals in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, and Europe, The Johnson Girls remain true to their mission of keeping chantey singing alive, bringing women’s voices to the fore, and sweeping their audiences along in a tidal fervor. Join us for this special concert!
* Ticket price includes a $1.00 per ticket restoration charge.
Or call in your reservations for our July 17, 4:00-5:00 p.m. concert with guitarist Peter Janson to 401-725-9272. This will be the 3rd of a series of OUTDOOR CONCERTS held on Sundays behind the theatre building!
Drawing from roots in jazz, classical, and acoustic instrumental styles, Peter Janson’s sound incorporates soft interesting grooves and improvisation. Based in Boston, Peter’s music has earned him national acclaim: “the substance of great jazz presented in an original and accessible style.” He has performed extensively throughout North America; notably at Carnegie Hall Weill Recital Hall, Montreal Jazz Festival, Healdsburg Guitar Festival, Argenta Acoustic Music Series, WUMB Music Festival and more. His session guitar work on “Old Black Roller” by Grant Maloy Smith spent 17 weeks on the Billboard charts, including eleven weeks in the Top 10. Peter’s “Beautiful Day” record (jazz/new age) won Best Contemporary Instrumental Album (NAR Music Awards), and he’s had three solo guitar albums in the Top Five of the NAR radio charts. Peter has over 3.3-million verified broadcasts across all media spanning 116 countries.
* All ticket prices include a $1.00 per ticket restoration charge.
Or call in your reservations for our June 26, 4:00-5:00 p.m. concert with TURAS to 401-725-9272. This will be the 2nd of a series of OUTDOOR CONCERTS held on Sundays behind the theatre building!
The group Turas will perform as part of the Take It Outside Concert Series THIS Sunday, from 4-5 p.m., at the new outside concert space located behind Blackstone River Theatre. Admission is $15.00 for the 60-minute concert. Turas features Bob Drouin, co-founder of the Celtic band Pendragon and Blackstone River Theatre who has also anchored the Irish Music Session at Patrick’s Pub in Providence for over 2 decades. Bob plays guitar, bouzouki, fiddle, flute and sings. Amazing flute and whistle player Josh Kane, a member of Pendragon for 15+ years, has competed in several All-Ireland competitions, placing 2nd in 2007. Pianist Rob McConeghy loves playing the piano, be it Irish folk tunes, Old Timey, Chopin, or Debussy. Dean Robinson plays bodhran, percussion, bones and sings with Turas. Folding chairs will be provided but audiences can bring a chair or blanket if preferred. No outside food or drink is allowed. Enter the venue via the gate at the back of BRT’s parking lot.
* All ticket prices include a $1.00 per ticket restoration charge.
Online sales closed as of Thursday, midnight.
Purchase tickets at festival gate via cash, check or credit card!
Gather for BRT’s after-festival music session Saturday evening, 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. at Blackstone River Theatre itself, featuring almost all of the performers from the 2022 Blackstone River Theatre Summer Solstice Festival! The intimate setting let’s you relax with food and your favorite beverage while Festival performers un-wind and begin an evening of music and conversation that will make your Festival experience all the more memorable. The atmosphere is designed to create a casual environment of friendly banter just like that found in a local pub. We will only sell 90 tickets for this special event so be sure to order yours right away as it has sold out the past 5 times! Complimentary food will be available as part of the ticket price. A cash bar will also be available.
Advance ticket purchase highly recommended!
Doors will not open for the session until 8:15 P.M.
NOTE: This is a CLOSED session featuring only performers from the 2022 Solstice Festival.
A limited number of after-festival session tickets will be sold on site, day of festival. IF they are still available, you can purchase your tickets at the INFORMATION TENT which will be located just after you enter the main gates on your left.
Blackstone River Theatre is located at 549 Broad Street, Cumberland, R.I. • (401) 725-9272