Chris & Meredith Thompson are powerful performers with a natural warmth for the live concert stage. Best known for the unique blend of their nearly identical voices, the Thompsons weave vocals, flute, guitar and percussion together creating a sound that is genuine, beautiful, and moving. These identical twin sisters grew up down the street from Stone Soup Coffeehouse in Providence. They played their first show at Stone Soup in 1992, and have since played in venues across the U.S. and released six albums. Chris plays percussive, riff-driven guitar. Meredith plays authentic Latin rhythms on congas and adds flute to their sound. Both sisters sing in close harmony both earthy and ethereal. The Thompsons tell stories that resonate with the audience, stories that celebrate common experience. With the release of their sixth CD, “Live,” Chris & Meredith Thompson showcase their vocal range on songs influenced by traditional spirituals, achieving harmonies known uniquely to siblings. This will be their Blackstone River Theatre debut!
*All ticket prices include a $1.00 per ticket restoration charge
Call in your reservations for our February 8 split concert with Partington & Sweeney and Kim Trusty with Cathy Clasper-Torch to 401-725-9272.
Singer-songwriter Mary Lee Partington and guitarist Ed Sweeney joined forces in 2017 as a music-making duo, Partington & Sweeney. They are captivated by song and instrumental traditions rooted in rocky New England, which yield a harvest of American folk and popular music from across the centuries and across a continent. Combining an award-winning voice and the homegrown stylings of Martin guitars and custom longneck or fretless banjos superlatively played, Partington & Sweeney have set out to perform, record, entertain, and make music that travels with the tradition or that revels in the original. Partington & Sweeney’s repertoire cultivates collaborations and charts a course for a new journey. Mary Lee and Ed currently are recording their debut CD “Commonplace” with engineer David Correia of Celebration Sound. Sweeney performs a wide-ranging repertoire of traditional music on 6- and 12-string guitar, 5-string banjo, and fretless banjo, two uniquely traditional American instruments. Ed also teaches guitar and banjo at Blackstone River Theatre.
Call in your reservations for our November 3 show with Hanneke Cassel, Mike Block, and Keith Murphy to 401-725-9272.
Effervescent and engaging, Boston-based fiddler Hanneke Cassel is a performer, teacher and composer whose career spans over two decades. Her style fuses influences from Scotland and Cape Breton Island with Americana grooves and musical innovations, creating a cutting-edge acoustic sound that retains the integrity and spirit of the Scottish tradition. Cassel’s music is a blend of the contemporary and traditional, described by the Boston Globe as “exuberant and rhythmic, somehow wild and innocent, delivered with captivating melodic clarity and an irresistible playfulness.” Cassel’s latest release, “Trip to Walden Pond,” features traditional Scottish and Cape Breton tunes and seventeen new pieces composed in the Scottish idiom. While her lively style is very much evident, this new album carries a deep, soulful sound with songs of celebration and farewell. “Trip to Walden Pond,” similar to Cassel’s five previous albums, offers arrangements of traditional fiddle music and original tunes that evoke humor and heart. This latest album also includes several compositions penned by Hanneke as commissions to benefit Many Hopes, a children’s education nonprofit based in Kenya that she avidly supports. A native of Oregon, Hanneke started out as a Texas-style fiddler and went on to win the 1997 U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Championship, which awarded her the opportunity to study with Alasdair Fraser and introduced her to fiddle camps and the folk community, both of which continue to play an integral role in her life. The Hanneke Cassel Band features Mike Block on cello and guitarist/vocalist Keith Murphy. In addition to performing with her own band, Cassel has been featured on PBS with Boston-based fiddle band Childsplay and has performed with Baroque/Celtic group Ensemble Galilei at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the National Geographic in Washington, D.C. Hanneke and her husband Mike live in Boston and are active within many circles of musicians. Besides their involvement in the Scottish fiddle scene and at Berklee College of Music, they are frequent performers at Club Passim and are rooted in the thriving local music community.
*All ticket prices include a $1.00 per ticket restoration charge
Call in your reservations for our October 13 show with Bohemian Quartet to 401-725-9272.
The mission of keeping a rare musical flame alight is a noble and often challenging one, but the Bohemian Quartet is more than up to the task. In this case, the acclaimed Rhode Island-based ensemble featuring violin, viola, cello, and bass specializes in music of the “Romani” or “Gypsy” tradition, along with related Eastern European folk styles. The Bohemian Quartet was formed in 2005. Violinist Stan Renard, a composer and virtuoso player with an impressive list of credentials, assembled the group with the idea of preserving the tradition and indulging in the virtuosic playing of classic gypsy music. Renard recruited like-minded and ambitious friends: Christine Harrington on cello, Nancy Richardson on viola, and Dave Zinno on upright bass. Together, they’ve made a commitment to the genre, and aspired to performing it with both reverence and adventure. Indeed, like every good curator, the ensemble embraces tradition, and still wanders off in newer, unpredictable directions. The name “Bohemian Quartet” was borrowed from the original Bohemian Quartet (also known as the Czech Quartet after 1918), a string quartet of international repute that was founded in 1891 and disbanded in 1934. Both groups share a passion for the deep-rooted authenticity of the Romani tradition, as well as the ability to play that historic repertoire with extraordinary joie de vivre. Their third CD project “For You” was released at Blackstone River Theatre last year.
*All ticket prices include a $1.00 per ticket restoration charge
Call in your reservations for our October 12 show with North Sea Gas to 401-725-9272.
North Sea Gas is a folk band from Scotland who have been performing their blend of poignant and rousing songs and high-energy instrumentals for 39 years. With a combination of fiddle, guitar, mandolin, bodhran and bouzouki, complementing strong three-part vocal harmonies and a keen sense of humor, an entertaining evening is always guaranteed. This will be the last North Sea Gas concert at Blackstone River Theatre with no tours scheduled beyond June, 2020. – don’t miss it! Touring behind their newest CD, “Hearth and Homeland,” North Sea Gas has now recorded 21 albums and played to audiences all over Great Britain, Europe, Scandinavia, the U.S. and Canada. A previous project, “The Fire And The Passion Of Scotland” won the 2013 Album of the Year award from Celtic Radio in the U.S. as well as first place in the “Jigs and Reels” category for a set of tunes on the album. The band is led by founder Dave Gilfillan on lead vocals, guitar and banjo, well-known for his tongue-in-cheek humor. Ronnie MacDonald on lead and harmony vocals, guitar and bouzouki is joined by Grant Simpson on high-energy fiddle and vocals.
*All ticket prices include a $1.00 per ticket restoration charge
Call in your reservations for our October 27 show with Brenda Bennett to 401-725-9272.
Life’s mysteries and highways are not always explained to us. We are met with certain destinies – some of which are fulfilled and some which remain open-ended, never to be chased. Some doors in life we are lucky to enter and close behind us while others stay slightly ajar, swinging and teasing with a taunting nag. In the mid 80s, it was the destiny of musician Brenda Bennett, who had recorded and sung the world over as a member of Vanity 6 and Apollonia 6, to record a solo album under the guise of her mentor Prince. It never came to be. After a farewell concert in 2016 Brenda told journalists she planned to take it easy. The possibility of a 2nd CD after her solo CD “A Capella” was not out of the cards but also not a priority. It was here when fate intervened. When Prince died in April that same year not only were his fans left shocked, but his former associates and collaborators were blindsided. While Prince was laid down to eternal rest a flame ignited inside Brenda Bennett and thoughts returned to that unrecorded solo album from the 1980s. What was once a destiny had became an afterthought and a missed opportunity. But was it? Inspired by her grief and the legacy of her mentor, Brenda dove headfirst into her second solo album, titled “Once Again.” The album that was never made in the 1980s was now going to be made. Encouraged by her fans’ response, Bennett embarked on a creative journey that would put certain ghosts to rest, ignite new fires, close some of the doors to the past, and open new ones for the future. On “Once Again” Brenda Bennett reaches her full potential as an artist, singer, and musical force. The ten tracks unfold like a journey through time touching on loss, gain, power, love, life, and death. This album is a career best and a personal triumph. Prince would be very proud. R.I. Music Hall of Fame inductee Brenda Bennett will perform “Once Again” in its entirety tonight along with the co-producer and engineer of “Once Again,” George Dussault on guitar and vocals, Betsy Listenfelt on acoustic guitar and vocals, Sharlene Denardo on bass, Matt Demick on drums, and Theresa Ronan on keys. There will be a 30-minute opening set by How’s About Charlie, an acoustic vocal trio from Providence featuring Amanda Centrella, Nicole Gauthier, and Beth Killian.
Call in your reservations for our September 16 show with The Yves Lambert Trio to 401-725-9272.
Yves Lambert is one of the most influential players in the revival of Quebecois traditional roots music. In 1976 he was one of the founding members of La Bottine Souriante and for 25 years led the band to world renown. The Yves Lambert Trio showcases the unique connection between maturity and youth by creating a new world of poetry and celebration. Yves Lambert’s charisma and talent, coupled with Tommy Gauthier and Olivier Rondeau’s virtuosity and passion, the nuances of their arrangements and their distinctive harmonies make this trio a one-of-a-kind musical experience. By reviving undiscovered songs and adding their own brand of energy, multicultural ambiance and colorful arrangements, there’s really nothing quite like the Yves Lambert Trio!
*All ticket prices include a $1.00 per ticket restoration charge
@ DIAMOND HILL PARK, RTE. 114, CUMBERLAND, RI
POSTPONED UNTIL JUNE 19, 2021
Atwater-Donnelly Trio • Mari Black Band • John Doyle & Mick McAuley • Kevin Doyle • Eastern Medicine Singers • The Exiles • Genticorum • The Gnomes • The Winifred Horan Trio • North Sea Gas • RUNA • Torrin Ryan • The Vox Hunters • Tir Na Nog Irish Dance, and more!
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FALL/WINTER 2020 CONCERTS
All dates are tentative and depend on coronavirus regulations and policy put in place over the summer. Any postponed shows will be rebooked when safe to do so. Prices will be announced and tickets will (possibly) go on sale August 25th.
ARTISTS & AGENTS: There’s no way BRT can intelligently book the Fall/Winter 2020 season at this time. R.I. Gov. Raimondo has said there will be no gatherings above 50 people allowed through August and that’s likely the best case scenario. I also have no idea what reopening will look like … what preventative and testing measures will need to be provided etc. Please wait to contact about possible bookings until mid-July. Thank you and be safe.
Oct. 3 – DAVID FRANCEY
Oct. 4 – MATT & SHANNON HEATON / KATIE McNALLY & NEIL PEARLMAN
Oct. 25 – VISHTEN
Nov. 15 – LE VENT DU NORD
Nov. 21 – PATRICK BALL
Nov. 28 – HOMECOMING CONCERT
Dec. 5 – HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR
Call in your reservations for our September 15 show with The Mediaeval Baebes to 401-725-9272.
Are you a fan of the PBS hit series VICTORIA? If so, this is your chance to see and hear the Mediaeval Babes, who bring the classical piece “Alleluia” to life on one of the highest-rated dramas on PBS in 20 years! The allure is undeniable… Seven talented, attractive women breathe renewed life into the rich texts of medieval songs and poetry and their hauntingly beautiful music captures the imagination and devotion of modern audiences. The Mediaeval Babes have performed before enthusiastic audiences in the UK, Canada, Europe, Asia, and the U.S., sourcing lyrics from mediaeval and romantic texts and setting them to original scores using medieval and folk instruments. While singing in an impressive array of obscure and ancient languages, the Baebes offer musical beauty and outstanding talent. Yet their music defies any traditional classification leading people of all ages and musical tastes to become fans of the Baebes. Originally formed in 1996, the all-female Mediaeval Baebes lineup has evolved over the years and currently consists of musical director Katharine Blake, Marie Findley, Sophia Halberstam, Anna Pool, Josephine Ravenheart, Sophie Ramsay and Kathleen Ross. The Baebes sing in a variety of medieval languages including French, Spanish, English, Italian, Gaelic, and Swedish. Their original music evokes an earlier time, but is accessible to a modern audience as the medieval themes of nature, the life cycle, love and longing are as relevant in 2018 as they were in 1418. Their first album, “Salva Nos,” became Virgin Classics’ fastest selling debut album. Their most recent album, “Victoriana,” is a compilation of musical arrangements from their collection of poems by Victorian writers inspired by the Medieval period. The album features the Emmy-nominated theme tune from the BBC drama, ‘Victoria.’ Don’t miss their first return visit in five years!
*All ticket prices include a $1.00 per ticket restoration charge
Call in your reservations for our April 28 show with Mike Block and Bruce Molsky to 401-725-9272.
Mike Block is a pioneering multi-style cellist, singer, composer, and educator, hailed by Yo-Yo Ma as the “ideal musician of the 21st-Century” and acclaimed by the NY Times for his “vital rich-hued solo playing.” While still studying at the Juilliard School, Mike joined Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, with which he has toured extensively throughout the world, and won a 2017 Grammy Award for Best World Music Album. Mike is also an active recording artist of original material, folk music, cross-cultural collaborations, and he has an ongoing project to record all of the Bach cello suites in acoustically glorious bathrooms of famous concert halls. As one of the first wave of cellists to adopt a strap in order to stand and move while playing, Mike was the first standing cellist to perform at Carnegie Hall, using a cello strap of his own design, called the Block Strap, a performance which the NY Times called “Breathless … Half dance, half dare.” We have had Mike at Blackstone River Theatre playing as part of Hanneke Cassel’s trio but his solo shows incorporate bluegrass, classical, original songs and more!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk8OsLWprOwhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93VRJ1_rq1I
Bruce Molsky, “one of America’s premier fiddling talents” (Mother Jones) and a Grammy-nominated artist on fiddle, banjo, guitar and song will play a solo set and also join Mike. Last at Blackstone River Theatre with Molsky’s Mountain Drifters, Bruce’s take on tradition has landed him in collaborations with some of the world’s most highly respected players from roots to rock. He is a special guest on Mark Knopfler’s new CD, “Tracker.” His CD with Anonymous 4 was on Billboard’s top 10 for weeks, the third record with Andy Irvine & Donal Lunny’s supergroup Mozaik is in the works, and you can see Bruce on the BBC TV Transatlantic Sessions Videos with Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas. Molsky is also Berklee College of Music’s Visiting Scholar in the American Roots Program. Says WBUR (Boston NPR), “It is no exaggeration to say that Bruce Molsky is one of the greatest American fiddlers of all time. His playing is mesmerizing and transporting, and best experienced live…”
*All ticket prices include a $1.00 per ticket restoration charge