Music at the Museum

The Westford Folk Concerts are on the second Friday of the month at 8 PM. Warm up performances start at about 7:15 PM. Concerts are either in the Westford Museum, 2 Boston Road, or at the Parish Center for the Arts (PCA), 10 Lincoln Street. For most concerts, adult members of the Museum pay $11, adult non–members $15, and teens $5 per concert. 12 and under are admitted free. Season tickets are available.

Our seating space is limited. If you are not a season ticket holder, contact us to reserve a seat.

2009-2010 Season

10/9/09, BCMFest Young Musicians: BCMFest Goes West(ford): This year's in-the-round show will present some of the most accomplished young exponents of Celtic music in the Boston area, including the "chamber-grass" sounds of the Folk Arts Quartet, Cape Breton duo Doug Lamey and Cliff McGann, inventive Scottish fiddle player Katie McNally, as well as other guests. BCMFest co-founder and acclaimed fiddler and singer Laura Cortese says "Members of this group have been tremendous supporters of BCMFest and bring such energy and creativity to Celtic music and dance; they are the generation which is going to keep the tradition going and bring it to new heights."

11/13/09, Laurel Martin and David Surrette with Kieran Jordan: TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC AND DANCE with David Surette (guitar), Kieran Jordan (dance) and Laurel Martin (fiddle) Multi-instrumentalist David Surette (guitar, bouzouki, mandolin) is a highly respected performer of traditional and folk music. A top player and arranger of Celtic fingerstyle guitar, his diverse repertoire also includes original compositions, blues and ragtime, traditional American roots music and folk music from a variety of traditions all played with finesse, taste and virtuosity. He is sought after and enthusiastically hailed as a contradance musician, as part of a duo with vocalist Susie Burke, and as a sensitive accompanist and an accomplished soloist. Dancer Kieran Jordan, internationally recognized performer, teacher and choreographer of Irish dance, is an expert practitioner of sean-nos (old style Irish) dance. Her unique approach to dance marries deep rooted traditions with contemporary innovations. Her musical, expressive dance style has been influenced by her interest in many forms of percussive and modern dance. Kieran has collaborated with many of New England's finest traditional musicians and is a frequent performer at festivals and concerts all over America. A dedicated artist with boundless enthusiasm for Irish dance, she brings intelligence, creativity, and a warm spirit to her dance projects in Boston and beyond. Fiddler Laurel Martin, highly respected as a teacher and performer of traditional Irish music, plays in a subtle, lyrical style that is reminiscent of the regional music of County Clare and East Galway. Laurel's playing captures the listener with its simple yet intricate depth, and her love and enthusiasm for the old traditional musicians from whom she draws her inspiration shines through with every tune and story she shares. She has taught and performed at workshops, concerts and festivals throughout the United States and she enjoys playing and performing with many of the fine traditional Irish musicians here in the Boston area, both in concert and in session settings.

12/11/09, STÄMBANDET - The Scandinavian Vocal Ensemble With a reputation for excellence both as an a cappella ensemble and a World Music vocal group, Stämbandet, under the direction of Allen LeVines, presents songs rarely heard outside Scandinavia. In December, this captivating "vocal band" of singers - many born in Scandinavian countries - combines the music and stories of Christmas with those of a much older Nordic culture, including the candle-bedecked Lucia and her attendants. Watch children trimming the tree, awaiting a visit by the tomte, or house elf, responsible for bringing gifts. Hear exciting tales of St. Stephan, or Staffan, and his horses on their magical ride. COME! and be enchanted by the joyous and colorful expressions of a traditional Swedish holiday! "...the singer's voices are pure and clear, and the songs are of a folk tradition that sounds fresh and new to American ears." - Guy Van Duser, Rounder Records "Stämbandet moved in sparkling harmonies from soft to loud, brightly busy to darkly elegiac." - Scott Alarik, The Boston Globe. Note: This concert will be held in the Parish Center for the Arts located at 10 Lincoln Street.

1/8/10, Trì: Trì means three in Scots Gaelic and the band plays Scottish music rooted in Nova Scotia. Trì features Doug Lamey on fiddle, Matt Phelps on bagpipes and Cliff McGann, who was raised in Westford, on guitar/vocals. Lamey and McGann are direct descendants of the Nova Scotia Scottish diaspora, with Doug's grandfather, Bill, a prominent Cape Breton fiddler in Boston during the 50's and 60's. McGann spent summers growing up on his grandparent's farm in Lanark, Nova Scotia. Phelps, originally from Connecticut, has spent 20-years playing the Great Highland Bagpipes and Scottish smallpipes and is Pipe Major of the Stewart Highland Pipe Band based in Wilmington, MA.

2/12/10, Diane Taraz: With a velvety voice and inspiring songs, Diane returns to Westford with her elegant guitar and lap dulcimer. She creates entire worlds in the songs she writes, and breathes new life into traditional ballads. The Boston Globe says "her lovely soprano has a deep shimmer and calm, honest phrasing." Just finishing a new CD, Diane draws inspiration from Celtic, British, French-Canadian, and American folklore. Joining her will be the UUlations, a group of nine women whose voices blend in beautiful a cappella.

3/12/10, Yankee Notions: Widely known for their high-spirited programs, Yankee Notions performs traditional and contemporary music of New England. The duo consists of Jim Douglas on vocals, guitar, and concertina, and Tim Van Egmond on vocals, hammered dulcimer, pennywhistle, and limberjack. Whether it's an old song in praise of the farmer's life, a rollicking sea chantey, tandem telling of a tall tale, toe-tapping dance tunes, or a recent song about the character and characters of New England, Yankee Notions promises to "please the ear, enrich the mind, and enchant the heart." The duo consists of Jim Douglas on vocals, guitar, and concertina, and Tim Van Egmond on vocals, hammered dulcimer, and limberjack (a small wooden puppet that taps out a rhythm on a paddleboard). The two have released an album together entitled "Bridges." In addition, Douglas has published two song collections and made a number of solo recordings of songs and stories, one of which won the American Library Association's prestigious Notable Award. Van Egmond has recorded three albums and appeared on National Public Radio's "A Prairie Home Companion" as a member of the contra dance band "Swallowtail." Van Egmond is also known for his solo performances as a folksinger and storyteller. Performing together for over twenty years, the two have entertained audiences of all ages throughout New England, including appearances at Old Sturbridge Village, Mystic Seaport, the Mayflower II in Plymouth, and The Museum of Our National Heritage. Yankee Notions has been selected by the New England Foundation for the Arts for the New England States Touring Program. "Your performance was exceptional… Your interaction with the crowd was very warm and accepting of all age groups. The music, stories, and humor enlightened everyone who attended." Paul Serafini, Longmeadow, MA Parks and Recreation Department . This program is supported in part by a grant from the Westford Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

 

4/9/10, Matching Orange with Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned Zippers MATCHING ORANGE is an exciting new band from the Boston area, distinguished by their high energy playing and brightly colored music folders. Using the trio of Eric McDonald (guitar, mandolin, vocals), Eric Eid-Reiner (piano), and Brendan Carey Block (fiddle), they create a swirling level of intensity, sometimes gritty, sometimes pure, and always engaging. Matching Orange takes full advantage of a diverse musical background, with extensive training in folk, classical, jazz, and other traditions. Using this training, a love for all varieties of traditional music and dance, and a desire for minimalism, they bring to the dance floor an intriguing mix of sound that is equally at home in front of a listening audience. Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned Zippers (BMUZ): Brewing up a tasty mix of traditional music infused with startling rhythms and innovative arrangements, BMUZ is one of the most dynamic groups based in the Boston area today. True citizens of the 21st century world, BMUZ takes from the rooted traditions of many cultures and translates their essence into a unique, vibrant sound. Starting out as a group of friends jamming and swapping tunes, BMUZ has evolved into a group which performs widely in the Boston area at local venues such as Club Passim in Cambridge and festivals such as Boston Celtic Music Festival and the International Folk Festival at Berklee's Performance Center. The members of BMUZ use an eclectic group of instruments. Brownyn Bird plays the accordian and the ethereal nyckelharpa, the traditional bowed stringed instrument from Sweden, where she lived for a year. Andy Reiner, who comes from a musical family and has studied at many a fiddle camp across the country, plays the five string fiddle and is especially rooted in the lively music of Cape Breton. A fiddler who has studied traditional music in Ireland and Norway, Mariel Vandersteel also plays hardanger fiddle, the traditional string instrument of Norway. Stash Wyslouch, who has traveled with guitar through South America and is influenced by hip hop and funk, brings a driving sense of rhythm and groove to the group. Their many original compositions, while grounded in traditional genres, are refreshing, lively and full of verve. The evocative sound of Bronwyn' nyckelharpa as well as Mariel's hardanger fiddle is held together with the fiery tone of Andy's fiddle and the driving force of Stash's guitar. Completely entertaining on stage, it is obvious that BMUZ is having as much fun playing together as the audience is while listening to them.

5/14/10, Tim Farrell: When Tim Farrell gracefully evokes a melody from his acoustic guitar, you don't just hear it - you feel it. Tim is among a rare breed of musicians who can make listeners experience music on a multitude of levels. His melodies captivate and enchant, while his playing expresses a simple elegance that celebrates the purity of the acoustic guitar. Tim has been called "one of the new trailblazers", one of the select few musicians who have the ability to entertain an audience and inspire a new generation of musicians. "Tim Farrell is an extraordinary guitar player with a gift for memorable melodies." - John Diliberto, Host of Echoes "Tim Farrell stands apart from the numerous acoustic guitar slingers out there. [He is] a guitarist to be heard." - Billboard, Critics Choice "Tim Farrell is an interesting combination of a guitarist who plays thoughtful, creative, introspective instrumental music, and writes some interesting and sometimes funny songs." - George Graham, Director of Contemporary Arts and Host of Homegrown Concert Series, WVIA-FM, Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA.

6/11/10, Stephen Webber presents The Maeve Gilchrist Blowout Concert: Although the Emmy-award-winning Berklee professor will be touring in Australia during this year's concert, Stephen has invited the perennial favorite and harp virtuoso Maeve Gilchrist to headline this year's lineup. She'll bring along a cast of friends from Berklee and beyond for an energetic and amazing concert where anything can happen. It could include an eclectic mix of folk, jazz, pop, hip-hop and some styles invented just for that evening. Don't miss it! At the Parish Center for the Arts. Theater seating.

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