Mentored by Albert Collins, guitarist for John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, guitar slinger Coco Montoya plays the Iron Horse on Tuesday, November 1st with the Wildcat O'Halloran Band

Mentored by legendary bluesman Albert Collins, Coco Montoya went on to become the guitarist for John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers for ten years before leading his own band. A self taught guitar slinger who plays with an emotional intensity few string benders possess, he plays left-handed and up side down in the style of Albert King and Jimi Hendrix.

I Want It All Back, Coco's Montoya's 7th solo album, was released March 23rd, 2010. The disc was produced by Keb' Mo' and Jeff Paris, who also play on the entire album: Keb' on rhythm guitar and Jeff on keyboards. 

"In a world of blues guitar pretenders, Coco Montoya is the real McCoy. Be prepared to get scorched." - Billboard

"The fiery blues that issue forth from Coco Montoya's guitar are awe-inspiring and boogie requiring." - The Village Voice

"Blistering contemporary blues... piercing attack, funky, shivery guitar tones and aggressive, soulful vocals" - Blues Revue

"He is one of the truly gifted blues artists of his generation" - Living Blues

Best New Blues Artist Winner at the Blues Music Awards (1996).

Tickets for Coco Montoya at the Iron Horse on Tuesday, November 1st at 7PM with the Wildcat O'Halloran Band are available at Northampton Box Office,76 Main Street. 413-586-8686 and online at IHEG.com

Mat Kearney plays Pearl Street in Northampton Tuesday 11/1, hits his stride chronicling 'Young Love'

Singer/songwriter Mat Kearney will perform at 8PM Tuesday, November 1^st at the Pearl Street Ballroom. Nashville combo Leagues opens. 

On his major label debut disc, 2006's "Nothing Left to Lose," singer-songwriter Mat Kearney chronicled his journey — "a kid from Oregon/by way of California" — making his way to Nashville and a record deal. It gave him a gold-selling Top 10 hit with the title track
On his sophomore disc, 2009's "City of Black and White," Kearney told of what happened when he got there: A soul both lost and found in a musical metropolis. It, too produced a hit, the Top 20 "Closer to Love."

Now, on his new album "Young Love," released Aug. 2, Kearney quite autobiographically sings about what the title suggests: falling for his wife, Annie, and getting married in 2010.

"It's pretty amazing finding that person that is maybe like a rock that you come back to," he says in a recent telephone call on a tour that Oct. 27 brings him to Allentown's Crocodile Rock Café.

"As an insecure artist, when there are moments when you're not sure what you're supposed to be doing or moments where you're frustrated, there's someone outside of all that who's kind of a voice of reason or a voice of truth and a voice of love."

And not only has "Young Love" given Kearney another hit, the Top 20 "Hey Mama," but it has become his highest-charting album ever, debuting at No. 4 on Billboard's albums chart, and topping both the digital and Rock Albums lists.

"It's really amazing, surprising," Kearney says. "It's like you work on this, like a greeting card for someone for a year, and you're trying to get it perfect. And finally you deliver it to them, and then it's nerve-wracking, 'cause all this work, a whole year went into it. And so to have it received so well is incredibly gratifying."

Kearney says he wanted the album to be a "beat-driven, honest, storytelling record. That was really my goal. I wanted to write songs that were incredibly literal and honest — almost like a documentary."

To help him along in the process, Kearney became a licensed cab driver in Nashville, drawing inspiration from the conversations he overheard. "I think it took me for twists and turns in directions I didn't know it would go as a record," he says.

That also helped Kearney give the record the "Paul Simon-kind-of-whimsical story-telling" he sought. For example, he says "Hey Mama" is the true story of teasing a friend of his sister-in-law whom he ran into while shopping.

"I was doing the whole 'Hey ladies, can you help me pick out a dress' kind of deal. And she was like, 'Not buying it. The dress is ugly, and I know what you're trying to do.' That was kind of her approach," he says, laughing heartily.

Kearney says the "love" part of "Young Love" prompted him to both look "forward and back at the same time. I think it's definitely the next chapter of my life and it's incredibly literal. But there's also a lot of looking back." 

"When you decide to commit to someone and the butterflies are in your stomach, all of a sudden you're faced with this reality that you have to deal with your past to make it work," he says with a laugh.

"And I think that there's a lot of that happening in 'Young Love.' So there's these songs that are happening when I'm 20, and high school and I even go back to dealing with my father when he was a child."

One surprise of the success of "Young Love" is that it topped the rock albums chart.

"I think it's that the hardest part of my job is trying to define what I do — and sometimes to my fault," he says. "When you can't put words to it, it's hard to make people care sometimes about it.

"I think I've flirted with a lot of different genres and I don't think I'm the most rocking guy in the world. And the funny part is, this record has the least rock influence, 'cause it's was real keyboard-beat driven. It's like almost more hip-hop influenced than rock."

Kearney probably is best known for his songs' emotional content, which often translates into them being used for scenes of TV shows such as "Grey's Anatomy," "Friday Night Lights" and "One Tree Hill." But he says he says he hopes the joy he's found in his life comes through on "Young Love,"

"I've actually always been a very joyful character," he says. "I've always been very serious, but I'm also the guy who starts the dance party on the bus. … So I think I allowed myself to show a little bit more of that on this record.

"There's definitely a side of life that is hard, but there's a plan. And you've probably experienced some tough things and finding redemption and grace in those moments. I've definitely written those songs, and that's a huge part of who I am as a person and as an artist.

"But I think I did allow myself to write more joyful stuff, and I also am in a very joyful place. You know, falling in love with another human being should be pretty fun — most days," he says.

Tickets for Mat Kearney plus Leagues in the Pearl Street Ballroom in Northampton a6 8PM on Tuesday, 11/1 are available at Northampton Box Office,76 Main Street. 413-586-8686 and online at IHEG.com

Béla Fleck and the Original Flecktones (a reunion that’s kind of a big deal) Thursday, November 10th at 8PM the Calvin Theatre in Northampton

Béla Fleck is one of the world’s most pioneering and premiere banjo players, and the only musician to ever be nominated for Grammys in jazz, bluegrass, pop, country, spoken word, Christian, composition and world music categories. Performing with the original Flecktones, Béla Fleck combines music from multiple genres—from classical and jazz, to bluegrass and African music, to electric blues and Eastern European folk dances—making it one astounding concert experience.

 

Béla Fleck is an incredible virtuoso on the banjo. If all he had ever done was play banjo in a traditional bluegrass band, he would still be renowned as the finest banjo player ever but as an artist, he also took bluegrass and infused it with a modern style that redefined the genre—and even that was not enough for him. Refusing to be pigeonholed, he continued his boundary-breaking exploration by taking the banjo to modern jazz, classical and African music. His curiosity and artistry know no bounds.

Béla Fleck and the original Flecktones come to Northampton as part of their limited North American tour, celebrating the release of their new album “Rocket Science.” “Rocket Science” marks the first recording by the first fab four Flecktones in almost two decades, with pianist/harmonica player Howard Levy back in the fold alongside Fleck, bassist Victor Wooten and percussionist/drumitarist Roy “Futureman” Wooten. Far from being a wistful trip back in time, the album sees the Grammy Award-winning quartet creating some of the most forward thinking music of their long, storied career.

Béla Fleck started playing the banjo when he was 15 years old. His interest sparked when he heard the bluegrass music of Flatt & Scruggs. While still in high school, he began experimenting with playing bebop jazz on his banjo, mentored by fellow banjo renegade Tony Trischka. Not long after, he released his first solo album, entitled “Crossing the Tracks.” Since then he has released more than 40 in-studio and live performance albums.

Fleck first united the Flecktones in 1988, presumably for a single performance on PBS’s “Lonesome Pine Special.” From the start, there was a special kinship between the four musicians, a bond forged in a mutual passion for creativity and artistic advancement. Three breakthrough albums and a whole lot of live dates followed before Levy decided to move on in late 1992.

Visionary and vibrant as anything in their already rich canon, “Rocket Science” feels more like a new beginning than simply the culmination of an early chapter. Where the band goes from here remains undetermined, but all four members agree that the promise of Béla Fleck & the Original Flecktones has yet to be fulfilled.

One of the wonderful things about a Béla Fleck concert is that you never know exactly what to expect. That's what makes them so exciting. But two things are guaranteed: that there will be some incredible music-making and that a good time will be had by all. 

Tickets for Béla Fleck and the Original Flecktones on Thursday, November 10^th at 8PM the Calvin Theatre in Northampton are available at Northampton Box Office, 76 Main Street. 413-586-8686 and online at IHEG.com

Young@Heart Chorus, Northamptones, UMass Dynamics to Harmonize for Health at the Calvin Theatre Sunday, October 3oth to benefit Cooley Dickinson Cancer Center, Nurse Development Programs

 NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – On Sunday, Oct. 30, at 3 p.m., three local musical groups take to the Calvin Theatre stage to celebrate Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s 125th anniversary and to support the future health of the community.

“We are in the fortunate position to give back to the community that has supported the Young@Heart Chorus for the past 30 years,” said Chorus Director Bob Cilman. “We perform yearly benefit concerts for local non-profit organizations, and as part of their 125th anniversary year, we’ve selected Cooley Dickinson. CDH is our local hospital that has a special place in the hearts of our chorus members.”

When the Chorus was just a fledgling group and performing their first concerts in Europe, the hospital donated new wheelchairs to the Chorus. Cilman said the connection to the hospital is a relationship that really matters to the Chorus. “We are committed to helping Cooley Dickinson. We hope to raise significant funds through this event,” Cilman added.

The Young@Heart Chorus will sing songs from the stage/theater show, End of the Road by No Theater, a show that they have performed internationally at venues in Manchester, England; Rotterdam, Netherlands; Gent, Belgium and Poznan, Poland. They will also perform from their concert show line-up.

The world-renowned Young@Heart Chorus, whose members range in age from 73 to 89, will headline the benefit concert. Special guests include a capella groups, The Northamptones and The UMass Dynamics.

“We are honored and excited to have these inspiring and talented groups perform in support of Cooley Dickinson’s Building Our Future Campaign,” Diane Dukette, vice president of Development for Cooley Dickinson, said. 

Funds raised will benefit two current hospital initiatives, a new comprehensive cancer center and educational programs for nurses. Both projects, Dukette said, will have a direct impact on the care and services provided to local patients and families far into the future.

To purchase tickets ($25, $35 or $100, plus service charges), call or stop by Northampton Box Office 76 Main Street, (413) 586-8686 or buy online at IHEG.com. The $100 ‘VIP’ tickets include first-row seating and admission to an after-concert reception with the Young@Heart Chorus hosted and sponsored by the Hotel Northampton.

About the Young@Heart Chorus

The Young@Heart Chorus, whose members range in age from 73 to 89, is well-known and loved locally by audiences of all ages.  The Chorus is also world-renowned, selling out large theaters across the U.S. and the world.  An inspirational documentary film, Young@Heart, was released worldwide several years ago and includes scenes shot at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. 

About The Northamptones

The Northamptones, Northampton High School's own a cappella group, have had the pleasure of performing at the Massachusetts State House, in The Silver Chord Bowl, at The Iron Horse Music Hall and on countless other stages throughout the East Coast.  After hours of rehearsals filled with music and laughter, their contagious energy is sure to light up the stage and warm concert-goers’ hearts.

About The Dynamics

The Dynamics are a group of sixteen, talented, hardworking, and motivated students committed to creating fun and exciting a cappella music at The University of Massachusetts, Amherst.  Established five years ago, the group has recorded three successful albums, performed at weddings and festivals, traveled to sing alongside some of the best collegiate groups around, earning quite a name in the a cappella world.

About Cooley Dickinson Hospital  

Cooley Dickinson, a full-service community hospital, is ranked in the top 5 percent of all U.S. hospitals in patient safety by HealthGrades®, the country's leading independent health care ratings organization. It is the only hospital in the Springfield area to achieve the HealthGrades Patient Safety Excellence Award™ for three consecutive years. Cooley Dickinson’s staff of 1,650 professionals and nearly 400 affiliated physicians comprise a network of emergency, surgical, clinical, rehabilitative, hospice and home care expertise that treats 40,000 emergency patients per year, delivers 800 babies, and collaborates with Massachusetts General Hospital to deliver comprehensive cancer care. Cooley Dickinson's vision is to be the nation's premier not-for-profit community hospital, able to provide local access to the most advanced clinical treatments in a caring and neighborly setting. Learn more at www.cooley-dickinson.org.

Dick Dale, King of the Surf Guitar, kicks cancer and returns to the Iron Horse stage this Monday, October 17th at 7PM

 

Generations of loyal fans will be looking forward to seeing guitar legend Dick Dale take the stage at the Iron Horse this Monday, October 17^th at 7PM. 

Dale, 74, is often hailed as the "King of the Surf Guitar," is known for hit songs like "Misirlou" (of "Pulp Fiction" fame) and has been performing since 1959. He has also been credited for his innovations in electric amplification and recently, in acoustic guitars. Through the years, Dale has also played sold-out concerts in large venues and smaller clubs, where Dale says he has gotten to know his fans.

"When I'm through performing, we have this meet and greet thing and we talk about all we've been going through. I've gone through so many things with the families in the past 20 years and there's a camaraderie with everyone that has followed me," he said.

No one has followed Dale, however, like his 40-year-old wife Lana, whom he called "my love of my entire life."

Dale said that when Lana Dale was only two-years-old, her mother showed her one of Dale's albums. The moment the St. Petersburg, Fla., native saw Dale's face, she was mesmerized.

"He has beautiful eyes," said the tot. "I am going to be with him one day for the rest of my life."

She followed him through his career and watched him as he married and had a son, Jimmy, who is currently 19 and tours with his father in guitar duels or as a drummer.

The future Mrs. Dale, who never married, only contacted Dale after hearing about his battle with cancer and other health problems, he said. They began communicating daily, talking seven to eight hours per day on the phone, Dale said. One day, she saw Dale shaking and ill via Skype and decided to finally be with him.

Dale credited her for saving his life. His wife, a medical researcher, spotted leaks created by radiation in Dale's body that doctors overlooked on x-rays, he said.

"She's the only thing in my life. We love the same things -we were raised Big Band style, we love Louis Armstrong. When I play the trumpet or piano, she has tears in her eyes. She's very emotional, she's a hopeless romantic like me."

Today, Dale and his wife drive across the country as he fights to stay healthy and continue rocking out for sold-out crowds.

"We're gonna have a lot of fun, I'm really looking forward to it," said Dale, who says he has performed at the Iron Horse before. "It's always a wonderful experience!"

Dick Dale performs at the Iron Horse in Northampton this Monday, October 17^th at 7PM. 

Tickets are available at Northampton Box Office,76 Main Street. 413-586-8686 and online at IHEG.com

SPF-4  will also perform.

Watch "Misirlou" by Dick Dale.

Legends of the Fall, by the dozen, at the Iron Horse & Calvin Theatre in Northampton

Stephen Stills Thursday, October 13^th, 8PM Calvin Theatre

Legendary guitarist/singer-songwriter Stephen Stills is one of the most influential and enduring figures in rock and roll. The only artist ever to be inducted twice in the same night into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - for The Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash - Stills' work spans five decades, four iconic groups (Manassas and CSN&Y in addition to the two already mentioned), two era-defining anthems - "For What It's Worth" and "Love The One You're With" - and a rich canon of solo material. Ranked 28 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time, Stills also has a trio of album masterpieces on their compendium of The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time: Buffalo Springfield Again, Crosby, Stills & Nash and Deja Vu.

Dick Dale Monday, October 17^th,  7PM Iron Horse

Dick Dale isn't nicknamed "King of the Surf Guitar" for nothing. He invented the style single-handedly, and no matter who copied or expanded upon his blueprint, he remains the fieriest, most technically gifted musician the genre has ever produced. Dick Dale invented surf music in the 1950's. Not the '60's as is commonly believed. He was given the title "King of the Surf Guitar" by his fellow surfers with whom he surfed with from sun-up to sun-down. He met Leo Fender the guitar and amplifier Guru and Leo asked Dale to play his newly creation, the Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar. The minute Dale picked up the guitar, Leo Fender broke into uncontrolled laughter and disbelief, he was watching Dale play a right handed guitar upside down and backwards, Dale was playing a right handed guitar left handed and changing the chords in his head then transposing the chords to his hands to create a sound never heard before.

Shawn Phillips Wednesday, October 26^th, 7PM Iron Horse

Shawn Phillips, a veritable Zelig of rock, made the scene in various musical meccas around the globe. He, Paul Simon, and  Donovan were roommates in sixties London and he played guitar on several of Mr. Leitch’s LPs. He instigated the sitar's first historic fusion with pop music through Sunshine Superman and later tutored George Harrison on the instrument. He opened the landmark Isle of Wight festival in 1970, taught a young Joni Mitchell guitar, and sang backup on Sgt. Pepper's "Lovely Rita." His solo albums, spanning 40 years are ambitious outings that showcase his willowy fingerpicking, multioctave vocal range, and penchant for high-flown lyrics. His persona as a mystical hippie troubadour has stayed pretty much intact. His guitar work is as masterful as ever, with contrapuntal picking and deft chording that sometimes make it sound like he’s playing rhythm behind his own leads, and his voice can still leap nimbly from a rumbling baritone through a full-bodied tenor to a soft-edged falsetto. Perhaps no one has made more contributions to rock music with so little recognition than Shawn Phillips. Few artists have stayed in touch with the '60's bred ethos with such constant exploration or never-ending evolution.

Ian Hunter Thursday, November 3^rd 7PM Iron Horse

Legendary Mott the Hoople front man and renowned solo artist, Ian Hunter, quickly established himself as an incredibly inventive songwriter with his gritty and thought provoking songs which paved the way for the original wave of punk rock. The 1972 David Bowie produced breakthrough album All The Young Dudes catapulted the band into the British Top 10 and the American Top 40. As a solo artist, Mr. Hunter has been responsible for instantly recognizable classics as “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” “Cleveland Rocks” (used for The Drew Carey Show), and many, many more. Both Ian Hunter and Mott the Hoople have been cited as major inspirations for numerous artists including The Clash, Kiss, R.E.M., Oasis, Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, Motley Crue, Blur and Primal Scream among others. Hunter’s influence on modern rock and roll music has been immeasurable, with over 150 different cover versions of his songs. Ian Hunter has worked with many musical legends such as the members of Queen, David Bowie, Mick Jones of The Clash, Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, Mick Ronson and Ringo Starr’s All Star Band.

Jorma Kaukonen Sunday, November 6^th 7PM Iron Horse

In a career that has already spanned a half-century, Jorma Kaukonen has been the leading practitioner and teacher of fingerstyle guitar, one of the most highly respected interpreters of American roots music, blues, and Americana, and at the forefront of popular rock-and-roll. He was a founding member of two legendary bands, The Jefferson Airplane and the still-touring Hot Tuna, a Grammy nominee, a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the most in-demand instructor in the galaxy of stars who teach at the Fur Peace Ranch Guitar Camp that he and his wife operate in picturesque Southeastern Ohio.

 Joan Baez  Wednesday, November 9^th 7PM Iron Horse

It’s been told that some artists live in history – and the lives of other artists are history. From the very beginning of her musical career, Joan Baez has never sought to draw lines between real world, real time events and her own artistic vision. She remains a musical force of nature whose influence is incalculable - marching on the front line of the civil rights movement with Martin Luther King Jr. and forty years later saluting  the Dixie Chicks for their courage to protest war. She introduced Bob Dylan to the world in 1963 and focused awareness on songwriters ranging from Woody Guthrie, Dylan, Phil Ochs, Richard Farina, and Tim Hardin, to Kris Kristofferson and Mickey Newbury, to Dar Williams, Richard Shindell, Steve Earle and many more.Her music, all along, has remained vital.

 Richie Furay Thursday, November 10^th 7PM Iron Horse

Richie Furay formed Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Bruce Palmer, and Dewey Martin. In the late 60s he formed the country-rock band Poco, with Jim Messina and Rusty Young. He left Poco in 1974 to join the Souther, Hillman, Furay Band. Since the early 1980s, Richie Furay has been senior pastor of the Calvary Chapel in Broomfield, Colorado.  He’s written two books: For What It’s Worth: The Story Of Buffalo Springfield and Pickin Up The Pieces. Buffalo Sprigfield was inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame in 1997 and had a much ballyhooed reunion this year at Bonnaroo.

Bela Fleck & The Original Flecktones Thursday, November 10^th 8PM Calvin Theatre

Groundbreaking banjoist/composer/bandleader Béla Fleck has reconvened the original Béla Fleck & The Flecktones', the extraordinary initial line-up of his incredible combo. Rocket Science marks the first recording by the first fab four Flecktones in almost two decades, with pianist/harmonica player Howard Levy back in the fold alongside Fleck, bassist Victor Wooten, and percussionist/ Drumitarist Roy “Futureman” Wooten. Far from being a wistful trip back in time, the album sees the Grammy Award-winning quartet creating some of the most forward thinking music of their long, storied career. While all manners of genres come into play – from classical and jazz to bluegrass and African music to electric blues and Eastern European folk dances – the result is an impossible to pigeonhole sound all their own, a meeting of musical minds that remains, as ever, utterly indescribable. Simply put, it is The Flecktones, the music made only when these four individuals come together.

David Bromberg  Saturday, November 12^th 7PM Iron Horse

Originally a “must-have” session man for everyone from Bob Dylan to Jay & the Americans, David Bromberg is a master practitioner of folk, blues, bluegrass and other musical genres. After years of inactivity on the touring front and numerous "retirements", David Bromberg is beginning to reappear on the live concert scene. Bromberg has reunited the “big band” several times over the years and his live shows remain as unique as ever. Concerts by David and his band are extraordinary events, and performances follow no set pattern of selection. Give and take between performer is complete, spontaneous, and totally sincere. Bromberg’s remarkable musical versatility and innovative resourcefulness have earned vast critical and popular acclaim. He is impossible to classify: a product of blues, country, jazz, folk, and classical music. From his early success as a guitar virtuoso, Bromberg has developed into a brilliant entertainer. His new album, Use Me (2011), features John Hiatt, Levon Helm, Los Lobos, Tim O’Brien, Vince Gill, Widespread Panic, Dr. John, Keb’ Mo’ and others.

Leon Redbone Sunday, November 14^th 7PM Iron Horse

When Leon Redbone burst on the scene in the early 1970s, he did so under a shroud of mystery. No one, not even those considered his friends, knew where he was from, how old he was, or his real name. A walking caricature, Redbone shuffled through folk festivals in his rumpled three-piece suits from the Twenties, a wide-brim hat, sunglasses, and thick mustache. The only thing widely known about him was that he was a gifted singer and guitarist with a thorough knowledge of blues, urban folk, jazz, and ragtime. "Mr. Redbone doesn't just dig up the past, he embodies it," wrote New York Times reviewer Stephen Holden in 1981, "by dressing himself in the clothes of an old-time traveling minstrel and singing in a voice that is a stylistic composite of early Southern blues and vaudeville performers." Although today his voice is familiar to many, due to countless television jingles hawking everything from beer to laundry detergent, he remains an enigmatic figure whose musical tastes and presentations have gone unchanged for more than twenty years.

Dan Hicks Sunday, December 4^th 7PM Iron Horse

Singer-songwriter Dan Hicks is truly an American original. Since the early 1960s, Hicks has deftly blended elements of Swing, Jazz, Folk and Country music to create the appealing sound he sometimes calls "Folk Jazz". The lyrics of his songs range from the simply sublime to the sublimely ridiculous, all presented with his uniquely skewed and inscrutable touch.  Dan's irresistible sense of rhythm, hip lyrical styling, laid-back vocalizing, and infamous on-stage wit will make most who listen fans for life. He's a snappy dresser, too. Tom Waits called Dan Hicks “fly, sly, wily, and dry!” Featuring a world-class collection of musical talent including instrumental virtuosos David Grisman, Charlie Musselwhite, Bruce Forman, and slide-guitarist Roy Rogers, and produced by Grammy-winning roots music producer Chris Goldsmith, his latest album "Tangled Tales" is served up with Dan's unique fashion, attitude, and swagger.

Elliot Murphy and the Normandy All Stars Wednesday, December 14^th 7PM Iron Horse

More then thirty-five years have passed since the release of Elliott Murphy's ground-breaking first album Aquashow in 1973 (recently declared an Album Classic by the UK's prestigious UNCUT magazine) and since that time Elliott Murphy, singer-songwriter, rock troubadour, indefatigable road warrior (over 100 shows a year!) and prolific author of fiction has once again proven his dedication to his music and his commitment to his growing legion of fans with the release of his new CD Notes From the Underground featuring eleven new Elliott Murphy songs, five of which are co-written with long-time guitarist Olivier Durand. The album is already being hailed as his best in a decade. Scott Kempner of the Del Lords and the Dictators opens.

 Tickets are available at Northampton Box Office, 76 Main Street, 413-586-8686 and online at IHEG.com

Rani Arbo and daisy mayhem bring their intoxicating blend of rogue roots music to the Iron Horse this Friday, October 7th at 7PM. They Might Be Gypsies open.

All of roots music is a stage for daisy mayhem, and this four-piece string band loves nothing more than choreographing a jubilant mix of traditional, original, and contemporary sounds. With Arbo's bewitching alto at the helm, stunning vocal harmonies, a 100% recycled drum set, fiddle, guitar, and bass, daisy mayhem "has a grand knack for pumping new blood into old music" (The Boston Globe). [Imagine, for example, a pre-civil war song from the Georgia Sea Islands sung over a New Orleans-style groove. Or, an old Irish fiddle tune with new lyrics, capped with a solo on a South American box drum. 

A Sondheim tune done jug band style? An original Unitarian funk gospel song? You begin to get the idea.] With influences from Doc Watson to Django Reinhardt, from Ghanaian drumming to the funky Meters, and from Fiddlin' John Carson to Bob Dylan, Daisy Mayhem celebrates America's rich musical past and brings it into the present with good humor, impeccable musicianship, powerful songwriting, and a clear love of playing together. Here are four musicians who pick up what's lying around—from tin cans to old songs and wry observations of modern life—and create something new. 

Tickets are available at Northampton Box Office,76 Main Street. 413-586-8686 and online at IHEG.com

"Neo old-timey with cosmopolitan splashes of modern pop and jazz" -- The Boston Globe 

"Arbo is a force to be reckoned with" -- The Boston Globe 

"A reminder that musical categories are a necessity for catalogs and record stores, not for lovers of music." -- Sing Out Magazine 

"This quartet has a rare gift for fashioning hip, sleek sounds from the solid cloth of vintage American music." -- The Boston Globe 

"Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem's sweeping, timeless melodies float above ingenious arrangements." -- The Boston Globe 

"As hard to classify as it is to praise highly enough...an intoxicating blend of roots music styles, with deep traditional roots and a healthy futuristic outlook. Strongly recommended."  -- The Rogue Folk Review, Vancouver BC