Jez Lowe

Sunday, September 29, 2019 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

British folk singer-songwriter John Gerard "Jez" Lowe was born and raised in County Durham, in a family with Irish roots. He is known for his wide repertoire of compositions dealing with daily life in northeast England. Lowe has received nominations by the BBC Folk Awards for Folksinger of the Year and Best New Song.

 

 

Áine Minogue

Saturday, November 2, 2019 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

Born and raised in Ireland, Áine Minogue is an award-winning harpist, singer, arranger, and composer who has entertained Presidents and Prime Ministers, as well as performed at concerts around the world. Her music styles include Celtic, world, folk, spiritual, and new age.

 

 

Molsky's Mountain Drifters

Saturday, December 7, 2019 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

Bruce Molsky, one of America's premier fiddling talents, heads up Molsky's Mountain Drifters, playing bluegrass and roots music, both vocal and instrumental. He is joined by old-time music aficionado Allison de Groot and guitarist Stash Wyslouch.

 

 

 

Hubby Jenkins

Saturday, February 1, 2020 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

Talented multi-instrumentalist Hubby Jenkins shares his love and knowledge of old-time American music. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Jenkins delves into his Southern roots, following the thread of African American history with country blues, ragtime, fiddle and banjo, and traditional jazz.

 

 

Mike and Ruthy of the Mammals

Saturday, February 29 2020 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

Husband-and-wife duo Mike and Ruthy  are Hudson Valley based songwriters who have made waves in the Americana musical world and beyond. Singers and storytellers, they bring harmony-driven fiddle and banjo tunes to more than 100 shows each year.

 

 

 

UPDATE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED

Radio Play

Saturday, March 28, 2020 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

Harvard's talented thespians and sound effect wizards present the radio play version of "Casablanca," based on the classic 1942 film starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.

 

 

 

The Revenants

Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

The Revenants is a new acoustic group based in New England. It's comprised of veteran musicians Taylor Armerding on mandolin and vocals, Andy Greene on guitar and vocals, and Kirk Lord on upright bass.

 

 

Anne Hills

Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

Singer-songwriter Anne Hills is one of the most beloved voices of the contemporary folk music scene, receiving awards and recognition for her live performances, her unique solo and collaborative recording projects, her overall artistry and benefit work, and her writing. 

Folk music legend Tom Paxton says, “Anne Hills is such an exquisite singer that it’s understandable that people might be swept up in the pure beauty of her voice and thereby overlook her writing. That would be a mistake."

 

Garnet Rogers

Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

Hailed by the Boston Globe as a “charismatic performer and singer,” Garnet Rogers is a man with a powerful physical presence and a voice to match, singing extraordinary songs about people who are not obvious heroes and about the small victories of the everyday. With his “smooth, dark baritone” (Washington Post), his incredible range, and thoughtful, dramatic phrasing, he is widely considered by fans and critics to be one of the finest singers anywhere.

Bob Franke

Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

Bob Franke is among the most prolific and important folk songwriters to emerge since the 1960s. Many of his songs, like "Hard Love," "For Real," "Thanksgiving Eve," and "The Great Storm Is Over," have entered the American folk canon. Throughout a continually productive career spanning more than 40 years, Franke has remained a popular concert headliner, and also a beloved teacher of songwriting. As with his songs, his goal is to help people see their own lives reflected in music.

Harvey Reid and Joyce Andersen

Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

Harvey Reid and Joyce Andersen are gifted instrumentalists, strong and versatile singers, and prolific songwriters. Reid’s legendary acoustic and slide guitar work make a perfect backdrop for Andersen’s powerful fiddling, and they take turns on lead and harmony vocals to showcase a large and interesting repertoire of original, traditional, and contemporary music, from Celtic jigs and old-time fiddle tunes to blues rockers, gospel duets, and achingly beautiful ballads.

Radio Play

Saturday, March 2, 2019 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

Harvard's talented thespians and sound effect wizards present the classic radio play version of "Little Women," the story of the four March sisters growing up during the Civil War.

 

 

 

Charles Williams

Saturday, March 30, 2019 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

Louisiana-born Charles Williams has performed at Carnegie Hall, Wolf Trap, The Smithsonian, and The Kennedy Center, and made his Metropolitan Opera debut in the role of Sportin’ Life in Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess." In his career he has sung everything from opera and Broadway show tunes to spirituals, German lieders, and field hollers around the world. Williams is currently a master teacher/artist in voice at the Levine School of Music in Washington DC. He will bring stories, songs, and much more.

Magpie

Saturday, October 7, 2017 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

Since 1973, Terry Leonino and Greg Artzner (Magpie) have brought their unique sound and remarkable versatility to audiences everywhere, featuring traditional and vintage Americana to contemporary and stirring original compositions. They are award-winning recording artists, singers, songwriters, musical historians, playwrights, actors,  and social activists.

 

Brooks Williams

Saturday, November 4, 2017 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

If country blues and Americana had a love-child it would be Brooks Williams. He's a mean finger-picker, a stunning slide guitarist, and a singer with a voice, according to AmericanaUK, “that you just melt into.” Ranked in the Top 100 Acoustic Guitarists, with 22 albums to his name and a vigorous touring schedule in the US, the UK, and Europe, Brooks Williams is one of acoustic roots music’s guiding lights.

 

Bruce Molsky's Trio

Saturday, December 9, 2017 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

Bruce Molsky, “one of America’s premier fiddling talents” (Mother Jones) and Grammy-nominated artist on fiddle, banjo, guitar, and song heads this trio.  Allison de Groot adds her wide ranging virtuosity and a passion for old-time music. Boston-based Stash Wyslouch, one of bluegrass’ great young genre-bending pioneers, brings great sensitivity and superb guitar and vocal skills.

 

Guy Davis

Saturday, January 20, 2018 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

For more than 20 years "Ambassador Of The Blues" Guy Davis has excelled at songwriting and performing. His reverence for the music of the blues masters who’ve gone before him is evident in in his albums and concerts. 

 

 

 

Kate Campbell

Saturday, February 10, 2018 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

Over the course of 20+ years Mississippi native Kate Campbell has resisted the temptation to follow musical trends but instead chooses to set the pace for her unique musical journey. Campbell's endearing, clear-water vocal delivery and eloquent gift for storytelling have drawn comparisons to Southern literary giants Flannery O’Connor, Eudora Welty, and William Faulkner. Her easy command of a full range of American musical styles has earned her recognition as a formidable talent by critics.

 

Radio Play

Saturday, March 10, 2018 – 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 11, 2018 – 2 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

Harvard's talented thespians and sound effect wizards present the radio version of the 1950's sci-fi drama, "The Day the Earth Stood Still."

 

 

 

James Keelaghan

Saturday, April 7, 2018 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

Called Canada’s finest singer-songwriter, James Keelaghan is an artist who has proven to be a man for all seasons. For almost a quarter of a century now, this poet laureate of the folk and roots music world has been one of the most distinctive and readily identifiable voices of not only the Canadian scene, but the international singer-songwriter community.

 

Neptune's Car

Saturday, September 24, 2016 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

Neptune’s Car (Holly Hanson and Steve Hayes) is an acoustic duo from Massachusetts and New Hampshire who play original, contemporary folk music. Their three albums have appeared on many "best of" lists and have charted in the top 5 on folk radio.

 

Claudia Schmidt

Saturday, October 22, 2016 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

More than four decades as a touring professional have found Michigan native Claudia Schmidt traversing North America and Europe in venues ranging from intimate clubs to 4,000 seat theaters, and festival stages in front of 25,000 listeners. She has recorded nineteen albums of mostly original songs, exploring folk, blues, and jazz idioms featuring her acclaimed 12-string guitar and mountain dulcimer playing. 

Cassie and Maggie MacDonald

Friday, November 11, 2016 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

Hailing from Nova Scotia, sisters Cassie and Maggie MacDonald perform music rooted in the Celtic tradition while incorporating other musical genres to make their own version of “Celtic Roots.” Expect superb fiddle playing, delightful vocal harmonies, guitar and piano accompaniment, and rhythmic step dancing, all presented with incredible energy and talent.

Scott Ainslie

Saturday, December 3, 2016 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

When it comes to keeping traditional blues alive and well in the 21st century, any discussion about contemporary American musicians has to include the venerable Scott Ainslie. Ainslie could pass an audition to be a burly outdoor Grizzly Adams or a lumberjack, but this belies that he is actually a sensitive singer, a lively bluesman in the tradition of the original country blues, including the Delta, Ragtime and Piedmont traditions.

Twisted Pine

Saturday, January 21, 2017 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

Twisted Pine challenges its bluegrass roots by intertwining innovation with tradition. The band is composed of five uniquely voiced writers and accomplished musicians: Dan Bui on mandolin, Ricky Mier on banjo, Kathleen Parks on fiddle, Chris Sartori on bass, and Rachel Sumner on guitar. In a Twisted pine show, anything can happen: delicate harmonies turn into growling vocals, raucous fiddle tunes melt into groovy jams, fiery solos make way for heartfelt melodies and bittersweet lyrics. Diverse influences are hinted at—from pop to classical, jazz to Celtic—creating music as fresh as the writers themselves.

Guy Van Duser and Billy Novick

Saturday, February 25, 2017 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

"Elegant."  "Riveting." "Soulful." "Classic mastery." These are a few of the terms that have been used to describe the unique and stunning swing-jazz music of Guy Van Duser and Bill Novick, acoustic guitarist and clarinetist. Together as a duo for more than thirty years, Guy and Billy have performed  in concerts, clubs and festivals all over North America and Europe and have been frequent guests on Prairie Home Companion and NPR's All Things Considered.

Radio Play

Saturday, March 25, 2017 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

Harvard's talented thespians and sound effect wizards present the radio version of the delightful 1936 screwball comedy, "My Man Godfrey."

 

 

Garnet Rogers and Archie Fisher

Saturday, October 3, 2015 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

Canadian songwriter, folksinger, and instrumentalist Garnet Rogers and Scottish songwriter, folksinger, and guitarist Archie Fisher will share the stage. Both are folk legends in their home countries, but their appeal knows no borders as evidenced by the following each has in the United States.

Garnet Rogers is one of Canada’s leading folk musicians. A prolific songwriter, he is known for his gorgeous baritone voice, sensitive songwriting, and masterful guitar playing.

Sing Out! magazine has described master guitarist Archie Fisher as "one of Britain's finest song interpreters." He is known widely as the host of BBC Radio Scotland’s award-winning 'Traveling Folk program.
 

Heather Pierson Acoustic Trio

Saturday, November 7, 2015 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

Heather Pierson is an award-winning pianist, multi-genre singer/songwriter, arranger, bandleader, and performer.  From New Orleans-style jazz and blues to rousing Americana and poignant folk narratives, she moves seamlessly and effortlessly from one style to the next, and a growing catalog of wildly divergent CD releases reflects her boundless creativity.

The trio also features Shawn Nadeau on upright bass and Davy Sturtevant on, as Heather often puts it from stage, "everything else" — guitar, mandolin, dobro, fiddle, cornet.

 

Family Sing-Along

Saturday, December 5, 2015 – 7:00 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the movie version of the story of an aspiring nun who is sent to care for the seven children of an Austrian naval captain.

Come sing along with Maria, Captain von Trapp, Liesl, Friedrich, Louisa, Kurt, Brigitta, Marta, and Gretl ... and Harvard friends. Prizes will be awarded for original costumes!

Greg Greenway

Saturday, February 20, 2016 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

A rare combination of instrumental expertise, a soulful and moving singer, powerful poet, and sparkling entertainer, Greg Greenway is one of those difficult-to-categorize performers who have found a home in the modern acoustic genre.

Radio Play

Saturday, March 19, 2016 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

Harvard thespians and sound effect wizards present the radio version of the classic 1940s comedy, "The Philadelphia Story."

Cricket Tell the Weather

Saturday, June 4, 2016 – 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers Hall, Harvard Public Library

Cricket Tell the Weather is a Brooklyn-based string band with its roots deep in the bluegrass tradition, embracing folk, old-time, and spirituals as a backdrop for its original songwriting. Winner of the 2013 FreshGrass Award, Cricket formed in the fall of 2012 and has toured the Northeast, establishing a base throughout the bluegrass and folk festival and concert series circuits.

Cricket Tell the Weather musicians are Andrea Asprelli, fiddle; Jeff Picker, guitar; Doug Goldstein, banjo; and Sam Weber, bass.