Category Archives: Check it out

I’ve experienced lots of change since my last post… including a new job at Passim.
Club Passim is a music venue tucked at the end of Palmer Street in Harvard Square… Passim is a non-profit, and it’s more than just a club. It’s a music community.

The roots of Passim run DEEP. In the 60’s, the venue played a big role in the rise of folk music in the city of Cambridge. Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell and Muddy Waters all performed there, back when the space was called Club 47.

I’ve admired this venue for a very long time… it’s always a listening room. The people who attend the shows are there to fully absorb the experience, and with a room like that, every performance becomes a special one.

It doesn’t hurt that the talent that comes through is astonishing. Some folks have caught on, frequently coming into shows blindly and putting trust in longtime club manager, Matt Smith, who books the acts. The musicians are not always strictly folk…they dance around the genre every which way.

Beyond being a venue, Passim has a school of music, a scholarship fund, and a restaurant open for dinner every night of the week (during the performances) and Sunday mornings for brunch. They also host a winter Celtic music festival and a series of free outdoor concerts in the summertime… and that’s where I come in!

It’s been a whirlwind of a summer as I bounce around Cambridge, helping to put on the free outdoor concerts. I’ve been able to connect with so many wonderful people, hear plenty of amazing music, and help spread the word about Passim! And it’s not over yet… I’ve got about 6 more weeks of concerts (listed here: passim.org/summer-concert-series)

Then I’ll turn my focus towards planning and executing the 15th Anniversary of BCMFest – a three day Celtic Music Festival held in Cambridge in January.

To accommodate my busy summer schedule, I moved to the midday shift at WUMB – you can now hear me 10am to 2pm each weekday at 91.9FM Boston | Falmouth | Worcester (and streaming at wumb.org)!

It’s been well over a year since I’ve posted on this site…which was for many years exclusively a music blog, and then gradually started to cover a more broad range of topics. Then there was a time where I didn’t really know what I should do with it, so I did nothing! I guess that happens to lots of things in life.

I’m definitely ready to resuscitate the site, but still not sure of exactly what it will be. I’ve realized that doesn’t matter! And what will be will be…

First I suppose I’ll attempt to fill in the blanks.

Since I last wrote at the end of 2015, I have been working at WUMB 91.9FM in Boston, and recently moved to Afternoon Drive. You can now hear me from 2 to 6pm each weekday —

91.9FM | Boston, Worcester, Falmouth
91.7FM | Newburyport, Stow, Marshfield
88.7FM | Milford, NH
1170AM | Orleans

*streaming on the web at www.wumb.org*

Beyond the new radio gig, I’ve had the fortune to return to the stage (with a little push from a friend). Musical theatre is something I’ve always LOVED but haven’t done much with since high school, mostly because I’ve been pursuing my career in radio. Fall of 2016 I was a Silly Girl in Hingham Civic Music Theatre’s Beauty and the Beast, then I danced in Massasoit’s Miracle On 34th Street the Musical for the holiday season…and the new year brought a BIG audition for my dream role of Ado Annie in OKLAHOMA! back at Hingham Civic. I’m happy to report I landed the role, and this weekend will be the final two performances – all the info here.

Being back to singing/dancing/acting has been AMAZING. And I don’t want to stop! I’m not sure what my next theatrical endeavor will be…or when. But I’ll be sure to post about it here…along with plenty of MUSIC, ART and more.

Beauty & the Beast

Miracle On 34th Street the Musical

OKLAHOMA!

There’s been quite a lot of transition in my life these days, and I know many of you feel the same…it’s that time of year after all. This is what I’ve been listening to lately…

The Tallest Man On Earth – There’s No Leaving Now

This has been my most recent ear worm. I cannot stop listening to these 10 tracks. The melodies are perfect for driving, and the vibe feels so much like the chill that’s been creeping in as December begins and winter approaches.

Willy Mason – Carry On

This album is incredibly strong top to bottom and couldn’t fit the fall vibe more. Seeing as he’s an island native, listening to this one while on Martha’s Vineyard is especially effective.

My Morning Jacket – The Waterfall

I’m partially listening to this album because it sounds lovely this time of year but in all honestly I simply haven’t stopped listening to it because it’s one of the year’s best releases!

I know with certainly that at least the lead single will be at the top of my favorite tracks of 2015.

Feist – Metals

If you missed the latest release from Feist (2011), I highly suggest you dive in now. So fitting for the fall, especially the cold sunny days.

“Guesthouse”

I’m loving this new, noisy, chaotic single from Mexo-Americana band the David Wax Museum. This Boston-based group is A LOT of fun live, so catch them if you can…they’re touring as much as ever, including dates in Boston and Northampton this fall.

David Wax Museum

“Phone In A Pool”

Well I haven’t posted here in quite some time…summer can certainly be a whirlwind and I’m just now starting to have some down time to enjoy the gorgeous weather.

I’ve been LOVING this new Ben Folds single. I don’t like too much pop music but I like almost everything I hear from Ben Folds, and lately the idea of throwing my phone in a pool is super enticing too!

Ben Folds

Whoa. I’m finally feeling recovered from helping put on the MV SOUND festival and here I go off to the Newport Folk Festival with mvyradio! We are SO excited for the next three days of music…especially since the lineup is filled with so many mvy artists! The past few days, people have been asking me who’s on the lineup, and when I run down the names, I sometimes get blank stares. Soooo…in case you haven’t heard them…here are songs from 10 of my favorite acts at Newport Folk this year:

Shakey Graves “Dearly Departed”

Courtney Barnett “Avant Gardener”

The Barr Brothers “Even the Darkness Has Arms”

First Aid Kit “Stay Gold”

Lord Huron “She Lit A Fire”

Brandi Carlile “The Eye”

Joe Pug “Hymn #101”

Laura Marling “Sophia”

Tallest Man On Earth “Little River”

Bahamas “Lost In The Light”

Newport Folk Festival