Spring 2025 Concert Lineup Announced!
Concerts are added as they are booked. We recommend buying advanced tickets online. Day-of tickets are available at the venue 30 minutes before showtime on a first-come, first-served basis. The Sounding Board does not accept phone or email reservations. If you are experiencing difficulty with online ticketing, please check out our new how-to video here.
The Ruta Beggars with opener Lindsey Fyfe Perkel
Appealing to traditional and progressive acoustic music fans alike, The Ruta Beggars combine bluegrass and early swing to create a timeless act filled with intricate vocal harmonies, fiery instrumentals, and plenty of fun. They have been praised for their creative yet tasteful arrangements and charming performances. Since 2018 they have brought the joy of their live show to audiences across the US and Canada from festival stages to storied folk listening rooms and as support for legacy acts Lyle Lovett and Ricky Skaggs. The Ruta Beggars are 2019 Thomas Point band competition winners, 2023 IBMA official showcasing artists, Freshgrass Foundation commissioned composers, Freshgrass Award finalists, and Skyline Records artists. The Ruta Beggars are Micah Nicol (guitar), Trevin Nelson (banjo), Noah Harrington (bass), Sam Stage (fiddle), and Jean-Baptiste Cardineau (mandolin).
Opening for the band will be folksinger Lindsey Fyfe Perkel with her husband Jason Perkel. Fyfe Perkel interprets traditional folk, bluegrass, country and Celtic songs with a clear voice, steady guitar hand, and the occasional fiddle run. Fyfe Perkel as served as the Executive Director of The Sounding Board since 2020.
Doors open at 7 pm and the concert begins at 7:30 pm. The Sounding Board is located at 433 Fern Street, West Hartford at the Fiske Hall of the Universalist Church. Parking lot and venue are accessible.
Jon Pousette-Dart with Jim Chapdelaine
A little bit of time has passed between when Jon Pousette-Dart as a teenager started forging a path in the musical landscape that started in the 60’s and laid a foundation with the original Pousette-Dart Band. Throughout the 70’s and into the 80’s the band earned a loyal national following and produced 5 releases for Capitol that made a deep imprint in the world of album radio, when we all used to only listen to vinyl. When the band parted ways, Jon continued working and slowly began navigating back to where he started writing and recording in earnest with many of Nashville’s finest.
Jon Pousette-Dart will perform as a duo with West Hartford’s own Jim Chapdelaine. Chapdelaine is a producer, four-time Emmy winning composer, recording engineer, and guitarist with an extensive list of credits in music for television and recordings for major and independent labels. He studied guitar with Pat Metheny at Berklee College of Music; produced projects for hundreds of artists including Phoebe Snow, Hassan Hakmoun, the Allman Brothers, and his own band the Feathermerchants; worked with a diverse group of artists such as Chuck Leavell, Paula Cole and Delbert McClinton; and has mastered projects for artists such as KC Jones, Aztec Two Step, and Clarence Clemons with Bruce Springsteen Live at Asbury Park. His TV work includes many award-winning projects for PBS, The History Channel, Dateline NBC, and numerous corporate clients. Mr. Chapdelaine has been teaching at Hartt since 2002.
Doors open at 7 pm and the concert begins at 7:30 pm. There is no opening act.
Kray Van Kirk / Stan Sullivan
A fine finger-style guitarist with a precise baritone, Kray Van Kirk has a Ph.D. from the University of Alaska, but he set science aside to write songs, tell stories and summon heroes. Of this charming, Quixotic, and decidedly eclectic performer, the Borderline Folk Club in New York wrote “it is what every singer-songwriter should aspire to."
An eclectic singer-songwriter and acoustic guitar instrumentalist, and recording artist, Stan Sullivan has opened shows for nationally touring artists such as Richard Thompson, John Hammond, Rory Block and Cheryl Wheeler.
This is a double-header evening in which each artist will perform 1 set of music with an intermission in-between.
Doors open at 7 pm and the concert begins at 7:30 pm.
The Portables
The Portable Folk Music Festival (affectionately known as "The Portables") represent the "house band" of the Sounding Board Coffeehouse. Brace yourself for a stage full of talented singers and instrumentalists who present traditional folk and acoustic music from the American songbook.
Doors open at 7 pm. Concert starts at 7:30 pm. There is no opening act.
Peter Mulvey
Peter Mulvey has been a songwriter, road-dog, raconteur, and almost-poet since before he can remember. In 1989 he spent a year in Ireland, busking on the streets of Dublin and hitchhiking to whatever gigs he could find. Back stateside, he spent a couple years gigging through the bars of his native Midwest before taking off for Boston, where he returned to subway busking and coffeehouses. Small shows led to larger shows, which eventually led to regional and then national touring. The wheels have not stopped since.
Twenty albums, one illustrated book, thousands of live performances, a TEDx talk, a decades-long association with the National Youth Science Camp, opening tours and gigs for luminaries such as Ani DiFranco, Greg Brown, Emmylou Harris and Chuck Prophet, appearances on NPR, an annual autumn tour by bicycle, emceeing festivals, hosting his own Lamplighter Sessions for years in Boston and in Wisconsin… he has built his life’s work on collaboration, on an instinct for the eclectic and the vital.
Doors open at 7 pm and the concert begins at 7:30 pm. There is no opening act.
Claudia Schmidt with opener Emily Bevelaqua
Claudia Schmidt has been perfecting her craft of writing and performing for 50 years. It is a quirky and wonderful hodge-podge (her word) of music, poetry, story, theater, all invoking the whole gamut of emotions and leaving the listener refreshed and thoughtful. Using her incredible multi-octave voice, 12 string guitar and mountain dulcimer, and a deep love of performing, every concert is a true celebration of the moment. Work in clubs, theaters, festivals, TV and radio has continually added depth and dimension, so whether it is her own work or very personal versions of the work of others, what you get is a unique look at the world from someone who says what she sees with clarity, humor, and wonder. The San Francisco Bay Guardian said: “Schmidt’s shows are a lot like falling in love. You never know what’s going to happen next, chances are it’s going to be wonderful, every moment is burned into your memory, and you know you’ll never be the same again.”
Opening for Schmidt will be Emily Bevelaqua. Bevelaqua is a classically-trained vocalist based in Connecticut.
Doors open at 7 pm and the concert begins at 7:30 pm. The Sounding Board is located at 433 Fern Street, West Hartford at the Fiske Hall of the Universalist Church. Parking lot and venue are accessible.
Cassie and Maggie - Winter Solstice Show at Winding Trails, Farmington
“Nova Scotian sisters Cassie & Maggie are among the top musical acts in demand on the Irish/American/Canadian scene” — Irish Music Magazine
With over 17 combined Canadian Folk Music, East Coast Music, and Music Nova Scotia awards and nominations, the JUNO-Nominated powerhouse duo, Cassie and Maggie, emerge as an unstoppable force on the global folk stage. Unleashing a magnetic energy, they seamlessly weave their deep Celtic heritage with contemporary influences. Committed to not just preserving but also propelling Nova Scotia's folk traditions into new realms, Cassie and Maggie bring an exhilarating energy that is both timeless and irresistibly modern. Their eagerly anticipated 5th studio album, "Gold and Coal," poised to solidify their status as folk music trailblazers.
“Cassie and Maggie... What an unbelievably gifted duo, the train is just gathering steam and leaving the station on these new stars. It is going to be a glorious journey, and it is already well-begun." –Live Ireland Radio- Dublin, IR
Lucy Kaplansky
Lucy Kaplansky draws from personal experiences for her lyrical subject matter, focusing on the often complex matters of the heart. Universal themes of loss, longing and loneliness, as well as love, joy, friendship and hope, are all propelled musically by roots-based instruments including acoustic guitars, mandolin, piano, percussion, and the occasional electric guitar. What Kaplansky seeks to capture and share in her songs are emotional truths, as she puts it, “When I listen to music, or even read something, it has to ring true to me in some deep way. I’m striving for that in my writing.”
Cold Chocolate / Riley Cotton
Special Double Header Evening! Each band performs 1 set with an intermission in-between. Due to unforseen circumstances, Lisa Bastoni will not be able to perform on 11/16 as originally planned.
Cold Chocolate is a genre-bending Americana band that fuses folk, funk and bluegrass to create a unique sound all their own. Led by Ethan Robbins (vocals/guitar/mandolin) and Ariel Bernstein (vocals/percussion/banjo), the Boston-based duo released their fifth full-length album in the fall of 2023. “We're growing as a band, and I think that shows in our songwriting,” says Robbins. “I see this album as a leaping off point for many more new albums to come, and that's an exciting prospect,” adds Bernstein.
Riley Cotton is an old-school songwriter based in Hartford, CT: Armed with an acoustic guitar, she writes songs that paint the emotional context in which we make life’s most consequential decisions. Riley has been nominated for a New England Music Award, was written up in CT Magazine, and her debut album “Falling of the Fervor” was released in November 2024.
John McCutcheon
Update on 10/26, 12 pm: John McCutcheon online ticket sales have ended. The concert is nearly sold out to venue capacity. Walk-up tickets are extremely limited and not guaranteed at the door.
From inauspicious beginnings, Sounding board favorite John McCutcheon has emerged as one of our most respected and loved folksingers. As an instrumentalist, he is a master of a dozen different traditional instruments, most notably the rare and beautiful hammer dulcimer. His songwriting has been hailed by critics and singers around the globe. His thirty recordings have garnered every imaginable honor including seven Grammy nominations. McCutcheon’s apprenticeship to many of the legendary figures of Appalachian music imbedded a love of not only home-made music, but a sense of community and rootedness. The result is music - whether traditional or from his huge catalog of original songs - with the profound mark of place, family, and strength.
Jonah Tolchin
Jonah Tolchin has wrestled with a wellspring of emotions in his 26 years, and in the process, has consistently found the means of integrating his sentiments into his songs. Born and raised in central New Jersey, Tolchin began his career self-releasing his own music until signing with Yep Roc Records for his critically acclaimed 2014 label debut, Clover Lane. Recorded in Nashville with a slew of special guests including Los Lobos' Steve Berlin and Deer Tick's John McCauley, the album prompted NPR to proclaim him "a promising new artist who artfully occupies the gulf between old-school tradition and contemporary appropriation.” Throughout his career, Tolchin has toured the US and Europe extensively, sharing bills with the likes of Watchhouse (Mandolin Orange), Chuck Prophet, Gregg Allman, Chris Smither, Dave and Phil Alvin, and Tony Joe White, and other greats of the Americana tradition.
The Wildwoods
In the heart of Lincoln, Nebraska, The Wildwoods emerge as a folk/Americana trio, a musical tapestry woven by the husband-and-wife duo, Noah (guitar) and Chloe Gose (violin), alongside long-time friend and bassist, Andrew Vaggalis. Their story is a symphony of exploration and connection, a journey that has taken them from the Midwest to international stages, carving out a unique place in the folk landscape. Their presence has graced stages alongside artists such as Mighty Poplar, Sierra Ferrell, Aiofe O’ Donovan, Melissa Carper, Jamie Wyatt and Joe Nichols at concerts and festivals like Summerfest, FreshGrass and the Oyster Ridge Music Festival. The Wildwoods have become a force in the folk scene, boasting accolades like being finalists at the FreshGrass Music Festival Band competition and Gems on VHS "Gems in the Rough" competition in 2023.
Amy Speace
Heralded by Rolling Stone and Billboard Magazine, Amy Speace is one of contemporary folk and Americana music’s leading voices of the new generation. Lauded by mentors Judy Collins, Tom Paxton and Janis Ian, as well as the songwriting community in Nashville, her songs have been recorded by Judy Collins, Red Molly, Sid Selvidge among others. After 20 years of touring, she has played concerts all across the US and Europe and has graced stages from Glastonbury Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival in the UK to Rocky Mountain Folks Festival and Mountain Stage. She began her career in the iconic folk venues of New York City where she was discovered by Judy Collins and signed to her Wildflower Records label. Relocating to Nashville in 2009, she quickly became embraced by the songwriting community, with regular shows at The Bluebird Café as well as her international touring.
Rachel Sumner
Rachel might have begun her formal training in wind ensembles and orchestras, but folk music was important to her family and had been fueling her musical passion from the very start. While at school, she eventually found herself making friends with bluegrass musicians (some of whom would become her future band mates and collaborators) who encouraged and taught her to play basic chords on the guitar and introduced her to the canon of traditional music. In the short time since, Rachel has become one of the most vital voices in Boston's thriving roots music scene; she has written award-winning songs, toured internationally, and recorded and released four albums. Rachel’s debut solo EP Anything Worth Doing was released in November 2018, and she has begun work on the follow-up to that, her debut full-length record due out in 2020.
The Portable Folk Music Festival - 50th Anniversary Concert
The Sounding Board loves welcoming the Portables to our stage. Audience favorite The Portable Folk Music Festival (affectionately known as "The Portables") represent the "house band" of the Sounding Board Coffeehouse. Brace yourself for a stage full of talented singers and instrumentalists who present traditional folk and acoustic music from the American songbook. This concert marks their 50th anniversary as a band! Proceeds will benefit the Sea Music Festival.
Sally Rogers and Howie Bursen
Folk singer, songwriter and educator Sally Rogers has performed from coast to coast for forty years! She has performed for audiences around the world at festivals, concerts, schools, and most any other public place you can imagine. Sally is equally talented at stirring a crowd to sing, or at using music to draw out even the shyest child in a classroom to become an active and enthusiastic participant. Widely known for her crystal clear voice, Sally accompanies herself with guitar, banjo and mountain dulcimer. Many of these instruments are used in her solo performances, as well as in duo performance with her husband Howie Bursen. At the Sounding Board, Sally and Howie will perform together. We are thrilled to welcome them back!
Vance Gilbert
“If Joni Mitchell and Richie Havens had a love child, with Rodney Dangerfield as the midwife, the results might be something close to the great Vance Gilbert", says Richmond Magazine. Vance was born and raised in the Philadelphia area. Noted not only for being the ever consummate performer, Gilbert has recorded 13 albums, including 5 for Philo/Rounder Records. Along with being opener of choice for artists as varied as Arlo Guthrie, Anita Baker, The Milk Carton Kids, and Southside Johnny, the mid 2000’s found Gilbert opening 150+ shows for comedian George Carlin. 30 years into his career, the songwriter’s influence can be felt all over the contemporary Folk and Americana realm as he has helped pave the way for many of the BIPOC artists who have followed.
Ellis Paul and Danni Nicholls
Ellis Paul is an American singer-songwriter and folk musician. Born in Presque Isle, Aroostook County, Maine, Paul is a key figure in what has become known as the Boston school of songwriting, a literate, provocative, and urbanely romantic folk-pop style that helped ignite the folk revival of the 1990s.
Paul will perform with Danni Nicholls. Hailing from Bedfordshire, England, singer/songwriter Danni Nicholls has been paving her way in UK Americana for over a decade, building a loyal fan base and much critical praise.
Join us for a great night of music!
John Gorka
Join us for a wonderful night of folk music by one of the finest folksingers performing today. From New Jersey, John Gorka is a world-renowned singer-songwriter who got his start at a neighborhood coffeehouse in eastern Pennsylvania. His rich multifaceted songs full of depth, beauty and emotion gained increasing attention from critics and audiences across the country, as well as in Europe where his tours led him through Italy, Belgium, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, Switzerland and Germany.
The Jolly Beggars
The Jolly Beggars bring the rich tradition of Celtic folk music and storytelling to modern day audiences. Based out of Connecticut, their traditional songs and musical arrangements have exposed many to the joys of Celtic music. They tell traditional stories from Irish folklore and intersperse their musical arrangements with traditional reels and jigs. Characterized by their tight harmonies and use of guitars, mandolin, tin whistles, octave mandolin, mandola, tenor banjo, double bass, bodhran, spoons, and more, The Jolly Beggars have quickly built a solid following and continue to spread their music around the east coast.
The band performs music that is largely Celtic in origin (Irish and Scottish), with some pieces coming from an extension of that music in other cultures.
Goodnight Moonshine
Goodnight Moonshine is a guitar and vocal duet, and a musical marriage in all senses. The Duo combines the evocative voice and songwriting of Molly Venter, with Eben Pariser’s adventurous guitar playing. The result is folk music with a depth of improvisation and tonal subtlety usually reserved for jazz. Molly is well known for her sublime singing in the prominent female-vocal-group Red Molly, while Eben cut his teeth as a street performer in New York City, playing guttural music of New Orleans with his band Roosevelt Dime.
Guitar and vocal duos are rare and few come to mind, but the ones that do, such as Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, and The Milk Carton Kids, have achieved and integration between singular talents in a format that is both genre-less and grounded in the commonness of two guitars, two voices. Goodnight Moonshine is taking their own stab at this unusual and deeply personal approach. Their show is punctuated by songs and banter that openly explore the complexities of their relationship to each other, the Creator, birth, life, death, and what happens when, “the honeymoon ends?” For Molly and Eben, It is the way they make space for each other while staying true to themselves that defines this music, and marriage.
Melanie Champagne (Melanie Mauchaud) from Collinsville, CT will open. Champagne is a singer-songwriter, artist, and art educator based out of Collinsville, Connecticut. Her songs stem from personal experience and as a result offer a reflective and dreamlike quality to them. Currently she is recording an EP, performing, and daydreaming while she finds her place in this world.