Tag: Winter 2025

Medford Brewing Company, Medford, MA  12/12/2025 The New England Americana Association really knows how to throw a party!  15 acts, 2 stages, 5+ hours of great music in 20-minute bites to keep the action flowin’ with great beer and great camaraderie for a great cause, raising money for Boston Children’s Hospital.  What’s not to like?!  …

Listen on Spotify 11 Song Album Nate Ramos is a singer/songwriter based in Plymouth, Massachusetts. In his debut LP Across the States, Ramos and his band craft a narrative embedded in visions of the endless American highway soundtracked by layers of gritty Western instrumentals and emotive vocals.  The album opens on a coupling of “Catching Up (Intro)”…

Listen on Spotify 7 Song Album Hound & Handler is a bluegrass trio based in Boston, MA made up of Sean Davis (Mandolin, Vocal Harmonies), Joe Everett (Bass, Vocal Harmonies) and Ross Kiah (Guitar, Lead Vocals). Their 2025 LP release I Feel It All, featuring banjo player Max Wareham, opens on a riff tinged with hope…

Franklin, NH 1/31/26 While the Waterhorse is still a relatively new pub, it’s quickly gained renown as New Hampshire’s best Irish pub, winning the title by WMUR-TV’s Viewer poll. In addition to being the spot for a fine pour of Guinness, it’s also becoming known as one of the top music venues in the area, drawing…

Listen on Spotify 7 Song Album This New England Music Award nominated band features the husband wife duo of Jimmy Ryan and Donna Sartanowicz.  Jimmy is well known throughout the Northeast and beyond as a mandolin virtuoso.  Donna walks step in step, matching her spouse on bass and vocals. Taking the road of Woody Guthrie,…

Listen on Spotify 9 Song Album In their new LP “Mercy Drops”, released October 11th, 2025 with Worried Songs (based in New Brighton, UK), the six-piece ensemble Norma Dream imbues defiant tenderness and relentless hope into vignettes of sincere humanity. Based in Northampton, Massachusetts, Norma Dream consists of Norma Jean Haynes (songwriting, vocals, banjo), Will…

Listen on Spotify  7 Song Album Formed in Boston in 2018 by brothers Matt and Peter DeAngelis along with their long-time friend Alasdair MaKenzie, The Golden Years of Dutch Pop is the debut  self-titled album by this dynamic trio. Their mission statement says the goal of the band is to make “genre-blending rock-and-roll.” With this album, their…

Listen on Spotify 11 song album Led pianist/fiddler, Valerie Rachel and guitarist Greg Lawrence, their songs are full of harmony and emotion.  While the lyrics and the sentiment can be raw, the songs lean towards reflective contemplation rather than angst. It makes for a delightful soundtrack, whether you are out for drinks on a wild…

Listen on Spotify 17 song album The Dropkick Murphys’ latest album, For the People, feels less like a collection of songs and more like a rally staged inside a packed neighborhood bar. The band leans hard into what they do best: streetwise punk energy bolstered by Celtic flourishes that feel earned rather than ornamental. Bagpipes and…

Listen on Spotify 8 song album Adam and his band have cultivated a strong blend of rock & Americana in his latest release. The tracks are packed to the brim with anthemic choruses, roots-infused guitar lines, sealed with an earnest vocal delivery.  It reminds me a bit of Dennis Brennan mixed with Dire Straights, if…

Elmwood Lofts, Providence, RI 11/8/25 The Elmwood Songwriters Club is a magical, free to the public event held the 2nd Saturday of most months (breaks in the summer). Produced and curated by Bill Bartholemew (of Bartholemewtown), this event is held at an artists’ loft located on Elmwood Ave. in Providence, Rhode Island. The entrance to…

Medford, MA 2/14/26 I like Deep Cuts because they serve great food and beer and are one of the biggest supporters of local music around. Apparently, a lot of other folks like them too, as Deep Cuts recently won a Boston Music Award for being the “Best Music Venue” for venues under 250 person capacity.…

Gloucester, MA 1/9/26 The Rhumbline in Gloucester is one of those hidden gems in New England. The beer here just tastes better too; as I think any beer tastes better with a kick ass band playing in a corner of the room. You can walk in The Rhumbline any night of the week and catch…