Two duos. One fun night of Celtic music in a cozy, intimate setting.

Join Mrs. Wilberforce (Kyra Davies, fiddle, viola, vocals; Sean Smith, guitar, bouzouki, tenor banjo, vocals) and fiddler-vocalist Gwen Johnston with guitarist Helen Kuhar for "Within Sight of Summer,"

The four represent a collectively diverse array of experiences and influences but a shared devotion to music from Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton and other Celtic traditions – and a healthy interest in bringing contemporary sounds and styles to these tunes and songs. 

It all makes for a delightfully warm evening, as we near the official start of the warmest season of the year.

GWEN JOHNSTON with HELEN KUHAR

A native of small-town Massachusetts, Gwen weaves together tunes and songs from the Celtic, old-time, bluegrass, English, and contemporary folk genres. Fueled and inspired by the joy of sharing music with others, Gwen is also an illustrator and tapestry weaver who delights in the interactions between music and visual art. She has performed in Ireland, England, and New England at venues such as The Cobblestone, The Cornish Bank, and WBUR CitySpace. Her debut album, “Onwards,” recorded in New Bedford, Mass., and Falmouth (UK), is slated to premiere this summer. [gwenjohnstonmusic.com]

Helen is an accomplished DADGAD guitarist and vocalist who specializes in traditional Irish, English, Québécois and New England styles. Since moving to the Boston area, Helen has become a familiar figure at area Celtic music sessions and on the contra dance scene. Among their current collaborations are the contra dance bands Good Company and Nobody’s Business, and vocal quartet Forsyth.  [helenkuharmusic.com]

MRS. WILBERFORCE

Since they started playing together in 2017, Kyra and Sean have performed in various settings, including BCMFest (Boston Celtic Music Fest), the Passim Summer Series, The Bebop, Boston City Winery, New Bedford Roots and Branches Festival, Gore Place Carriage House Series (Waltham, Mass.), Cadenza (Freeport, Me.) and the Cherry Street Music Series (Newton, Mass.). Although their sound is rooted in tradition, they readily, and happily, draw upon influences from the classical and contemporary folk/folk-rock domains, bringing out the distinctive qualities of each tune or song for the enjoyment of their audiences. [mrswilberforce.com]

Kyra’s work encompasses a wide range of repertoire and styles, from Scottish fiddle to contemporary classical music to arena performances with pop and rock artists. She’s appeared with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra, Portland Symphony Orchestra, Vermont Symphony Orchestra, and New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, as well as with artists including The Who, the Eagles, Andrea Bocelli, Hans Zimmer, and Josh Groban. Kyra also is the 2025 New England Regional Open Scottish Fiddle Champion. She holds a bachelor of music from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, where she studied with Kenneth Goldsmith. [kyradavies.com]

Sean began playing traditional music in his teens, taking a particular interest in the British Isles folk revival. He spent a year in the UK and Ireland making the rounds of various folk music clubs and festivals, then moved to Boston in 1981. Since then, he’s played solo and in numerous collaborations, appearing at Club Passim, The Burren Backroom Series, notloB Concert Series, New England Folk Festival Association, Boston Irish Festival, Open Book Coffeehouse, Newton Festival of the Arts, Nameless Coffeehouse and Boston College Arts Festival. [seansmithmusic.wixsite.com/sean]

Elias Cardoso is a multi-instrumentalist (fiddle, guitar, button accordion) from Boston, Massachusetts.  He has performed all over the United States and Europe, with bands such as Old Blind Dogs, Socks in the Frying Pan, and U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champions Mari Black and Isabel Oliart, among others.

His trio, featuring guitarist Eamon Sefton (Bywater Band, Simon Lace Trio) and fiddler Clara Rose (Acoustic Nomads) plays original and traditional music from the Irish, Scottish, and Quebecois traditions, and their debut album, Come In Through the Window, was released this October.

Doors: 7:30

Show: 8pm-9:30/10pm.

Location: Luthier Collective, 487 Somerville Ave, Somerville, MA 02143.

Tickets: $20 at door or HERE

Join Erin Hogan, Grace Leckey, and Jessie Bittner for a night of traditional and original folk music.

Musical shapeshifter, Erin Hogan, possesses a soulful soprano voice equally suited to early and sacred music, cross-genre collaboration, and folk music. A highly sought after musical collaborator, she sings alongside her band Forsyth, a four part vocal harmony group singing traditional English and Irish Music, backing vocals and instruments in the Adam Hendey Band, and in duo with Adam as Sister June. An accomplished solo artist and traditional song interpreter, Erin recently opened for Sam Amidon at the Arts at the Armory in Somerville, MA and is looking forward to the October 31st release of her first single By The Time It Gets Dark as a tribute to the life and work of the English songwriter and folk singer Sandy Denny. This year and into 2026 she looks forward to recording and releasing projects with The Adam Hendey Band, Forsyth, Baltimore-based singer, David McKindley-Ward, and making appearances with Tiny Glass Tavern, the improvisation based vocal-band Dreamglow, Trinity Church Choir, and working on the release of an EP of original music.

Grace Leckey and Jessie Bittner are a Queens-based Americana Roots duo.

Grace Leckey is an NYC Queens-based artist, audio engineer, and educator who grew up singing hymns and Americana in a Catholic folk choir. Funded by the New York Foundation for the Arts' Queens Arts Fund, her 2025 sophomore album Hell Gate is a tribute to Astoria, Queens and her Irish Catholic roots, through the lens of an LGBTQ+ artist. Her debut album Best Supporting Actress explores encounters with Divinity through rejecting traditional scripts and growing to live and love authentically.

Her fiddle player and vocal soul sister, Jessie Bittner, is a multi-hyphenate artist in her own right. Jessie is currently on tour as Violinist and Assistant Music Director of the Tony & Grammy Award winning musical, Hadestown. Jessie also released her debut solo project single “Song for Janet,” a tribute to her violin teacher of a decade.

Let’s be friends! @leckey_charms @jabitt

Doors 5:30, music 6-8pm

Annie McDougal with Elias Cardoso, and Nathan Bishop with Peter Subramanian

$10 suggested - Reserve a seat here!

Pete and Nath play tunes they wish other people would play more often! Pulling from some of their favorite albums, they'll be premiering new arrangements and pairings of lesser-known tunes from the likes of Peadar O'Riada, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, and others. It'll be an early evening of fiddle and hardanger resonance.

Annie McDougall & Elias Cardoso blend Old-Time fiddle tunes, Irish-Celtic guitar textures, and original indie folk songs into a playful, dynamic sound. Trading instruments and harmonies with ease, they move from sparkly, heartfelt songs to driving, high-energy tunes—always with the joy of two friends making music together.

Scottish, Cape Breton, and New England tunes at a medium-fast pace. Hosted by Leland Martin. Email lelandjamesm@gmail.com with questions.

Scottish, Cape Breton, and New England tunes at a meduim-fast pace. Hosted by Leland Martin. email lelandjamesm@gmail.com with questions

Scottish, Cape Breton, and New England tunes at a meduim-fast pace. Hosted by Leland Martin. email lelandjamesm@gmail.com with questions

$5 suggested donation

7:00-8:00: recorded performance by Kat and High Horse

8-10: open jam!

About High Horse

High Horse is a progressive-acoustic boy band featuring four friends, three bows, and one pick. A mix of Celtic, bluegrass, and classical music, it's a band of brothers playing alternative rock on acoustic instruments – a rollicking romp of great vibes, virtuosic chops, and tight vocals. Composed of fiddler Carson McHaney, cellist Karl Henry, guitarist G Rockwell, and bassist Noah Harrington, the band draws from its varied musical backgrounds to explore and perform original compositions and tunes from diverse folk traditions. Our debut album, produced by Jacob Jolliff and mixed by Dave Sinko, will be released this December.

Check out High Horse:

• Website

• Recent Show Clips

• Unreleased Album

About Kat Wallace

Kat Wallace is a Boston-based multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter. Her affinity for original music has her working and recording with a myriad of touring bands, most notably as the fiddle player in Rachel Sumner and Traveling Light. Her debut solo album, Grand Design, set to be released early in 2025, captures Wallace’s musings on world’s endings, sailing across the western ocean, and moving on. Her timeless lyrics and virtuosic guitar playing are grounded in traditional Celtic and American folk repertoire.

Here’s a sneak peek:

• Website

• Unreleased Album – Grand Design

• Original Song – Fig Tree

High Horse and I met while studying at the New England Conservatory, and we’ve been collaborators ever since. I’m featured on their upcoming album as both a songwriter and singer for the track "Holy Water." Watch here! We’re excited to combine the progressive energy of High Horse with Kat’s folk-inspired songwriting for this upcoming tour! -Kat

Wide range of cellos will be on sale! Come try them all! Featuring Mike Block and Forte3D!

Scottish, Cape Breton, and New England tunes at a meduim-fast pace. Hosted by Leland Martin. email lelandjamesm@gmail.com with questions

Scottish, Cape Breton, and New England tunes at a meduim-fast pace. Hosted by Leland Martin. email lelandjamesm@gmail.com with questions

S. Carey - Living Room Tour!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/s-carey-living-room-show-somerville-ma-tickets-1255184764419

Scottish, Cape Breton, and New England tunes at a meduim-fast pace. Hosted by Leland Martin. email lelandjamesm@gmail.com with questions

Rebecca Mac is Boston-based violinist and violist, regularly performing in various ensembles including Mamaliga, a contemporary quartet performing original Klezmer and Eastern-European folk inspired compositions and Zunroyz, a trio un-earthing string repertoire from the Jewish music archives. Mac has performed nationally and internationally at renowned music festivals including KlezKanada, Yiddish Summer Weimar and Yiddish New York. Mac is a 2022-24 grant recipient of the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Traditional Arts Apprenticeship program, through which she is exploring the connections between Greek, Turkish and Jewish music with Beth Bahia Cohen. In addition to performing regularly in the Jewish music scene, Mac runs a regular, and inclusive Klezmer jam in downtown Boston. Mac has a degree in violin performance from Berklee College of Music. 

Rebecca Mac (violin)

Zoe Christiansen (accordion/clarinet)

Akiva Jacobs (bass)

Giulia Haible (cello)

Scottish, Cape Breton, and New England tunes at a meduim-fast pace. Hosted by Leland Martin. email lelandjamesm@gmail.com with questions

Click above link for tickets. price is on a sliding scale, choose what you feel you can pay. Doors at 7:30, Music at 8:00

If there is one musician who embodies the dynamism and vitality of the current English folk revival, it’s Eliza Carthy MBE.

As the daughter of folk legends Martin Carthy & Norma Waterson, Eliza grew up immersed in the world of traditional music and from an early age was championed by John Peel, Andy Kershaw and Billy Bragg.

Beloved of staunch traditionalists and iconoclasts alike, Eliza’s music effortlessly crosses boundaries of genre and style. Whether solo or fronting a big band, performing a centuries-old ballad or a self-written song, her powerful, nuanced voice, fiercely beautiful fiddle-playing, and mesmerizing performances have influenced a whole generation of young musicians.

Twice nominated for the Mercury Prize, and winner of innumerable other accolades over her thirty-year career, Eliza has performed and recorded around the world with a diverse array of artists including, Paul Weller, Rufus & Martha Wainwright, Patrick Wolf, and Jarvis Cocker.

Describing herself simply as a modern English musician, she is one of the most impressive, engaging, and important performers of her generation.

‘Unarguably the queen of English Folk’ -The Observer

‘Not the Messiah, but a very naughty girl’ -Stewart Lee