Welcome


Welcome to my website!

Come in, sit down, relax, converse
Our house doesn't always look like this-sometimes it's even worse!  (from The Trivet Song)

I am looking out at Saltash Mountain, here in beautiful Belmont, VT.

Be sure to check my scheduled shows on the right  to see where I will be playing.

I am scheduling new private students in all levels of mandolin, tenor banjo and guitar, so contact me if you would like to work with me, at my studio in Belmont VT, or on Skype. If I am traveling in your direction, I can also arrange to meet you.

I have cds available at my Store, and Free Listens on my Music Page.


 

February 19, 2024 

Greetings from Vermont, midwinter!

Just added our St. Patrick’s Day schedule for Gypsy Reel.

Be sure to give me a shout if you’re up for lessons in mandolin, Irish tenor banjo, or guitar. I teach online, through Connecticut Academy of Irish Music and privately, and have a great weekend coming up in April with Mando Camp North.

Thanks for your continued support!🎶

February 7, 2023 

Just back from an exciting whirlwind tour in Guatemala with Gypsy Reel! Thanks to all who made it happen, particularly Marco Solo and Traci Styner!

Back in the cold winter of Vermont. Playing this Saturday February 11, 6-9pm, at Poultney Pub as part of the Cabin Fever music series put together by George Nostrand. Dusting off lots  of my original songs and tunes for this! Hope to see you there!

Also getting ready for Spring Semester at Connecticut Academy of Irish Music. I teach Zoom classes including a Slow Session, Mandolin, Tenor Banjo and Guitar. If you are in the Mount Holly Vermont area, I could do live lessons. Check out ctirishmusic.com for more info and to sign up.

Thanks to all for your continued support! 🎵🎵

 

 

March 29, 2022 

Still got snow here in Belmont Vermont, but the sunshine is getting stronger!

I'm excited about some upcoming events in April and May. April 11, I will be featured on David Benedict's show Mandolin Mondays! More details as I get them.

April 22-24, I will for the first time be joining the staff of Mando Camp North! It's going to be a great weekend, and you still can register at musiccampsnorth.com

I contributed a video of a couple songs for a Concert to Benefit Julee Glaub Weems, a dear musician friend, amazing singer, who is undergoing surgery. Scheduled concert date is May 1 at 4pm, more details as I get them, stellar lineup. Thank you for your support!

Another dear friend who is struggling with health issues is the incredible Irish fiddler, Frankie Gavin, who blew us away here at Mount Hollywood Studio a couple years back, and was scheduled to reappear this September. Info at https://gofund.me/aa40ab28

Please check out my Calendar! I plan to spend May in North Carolina; have a couple things booked and hope to get a couple more, with Bob Vasile, Jack Herrick and Jane Peppler. Also doing a workshop on Irish Mandolin and Tenor Banjo. Contact North Carolina School for Traditional Music for details www.nctradmusic.com

Hope to see you sooooooon!

May 21, 2021 

Happy Spring! I finally have something to tell you!

First, I'd like to thank Connecticut Academy of Irish Music and all my private students for getting me through the past year. Love you all.

Coming up this Sunday, May 23, I am honored to be a guest of Hazel the Delta Rambler on WWOZ Radio in New Orleans, LA. It airs around 10:15 CDT, 11:15am EDT, and features some of my lesser known originals, and a chat with Hazel. It'll be archived for 2 weeks at http://www.wwoz.org

Got a couple of Gypsy Reel outdoor summer concerts coming up, Fri. May 28 at the lovely Skunk Hollow Tavern, and Sat. June 12 at the Shrewsbury Meeting House (rain date Sun June 13). Fun fun fun!

Mount Holly Folk Club has resumed meeting downstairs in the Library in Belmont every Monday night at 7. Join us for some songs!

Hope everyone is enjoying the relaxed atmosphere that comes from being vaccinated!

More soon as dates get confirmed.

 

March 21, 2020 

Well! Greetings from my home to your home! Our world has changed, and continues to change by the hour. I have deleted events that may be rescheduled, but are cancelled for now. The Gypsy Reel event in April may still be postponed, but hasn't been yet. Our weekly session at Killarney Pub in Ludlow VT is off until further notice, and we're hoping to have a belated St. Patrick's Day celebration this summer!

Thanks for visiting my site! Please stay healthy and safe! LOVE

PS Contact me if you'd like to try a music lesson via Skype or What's App!

November 19, 2019 

Hi, I'm updating my shows for the holidays! I'll be playing with Jon Clinch, Graham and Camille Parker, in the Gypsy Reel Wassailers. Happy holidays to all! Thanks for your continued support of live music!

September 27, 2019 

Looking out at blooming sunflowers and orange maples! Lovely autumn here in Southern VT! Enjoying loads of visitors, many toting instruments. School has begun at the Connecticut Academy of Irish Music, and I'm enjoying teaching tunes and songs on some Sunday afternoons. Had a brilliant summer on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, lots of music, boating and swimming. Making this short so I can get outdoors and go for a walk in the sweet glow of the season! Love to all.

February 26, 2019 

The winds are howling here on Frost Hill Road in Belmont, Vermont, but the sunshine is gaining in strength, and the long cold snowy winter may be giving way. I haven't been writing much, because of a long struggle with my vision, recovering from surgeries, but now things are looking up! In the months ahead, I am looking forward to playing more music. St. Patrick's Day 2019 is right around the corner, and Gypsy Reel is excited to welcome former Gypsy Jon Scaife, extraordinary guitarist from Sheffield UK, for the big weekend! Right after, I'm taking off for another visit to North Carolina, playing with Fiddling' Al McCanless, Will McCanless, Colin Shoemaker, and Bob Vasile, and also with Jack Herrick of the Red Clay Ramblers and Jane Peplar of Pratie Heads. Also hope to get together there with Eleanor Ellis, wonderful singer and blues guitarist-stay tuned for developments.

I continue to play most Thursdays with Gypsy Reel at our fine session at The Killarney in Ludlow Vermont, and I continue to teach fretted instruments at The Connecticut Academy of Irish Music in Wethersfield CT most Sundays through April. I also sing with Mount Holly Folk Club most Mondays when I'm in town. Check my schedule for solo gigs in the spring; also will be performing in a duo with Silas Hamilton, and with Celticado (Adam Sweet and Jim Bunting). If all goes well, I'll be in Nova Scotia July-August, will keep you posted-usually loads of fun music collaborations there.

I recorded my solo cd The Tartan Project many months ago, but am just getting around to offering it for sale here. This one's got more of a Scots/Nova Scotian/Shetland focus. I hope you'll enjoy it. Stay well, keep smilin'!