First Aid Kit - Emmylou

"Emmylou" by First Aid Kit,. the Swedish sist er duo of Johanna and Klara Söderberg. The video, shot in Joshua Tree National Park, pays homage to Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris.

I’ll be your Emmylou and I’ll be your June

 and you’ll be my Gram and my Johnny too

First Aid Kit plays Royale on Fri, September 28.

More info at thisisfirstaidkit.com

See my music calendar for upcoming shows in New England

Prescott Park Concert Series

The River House Restaurant Concert Series 2012 schedule has been announced.

Held at Prescott Park in Portsmouth, NH each Wednesday night, you'll find some top-notch performers from around the globe. All offered in a gorgeous setting for a mere suggested $8 - $10 donation. Concerts start at 7:00PM. More info at prescottpark.org/wednight.cfm

ANI DiFRANCO - June 20, 2012 - Ani DiFranco - though small in stature - has kindled a substantial influence on fellow musicians, activists, and indie-minded people the world over that is nothing short of huge. She decided early on in life to use her voice and her guitar as honestly and unflinchingly as she could, writing and playing songs that came straight from her own experience, her boundless imagination, her sharp wit, and her ever-more-nuanced understanding of how the world works. You'd be doing yourself a disservice by missing Ani's debut performance at the Park!

SHAWN COLVIN - June 27, 2012 - We are thrilled to welcome back Shawn Colvin who stands out among female singer-songwriters of today as a singular and enduring talent, with ten albums and three Grammy Awards (including Record of the Year, Song of the Year). This South Dakota-born folk-rocker is known for her unmistakable vocals and matchless guitar stylings, and offers music that is honest and warm-hearted. With a brand new album in hand, don't miss this incredible performer.

LAKE STREET DIVE - July 11, 2012 - How is it that something so unlikely can also be so infectious, so naturally exhilarating? Pulling in familiar elements and irreverently scrambling and recombining them, Lake Street Dive are at once jazz-schooled, DIY-motivated, and classically pop obsessed. Beginning with catchy songs that are by turns openhearted and wryly inquisitive, this northeastern quartet proceeds to inject them with an irresistible blend of abandon and precision. This is one of those groups we like to call a *discovery act*, or simply a *do not miss*.

PETER YARROW - July 18, 2012 - Peter's talents as a creative artist - both with Peter, Paul & Mary and as a solo performer - are frequently directed at using music to convey a message of humanity and caring. His gift for songwriting has produced some of the most moving songs Peter, Paul & Mary have recorded, including "Puff, the Magic Dragon," "Day is Done," "Light One Candle," and "The Great Mandala." As a member of the renowned musical trio, he has earned many gold and platinum albums, has been awarded numerous Grammys, and nominated for several more. Peter in Portsmouth? Win! 

LUCINDA WILLIAMS - July 29, 2012 - Williams' blend of whiskey soaked Americana tunes paired with her rousing gravely-tinged vocals are the prefect recipe for a stellar musical performance that will not only get your head and body bopping about; it will also serve as the perfect ambient backdrop to get the Piscataqua churning with glee. Simply put: Lucinda rocks. When Time Magazine calls you "America's Best Songwriter," you know it will be a show not to miss.

HOT CLUB OF COWTOWN - August 1, 2012 - Back by popular demand! Be prepared to be blown away. Picked by such artists as Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson to tour the globe, this Austin-based band has grown to become one of the hardest-swinging Western swing trios on the planet. With a repertoire based on a fusion of vintage jazz and the Grand Ole Opry, you'll hear not only the influences of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli, but those of western idols Bob Wills and Hank Williams among many others. The Globe & Mail says their fiddler would be charged with arson "if rosin was flammable". Catch this act!

SUZANNE VEGA - August 8, 2012 - Widely regarded as one of the most brilliant songwriters of her generation, Suzanne Vega emerged as a leading figure of the folk-music revival of the early 1980s when, accompanying herself on acoustic guitar, she sang what has been labeled contemporary folk or neo-folk songs of her own creation in Greenwich Village clubs.  Since the release of her self-titled, critically acclaimed 1985 debut album, she has given sold-out concerts in many of the world's best-known halls. And now she'll arrive at one of the world's best-known summer fests... Prescott Park Arts Festival!

THE COWBOY JUNKIES - August 15, 2012 - Canada's acclaimed folk/blues/country band comes to Prescott Park! Since the platinum success of their seminal 1988 release The Trinity Session - an album which helped set the stage for the burgeoning Americana roots music movement - Cowboy Junkies have attracted an uncommonly dedicated international following which has remained loyal to the band. Over the late '80s and '90s, this Canadian group recorded a succession of critically acclaimed albums that found favor in the alternative rock community. This show promises to be one of the most interesting and serene musical experiences of the summer!

THE DUHKS - August 29, 2012 - Banjo? Check. Fiddle? Check. Guitar? Check. Drums? Yes. Check. The Winnipeg, Manitoba-based Duhks have always gravitated towards traditional roots-based song structures, but they've never stopped evolving since their inception five years ago. Due to a collective musical worldview that knows no boundaries, the Duhks are primed and ready to get you out of your seats (or off your blanket) and into your dancing shoes!

IRIS DEMENT - (Friday) August 31, 2012 - One of the most celebrated country-folk performers of her day, singer/songwriter Iris Dement first began composing songs at the age of 25. Honing her skills at open-mic nights, in 1988 she moved to Nashville, where she contacted producer Jim Rooney, who helped her land a record contract. To her credit, she has won the Grammy Award for her collaboration with John Prine on his album, "In Spite of Ourselves." The wife of enrapturing folk icon Greg Brown (who played our stage last year), we are psyched to welcome Ms. Dement to the festival lineup!

THE KRUGER BROTHERS - (Thursday) October 11, 2012 - Some call it jazz. Some call it classical. Some call it bluegrass. Certainly, the music of the Kruger Brothers is all of that and more. At the end of the day, when you have the legendary Doc Watson singing your praise, you know you're doing something correctly... Since their formal introduction to American audiences in 1997, the Kruger Brothers' remarkable facility with their instruments and unique take on the American Songbook has made them a fixture within the world of acoustic music. "The Krugers are nothing short of magnificent," (Bluegrass Journal). And magnificent is what we like to see on our stage!

See my music calendar for upcoming shows in New England

Daniel Johnston - Life in Vain

Daniel Johnston performing "Life in Vain" with The Swell Season on Austin City Limits. The cult hero singer-songwriter was the subject of the 2006 documentary "The Devil and Daniel Johnston"

Daniel Johnston and Friends headline a CD release and concert at  Rochester Opera House on Sat, May 12. Proceeds benefit The Brett Fund.

See my music calendar for upcoming shows in New England

Dr. John - Such a Night

The recent passing of Levon Helm reminded me of The Last Waltz. It is a star-studded concert film, but for me, one of the highlights has always been Dr, John's performance.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and 5-time Grammy award winner, he is undoubtedly a living legend.

Dr, John plays Paradise Rock Club on Wed, June 6

See my music calendar for upcoming shows in New England