Past Musical Performances: 2023

"Home for Christmas" with Mariah Bonner December 21, 2023

Join singer, recording artist and all around entertainer, Mariah Bonner, for an evening of Christmas cheer! You’ll hear songs in French, English and Spanish, ranging from standards such as Let It Snow and Blue Christmas, to beloved hymns like O Holy Night and Silent Night to more contemporary tunes like Feliz Navidad, River and more.

"Home for Christmas" with Mariah Bonner December 21, 2023

Join singer, recording artist and all around entertainer, Mariah Bonner, for an evening of Christmas cheer! You’ll hear songs in French, English and Spanish, ranging from standards such as Let It Snow and Blue Christmas, to beloved hymns like O Holy Night and Silent Night to more contemporary tunes like Feliz Navidad, River and more.

Celtic Concert with The OCEAN Quartet December 10, 2023

The OCEAN Celtic Quartet will transport you to the Yuletide celebrations of yore in a program featuring traditional carols, foot-stomping Celtic fiddle tunes, 19th century broadside songs, original seasonal compositions, and even an appearance by Father Christmas of the old mummers plays!

The Whiskey Feathers November 18, 2023

The Whiskey Feathers are a 6-piece roots rock band from Baltimore and the surrounding hills of northern Maryland. If you can imagine the vibe of The Last Waltz, add a healthy dose of potent Stapleton-esque leads, and top it with soprano and alto harmonies, you can start to get a sense of The Whiskey Feathers’ sound.

Roberta Lee November 17, 2023

Norfolk-based singer-songwriter Roberta Lea is a unique artist who blends soul, pop and RnB with thought provoking lyrics. She was recently nominated as 12 artists to watch in Nashville Scene for her latest release, Just a Taste.

Photos courtesy of CR Imagery.

May Erlewine November 15, 2023

One of the Midwest’s most prolific and passionate songwriters, May continues to share her gift for writing songs of substance that feel both new and soulfully familiar. Her lyrics offer a window into her heartbreak, her empowerment, and her emboldened spirit. These lyrics, which are really stories crafted through May’s unique experiences, are rooted in wisdom, joy, sorrow, simplicity, and love. Joining May for this show will be the talented Matt Sucich.

Popa Chubby November 10, 2023

Popa Chubby, born Ted Horowitz, has been hard rocking the blues in his fierce and soulful way for more than 30 years. Over the course of a career that dates back to 1994, he has been a force of to be reckoned with on the guitar, and his tempestuous, soulful playing has never been more powerful. An imposing figure with a shaven head, tattooed arms, a goatee and a performance style he describes as “the Stooges meets Buddy Guy, Motörhead meets Muddy Waters, and Jimi Hendrix meets Robert Johnson."

Photos courtesy of Willy Palmer.

Chris Pierce November 7, 2023

Chris Pierce first gained national prominence with "We Can Always Come Back To This." His hit co-write aired on 3 episodes of the #1 NBC primetime series This Is Us, then went on to peak at #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart, and #12 on iTunes Top 100. Pierce has done worldwide headlining tours and has performed on stage with Seal, Cold War Kids, Al Green, and many more. Pierce's 2020 collaboration with artist Sunny War in Americana duo WAR & PIERCE yielded hit single "AMEN."

The High and Wides November 3, 2023

The High & Wides project a big, driving sound—musical traditions re-imagined for a new century. With roots in urban Baltimore and the rural Delmarva peninsula, they draw on bluegrass backgrounds and weave in influences from new wave to old time to make music that defies boundaries while evoking the era when country, bluegrass, western swing, and early rock'n'roll mingled freely.

Photos courtesy of CR Imagery and Larry Fogolson.

Nellie McKay November 2, 2023

Under the lonesome cry of the midnight train, stars twinkling over hillbilly lights in the mountain fog, Nellie McKay returns with her first album of original material in 13 years. Recorded in Charleston, West Virginia with The Carpenter Ants & a roving retinue of musical compadres, Hey Guys, Watch This, due out August 25th, traces the haunted sounds of Appalachia to a renaissance of revelry.

ERIC LINDELL OCTOBER 29, 2023

New Orleans roots rocker Eric Lindell is an American singer-songwriter whose music career in Creole funk, R&B, and swamp pop began in 1996. Since then, he has toured nationally and internationally, playing at some of the most recognized venues in the country, including the Kennedy Center and New Orleans Jazz Fest. The Chicago Sun-Times called Lindell "a tremendous raw talent…with a fully realized musical vision." And we are lucky enough to get on his tour right here in Monkton!

Hammer Creek BlueGRASs October 27, 2023

Hammer Creek Bluegrass stays true to their name and keeps the tempo hopping with a wide variety of bluegrass music from classic groups like Flatt and Scruggs, The Stanley Brothers and Bill Monroe to name a few. The band has put a creative bluegrass twist of their own on some timeless country and other genres from artists like Steve Earl, Townes Van Zandt and Dwight Yoakam.

Jordan sokel of the pressing strings october 15, 2023

The singer and bandleader of Pressing Strings, Jordan Sokel, found comfort relatively late in the creative musical process. At age 20, locked into a college major that was no longer making sense, the choice was made to change course and focus on a life dedicated to making music. Sokel along with longtime bassist Nick Welker and former drummer Brandon Bartlett played every type of gig, payed their dues and solidified Pressing Strings as a household name in the DMV.

Photos courtesy of CR Imagery.

The Flying Vees October 14, 2023

The Flying Vees is a bonafide supergroup composed of four seasoned musicians of varied backgrounds. Brechyn Chace (vocals), Shannon Vasile (vocals), Caitlin Ramsey (keys), and Hannah Taylor (guitar/vocals) joined forces in 2020 to create their unique brand of wry, gothic, harmony-heavy Americana. Lovers of punk, country, folk, and maudlin, sad-girl caterwauling will be equally at home at a The Flying Vees show.

Click here to watch a video of their performance at The Loft!

Kat Wright October 12, 2023

Kat Wright, whose voice is both sultry and dynamic, delicate yet powerful; gritty but highly emotive and nuanced, has been described as “a young Bonnie Raitt meets Amy Winehouse”. Add to that voice enough stage presence to tame lions, and the combination of feline femininity proves immediately enchanting. There’s soul flowing in and out of her rock ‘n’ roll with a serpentine seduction.

Photos courtesy of CR Imagery.

Katherine Merryman and Annie Gill October 8, 2023

What happens when two sopranos serendipitously meet attending a performance at Manor Mill in the spring? They end up performing there together just a few months later in the fall, of course! Come enjoy a broad array of music genres in celebration of the beautiful autumn season. Annie Gill and Katherine Merryman's program includes everything from musical theater to folk, a bit of jazz to Celtic fusion, contemporary to classical. Don't miss out on an unforgettable performance!

GERALDINE OCTOBER 6, 2023

Geraldine’s mantra is ‘Good Time Old Time’. They are a country-leaning string band bringing songwriting to the forefront, while blending elements of old time, American folk, bluegrass, and alternative country in a distinctive, enthusiastic sound. As stewards of Appalachian motifs in a modern framework, they bring banjo, mandolin, guitar, fiddle, and Appalachian flat foot dancing to the front of the stage, accented with lush four-part harmonies.

Photo courtesy of CR Imagery.

NATALIE SPEARS SEPTEMBER 30, 2023

brings listeners in touch with the warmth of community, the quiet awe of wild places, and the intimate corners of humanity. Pulling from a quiver of instruments (banjo, piano, and guitar), her performance is dynamic as she navigates between these tonal worlds. Natalie’s angelic voice threads together a sonic language of both nostalgic and contemporary colors, creating a vibrant musical narrative of her own.

Local talent Brody Bond opened for Natalie.

Brandon Woody’s UPENDO September 23, 2023

Baltimore native Brandon Woody was referred to as an artist on the rise in the region by the Baltimore Sun in 2015 at the age of 17. Since then, Woody has gone on to become an international artist, performing with his band, Upendo, curating projects for major museums, collaborating with international brands and performing at major venues and institutions around the globe. Woody uses music as a tool for healing, genuine connection and celebrating community.

Saving Sgt. Pepper September 22, 2023

Saving Sgt. Pepper is a Beatle cover band from the Maryland area. The band is made up of individuals that grew up with the Fab-4 as the musical soundtrack of their youth. Buzzy, Earl Joe and Keith enjoy performing this music that all ages know and love. While the band does not wear the iconic clothes, speak in a Scouse accent or model their equipment after the lads, they perform the music as true to the recordings as possible.

Leslie Mendelson September 15, 2023

Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Leslie Mendelson is supporting her most recent studio album ‘If You Can’t Say Anything Nice…,’ as well as a solo acoustic EP ‘In The Meantime,’ that was recorded during quarantine earlier this Spring. Described by Relix Magazine as an artist with “a loyal, cross-generational audience that hugs the hippie, hipster, coffee shop and society crowds,” Leslie’s timeless musicality and evocative songwriting indeed cuts a wide swath.

Heather Aubrey Lloyd and Kipyn Martin September 8, 2023

Heather Aubrey Lloyd has co-fronted Baltimore’s ilyAIMY for two decades. Traveling the country playing everything from bait shops to clothing-optional resorts, Lloyd’s collection of stories turned lyrics and became her first solo studio effort, “A Message in the Mess.”

Kipyn Martin is an emerging Indie Folk singer-songwriter whose roots sink deep into the banks of the Shenandoah River. She currently plays festivals, concert halls, coffeehouses, and house concerts from New England to Texas.

The Honey Dewdrops August 26, 2023

Virginia raised and Maryland based, Laura Wortman and Kagey Parrish are the Honey Dewdrops. With gorgeous vocal harmonies and agile musicianship, The Honey Dewdrops are an astounding live act! Their latest release, Light Behind Light, expands the sound of The Dewdrops with more instruments filling out their experimental folk sound. The duo has performed all across the US and parts of Europe, and have been featured on many festival stages.

Bill Kirchen August 25, 2023

Bill Kirchen is a founding father of Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen. His diesel-fueled licks drove Hot Rod Lincoln into the Top 10 nationwide. Bill went to the Grammys in 2001 for Country Instrumental Of The Year with his chicken-pickin’ composition Poultry In Motion, beat out by the great Earl Scruggs. He has recorded with Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, Nick Lowe, Dan Hicks, Maria Muldaur, Hoyt Axton, Hazel Dickens, Gene Vincent and Link Wray.

East Nash Grass August 10, 2023

Bluegrass music tends to fall on a spectrum. On one end is the rough and tumble, high-energy style exemplified by the pioneers of the genre. On the other is a highly polished studio-ready approach. It’s not easy to balance such precision while being musically joyful and in the moment but East Nash Grass does it, staking their position squarely in the middle of this spectrum, playing at the highest levels of proficiency with a sense of ease and humor that comes from hundreds of hours making music together.

Photos courtesy of Frank Thompson.

Photos courtesy of Willy Palmer.

Johnny Sansone Band July 28, 2023

Johnny Sansone led the life of an itinerant bluesman, traveling around the country from temporary bases before settling down in New Orleans in 1990. As leader of Jumpin’ Johnny & the Blues Party, Sansone played harmonica and guitar in the fierce Mississippi delta blues style heard on his 1987 debut Where Y’at? and his 1991 release Mister Good Thing. By 1996s Crescent City Moon, Sansone became a full fledged Louisiana artist, combining blues, boogie and frontporch Cajun and Zydeco sounds of the bayou.

Joe Pug July 15, 2023

A singer-songwriter known for his lyrical acumen and plaintive harmonica style, Joe Pug dropped out of college and moved to Chicago where he worked as a carpenter before breaking into the city’s music scene. Since 2008 he has released a string of critically-acclaimed albums and toured heavily in the U.S. and abroad. Paste Magazine wrote of his music: “Unless your surname is Dylan, Waits, Ritter or Prine, you could face-palm yourself to death trying to pen songs half as inspired.”

Photos courtesy of Willy Palmer.

Stringtown July 7, 2023

For over fifteen years, Stringtown has been charming audiences with an eclectic mix of vintage jazz, folk, and one hit wonders from the 50's and 60's. With Amy Hopkins on fiddle, Andrew Holt on bass, Rob Deford on guitar, Ava Oelke on harmonica, and the whole group on vocals, Stringtown's stylish harmonies are an infectious, swinging gumbo. They will share some tunes and talk about their influences and inspirations.

Humbletown June 28, 2023

Humbletown is a folk/bluegrass band featuring Morgan Carnes on clawhammer banjo, Dylan Lewis on flatpick guitar and mandolin, and James Schrag on upright bass and fiddle. Morgan and Dylan primarily write their own songs in eclectic styles but also play traditional songs, fiddle tunes, and folk and country covers. The band prides itself on unique harmonies and vibrant traditional and improvisational instrumentals. They have shared the stage with Trout Steak Revival, Woodbelly, Charlie Parr and many others.

Josh Daniel June 23, 2023

Josh Daniel is North Carolina singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose passion and enthusiasm are evident every time he takes the stage. Daniel describes his sound as “Rock n Roll” but it’s much broader than that… Josh is able to mold his influences into a unique sound that is entirely his own. Blending rock n roll with bluegrass, funk and soul music with a reggae backbeat, you never know which way he will lead the crowd.

Eliot Bronson June 21, 2023

Over the course of five albums, indie folksinger Eliot Bronson has created his own brand of acclaimed Americana. He's an award winner. A road warrior. An internationally-renowned musician with a voice that swoons and sweeps, making fans out of everyone from his hometown newspaper, The Baltimore Sun — who championed Bronson from the very start, hailing him as "a folk singing wunderkind" back when he was still playing local coffeeshops — to Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb.

Buffalo Nichols June 16, 2023

“Part of my intent, making myself more comfortable with this release, is putting more Black stories into the genres of folk and blues,” guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist Carl “Buffalo” Nichols explains. “Listening to this record, I want more Black people to hear themselves in this music that is truly theirs.” That desire is embodied in his self-titled debut album—Fat Possum’s first solo blues signing in nearly 20 years—composed of demos and studio sessions recorded in Wisconsin and Texas.

Dan Bern June 7, 2023

If you must put him in a box, make sure it’s a big box! Undefinable by genre, crossing over and through folk, rock, singer-songwriter, and kids music, Dan Bern is a captivating live performer with a loyal, multi-generational following. He has written thousands of songs, released dozens of albums, and played shows across North America and Europe–from coffee shops to Carnegie Hall, and he most recently opened for The Who. The show also featured an opening with the talented local musician Dan Casula.

Photos courtesy of Willy Palmer.

Curtis Salgado June 2, 2023

Award-winning vocalist, instrumentalist and songwriter Curtis Salgado, the man NPR calls “an icon” with “a huge voice,” is revered worldwide for his ability to wring every ounce of soul out of every song he performs. Salgado is famed not only for his powerhouse live shows and ten previous albums, but also for his passionate and insightful original songs. He has been nominated three times for the Blues Music Award for Song Of The Year, winning in 2018 for Walk A Mile In My Blues.

Springtime in Paris with Mariah Bonner May 25, 2023

A wonderful evening of song with singer, recording artist and all-around entertainer, Mariah Bonner! Listeners heard a selection of songs ranging from American standards like the Gershwin’s Our Love Is Here To Stay, and Cole Porter’s I Love Paris, to French classics such as Edith Piaf’s La Vie En Rose and Michel Legrand’s Chanson de Delphine, to more contemporary tunes like Michel Berger’s La Déclaration d’amour, Carla Bruni’s Quelqu’un m’a dit and more.

Photos courtesy of Willy Palmer.

Photo courtesy of Marc Shapiro.

Roy book binder may 19, 2023

Who can say they were friends with Rev. Gary Davis, Pink Anderson, and Robert Lockwood? And toured with Bonnie Raitt, JJ Cale, and Hot Tuna? Roy can. He has the stories, the licks, and the timeless music in his fingers. Featured on PBS, "Fresh Air" with Terry Gross, Roy Book Binder is keeping the tradition of American blues alive and growing. We are privileged to have Roy in our beautiful gallery concert space! Please join us in welcoming this legendary musician and storyteller.

Katherine Merryman May 7, 2023

What does rock music have in common with classical voice? Can you think of any contemporary songs that would meet with a standing ovation from Mozart? Can you imagine a 19th-century aria being as well known as the pop music of today? Katherine Merryman is an operatically trained lyric soprano with a passion for piano and foreign language.

Photos courtesy of Bo Willse.

Monkton Road Band May 5, 2023

Monkton Road is a collaboration of family and friends brought together to create an all originals Americana band. Talbot, Susie, Jody and Bill write from their experiences of life, love and family. Songs of bar rooms and heartache to magical meetings in the stars will take you on a memorable musical journey. Monkton Road brings their creativity and musicality with a combination of a rootsy folk sound laced with deep country influences to their originals.

JANET PAULSEN TRIO TRIBUTE TO INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY April 30, 2023

Janet, a classically trained opera singer, has performed with opera companies in New England and the Midwest. During the pandemic, she began a new singing journey in jazz. She is joined by jazz pianist Anthony Pocetti who is currently the pianist for The United States Army Field Band's Jazz Ambassadors. Shawn Simon plays the upright bass for the group and is a music teacher at Loyola University Baltimore. Their shows begin with jazz standards and progresses to present day with a jazz interpretation.

Stillhouse Junkies April 26, 2023

Stillhouse Junkies is a one-of-a-kind creative project born out of the collective passions of three individuals with very different musical backgrounds. With chops and stylistic leanings ranging from classical to West African, blues, bluegrass, and swing, Fred Kosak, Alissa Wolf, and Cody Tinnin came together around a shared goal of bringing sounds and grooves to their fans that fall outside of easy genre distinctions.

Stillhouse Junkies April 26, 2023

Stillhouse Junkies is a one-of-a-kind creative project born out of the collective passions of three individuals with very different musical backgrounds. With chops and stylistic leanings ranging from classical to West African, blues, bluegrass, and swing, Fred Kosak, Alissa Wolf, and Cody Tinnin came together around a shared goal of bringing sounds and grooves to their fans that fall outside of easy genre distinctions.

Photos courtesy of Frank Thompson.

Photos courtesy of Willy Palmer and Rich Barnstein.

Selwyn Birchwood April 14, 2023

The rising guitar and lap steel player calls his original music “electric swamp funkin’ blues,” defined by raw and soulful musicianship played with fire-and-brimstone fervor. His gritty, unvarnished vocals draw his audience deep inside his unforgettable tales of love, passion, pain and pleasure. No other band on the current blues scene is built quite like Birchwood’s. In addition to Selwyn’s electrifying guitar and lap steel playing, the other featured instrument is Regi Oliver’s baritone sax.

Steve Forbert April 8, 2023

Years before Americana music earned its own category at the Grammy Awards, Steve Forbert helped pioneer the genre's mix of folk, roots - rock, and richly delivered storytelling. He's been a torchbearer of that sound for more than four decades since, navigating the twists and turns of an acclaimed career that's taken him from gold records to Grammy nominations, from New York City's CBGB to Nashville's Bluebird Cafe, from his 1978 debut album to 2022's vital and versatile "Moving Through America."

Photos courtesy of Frank Thompson.

Dori Freeman April 1, 2023

Dori Freeman’s inimitable signature sound is in peak form on her fourth studio album, Ten Thousand Roses. Raised among a family of musicians in the Blue Ridge Mountains and hailed by Rolling Stone as “one of the most authentic vocalists to emerge from the hills of southwestern Virginia in recent years,” she’s a bonafide Appalachian artist, while simultaneously shattering the archetype by empowering the characters in her songs with personal strength and homegrown wisdom.

The Squeegees March 25, 2023

Health care professionals by day and rockers by night, the Squeegees have been together for over a year after playing in multiple bands in the past. They share a vibrant musical fellowship and a quirky vibe! Guitarist and singer, Pat Brown, drummer and singer, Joe Bienvenu, and bassist and singer Tom Glass cover an eclectic range of songs, from R.E.M. to The Beatles and The Pixies.

Photo courtesy of Frank Thompson.

Whiskey Feathers March 18, 2023

The Whiskey Feathers are a 6-piece roots rock band from Baltimore and the surrounding hills of northern Maryland. If you can imagine the vibe of The Last Waltz, add a healthy dose of potent Stapleton-esque leads, and top it with soprano and alto harmonies, you can start to get a sense of The Whiskey Feathers’ sound.

Whiskey Feather’s performed two sets of songs from their upcoming debut album along with a handful of unreleased, new originals!

Sunny War March 7, 2023

Sunny War is an internationally touring, Nashville-based singer-songwriter and true guitar virtuoso. Her new album, “Anarchist Gospel,” coming soon via New West Records, explores themes of deep internal conflict. “I feel like there are two sides of me,” says Sunny. “That’s what it is to be human. You’re not good or bad, you’re just trying to stay in the middle of those two things all the time and you’re probably doing a bad job of it. That’s ok, because we’re all just monsters.”

Photos courtesy of Stuart Dahne Photography.

Marielle Kraft with Meredith Rounsley February 23, 2023

Marielle Kraft is a poignant indie pop singer-songwriter from Philadelphia, PA. Her command over her lyricism is evident through the success of her debut EP “The Deep End,” which reflects her stories with vivid detail, clever word choice, and refreshing taste. The authenticity with which Marielle invites listeners into her story at her live shows cultivates a relationship with them beyond the songs.

Matt Nakoa Febraury 16, 2023

From a small goat farm in Central NY, Matt trained as a concert pianist before attending Berklee College of Music as a vocalist. After school, Matt landed in NYCs piano bar scene and began attracting capacity crowds each Saturday night. Now, toting multiple albums and songwriting awards, Matt tours internationally; recently performing at The White House and regularly with folk icon Tom Rush.

Valentine’s Day Concert with Mariah Bonner and Natalie Smith February 14, 2023

The pair performed a selection of songs ranging from American standards such as Can't Help Falling In Love and You Don't Have To Say You Love Me to pop tunes like Carol King's Natural Woman and the Beatles' Across The Universe to original material. Bonner's dreamy, velvet voice and Smith's soulful harmonies make for a captivating duo.

Stevie Ray Martel and his All-Star Review, featuring Johnny Massachusetts and the Resentments Februrary 11, 2023

This evening featured a lineup of great local musicians who played a few of their songs -- everything from blues to acoustic rock and more! Half of the proceeds generated by this event were donated to Benefit: Ascend 2.0, Living Classrooms after-school music programs outreach to Baltimore City schools and students.

Ken and Brad Kolodner Quartet January 28, 2023

Regarded as one of the most influential hammered dulcimer players in the U.S., Baltimore's Ken Kolodner has joined forces with his son, Brad Kolodner, one of the finest practitioners of the claw hammer banjo, to perform tight and musical arrangements of original and traditional old-time music.They round of the quartet with sensational bassist, Alex Lacquement, and talented, multi-instrumentalist, Rachel Eddy.

Pressing Strings January 20, 2023

What was started in a crowded beach house in 2006 has since morphed and grown, and morphed and grown, and morphed and grown some more. A decade an a half into it, Pressing Strings is as active as ever. Writing, recording, releasing and touring. The band consists of vocalist and guitarist, Jordan Sokel, bassist and vocalist Nick Welker, and Justin Kruger on drums and vocals. Their music is a tasteful combination of indie, folk, and blues.