The Loft
A unique performance space for music of all genres
Incredible music can be found at the Mill in two beautiful, intimate spaces, outside in the Loft and inside on the second floor of the Mill. A small live music venue means musicians can perform and discuss their work. Manor Mill has shared music of all genres, including world-class talent from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, blues, jazz, bluegrass, rock and more.
Concerts and Conversations
NOVEMBER
Friday, November 14, 7:30-9:30PM
Pierre Bensusan
[SOLD OUT]
Sunday, November 16, 4-6PM
Dave Hause
[SOLD OUT]
Friday, November 21, 7-10PM
Get Down at the Mill: A Night of Funk & Soul with DJ Eric
Saturday, November 22, 7:30-9:30PM
Melissa Quinn Fox
with opening performance by Eddie Johnson
Friday, November 28, 11:00 AM
Dan and Claudia Zanes
DECEMBER
Thursday, December 4, 7:30-9:30PM
David Jacobs-Strain and Bob Beach
Saturday, December 6, 7-9PM
Dave Chappell
Sunday, December 7, 3-5PM
Ahmed Warshanna Presents Ishta!
Friday, December 12, 7:30-9:30PM
Whitehall
Sunday, December 14, 2-4PM
Chamber Music in Historic Landmarks: II. In the Shadows (Baritone and Piano)
Sunday, December 21, 7-9PM
Brad Cox and Shelby Blondell
Tuesday, December 23, 7:30-9:30PM
Mariah Bonner – I’ll Be Home For Christmas
November
Pierre Bensusan
Friday, November 14, 7:30-9:30PM
“It’s like the guitar has been given free reign to play it’s self!”
French-Algerian acoustic guitar virtuoso, vocalist and composer Pierre Bensusan, surnamed “Mister DADGAD”, has taken his unique sound to all corners of the globe.
Winner of the Independent Music Award for his triple live album “Encore”, voted Best World Music Guitarist by Guitar Player Magazine reader’s Poll, winner of the Rose d’Or at the Montreux Festival for his debut album, Pierre is recognized as one of the greatest guitar players of the 21st century.
WEBSITE
Dave Hause
Sunday, November 16, 4-6PM
Dave Hause’s songs have always been rooted in tangible reality—of emotion, of environment, of circumstance. Since releasing his debut album, Resolutions, in 2011, the Philadelphia-born songwriter has poured his whole heart, soul and life into his music. That’s no different on Drive It Like It’s Stolen, his sixth full-length. Its 10 songs overflow with Hause’s trademark urgency and passion, shimmering with a truth that reflects the harsh realities of life in this day and age, as well the intermittent jolts of joy that punctuate it. After all, his songs have always detailed his own personal traumas and triumphs within the setting of an unforgiving capitalist backdrop, tethering those personal experiences to ineluctable external forces.
WEBSITE
Get Down at the Mill: A Night of Funk & Soul with DJ Erik
Friday, November 21, 7-10PM
Join us on Thursday, November 21 at Manor Mill for an evening of funk, soul, and groove-heavy vibes with DJ Erik. From classic cuts to deep tracks, DJ Erik spins the sounds that move your feet and lift your spirit.
Free your soul. Feel the funk. Only at Manor Mill.
Melissa Quinn Fox
with opening performance by Eddie Johnson
Saturday, November 22, 7:30-9:30PM
Melissa Quinn Fox
Rising country artist Melissa Quinn Fox is known for her soulful vocals, story-driven songs, and dynamic live performances. A Pittsburgh native with a degree in Musical Theatre, she’s performed across the U.S. and Europe. Since 2021, Melissa has released two EPs and 15 singles, gaining radio play and TV features on Fox 5 and WUSA9. A five-time Wammie Award-winner, she’s opened for Brad Paisley, Phil Vassar, and more, and played major festivals like Barefoot and Carolina Country Music Fest. Currently promoting her single Reaching For The Bottle, Melissa continues to connect with fans nationwide through her music and performances.
WEBSITE
Eddie Johnson
Eddie Johnson is a 19-year-old country music artist and songwriter who developed a passion for the genre at a young age, inspired by his grandfather and classic artists like Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings. Johnson recorded six songs at Curb Studios in Nashville and has since released two singles, “I Reckon” and “Don’t Meet Your Heroes.” With a third song, “What I Think Of,” set for release on the 26th of this month, Johnson continues to pursue his goal of becoming a nationally touring artist.
WEBSITE
Dan and Claudia Zanes
Friday, November 28, 11:00 AM - 12:00PM
Grammy Award winning rocker turned all-ages entertainer Dan Zanes and Haitian-American jazz vocalist / music therapist Claudia Zanes have been singing in harmony since the day they met in 2016. They perform their soulful style of folk music extensively throughout the United States (and recently returned from a three week tour of Finland and Estonia). Dan + Claudia have released two records on the legendary Smithsonian Folkways label. Their most recent, Pieces of Home expands their vision of joyful intergenerational porch party music.
“Drawing deeply from the wells of American and Haitian folk traditions, this album pulses with the heartbeat of community. Each track hums with the spirit of kinship, inviting listeners to relax into the moment, surrounded by those who matter most.” - World Music Central
WEBSITE
DECEMBER
David Jacobs-Strain and Bob Beach
Thursday, December 4, 7:30-9:30PM
David Jacobs-Strain and Bob Beach create a musical conversation between intense slide guitar and virtuosic harmonica; together they weave left-coast stories with the emotional abandon of the blues. The show moves from humorous, subversive blues, to delicate balladry, and then swings back to swampy rock and roll.
David & Bob have performed many times at music festivals and taught at camps around the country to include: Philadelphia Folk Festival, Juan de Fuca, Strawberry Festival, Redding Roots, Bear Creek and Kate Wolf.
WEBSITE
Dave Chappell
Saturday, December 6, 7-9PM
Dave Chappell, a Washington, DC native, is one of the most sought after and respected musicians in the area. For the last several years, he has won the Washington Area Music Awards (WAMMIES) for ‘Musician of the Year’, ‘Rock Instrumentalist of the Year’, and ‘Roots Rock Instrumentalist of the Year’.
He has performed with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legends Jerry Lee Lewis, Sam Moore of Sam & Dave, Percy Sledge, Johnny Johnson, and guitar wizard, Danny Gatton.
WEBSITE
Ahmed Warshanna Presents Ishta!
Sunday, December 7, 3-5PM
Baltimore Rising Jazz Artist Series
Experience modern jazz in an intimate setting with Ahmed Warshanna’s Ishta! in The Loft.
With a sound that bridges post-bop, Afro-Cuban grooves, hip hop, rock, Egyptian classical melodies, and more, Ahmed Warshanna is redefining the modern jazz landscape. A Baltimore-based guitarist, composer, and arranger, he leads the dynamic sextet Ishta!, known for its fiery interplay and genre-defying sound. Whether performing with his band or composing new works, Ahmed consistently transcends musical boundaries while remaining deeply rooted in jazz traditions.
WEBSITE
Whitehall
Friday, December 12, 7:30-9:30 PM
Whitehall is an indie rock four-piece band based in Brooklyn, NY originally from Charleston, SC. Paddy McKiernan (vocals, guitar), Brennan Clark (bass), Davis Rowe (drums), and Avery Greeson (guitar) met in college, and got their start writing songs in a dorm room. After four years spent in the South Carolina DIY scene playing house shows throughout the state, the band recorded their debut album, Ocean Fiction, and embarked on their first tour on the East coast with a live show that is at once frenetic and introspective. In the years that followed, Whitehall recorded and released their sophomore effort Swordfish Catcher and received praise and playlist placement from national publications like NPR, Alternative Press, and American Songwriter. This album saw their sound shift from bouncy, melody-laden indie, to something grittier, with distorted guitars and imaginative lyricism that more closely resembles acts like Pavement and Car Seat Headrest. After touring extensively between 2021 and 2023 with acts such as Goo Goo Dolls, Arlie, Wilderado and Carver Commodore, the band released their 3rd LP, Maizy, a collection of tracks written mostly over a period of two weeks in isolation in the Appalachian Mountains. The record came to life with help from legendary producer Kevin Ratterman (My Morning Jacket, White Reaper).
Chamber Music in Historic Landmarks:
II. In the Shadows (Baritone and Piano)
Sunday, December 14, 2-4PM
Chamber Music in Historic Landmarks:
Four Concerts in Rural Northern Baltimore County
Prepare for four unforgettable afternoons of chamber music set in some of the most picturesque and historic venues in Northern Baltimore County. From the original 19th-century saddlery in Monkton Village to the David Niven Theater at Oldfields School and the rustic charm of the Loft at Manor Mill, each setting offers a uniquely intimate backdrop for a rich musical experience. Across four concerts—The Spark of Sound, In the Shadows, Storms, but Light, and The Quiet Bloom—the series explores themes of transformation, intimacy, and illumination. Curated by pianist Wan-Chi Su and performed by a rotating ensemble of exceptional guest artists, each program invites audiences on a journey through sound, space, and story.
Sunday, December 14: The Loft at Manor Mill
II. In the Shadows (Baritone and Piano)
Performed by Rob McGinness (baritone) and Wan-Chi Su (piano)
Brad Cox and Shelby Blondell
Sunday, December 21, 7-9PM
Brad Cox
Brad Cox is a multifaceted artist from the Baltimore area, recognized for his extensive contributions to music, literature, and podcasting.
As a singer-songwriter and musician, Cox has cultivated a diverse and prolific career, forming and fronting notable musical groups including Skitzo Calypso, Niki Thunders, We Love the Underground, and Veteran Avenue.
His musical journey, which commenced in Los Angeles in 1996, has yielded over 24 albums and EPs, alongside collaborative songwriting and vocal work for numerous regional projects.
WEBSITE
Shelby Blondell
Shelby Blondell is a driven creative force, seamlessly blending artistry, innovation, entrepreneurship, and advocacy to continue supporting her mission to uplift. Shelby began releasing music with her 2013 “Fly” EP and followed up with a self-titled EP in 2014, performing widely throughout MD/DC/VA/PA. Her single “Fun in the Sun” reached the Top 10 on European indie music charts. She’s shared stages with notable acts like Pentatonix, Sabrina Carpenter, Howie Day, Scotty McCreery, Walker Hayes, Ryan Cabrera, and James Authur.
WEBSITE
Mariah Bonner – I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Tuesday, December 23, 7:30-9:30PM
Join singer, recording artist, and all around entertainer Mariah Bonner for an evening of holiday cheer!
You’ll be treated to a selection of classic melodies like I’ll Be Home For Christmas, beloved hymns such as O, Holy Night, and Silent Night, and more contemporary holiday tunes like Hard Candy Christmas, River, and more.
Mariah will be accompanied by Sean Lane on piano, Seth Kibel on clarinet, saxophone and flute, and Bob Abbott on upright bass.
WEBSITE
Interested in performing at Manor Mill? Please use this form or email theloft@manor-mill.com
Brad Selko
National Music Curator
Brad Selko grew up loving music and sharing this passion with others. Among many musical endeavors, Brad was founder, owner and director of the Hot August Music Festival, formally known as the “Hot August Blues Festival", which started on his farm here in Monkton. Brad ran the festival for 28 years, overseeing its transition to Oregon Ridge Park in Cockeysville where thousands of music fans still attend annually.
Emerson Probst
Regional Music Curator
Emerson has been playing bluegrass and folk music around Baltimore since an early age. After a career as an author recruiter in educational publishing, he works with his family real estate business to sponsor charity music events, pulling together local musicians for jams and open mics. His monthly blog "Hereford Music News" features these efforts and can be found at https://herefordmusicnews.com/
Frequently Asked Questions
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Nope! We will have enough chairs to seat everyone. Seating is first come, first serve.
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We have candy for sale but no food service. We recommend bringing food from home or a local restaurant and finding a spot to sit and enjoy it before the show.
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No. We do not sell any alcoholic beverages onsite, but you are welcome to BYOB. (If you can avoid the red wine, we would greatly appreciate that as we have very old and very beautiful hardwood floors)
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Doors are typically open at least 1 hour prior to the show. The Gallery and Gift Shop are open Wed-Sun 12-6pm so make sure to leave time for shopping before the show!
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We recommend showing up at least 30 minutes before the show starts to get a good parking spot and to get seated for the show.
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Yes! We strongly encourage carpooling, but we monitor ticket sales so that we may accommodate everyone attending concerts.
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No, your name will be on the list at the front desk- please check in upon arrival before heading up to The Loft.
Watch The Honey Dewdrops Play in the loft!
See The Honey Dewdrops play in The Loft! Films and products by Wallflower Wanderer.