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TUNES BY THE TRACKS, Featuring PEG DOLAN

Posted on September 9, 2019 at 8:30 AM Comments comments (1)


                                               Peg Dolan



TUNES BY THE TRACKS is inbound for a Wednesday, Sep 18 arrival at the library. 
Your effervescent hosts, Jim Clare, Cathy McGrath, and Allen Hopkins, bid fond adieu to summer and welcome the glorious Finger Lakes autumn, with a musical icon, who is making her debut appearance at Tunes By the Tracks, as Feature:


~ PEG DOLAN ~



Peg Dolan, http://www.pegdolan.us/index.html  ranges from traditional and contemporary Irish songs to popular hits by stars like The Eagles, and Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young, to dozens of country and pop favorites.


Peg is well-known for her resonant vocal abilities. In his review of The Missing Peace, Jamie O'Brien, of the Irish Edition, said of "the beauty of Peg's voice" that "the lyrics burst into infectious life."Peg is an accomplished musician as well and plays six and twelve string guitars, mandolin, penny whistle, button accordion, and bodhran. Equally at home before a concert crowd of thousands (Buffalo Irish Festival, Lake Ontario Concerts By The Shore) or in the closeness of a pub venue (The Shannon Poconos, Keenan's of Rochester), Peg is in demand for all types of occasions - large, small, and in-between.As a recording artist, Peg has several well-received albums to her credit, and enjoys air play on The Irish Party House (WWWG, Rochester) as well as other stations and public radio. Her albums can be found in many music and gift stores throughout upstate New York.


Many of us Trackers are already fans of Peg's...we hope a bunch more of yez will be fans too, after this show.


~ THE MYSTERY PICKERS ~

The second half of the evening, will trap the unwary with another transcendent episode of them MYSTERY PICKERS.
Wanna give it a whirl??  Just ask Cathy, Allen, or Jim (moi), and you will be added to the growing roster of musical daredevils, who never fail to add something special to the evening.


 

  • TUNES BY THE TRACKS, Featuring PEG DOLAN
  • Clifton Springs library, https://cliftonspringslibrary.com/" target="_blank">http://cliftonspringslibrary.com/
  • 4 Railroad Ave, Clifton Springs, NY 14432
  • Wed, Sep 18 
  • 7pm - 9pm (doors open at 6:30pm)
  • FREE ($5.00 donation suggested for Feature and refreshments)

TUNES BY THE TRACKS, Featuring DAVE RUCH & PHIL BANASZAK

Posted on August 26, 2019 at 8:05 AM Comments comments (1)

                                                                        Dave Ruch                                                                   Phil Banaszak       



TUNES BY THE TRACKS  is rumbling inbound for a Wednesday, Sep 4 arrival at the Clifton Springs library.

Your handy hosts, Jim Clare and Allen Hopkins will hazily handle hospitality, while Cathy McGrath is on vacation.

We're very excited to bring back a Tracker favorite accompanied by his long-time musical cohort as Feature:





~ DAVE RUCH & PHIL BANASZAK ~


Phil Banaszak, https://www.facebook.com/philip.banaszak.9" target="_blank">https/www.facebook.com/philip.banaszak.9 , plays fiddle, mandolin and guitar and sings. He is a New York fiddle champion and member of the North American Fiddlers Hall of Fame.

 

Dave Ruch, https://www.facebook.com/DaveRuchMusic/" target="_blank">https/www.facebook.com/DaveRuchMusic/ , a full-time musician/performer/music researcher/teaching artist, sings and plays mandolin, guitar, banjo, octave mandolin, bones, spoons, jaw harp and more.

These two tasty time tested musicians are chock full of tunes and songs to delight everyone, and us Trackers are always ready to be delighted.


~ THE MYSTERY PICKERS ~ 


Fear not...the second set will showcase the bold and the beautiful...or at least our approximation of such. The performers step up, and do their best song, and with each show, they just keep getting better and better.
Wanna be a Mystery Picker??  Just buttonhole Allen or Jim, and we'll immediately add you to the roster.

  • TUNES BY THE TRACKS, Featuring DAVE RUCH & PHIL BANASZAK 
  • Clifton Springs library
  • 4 Railroad Ave, Clifton Springs, NY 14432
  • Wed, Sep 4
  • 7pm - 9pm (doors open at 6:30pm)
  • FREE (suggested donation $10.00 for Feature and refreshments)

TUNES BY THE TRACKS, Featuring REBECCA COLLEEN

Posted on August 12, 2019 at 10:25 AM Comments comments (1)

                                                                Rebecca Colleen 



TUNES BY THE TRACKS is rolling through the high summer countryside, on schedule for a Wed, Aug 21 arrival at the library.
Your habitually hospitable hosts, Jim Clare, Cathy McGrath, and Allen Hopkins are smiling in anticipation of our returning Feature:



~ REBECCA COLLEEN ~



Rebecca, https://www.facebook.com/rebeccacolleen.mcdonald" target="_blank">https/www.facebook.com/rebeccacolleen.mcdonald 
is a Tracker favorite.  We loved Becky the first time we met her, and we are really looking forward to this concert.

Superlatives abound, when folks describe Rebecca...here's one from Bluegrass great, Claire Lynch ~

"Rebecca has a beautiful voice and an intuitive gift for interpretation, along with a kindred heart that permeates all her songs."

Claire Lynch, 3 time IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year


They ain't tellin' us Trackers anything we don't already know.
We've enjoyed Rebecca and her music since she was a mere broth of a girl. She's a beautiful young woman now, and all her energy, exuberance, and talent is burnished to an even brighter sheen.

It's gonna be a lovely evening, so nacherly we anticipate a passel of Trackers will be at the library to enjoy the show with us.


~ The MYSTERY PICKERS ~

Our intrepid gang is still going gangbusters, but we always got room for newbies.
If yer feeling frisky and lyrical, just ask Cathy, Allen, or Jim (moi)...and we'll shoehorn you into the lineup of luminaries who step bold into the spotlight to showcase a favorite song.


  • TUNES BY THE TRACKS, Featuring REBECCA COLLEEN
  • Clifton Springs library
  • 4 Railroad Ave, Clifton Springs, NY 14432
  • Wed, Aug 21
  • 7pm - 9pm (doors open at 6:30pm)
  • FREE ($5.00 donation suggested for Feature and refreshments)

TUNES BY THE TRACKS, Featuring LOREN BARRIGAR

Posted on July 29, 2019 at 10:10 AM Comments comments (1)

                                                                             Loren Barrigar 



TUNES BY THE TRACKS is burning up the mainline, enroute to a Wednesday, Aug 7 date at Clifton Springs library, with a Tracker ultra favorite on board.
Your warmly welcoming hosts, Jim Clare, Cathy McGrath, and Allen Hopkins are thrilled and pleased to welcome back our Feature:



~ LOREN BARRIGAR ~




Us Trackers know Loren very well.  We look forward to his performance as a high point of our TUNES BY THE TRACKS season, but for any newbies and to refresh us old hands, here's a little more about Loren.

Loren started playing guitar when he was only four years old, and by the time he was six, played the Chet A:tkins hit “Yackety Axe” in front of thousands of country music fans at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. He went on to study with Jimmy Atkins (Chet’s brother) which led to a touring career with his family band from Nashville to Las Vegas. Since settling down in Central New York, he has been in constant demand as a studio musician.


​Loren has performed with some of the best acoustic players in the world including Stephen Bennett, Richard Smith, John Knowles, Muriel Anderson and Loren’s friend and mentor Tommy Emmanuel, the Australian guitar sensation. He has also recorded with Multiple Grammy winner and legendary producer Lloyd Maines.

Looking forward to seeing a passel of smiling Trackers for Loren's show. 
Come early, and you might toss a lawn chair in the jitney, just in case.



~ THE MYSTERY PICKERS ~

Following Loren's set and a short break...we will sit back and marvel at the musical mayhem of our always entertaining Mystery Pickers.
If you Pickers get lucky, Loren might even back you up as an accompanist on yer song.




  • TUNES BY THE TRACKS, Featuring LOREN BARRIGAR
  • Clifton Spring library, https://cliftonspringslibrary.com/" target="_blank">http/https/cliftonspringslibrary.com/
  • 4 Railroad Ave, Clifton Springs NY 14432
  • Wed, Aug 7
  • 7pm - 9pm (doors open at 6:30pm)
  • FREE ($10.00 donation suggested for Feature and refreshments)

TUNES BY THE TRACKS, Featuring BILL DESTLER and REBECCA JOHNSON

Posted on July 14, 2019 at 10:05 AM Comments comments (0)

               Rebecca Johnson                                               Bill Destler 



TUNES BY THE TRACKS is on track and on time for our next show on Wednesday, July 24.
Your wholly holistic hosts, Jim Clare, Cathy McGrath, and Allen Hopkins are especially pleased to welcome our great friends as Feature:


~ BILL DESTLER and REBECCA JOHNSON ~

Bill is a renaissance man, who has excelled at many endeavors in his life, and his passion for the music of America continues undiminished. 
Bill has played clubs, festivals, museums, universities, folk clubs, cow barns, and other lofty venues for half a Century, and he's just getting started.

Most recently, Bill retired from a distinguished tenure as President of Rochester Institute of Technology, so now he can devote himself full-time to his lifelong love of folk music...the music by, of, and about the regular people like us, who make up the fabric of America.
Bill and Rebecca, http://silentgrapevine.com/2017/02/songs-for-the-journey-a-concert-by-rit-president-bill-destler-featuring-rebecca-johnson.html
have a wonderful chemistry together...almost like a married couple or something. 
Their sets are always a delightful potpourri of traditional folk, humorous and faintly risque ditties, haunting ballads, and a dash of Bill Destler original songs.

All the cool kids are gonna be at this show, so don't be square... bee there or bee sqare.
See yez at the library.


~ THE MYSTERY PICKERS ~ 

The legendary Mystery Pickers continue their relentless onslaught of music, and we invite newbies to give it a go.
So far, not a single Mystery Picker has been tarred, feathered, or ridden out of town on a rail.
Just ask Cathy, Allen, or Jim (moi), and watch yer star ascend...

TUNES BY THE TRACKS, Featuring TAYLOR PIE & THE BROTHERS BLUE

Posted on June 26, 2019 at 3:25 PM Comments comments (12)



Tunes By the Tracks is building up steam, for a highball run to the Clifton Springs library, on Wednesday, July 10.

Your happily handy hosts, Jim Clare, Cathy McGrath, and Allen Hopkins are pleased and excited to present our Double Feature:



~ TAYLOR PIE & THE BROTHERS BLUE ~


 

Taylor Pie, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_Pie" target="_blank">https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_Pie is a much loved Tracker favorite. She has done so many things...many are even legal...that we'll just say that we love our Pie.

 

The Brothers Blue, https://www.thebrothersblue.com/" target="_blank">http/www.thebrothersblue.com/ endeared themselves to us Trackers with their inaugural visit last year, and we hear through the grapevine, that they're even better now...holy guacamole.

We're thrilled that these splendid artists will be combining their talents and spirits right on our stage...Pie might even organize a Song Swarm...



~ THE MYSTERY PICKERS ~

Oh yeah...not to worry...we saved room for the musical daredevils to strut their stuff...my guess, is that they might get some extry help from our Features.

 

  • TUNES BY THE TRACKS, Featuring TAYLOR PIE & THE BROTHERS BLUE
  • Clifton Springs library, https://cliftonspringslibrary.com/" target="_blank">https/cliftonspringslibrary.com/
  • 4 Railroad Ave, Clifton Springs, NY 14432
  • Wed, July 10 
  • 7pm - 9pm (doors open at 6:30pm)
  • FREE ($10.00 donation suggested for Feature and refreshments)

TUNES BY THE TRACKS, Featuring KUBICK'S RUBES

Posted on June 10, 2019 at 8:40 AM Comments comments (9)

             Paul Swiatek      John Denniston  Betsy Kubick    Jordan Kleiman



TUNES BY THE TRACKS ... still aglow from the magnificent Library Benefit show, and tribute to our beloved pal, Joe Dady, is surging ahead for a Wednesday, June 19 arrival at the library.

Your habitually hospitable hosts, Jim Clare, Cathy McGrath, and Allen Hopkins, are excited and pleased to welcome a new group as Feature:



~ KUBICK'S RUBES ~


Kubick’s Rubes, https://www.facebook.com/Kubickrubes/" target="_blank">http://http/www.facebook.com/Kubickrubes/ is a regional string band comprised of a nice array of seasoned musicians.

Personnel include
  • Betsy Kubick, fiddle and vocals. A veteran of the local music scene and occasional sojourner to Louisiana, West Virginia, and other centers of American roots music, Betsy has at last fulfilled her ambition to name a band “Kubick’s Rubes.”
  • Paul Swiatek, banjo, guitar, and vocals. He started performing in the Rochester area in 1978 with “Reeves and Swiatek” and has been writing and performing his own folk and bluegrass songs ever since. He’s been a regular performer at both Brian Coughlin’s Singer Songwriters in the Round and the Side Room in Shortsville, where he can frequently be seen picking with mandolin ace Perry Cleaveland.
  • John Denniston, is one of this area’s top Mandolin players. Born and raised in Palmyra, NY, John is steeped in the classic Bill Monroe mando-playing tradition, having honed his skills playing with Seneca County Bluegrass, Lisa Bigwood and the Washday Band, Cuttin’ the Grass, Eva and the Dog Boys, and Cabin Fever.
  • Jordan Kleiman, bass, and multi-instrumentalist, he has played jazz and roots music in Philadelphia and Rochester since the 1980s. In addition to the Rubes, he plays bass with The Crooked North (https://www.thecrookednorth.com/) and enjoys taking an occasional old-time gig with the Wild Root String Band, and the Rough Alley Rounders.
Kubick's Rubes lays down a blend of bluegrass and western swing, as well as an occasional old time fiddle tune when the mood strikes. If you like hot pickin’ and sweet harmony singing, you'll be in the right place next Wednesday.


~ THE MYSTERY PICKERS ~

We will, of course, ease on into the territory of these virtuosos during the second half of the evening. 
"The quality of music is not strained
it droppeth as exquisite pain from heaven
upon unwary folks beneath."
jim the bard

Wanna be a MYSTERY PICKER??  Just ask Cathy, Allen, or Jim (moi)...and the trappings of stardom await you.


 

TUNES BY THE TRACKS, ANNUAL LIBRARY BENEFIT

Posted on May 22, 2019 at 10:40 AM Comments comments (8)

                       Cathy McGrath                       Jim Clare                                           Allen Hopkins




TUNES BY THE TRACKS is inbound for a Wednesday, June 5th arrival at the library.

Despite our recent elevation to celebrity status, by James Schwatz's fine article in "Life in the Finger Lakes" magazine, your hosts, Jim Clare, Cathy McGrath, and Allen Hopkins somehow remain the same humble, self effacing, endearling, and approachable stars that we have always been.

We are really excited to present our annual library benefit show, featuring:


 DAVE NORTH
BILL DESTLER & REBECCA JOHNSON
DAVID IANNI
VAL FOWLER & GREG FRANKLIN
CATHY McGRATH & PAT CAREY 



This auspicious roster is a representative...but by no means exhaustive sampling... of artists from our vast reservoir of talented Trackers, who have trod our boards and delighted us with their wonderful music throughout our first 10 years of existence.  
We deeply appreciate the generosity of all the artists who always make TUNES BY THE TRACKS such a delight. 
Of course, we are all indebted to Clifton Springs library, and this annual benefit show, is our small way of showing our appreciation to them, for being our home.

Please come enjoy a lovely informal evening with us, and contribute to the Clifton Springs library, to show them how much we care.






~ THE MYSTERY PICKERS ~

Of course...we hope the bold and beautiful folks who have the notion and the gumption, will step into the limelite, to perform their best song for us.
All you need to do, is ask Cathy, Allen, or Jim (moi), and rootie kazootie...no seat belts or helmets required.

TUNES BY THE TRACKS, Featuring ANNE HILLS

Posted on May 5, 2019 at 10:55 AM Comments comments (15)

                                                  Anne Hills 



TUNES BY THE TRACKS is roaring up the line, for a Wednesday, May 15 arrival at the library, with a lovely package on board.
Your happily helpful hosts, Jim Clare, Cathy McGrath, and Allen Hopkins are very pleased and excited to welcome back a real life folk legend, and our dear friend as Feature:



~ ANNE HILLS ~



Anne Hills, https://www.annehills.com/" target="_blank">http://https://www.annehills.com/  has a musical resume' with few equals, but that only tells part of her story.
Us Trackers know that Anne is even nicer and more beautiful in person.
Tom Paxton, who has known Anne for a longly time, sez this about her:

“Anne Hills is such an exquisite singer that it’s understandable that people might be swept up in the pure beauty of her voice and thereby overlook her writing. That would be a mistake. For me, Anne’s writing, in songs like ‘Follow That Road’ and many others, is as direct, melodic and deep as any work being done today. She is quite simply one of my absolute favorite songwriters.”

— Tom Paxton


Well, ole Tom may not know everything, but his recommendation is surely good enuff for me...hope to see yez for Anne's show on May 15th.



"THE MYSTERY PICKERS"

....how will we possibly round out a show like this, yez ask??...hah...the Mystery Pickers are still on fire from another ...umm....interesting night with Gerry Timlin, and they're tuned up (hint, hint) an ready to go.

If you'd like to debut as a Mystery Picker, just ask Cathy, Allen, or Jim (moi)...and you will be anointed into this growing band of luminaries.


 

  • TUNES BY THE TRACKS, Featuring ANNE HILLS
  • Clifton Springs library
  • 4 Railroad Ave, Clifton Springs, NY 14432
  • Wednesday, May 15
  • 7pm - 9pm (doors open at 6:30pm)
  • FREE ($10.00 donation suggested for Feature and refreshments)

TUNES BY THE TRACKS, Featuring GERRY TIMLIN

Posted on April 22, 2019 at 7:25 PM Comments comments (5)

                                                        Gerry Timlin



TUNES BY THE TRACKS is on schedule for a Wednesday, May 1 arrival at the Clifton Springs library.
Your happily helpful hosts, Jim Clare, Cathy McGrath, and Allen Hopkins, welcome back returning Tracker luminary from last season as our Feature:


~ GERRY TIMLIN ~



Gerry Timlin, http://www.gerrytimlin.com/
is a great favorite in the USA and Canada, and in fact, this Delaware-based singer has enjoyed success all over the world. He was born in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, where he developed an early interest in traditional Irish music and in folk music. From the beginning, Gerry displayed a musical talent, winning several singing competitions in Northern Ireland when he was still in his teens. He moved to the USA in the early seventies, and has been delighting audiences with his smooth baritone voice and his irreverent humor ever since. in 2014, he was honored to perform with his singing partner, Tom Kane, at the Congressional Friends of Ireland Luncheon on Capital Hill for The President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, Prime Minister of Ireland, members of Congress.





~ THE MYSTERY PICKERS ~ 

Following the lovely, lilting, uplifting music of Gerry...we plunge fearlessly into the world of adventurous souls and musical mayhem.
The Mystery Pickers are not fer the faint of heart...but if yer game...just ask Cathy, Allen, or Jim (moi), and we'll have you in the limelite lickety split.

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