Tag: country-music

Southern Rail – Bluegrass!

Sunday April 26, 2026 2:00 p.m.$25
(under 18 $10) Door opens at 1:30 p.m.

“Bluegrass with a touch of gospel is back at the Linden Tree with fan favorites: Southern Rail on Sunday, April 26th.    Celebrating over forty years of performing, Southern Rail’s bluegrass is high-octane exuberant fun, with lush harmonies, irrepressible humor and sparkling banjo, mandolin, and guitar.

The vocal harmonies are exquisite and the musicianship is impeccable.– Radio Star, Ireland  The group has released 11 recordings to wide acclaim.   Their special Bluegrass Gospel compilation entitled “Glory Train” was nominated for the Best Gospel Recording of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association.  The group just re-released their ever-popular CD,  “Live at the Linden Tree”, a special recording made during their unforgettable 30th anniversary concert at the Linden Tree Coffeehouse.The band’s two founding members, guitarist Jim Muller and bassist Sharon Horovitch, were recently inducted by the Rhode Island Bluegrass Alliance, into their Bluegrass Hall of Fame.”

JIM MULLER, Guitar and Lead Vocals: Jim was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. Jim is the band’s principal lead singer and songwriter. Jim’s rich, distinctive lead vocals and offbeat humor have become one of the group’s trademarks. A guitarist for over 40 years, he is also known for his polished flat-picking and rock-solid rhythm. Jim was also a respected staff-writer for Bluegrass Now Magazine (Rolla, MO). His regular feature on sound reinforcement, titled “Plugged In”, received a great deal of international attention.

SHARON HOROVITCH, Acoustic Bass and Harmony Vocals:  Aggressive, creative and irrepressible, Sharon is known for her limber bass work, infectious smile and her tireless energy on stage and off. She also sings tenor and high-baritone harmonies. Sharon started playing bass while a grad student at MIT, (which is where she met Jim) and she never looked back. Sharon and Jim are co-founders of Southern Rail.

RICHARD STILLMAN, Banjo and Harmony Vocals:  Rich has been playing bluegrass banjo for over 30 years.. Rich was New Jersey banjo champion in 1983, as well as the 2002 and 2003 New England banjo champion. He is a six-time winner of the annual banjo contest held at Lowell, Massachusetts (1985-1995). Rich has been a regular on the faculty of Banjo Camp North, has taught bluegrass banjo classes for Boston Bluegrass Union, and is an adjunct faculty member of Tufts University.

JOHN TIBERT, Mandolin and Harmony Vocals: Hailing from Northboro, MA, John started playing guitar at age 14. But once he heard Dave Grisman on”Old and in the Way”, his life was never the same. He’s been addicted to bluegrass ever since. He’s a prolific songwriter and also has taught mandolin for over a decade. John’s mandolin playing is fluid, lyrical and from the heart, and his superb bass vocals are a powerful addition to the group’s signature quartet harmonies.

One of the most significant groups in contemporary bluegrass…on the cutting edge of creativity. – Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine, VA

Tickets for this show will be $25, for those under 18 are $10. WUMB members receive a $2 discount with their membership card. We accept cash or personal check at the door.  Because this is a popular show, reservations are recommended by calling or texting 781 521 3564. 

The Linden Tree Coffeehouse in its 41st season of acoustic music has relocated to Temple Emmanuel, 120 Chestnut St. Wakefield, MA 01880 which is handicapped accessible.  We thank the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Wakefield Arts Council for supporting our concert series that has allowed us to bring quality programming to our community.  Linden Tree also  supports Fair Trade Music Local 1000. 

Rock Hearts – Bluegrass Night!

Saturday February 1, 2025 7:30 p.m.
$25 (under 18 $10)

NOTE: Reservations are closed for this show.

“For anyone unfamiliar with this group they are a powerhouse, featuring some of New England’s finest. They bring lots of talent, experience, and a distinctive sound of their own.”

Formed in 2013, Rock Hearts brings together five seasoned musicians from Southern New England who love to sing and pick bluegrass, old country tunes, and seek out tunes from other genres to “bluegrass-ify.”  Named an Official 2021 IBMA Showcase Band, the band is enjoying national radio and Chart activity.  They are a sought after band for major festivals.  They are 615 Hideaway record label artists and work closely with label owner, Sammy Passamano, in Nashville, TN. Their first independent project, Starry Southern Nights, put them on the national radar.  A year later they signed with Sammy Passamano and released their first 615 Hideaway Records label single from their new project, Wanderlust, which continues to receive outstanding fanfare and radio attention. Their 3rd project and second with the 615, Unfinished Bridges, is by far their best work yet. 

Since it’s release on October 4th, Unfinished Bridges, has experienced tremendous success with the full album and several singles debuting in the Top 10 on national charts, including (5) #1 positions.  

Here’s what some folks are saying:

“Rock Hearts’ Unfinished Bridges deserves a large audience and copious praise.” Colin Jordan

“It’s one of the most satisfying recent bluegrass releases and should rank high on any fan of the genre’s must-hear list.” Mark Dreury

Rock Hearts has shared the stage with some of the top bands in the industry including, Del McCoury, Dale Ann Bradley, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Jonathan Edwards, Danny Paisley, The Gibson Brothers, Dan Tyminski, the Seldom Scene, Larry Sparks, and many more.  The band consists of founding member and banjo player, Joe Deetz, lead man and guitar/vocals, *Alex MacLeod, the newest Kentucky Mandolin endorsed artist, *Billy Thibodeau, bassist, Rick Brodsky, and fiddler/2023 IBMA Mentor of the Year nominee, *Austin Scelzo.

*Alex MacLeod is one of ten songwriters selected for the 2024 IBMA WOB Songwriter Showcase.

*Austin Scelzo is nominated for the 2024 IBMA Momentum Awards: Industry Involvement; nominated for 2023 IBMA WOB Momentum Mentor of the Year; IBMA Leadership 2024

*Billy Thibodeau was recently inducted into the Maine Country Music Hall of Fame and named as a Saga Music Instruments Mandolin Artist (KM1500); IBMA Leadership 2017

Joe Deetz’s career on banjo spans over 40 years.  A New England Bluegrass Boy with Joe Val, Joey has also worked with Frank Wakefield, John Herald, Back Eddy and many others. He has recorded with John Herald, Will Scarlet, the Beach Boys and Carol King. Joey was also featured on the Sesame Street recording of The Garbage Man Blues. His passion for bluegrass is evident in his tasteful, yet driving banjo and harmony singing. He lives in Mendon, MA with his wife.

Alex MacLeod grew up in bluegrass. His father and mother, Sandy and Geri, exposed him to the music early on. While his dad Sandy played in the band, his mom clogged with the Ralph Case Cloggers in Maryland. With a classic leading voice and rock-solid rhythm guitar, Alex has served as front man for several bands in the region including Northern Lights, Southern Rhode, Back Eddy, and the Iron Skillet Band.  A talented songwriter, Alex has penned Starry Southern Nights, the title track from their debut album, as well as Wanderlust, their most recent single and title of their new project.  He lives in Charlestown, RI with his wife and four daughters, Raechel, Maicey, Grace, and Piper.

Billy “BT” Thibodeau boasts an undeniable bluegrass pedigree and he brings his high tenor and lead vocals, along with his fastidious mandolin and splendiferous guitar playing to Rock Hearts. A multi-instrumentalist, Billy has been picking and singing bluegrass for several decades. Cutting his teeth with his Dad, Sam Tidwell and Uncle Bob in the Kennebec Valley Boys, he would later lead his own band, The Bill Thibodeau Band. He has also played with the Descendants of Bluegrass, Bluegrass Supply Company, and Union River Band, just to name a few. A member of the IBMA Leadership class of 2017, Billy currently teaches music and works at Rick’s Music in Cumberland, RI. He lives in Cumberland, RI.  

Austin Scelzo was introduced to various fiddle traditions at Mark O’Connor’s early Berklee String Camps, learning from powerhouse players like Billy Contreras, Jason Anick, Casey Dreissen, Jeremy Kittel, Andy Reiner, Bruce Molsky, Mark O’Connor, and Christian Howes. Austin’s Bluegrass journey began with the Western CT based group the “Angry O’Haras”, then later “On the Trail“, with which he recorded fiddle and vocals. Austin is also an active bluegrass community advocate, teaching Wernick Method Jam classes, and launching the Connecticut Bluegrass Music Association. Austin was recently named to the IBMA Leadership Class of 2023, nominated for the 2023 IBMA Momentum Mentor of the Year, the 2024 IBMA Industry Involvement award and was recognized in his home state of Connecticut as a CT Arts Hero. 

Rick Brodsky is a multi-instrumentalist who has played within numerous musical genres over the past 35 years. Rick is a regular on the Connecticut/New York bluegrass scene and has played bass for numerous regional and national artists including Jonathan Edwards, Jeff Scroggins & Colorado, The Korey Brodsky Band, Stacy Phillips & His Bluegrass Characters, and Laura Orshaw & The New Velvet. You can hear Rick’s bass playing on several of Ben Freed’s highly acclaimed banjo albums and more recently on Korey Brodsky’s 2015 album.