Tag: reviews

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. 

Christine Lavin

Queen of the Intelligently Absurd!

Sunday October 5, 2025 2:00 p.m.$25
(under 18 $10)

The Linden Tree Concert 41st Season will continue on Sunday, October 5, 2025 with the often humorous, often clever singer-songwriter Christine Lavin.

NOTE: Linden Tree’s new location is at Temple Emmanuel, 120 Chestnut St. Wakefield. Just up from the North Ave. Train station. New comfortable chairs. Handicapped accessible.

Christine Lavin has been called the Folk World’s long-reigning Queen of the Intelligently Absurd. The title of one of her earlier albums, I Don’t Make This Stuff Up, I just Make it Rhyme, says it all. Christine is a singer/songwriter/guitarist/recording artist/author/videographer who has been based in New York City since 1976. Her latest album, her 25th, On My Way to Hooterville, includes 10 new songs and one re-worked song, “Ramblin’ Waltz,” a re-telling of her time in 1975 when she was one of the entourage drivers for the first week of the tour of The Rolling Thunder Revue.

Christine has an eye for the ironic and the absurd in the news and everyday life, and puts it into song. She dresses it all up in skillful guitar work, electronic loops, and wonderful gimmicks. She has won numerous awards for her songwriting and her book, Cold Pizza for Breakfast: A Mem-Wha??.

Supportive of other songwriters she admires, Christine has produced ten compilations, showcasing 100 songwriters. Her song Amoeba Hop, a science music book illustrated by Betsy Franco, recived a “Best Book Award” from the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

“It is precisely her take on the ordinary that makes her work so extraordinary.” — Village Voice.

If you haven’t experienced a Christine Lavin concert, make your reservation soon, as seats are limited. Reservations: Call or text 781-521-3564.

Admission: $25, those under 18 are $10. Pay Cash or check at the door.

Tim Grimm, Winter Potpourri winner  Tom Hanlon opening

Saturday April 5, 2025 7:30 p.m.$25
(under 18 $10)

The Linden Tree Concert series is pleased to announce the return of Indiana Actor and Singer Songwriter Tim Grimm on Saturday, April 5th at 7:30 pm. The Linden Tree is now in the social hall of the Wakefield Lynnfield United Methodist Church on Vernon St. Wakefield. This year’s Winter Potpourri winner Tom Hanlon will open the evening’s concert.

Tim Grimm is a bit of a Renaissance man in the performing arts world, forging a rich and varied career that blends his love of songwriting, travel, and acting in theatre, film and television. For most of his 25-year career as a storytelling balladeer in the tradition of John Prine, Woody Guthrie, and Bob Dylan, Tim has written primarily about community, history, family, and social issues – often framed by his strong sense of place and the many years he spent on the family farm he built in rural Indiana. His songs are filled with rural characters and landscapes, written and sung with vivid warmth and intimacy. On April 4th, Tim’s brand new album Bones of Trees will be released on radio. 

Tim’s 2023 album, THE LITTLE IN-BETWEEN was an evocative evolution from his previous albums – and considered his most personal to date, written in three intense months during the winter of 2021-22. This album traced his travel between the hills of southern Indiana and the Oklahoma prairie – and his internal journey from a rich past to an unexpected future – using a first-person voice in every song to illuminate a deep inner territory that historically remained more submerged in his work. This fertile creative year also yielded forays into visual art, with Tim using pastels and charcoal to create striking folk-art style triptychs, pieces of which now form the visual art featured on the new album cover and booklet. 

After several years of working as an actor in the 19990s where he co-starred on the NBC drama Reasonable Doubts and appearing in the film A Clear and Present Danger with Harrison Ford, he returned with his famiy to small town southern Indiana. Where he continued to compose music for a number off stage plays including Amber Waves and The Grapes of Wrath produced in Indiana and New York. Two PBS documentaries he wrote songs for received nominations for EMMY AWARDS.   

Tim is perceptive, reflective and engaging. His music is personal and intense. It’s deep.” says  David Pearson .

Tom Hanlon, an award-winning singer-songwriter, grew up in the 60’s, when folk music was in all its glory. Tom branched into rock and roll in high school, and joined “The Long Island Sounds” out of New Haven CT, opening for such acts as the Beach Boys, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, and the Zombies. He studied Classical guitar at NE Conservatory, taught there for several  years, and–more recently–began writing songs. He collaborates now with Leslie Bryant, of Ergo Canto. The title track from their CD, “This Train,” was a finalist in the American Songwriter Awards. His “Nail Care and Repair for Guitarists” video on YouTube with 90K hits. Tom’s songs are on Reverbnation, where he is often Number 1 in “Folk” for the Boston Region.

The Linden Tree Coffeehouse is located in the social hall of the Wakefield Lynnfield United Methodist Church, 273 Vernon Street in Wakefield. There is a parking lot behind the church and it is handicapped accessible. The show begins at 7:30 pm, doors open at 7:00. Homemade baked goods and beverages are available. Tickets are $25 (those under 18 $10) Pay cash or check at the door.  Reservations: for preferential seating.  978- 326-7905.