2020 Concerts

Thursday, July 9 – Bumper Jacksons

(duo consisting of Jess & Chris)
Bumper Jacksons are hot and sweet, painting America’s story from the streets of New Orleans to Appalachian hollers. Unafraid to scrap together new sounds from forgotten 78’s, the Bumper Jacksons elegantly balance paying homage to the traditions while fashioning their own unique, playful style. The group began as a duo, a city-meets-country experiment between songstress Jess Eliot Myhre and banjo player Chris Ousley. They hopped on bicycles, touring the country, instruments on their backs, seeking to reimagine roots music. In five short years, Bumper Jacksons grew to a fiery five and six-piece, with horns and pedal steel. They now tour internationally, and have been honored multiple times as the Mid-Atlantic’s “Artist of the Year” & “Best Traditional Band” at the Washington Area Music Awards. Bursting at the seams with some of the richest threads of old America, Bumper Jacksons bring you into the center of a party where everyone’s invited and the dance floor never sleeps. – https://www.bumperjacksons.com/bandography

Bumper Jacksons performing at CHIRP in 2019

Tuesday, July 14 – The Klezmatics

The Klezmatics are globally-renowned world music superstars — and the only klezmer band to win a Grammy award. The Klezmatics emerged out of the vibrant cultural scene of New York City’s East Village in 1986 with klezmer steeped in Eastern European Jewish tradition and spirituality, while incorporating contemporary themes such as human rights and anti-fundamentalism and eclectic musical influences including Arab, African, Latin and Balkan rhythms, jazz and punk.

Tuesday, JULY 21 – THE MAMMALS

Trad is rad once again – as Mike + Ruthy, the touring American folk act and founders of The Mammals have brought back the band that gave them their start and energized crowds in the early 2000s!! come hear the power and high-energy roots and old-timey music. www.themammals.love/about

Thursday, July 30 – Adam Ezra Group

The Adam Ezra Group plays upwards of 200 shows a year, often devoting their time to local charities and always going out of their way to connect with fans. Adam is creating a powerful, inclusive community that is beginning to be compared to a social movement as much as a traditional music fan base.

Tuesday, August 4 – Crystal Shawanda

” Crystal Shawanda grew up on the Wikwemikong reserve on an island in Ontario, Canada, Her parents raised her on Country music and taught her to sing and play guitar, but it was her oldest brother who introduced her to the blues. He would hang out in the basement cranking Muddy Waters, B.B. King and Etta James, and Crystal would sit at the top of the stairs, straining to hear those soulful sounds. There was a part of her that often wandered if she would ever be able to sing like that. And when no one was home, Crystal would practice singing the blues.
Crystal Shawanda is reminiscent of a time gone by. She will make you feel every word with a powerful voice that never fails, pure and gritty at the same time. “
– http://crystalshawanda.co/bio/

Thursday, August 6 – James Maddock

James Maddock-A rock & roll lifer, has been carving his unique path since the 1980s, when the British-born singer/songwriter kicked off his career with a raw, soulful voice; a storyteller’s sense of narrative; and the ability to blur the lines between folk, classic pop, and rock.

Tuesday, August 11: Cillian Vallely, Kevin Crawford (members of Lunasa) with Dylan Foley & Alan Murray

Uilleann piper Cillian Vallely and flute player Kevin Crawford are both members of the band Lúnasa, one of the most acclaimed and influential bands in the recent history of Irish music. Originally from Co.Armagh, Cillian Vallely is one of the finest exponents of traditional uilleann piping who has played and recorded with Bruce Springsteen, Natalie Merchant, and many others. Kevin Crawford is an exceptional traditional musician and was awarded the title of Irish Echo Musician of the Year in 2000 He has also toured with Moving Cloud, John Doyle, Martin Hayes and others.

Joining them will be 2 of the most exciting young players on the US Irish music scene. 4-time All-Ireland Fiddle champion Dylan Foley . Also guitarist, bouzouki player and singer Alan Murray who hails from Glasgow, Scotland, now lives in New York and has performed with Eileen Ivers and the Battlefield Band.

Thursday, August 13: Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez

CHRISTINE OHLMAN (a/k/a “The Beehive Queen” for her mile-high platinum-blonde hairdo) is the current, long-time vocalist with NBC’s Saturday Night Live Band. She’ll be joined onstage by the members of Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez, including Cliff Goodwin (guitar), Lorne Entress (drums) and Michael Colbath (bass).
In 2017 she was inducted into the National Blues Hall of Fame of American Heritage, International and landed the Top Female Americana Vocalist honors on The Alternate Root’s International Readers’ Poll. Her theme song for “30 Rock” was recently featured in the July 2020 reunion special on NBC. Mixing a fiery brand of rootsy Americana with an old-school soul music flavor, she serves up a style that’s been dubbed by SIRIUS/XM’s Dave Marsh “Contemporary Rock R&B.” At the CHIRP series, she will bring to the musical table swamp and soul grooves from The American Songbook, along with tracks from her six CDs plus 2020’s upcoming “The Grown-Up Thing.

Tuesday, Aug. 18: Susan Werner

T “A clever songwriter and an engaging performer brings literacy and wit back to popular song,” says New Yorker Magazine. “When it comes to crafting a song, Ms. Werner’s only peers are Jimmy Webb and Paul Simon,” writes No Depression. “This woman is great. Period.” (Nashville’s Music Row). www.susanwerner.com

Thursday, Aug. 20: Gedeon Luke & the People

Hailing from the streets of Memphis, soul music flows through Gedeon Luke’s veins in rainbow colored hues. Weaned on the gospel infused sounds of Sly Stone, Curtis Mayfield and Al Green and inspired by the rock ‘n roll passion of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, Gedeon and his band The People are here to crash through the boundaries of music and society, to bring Love, Peace and Soul to the world.

Tuesday, August 25th: The Mammals (again!)

The Mammals are BACK to due popular demand. Since, unfortunately, we must limit capacity to 500 people, we wanted to give everyone who missed it a second chance to enjoy this incredible group!

Thursday, August 27th: Tim Grimm & The Family Band

” Tim Grimm is a bit of a Rennaisance man in the performing arts world. He has for the past 20 years, blended his love for songwriting, travel, and the storytelling of acting (theatre, film and television). His most recent recording- HEART LAND AGAIN revisits a renowned collection of songs from 20 years ago…. A STRANGER IN THIS TIME (2017), is a collaboration with his wife, Jan,and sons Connor and Jackson– the “Family Band”. In the Fall of 2016 this same group recorded the single- WOODY’S LANDLORD– which was the #1 song on Folk Radio for the year. Tim’s previous recording, THE TURNING POINT, produced the #1 song on Folk radio in 2014– KING OF THE FOLKSINGERS. It was a particularly gratifying honor, given the song is a tribute to Tim’s friend and musical icon, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott. Tim’s history with Ramblin’ Jack goes back 30 years– beginning with a bicycle ride that led to The Newport Folk Festival…. Tim contributing liner notes to Jack’s Grammy winning album, The South Coast (1995)… Jack’s recording Buffalo Skinners with Tim on Tim’s album, Coyote’s Dream (2003)….and now, most recently KING OF THE FOLKSINGERS. ” – https://www.timgrimm.com/bio