East Pointer Tim Chaisson updates Nine Volt Heart on new album and their Iron Horse show on November 11.

The East Pointers will be appearing at the Iron Horse on November. Fans of their celtic-indy folk music are eagerly awaiting their return. I spoke with Tim Chaisson of the East Pointers about their North East tour and touched on a great deal more. We discussed the band’s decision to carry on after the untimely death of Koady Chaisson in 2022 along with their decision to continue as a duo. We chatted about their pandemic live streamed project, Annedemic, involving reading a chapter of “Anne of Green Gables” as well as tunes and songs nightly at 6PM. The hugely successful stream went through three Anne books and concluded with the trio reading Dicken’s “Christmas Carol”!!

We talked about their collaboration with the Acadian folk band Vishten; creating the project dubbed Six Hearts which has continued. Both trios lost a core member in 20222 and got together informally to heal. The mix is alchemy at its best, thrilling festival crowds with the blending of traditions.

Tim is an eighth generation fiddler (let that sink in) and continues the tradition of the Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival now entering it’s 49th year on Prince Edward Island. We talked about the community that this traditional music fosters and reinforces. Our conversation discovers a new East Pointers album is done and will be released in 2025! The band will debut an orchestral version of their music with the Nova Scotia Symphony in May of next year as well. But for now, Tim Chaisson and Jake Charron will be touring New England with dates in Portland Maine on 11/10, Northampton on 11/11 and Boston on 11/12.

Details at IronHorse.org

Kathleen Parks of Twisted Pine previews their Iron Horse debut, October 18.

Twisted Pine is playing a CD Release Party at the Iron Horse on Friday October 18 with the emphasis on PARTY. Kathleen Parks and her bandmates will be celebrating “Love Your Mind” which is released on the local label, Signature Sounds, for the occasion. The disc is full of upbeat songs and tunes guaranteed to turn the Iron Horse into a room of happy fans; new and old. Kat visits with Nine Volt Heart along with a batch of new songs! “Goosebump Feeling” and “Chanel Perfume (with Ali McGuirk)” from the new album along with “Ragin’ Cajun” from Kat’s latest solo work, “Rolling Down the Line” open up the segment.

Kat talks about the development of the band over time; personnel changes prompting stylistic decisions which lead to the latest album. It’s a mix of all the members influences as well as a collaborative effort, There’s fiddle tunes, danceable pop songs, special guests and even a Frank Zappa cover! We chat about the making of the album with co-producer Dan Cardinal at Dimension Sound. This is the third album in a row at his recording studio and the comfort level shows. There’s a great mix of instrumentals and songs; great mix of instrumentation with bass, guitar, mandolin, fiddle and flute throughout. The band sounds cohesive without being bored. They all are credited with songwriting as well on most cuts. There’s party songs, love songs, and everything in between.

Kat introduces our last song, “After Midnight (Nothing Good Happens)” as a phrase her Dad mentioned off-hand. He was a trumpet player in a jazz band so likely know this bit of advice first hand. It discusses the dilemma all players experience when the urge to pick all night at a festival clashes with the need to sleep and be ready for an important set the next day. You’ll have to listen to find out what choice gets made!

Twisted Pine with Ali McGuirk at the Iron Horse. Friday night October 18. IronHorse.org for details.

Sami Braman to perform her “Riveting” set of fiddle tunes at the Parlor Room, Wed 9/4.

Sami Braman is an accomplished old time fiddler. She’s been at it since she was six, leading a band since she was eight! Early training at Pacific NorthWest camps and festivals has led to many musical projects such as The Onlies, Willie Watson’s Band, and her own stringband. Frank Evans on banjo, Jake Stargell on guitar and Emily Mann on bass join Sami’s fiddle for a show at Northampton’s Parlor Room on Wed 9/4.

Our conversation is interspersed with tunes from her band release, “Riveter” alongside her work with The Onlies. We talk about her musical journey, her college choices, her playing with Willie Watson on record and on tour. Sami talks about the pride she has in running the Fiddle Tunes camp that she grew up attending. She discusses her move to Nashville Tn, a town jammed full of amazing fiddlers as she continues to grow as an artist. Catch the next phase of that growth when she leads her talented band on tour as the Parlor Room reopens for the Fall season. Details at ParlorRoom.org for details.

Wendell’s Town Crier Kathy-Ann Becker joins my radio show, The Town Crier!

I’ve had lots of guests on the Town Crier in the last three years but never a REAL Town Crier! Kathy-Ann Becker, Wendell MA’s Town Crier, joined me to talk about her role in this now rare public service. Along with her handbell, 1781 Farmer’s attire and a proclamation to start the show, Kathy-Ann was a joy to chat with. We got a thorough history of the role that a Town Crier played in the eighteenth century as well as a look into more current duties as well. We chat about what makes a good Crier, how to become one (There’s only four in Massachusetts), we even compared what I attempt to do on my radio show to a Town Crier’s role.

Kathy-Ann will be heading to Provincetown this Fall for the American Guild of Town Crier’s competition. We know she’ll represent her Town of Wendell well! After, she’s been the Town Moderator for 29 years and stays active in Town festivities. She’ll be appearing at Wendell’s Old Home Days this Fall as well; ringing her handbell and proclaiming the news to all!

Anyone curious about applying for Town Crier themselves? Check out AmericanTownCriers.org for details.

Harry Remer showcases his songwriting on NineVoltHeart! Local shows on 7/12 and 7/14.

My guest, Harry Remer, has two local shows you don’t want to miss. Ana Bandeira Chocolates in Northampton on Friday 7/12 and Shelburne Falls Porchfest on Sunday 7/14. We had a great chat about those gigs as well as topics like songwriting processes, musical heroes and a guitar that “got away”. Of course, Harry sang us a few of his original songs live in-studio. He opened with “Carolina Wren” and a powerful version of “Creatures of Habit”. We listened to his recording of “There’s A Light In Everything” another original while we finished with a radio themed song (!!) called “The End of the Dial”. You can follow Harry’s work at HarryRemerMusic.com and sign up to his newsletter. Support local music! Both venues, festivals and musicians need our help to keep the music ecosystem strong.!!

Duane Betts remembers his Dad, Dickie Betts, on Father’s Day. Preview of his Iron Horse show on 7/17.

Duane Betts joined me on Father’s Day to talk about his new album, “Wild and Precious Life” along with his local Iron Horse show on July 17. We began by talking about his father’s musical legacy and if it was on balance; a burden or a blessing. We took a journey with Duane through some of his previous projects such as Backbone 69, White Star, Brethren of the Coast, Jamtown, Dawes and his Dad’s band, Great Southern. He has most recently been touring with the Allman Betts Band and now his solo tour coming to Northampton Massachusetts.

Duane filled us in on the writing of this latest batch of songs resulting in “Wild and Precious Life”. They were written in Dickie Betts basement studio while they lived in the guesthouse nicknamed the Palmetto Hotel. While Dickie’s health was failing at the time, he heard the process coming together as the songs worked themselves out. Duane works closely with Stoll Vaughan as a co-writer as well as Johnny Stachela who plays guitar on the latest work. Once written, Duane was offered the use of Swamp Raga; the studio of Ssusan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks in nearby Jacksonville. Derek even offered some insight into Dickie Betts character resulting in the song, “Stare Into the Sun” which Trucks plays guitar on as well. Topics like guitar harmony, sobriety, impact of Dickie’s legacy and guitars.

Throughout the conversation we hear songs to illustrate the topics. We begin with the Allman Brothers classic “Jessica” written for Dickie Betts daughter (in true Father’d Day fashion). We hear “Waiting on a Song” from “Wild and Precious Life” as well as “Stare at the Sun” and “Circles in the Stars’ to finish the segment.

Give it a listen or better yet get a ticket to see the music live at the Iron Horse on Thursday 7/17. IronHorse.org

Mikey Sweet returns to his Iron Horse roots 6/27.

Mikey Sweet returns to NineVoltHeart to preview his upcoming Iron Horse show along with Ward Hayden & the Outliers on June 27. We begin the segment with “Let It Go” from Mikey’s debut album, The North King. The in-studio performance features two new songs from Sweet, “Elijah” and “States of Grace” offering a preview of his Iron Horse gig on Thursday night. We also listened to his rendition of “Will The Angels Come” from last year’s soul project “The Ghost of Brian McCullough”. Brian was one of Mikey Sweets songwriting mentors and friend who passed away in 2021. Along the way, Mikey and I discuss his earliest memories of Northampton’s Center Street venue, the Iron Horse. We talk about Sweet’s incredible life journey towards sobriety and a new career in counseling. While he may have taken a performing hiatus, his love of songwriting and singing never wavered. A new approach seems to fit Mikey’s new tunes. Honest, uplifting and direct. In that regard maybe not much has changed after all. Give the show a listen or better yet go to IronHorse.org to get a ticket for Mikey Sweet along with Ward Hayden and the Outliers 6/27.