Dear Musical Friends,
Despite the craziness of this world and for certain factions of it determined to undermine our democracy, we all need to also keep our spirits up and make beauty as well as good trouble. May we all provide both to the world, as both are needed.
What's Up with Ken?
In addition to continuing to work on my own solo music, I've also been doing a bunch of collaboration:
- At the New England Folk Festival in April, I performed with Lynn Noel in our duo Power Harmonies for approximately the 20th year of supplying "raise the roof" singing.
- I continue to rehearse and play the hammered dulcimer for contra dances with New England's premiere big band, Roaring Jelly. We play for dances on the 3rd Friday of the month from September through June. Come join us!
- My new jazz ukulele group, Take 4, is working towards our first Gig, which will be at the Strummin' Up to Boston festival on June 14. I'm doing lead vocals, rhythm ukulele, bass and some percussion.
Future Performances
I'm l surprised that I have a number of performances coming up in the next couple of months:
Friday, May 16, 7:30 pm - Playing Hammered Dulcimer at the Roaring Jelly Contra Dance, First Parish in Lexington, MA
Saturday, May 17, 2:00 pm - Ken performing at Watertown Porchfest, 50 Fairfield Street, Watertown
Tuesday, May 20, 7:00 pm - Spy Pond Park After Work Concert, Spy Pond Park, Arlington. Bring dinner and hangout after work. Rain cancels.
Saturday, June 14 - Strummin' Up to Boston performing with Take 4, Newton City Hall, Newton, MA
Saturday, June 21, 5:00 pm - Ken performing at Arlington Porchfest, 75 Allen Street, Arlington.
Other Events
May 23-26 - For the 4th year, I'm attending the Ashokan Ukulele Weekend. Great friends, great performer, and great music.
July 10-13 - I'm the Co-Director for the White Mountain Ukulele Retreat, a four day event with numerous workshops in the mountains of New Hampshire.
July 20-26 - I'll be attending SummerSongs, a weeklong songwriter's retreat in the Hudson Valley of New York State.
Something Fun
I love yoga, and I've found that it's harder and harder to find a class that's not vinyasa, which I find is not really yoga, and is an absolutely miserable experience. I wrote a blog post about it, and it's my most popular and commented on of all the blog posts I've ever done.
Blog Post: Why I Hate Vinyasa
There will be more to come, as we have so many in this world who are trying to tear things apart, we need to build good things up. Be a builder of better things.
Ken Mattsson
BeaconBeats Music
music@kenmattsson.com
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