TapRoot Sessions

07/27/2024

One month until a sweet sweet time. Come out to our:

Ice Cream Social: Welcoming Neighbors New and Old

Tuesday, August 27th 6pm-7:30pm

FREE ICE CREAM!

10/28/2023

Gangspil, November 17, workshop and concert at Dewey Hall!

Sonnich (accordion, harmonica, vocal) is a master of Irish, French-Canadian, and especially Danish traditional tunes. During the last 25 years he’s been leading the revival for diatonic accordion and harmonica in the Danish folk music scene. Sonnich holds a special place in his heart for the music from the Western Island of Fanø, where his family is deeply rooted. He is also know from his work with the ULC trio and later quintet. ULC received the Danish Music Award in the category "Folk Album of the year" in both 2001 and 2004.

10/27/2023

Sneak preview: Danish duo Gangspil--November 17 at Dewey Hall.

http://www.trad.dk The great staff at the Twin Cities PBS in Minnesota, USA sent us this video file from our visit at their TV studio two weeks ago. We had a...

10/27/2023

Don't miss Gangspil, November 17 at Dewey Hall Concert, Workshop, or both:

Kristian (fiddle, vocal) has specialized in the strong Danish folk music traditions. He is very active on the Danish and Scandinavian folk music scene as well as in the rest of Europe and North America, both as a musician and teacher. His debut CD was awarded "Danish debut of the year" and "Danish Folk Instrumental list of the year" at the Danish Music Awards Folk back in 2006. At the same occasion in both 2012 and 2016, Kristian received the award as ”Danish Folk Artist of the Year!”

10/25/2023

Can't wait for Gangspil--coming up Friday, November 17. Check this out:

Gangspil is Sonnich Lydom (accordion) & Kristian Bugge (fiddle)Gangspil performs Bornholmervals (Danish waltz from Bornholm) at the Old Time Tiki Parlour.www...

10/23/2023

Gangspil coming to Dewey Hall, Workshop and Concert combo! Friday, November 17, 2023.

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taproot-sessions-danish-duo-gangspil-lydom-bugge-tickets-729196726037

http://kristianbugge.com (English below) - Hellesens vals - Gangspil - Weekly Wednesday Waltz #35 Hjemme igen efter en rigtig skøn tur i det amerikanske, kom...

10/18/2023

To listen to April Verch is to be immersed in tradition. To watch her perform is to be transported. While best known for her deep expertise in the distinctive Ottawa Valley fiddle and step dancing styles, there is far more to April’s story. Be it regional Canadian roots, American old-time, 50’s Country, Scandinavian folk music, or something original that sounds as though it’s been around for a century—the one common thread is her love and reverence for the music and traditions that have been passed down to her.

Born in the heart of the Ottawa Valley in northeastern Ontario, Verch was trained from birth in the specific rhythms and melodies of the region, giving her music a sense of intuition and ease that could only come from a lifetime of experience.

She went on to study at Berklee College of Music with legends like Matt Glaser and Darol Anger. These educational opportunities would equip her with the breadth and depth of musical knowledge that defines her artistic voice to this day. But more than that, her decades of performance experience—including her historic wins at the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Championship and Canadian Open Old-Time Fiddlers’ Contest at the ages of 18 and 19 respectively—would give her a singular bond with the music, providing her with the intuition to “dance the tune” and improvise with incredible fluency in both fiddling and step dancing.

Buoyed by her competition success, she struck out on her own to make it as a full-time professional musician. Verch got her first taste of career musicianship touring with established acts like Canadian country music legend Tommy Hunter and Celtic pop band Mad Pudding as a backing fiddler. But her dream was always to form her own band, representing the Ottawa Valley and the sounds of home. In 2000, she first began touring under her own name, the April Verch Band. Initially formed as a pickup band centered around her own fiddle and dance stylings, the band would grow and blossom into an established trio of world-class musicians, spanning several musical traditions and backgrounds, yet all united in their mission to share the music they love. Together the April Verch Band has traveled to four continents, performed in fourteen countries, and played everywhere from tiny pubs and dusty festival workshops all the way to legendary stages such as the Kennedy Center and the Ryman Auditorium.

Her virtuosity and reverence for tradition would eventually lead Verch to one of the true highlights of her career: participating in the Opening Ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

It was this incredible experience that would give her the courage to take on new challenges. So, in addition to her work leading the April Verch Band, she would begin a new project in partnership with American old-time legend Joe Newberry in 2016. Together, Newberry & Verch have played everything from the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Wide Open Bluegrass Festival in Raleigh, North Carolina to the Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow, Scotland. The success and fulfillment of that project led to even more collaborations, including one with Estonian quartet Curly Strings titled The Heritage Projekt in 2018, and now a duo with her husband and longtime collaborator Cody Walters in 2020.

Regardless of the configuration, Verch’s diverse repertoire and unbridled passion come to life on stage with a presence that is versatile, robust, and masterfully executed. Audiences remark at her sincerity in sharing stories between tunes. Her delicate voice, energetic footwork, sand paper foot percussion and stunning playing (sometimes combined all at once!) are jaw-dropping. Her ability to preserve the authentic folk traditions of the past and reintroduce them into the musical landscape of the present is a testament to her expert musicianship and widespread appeal.

Passing along the music is, in itself, central to the traditions that Verch has built a life and career within, so it will come as no surprise that teaching has been at the heart of Verch’s work from the very beginning. Not only has she released a book of original fiddle tunes, a Canadian fiddle method book for Mel Bay Publications, and a self-produced instructional step dance DVD—she also weaves teaching into her tour schedule whenever possible. Teaching camps, master classes, and workshops along the road gives her yet another way to preserve, honor, and connect with the traditions she holds dear.

Even now, after more than two decades leading her own band and with 14 albums in her name (two of which were nominated for JUNO Awards, among other honors), and another 3 collaborative albums (Newberry & Verch and Strung) there is nothing that fulfills Verch or gives her more joy than playing and sharing her music with the world. “It’s like the reward for everything else,” she says. Verch never forgets the roots of her music, that connection to the people out there in the audience or on the dance floor, to the community sparked by a good song. “It’s about joining together to celebrate everyday life, through music. We’re all in this together.” And so she presses onward: diving deep into musical tradition, bringing people together and forging connections, and sharing her insight and genuine love for the music she plays so well.

To listen to April Verch is to be immersed in tradition. To watch her perform is to be transported. While best known for her deep expertise in the distinctive Ottawa Valley fiddle and step dancing styles, there is far more to April’s story. Be it regional Canadian roots, American old-time, 50’s ...

10/16/2023

Coming up October 19: April Verch and Joe Newberry! Here is more about Joe:

Known around the world for his clawhammer banjo playing, Joe Newberry is also a powerful guitarist, singer and songwriter. The Gibson Brothers’ version of his song “Singing As We Rise,” featuring guest vocalist Ricky Skaggs, won the 2012 IBMA “Gospel Recorded Performance” Award. With Eric Gibson, he shared the 2013 IBMA “Song of the Year” Award for “They Called It Music.”

A longtime and frequent guest on A Prairie Home Companion, he was a featured singer on the Transatlantic Sessions 2016 tour of the U.K. with fiddler Aly Bain and Dobro master Jerry Douglas, and at the Transatlantic Session's debut at Merlefest in 2017 with fellow singers James Taylor, Sarah Jarosz, Declan O’Rourke, Karen Matheson, and Maura O’Connell. In addition to performing solo, Joe plays in a duo with mandolin icon Mike Compton, and also performs with the dynamic fiddler and step-dancer April Verch.

Joe has taught banjo, guitar, singing, and songwriting at numerous camps and festivals, including Ashokan, Midwest Banjo Camp, American Banjo Camp, the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop, Targhee Music Camp, the Swannanoa Gathering, Centrum Voice Works, the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, Pinewoods Camp, the Australia National Folk Festival, the Blue Ridge Old-Time Music Week, Bluff Country Gathering, and Vocal Week, Bluegrass Week, and Old-Time Week at the Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins, WV,

Growing up in a family full of singers and dancers, Joe took up the guitar and banjo as a teenager and learned fiddle tunes from great Missouri fiddlers. he moved to North Carolina as a young man and quickly became an anchor of the incredible music scene in the state. He does solo and studio work, and plays and teaches at festivals and workshops in North America and abroad.

Tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taproot-sessions-april-verch-and-joe-newberry-tickets-686673969327?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

Known around the world for his clawhammer banjo playing, Joe Newberry is also a powerful guitarist, singer and songwriter. The Gibson Brothers’ version of his song “Singing As We Rise,” featuring guest vocalist Ricky Skaggs, won the 2012 IBMA “Gospel Recorded Performance” Award. With Eric ...

10/12/2023

Verch and Newberry at Dewey Hall for TapRoot Sessions Oct 19! Workshop Concert combo, come to workshop, concert, or both!

Tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taproot-sessions-april-verch-and-joe-newberry-tickets-686673969327

Newberry & Verch perform “I’m Going Home”, a co-write by Joe Newberry and Si Kahn, on April 13, 2018 at The Greystones, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England.C...

10/05/2023

April Verch and Joe Newberry! Counting ourselves lucky to have them for workshop and concert combo on October 19. Tickets here: Tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taproot-sessions-april-verch-and-joe-newberry-tickets-686673969327

https://youtu.be/e2cu3gox03A?si=wsrTyx9k1HHuWUvQ

April and Joe made a British tour in April 2018. Their London date was appropriately at Cecil Sharp House to celebrate the centenary of Sharp's visits to the...

09/26/2023

Coming up at Dewey Hall

Wednesday September 27th 6:30pm - Dewey Drop-In: Game Night

Wednesday October 4th 6:30pm - Dewey Drop-In: Use Your Words

Friday October 6th 6:00pm - Apple Pie Demonstration Workshop with Leah Guadagnoli

Wednesday October 11th 6:30pm - Dewey Drop-In: Jazz Jam

Saturday October 14th 2:00pm - People's Pie Contest and Tasting

09/19/2023

Coming up at Dewey Hall

Wednesday September 20th 6:30pm - Dewey Drop-In: Show and Tell Open Mic

Thursday September 21st 6:30pm - Taproot Sessions: Square Dance with Moonshine Holler and Caller Sargent SeeDoo

Friday September 22 at 6:00pm Ariella Chezar floral arranging workshop

Saturday September 23rd 11am - Young and Heart with W***y Welch

Saturday September 23rd 6pm - Sheffield Contra Dance

Wednesday September 27th 6:30pm - Dewey Drop-in Game Night

08/24/2023

Here's a choice--you can rabbit hole on YouTube with Richard Smith--or get your tickets today to see him in person. Workshop too!

https://www.youtube.com/richardsmithmusic

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taproot-sessions-richard-smith-concert-and-workshop-tickets-689014700517

Check out videos from past performances with all kinds of players, solo, with Julie Adams, with the Hot Club of Nashville, with Tommy Emmanuel, with Chet Atk...

08/15/2023

So psyched to have Richard Smith solo for TapRoot Sessions. Get your tickets today!

Check this out:

https://youtu.be/Kh66tRMnMVA

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taproot-sessions-richard-smith-concert-and-workshop-tickets-689014700517

The english guitar player Richard Smith (nylon guitar), with the romanian Florian Cristea (violin) and the brazilians Bina Coquet (gypsy guitar), Nando Vice...

07/31/2023

Hot news for Guitarists: Richard Smith coming to Dewey Hall for TapRoot Sessions. Workshop and Concert. You won't want to miss this! Check out this interview for a preview of this amazing night with an award winning guitar master:

https://youtu.be/tL2odhZ2tXY

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taproot-sessions-richard-smith-concert-and-workshop-tickets-689014700517

Originally from Beckenham, Kent, England, Richard Smith now calls Nashville his home. He performs all over the world as a solo artist and as a duo with his w...

07/29/2023

Hey, from our friends at Bidwell House--some Louisiana vibe comin' your way:

07/14/2023

👀 One Week Away 👀 -

Include the discount code DEWEYDANCING when buying tickets for $10 off!

Tickets: https://orphanwisdom.com/event/nogmsheffield/

06/21/2023

CHRIS MURPHY concert and Workshop on Friday, check out this resume:

TICKETS: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/641734072887

To wit, Murphy has amassed a deep catalog of 500+ works, 16 solo and 20 collaborative albums, and made cameo appearances on records by Har Mar Superstar and The Dandy Warhols, among others. Murphy’s recordings include the likes of Steve Hodges and Larry Taylor from Tom Waits’ band, Nels Cline (Wilco), Mike Watt (fIREHOSE), D.J. Bonebrake and John Doe (X, The Knitters), Herb Pedersen (The Desert Rose Band), Tim O’Brien, Bruce Molsky, Joachim Cooder (Buena Vista Social Club), Joey Peters (Grant Lee Buffalo), Walfredo Reyes Jr. (Santana), Steve Wickham (The Waterboys, U2) Trevor Hutchinson (The Waterboys, Lunasa), the legendary piper Pat D’Arcy, Wally Ingram (Sheryl Crow, Jackson Browne), L. Shankar (Peter Gabriel), Doug Pettibone (John Mayer, Jewel), drummers Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello) and Michael Jerome Moore (Richard Thompson, Better Than Ezra), including longtime collaborators: guitarist Nate LaPointe (Cubensis, Bobby Womack), bass player Andreas Geck (Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson) and bass player Hal Cragin (Iggy Pop, Rufus Wainwright). In the last year alone, Murphy has written and recorded six new albums in a vast array of styles. Chris has also been featured on television programs such as ‘Til Death and The Ellen Degeneres Show; his diverse and chameleon-like talents make him a sought after composer and collaborator for film and television. A modern-day troubadour and considered a colossus of Americana, Cyrus Rhodes of No Depression considers Murphy “one of the best songwriters in popular music unjustly flying under the radar.” He is a new artist collaborator with Friendly Folk Records with his recent 2021 album titled SOVEREIGN.

He is that rare breed of musician that creates and performs in a multitude of music worlds with ease. As he searches for new ways to communicate through music, fusing styles and techniques from across the globe — a unique fabric of world music, he calls it — Murphy finds his element on the stage, where spontaneity and improvisation reign. “To me, the music is liquid, and I’m looking to have some kind of experience," he says. “I’ll twist and turn, and hammer and mold, and shape, cut and paste the music to do that. We’ve never done a song the same way twice.” As ever, Murphy re-forges the past to make a new way. He has performed in more than 40 states in the USA, England, Ireland, and The Netherlands.

06/20/2023

Chris Murphy concert and Workshop Friday at Dewey Hall. Did you know he studied at Simon's Rock?

TICKETS: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/641734072887

For 25 years, and with no sign of slowing, violinist Chris Murphy has made a living by writing, performing and recording original music. For Murphy, the path forward is charted by looking backward, to the troubadours and minstrels of ages past. Forget the exaggerated reports of the music industry’s demise. It’s only the record industry, a relative blip in the history of putting tones in sequence, that’s suffering. Music, and the opportunity to make a life’s work out of it, well, that’s not going anywhere.

“In another era,” he says, “I would have played square dances, and loved it. I would have been a court musician in Versailles in the 17th Century, or a violinist in a circus orchestra.” For Chris Murphy, inspiration spans eras and aesthetics, but the fundamentals are the same.

Born into an Irish-Italian family near New York City, Murphy was surrounded by the disparate and eclectic sounds of his neighbors’ traditional music. “I heard and was influenced by everything – from Italian-mandolin music, to bluegrass and folk, to Latin music,” he says. Inevitably, he discovered rock ‘n’ roll, claiming still further influence from some of rock’s most adventurous and eclectic icons: Lou Reed and Ry Cooder, Bob Dylan and Richard Thompson. “My real hero,” he says, “was David Lindley. Hearing him play fiddle and lap steel with Jackson Browne — that kind of esoteric, enigmatic soloing over songs is originally what I loved.”

He learned about Turkish and Indian music at Simon’s Rock of Bard College and then studied composition at Boston’s New England Conservatory of Music. A longtime instrumental dabbler, Murphy has mostly taught himself how to play percussion, guitar and mandolin, even some Eastern instruments, but he found his proper match at 22, when he picked up the violin. “It’s the one instrument you’ll find anywhere you go,” he says. “And it has a wonderful, charming kind of minstrel quality. I love all the myths surrounding it.”

Eventually, Murphy did as so many American adventure seekers had done before him: He sought his fortune in the West. Now based in Los Angeles, Murphy earns his living by teaching — guitar, mandolin and violin — working on music for films, and, mostly, by performing his work for audiences.

06/19/2023

Looking forward to Chris Murphy workshop and concert on Friday!

"Blackroller" is a track from the album RED MOUNTAIN BLUESProduced by: Chris MurphyMusic and Lyrics by Chris Murphy © 2016 Chris Murphy (ASCAP) © 2016 Chris ...

06/04/2023

Having Chris Murphy at Dewey Hall is going to be wild. Check out this short film about him and his music. https://youtu.be/AESaEjqtdFQ

June 23, Workshop and Concert. Get your tickets today.

Mini-documentary about American Singer-Songwriter, Violinist, Mandolinist CHRIS MURPHY Produced by: Chris MurphyFilm created by Gabriel Judet-Weinshel, © 201...

06/01/2023

Square dance comin' up:

06/01/2023