* This show has been rescheduled to Friday, August 15 2008.

Please call Bull Run at 978-425-4311 for more details.

(Ballroom)

Rory Raven

MASTER MENTALIST

Rory Raven is neither a psychic nor a magician. He is a master mentalist who has been astonishing audiences for over a decade at colleges, companies and private events. A life-long interest in things psychic and paranormal have led him to pursue a career as mentalist and mindbender, to produce live on stage the kinds of effects parapsychologists have been researching for years. His knowledge of theater and the inner workings of the mind, both real and imagined, contribute to his apparent ability to read the thoughts of total strangers, make predictions which come true before your very eyes, and generally bend the minds of the audience. His performances have been described as "spooky", "creepy", "elegant" and "sardonically humorous". His work has brought him to a number of wonderful places over the years: from Salem's Hawthorne Hotel, to Newport's Belcourt Castle, to Manhattan's Metropolitan Club. He has appeared before students and faculty at Bristol Community College in Fall River, (where he apparently contacted the spirit of Lizzie Borden), as well as Emerson College and MIT. He has performed for bar patrons, educational groups, nightclub crowds, New Year's Eve revelers, champion bridge players, and even a coven of witches! You don't even have to believe in ESP or paranormal psychology to find his shows highly entertaining. Remember, you're in the Theater of the Mind, and not just Rory’s mind... but yours as well.

Watch a video of Rory here!

$29 day of show

Listen to Geoff Muldaur here!

Geoff Muldaur

"...a voice like nobody else. When he sings you just have to listen. He has a way with a song that makes you wish it would never end." - Tom Rush

Geoff Muldaur is one of the great voices and musical forces to emerge from the folk, blues and folk-rock scenes centered in Cambridge, MA and Woodstock, NY. During the 60's and '70's, Geoff made a series of highly influential recordings as a founding member of the Jim Kweskin Jug Band and the Paul Butterfield's Better Days group, as well as collaborations with then-wife Maria Muldaur and other notables (Bonnie Raitt, Eric Von Schmidt, Jerry Garcia, etc.). His definitive recording of "Brazil" provided the seed for - and was featured in - Terry Gilliam's film of the same title. Recent performances have included The Lincoln Center in New York City, The Getty Art Center in Los Angeles, Royal Festival Hall in London, as well as folk and blues festivals in Newport RI, Edmonton Canada, Dublin Ireland, San Francisco CA, Bergen and Notodden Norway to name a few. Geoff may be heard regularly as a guest on Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion" and has been featured on a variety of National Public Radio shows, including Weekend Edition and All Things Considered. Geoff's newest albums have met with high critical acclaim and feature performances by David Lindley, The McGarrigle Sisters, John Sebastian, Van Dyke Parks, Roswell Rudd, Amos Garrett, Lenny Pickett and Howard Johnson in supporting roles.

Opener: Terry Kitchen - Award-winning contemporary folk singer/songwriter TK is as much storyteller as musician. His keen eye for detail, fearless emotional honesty, and knowledge of and empathy for his subjects combine with his skills as a composer, singer and guitarist to take the listener on a journey to the heart of each song.
“One of New England’s best songwriters" - Craig Harris, Boston Globe

$16 day of show

Rust Never Sleeps
A LIVE NEIL YOUNG RETROSPECTIVE

RUST NEVER SLEEPS is a unique, live rock show that celebrates the music, and musical career of Neil Young. Capturing the spirit, the sound, and the feel of what can best be described as a "dream come true" concert experience; you will hear selections from The Buffalo Springfield as well as Young's early 70's folk-rock gems. You will savor the sweet harmonies of Crosby, Stills, and Nash as well as the raging guitar duels between Stills and Young. You will feel the high voltage snap of Crazy Horse as well as the plaintive beauty of "Heart of Gold". Based in the Greater Boston area, Rust Never Sleeps pays "tribute" to Neil Young and his music the best way they know how... with integrity. While some groups in the tribute-band genre are content with a note for note replication of the original recordings, a Rust Never Sleeps show is infused with the passion and truth that comes from musicians using their own unique, creative energy to present these great songs.

RUST NEVER SLEEPS is: Ken Gibson - guitar, harmonica & vocals; Chuck Nemitz - guitar & vocals; Mike Garron - bass & vocals; Scott Meneades - drums & vocals; Bruce Diamond - keyboard, fiddle & mandolin; Rob Hamilton - pedal steel guitar; Reena Valley - vocals.

Listen to Rust Never Sleeps here!

Rod MacDonald

Rod MacDonald has called South Florida home for four years now. After crisscrossing the country as a wandering troubadour in the mid-'70s, then settling down for two decades as a folksinger in New York City, he arrived in Delray Beach in 1995 to help take care of his aging parents. He's an ingenious songwriter who has recorded six critically lauded albums over the past 15 years. During the '80s he was at the forefront of a Greenwich Village music scene known as Fast Folk, which, produced hugely successful artists such as Shawn Colvin and Suzanne Vega. This fall, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings will make available the entire Fast Folk collection -- more than 100 albums -- for the first time on compact disc. MacDonald is one of the most heavily represented artists on the recordings with 29 songs, some of which have never appeared on his albums.
"He's one of the great ones," says Rod Kennedy, founder of the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas, "...a great American writer who is almost a traditional artist in the way he writes."

Opener: Beth DeSombre - Beth released her debut CD, "Crooked Highways", in 12/07 and it has received national and satellite radio airplay. The 1st track, No Toll in Canaan, won honorable mentions in national and international songwriting contests, and was #1 on Neil Young's list of more than 2400 current protest songs. Folk icons Pete and Maura Kennedy called it "one of the finest songs we have ever heard."

Listen to Rod MacDonald here!

Don't be superstitious!

Joel Ackerson is a storyteller. His emotional performances bring the audience through a true-life narrative that makes fiction seem boring. In his career, he has played more than 1500 shows in 30+ states, drawing consistent comparisons to artists like Elvis Costello, Glen Phillips and Martin Sexton. Come experience the intensity of one of today's most honest young songwriters. Joel will be debuting his much anticipated sophomore acoustic album at this CD release event!

Johnny A

Johnny A. is widely regarded as one of America's finest contemporary guitarists. Gibson thinks so, their Custom Shop designed a Signature Edition guitar per his specific requests. The public thinks so too, his latest works have sold many thousands of copies. Johnny spent a year and a half at Berklee School of Music, but had no real interest in the textbood bebop they were dishing out. His first group, "Squanty Roo" played Fusion and by ’75 he had a much more stripped down basic rock unit called "The Streets", who scored a major radio hit with “What Gives”. In the ‘80’s he hooked up with legendary J. Geils Band front man Peter Wolf, playing on his albums and co-producing one of them, as well as touring with Wolf around the world. After Wolf, Johnny put out a string of solo instrumental guitar albums which brought him much notice and acclaim with their warm guitar tones and alluring melodies. This led to signing with Steve Vai's Favored Nations label and an ever-widening circle of gigs with the likes of B.B. King, Robert Cray, and Jeff Beck plus an appearance at Eric Clapton's “Crossroads Guitar Festival” in '04. It’s been a long way from his first $49 guitar to Gibson's Johnny A. Signature Edition, but Johnny is still doing what he loves most, playing guitar and creating music.

Opener: Chris Reddy - "...one of the most respected and sought after musicians in New England. His combination of vocal and instrumental prowess and a dynamic stage presence make his performances ~ which incorporate loop station technology ~ of both original and cover songs one of the driving forces behind today’s solo acoustic scene. ”
- Lara Dean, Sr. Editor, Pulse Magazine

Listen to Johnny A here!

(Sawtelle Room)

Listen to The Fools here!

The Fools

The Fools barged their way onto the Boston music scene with their first single "She Looks All Right in the Dark". Known for their outrageous live performances the band quickly gathered a loyal and ever-growing audience. Their first national (and then international) hit record, "Psycho Chicken," was a parody of Talking Heads' Psycho Killer. With the signing of the band to EMI Records came the first two albums "Sold Out" and "Heavy Mental". A second single "Its a Night (For Beautiful Girls)" then charted, followed by a cover of Roy Orbison's "Running Scared". Touring North America first with The Knack and then with Van Halen helped to place the band firmly on the national stage. European tours including shows with Cheap Trick and Journey resulted in huge overseas record sales. Back home again The Fools released their biggest album "World Dance Party". The band then enjoyed MTV video success with their remake of Manfred Mann's "Doo Wah Diddy" and the title track video "World Dance Party". The album also racked up four big radio songs: "Doo Wah Diddy", "World Dance Party", "Life Sucks...Then You Die" and "She Makes Me Feel Big" The mix of great music performed by uniquely talented musicians with a hefty helping of fun comes together in an unmatched charm that has been lighting up millions of smiles over the years.
Be a fool - smile for yourself.

Opener: TBA

(Ballroom)

Listen to The Roys here!

The Roys

You know it when you hear it - a song or sound that strikes a rare balance between brilliantly fresh and disarmingly familiar. Maybe it's the deeply resonant imagery of the new single "Grandpa's Barn," the arresting sibling harmonies on "Raining On The Roses" or the searing guitar of "We're Gonna Get There." Born in Fitchburg, MA to French-Canadian parents, Elaine and Lee showed an early affinity for music. It intensified when the family moved to New Brunswick, Canada where grandparents, aunts and uncles played guitar, fiddle and step dancing. The family eventually moved back to Fitchburg, where, without their musical support system, the siblings turned to each other, forming a virtual four-piece with a drum machine and bass tracks. This led to their move to Nashville. Lee says “Believe it or not, there’s so much talent in Nashville, it’s hard to make a living there as a performing musician unless you’re on the road. So we said, 'we can go home and make money playing music.’” And that's what they did, returning to Fitchburg and recharging themselves on the pure joy of creating and performing. They centered their efforts on creating music their way, and when they got close to finishing their album, they faced a decision; to go with a major label or independent. So they formed Pedestal Records and aligned with former Sony executive Larry Pareigis' Nine North Records for promotion. In the wake of independent successes by Emerson Drive, Taylor Swift and Tracy Lawrence, the playing field is suddenly swinging in favor of the indie. And The Roys aim to take advantage. Finally, The Roys are in a position to do what they've spent their entire lives preparing to do. Lee says, "We're just your typical 15-year overnight sensation."

Opener: Jacy Dawn - Now 24, Jacy started out singing at 6 and turned to country music at 12. She has already opened for Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Toby Keith, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Jamie O'Neal, Steve Holy, Joe Nichols, Alan Jackson, Keith Urban, Sara Evans, Keith Anderson, Lindsey Haun, Emerson Drive, Rushlow Harris and The Wrights.

The Starlings
                                                   
CD Release Party !

Listen to The Starlings here!

$38 day of show

* Moved from May 10

Listen to HoneyTribe here!

Devon Allman's
HoneyTribe

Pops Walker

Pops has been entertaining an ever growing group of avid fans around the world for some twenty years. He's something of an enigma. Where have I heard him before? The answer is nowhere and everywhere. Trying to define his style is somewhat problematic as well. It has been described as Southern-Fried-Zen-Mojo. And that’s as good a description as we’ll find. His strong suits are his up-tempo blues, his bottleneck slide, and his songwriting skills. His second CD "Cuttin' in Line at the Karmic Buffet" is an underground smash, receiving airplay on independent stations throughout the world. The early feedback on his newly released CD, "Milepost 5", is that this is his best CD yet.

A vision of the heart and soul of a man who has lived and loved the blues .... It's not ear candy. It's the meat on your bones ... a must have in my book. - - Carey Colvin, Washington DC

Opener: Chuck E. Costa - His music is unfettered by time or place, defying all the common labels. His powerful and sincere vocals (comparisons range from Jonathan Edwards to Michael Stipe) and acoustic guitar delivery seamlessly complement the lyrical content of the songs.

Listen to Pops Walker here!

(Sawtelle Room)

$16 day of show

Listen to Rampage Trio here!

The Rampage Trio

Formed in 1990, The Rampage Trio has rocked roadhouses, festivals and clubs from the mountains of Vermont to the seashores of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Their unique, high energy sound incorporates the expanse of Texas Blues with that of early Rock and Roll, Rockabilly, and Roots. Elvis Presley, Billy Gibbons, Carl Perkins, The Beatles and Stevie Ray Vaughan all factor in to the band's continuing evolution. Singer-songwriter-guitarist Brian Owens fronts the trio. He studied extensively with Boston Conservatory of Music professor Phil Cooper and with the Pousette-Dart Band's lead guitarist John Curtis. On stage, Owens plays Gibson guitars and Fender Twins. Bassist Eric Yanaway, a graduate of the prestigious Berklee College, provides a solid, rhythmic foundation powered by GK amps and G&L basses. He also teaches music on a variety of musical instruments. Kevin Crowley takes on triple duty as drummer, singer and harmonica player. He started playing the "skins" when he was four and was featured in a 2004 issue of Modern Drummer Magazine. His drum sets of choice include a Tama Swingstar kit and a Vintage 60s Ludwig set. The band currently has six full-length albums on the Metronome Records label. Radio play for the group has been widespread and has reached listeners in Greece, Belgium, the U.K., France, the Bahamas, Canada, Japan & Mexico as well as the United States.

Opener:TBA

(Ballroom)

$18 day of show

James Reams &
The Barnstormers

Originally from southeastern Kentucky, now living in NYC, James Reams plays bluegrass music with an edgy and bluesy sound, yet keeping well within the traditional realm. JR & The Barnstormers offer exciting, soulful performances with powerful three-part harmonies. James has played old-time and bluegrass music since he was a child, with traditional singers on both sides of his family. Raised in London, Kentucky, but moved to Freedom, Wisconsin, as a teenager, he moved to NYC in the 1980s. His critically acclaimed old-time CD, "The Mysterious Redbirds 1992-1998", was recorded with New Lost City Ramblers founding member Tom Paley and old-time fiddler Bill Christophersen. His earlier solo albums, "Kentucky Songbird" and "The Blackest Crow" also received excellent reviews.
The Barnstormers: Mark Farrell has been playing bluegrass and old-time music for many years, recording with Major Contay & The Canebrake Rattlers, a well-respected old-time string band. He joined the Barnstormers in '98 and contributes great mountain-style fiddling, mandolin and harmony vocals. Doug Nicolaisen has been playing banjo with bluegrass bands for the past 18 years, incorporating many of the best elements of the major players yet reflecting a hard-driving individuality all its own. Nick Sullivan has been playing bass since he was a tot in the northern woods of Wisconsin. He played '50s rock and roll at 12 and has covered lots of musical terrain since then, from ragtime jazz and West African traditional music to early country and bluegrass. He adds rock-solid bass and great singing to the Barnstormers’ sound.
“There are few vocalists as natural as Reams. He doesn’t have to try to sound down-home, he’s there at each turn in the song.”
- Richard D. Smith, Bluegrass Unlimited

“The Barnstormers deliver an edge that’s missing from a lot of bluegrass being made today.” - No Depression

Opener:TBA

Listen to James Reams here!

$16 day of show

$40 day of show

Listen to Tom Rush here!

Johnny Appleseed Trail Association