In addition to his role as a member of Molly’s Revenge, Stuart Mason is known in the California traditional music community for his rhythmic guitar, melodic mandola, authentic singing, and inability to hold his whiskey.
He has won awards for traditional singing (Goleta Old-Time Fiddler’s Convention), mandola (Topanga Banjo and Fiddle Contest), and songwriting (West Coast Songwriter’s Association). He has performed at festivals in China, Scotland, Ireland, and many of the United States. Stuart has been on guitar teaching staff at the CTMS Solstice Festival and Lark Camp.
Born Stuart Mason Helmintoller in Buckhannon, West Virginia, he spent his early years in West Virginia and southern Ohio. After high school, he supported himself playing bluegrass and country music. He graduated from Ohio State in 1981 and returned to West Virginia, where he lived in Upshur County, worked as a park ranger and traveled to local fairs and festivals from the eastern panhandle to the Kentucky border. While living in the mountains in the old family house, he was exposed to the oldest forms of Appalachian fiddle music, which led him directly to traditional Irish and Scottish music.
In 1981 Stuart left West Virginia and moved to Hawaii for 12 years. On Maui, he performed and recorded albums with acoustic trad bands String Fever and AnRil. In 1997 he returned to the mainland with his wife Joyce and settled in the seaside community of Los Osos, California. Since relocating to California, he has performed at many festivals, concert halls, pubs, and churches.
