Passing Traditions: The Weeds with Uncle Stu, Live in Concert

Two members of West Coast Celtic band Molly’s Revenge and one young prodigy play Celtic and Nordic fiddle tunes, old-timey mountain and American songs, and original California compositions.

Passing Traditions
Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 7:30 PM
Mildred Owen Concert Hall
1220 Linda Mar Blvd, Pacifica, CA 94044
Phone: (650) 355-1882
Tickets: $23 adv/18 members
https://pacificaperformances.org/the-weeds/

Party for Paddy
Sunday, March 13, 2022 at 3:00 PM
St. Mary’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church
146 12th St, Pacific Grove, CA 93950
Call or text 831-224-3819.
Tickets $25 adv/28 door. Kids 15 adv/18 door
Advance tickets at celticsociety.org
Doors open at 2:30 PM. Proof of full vaccination and masks required. Covid restrictions subject to change. This performance is a part of St. Mary’s Celtic Concert Series.

Join father/son duo John and Tyler Weed with Stuart Mason for an evening of Celtic and Nordic fiddle tunes, old-timey mountain music, and American song. This rare concert will be a St. Paddy’s Day kick-off, as the trio will trace the music of the Emerald Isles and follow it to one of its many landing spots in the United States. Watch the folk process unfold as John Weed and “Uncle” Stuart Mason, two members of West Coast Celtic power house Molly’s Revenge and Nordic band New World String Project, pass this musical lineage to next-generation banjo, mandolin, and guitar virtuoso Tyler Weed. The event will feature new compositions on tenor banjo from Tyler Weed, a fresh voice upcoming in the West Coast scene

Tyler Weed was raised in a musical family, hearing his mother and father playing fiddle since birth. Tyler has been taught guitar and banjo licks from “Uncle” Stuart Mason since his first days strumming a guitar. Tyler is a six time recipient of Santa Cruz Redwood Camp Teen Band scholarship, and has been awarded the Big Sur Fiddle Camp scholarship twice. Tyler’s composition, “Tyler’s Ancient Jig” was featured in Molly’s Revenge’s latest release, “The Lucky Set.”

John Weed, fiddler for Molly’s Revenge and New World String Project, is a classically-trained violinist who has spent the last 25 years immersed in various fiddle styles. John lived in Ireland in 2000 and taught fiddle workshops at the Flowing Tide International Music School in Doonbeg, County Clare. He has honed his skills since, attending the Frankie Kennedy Winter School in Dunlewey, County Donegal where he studied with Ciaran O’Maonaigh and Dermot Mcloughlin. With an affinity for American fiddle styles, John explores the connections between Irish, Scottish, Swedish, and old time fiddle.

Veteran artist Stuart Mason is known for his authentic vocals and nimble skills on guitar, mandola, and banjo. He is a member of the Celtic band Molly’s Revenge, and has performed at festivals in China, Scotland, Ireland, and many of the United States. He also tours with old time quartet SLO County Stumblers, Nordic quartet New World String Project, and in a duo with fiddler John Weed. 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). When not gigging, he teaches, writes, and builds websites. His music blog Fiddlefreak has been going strong since 2008.

New World String Project Releases Cabin 22

Our new album Cabin 22 was released on May 21, 2021! Extraordinary instruments and heartwarming music rooted in the Nordic, Celtic, and American folk traditions. A mix of lively tunes and a few gentle pieces. 14 tunes in total: 12 are instrumental, two with vocals.  LISTEN/BUY HERE.

Four highly skilled and well known multi-instrumentalists have joined forces to create an exciting weave of music rooted in the Celtic, Nordic and American folk traditions. Ancient and modern sounds mingle freely on Swedish nyckelharpa, Celtic harp, fiddle, guitar, cittern, bouzouki, and more. Join the New World String Project for a musical ride that will shake your boots, uplift your spirit and warm your heart.

“(New World String Project) literally pranced through their hour-long program at St. Mary’s in Pacific Grove, displaying both calculated structure and unbridled abandon.” –Monterey County Weekly (CA)

“Our audience certainly enjoyed your performance, and they have been telling us about it everywhere we go. You exceeded everyone’s expectations and introduced many of them to a completely new style and sound, which is a rare gift.” –Tim Bray, Oak & Thorn Productions

“Their show was fabulous, well attended, and full of peaceful, humorous, positive, enlivening energy. They took us all somewhere sublime!” — anonymous fan

Winter Weekend: A Virtual Redwood Music Camp

Are you experiencing a twinge of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)? If you haven’t yet registered for our Winter Weekend workshops, there’s a simple remedy:  sign up for a workshop or two!

This Saturday 11/14
10:00-11:15 Tipsy Slipjigs, Part 1 (Jesse Autumn, int/adv harp)
11:00-12:15 Flatpicking Tunes for DADGAD Guitar (Adam Hendey, int/adv guitar)
12:00-1:15 High-Level Irish Fiddling (John Weed, int/adv fiddle)
1:30-2:45 Tune Writing (David Brewer, all instruments)
3:00-4:15 Irish-Style Bouzouki/Octave Mandolin (Stuart Mason, beg/int)
4:30-5:45 Happy Hour and Pub Quiz (Rebecca Lomnicky, all)

This Sunday 11/15
10:00-11:15 Tipsy Slipjigs, Part 2 (Jesse Autumn, int/adv harp)
11:00-12:15 Polska Insanity (John Weed, int/adv fiddle) 
12:30-1:45 Set Craft (Adam Hendey, all instruments)
2:00-3:15 Intermediate Pennywhistle (David Brewer)
3:00-4:15 DADGAD Guitar for the Irish Session (Stuart Mason, beg/int)
4:00-5:15 Scottish Fiddle Tunes and Technique (Rebecca Lomnicky, int/adv fiddle)

Classes are filling up, so don’t miss out! Each workshop is only $10. Workshop descriptions and registration is online at https://www.communitymusicschool.org/events

Hope to see you in the Zoom room soon!

Susan Willats
Executive Director
Community Music School of Santa Cruz