STRATTON – New England Celtic Arts will present The Lonely Heartstring Band at Route 27 Arts in Stratton on Tuesday, Aug. 26 and at Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center in So Carthage on Wednesday, Aug. 27. Curtain is 7 p.m. at both venues. A pre-show jam session at Skye starts at 6:15 p.m.
The Lonely Heartstring Band was born as a wedding band, hired for one wedding to play only Beatles repertoire on traditional bluegrass instruments. It didn’t take long to start exploring other sounds and original songs within the group, but that initial flame of the Beatles was indicative of the bands love of songs, arrangements and music that feels good. Combining instrumental virtuosity, 3-part harmonies, and a deep understanding of traditional bluegrass and Appalachian music, this band is all about a great show.
George Clements, originally from central Massachusetts, has been making his home in Boston since 2011 when he began studies at The Berklee College of Music. He has studied classical guitar as well as jazz and pop, but his true love is folk music.
Patrick M’Gonigle began studying Suzuki violin in Victoria, British Columbia at the age of 9 years old. After high school, and 10 years of classical violin, M’Gonigle began playing traditional music and touring in various projects across North America and Europe. In 2013 he graduated from the Berklee College of Music and he is now working towards a masters degree in Contemporary Improvisation from the New England Conservatory in Boston.
Gabe Hirshfeld grew up in Newton, Mass. At the age of 15, he heard the great banjo player Earl Scruggs in the theme song of NPR’s Car Talk. The sound of the banjo spoke to him in a way that no other sound ever had and it changed his life. After playing and obsessing over the banjo for several years, Hirshfeld attended Berklee College of Music.
Matt Witler grew up in Los Angeles, Calif. Starting on the fiddle at the age of nine, he fell in love with old time and bluegrass music. At the age of 14 he picked up the mandolin and began to study music in earnest. While Witler is rooted in the bluegrass tradition, he has explored and been influenced by Jazz, classical, and pop music. In 2012 he won first place in both the mandolin, and flatpick guitar contests at Rockygrass bluegrass festival.
Charles Clements grew up around Boston, Mass. and spent most of his summers in Maine. He studied music at the New England Conservatory of Music and Manhattan School of Music studying privately with symphony bassists Todd Seeber and David Grossman. He went on to join the New World Symphony in Florida in 2011 with whom he played for nearly three years. A lover of folk and bluegrass music, he has since moved back to Boston to join the Lonely Heartstring Band, and plays part time with the Boston Symphony.
Route 27 Arts is located at the Stratton Community Building 88 Main St Stratton. Skye Theater is located 3 miles West of East Dixfield village at 2 Highland Drive off Winter Hill Rd and US RT. 2 in South Carthage. For reservations call Skye Theatre at (207) 562-4445, for Rt 27 Arts call 207-264-2300 (answered as Flagstaff Country Store). Tickets are $15 at Skye and Rt 27 Arts.
