Thank you to our 2018 Summer at Rockport
Jazz, Folk, Pop Corporate Partner!

2018-19 FALL-WINTER SEASON

The 2018-19 Fall-Winter Season is announced and brings the best in jazz, folk, pop and world music.  The season features such exceptional jazz artists as Kenny Barron and Stacey Kent, as well as folk artists as Livingston Taylor, Kathy Mattea and The Lone Bellow. World music brings Celtic sensation Hanneke Cassel and guitarist Ottmar Liebert.  Learn about all the wonderful concerts coming this season in the list below. 

Thank you to our 2018-19 Jazz, Folk, Pop Corporate Partners!

Friday, October 19, 8 PM

Kathy Mattea

A hit-making country music star throughout the 90’s and winner of multiple CMA, ACM and Grammy Awards, Kathy Mattea remains one of Music Row’s most revered singers.  Beloved for classics like “Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses” and “Love at the Five and Dime,” Mattea is known for diverting from Nashville’s mainstream, incorporating folk, Celtic and Appalachian music into the genre, and relying on the strength of a voice that the Hartford Courant called “a rare blend of warmth and power.”  Learn more

Saturday, October 20, 8 PM

Quinn Sullivan

New Bedford native Quinn Sullivan may only be 18 years old, but the precocious blues rock guitar-slinger counts the legendary Buddy Guy as an admirer and mentor and has already shared the stage with the likes of Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Los Lobos, Derek Trucks and Joe Bonamassa. Not too shabby for a teenager.  Learn more

Friday, October 26, 8 PM

Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra

One of the most successful instrumentalists working today, guitarist Ottmar Liebert has created a niche for himself, creating a sound that borrows from flamenco, new age, jazz, rock and Pan-Latin music. Learn more

Saturday, October 27, 8 PM

The Lone Bellow

An Americana trio with soulful, harmony-soaked vocals and innate melodic gifts, The Lone Bellow makes its Rockport debut! The Nashville (by way of Brooklyn) group are touring on the back of their Dave Cobb-produced album Walk into a Storm. Learn more

Sunday, October 28, 5 PM

Loudon Wainwright

A singer-songwriter of immense depth and wit, Loudon Wainwright III has been thrilling audiences with his sharp, literate take on the folk tradition for over 40 years. From the “next Dylan” tag of the early 70’s to his evolution into a revered cult figure and Grammy-winning folk elder statesman, Wainwright’s singular talent has never dimmed. Learn more

Friday, November 2, 8 PM

Hanneke Cassel

Effervescent and engaging, Boston-based fiddler Hanneke Cassel fuses sounds from the Isle of Skye and Cape Breton with Americana grooves and musical innovations, creating a cutting-edge acoustic sound that retains the integrity and spirit of the Scottish tradition.  Learn more

Saturday, November 3, 8 PM

Oleta Adams

A powerful soul and gospel singer as well as an inspirational songwriter and pianist, Oleta Adams has been delighting audiences with her charismatic live shows and Grammy-nominated recordings for the last 30 years. She will be making her Rockport debut armed with her newest record Third Set. Learn more

Friday, November 9, 8 PM

David Cook

Opening Act: Matt Hires
The rock vocalist’s career may have taken off with American Idol, but it’s been David Cook’s 1000 watt charisma and undeniably powerful pipes that have kept him in the public eye and in the hearts of his fans.  He’ll be making his Rockport debut, touring on his brand new EP Chromance. Learn more

Saturday, November 10, 8 PM

Rockport Folk Summit:
Laura Cortese & the Dance Cards and Ana Egge

with Cables & Lines
The Rockport Folk Summit makes its grand return with a dynamic concert featuring two fantastic, progressive-minded singer-songwriters both making their Rockport debut as well as a rising star chamber folk trio from the North Shore. Fiddler/singer Laura Cortese and her all-female, guitar-less string band, the Dance Cards, the dulcet-voiced songwriter Ana Egge, and the harmony-blissed trio of Cables and Lines will each play a set before joining together for a rollicking collaborative finale. Learn more

Guest Presentation
Friday, November 16, 8 PM

Tinsley Ellis & Tommy Castro

Presented by M.E. Productions
Two forces of nature from the blues world play the same stage.  Tinsley Ellis and Tommy Castro & The Painkillers will deliver an evening of high energy blues, rock, and soul music that is sure to lift your spirits.  Learn more

Saturday, November 17, 8 PM

Capitol Steps

As the granddaddy of political satire, The Capitol Steps have been poking fun at the D.C. establishment for over 35 years. The veteran troupe have become masters at skewering both sides of the aisle, their repurposed covers of pop songs loaded with puns and outrageous one-liners. No one is safe!  Learn more

Friday, November 30, 8 PM

Break: Palaver Strings x Maine Youth Rock Orchestra
with Ben Cosgrove

The Boston-based chamber ensemble Palaver Strings and Maine Youth Rock Orchestra (MYRO) join together for an unforgettable collaboration with pianist Ben Cosgrove, who is hailed as “electric and exhilarating.” MYRO have been featured on NPR and TEDx, and were the first youth orchestra in history to tour with a band.  This is an exciting event that “Breaks” with the traditional. Learn More

Saturday, December 1, 8 PM

Coco Montoya

World-renowned blues rock guitarist and singer Coco Montoya will be making his Rockport debut, bringing along his searing yet melodic guitar playing and passionate vocals. He’ll be supporting his most recent record, the acclaimed Hard Truth, an album that has cemented his status as one of the world’s most beloved blues rockers. Learn more

Sunday, December 2, 3 & 8 PM

Cape Ann Big Band Holiday

Enjoy the holidays with Cape Ann’s own 17-piece big band performing holiday favorites, old and new, infused with a bit of jazz, swing, and rock n’ roll. The Band was formed in December of 2010 when director Carlos Menezes Jr. teamed up with friends and fellow musicians Paula Burns, Shawn Lowe, Mike Lentini, and Rick Geraghty to discuss the potentials of starting up a 17-piece big band. Learn more

Thursday, December 6, 8 PM

Livingston Taylor

From upbeat storytelling to touching ballads, Livingston Taylor is known for his ability to take audiences on a musical journey, whether singing  hits “I’ll Come Running,” “I Will Be in Love with You” or other favorites.   His vast musical knowledge has inspired a varied repertoire, and he is equally at home with a range of musical genres, including folk, pop, gospel and jazz.  Learn more

Saturday, December 8, 8 PM

Stacey Kent

A Grammy-nominated jazz singer with a sophisticated, cosmopolitan sensibility and an intimately warm voice, Stacey Kent will be making her Rockport debut on the heels of her new orchestral album I Know I Know. Learn more

Wednesday, December 12, 4 & 8 PM

Brian O’Donovan’s
A Christmas Celtic Sojourn

Brian O’Donovan’s A Celtic Sojourn has entertained and enlightened radio audiences since 1986. Now celebrating a decade and a half of holiday performances, the Christmas-time live version of the show draws on Celtic, Pagan, and Christian traditions to celebrate the music of the season. A Christmas Celtic Sojourn reflects the compelling and diverse offerings of the weekly national radio program plus the excitement of a live show featuring the Celtic world’s best performers. Learn more

Friday, December 14, 8 PM

Parsonsfield

Parsonsfield, folk rock favorites known for their rich harmonies, vibrant songwriting and energetic live performances, take to the road this December with their Holiday Acoustic Tour. The quintet will perform stripped down, intimate shows, breathing Americana rock into their favorite holiday tunes and sprinkling their own songs with holiday flair. Learn more

Sunday, December 16, 3 PM

Christmas with the Back Bay Ringers

Back Bay Ringers (BBR) is an advanced, auditioned, handbell ensemble. Under the direction of Griff Gall, BBR has quickly developed a reputation for excellence, regularly performing at Boston-area landmarks such as Faneuil Hall, Symphony Hall, the Boston Children’s Museum, and the Prudential Center.  Learn more

Friday, January 11, 8 PM

Marc Cohn

After winning a Grammy for his soulful ballad “Walking in Memphis,” Marc Cohn solidified his place as one of this generation’s most compelling singer-songwriters, combining the precision of a brilliant tunesmith with the passion of a great soul man. Learn more

Wednesday, January 23, 7 PM

Beantown Swing Orchestra

The 18-piece Beantown Swing Orchestra specializes in performing big band music from the Swing Era, one of the most popular and sophisticated forms of American music ever created.  With most of its musicians in their twenties, the orchestra is a true representation of the young and energetic big bands of the 1930s.  Learn more

Saturday, March 9, 8 PM

Danú

One of Ireland’s most cherished Irish folk bands and among the leaders of the new traditionalist movement in Celtic music, Danú has been thrilling audiences with their instrumental virtuosity and powerfully emotive ballads for close to 20 years.  Learn more

Sunday, March 10, 8 PM

Cyrille Aimée

Winner of the Montreux and Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Competitions, the dynamic young Cyrille brings an exotic, highly rhythmic-based approach to jazz singing, incorporating a Gallic gypsy swing with hints of salsa and samba into well-worn standards and original compositions.  Learn more

Saturday, April 6, 8 PM

JD Souther

A songwriting legend and country rock pioneer, JD Souther returns to Rockport armed with a veritable treasure trove of classics, including several made famous by The Eagles (“Heartache Tonight,” “Best of My Love”) and Linda Ronstadt (“Faithless Love”). His infectious pop sensibility and effortless croon have led to a near 50 year career.   Learn more

Saturday, April 20, 8 PM

Kenny Barron

Honored by The National Endowment for the Arts as a 2010 Jazz Master, pianist Kenny Barron has an unmatched ability to mesmerize audiences with his elegant playing, sensitive melodies and infectious rhythms. He returns to Rockport on the heels of his Blue Note Records debut Concentric Circles. Learn more

Saturday, May 18, 8 PM

Johnny A

One of the most revered guitarists working the scene today, Boston’s own Johnny A. has created a decade-spanning career built on his virtuosic playing, compositional fortitude and distinctive style. On top of putting out his acclaimed new record, Driven, Johnny was just recently asked to play lead guitar in the legendary blues rock supergroup of The Yardbirds.  Learn more