News, Jams & Music Happenings

Our vision of making Hereford a music hub (think Laurel Canyon, or maybe a rural Brooklyn?) is coming closer. People don’t realize how much we have going on. There’s the Manor Mill venue bringing in national acts. We have the Upperco Music Festival, Hot August Blues, the new Monkton Music Festival (great success!), Charm City Bluegrass, Ken and Brad Kolodner’s Old Time Music Festival, Common Ground Roots, Music and Arts Festival in Westminster, Black Locust Brewery bringing in touring bands and soloists, WTMD airing new bands, Stages Music Arts in Hunt Valley–the list goes on! If you’re a new band or singer-songwriter in the Roots movement, move to Baltimore!

Okay… maybe I’m a bit ambitious, but I’m proud of what we have going on. Here are a few headlines for this month:

• Hereford Music News gets noticed! Starting in June I’ll be assisting the Manor Mill as the “Regional Music Curator,” helping review singers/bands from the Md, VA, Pa. area. Please email suggestions at emerson.probst@gmail.com.
• Whiskey Feathers opening up 89.7 WTMD First Thursdays Concert! Our very own Hereford area Feathers are the opening band for the season–which will be an energetic event! Concert is at the Canton Waterfront Park and tickets are free!
• The Inaugural Monkton Music Festival was a great success! The concert was held on the 20th and had a great local lineup. The picture below is of “Old Part of Town.” It was my first time seeing these guys and they sounded great! I totally recommend seeing them. Good times would be at Starbright Farm on June 17 or at Farmacy Brewing on July 2nd.

Thursday June 1st – 6 – 8 pm: Hootenanny! – Open Jam. – This will be a fun Bluegrass/Americana/Folk/Country jam with all proceeds from the jar going to Hodgepodge Animal Rescue. Location is Black Locust Brewery in Freeland.

Me: “I can’t remember all these lyrics–I’m 47 years old!” Butch: “Just repeat the words, no one will care.”

Butch Neil, on freezing on stage.

Local Brewery Shows with Links.

NOTE: Because the summer list of brewery musicians is so long, I’ve decided to highlight the two breweries with the most robust lists of performers. It takes a lot of work to curate and manage a music program–I figured I’d reward the ones that give it the most muscle

Black Locust Brewery – Freeland, Md.

• Honey Sol – 6.30 – 9.30 – Friday, May 26
• John Kane – 6.30 – 9.30 – Saturday, May 27
• Drew Cooke – 4 – 7- Sunday, May 28th
• Log Cabin Fever – 6.30 – 9.30 – Friday, June 2nd
• Ren and Second Nature – 6.30 – 9.30 – Saturday June 3rd
• Uncle Baltimore – 4 – 7 – Sunday June 4th (Great Band!)
• High and Wides – 6.30 – 9.30 – Friday, June 9th (Another great band!)
• From the Gray – 6.30 – 9.30 – Saturday, June 10th
• Creatures of Content – 6.30 – Friday, June 16th
• Pilgrims of Deep Run – 6.30 – Sat. June 17th (Always fun!)
• Gina Desimone Duo – 3.30 – Sun. June 18th

Vortex Brewery – New Freedom, Pa.

• Rachael Ann Morgan /w Justin Gillen – 6pm – Friday, May 26th (Nice pairing!)
• April Teppe – 6 pm – Sat., May 27th
• Cobb Bros – 6 pm, Friday, June 2nd
• Keiron Bryan Raphael – 6 pm – Saturday, June 3rd (Great performer!)
• Dan Houtz – 1.30 – Sunday, June 4th
• Steve and Marty – 6 pm – Friday, June 9th
• Bryan Miller Duo – 6pm – Sat, June 10th
• Cobb Bros – 6pm – Friday, June 16th
• Whiskey Narrows – 6 pm, Saturday, June 17th
• Mike DeMoss – 1 pm, Sunday, June 18th
• First Lights – 6 pm Friday, June 23rd
• IMU – 6pm – Saturday, June 24th
• Empris – 1pm – Sunday, June 25th
• Michael & SoulKats – Friday, June 30th
• Steve Rexroth – Saturday, June 31st

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FEATURE SUMMER CONCERT – Part 1-July

Southern PA Spotlight Musician

Garrett Shultz

Garrett Shultz is another Central PA player with that classic country voice. After leaving the military he decided to go all-in and recently relocated to Nashville. Check out this video for a solid York Pa vibe! He’ll be one to watch.

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Hootenanny Thank You from the Heart

I want to thank everyone who came to the last Hoot at Black Locust. I’m always nervous before these events. The concept of no one showing and me trying to stretch out my three Johnny Cash songs for two hours gives me the shakes. But after having done these for years, I’ve found there’s always a miracle handed down from the music spirits…maybe Johnny himself, or more likely my former teacher, Butch. Aside from my new friend Tom who’s a great addition to the Hoot journey, others showed who I haven’t scene since before the pandemic -thank you! My fiddle brother (the other Tom) couldn’t make it, but always there in spirit. A major driving force and there since the beginning, Pat and John–so much love. A super nice Mandolin player (I like that Eastman!) And a guy who played one damn awesome Vincent Black Lightning…you were part of that miracle.

These open-jams are unique in that they’re open to everyone, no matter if you’ve only played in front of your wife and kids, or can pack the Ryman Auditorium (come on, Butch, we need Marty Stuart to drop in!) The point is that we meet new friends, have fun and raise a little money to help a neighbor. So thank you all who make an effort – I hope you’ll come again (Vincent Black Lightning guy!) We’re always ready to turn over the mics because, seriously, I hardly ever get to finish my dang beer!

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Editorial Note:

Thank you to all the readers who’ve followed or liked our Hootenanny Facebook site and Insta at @herefordhoot. We’ll be meeting again at Black Locust on June 1st at 6 pm. Please come on out and say hello. We’re happy to hear your stories about music in the Hereford area and toast a beer to the players not with us anymore. It’s all about new friends and community!

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Thinking about selling? Contact emerson.probst@gmail.com or call 443.996.5555 for free home price assessment.

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Until next time…a bluegrass sendoff from one of my fav bands.