Tickets here: https://portsmouthnh.ticketsauce.com/e/thenewgrownups

Hailing from the Boston area, The New Grown-Ups are an octet taking a modern twist on American Roots music. They blend Traditional Folk, Country, Blues, Celtic, Old time, Originals, Bluegrass, and Pop into a snafu of contemporary acoustic music. The band has toured regionally around New England, and has an infectious onstage energy that comes with loving to perform, and being around each other. 

"...Skilled musicians with electrical rollicking enthusiasm..."
-Bluegrass Today

Dearest Dear: Helen Kuhar (guitar, vocals, harmonium) and Rose Jackson (fiddle, vocals) come together to bring you driving traditional tunes from New England, Quebec, Ireland, and France, old songs with contemporary relevance, and contemporary songs with traditional sensibilities harmonized with voices, fiddle, guitar, and harmonium.

$18 advance | $23 day-of | $12 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)

Brooks will welcome Emily Troll, Eric Boodman, Helen Kumar to the stage on September 19th with the fabulous Hannah Chamberlain calling. Bring your friends! There will be coffee!

• Contra dance at the Marsh River Theater, 24 Monroe hwy Brooks, ME

• September 19th 2025, 8:00 pm, $15-$25 sliding scale admission

If you can afford to pay more, it really helps us pay our performers fairly and allows us to book the best bands and callers around! Please park at the Brooks town office or Varney memorial building at the congregational church, both less than 1000 feet from the hall. Parking at the hall is extremely limited!

Pacific Lodge Masonic Hall, 99 Main St, Amherst, MA
General: $15-20 — Students: $10-15
First-timers who attend our 7pm Beginner's Lesson: FREE

--- COVID SAFETY POLICY ---

KN95 mask or better — vaccines recommended
please stay home if you feel sick — see full details in our safety policy

Please bring a water bottle and soft soled shoes. This is a fragrance-free and substance-free event. Please refrain from wearing scented products. Dances are smoke, drug and alcohol free

Rooted in the musical traditions of New England, Dearest Dear presents traditional tunes from Ireland, New England, Quebec, and France, and craft vocal harmonies for age-old songs with modern relevance. Rose Jackson (fiddle, vocals), draws her sound from her upbringing in the folk scene of western Massachusetts, grounded in a deep love of old repertoire and her experience touring festivals with bands Polaris and Stove Dragon. Helen Kuhar (guitar, vocals, harmonium) hails from Cambridge, MA and can be found hosting Irish sessions around the greater Boston area, accompanying traditional musicians from across the region, and playing for contra dances around the country. Together, Dearest Dear invites audiences in for stories, melodies, and lyrics that unite us all in our shared humanity.

Suggested donation $15-$25, which goes directly to the performers. Any amount welcome.

Reservations Required! Email: BrattleboroHouseConcerts@gmail.com

The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts Center: 605 Main St Middletown, CT 06457

Tickets: https://buttonwood.networkforgood.com/events/83034-helen-and-rose-jackson

Rooted in the musical traditions of New England, Dearest Dear present traditional tunes from Ireland, New England, Quebec, and France, and craft vocal harmonies for age-old songs with modern relevance.

Rose Jackson came up in the rich folk scene of western Massachusetts. Equally at home in the concert hall and on the dance stage, she studied under fiddler Becky Tracy (Nightingale, Wild Asparagus) from whom she inherited a wide repertoire of music from Quebec, New England, Ireland, and France, a deep love for old tunes, and the intuitive sense of rhythm and danceability which infuses her playing. From multi-instrumentalist Pete Sutherland (Pete’s Posse), she developed her ear for song arrangement and harmony. She's toured festivals nationally with her band Polaris, and now plays with her quartet Stove Dragon and duo Helen & Rose. In 2024, she received one of the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s competitive Grants for Creative Individuals for her work as a tradition-bearer of New England fiddle music.

Hailing from Seattle, Washington, Helen Kuhar currently resides in Cambridge, MA. Helen began exploring their connection to folk and Celtic music in 2020 while studying with renowned guitarist Alex Sturbaum (Countercurrent). Since then, Helen has become involved in the thriving New England music scene through playing contra dances and concerts with their band Good Company. Helen also performs with Upstate New York fiddler Tim Ball, whose debut solo album Upstate Crossroads was the No. 1 CD of January 2023 on the FAI Folk music chart. Helen can also be found leading Irish sessions in and around the greater Boston Area.

Together, Dearest Dear invites audiences in for stories, melodies, and lyrics that unite us all in our shared humanity.

House Concert in Easthampton, MA
Doors at 7:00p
Music at 7:30p

Email helenkuharmusic@gmail.com for Address

Rooted in the musical traditions of New England, Dearest Dear present traditional tunes from Ireland, New England, Quebec, and France, and craft vocal harmonies for age-old songs with modern relevance.

Rose Jackson came up in the rich folk scene of western Massachusetts. Equally at home in the concert hall and on the dance stage, she studied under fiddler Becky Tracy (Nightingale, Wild Asparagus) from whom she inherited a wide repertoire of music from Quebec, New England, Ireland, and France, a deep love for old tunes, and the intuitive sense of rhythm and danceability which infuses her playing. From multi-instrumentalist Pete Sutherland (Pete’s Posse), she developed her ear for song arrangement and harmony. She's toured festivals nationally with her band Polaris, and now plays with her quartet Stove Dragon and duo Helen & Rose. In 2024, she received one of the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s competitive Grants for Creative Individuals for her work as a tradition-bearer of New England fiddle music.

Hailing from Seattle, Washington, Helen Kuhar currently resides in Cambridge, MA. Helen began exploring their connection to folk and Celtic music in 2020 while studying with renowned guitarist Alex Sturbaum (Countercurrent). Since then, Helen has become involved in the thriving New England music scene through playing contra dances and concerts with their band Good Company. Helen also performs with Upstate New York fiddler Tim Ball, whose debut solo album Upstate Crossroads was the No. 1 CD of January 2023 on the FAI Folk music chart. Helen can also be found leading Irish sessions in and around the greater Boston Area.

Together, Dearest Dear invites audiences in for stories, melodies, and lyrics that unite us all in our shared humanity.

WHERE: Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park, MD.  Directions to Glen Echo Park

WHEN: Sunday, September 7, 2025 from 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm (with a break for a potluck dinner).

FOOD: The famous Contrastock potluck is back! Bring a clearly labeled dish to share and enjoy a meal in the park with fellow dancers. 

ACCESSIBILITY: all venues are accessible 

PARKING: Glen Echo Parking Lot - https://glenechopark.org/directions 

COVID PROTOCOL: Masks and vaccinations are encouraged but not required

1:00 - 3:00 Alex Deis-Lauby with Audrey Jaber & Alex Cumming 

3:20 - 5:20 Will Mentor calling with Good Company 

5:20 - 6:20 Dinner break - potluck! 

6:20 - 8:20 Rick Mohr calling with the Gigmeisters 

8:40 - 10:00All bands and callers

DOUBLE DANCE

3:45 – 5:45 pm **Afternoon Advanced Contras $20 adults/$5 students
5:45 – 7:00 pm Dinner Break at the many walkable Chatham restaurants
7:00 – 7:30 pm Beginners’ Workshop
7:30 – 10:30pm All-Level Evening Dance $20 adults/$5 students

Combo admission for both sessions $35/$10 students.

Advanced tickets available below.

Come and knock on our door
We’ve been waiting for you
Where Mentor calls contras with a band named
Good Company, too

 Come and dance on our floor
Take a step that is new
We’ve a fabulous space that needs your face
Good Company, too

 You’ll see that life is a ball again
Mentor is calling for you
Make Tern your rendezvous
Good Company, too

USEFUL INFORMATION:

• Newcomers are welcome to come at 7pm for an introductory lesson on the basics of contra dancing.  No partner is necessary.  All dances are taught with a “walk-through” by the caller.

• We no longer require vaccination.  Masks are optional.

• All dances at Swingin’ Tern are called to the gender-neutral terms Larks & Robins.

• **The Afternoon Advanced Contras session is for Experienced Contra Dancers only.  You should be familiar with ricochet heys, petronellas, Rorey O’More, pass the ocean, orbits, etc., with minimal prompting.  If not, please join us for the evening dance.

• We have open windows on three sides and air-conditioning when needed.

• We welcome contributions of home-baked [or not] goodies to share at the break.

• Please bring your own water bottle. Water bottles may be filled at the orange Igloo cooler.

• Wear comfortable clothing.  Contra dancing is aerobic.  We prefer you carry in your shoes.

• We are a friendly, inclusive group. Pack plenty of smiles! 

Join us for this performance as part of our Friday lunchtime concerts that feature local musicians playing a range of genres. This concert is also part of our Revolutionary Art programmatic theme.

Born out of the Irish Session culture of Boston, MA, The Larksplitters duo take their name from the Emily Dickinson poem that starts with the line “Split the lark and you’ll find the music.” Composed of Helen Kuhar on DADGAD guitar and Gwen Johnston on Fiddle, the pair love to delve into Old-Time, Bluegrass, Breton, contemporary, and original tunes in addition to their roots in Traditional Irish tunes and songs. While you won’t see them splitting any larks, they find joy in the sad songs and tunes of old and new and will save them for your ears.

91 Main Street Sheffield, MA at Dewey Hall

Music, Helen & Rose
Helen Kuhar - Guitar
Rose Jackson - Fiddle
Caller - Chris Wiltshire

Date: April 26, 2025

Lessons: 6:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Dance: 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

We are delighted to have caller Harris Lapiroff join us for our 4th Friday dance this month. Harris is very involved with the BIDA contra dance series, as well as traveling widely to call at many other contra dance events.

Joining Harris will be the band Good Company. Featuring Rohan Weeden on fiddle, Cecily Mills on cello and Helen Kuhar on guitar, Good Company has quickly become one of New England's favorite contra dance (and concert) bands. They were recently featured at the Dance Flurry and the Greenfield Contra Prom.
.
The Details:
* Friday April 25, 2025
* Guiding Star Grange, 401 Chapman St., Greenfield, MA
*. Doors open at 7:30
* Dancing at 8:00
*. Cost: $12-$20 sliding scale
*. Role terms will be larks and robins
* We strive to make this a fragrance-free event
*. For more info: zakon-anderson@comcast.net

While this series is mask-optional we still encourage dancers to wear masks. If you feel poorly, or anyone in your household has covid or flu-like symptoms, we urge you to stay home and join us next month.
If you test positive during the week after the dance please contact us at the above email address so we can inform other dancers.

While all are welcome at the Friday Experienced Dancers' Contra Series, here is a guide to what "Experienced Dancer" means, as the programming is geared for that level:

You know how to do a roll away, hey for four, California twirl, contra corners, pass through to a wave, box circulate, mad robin, and basic moves without teaching.

You know where to be at the start of each dance phrase and assist your partner and neighbor to the next move.

You execute flourishes safely and on time without disturbing others.

Your dancing supports and enhances the experience of all through shared weight, good timing and respectful connections.

You know how to recover from a lapse and you respond to confusion and missteps, by yourself and others, with grace, encouragement and good humor.

We look forward to seeing you there!

When: Sunday, March 9th, 2025

• 6:45 pm Doors Open

• 7:00 pm Lesson

• 7:30 pm Dance

• 10:00 pm Bedtime

Where: Temple Beth El (400 Deering Ave, Portland, ME)

Price: $15 Suggested Donation (at the door, cash or Venmo)

All ages and experience levels are welcome. Dress comfortably, bring clean shoes to dance in, and a water bottle. You don't need to bring a dance partner. Please don’t wear heavy fragrances. Parking is abundant and free. This is a substance-free event. Masks optional.

Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or just curious to try something new, we invite you to step into the joy and connection of English Country and Contra Dancing. All ages and experience levels are welcome—come dance with us!

Contra Dances are held on most Saturday evenings at 8 – 10:45pm, with a beginner session at 7:30pm.

Events may be added or cancelled so be sure to check here or CDNY’s Dance Calendar for any last minute changes.
Unless specified as mask-optional, our dances require masking.

Friday Night Dancers (FND) hosts contra dances every Friday night at Glen Echo Park, in Glen Echo, Maryland. Check the Upcoming Dances page for the callers and bands. We have a mix of local and out-of-town bands and callers. There is a free lesson from 7:30-8:00 pm, and dancing from 8:00-11:00 pm. Dances are $15.

Location: The Irish Center (a.k.a. Commodore John Barry Arts and Cultural Center),
6815 Emlen St., Philadelphia, PA 19119.
Look for the signs, and use the ballroom entrance, furthest from Carpenter Ave.

Beginner lesson: 7:30pm
Dance: 8:00pm to 10:30pm

Admission: sliding scale, pay what you wish. Suggested $10/$15/$20+

Social Singing: 6:15pm hosted by Emma & Annaleah
Lesson: 7pm
Contra Dance: 7:30-10:30pm

BIDA needs new volunteers! If you are interested in being more involved with making BIDA the dance we all love, please reach out to us.

The dance is a $5-25 sliding scale, as you're able. Bring someone new to Contra to the intro session and you both get passes for free admission to a future dance! Share the love.

This dance is mask optional, vaccination not required. We are alternating between mask required and optional dances. For more, read our blog post: https://blog.bidadance.org/.../2025-covid-policy-update...

Public Transportation (recommended): We are across the street from the Porter Square Red Line stop.
Parking: Free street parking (meters and residential are open to all on Sundays). The big parking lot has been known to tow.

Sign up for BIDA mailing lists to hear about the updates you’re interested in here: https://www.bidadance.org/join

Contra dancing is joyful and community oriented — and it always involves some risk. Starting with our July 1, 2023, dance, the Montpelier Contra Dance will be masks optional. As with all of our COVID policies, we ask that everyone be kind, gentle, and respectful with each other as we navigate this transition. We also want to be clear that everyone is welcome at our dance, whether or not you choose to wear a mask. You can read more about the reasoning behind this policy change here. Full COVID details at: capitalcitygrange.org/dancing/contradancing

Our dance uses gender-neutral role terms, and we strive to be a safe place for everyone to dance.  Beginners, singles, and all ages are welcome; all dances are taught.

When: 1st, 3rd and 5th Saturdays, 8–11 p.m: newcomers lesson offered around 7:40 pm

Where: at the Capital City Grange in Berlin (located on Northfield Street/Route 12 just south of the I-89 overpass),

Cost: Admission is $12 for adults, $5 for kids or low-income, $20 for dance supporters–choose the right price for your budget!

What to bring: We suggest light, comfortable clothing — expect to wear short sleeves or a tank top, even in winter. Please bring clean, soft-soled shoes to preserve our floor. Bring a water bottle to refill at our water fountain/bottle filler.

Come join us for a wonderful afternoon of contra dance!

1950 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge MA.

3:15: Social Singing hosted by Emma, Annaleah, and Neight
4:00: Lesson
4:30-7:30 Dance

The dance is $5-25 sliding scale, as you're able. Bring someone new to Contra to the intro session and you both get passes for free admission to a future dance! Share the love.

BIDA needs new volunteers! If you are interested in being more involved with making BIDA the dance we all love, please reach out to us.

This dance is high filtration mask required, vaccination not required. We are alternating between mask required and optional dances. For more, read our blog post: https://blog.bidadance.org/.../some-mask-optional-dances...

Sign up for BIDA mailing lists to hear about the updates you’re interested in here: https://www.bidadance.org/join

Thursdays 7:30-10 pm at the Concord Scout House

74 Walden Street, Concord, MA. Doors open at 6:45,  introductory pre-dance workshop at 7:10pm. $10-15, sliding scale.

Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or just curious to try something new, we invite you to step into the joy and connection of English Country and Contra Dancing. All ages and experience levels are welcome—come dance with us!

Contra Dances are held on most Saturday evenings at 8 – 10:45pm, with a beginner session at 7:30pm.

Events may be added or cancelled so be sure to check here or CDNY’s Dance Calendar for any last minute changes.
Unless specified as mask-optional, our dances require masking.

Locations:
Club Passim, Somerville Theatre, Crystal Ballroom, The Burren, and The Rockwell

FESTIVAL PASS available for the Boston Urban Ceilidh, Dayfest, & Nightcap with Dervish.
General Admission seating in a specific ground-level section available to Festival Pass holder only. Details at check-out.

Individual tickets below

Interested in VOLUNTEERING? Please fill out this form HERE and our Volunteer Coordinator will be in touch.

Dayfest
Saturday, January 18; 11am – 5pm at Crystal Ballroom, The Burren, The Rockwell
TICKETS
Crystal Ballroom:
12pm – Copley Street with Owen Marshall
1pm – Casey & Molly
2pm – Marty Frye, Sarah Collins, David McKindley-Ward
3pm – Matt & Shannon Heaton
4pm – Scottish Fish

The Burren Backroom:
11am – Isabel Oliart and Friends
11:45am – Rose Clancy Trio
12:30pm – Sarah Ann Hajjar and Allan Chiasson
1:15pm – Clare Fraser Trio
2pm – The Simon Lace Trio
2:45pm – Coyne Family Band
3:30pm – Fox River
4:15pm – Torrin Ryan & Amy Law

The Rockwell:
12pm – Mrs. Wilberforce
12:45pm – Jen O’Shea
1:30pm – Riko Matsuoka
2:15pm – * Tea time * Sponsored by Mem Tea with storyteller Joe Keane
3pm – Helen & Rose
3:45pm – Clara Rose & Raphaella Hero feat. Adam Hendey
4:30pm – Ken Perlman with Janine Randall

The 22nd annual Boston Celtic Music Festival, known as BCMFest, returns to Club Passim, Crystal Ballroom, The Burren and The Rockwell January 16-19, 2025. Presented by Passim, a Cambridge-based non-profit that supports a vibrant music community through Club Passim, the Passim School of Music, artist grants and outreach initiatives.

The 2025 festival will showcase Greater Boston’s deep tradition of music, song and dance from Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton, Quebecois and other Celtic communities. BCMFest features acts that are traditional as well as others that draw on contemporary sounds and ideas; full-time, professional touring acts as well as local session musicians; highlighting performers from across the generations.

CLICK HERE to see the full line-up and purchase tickets to all parts of the festival.

Friday, January 17th, 7pm-9pm.  $30 / Members $25

Roots & Branches @ Club Passim

Elias Cardoso Band
Magpie: 5-part vocal harmony group with Kate Knudsvig, Kat Wallace, Helen Kuhar, Erin Hogan, & Jacqui Armbruster
Rakish

Albany Contradances are held every second and some fifth Fridays of the month, September through June, in the large ballroom of the Albany Elks Lodge, located at 25 S Allen St, Albany, NY.

Dancing starts at 8pm, with a beginner lesson at 7:45pm. Now is a great time to be a beginner! Please share this event with anybody who may be interested, regardless of experience level!

Contra dancing has its roots in English country dancing, and may feel familiar to square dancing. Albany Contra uses the gender-free calling terms Larks and Robins.

As we’re living in a world with Covid-19:

• Masks are optional

• We request that if you have symptoms or have recently been exposed to Covid, please stay home.

In partnership with the DFO, we would like to remind all attendees that consent is vital to a safe and inclusive dance experience. Be polite when asking for dances, gracious if rejected, and always ask before trying to dip, lift, or twirl your partner. If someone at the dance causes you to feel uncomfortable, please speak with an organizer or Dance Ambassador, who will be wearing a button. More information can be found at https://www.danceflurry.org/about-us/culture-of-consent/

In our ever-continuing work to welcome more people to the dance floor, we are implementing a sliding pay scale. Please plan to pay what you comfortably can, from $8 for those that need extra communal support to $25 for those who are able to give our newly reborn dance a financial boost.

Contact us with any questions or to volunteer at albanycontras@danceflurry.org

Events this season (download the flyer here):

$8 – $25