Pasadena Folk Music Society

Michael is hugely known as the songwriter of The Dutchman, a song recorded early on by Steve Goodman and then performed and recorded by all kinds of great singers since then. If you don't know the song by it's name, maybe the line, "Long ago I used to be a young man, and dear Margaret … Continue reading Michael Smith, extraordinary songwriter, singer, guitarist to appear at Caltech Saturday, March 11 →

Don't miss the opportunity to hear the return of Alasdair Fraser, Scottish fiddler extraordinaire and Natalie Haas on cello! Alasdair, now living in the Sierra Nevada foothills, has long been a favorite in his adopted country. He performs solo, as well as with groups as diverse as the Los Angeles Master Chorale, The Waterboys and … Continue reading Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas →

Ben Miller and Anita MacDonald will be making their first appearance at Caltech in Beckman Institute Auditorium (Little Beckman.) They have been playing together for about four years, blending the rich traditional sound of the Cape Breton fiddle, with the fiery edge of the Scottish Border pipes. Combining their creative vision with influences from Old … Continue reading Ben Miller and Anita MacDonald →

Brocelïande (Margaret Davis, Kristoph Klover, and Kris Yenney) will return to Caltech with music from the British Isles, Medieval and Renaissance music, and original settings of the songs of J.R.R. Tolkien. Featuring stellar vocal and instrumental harmonies, their enchanting sound is built on the interweaving of 3-part vocals with Celtic harp, guitar, cello, octave mandolin, … Continue reading Brocelïande, Celtic and Early Music Ensemble →

Jim Kweskin's name has long been associated with the Jim Kweskin Jug Band, which defined an important niche in popular music, showcasing traditional, jugband, and ragtime music in an era (the 1960's) when more and more musicians were writing their own songs.  This band reached back and made music from the past shine. The band … Continue reading Jim Kweskin and friends →

The Recollective, a Celtic quartet, based in Ireland, consists of Calum Morrison, from Glascow, Scotland on vocals, guitar, banjo, tenor guitar, bodhran and Highland Bagpipes, Karen Hickey, from County Mayo, Ireland on fiddle, Michael Coult, originally from Glossop (close to Manchester), England, on traditional Irish flute and whistles, and Kieran Leonard on drums percussion, and … Continue reading The Recollective →

Phil Salazar has been one of the mainstays in Southern California bluegrass for a good many years. He has pulled bluegrass in many directions and he has played in many memorable configurations during this time. One of these groupings began as the Phil Salazar Band back in 1983. This is such an amazing grouping and … Continue reading Phil Salazar and the Kin Folk →

The Pasadena Folk Music Society is co-sponsoring a memorial for Rosalie Sorrels with some of her friends and family on Sunday, August 20 at 7:00 PM in our familiar Beckman Institute Auditorium (Little Beckman.) Rosalie, a terrific singer, songwriter, musician and storyteller passed away on June 11 and this will be a chance for friends, a … Continue reading Rosalie Sorrels Memorial →

The New England-based string and vocal trio, Low Lily (formerly Annalivia) explores the roots and branches of American folk music with traditional influences and modern inspiration that weaves together a unique brand of acoustic music. Liz Simmons (vocals and guitar) Flynn Cohen (vocals, guitar, and mandolin) and Lissa Schneckenburger (vocals and fiddle) are masterful players … Continue reading Low Lily with John Whelan →

Susan McKeown (pronounced "mick-yone") has been called “the most strikingly original woman singer in the Celtic music vein" by The Christian Science Monitor. She has performed and recorded with Johnny Cunningham (Silly Wizard, Celtic Fiddle Festival,) John Doyle, Eileen Ivers, Natalie Merchant, Solas’ Seamus Egan and many others. She was born in Dublin, Ireland, but … Continue reading Susan McKeown- Concert posponed!! We hope to announce a new date soon. Please check back. →

Award-winning vocalist, Susie Glaze, mandolinist Steve Rankin, fiddler Mark Indictor and bassist Fred Sanders are The Susie Glaze New Folk Ensemble, the newest version of the acclaimed Los Angeles-based Americana group, a lush new folk Americana fusion ensemble, presenting gorgeous eclectic blends of mountain folk and exciting new grassy and Celtic-inspired originals, all with the … Continue reading The Susie Glaze New Folk Ensemble →

Laurie is certainly one of the most prominent women of bluegrass today, with her voice, guitar, and fiddle, but her songwriting and song interpreting sets her apart from the bluegrass world. She can do a great job on Bill Monroe and Carter family songs, but her originals, from early ones, like Texas Bluebonnets to recent … Continue reading Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands →

Caltech's Public Events presents a great evening of Latin dance music, featuring Cuban-born Adonis Puentes and his Voice of Cuba Orchestra. Adonis and his fraternal twin, Alex (now known as Alex Cuba) were born in Artemisa, a faded colonial city southwest of Havana in 1974. They both later left Cuba for Canada and went their … Continue reading Adonis Puentes and the Voice of Cuba Orchestra presented by Caltech Public Events! Receive a $5 discount if you mention the Folk Music Society when ordering tickets! Saturday, January 20 in Beckman Auditorium (Big Beckman) at 8PM →

Jim Malcolm has performed in our series five times and also once or twice when he was a member of Old Blind Dogs. The pattern has been to have him every other year, but because of a scheduling conflict in 2017, we're making up for missing him last January. Jim continues to be one of … Continue reading Jim Malcolm →

It is official! Peter Yarrow is coming to Caltech in February, 2018! After months of working out a date and other details, the Folk Music Society will present Peter at 7:00 PM (Note earlier-than-usual start time!) on Saturday, February 10 in Ramo Auditorium, just a 4 minute walk from our usual venue, Beckman Institute Auditorium. … Continue reading An Evening with Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary →

Scotland's Old Blind Dogs, from Aberdeenshire, on Scotland’s northeast coast, has been one of the most popular acts (two of the shows sold out!) in our series over the years. Consisting of Jonny Hardie, (fiddle & vocals), Aaron Jones (bouzouki, guitar, bass, and vocals), Ali Hutton (pipes, whistles & guitar), and Donald Hay (percussion). Because … Continue reading Scottish group Old Blind Dogs at Caltech →

The Folk Music Society is very proud to present the extraordinary songwriter and singer, John Gorka. We've been working on getting him here for the last 2-3 years, and finally our schedules match! John performed in our series early in his career, showing his talent with songs like Branching Out and over the years he … Continue reading Singer and songwriter John Gorka at Caltech →

The Kingston Trio had a tremendous influence in bringing folk music into the mainstream of popular music in the late 1950's and 1960's. Since that exciting time when they had many hits, such as Tom Dooley, Where Have all the Flowers Gone?, A Woried Man, and many, many more, this music has inspired many and … Continue reading The (New) Kingston Trio (Josh Reynolds, Mike Marvin, Tim Gorelangton) presented by Caltech Public Events! Receive a $5 discount if you mention the Folk Music Society when ordering tickets! In Beckman Auditorium (Big Beckman) →

Claude is making his first appearance in our series. He is a mesmerizing guitarist with a strong background in classical guitar, along with solid familiarity with blues as well. Claude, who also sings, is French, though he grew up in Switzerland and now lives in the United Kingdom. He has fans on both sides of … Continue reading Claude Bourbon, Classical/blues guitarist and singer →