May 2024
I would like to extend love, prayers and a wish for peace to the family of Phil Wiggins. I met Phil in a Metro parking lot when I went to pick him up for a recording session (Elmer’s Blues, Color Factory, 2017). I had a Little Walter CD playing in the car and before he even sat down he said “Little Walter!”. Took him about a millisecond to recognize the player. His solo on Elmer’s Blues is complete mastery … I miss him already as do many.
April 2024
1st place, Common Ground on the Hill Songwriting Contest, Chesapeake Waterman
Such a nice surprise!
2023
A wild and wonderful season! Thanks to the venues and to you my friends for supporting local music!
Thanks to:
Barnhouse Brewery
Black Ankle Vineyards
Blue Valley Vineyards
Dirt Farm Brewery
Easton Farm Market
Elk Run Vineyards
Janemark Vineyards
Perigeaux Vineyards
Two Lions Vineyards
49 West
2022
Hard to believe that 2022 is already drawing to a close. I want to thank everyone for your kindness and support this year. I love playing music, I love playing for you and I am blessed to have the chance to. Special thanks to Danny Knicely (dannyknicely.com) and Tom Mindte (pxrec.com) for joining me at shows this year, it is indeed a pleasure to play with such amazing musicians. I am over the moon grateful to the following venues for their support of local music:
Barnhouse Brewery, Leesburg, VA
Black Ankle Vineyards, Mt. Airy, MD
Chincoteague Island Bluegrass Festival, Chincoteague Island, VA
Dirt Farm Brewery, Bluemont, VA
Easton Farm Market, Easton, MD
Elk Run Vineyards, Mt. Airy, MD
Honah Lee Vineyards, Gordonsville, VA
Knights Gambit, Charlottesville, VA
Perigeaux Vineyards, St. Leonard, MD
Two Lions Vineyard, Upper Marlboro, MD
49 West, Annapolis, MD
Please check the website (michaelkellytunes.com) and Facebook (facebook/michaelkellytunes) for upcoming shows and please check out https://michael-kelly.bandcamp.com/ for the new recording Kingfisher featuring Rob Benzing, Danny Knicely, Tom Mindte, Mark Schatz, Rickie Simpkins and Jay Summerour. Peace!
New Recording!
Kingfisher is now out and available on Patuxent Music (pxrec.com) and Bandcamp as well as most if not all of your favorite download/streaming sites. This recording features Rob Benzing on banjo, Danny Knicely on mandolin, Mark Schatz on bass, Rickie Simpkins on fiddle and harmony vocals and old friend Jay Summerour makes an appearance as well. Mixed and engineered by Tom Mindte (who also added harmony vocals on one track), mastered by Mike Monseur and artwork by Michael G. Stewart.
C’mon ’21!
Hope you’re staying safe and life is good! I want to say thanks for supporting the music, for being there, for inspiring me and for trekking out to the shows this year: there aren’t really any words big enough to express my gratitude but let me try – THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
A special thanks to all the venues for their support and especially for their flexibility this past year when we had to reschedule so many shows. I am deeply appreciative of the support for local, live music and look forward to seeing and working with you in 2021.
I have a new recording coming out soon. It’s Christmas Eve as I write this and we start final mixing next week at Tom Mindte’s Patuxent Music studio. I recorded Color Factory there and I love working with Tom. Mark, Danny, Rickie, Robbie and Jay are over the moon talented and it’s been a blast working with them.
Happy Holidays, Happy New Year, Peace!
Perigeaux
Thanks to everyone for coming out and making it such a wonderful afternoon! Let’s do it again in October!
Chincoteague Island Bluegrass Festival has been postponed due to Hurricane Laura.
Rescheduled and Cancelled due to Coronavirus QuarantineTh
The 4/3 show at Dirt Farm Brewing has been rescheduled to 8/7/2020.
The 5/9 and 6/13 shows at Perigeaux Vineyards have been cancelled.
The 6/3 show at Chincoteague Island Bluegrass Festival has been rescheduled to 6/27/2020.
The 5/12 show at 49 West has been rescheduled to 8/10/2020.
The 5/15 show at Black Ankle Winery is cancelled.
The 6/27 Chincoteague Bluegrass Festival has been postponed tentatively to 11/21/2020.
The 11/21 date for the Chincoteague Island Bluegrass Festival has now been moved up to 8/29/2020!
8/29 show postponed due to Hurricane Laura, new date TBD.
9/19 show at Easton Farm Market cancelled due to covid-19 related issues.
Stay safe and see you down the road.
Falling Waters
Fantastic workshop in Ithaca with Claire Lynch, Michael Daves, Judy Hyman and Quinn Blanchard among others. Singing, writing, guitar and fiddle … old friends and new. One memorable moment was singing ‘Don’t This Road Look Rough and Rocky’ with Michael Daves accompanying on his ’39 Gibson J35 in a vocal performance workshop. The staff concert was phenomenal! Tony Trishka, Maddy Witler, Shane Cook, Rick Manning, Bobby Henrie and the aforementioned all tearing it up; so cool!