Pat Wictor show on Saturday

I haven’t pitched too many shows yet on this blog. But as an 18+ year volunteer of the Rose Garden Coffeehouse in Mansfield, Mass., I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you about this Saturday’s show (March 15, 2008).

I first saw Pat Wictor last year at the Mozaic Room Coffeehouse in Avon, Mass. His spirited playing of laptop guitar with slide, along with his shiny National steel, offer a fun combination of acoustic folk and blues. The Mozaic Room is gone, but Pat will be the headliner at the Rose Garden, with openers, Looking For Mary (yes, the two guys in the group are named Peter and Paul).

Check out some audio clips on CDBaby.

The show will be at 8 p.m. at the Orthodox Congregational Church, 17 West St., Mansfield. For lots more info, go to http://www.rosegardenfolk.com

Upcoming shows at the Rose Garden bring back some very familiar faces on the folk circuit. The venerable Bill Staines returns on April 19, and Cheryl Wheeler makes the scene for the first time on May 17. Bill’s songs paint a musical vision of America, from small-town country fairs to wide-open skies and mountains. Cheryl’s are more introspective and sometimes very funny.

Both shows are expected to be sellouts, and sales, I hear, already are busy for both shows.

The opening act for the April 19 Bill Staines show is a group of local musicians known as The Nashville Clippers. For regular attendees at Rose Garden shows, you might remember the Clippers because Mac McLanahan, one of the quartet’s performers, is the Rose Garden’s emcee. The group brings a wonderfully warm sound of country-folk to the stage and are a joy to hear.

Prior to the Cheryl Wheeler May 17 show will be the coffeehouse’s annual performing songwriter competition. New Hampshire singer-songwriter Mike Morris won last year’s contest. The big prize: $100 cash, a future paid gig at the Rose Garden and a slot at the Great Waters Folk Festival in Wolfeboro, N.H. Not bad for singing two songs.

Check back here for links to videos and photos from the Pat Wictor show this weekend!

~ by folkmaster on March 14, 2008.