Northern Roots

Traditional Music Festival

Saturday, January 28th, 2023 and Sunday, January 29, 2023

(Click NRF schedule card 2023 to see the full schedule)

The Northern Roots Festival is a showcase of the variety of northern musical traditions including Irish, Scottish, English, French Canadian, Shetland and more. In 2021, this cornerstone of the traditional music calendar in New England was held in virtual form. In 2022 we returned, in part, with 2 in person concerts and 2 online worshops. In 2023 – We’re fully back in person!!

The 2023 Northern Roots Festival returns with a Saturday afternoon of workshops followed by an evening concert and Sunday afternoon sessions – all in person!

Saturday workshops include celebrations of Bob McQuillen’s tunes and Tony Barrand’s singing, fiddle tunings and stylings, Irish flute technique, English and early New England tunes, Mandolin and guitar techniques, Irish and French Canadian tunes, explorations of French Bal Folk and more! See the full schedule!

The Saturday evening concert includes performances by  Nathan Gourley and Laura Feddersen (Irish fiddle), Julia Friend (Traditional song), Alex Cummings and Max Newman (English accordion & guitar), and Mary Fraser and Sally Newton (French Canadian fiddle). Keith Murphy, Andy Davis, Fred Breunig and Amanda Witman will make up Traddleboro 2023. Cant be here? This concert will be live-streamed. While there is no charge to access the stream we hope that those who can will make a donation in support of the musicians! That link will be available during the concert.

And on Sunday NRF returns to its traditional three session afternoon format, with a Pub Sing, French Canadian Session, and Irish Session, all hosted downtown at the River Garden Marketplace.

Check out our performer page to learn more about these amazing musicians!