Summer Acoustic Music Week
Summer Acoustic Music Week at Geneva Point Center, Center Harbor, NH. Sponsored by WUMB Radio, UMass Boston. https://samw.wumb.org/ Both weeks are sold out, but each has a waiting list.
August 13 to 19 – SAMW week two
A second wonderful week of learning and making music on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee.
Lorraine and Bennett Performing at WAMW
June 14, 2023
Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline, Massachusetts
Hello friends,
Indeed, “Sumer is a-comin’ in”! And we find ourselves making music that ranges from the two of us capturing a new tune of an evening at home, playing with friends, teaching at camps and performing at coffeehouses. We lost January to covid, but were non-contagious and up and running by February in good time to play at the Friday Folk Coffeehouse In Dedham to a packed house – our first full show in a long time. Teaching and jamming at Mandolin Camp North in April and Banjo Camp North in May were both big fun, and Lorraine flies to North Carolina in June to teach again for the first time in four years at The Mountain Collegium of Early Music and Folk Music at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. She has been teaching at Collegium since 1997. As they mark their 50th anniversary she will be teaching a ballad class and a delightfully large Folk Ensemble, and delivering the Folk Lecture that honors her friend the late John Trexler.
July and August each have a great Summer Acoustic Music Week (SAMW) ahead at Geneva Point Conference Center on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee in Moultonboro, N.H. SAMW has been running for over 25 years now, and we have taught at every session. Lorraine only recently stepped down as music director. We can’t imagine our life without SAMW and are really happy to be staying on as teachers. After SAMW we’ll be hopping on a cross-country train – but more about later!
Here’s to a fine summer of great music for us all!
Lorraine and Bennett
#SongsofComfort Music helps, and we continue to find real comfort in playing together at home, and will continue to share that music with you. This set includes
- “Bunch of Rushes”, traditional
- My song honoring the late Rev. Walter Donald Kring: “Celadon Song”, © 1997, Lorraine Lee Hammond, Snowy Egret Music, BMI
- The Turlough O’Carolan tune, “Planxty Fanny Poer”
Bunch of Rushes Set, Lorraine and Bennett Hammond #Songsofcomfort
Lorraine and Bennett play in perfect complement; they blend their instruments and create a beautiful new voice for songs and tunes that range in style from classical music through Celtic, blues and contemporary. They sing both traditional and original songs, reflecting a variety of influences from American and European traditions. Their interpretation of traditional music attests to their ability to hear fresh sounds in old songs.
Lorraine Hammond is an exceptional Appalachian dulcimer player, who after decades of concerts, workshops, teaching and recording can take much of the credit for the instrument’s current popularity. In addition, she plays folk harp, mandolin and five-string banjo.
Bennett Hammond is a superb finger-style guitarist who claims inspiration from the three B’s: Bach, Buddy Holly and Bo Diddley. He, along with Lorraine, produce some of the finest acoustic music around. Together, they are simply magical.