MASON PORTER

It was truly an honor to share the stage with Old School Freight Train at Chaplin’s on Thursday. Their musicianship and professionalism on stage is top notch. They are back this way October 26th with out friends Hoots and Hellmouth and Tin Bird Choir at the Colonial Theater in Phoenixville. In the mean time their live record is good listen.

And while we love Chaplin’s, probably the nicest room around, it was just as nice to get down to Dawson Street Pub on Friday and let loose a bit. We played a few new songs, Thunder in The Valley and a yet to be named Paul song. Jack and Phil from the Chicken Shack joined us for out third set. We did some Jack songs like Abrahams Lincoln, Hen House Door. We got a Dylan tune out of Phil. By the end we had Paul on dobro, Joe and Jack on guitar, Phil on bass and a whole lot of singing from everyone. But this was just a preview of the all night shenanigans that took place Saturday night at Wind Gap.

With that said, we’re happy the rain held off Saturday for the most part. Mountain View Park is such a beautiful venue. It’s a great feeling to be up on that stage looking out on a natural amphitheater of wooded hills rising up around the field below. There is a signed mural of Doc Watson, Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin and all the greats as the back drop of the stage. Mason Porter did two sets plus a Chicken and Porter super band set to close out the night which was the highlight of the weekend. Much thanks to Sandi “Texas Rose”, Sully, Brian Pierce and everyone at AFBA for a great time!

Here’s a video from Saturday of us doing Maggie’s Farm

Thursday, Sept 25^th, Chaplin’s w/Old School Freight Train, Spring City, Pa
It’s been a while since we played this unique venue and we can’t wait. We go on around 8:15ish. BYOB. Pre-sale tickets and more info available at http://www.chaplinsthemusiccafe.com Check out OSFT here http://www.myspace.com/osft

Friday, Sept. 26^th, Dawson Street Pub, Manayunk, PA
We love the Dawson Street Pub for its good people and good beer! Come for a full night of MP. http://www.dawsonstreetpub.com/

Saturday, Sept. 27^th, Mountain View Park, Wind Gap, Pa
A beautiful park just outside Bethlehem, PA. Come see a bunch of good bands and camp for only $17. http://www.afbawindgap.org

Don’t be shy, send us an email if you need more details on a particular show (or if you just want to say hi!). We love to hear from you.

Want to get one last night of camping and playing music until dawn in before the cold weather hits? On September 27th we will be doing just that at Mountain View Park in Wind Gap, PA. The Fall Shindig is being held by the Appalachian Fiddle and Bluegrass Association who are a great bunch of folks and they would love nothing more than to see a bunch of people from the Philly and surrounding areas come up and enjoy a night of music at there park. Other acts include Wissahickon Chicken Shack, Dan Hubbard and more. Plus there will be a fiddle contest! It’s $7 for the day plus $10 if you want to camp. We play sets at 1:00 and 6:00 There are hot showers too! Fro directions and more info checkout the AFBA website

We just picked up a last minute show opening for Charlottesville, VA’s Old School Freight Train. The show is Thursday, September 25th at Chaplin’s in Spring City. For those of you who have some to see us in Phoenixville, Spring City is about 10 minutes West on 23 from Phoenixville. With a little help from the MP fans out there this will probably sell out, so go to the Chaplin’s website to get your tickets. http://chaplinsthemusiccafe.com We’d love to see you there, and you don’t want to miss OSFT!

Here is a little about Old School Freight Train
Old School Freight Train, from Charlottesville, VA combines thought provoking lyrics with captivating melodies, soulful vocals, virtuosic instrumentals and imaginative arrangements. Blending folk, jazz, soul, pop, bluegrass, latin and celtic, OSFT offers a unique musical experience the BOSTON GLOBE claims is “the Next Big Thing” and the CHICAGO TRIBUNE claims is “accessible but uncompromising in creativity.” DAVID GRISMAN says, “After forty years of recording acoustic music, it’s not very often that a new band catches, and keeps, my attention. Old School Freight Train has done that and more.” “Shades of Jack Johnson, Ben Harper… even a kiss of Van Morrison… Old School Freight Train is off on a timeless new track blending roots and rock to create a sound that’s all their own.” - Tim Dickinson, National Affairs Correspondent, Rolling Stone

Thanks to everyone who braved the storm last night and made it to Milkboy. We did way better than we thought we were with the hurricane and all.
There are some great people out there, and all three bands are very very grateful for the support! Special thanks to Nick and Denise, Billy Brock, Mike D and the Crow’s Nest!
Whip Tavern and 4 Sisters Winery Music and Arts Fest is next weekend!

Here are some pictures from last night…

Wissahickon Chicken Shack starts the night off right!

Mason Porter!

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So what’s a little rain anyway?

Just wanted to tell everyone THE SHOW IS ON, in case there were doubts.

Milkboy tonight with Chicken Shack and Paint
ed Blue!

We have a pretty busy fall coming up and were happy to be starting it off at a MilkBoy in Ardmore…and with a killer lineup! The Show is this Saturday, September 6th at 8:00. Wissahickon Chicken Shack starts the night off at 8:00, we’re second at around 9:00, and Painted Blue closes the night!

Tickets can be purchased from TicketLeap

This is going to be a great show, three of the Philadelphia area’s best bluegrass related acts in our opinion. Not to miss!

After Saturday, we will be pretty busy for the rest of the year. Here’s an idea of what were looking at show wise for the next couple months so far.
Sep 6 2008 MilkBoy Coffee w/Painted Blue and Wissahickon Chicken Shack Ardmore, Pennsylvania
Sep 12 2008 The Whip Tavern Unionville, Pennsylvania
Sep 14 2008 Four Sisters Winery Music and Arts Festival Belvedere, New Jersey
Sep 19 2008 Welkinweir Nature Preserve, Green Valley Association Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Sep 20 2008 WDVR Heartlands Hayride Sergentsville, New Jersey
Sep 26 2008 Dawson Street Pub Manayunk, Pennsylvania
Sep 27 2008 AFBA Fall Festival & Fiddle Contest at Mountain View Park Wind Gap, Pennsylvania
Oct 3 2008 Brickette Lounge West Chester, Pennsylvania
Oct 11 2008 Moon Dancer Winery Bluegrass Festival Wrightsville, Pennsylvania
Oct 24 2008 Brass Lantern
Oct 25 2008 The Taphouse Norfolk, Virginia
Nov 1 2008 The Friendly Inn Ellicott City, Maryland
Nov 14 2008 Andy’s Chestertown, Maryland
Nov 15 2008 Burlap and Bean w/The Manatawny Creek Ramblers Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
Nov 16 2008 The Folk Show w/Gene Shay, Live on WXPN! Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nov 21 2008 Appalacian Brewery Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Nov 29 2008 Steel City Coffee Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Dec 12 2008 Brickette Lounge West Chester, Pennsylvania
Jan 3 2009 World Cafe Live w/Hezekiah Jones Philadelphia

The tour page is updated frequently, sometimes the myspace page is more up to date, it is worth checking out both.