MASON PORTER

Here we are on the last day of 2008, New Years Eve. No Mason Porter show this year. We’re glad to have been able to relax the last few weeks, spend some time with family and friends, and get ready for the busy winter ahead which starts with World Café show on Jan 3rd! We had a remarkable year and we want to take a moment to thank everyone who contributed to all the great times and success we’ve had.

One of the most important happenings in 2008 was the release of our debut EP. We are very happy with it and are thankful for the folks at MilkBoy Recording and Tom Hamilton for making it happen.

We played a lot of shows and met a lot of great people at every one. Every show is memorable and a fantastic time but a handful stick out: Starting back in the winter was the Wilmington Wintergrass festival. We met a lot of great folks there including Sandi “Texas Rose” who has been a big supporter of the band since. The winter also gave us a packed house at the Steel City with Painted Blue and Avi and Celia and a great show at the Fire with Chris Kasper, Wissahickon Chicken Shack, Adrien Reju, The Junior League and more.

The month of May brought us to MilkBoy for a Tuesday night residency; the shows were all acoustic and quite intimate. Some wonderful bands played including Joshua Park, Hezekiah Jones, Painted Blue, Max Spiegel, The New Time, Steph Hewett, Chicken Shack and Papertrees. Also in May was the NEPA Bluegrass Festival, wow, what a great time, thanks to Danny Stewart, the Grillbillies and Mike Wuerstle who have done a lot to support us since.

The summer had us on the road a little. The Purple Fiddle was amazing w/ Enter the Hagis. But a nearly sold out show at the Tin Angel sticks out as the best; a great bill too with Chicken Shack and Adrien Reju. We also released the EP in June! Some other fun ones in the summer included OATS, Bucks County Bluegrass Festival, and the Endless Summer Jam Festival.

This past fall got even better! MilkBoy Coffee show in September was a blast. Our Norfolk show was one of the best we have ever played. Steel City was packed again. We got to play live on the Folk Show on WXPN! We also got to share the stage with some great national acts including the Hackensaw Boys, Larry Keel, and Old School Freight Train. And we can’t forget the last Brickette show of the year; a Chicken and Porter spectacular! One of the most fun times we’ve had.

Truly an amazing year! We could not have done it without all the support we get from you. Thank you so much.

Have a Happy New Year!

We’re super excited to start the year off with a great bill at a great venue. The show starts at 9:00. Hezekiah Jones will start the night off. Rumor is they are doing an 8 piece band for this show. Mason Porter will follow around 10. Check out Hezekiah Jones and buy a ticket! This will be a great show.

We went to the Firebird Festival in Phoenixville last night. It’s a pretty wild event. They build this 30 or 40 foot wooden Phoenix and then light it on fire. There must have been a few thousand people there, vendors, dancers, drummers, and a whole lot of craziness. The crowd grew restless waiting chanting “light the bird. light the bird”. The bird took about 30 minutes to burn down and we were off to play a little after party. We did a warm set inside and a chilly one outside by the fire. Cowmuddy played a great set too. Check out these great photos that Lyla put up.

Fridays Chicken and Porter Christmas show at the Brickette was all the fun plus 1000 times more of what we thought it would be. A great crowd too. Thanks for Steph Hewett, the Chickens, and Brian Pierce for combining forces and making some of the most energetic music possible.

We have a few weeks off now to relax and enjoy the holidays. Our next show is Saturday, January 3rd at the World Cafe Live upstairs with Hezekiah Jones. We’re super psyched for this one. You can grab tickets in advance here.

January and February are looking pretty busy, so check out our schedule and come see us soon.

This Friday (12/12) is our last scheduled show for the year and we’re going out in style with our good friends Wissahickon Chicken Shack and were doing it at the world famous Brickette Lounge. They’ll be starting the night off at 9:00. Mason Porter will follow, and a Chicken and Porter set will close the night! This is the first time the Chickens are coming to West Chester and we’re very excited to have them.

World Café w/Hezekiah Jones!
Not too early to think about next year. The show is Saturday Jan 3rd. Check out Hezekiah Jonesand buy a ticket! This will be a great show.

T-Shirts and CD’s
The holidays are here and we have plenty of Mason Porter merchandise for sale on our web site.

FREE SHIPPING on CD’s and T-Shirts!

Thursday (12/4) we’re opening for Larry Keel and Natural Bridge at the North Star Bar in Philly. Mason Porter goes on at 9:00. The show is $10.

Here is a bit about Larry from his site…

“Over the years Larry Keel has become a world-class flatpicking guitarist, and that talent has earned him legendary status with fans and the highest respect amongst his musical peers. In recent performances Larry has led bands involving such industry icons as Tony Rice, Jack Lawrence, Mike Marshall, Darol Anger, Curtis Burch (New Grass Revival), Vassar Clements, Joe Craven, Jim Lauderdale, Eddie Adcock; in addition he has played specialty sets with Darrell Scott and Sam Bush and guitar workshops along side David Grier and Norman Blake. Keel’s distinct style of flatpicking the guitar is the tool with which he creates his original brand of songwriting and his peers have taken notice. Both Del McCoury and Acoustic Syndicate have recorded Larry’s material. The Del McCoury Band recorded Larry’s ‘Mountain Song’ on their 2005 Grammy award winning release, The Company We Keep. Acoustic Syndicate recorded ‘Long Way Round’ as their title track for their 2004 release.”

Steel City was a blast last week. We had a great time playing, Painted Blue were at they’re best, and we had a great crowd. Thanks to Steel City and everyone who came out that night!

Upcomig Shows:

Dec 4th, 2008 9:00P
North Star Bar w/ Larry Keel & Natural Bridge
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Dec 12th, 2008 9:00P
Brickette Lounge w/ Wissahickon Chicken Shack
West Chester, Pennsylvania

Jan 3th, 2009 8:00P
World Cafe Live w/Hezekiah Jones
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania