MASON PORTER

Hey folks! We’re getting ready for our first shows of the year! We’re very happy to start off the year by sharing some new recordings from the Key Studio Session we recorded this last week art WXPN Studios in Philadelphia. A big thanks to John Vettese and WXPN for inviting us in for the session.

DipCo and the Note coming up soon, check the tour page for more…
Saturday, January 28th, Lancaster Disp. Co. – Lancaster, PA
Thursday, February 2nd, The Note – West Chester, PA w/Donna The Buffalo

We had a great time at the Roots Ramble last weekend. This weekend we hit the road…

Friday, Cafe Nola in Frederick, MD.
We play an early show starting around 8/8:30 until 10:00.

Saturday, Cary Street Cafe in Richmond, VA
We play 10-2. We’ve had a couple memorable shows here and are looking forward to our return as well as spending the afternoon in one of our favorite record stores that afternoon, Plan 9 on Cary Street.

A pair of interviews from two different Frederick news sources came out today.

http://www.gazette.net/

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/

Much thanks to Helen Leicht and WXPN for playing us as the Philly Local Pick of the Day yesterday and for a great blog post as well.

You can read the post here:
http://xpn.org/allaboutthemusic/?p=13449

Upcoming shows:
4/16 Roots Ramble, Media, PA
4/22 Cafe Nola, Frederick, MD
4/23 Cary Street Cafe, Richmond, VA
4/28 World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA
4/29 Brickette Lounge, West Chester, PA

Friday night we will be playing at Malone’s in Harrisburg. Here is a nice article by Alexis Dow at pennlinve.com.

Also, Saturday come camp with us at Mountain View Park in Wind Gap, PA!
It is very affordable. Here is the lineup. We close the night!
12pm Texas Rose
1:00 James King Band
2:00 Stained Grass Window
3:00 Forgotten Mountain Boys
4:00 Past Time Bluegrass Band
5:00 James King Band
6:00 Mark Miklos
7:00 Danny Hubbard Band
8:00 Aimless Pursuit
9:00 Mason Porter

Tuesday we were the Local Pick of The Day on WXPN. Check out the blog post here. Thanks Helen Leicht and WXPN!

This weekend we’re in Harrisburg Friday at Malone’s and Saturday we’re in Wind Gap, Pa for The AFBA Shindig. We’ll be playing and camping out at the beautiful Mountain View Park.

More details on the Tour page.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mason Porter: Spring Tour, New Album
Mason Porter on tour in support of new album

West Chester, Pennsylvania (March 8, 2010) – Roots group Mason Porter hits the road March 26 through April 10 for a spring tour in support of their new album, Thunder in the Valley. After a snowy Pennsylvania winter that forced the band to cancel their CD Release Party—twice—the band is anxious to finally bring their show on the road. The tour heads south (and hopefully to warmer weather), winding through the Appalachian states of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia, before eventually wrapping up with a homecoming show at the World Café Live in Philadelphia on April 10.

Thunder In The Valley was released December 10 via Philadelphia upstart Uncle Nicky Records. Produced by Tom Hamilton (American Babies, Brothers Past) and mixed by producer Bill Moriarty (Dr. Dog, Hoots and Hellmouth), the album showcases the songwriting of band members Joe D’Amico, Tim Celfo and Paul Wilkinson. Preserving the core instrumentation of acoustic guitar, mandolin and upright bass—as well as Mason Porter’s signature three-part harmonies—Thunder in the Valley displays the band’s ability to expand beyond its original folk and bluegrass roots with more intricate songwriting and arrangements.

For more information, promo materials, or to schedule an interview please contact:
Joe D’Amico
masonporter@gmail.com

http://www.masonporter.com

Mar 19 Burlap and Bean, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
Mar 26 Cafe Nola, Frederick, Maryland
Mar 27 The Boot, Norfolk, Virginia
Mar 28 Legend Brewery, Richmond, Virginia
Mar 28 Cary Street Café, Richmond, Virginia
Mar 29 The Evening Muse, Charlotte, North Carolina
Mar 31 Preservations Pub, Knoxville, Tennessee
Apr 1 The Green Lantern, Lexington, Kentucky
Apr 2 The Purple Fiddle, Thomas, West Virginia
Apr 3 Moondogs, Blawnox, Pennsylvania
Apr 10 World Cafe Live Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

###

Philly Weekly
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/music/Mason-Porter.html

One Fan At A Time
http://onefanatatime.com/2010/01/01/album-review-mason-porter-thunder-in-the-valley/

Philly Acoustic
http://phillyacoustic.blogspot.com/2010/02/mason-porter-is-cursed.html

Pocono Record
http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100131/NEWS/1310339/-1/rss01

2010 is off to good start already. Check out this review from Jenny Tate at One Fan At A Time.

http://onefanatatime.com/2010/01/01/album-review-mason-porter-thunder-in-the-valley/

Upcoming Shows:
Saturday, Jan. 16th 7pm
Grace Episcopal Church Wilmington, DE

Saturday, Jan. 23rd 9pm
The Black Door Montpelier, Vermont

Sunday, Jan. 24rd 9pm
The Firebox Hartford, Connecticut

Saturday, Jan. 30th 7pm
The Sherman Theater Stroudsburg, PA
Pocono Winterfest w/Peter Rowan, Cabinet and more!

Saturday, Feb 6th 10:30pm
CD Release Party at the World Cafe Live! Philadelphia, PA
Join us to celebrate the release of Thunder In The Valley!

Sunday, Feb. 28th 9pm
The Note West Chester, PA
Luekimia Benefit w/Missing Palmer West and John Grecia Band

For Immediate Release

Mason Porter Summons Thunder in the Valley
West Chester, Pennsylvania, Roots Group Furthers Philadelphia’s Burgeoning Folk Scene With Its First Full-Length Album

West Chester, Pennsylvania (Dec. 10th 2009) – Roots group Mason Porter will release their first full-length album, Thunder in the Valley, on December 10 via Philadelphia upstart Uncle Nicky Records. Showcasing 13 new songs from songwriters Joe D’Amico, Tim Celfo and Paul Wilkinson, Thunder reunites Mason Porter with producer Tom Hamilton (American Babies, Brothers Past), who oversaw the group’s sterling 2008 self-titled EP, and features the mixing work of producer Bill Moriarty (Dr. Dog, Hoots and Hellmouth). The band will celebrate Thunder in the Valley with a CD Release Party and performance at the Blinkin’ Lincoln in Manayunk on December 19 at 10 pm.

Preserving the core instrumentation of acoustic guitar, mandolin and upright bass—as well as Mason Porter’s signature three-part harmonies—Thunder in the Valley displays the band’s ability to expand beyond its original folk and bluegrass roots with intricate songwriting and arrangements.

The album builds song-by-song, as dobro and violin enter the frame, followed by electric guitar, piano, harmonica and more. Opening track “Hard Luck and Trouble” starts with a chaotic rumble that quickly dissolves into a sweet sway of bowed bass and acoustic guitar, with each chorus bigger than the last. “Up In The Hills,” a good ol’ barn-burner and staple at live shows, is captured with all the energy MP fans have come to expect. The title track’s mighty intro is topped only by the ferocity of its ending refrain. And the band’s ability to create masterful vocal arrangements is evident throughout the entire record—but particularly near the album’s end, in songs like “nowhere,” “Snow Angel” and “Delta Queen.”

Starting December 10, Thunder in the Valley will be available at unclenickeyrecords.com and at the group’s live shows. Also available are the band’s self-released 2008 EP and 2009 split 7in with Chris Kasper, also on Uncle Nicky Records.

Mason Porter will tour the East Coast this winter and spring, returning to festivals this summer. For a full itinerary, go to http://www.masonporter.com
For more information please contact:

Joe D’Amico
masonporter@gmail.com

http://www.masonporter.com

For label inquiries:
Colin Helb
Uncle Nicky Records
mail@unclenickyrecords.com

http://www.unclenickyrecords.com

###

Here is a nice review of the EP by Forever Lost in a Song.

http://www.foreverlostinasong.com/2009/06/mason-porter-mason-porter-ep.html