MASON PORTER

This Saturday, February 6th at the World Cafe Live, 10pm!

Tickets Available Here

Here is video of us performing at the Sherman Theater last Saturday. It was a great time. Much thanks to Ken and everyone at the Pocono Folk and Bluegrass Society for having us.

“Winterfest - the best bluegrass festival in the Poconos - is back once again to help warm things up after the holidays with the hum of strings and the sound of American bluegrass music! Presented in association with the Pocono Bluegrass & Folk Society, this year’s festival is full of brilliant national and local bluegrass acts and includes eight bands and more than nine hours of music – topping it all off with a special headlining appearance by The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band.

Grammy award winner and legendary bluegrass artist Peter Rowan has developed into one of the major bluegrass artists of the last 50 years while accumulating a devoted, international fan base through his continuous stream of original recordings, collaborative projects, and constant touring. Joining Rowan (guitar) in The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band are Jody Stecher (mandolin), Keith Little (banjo), and Paul Knight (bass). The ensemble has been entertaining audiences with original songs executed in vibrant harmony.

Other artists scheduled to appear include Wilkes-Barre natives Cabinet as well as acoustic-bluegrass performers the Hickory Project. Additional artists performing on stage include Folk Spirits, Hillbilly Water, Mason Porter, Aimless Pursuit, and The Lost Ramblers.

Even more Winterfest events take place on January 29th and 31st throughout the Stroudsburg area! Please visit www.poconobluegrass.org for more information.

Come celebrate ten years of bluegrass in the ‘Burgs this January at the Sherman!”

Date: 1/30/10
SEATING: Reserved seating & General admission
Ticket prices: $35 reserved / $25 GA
Doors open at 12 noon.

BUY TICKETS HERE

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

By now you all know that last weeks snow storm forced us to cancel our CD Release Party. We did our best to reschedule it as soon as we could and the new date is Saturday, Feb. 6th at the World Café Live Upstairs. It will be a 10:30 start. Doors open at 10pm. Tickets will be available soon at http://worldcafelive.com

In the mean time you can pick up a copy of Thunder In The Valley at the Uncle Nicky Records website

Come join Mason Porter and our friends tonight at the World Cafe Live

We regret to announce that tonight’s show at the Blinkin’ Lincoln is being postponed.

We are working on rescheduling but do not have a date to share just yet.

You can join us this Wednesday the 23rd at the Brickette Lounge in West Chester for our annual Year End Celebration!

And POSSIBLY tomorrow (check back for cancellation) at The World Cafe Live for a benefit show with Tin Bird Choir, Wes Mattheu, Suzie Brown, and many more including our very own Brad Hinton solo!

So go outside and have some fun in the snow. Be safe. Make a Snow Angel or just listen to one here !

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

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Go over to our myspace page to hear some newly posted tracks.

Up In The Hills
A Paul song, recorded live with the trio.

Old Freight Train
A Joe Song, features Brad Hinton on dobro, Kiley Ryan on fiddle, and Tom Hamilton on drums.

Waiting For The World
A Tim song, features Brad Hinton on 5-string banjo

Joaquin Murietta
A Joe song, features Kiley Ryan on violin, Nate Gonzalez on accordion and Tom Hamilton on drums

The Thunder In The Valley CD Release Party is Dec. 19th at the Blinkin’ Lincoln!

Here are some pictures by John Kelly Green from our show at the Beach House show Thanksgiving weekend.