Folks, sorry to say, but Tim is not feeling well, he’s got a fever, and the whole 9 yards, and is not making tonight’s’ show in Camp Hill, we’re going to have to cancel and reschedule this one. Very sorry. He should be functioning for tomorrows show in Stroudsburg.

Friday, we’re at the Note in West Chester for a New Years Eve show with our friends Hoots and Hellmouth. It’s going to be a great show and will most likely sell out. So get your tickets at the Note website before it’s too late!

We got CD’s, we got vinyl, and we got a great show planed for Friday night at the World Cafe Live!

The show starts at 9pm. Johnny Miles opens the night.

Tickets available here.

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See you there!

This weekend we start off with a good old home town show at the Brickette. We’re recording the next three Brickette shows with the thoughts of possibly releasing a live album for the end of next year.

Saturday we return to the Purple Fiddle in Thomas, WV; one of the coolest venues around for sure. They have a bed and breakfast next door, so come down and stay the night!

Sunday we are playing at the Elk Creek Café + Aleworks in Millheim, PA. It’s right outside of State College.

Then were just a couple weeks away from the Story Of The Rifle Album Release show at the World Café Live on Dec. 17th. Johnny Miles will open the show. Click here for tickets.

Click here to stream the entire album.

Click here for a free download of “Girl From The North Country”.
(Right click to save mp3.)

West Chester, PA based Roots/Americana group Mason Porter announce the release of Story of the Rifle. Reaching into their repertoire of traditional folk and cover songs, the band decided it was time to record this material which has been such a big part of their sound since its beginning. The album was recorded this past summer at Second Story Sound Studios in West Chester, PA by engineer Mike Bardzic and mixed by Bill Moriarty (Dr. Dog, Hoots and Hellmouth). Following up their 2009 release Thunder In the Valley, the band took a more raw and organic approach to the Story Of The Rifle and the result is bursting with energy.

The album was initially released as a limited run (just 50 copies) at the Philadelphia Folk Festival in August. The album sold out that weekend and their performance was one of the most talked about of the festival “The band I was most impressed with, was Mason Porter” says Dennis Bakay of Philly2Philly.com. And Helen Liecht of WXPN Philadelphia says “They really rallied everyone at the Folk Fest around with their old timey folk feel – but with a real indie spirit.” The extended release features four additional tracks that were not on the Folk Fest release as well as new artwork and liner notes by publisher and folklorist Max Spiegel.

A complete album from start to finish, Story Of The Rifle is not a single story, but a collection of great folk tales. Mason Porter expertly puts their spin on classics like “Long Black Veil” and “Wayfaring Stranger” and isn’t afraid to reach outside of the box for a cover of the White Stripes “Hotel Yorba” and a hard hitting blues medley of “Spike Drivers Blues” (Traditional) and Robert Johnsons “If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day”. A masterfully crafted rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Girl From The North Country” and a sparse but powerful arrangement of Merle Travis’ “Dark As A Dungeon” showcase the bands strong dynamics fans are used to.

Both vinyl and CD editions are available for pre-order at www.masonporter.com. The band will celebrate with an album release show at the World Café Live in Philadelphia on Dec. 17th 2010.

Track List:

1. My Creole Belle (Mississippi John Hurt)
2. Wayfaring Stranger (Traditional)
3. Hotel Yorba (Jack White)
4. Frankie and Johnny (Traditional)
5. Girl From The North Country (Bob Dylan)
6. * Dark Hollow (Traditional)
7. ** The Crawdad Song (Traditional)
8. Corrina, Corrina (Traditional)
9. Long Black Veil (Danny Dill and Marijohn Wilkin)
10. Spike Driver Blues >> If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day (Traditional/Robert Johnson)
11. Dark As A Dungeon (Merl Travis)

* CD edition only

** Vinyl edition only

Artwork by Carpe Diem Construction Co.

Tuesday we will be playing at The Fire in Philly Sings Philly. This is a great event (put together by our very own Brad Hinton) is a month long celebration of our vibrant Philly Music Scene in which local artists covers each others music. We’ll be doing songs by Tin Bird Choir, Hezekiah Jones, Dr. Dog and Rev. TJ McGlinchy. Our set is around 12:00.

Also, we are playing the Brass Lantern in Reading Saturday with the Manatawney Creek Ramblers.

Friday night at the Dawson Street Pub it will be Mason Porter and our fellow West Chester friends The Sermon! Show starts at 10:00. Jess McDowell will be playing an opening set as well.Check out The Sermon here http://www.myspace.com/thesermonband

Saturday we are playing at the Cary Street Cafe in Richmond, VA.

Tuesday, we are playing in the Philly Sings Philly residency at the Fire. Also playing that night is Hezekiah Jones, Suzie Brown, Ryan Tennis and more.

Sunday we are playing a special show at Yards Brewing Co. in Philadelphia. The show is being presented by the Philadelphia Folksong Society (the organization responsible for putting together the Philly Folk Festival). It is a 7:00pm start. HogMaw opens the show. 901 N. Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia. More information is available here: http://www.pfs.org/PFS.php

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Help the PFS raise some money
Save music education in Philly by subsidizing the Odyssey program
Ensure the continuation of the Philly Folk Fest in its 50th year

http://www.refresheverything.com/savephillymusic

From Bruce Warren at The Key http://thekey.xpn.org/2010/08/mason-porter/

Here are some pictures by Lisa Schaffer from the Philly Folk Festival.