My wife’s mother passed away late in the month of August. It wasn’t a surprise; she battled cancer for 10 years, but when are you ready for a thing like death?

Mary Ann Coppola was a remarkable person. A wife, mother, an auto harp player(!), folk music fan, a public school teacher, a fisherwoman. She and her husband Joe adopted three children and loved animals. Mary Ann was a VW camper van enthusiast, and a moose photographer. She raised a helluva daughter who I love deeply. That barely scratches the surface. Read More…

Thanks to Internet streaming, we do have WUMB listeners extending far beyond our broadcast coverage map. The same goes for WUMB members. Every fundraiser, we get pleasantly surprised by contributions from far and away: Nashville, Tennessee. Placer County, California. Saskatchewan, Canada. SCOTLAND. But these days I think about a place I learned we have at least one member from because of the telephone. Read More…

It’s hard to believe it but this month marks the 4th anniversary of Local Folk here on WUMB. It has been a privilege and joy to share music from the many incredible artists we have here in the New England area, and over the years the feedback, support, and suggestions I’ve received from listeners has let me know how many people out there care very deeply about our local music scene. Read More…

September marks two milestones for Folk Tales, our weekly trip to the roots of roots music––and special Tales for each one. September 9, we visit banjo legend Ralph Stanley, who was playing bluegrass before bluegrass was, well, bluegrass. September 16 is our 50th show, with a special Folk Tale about the roots of the Hootenanny, what they were, why they mattered––and how they got that weird name. Read More…

This month is all about birthdays! We will celebrate the birthday of Liam Clancy, who Bob Dylan regarded as the greatest ballad singer ever! Liam was a central figure in the 1960’s folk revival as a member of The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem  group. I had the pleasure of interviewing him on air back in the early 90’s and he not only sang but recited Yates on air. It was fantastic.  Read More…

Mark your calendar!  Our annual mid-winter SAMW Reunion, Meetup and Jam will take place on Sunday, January 7, 2018 from 1:00 – 5:00pm at the Grotonwood Camp and Conference Center in Groton, MA. Read More…

Our Summer Acoustic Music Weeks in July and August were both full, and fantastic!  Camp Director Patty Domeniconi, Music Director Lorraine Hammond and our extraordinary line-up of instructors delivered two great weeks of music, friendship and fun at the beautiful Geneva Point Conference Center on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire.  Read More…