It's kinda feast or famine over here at IMT: we can go months thinking “the only thing to announce for May is the fabulous Renaissance / modern folk crossover of ilyAYREheart on May 12th”, and then suddenly you've got a last-minute film screening (still in April, actually) and Bob Dylan's Birthday (which was probably always there, just LURKING) and now you're just watching your phone for any other surprises IMT might toss your way.
Waiting.
And of course, TONIGHT, it's the SPARK open mic with featured artist Collide! Details on all of the above, below!
Wed 4/30 - Free Screening of Soundtrack To A Coup D'Etat
Seekers Church, 276 Carroll St NW, Washington, DC 20012 | 6.30pm
In commemoration of International Jazz Day, Friends of the Congo, Africa World Now Project, WPFW and Institute of Musical Traditions presents an evening examining Jazz, Espionage and Colonialism in Africa with a free screening of Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat. The evening concludes with a panel discussion. Seating is limited, so registration is required.
Monday, May 12th Institute of Musical Traditions presents ilyAIMY and Ayreheart
7:30pm. Tickets : $20 advance (+$2 box office fee)/ $25 door. Glen Echo Park Bumper Car Pavilion Please use "5801 Oxford Road, Glen Echo, MD 20812" for GPS directions to the Glen Echo lot! Information on parking here : glenechopark.org/directions
With a stage set for baroque lute, electric cello, Irish bones, fretless bass, bodhran, violin, colascione, acoustic guitars, myriad drums and types of hand percussion, it would be excusable for an audience to have no idea what’s about to happen – but ilyAIMY and Ayreheart create a beautiful, eclectic, coherent collective reframing the former’s award-winning songwriting with the latter’s progressive Renaissance arrangements, and the latter’s GRAMMY award-nominated, Celtic and jazz-infused instrumentation with the former’s electric stage presence and 4-part vocal harmonies. “ ilyAYREheart’s ” music spans hundreds of years, from heart-achingly beautiful ballads sung by singer/songwriter Heather Aubrey Lloyd in Old Scots to epic modern compositions inspired by Frank Herbert’s Dune with a couple of Led Zeppelin covers to round it all out.
“[Ayreheart] IS BORN OF WHAT HAS COME BUT LEADS US INTO WHERE WE CAN GO: OLD FORMS BORN ANEW AND EVER FRESH.” ~ Robert Aubry Davis, creator, producer, and host of Millennium of Music
“[ilyAIMY has] a style that’s very much their own; influences from indigenous tunes along with dark and edgy folk numbers, the band ultimately provides [an]interesting in-your-face blend of rock through whatever direction they choose” ~ Declan Poehler | Frederick News-Post
Monday May 19th, Institute of Musical Traditions presents YOUNGER THAN THAT NOW - BOB DYLAN 84th BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE.
Glen Echo Park Spanish Ballroom Please use "5801 Oxford Road, Glen Echo, MD 20812" for GPS directions to the Glen Echo lot! Information on parking here : glenechopark.org/directions Tickets : $20 advance (+$2 box office fee) / $25 door
The Institute of Musical Traditions presents an 84th birthday tribute to one of the world’s best-known singer/songwriters. Although Bob Dylan won't be there, his influence will... His impact on popular culture is far-reaching and this unique lineup of performers reflects the breadth of his timeless contributions to American music.
Award-winning singer/songwriter Billy Coulter, who will emcee and perform, previously collaborated with IMT to present the four prior Dylan Tributes and has put together an homage that will surely be a memorable show. This concert showcases artists from the folk and roots music scenes with each playing several Dylan compositions that are among their favorites (and most likely yours too). “Washington’s music community is so diverse that Dylan’s work was the ideal platform to gather all these distinctive talents together on one stage,” says Coulter.
Much like Dylan's music career, this concert will present acoustic performances in the first part and then "goes electric” for the rest of the show.
Mary Battiata, leader of the alt-country band, Little Pink, pours her unique and engaging style into Dylan’s classic songs; Jason Byrd, guitarist for The Bob Band (a Dylan tribute group), lends warmth and depth to these timeless compositions; and Annette Wasilik adds her sweet vocals and fingerstyle guitar to the poetic lyricism in Dylan’s canon.
The second set comprises three highly regarded artists from the Americana/Roots-Rock community. Janine Wilson’s powerhouse vocals bring passion to Dylans’ brilliant lyrics; Bill Starks delivers a bounty of killer keyboard playing and bluesy vocals; and Billy Coulter provides the spirited “Rolling Thunder-era” energy and excitement. All are backed by a band featuring Washington veterans Jason Byrd (electric guitar), El Torro Gamble (drums), and Steve Sachse (bass).
Tonight’s featured artist, Collide, was formed on the eve of the COVID pandemic in late 2019. Collide consists of Washington, DC singer/songwriter Catherine Messina Pajic and California-bred musician Daniel Ogden. Though relative newcomers to the music scene, both have performed and played individually for decades while they pursued other goals and raised families. Catherine – the driving creative force behind the music – had been a writer and composer since college, long before she met Daniel, a multi-instrumentalist with solid chops from his years playing in cover bands. Catherine’s vocals range from the clear tones of Joan Baez to the soulfulness of Bonnie Raitt, and her songwriting is deeply personal, in the tradition of Joni Mitchell and Indigo Girls.
Sponsored in conjunction with Institute of Musical Traditions AT School of Musical Traditions, down the street from HOUSE of Musical Traditions, this is a rare thing : a small LISTENING ROOM open mic. The evening is free, but every night we have a featured artist and we hope that you can support them by tipping or purchasing merch!
Every Tuesday, sponsored by Institute of Musical Traditions and hosted by School of Musical Traditions and run by rob's Open Mics: the Open Spark - a listening-room style open mic with weekly featured artists! 4/15 w Jack Lavin, 4/22 w Babel Baby, 4/29 w Collide, 5/6 w Tavair Tapp, 5/13 w Ash Devine…
As always - Thank you in advance for your support:
Please remember, as an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization Institute of Musical Traditions is made possible through ticket sales, grants and YOUR donations. Our Live webcasts don't make up for "real" shows - so IMT wants to weather the storm to be able to present these artists in the future! You can donate by heading over to paypal.me/imtfolk or by visiting us at https://imtfolk.org/support-imt And thanks to our sponsors for their continued support! We are a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization supported by contributions from individual donors and by funding from the Maryland State Arts Council
Institute of Musical Traditions Inc. is supported in part by funding from the Montgomery County Government and the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County.
Donations and Support
Be a patron of the arts if you're able and please consider making a tax-deductible donation to IMT. Even the smallest donation is a big help and you can give easily and securely at paypal.me/imtfolk or visit imtfolk.org for more information (and more ways to give!)
Perhaps you need a Daily Antidote of Song? - Join Washington Revels and Carpe Diem Arts each day at 12 noon for an inspiring and uplifting Daily Antidote of Song with international recording artists from a broad range of cultures and traditions. Seven days/week. Information on their website : carpediemarts.org
First Wednesdays Local Cream Songwriter Showcase Annette Wasilik hosts this showcase of local and not-so-local singer/songwriters at Hank Dietle's in Rockville, MD at 8pm. info at annettewasilik.com
Sun May 4 FocusMusic presents Anne Hills Gaithersburg Arts Barn at Gaithersburg, MD Tickets and info at focusmusic.org
Thurs May 22 Uptown Concerts Presents Tom Chapin Temple Isaiah in Fulton, MD Tickets and info at uptownconcerts.com
IMT & Melodic Planet
Partnered with Institute of Musical Traditions, Melodic Planet creates and produces educational materials which encourage everyone to explore all kinds of music from around the world. This week Melodic Planet has added an educational interview about the Norwegian folk musical instrument the Hardanger Fiddle with Loretta Kelley. View it as well as interviews about Thai classical music, San Jarocho music, Chinese Opera, Boogie Woogie and Native American Powwow singing at imtfolk.org.
Here are a few organizations that share goals and values with IMT.
