Welcome to Baldwin's Station

Concert Series:

June / July / August / September / October / November

All shows start at 8:00 PM, unless otherwise noted.

Doors open at 6:30 PM

All ticket sales are final. No refunds or exchanges. $2.00 service charge per ticket on all credit card orders and $1.00 per ticket on cash or checks. Due to limited seating, advance tickets are recommended. Sorry, we do not accept unpaid reservations. The concert room opens for seating at 6:30pm. Due to the nature of this business, shows are subject to change. Please call to confirm, 410-795-1041.

Whodunnit for Hire Theater Series
INTERACTIVE PRODUCTIONS

Doors open at 6:30 PM

These murder mystery productions are interactively performed by Whodunnit for Hire, LLC, The Traveling Murder Mystery Troupe in the Greater Baltimore and Washington DC area. Based on the boardgame CLUE, the zany characters will have you searching for clues, interrogating suspects, and solving whodunnit!
Always on a Friday, join us 6:30 - 9:00pm, $60/pp plus tax & gratuity, Happy Hour Drink Specials All Night, Advance Reservations Required. Call 410-795-1041.

ROBIN BULLOCK

Robin Bullock

Thursday, June 20

Tickets $20

“Celtic guitar god.” — Baltimore City Paper

Robin Bullock is a prolific composer and multi-instrumentalist, whose virtuosity on guitar, cittern and mandolin blends the ancient melodies of the Celtic lands and their vigorous Appalachian descendants into one powerful musical vision. Originally rising to prominence as a founding member of the innovative acoustic world-music trio Helicon (winners of the Association for Independent Music’s prestigious INDIE Award for Best Seasonal Recording), Robin’s solo career has won him three Washington Area Music Association WAMMIE Awards, a Governor’s Award from the Maryland State Arts Council, and a feature broadcast on National Public Radio’s hugely popular Celtic music program “The Thistle and Shamrock.” His recorded work includes seven critically acclaimed solo CDs and numerous collaborations, the most recent of which, Celtic Guitar Summit with California fingerstylist Steve Baughman, was honored by Acoustic Guitar Magazine with an “Editor’s Pick” as one of the top CDs of 2003. “Uncanny ability to combine precision, virtuosity and soul…his reputation as one of the best folk instrumentalists in the business is well-deserved.” — Sing Out! “A musician whose technical skill and stylistic expertise are second to none…a time-served folkie of the highest calibre.” — Classical Guitar (U.K.)

JOHN GORKA

John Gorka

Thursday, June 27

Tickets $25

“Gorka is widely heralded for the sophisticated intelligence and provocative originality of his songs.” – Boston Globe.

John Gorka is an honored icon of folk tradition. Energetic acoustic music that is not a trend, not a fad, but an expression of everyday life, is his trademark. John’s rich baritone voice and unique songcraft weave a magical spell that can only be described as ‘Gorka.’ “He weaves wry, slice of life observations…” ~ Associated Press. Rising from a milieu of lovelorn singer/songwriters, John Gorka illuminates instead with his trademark wordplay, twisting, tuning and typing words and phrases in the way a balloon artist creates complex creatures from simple balloons. Few contemporary songwriters coax language as deftly as Gorka. For over two decades, Gorka’s keen ear has picked up the stories of those along his path, folding them into poetry and song. His keen perceptiveness inspires people from all over the world to share their stories. By involving those tales in his music, he escapes the trap of introspection that hobbles less gifted singer/songwriters. John Gorka flies below the pop culture radar with an almost cult-like following that never fails to fill concerts. Speak with any of his fans and one instantly feel’s their enthusiasm and genuine affection. His shy, almost self-effacing stage presence rightfully focuses attention on the songs. John’s versatility on guitar and piano keeps his sets musically interesting, while his rich baritone effortlessly executes his bidding. And he’s never short of the sly comment or clever joke that invariably ignites his audience. “The preeminent male singer-songwriter of the New Folk Movement.” ~ Rolling Stone.

THE SQUID JIGGERS

The Squid Jiggers

Thursday, July 11

Tickets $18

The Squid Jiggers are a Maine-based folk duo comprised of inveterate musician-entertainers, Dave Rowe and Troy R. Bennett. They took their name from the A.R. Scammell song “Squid Jigging Ground,” a wonderful musical depiction of fishing for squid in the waters off Newfoundland. They combine their talents on guitar, bass, bodhrán, and tin whistles to lay down a thunderous musical base for their robust vocal harmonies.

Dave Rowe was brought up on the Maine music scene, learning the music trade literally at the feet of his late father, Tom Rowe, while the elder Rowe was traveling the country playing bass guitar with Schooner Fare. Starting out as a young roadie and coffee gofer for his dad, Dave began playing out professionally as a bassist at the age of 15, and hasn’t had a real job since! In 1993 the Rowe men got together and formed a duo, which eventually became known as Turkey Hollow when Denny Breau joined. With Tom’s passing in 2004, Dave formed the critically acclaimed Dave Rowe Trio, with which he continues to tour as lead vocalist, and guitarist. With the formation of The Squid Jiggers, Dave comes full circle, picking up his dad’s trademark Steinberger bass guitar and playing many of the songs he used to hear Schooner Fare perform so many years ago.

Troy Bennett grew up collecting Schooner Fare ticket stubs and albums. He started his professional career touring with the Portland, Maine Irish band, Rakish Paddy. Upon leaving Rakish Paddy he adopted the gypsy life, traveling Europe with his guitar, collecting stories and busking on street corners. He eventually buckled down, studying Anglo-Irish literature at University College Galway and the University of Southern Maine. On his return to the states, he started a Celtic duo called Bailey’s Mistake, as well as the Half Moon Jug Band, a high-octane folk group specializing in new uses for kazoos and banjos. The Half Moon Jug Band continues to tour extensively across New England.

SONiA

Thursday, July 18

Tickets $20

From the Opera House in Sydney, to the Open House in Jerusalem, SONiA (Rutstein aka disappear fear) writes and performs captivating love songs and confronts the hypocrisies and biases of our culture with a positive message of openness and optimism.

Having performed in Israel/Palestine and in many parts of the world, SONiA’s Judaic roots live in the colors of her songs and paintings. SONiA has performed in 16 countries and has just as many award winning Albums to her credit. She has received the GLAMA Award for Female Artist of the Year, Best Band, Best Song, WAMA Award for Best Vocalist, Out Music Award for OUTstanding World Music CD, OUTstanding Single,Best in Blues Finalist for IMA Awards, and Finalist for the Telluride Song Competition.

SONiA is a member of the Grammy Foundation for the Recording Industry of America and Amnesty International.

Her talent as a guitar player led the Santa Cruz Guitar Company to create a SONiA Model which has been sold in the US, Germany and Australia.
Singing in English, Spanish, Arabic and Hebrew, her powerful honesty touches people of varied social and ethnic backgrounds, especially those moving towards a positive world vision.

SONiA’s new CD, “Broken Film” will be released in September.

ELLIS PAUL

Ellis Paul

Thursday, July 25

Tickets $20

“Despite his success and sense of history, Mr. Paul remains an artist with his eye on the future and an interest in discovering the transformative potential of his music.”
New York Times

Ellis Paul’s songwriting credentials are unassailable. They are as genuine as the 14 Boston Music Awards he has earned, as indelible as the tattoo of Woody Guthrie that adorns his arm, and as authentic as the musical roots he draws upon with every note he plays. Since emerging from the Boston music scene, Ellis Paul’s music has been consistently recognized and celebrated worldwide. His 16 releases and loyal, enthusiastic audiences reinforce this acclaim and have since cemented his place as one of America’s most talented songwriters. With 16 CDs, a concert DVD, and a book of poems and short stories to his credit, Ellis’ songs have been featured on the soundtracks to documentaries, TV shows and big Hollywood films such as The Farrelly Brother’s ‘Hall Pass’, ‘Me, Myself & Irene’, and ‘Shallow Hal’. Ellis is a true American troubadour, performing over 150 tour dates a year, for over 20 years all around the world. He has shared the stage with some of the top names in the music world including: Pete Seeger, John Mayer, Arlo Guthrie, Richie Havens, Dar Williams, Shawn Colvin, and multi-platinum band Sugarland, among others.

BILL STAINES

Bill Staines

Thursday, August 15

Tickets $20

“Any new song that can live comfortably beside the well-worn songs of folk tradition has a good chance of surviving the test of time. Such, we believe, are the songs of Bill Staines” ~ Charles “Sandy” Paton, Folk Legacy Records

Anyone not familiar with the music of Bill Staines is in for a special treat. For over forty years, Bill has traveled back and forth across North America, singing his songs and delighting audiences at festivals, folksong societies, colleges, concerts, clubs and coffeehouses. A New England native, Bill became involved with the Boston-Cambridge folk scene in the early 1960′s and, for a time, emceed the Sunday hootenanny at the renowned Club 47 in Cambridge. Bill quickly became a popular performer in the Boston area. In 1971, after one of his performances, a reviewer for The Phoenix stated that Bill was “simply Boston’s best performer.” A decade later, both in 1980 and 1981, the annual Reader’s Poll of The Boston Globe selected him as a “favorite performer.” In 1991, Bill entered his forth decade as a folk performer with an international reputation as an artist. Singing mostly his own songs, he has become one of the most popular singers on the folk music circuit today and averages around 200 concert dates a year. Bill weaves a magical blend of wit and gentle humor into his performances, and as one reviewer wrote, “he has a sense of timing to match the best stand-up comic.” His music is a slice of Americana, reflecting with the same ease, his feelings about the prairie people of the Midwest or the adventurers of the Yukon.

MAC WALTER & JOHN CRONIN

John Cronin & Mac Walter

Thursday, August 22

Tickets $20

Three-time WAMMIE winner Mac Walter began his music career at 15 when Marianne Price, formerly of Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks, convinced him to give up the ukulele and try the guitar. Three months later, Mac was playing in Marianne’s band and has not put the guitar down since. Driven by an insatiable desire to learn all things about music, he attended the Berklee College of Music and returned to his home base of MD/VA/DC where he quickly earned a reputation as a stellar guitarist and singer/songwriter. Mac developed a unique fingerstyle approach to playing folk, rock, blues, and jazz guitar. Heavily influenced by folk luminaries such as Doc Watson, Mississippi John Hurt, Dave Van Ronk, Dick Rosmini, and Raun MacKinnon, he totally dedicated himself to his music and refused to be pinned down to one genre. After touring for 8 years in Deanna Bogart’s band, he began his free-lance career. Let Guitar Wizard Mac will take you on a wonderful tour of his music. His repertoire is a stunning variety of musical styles and reflects the depth and range of emotion he conveys in his playing. His command of the acoustic guitar is breathtaking and he is one of those rare musicians who can do it all while still maintaining his own distinctive voice. He makes the guitar come to life with a rare passion and plays at a level few musicians every achieve. He is a guitar virtuoso who has to be seen to be believed. Don’t miss this opportunity to see Mac & John perform live together.

Mac and his cousin, John Cronin, began playing together as teenagers and developed their unique style over the past 35 years. Both are talented in their own right but when they play together, the acoustic fingerstyle and gorgeous harmonies they project is amazing. John’s boisterous folksy enthusiasm is infectious and a perfect foil for Mac’s golden tones. John, who lives in British Columbia, spent 7 years working in the hugely popular Ian Tyson Band touring Canada and the USA. Ian proclaimed John as the most lyrical guitar player he’d ever heard. And Chesapeake Bay folk icon, Tom Wisner, describes John’s playing as “the heart of the guitar.” Word of their great CD “Cousins” has spread at the grass roots level and has sold amazingly well despite not being on a traditional label. Their CD “Second Cousins” was released in the Summer of 2006. And, yes, they are working on “Third Cousins!”

RUUT

Ruut

Thursday, September 22

Tickets $15

“Ruut’s annual appearance results in a sold out audience, that’s spellbound while her angel voice softly fills the lodge. In between songs she tells stories and laughs as if in the living room with best friends. We love Ruut.”
Sam Castleman, ThorpeWood

“Ruut is my new favorite artist. Personal stories recounted through her poetic lyrics, beautiful voice and ability to play the piano, result in a musical magic that you’ll want to share and hear over again!”
Gail Clapper, Big Brothers Big Sisters, MD

Ruut was Born in Finland, grew up living and traveling in Europe with her 3 sisters and missionary Mother, and moved to the States at age 16. She learned how to play the piano and started writing songs at 7 years old. Ruut sang in church until age 24, when she ventured out to find her own voice as a songwriter, working with producers and writers in New York, Nashville and Los Angeles. After releasing a handful of albums both independently and under major labels, Ruut returned to Baltimore in 2009 to become the mother of 2 children. Ruut’s latest full-length independent album, “Glimpse,” validates her ambition to be an appreciated local and global songwriter.

—LOOKING AHEAD—

JUNE 20 - Robin Bullock, tickets are $20

JUNE 27 - John Gorka, tickets are $25

JULY 11 - The Squid Jiggers, tickets are $18

JULY 18 - SONiA, tickets are $20

JULY 25 - Ellis Paul, tickets are $20

AUGUST 15 - Bill Staines, tickets are $20

AUGUST 22 - Mac Walter & John Cronin, tickets are $20

SEPTEMBER 22 - Ruut, tickets are $15

SEPTEMBER 26 - Leo Moran & Anthony Thistlethwaite

SEPTEMBER 27 - Whodunnit For Hire, dinner & theater, tickets are $60/pp

OCTOBER 3 - Seth Glier, tickets are $18

OCTOBER 25 - Whodunnit For Hire, dinner & theater, tickets are $60/pp

NOVEMBER 1 - Whodunnit For Hire, dinner & theater, tickets are $60/pp

NOVEMBER 21 - The Jammin' Divas, tickets are $20

More shows being added all the time - www.uptownconcerts.com

NO FLASH CAMERA, VIDEO, OR AUDIO RECORDING PERMITTED.
ALL TICKET SALES ARE FINAL. NO REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES. $2.00 SERVICE CHARGE PER TICKET ON ALL CREDIT CARD ORDERS AND $1.00 PER TICKET ON CASH OR CHECKS. Due to limited seating advance tickets are recommended. Sorry, we do NOT accept unpaid reservations. The concert room opens for seating and dining at 6:30 P.M. Due to the nature of this business shows are subject to change. Please call Baldwin’s to confirm, 410-795-1041.

The music at Baldwin’s Station is brought to you by Uptown Concerts, a nonprofit organization affiliated with the NorthAmerican Folk Alliance and dedicated to the preservation and promotion of folk and traditional music. Neither Baldwin’s Station, nor Joyce R. Sica earn any profits from the music presented by Uptown Concerts at Baldwin’s Station. Your tax deductible donations are very needed. Please mail your donation to Uptown Concerts, PO Box 1503, Randallstown, MD 21133, thank you. Joyce R. Sica 410-922-5210.uptownconcerts@aol.com -- www.uptownconcerts.com

ROBIN HOOD

Here he comes to save the day! It's that woodland avenger, Robin Hood, and his band of merry men. Watch as Robin pillages the purses of Prince John, and wins the heart of the fair princess, Maid Marian.