with Violinist Chris Murphy
Original Folk, Blues, Bluegrass, Irish, & Gypsy Music
NOTE: There are no physical tickets for events at The Buttonwood Tree.
Friday Night
“Both a wily, charismatic performer and a fire-breathing virtuoso of the violin, Chris Murphy crams more musical mileage into a short set than most players do in an entire tour. Whether it’s through noirish atmospheres, joyfully bent traditional folk tunes, or belly-up to-the-bar Blues, Murphy does the devil’s handiwork on four strings with a winning presence and a gypsy’s knack for crossing all musical terrains.”
--James Rotondi, FUTURE MUSIC MAGAZINE
For 25 years, and with no sign of slowing, violinist Chris Murphy has made a living by writing, performing and recording original music. For Murphy, the path forward is charted by looking backward, to the troubadours and minstrels of ages past. Forget the exaggerated reports of the music industry’s demise. It’s only the record industry, a relative blip in the history of putting tones in sequence, that’s suffering. Music, and the opportunity to make a life’s work out of it, well, that’s not going anywhere.
“In another era,” he says, “I would have played square dances, and loved it. I would have been a court musician in Versailles in the 17th Century, or a violinist in a circus orchestra.” For Chris Murphy, inspiration spans eras and aesthetics, but the fundamentals are the same.
Born into an Irish-Italian family near New York City, Murphy was surrounded by the disparate and eclectic sounds of his neighbors’ traditional music. “I heard and was influenced by everything – from Italian-mandolin music, to bluegrass and folk, to Latin music,” he says.
He is that rare breed of musician that creates and performs in a multitude of music worlds with ease. As he searches for new ways to communicate through music, fusing styles and techniques from across the globe — a unique fabric of world music, he calls it — Murphy finds his element on the stage, where spontaneity and improvisation reign. “To me, the music is liquid, and I’m looking to have some kind of experience,” he says. “I’ll twist and turn, and hammer and mold, and shape, cut and paste the music to do that. We’ve never done a song the same way twice.” As ever, Murphy re-forges the past to make a new way. He has performed in more than 40 states in the USA, England, Ireland, and The Netherlands.
Blue Grass
September 10
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Based on Nick's farm in Plainfield, CT, Nick Anderson & Shady Creek play Bluegrass music that keeps the traditional sound alive and well. Entertaining folks with the “high lonesome sound” is a passion for Nick & has helped keep the band together through numerous changes for more than 30 years. The band plays festivals, fairs, & concert venues throughout the Northeast & Canada.
Widely considered one of the top traditional Bluegrass singers in New England. Nick recently was inducted into the Rhode Island Bluegrass Alliance Hall of Fame. He sings lead & tenor, covers rhythm guitar with Shady Creek, and penned many of the band's favorites, original titles that add another dimension to the band's otherwise traditional repertoire.
Band members
Guitar - Nick Anderson
Fiddle - Peggy Harvey
Mandolin - Monty McClanahan
Banjo - Tom Dailey
Bass - Scott Freemantle
Visit Nick & Shady Grove pages on
Facebook: Nick Anderson & Shady Creek Blue Grass
youtube: Nick Anderson and Shady Creek Blue Grass
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The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts Center
605 Main Street
Middletown, CT 06457
860-347-4957
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Parking at The Buttonwood Tree
- BEST – Next door – Behind It’s Only Natural market (M-F, after 5) and after store closes at 8pm. Meters in this lot go til 8.
- Behind ION Market: CHOICE and CHC spots, marked on pavement, are available after 6 pm and on weekends,
- On Main Street (metered until 6 pm).
- On Liberty Street – a one-way street alongside TBT (free).
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