Roy's Hall presents House of Hamill

Published by New Jersey Stage

originally published: 03/20/2024

(L-R) Caroline Browning, Rose Baldino, Brian Buchanan. Photo by Sarah Snyder

(BLAIRSTOWN, NJ) -- Roy's Hall presents House of Hamill on Friday, April 12, 2024 at 8:00pm. The band's music is described as "on the edge of tradition and innovation". They tour nationally, performing at Celtic festivals and established folk venues.

The band includes Rose Baldino (fiddle and vocals), Brian Buchanan (fiddle, vocals, and guitar), and Caroline Browning (bass, mandolin, and piano).

The third House of Hamill album, Folk Hero, received strong support on Folk-DJ charts, as well as from Celtic music podcasters. Their fourth project, Wildfire, is scheduled for spring release. The second single from the upcoming album, “Banks of the Brandywine,” was released on March 1st. It is an ode to the folklore surrounding a notorious Brandywine River location.

Tickets range from $32-$37 and are available for purchase online. Roy's Hall is located at 30 Main Street in Blairstown, New Jersey. The non-profit venue hosts a wide variety of national and regional touring performers, movies, and live theater. Known for its unique, vintage atmosphere, it features clear sightlines and excellent sound production. Soft drinks and snacks are available for purchase.

All three members of House of Hamill also tour with the long-time Celtic rock band, Enter the Haggis, which means that House of Hamill is constantly on the road. Their 2023 schedule led them to perform in at least 28 states and 3 countries, including hosting a fall bus tour through the west of Ireland which will repeat at the end of April.

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Buchanan remarks, "After a whirlwind St. Patrick's Month tour with Enter the Haggis, we dove right back into the studio to finish up our fourth full-length album, "Wildfire." We can't wait to get back out on the road to play our new songs for live audiences, and it'll be a treat to showcase them in a venue as historic as Roy's Hall."

Rose Baldino and Brian Buchanan first found themselves onstage together at the 2014 Folk Alliance International conference in Kansas City.

Rose’s band Burning Bridget Cleary was scheduled to perform, but inclement weather prevented two of her bandmates from flying. Desperate to salvage the showcase, Rose approached Brian, who she knew fronted Canadian celtic rock band Enter the Haggis. She thrust a guitar into Brian’s hands, pulled him onstage, and the two just clicked.

Four years and hundreds of shows later, the duo was booked to play a closing slot at a Colorado festival, so they hired a bass player and drummer to fill out their sound. By the oddest of coincidences, their hired bandmates’ flights were canceled the day of the show. A frantic Facebook post introduced Brian and Rose to local musician Caroline Browning, who joined them on bass for the weekend. Once again, the chemistry was undeniable, and House of Hamill became a trio.

Today, Pennsylvania-based House of Hamill is a fixture on festival stages across the US and have shared their music and stories on the country’s premier folk stages. Their version of “Pound a Week Rise” rose to #1 on the US Folk DJ charts, and the video for their all-violin cover of “Sweet Child O’ Mine” amassed over 16 million views on Facebook, where it was shared over 500,000 times.

Their 2021 release, Folk Hero, captures perfectly the frenetic energy and eclecticism of their always engaging live show. A lively collection of original instrumentals, reimagined folk ballads, and new songs that showcase the trio’s versatility, Folk Hero was the third House of Hamill album to be funded entirely by their fans.

Whether they’re ripping through a set of original jigs and reels, adding lush three-part harmonies into traditional folk ballads, or cracking up an audience with stories from the road, House of Hamill puts on a show that captivates audiences from the very first note.

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