Adirondack Music Legend Rod Driscoll Headlines Final Lawn Concert

Grab your dancing shoes! Our final Lawn Concert of the summer will transform the Social Center's back yard into a lively Old-Time Concert and Contra Dance by Adirondack 2 Step. Adirondack folk musician Rod Driscoll leads the band, while Lausanne Allen calls the steps.

Besides Rod, Adirondack 2 Step members include Michael Bourgeois de Beaubassin, Barry Kilbourne, Hap Wheeler, and Jeremy Clifford (with Lausanne standing in for Jeremy as caller for this show). The musicians change it up with a mix of instruments, including hammered dulcimer, fiddle concertina, guitar, bass and various types of percussions.

Rod’s Musical Journey:

Rod cites his father as the greatest influence on his early musical path: "My dad played guitar and sang at parties. I always admired how it brought joy to people."

That enthusiasm comes through in his own music today. "I love watching people come together to dance, socialize, and enjoy themselves. We all feel connected by the music and the experiences of performing for the dances.”

About the Contradance Community, he says “We have a common bond that's based on a common language all of us can speak, even if we just met."

• 

• 

Besides his father’s influence, Rod grew up hearing music at the “Church of Rock n Roll” aka the old Filmore East in Manhattan, where legends such as Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, Led Zeppelin played.

His first instrument was the mountain dulcimer, which opened the door to bluegrass, old-time music and a host of other instruments. He went on to master the hammered dulcimer, 6 & 12 string guitars, the mandolin, banjo, bouzouki, and bodhran.

"The sound that captivates me usually inspires me to learn how to play it." He notes that the mandolin, banjo, and fiddle are prominent in folk and bluegrass, while the bodhran and bouzouki play key roles in Celtic music.

Not only does Rod perform the instruments but he also makes them. He has built 400 mountain dulcimers, 50 hammered dulcimers, one guitar, three bowed psalteries, four lap harps, one Irish harp and two banjos. At his workshop, "O'Driscoll Folk Instruments" in Peru, NY, you can purchase a dulcimer (and embark on your own musical journey!)

"If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be to start learning guitar and other instruments sooner."

For the last 50 years, Rod has performed and promoted a remarkable variety of folk music here in the North Country – including with the Too Tall String band, Old Mountain and Friends Union String Bands and many solo appearances. He currently hosts a Celtic fiddle jam group and Old-Time music sessions at his home and at Whitcomb's Art Center.

Rod is now retired from 32 years of teaching and from positions as principle at the Whiting Sudbury Learning Academy in Vermont and AuSable Valley High School. As a teacher, he found class singalongs were a great way to connect with students and a great teaching tool to bring history to life.

Rod and ADK 2 Step look forward to performing at the Social Center’s last lawn concert of the year, because “Fiddle tunes are meant for dancing!”

The event is held outdoors, weather permitting, and will be moved inside with air conditioning if the weather is not suitable. Please bring a lawn chair or blanket!

• 

• 

• 

Tuesday, July 28th

6p - Seagle Festival Children's Opera - "Little Red Riding Hood"

7p - Celtic and Old Time Concert & Contra Dance with ADK 2 Step