Musician Bios
Carlisle Music Festi
val @Old Home Day
3 Days of Amazing Hometown Talent!
Friday June 21, Saturday June 22 & Sunday June 23, 2025
Family-friendly ● Carlisle musicians ● Diverse styles ● Food & fun
Featuring performances on 3 stages this year!
Yarina • Five O'Clock Shadow • Nightlife • 5 Orange • Concord Women's Chorus • Kenny Selcer & Steve Gilligan • The Hansen Brothers • Hot Club of Carlisle • Soundbites • Red Velvet Slide • The Soul Soothers • Dale Joachim's Jazz • Don't You Worry • Neighborly • Carlisle Community Chorus • Backbeat Farm Drum and Brass Band
Friday June 20: Old Home Day Community Performance Showcase
First Religious Society (FRS) Tent 7 PM - 9 PM
Music, theater, poetry, spoken word (sign-up for 10-15 minute slot in advance)
About the Musicians
Saturday June 21: Music Alongside Old Home Day
First Religious Society (FRS) Tent 10:30 AM-2:30 PM
Backbeat Farm Drum and Brass Band — dynamic street band
Carlisle member: Jerome Deupree
The Backbeat Farm Drum and Brass Band was started by Carlisle resident Jerome Deupree. A professional drummer who wanted to get involved with Old Home Day the best way he knows how, to hit a drum and make some music! He’s gathered some talented musician friends to fill out the drum and brass sections. The personnel is ever-changing due to everyone’s availability. Not to worry, there is always great music to be heard coming from this group! Contact: bbfarm@comcast.net
The band will be arriving at the tent directly from the Old Home Day Parade. Be sure to catch them there too!
Concord Women's Chorus — classical and contemporary choral music
Carlisle members: Amanda Kern, Ellen Materne, Cynthia Nunan, Stephanie Smith, Cynthia Sorn
Concord Women’s Chorus is a 45-voice ensemble from Concord and greater Boston (a smaller force will sing at Old Home Day). Directed by Jane Ring Frank, CWC performs a wide range of classical and contemporary music with emphasis on works written for women’s voices.
For Concord Women’s Chorus, music is alchemy. Their commitment to the mastery and performance of a dynamic repertoire for women transforms the act of choral singing into an instrument for collaboration, education, and connection. Confident singers, they care deeply about creating, through women’s voices, a source of strength and inspiration for themselves, their audience, and the world around us. The Chorus has performed on tours in the U.S., Canada and Great Britain. Web: concordwomenschorus.org
Kenny Selcer & Steve Gilligan − originals & other great songs - rock, roots, & reggae
Carlisle member: Kenny Selcer
Kenny Selcer (vocals/guitar) and Steve Gilligan (vocals/bass) are seasoned music pros who play a variety of musical genres to create something new: “a sizzling blend of Americana, folk, rock, roots, reggae, and everything in between, that will get your toes tappin’, your head noddin’ up and down, your mouth singin’, your brain thinkin’ and maybe even get you dancin’ in the aisles!” They have played, individually and collectively in venues from Club Passim to Bank of America Pavilion to The Bull Run to every high- and low-rent coffee shop and bar in the area. They each have several solo CDs of original music. Web: kennyselcer.com and kennyselcer.bandcamp.com
Carlisle Community Chorus − intergenerational choral ensemble
Carlisle members: Carlisle members: Jane Anderson, Barney Arnold, Deb Bergquist, Amy Bergquist, Barry Copp, Stephanie Hackbarth, Bjorn Hansen, Adrianne Casebeer, Bob Goldsmith, Olive Gonzales, Annabelle Hyun, Frank Infante, Amanda Kern, Lucy Kern, Anne Ketchen, Richard Ketchen, Jenn Kidder, Joe Kidder, Orion Patashnick, Fontaine Richardson, Sophie Richardson, Joan Sarcia, Kathy Simpson, Elisabeth Sorrows, Molly Sorrows
The Carlisle Community Chorus is passionate about building community and bringing people of all ages and abilities together through music. Under the musical direction of Amanda Kern, with pianist Margie Sidari, the CCC brings a wide variety of choral music including classical, folk and popular repertoire to their audiences focusing on joyful, healthy and beautiful singing for all. The CCC serves Carlisle and surrounding communities including Chelmsford, Concord, Billerica, Lowell, and Westford. Contact: ahammondkern@gmail.com Web: carlislecommunitychorus.org.
Don't You Worry—original singer-songwriters in the round
Carlisle member: Christie Jacobson (aka Christie Prince)
Once upon a covid pandemic, four friends decided to do something to help their spirits stay afloat. Carlisle resident Christie Jacobson and her Boston-based friends, Jane Park (aka Poor Eliza), Chloe V. Green, and Mark Lipman, would hang out in what they called the "Zoom Womb," a safe place to share new song ideas with each other and hone their craft. Thus, Don't You Worry was born.
The musicians in Don't You Worry frequently perform around Boston and have music to share. Poor Eliza released Ghost Town in 2018 backed by a 40-city East Coast/Midwest tour. Chloe V. Green (half of the duo The Lo-I) released her solo album Particles and Waves this year. Mark Lipman is currently working on his 2nd full-length album, due this fall.
Contact: Christie: cprince22@gmail.com; Mark: lippy5@me.com; Chloe: chloev.green@gmail.com; Jane: hyounju@gmail.com.
The Hot Club of Carlisle—hot jazz combo
Carlisle member: John Lyons
The Hot Club of Carlisle plays a classic jazz style known as hot jazz or gypsy jazz. John Lyons, once a guitarist, has enjoyed playing upright bass with friends for 20 years. Stew Roberts, a former long-time Carlisle resident specializes in gypsy jazz guitar among many instruments he’s played. Tom Stewart, also an accomplished gypsy jazz guitarist, has hosted jazz jam sessions in Jamaica Plain for years, and also plays many instruments. Nick Norman has been playing violin since childhood and is a well-known gypsy jazz violinist in Boston and southern New England. Barry Shapiro has played piano and accordion since childhood. A very versatile player, Barry is fluent in many styles and excels at gypsy jazz.
Contact: johnalyons@comcast.net
Sunday June 22: Concerts On Spalding Field
Main Stage/Big Tent 12 noon to 7:00 PM
The Soul Soothers – modern takes on classic R&B and more
Carlisle members: Lee Perlman, Caleb Perlman, Mark Levitan
The Soul Soothers germinated from casual jamming by father and son Lee (guitar/vocals) and Caleb (keys/vocals) Perlman. Realizing the vibe they created should be shared, they recruited Mark Levitan on harmonica, bass player Melika Fitzhugh, and singer Gina Buckner to flesh out the sound. Today they’ll be joined by a special guest on drums. Listen for a delectable selection of classic Soul tunes along with more recent soul soothers. Contact: lperlman@mit.edu
The Hansen Brothers − rockin’ guitar brothers
Carlisle member: Carl Hansen
The Hansen Brothers are a guitar-based performing and recording duo formed by Carl, an eight-year Carlisle resident, and his brother, Peter. Featuring years of stage experience supporting bands throughout New England and Atlantic Canada, the brothers’ blend of smooth instrumentation and vocal harmony is sure to delight music fans.
Carl’s musical resume includes lead guitar for pop/rock band The Sea Captains, while Peter is the former lead guitarist for Canadian country music artist Tristan Horncastle. In 2019, Peter and Carl performed original music at the Harvest Music Festival in Fredericton, Canada, which featured headliner Robert Plant. Contact: carl.j.hansen@gmail.com
Nightlife − rhythm & blues and pop classics with full horn section
Carlisle member: Jon Quillard
Nightlife, a nine-piece, rock-and-brass ensemble, performs the crowd favorite songs of the Stax/Motown era of American R’n’B, and memorable, soul-infused pop classics. Formed in a Carlisle garage in 2020 by musician friends looking to keep their favorite music alive during the pandemic, the members bring a diverse background from rock/pop, jazz, classical, jump blues, a cappella and theatre. Members have performed internationally and at prestigious concert venues including the Hard Rock Café, Carnegie Hall, and Fenway Park.
Arnie: vocals, blues harp; Shannon: vocals; Joe: trumpet; Werner: tenor sax; Fred: trombone; Dave: guitar; Rod: bass, vocals; Doc: drums; JQ: keys
Contact: NightlifeSoulBand@gmail.com; web: bandmix.com/nightlifesoulband/
5 Orange – instrumental jazz fusion
Carlisle member: Mac Ritchey
This recently-formed group of stellar Boston-area musicians set out to start a fire with incendiary playing. Originally, Ken, Paul, and Charles played together; then, someone called a sax player; then, they called a bass player. Someone brought charts. It sounded good, and here they are. Enjoy being a witness.
Drummer, recording engineer, producer Ken Hickey was a member of Boston alternative band O-Positive and has also played with Scott Damgaard among many others. Guitarist Charles Berman has played in Boston, New York and New Orleans, performing with such artists as Dr. John, Bobby Rush, Rockin' Doopsie Jr, and more. Saxophonist Bill Jones has a Master’s from New England Conservatory and may regularly be found at venues such as Wally’s, The Beehive, the Lilypad and more. Berklee-trained keyboardist Paul Barbato is accomplished in many strains of jazz, and has been featured on recordings by Entangled Mind. Carlisle’s multi-instrumentalist, producer and luthier Mac Ritchey vibrates the bass strings in this ensemble. Contact: mac@possumhall.com
Five O'Clock Shadow – world class electric a cappella pop
Carlisle member: Dan Lennon
Five O’Clock Shadow is one of Boston’s premier a cappella groups whose live performances are nothing short of electrifying – the kind that reverberate in your memory long after the stage lights fade. FOCS has captivated audiences worldwide, not just with their technical prowess and creative arrangements, but with a palpable energy that turns every performance into a unique and thoroughly entertaining experience for the senses. The group is performing in support of their new album: Time.
Dan Lennon, tenor; Jon Lavalley, tenor; Paul Pampinella, baritone; Caleb Whelden, tenor; Judd Tomaselli, bass; Scott Cobban, baritone/vocal percussion
web: focs.com
Yarina – indigenous music of Andean Ecuador
Carlisle member: Mac Ritchey
Yarina was founded in 1984 by parents José Manuel Cachimuel and Rosa Elena Amaguaña who were motivated by the need to amplify the voices of the indigenous people of Ecuador. The three eldest siblings - Roberto, Manuel, and Rimay (ages 10, 12, and 15 at the time) - were each given a musical role to play in the ensemble. The family knew that, through music, they would be able reach a wider audience and open a vital dialogue regarding human rights and representation.
Today, at eleven siblings strong, the group still leads the way in the world of Ecuadorian music, and Yarina is a household name. Their repertoire of music and poetry includes a wide array of indigenous elements from the northern region of Ecuador (known as Otavalo) and has a unique and long-lasting cultural heritage pre-dating the introduction of European influences.
Their songs of love, community, and social justice feature a variety of traditional Andean instruments, such as the bandolín and charango (small box lutes), rondador/sampoña/pakllas (a variety of South American reed pipes), and kena (end-blown flute). Along with guitar, violin, bass, drums, and vocals, Yarina’s music unapologetically radiates into the world as a wash of sonic sunshine. Contact: yarinamusic@gmail.com; web: yarinamusic.org
Second Stage Tent 12:45 PM to 5:55 PM
Soundbites — contemporary a cappella
Carlisle members: Sandra Serkes, Aaron Goodisman
Soundbites are a community-based, contemporary a cappella group with 20 coed members, ranging in age from 20s to 60s and hailing from all throughout the greater Boston area. Directed by Carlislean Sandy Serkes, Soundbites enjoys singing an eclectic repertoire, ranging from pop to jazz to Broadway. See them performing two annual concerts in Lexington and throughout the year at local gigs and porchfests. Contact: info@soundbitesma.com; web: soundbitesma.com
Yarina − indigenous music of Andean Ecuador
Yarina will be playing a short set to introduce themselves to the audience before their full set on the Main Stage. See their bio under the Main Stage entry above.
Neighborly − The Art of Taylor: Neighborly’s Version
Carlisle members: Jen Sagalyn, Mark Levitan, Chris Brenne
This year, Neighborly, perhaps inevitably, layers their unexpected and beautiful sonic blend onto some of Taylor Swift’s less well-known songs (mostly). Vocalist/guitarist Jen Sagalyn’s music takes cues from blues, gospel, and traditional country. Something of a music historian, harp player Mark Levitan has been tracing the roots, shoots, branches, streams and tributaries of all kinds of music for decades. Chris Brenne is a consummate guitarist, Berklee-trained and road-tested, who elevates music whenever he plays.. Contact: music@marklevitan.com; Web: neighborly-music.com.
Jen Sagalyn, vocals/guitar; Mark Levitan, harmonica; Chris Brenne, guitar.
Dale Joachim’s Jazz —piano jazz & blues
Carlisle members: Dale Joachim, Harvey Nosowitz
Dale is everyone’s first call when sublime jazz and blues piano is called for. He enjoys the study of music, and has performed in bands in New Orleans, and now on occasion in Carlisle. Originally a student of classical saxophone at Geneva Conservatory (NY), he later mastered the piano. With: Lori Zuroff (vocals), Al Garay (bass), Harvey Nosowitz (percussion). Contact: joachimd@me.com
Red Velvet Slide – original world beat, folk, pop, rock fusion
Carlisle members: Parul Vakani, Chris Brenne
Red Velvet Slide’s music embraces life, love, and subtle provocation. Theirs is a vibrant fusion of world beat, folk, pop, and rock, wrapped around full-bodied lyrics that take on the challenge of creating social awareness. Chris and Parul have recorded two full length albums together, and Chris has recorded many solo projects; individual tracks can be sampled on their websites. Music: music.apple.com/us/artist/red-velvet-slide/80914669 Contact: chrisbrenneguitar@gmail.com
Parul Vakani (keyboards/percussion/vocals), Chris Brenne (acoustic & electric guitars/vocals), Tom Curatolo (bass/vocals)