This is a brand new trio featuring fiddler great Kera Lynne-Newman, Michael Thomas Connolly, and Jan Peters.
Michael Thomas Connolly is a musician, teacher, and recording engineer. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, he grew up playing a number of instruments in Irish, old-time and bluegrass genres. Michael's playing is represented on approximately 60 albums from various artists including Coyote Grace, Amy Ray ( Indigo Girls) and many others. After 10 years of teaching, recording, and presenting concerts at Empty Sea Studios in Seattle, Michael has recently relocated to the Bellingham area.
Kera-Lynne Newman began studying violin at a young age in her hometown of Sitka, Alaska. Her ever-expanding musical pursuits led her to receiving the Outstanding Jazz Soloist distinction at the Lionel Hampton Jazz festival in Moscow, Idaho. She is the only student to have earned five command performances in four years and enjoyed the honor of performing in the Alaska All-State Orchestras and All-Northwest Women’s Honor Choir. After graduation, Black Bonnet Ballyhoo and The Eskimo Girls were her primary projects, and since moving back to the Northwest she has become a part of the vibrant folk music community in this area, venturing into multiple fiddle styles. Notable concerts include playing with the Juneau Symphony, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and touring with Sleeping At Last. She is a certified Suzuki Method teacher and performs and teaches around Bellingham, Washington, and has been the featured violinist with the Kulshan Chorus for their last four concerts.
Jan Peters has been peforming in various projects on the west coast for 30 years. From full time blues pianist in the mid 1980's/early 90's to his last 20 years in Bellingham, he is founder of the Monday Night Project, The Naked Hearts, and most recently Gallowglass Irish Band with Zach Bauman and David Lofgren (now a five piece with fiddler Margaret Inez Driscoll and singer Mishon Kirkland). Jan is also founder of Irish & Folk Mondays and creates unique shows at various venues in Bellingham and works with artists such as Petunia of The Vipers, Devin Champlin, Robert Sarazin Blake, The Tango Cowboys, and many more.