Music at the Merry Barn: Celebrating the Intersection of Story and Song returns with a full lineup beginning on Saturday, Sept. 30, when Greg and Jessie Boardman will bring their myriad talents to the barn. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; show for all ages begins at 7.

Based in their hometown of Lewiston, the Boardmans are veteran performers and teachers around the state of Maine and beyond. Jessie has been a string player for most of her life, in both fiddling and classical styles, playing for dances, concerts, family and community events, as well as with the violin section of the Midcoast Symphony Orchestra. She teaches students of all ages in her home studio, as well as at Maine Fiddle Camp and Sandy Island Suzuki Camp. 

Greg spends most of his time of late playing with the children he teaches in the Lewiston Public Schools, while continuing to teach at Maine Fiddle Camp, of which he is a founding member, and at many other workshops around the state.  Greg also takes the concert stage on occasion with the trio known as Boardman, Muise and Gawler.

Together, Jessie and Greg Boardman sing songs and play tunes from the folk tradition as well as newer pieces they have collected and composed over the years.

Building on the rich history of the Merry Barn as a beloved dance hall, and the centrality of music and storytelling to the seafaring communities, farms, fields, and forests of Maine, this new series brings musicians with Maine ties to the Midcoast.

In a turn-of-the-century barn, with a house concert vibe, songwriters and musicians find community, connection, and a place to explore their craft. Audiences of all ages experience the beauty and power of story and song in intimate performances spanning genres from indie, folk, rock, blues, multicultural, and indigenous music.

Saturday, Oct. 14: Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and activist Jenny Van West will present an interactive workshop, “Songwriting After 50,” in the afternoon. The workshop is open to anyone 18 and older, beginners, and seasoned songwriters, welcomed.

“When I got into my 50's, a wall of negative messaging that I'd been hearing my entire life hit me all at once,” Van West says. “’You don't matter anymore.’ Middle age is unsexy; no one wants to hear about it.’ ‘No one wants to hire you.’ ‘Menopause??’ And on, and on, and on.”

“And because I am an artist, these messages filtered into every aspect of my creative life,” Van West continues. “But isn't all that stuff a bunch of hooey? Why is it so persistent? What can I do to regain my creative footing – or prevent these messages from taking hold in the first place?”

Van West promises participants will learn from each other and answer questions that arise, such as: “What can/should we write about? Can we still write about love and heartbreak? What about arthritis, empty nesting, death? Who's our audience? Can we still improve? Where can we play out? How do we build community? What can songwriting do to support us and the people around us?” 

This writer, singer, multi-instrumentalist, teacher, and producer's greatest musical passion lies in what good songs can do: alleviate loneliness, support language development, lessen trauma, create joy, build community, and harmonize diverse populations. Van West has released three albums of original songs, “Something Real” (2015), “Honey & Hive” (EP, 2016), and “Happiness to Burn” (2018), with more in the works. Van West has toured extensively in the US and Western Europe, and currently teaches and builds community with recent immigrants and their families in East Bayside, Portland, Maine. During the pandemic, she produced a national musicpodcast, postcards, and currently serves as Program Coordinator for DocSong Portland. www.jennyvanwestmusic.com 

Saturday, Nov. 4, Elsie Gawler and Ethan Tischler will take the stage. These New England songsters and tunesmiths weave together a musical world of past, present, and hopeful future. Ethan and Elsie delight in learning and sharing the rich musical traditions of New England, Quebec, their Celtic influencers, and Scandinavia, as well as writing their own tunes and songs to carry these traditions forward. 

Elsie Gawler is a multi-instrumentalist and songster rooted in Maine's traditional folk music and culture. With her family, the Gawler Family Band, she has played throughout the state and beyond, sharing traditional fiddle tunes, songs, and original works since she was 6 years old. From this foundation she has branched out and launched her debut solo album, Sweet As Honey. The album is a collection of 9 original songs inspired by sacred connection to earth and community. While continuing to play regularly with The Gawler Family Band, her other projects include duo Elsie & Ethan, and trio The Gawler Sisters. She has also been a long-time member of the group Childsplay.

Ethan Tischler is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist from just outside of Burlington, Vermont. Though his principal focus in music has been singing and songwriting, Ethan plays concerts and dances on guitar (standard / DADGAD), fiddle, mandolin, and banjo. His present projects include leading the Youth Choir at the Belfast UU Church, teaching guitar and sound recording at the Bagaduce Music Library in Blue Hill, and teaching participatory song and dance residencies at public schools through Belfast Flying Shoes. Outside of teaching music, he records and performs with the Gawler Family Band, the dance trio Springtide, and his partner Elsie Gawler as Elsie & Ethan.

Tim Winchester will treat audiences to the final show before Music at the Merry Barn, takes a winter hiatus until March 2024. Winchester, a Maine-based songwriter and contemporary folk artist, was first introduced to the guitar at a young age by his father, a self-taught finger-style guitarist and avid music lover. Tim spent his early years tinkering around trying to emulate the sounds of his favorite musical influences and local guitar heroes. 

In 2016, after more than a decade of not picking up the guitar, a couple of friends convinced Tim to play a few original songs at a local open-mic night which would spark a renewed interest in performing and a deeper commitment to songwriting and storytelling. Shortly thereafter, he timorously took his music from the living room to listening rooms and has curated a growing collection of songs ever since. Tim released his first full-length studio album, Into The Open in January 2021, and his sophomore album, Northern Lights was released in August 2022. https://www.timwinchester.com/

We are in the process of booking acts for spring and fall of 2024. For more information, please contact merrybarnwritersretreat@gmail.com.

For tickets and more information:  www.merrybarn.com or merrybarnwritersretreat@gmail.com