Bio

Ronald Meck is a veteran performer of four decades residing in Shutesbury, Massachusetts. His soulful baritone and masterful guitar work give full vent to his passion for the Traditional and Contemporary Celtic and Folk Ballads he presents. Meck’s solo career has been intertwined with participation in numerous bands including Occam's Razor of Massachusetts and the tremendously popular Vermont quartet, Gypsy Reel. But most audiences would agree his solo art is his most enticing work, strongly influenced by such greats as Dick Gaughan, Stan Rogers, and Martin Carthy.  He has been an opening act for Taj Mahal, Pure Prarie League and Ossian.His primary instruments are 6- and 12-string guitars, supplemented with tenor banjo and bouzouki.  He has played across the states and in Europe, where for several summers, he taught Creative Arts Therapy at the European Graduate School in Saas Fee, Switzerland where he was often a featured performer at the International Festival of the Arts.  He is a practicing Creative Arts Therapist who understands the innate healing capacities of the arts, a perspective he brings to his concerts.  In the early 80's he was a strong presence in the folk music community around Middlebury, Vermont where he hosted a traditional music program on WRMC Radio and was the founder and director of the well regarded Renaissance Folk Club.Though his political leanings may seem clear, Meck's repertoire favors historical, mythical and relational storytelling, focusing intently on the emotional lives of real people caught up in a world beyond their fashioning and their responses to it. He is adept at weaving a soothing trance with compelling vocal melodies and open chords, interspersed with driving up tempo selections.  The repertoire favors Celtic and English ballads and tunes, but varies in ethnicity and includes many styles and contemporary references as well.Ronald is very pleased to now offer concerts accompanied by his son Adrian, an accomplished fiddler and symphonic violinist with 24 years' playing experience.  Adrian is a blossoming musician whose sensitivity to the emotional timbre of the lyrics and penetrating, toe-tapping interpretation of traditional dance tunes add an exquisite and exciting dimension to their performances. 

-Shutesbury, Massachusetts 2016