Gloucester Hornpipe & Clog Society
Celtic, Maritime, and Colonial Music
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The Gloucester Hornpipe and Clog Society has delighted audiences since 1976 with a lively mix of Celtic jigs and reels, American Colonial-era tunes, sing-along sea chanteys, and original songs of colorful people and places from New England's rich history. From ragtime to oldtime, the band's rollicking, friendly style is fun for all ages.
- "You are all such amazing musicians, and your performance was lively and magical." (80 Border Street Cultural Exchange Center, East Boston)
- “Your sprightly music was lively and fitting for this happy (Grand Opening), and we feel that old Edmund Fowle himself would be rejoicing in Heaven at the very sound of it!" (Mary Spiers, The Historical Society of Watertown)
- “…an affectionate feel for the music.." (Bryan Baker, review of Airs From Who Knows Where)
- "A band that's become a New England tradition unto itself!" (Dave Palmeter, Folktracks Live, Club Passim
The Society sings of Old Ironsides, a Boston Harbor ghost, the Massachusetts State Schooner Ernestina, the Massachusetts State Heroine Deborah Samson, and the Great Sea-Serpent of Cape Ann.
They layer vibrant vocals and hearty harmonies with a large collection of traditional instruments, including fiddle, flute, banjo, tin whistle, accordion, mountain dulcimer, and guitar. Founder David Rosen plays the age-old delights of bones, spoons, bodhran, dancing horse, and pogocello!
They enjoy performing around New England at concerts and festivals, museums and historic sites, maritime festivals and outdoor summer series, and private events. Core members are from Boston (Roslindale and Jamaica Plain) and Waltham, with on-call and alumni members from across metro Boston. Despite our name, no one from Gloucester has yet to play in the band, although the band had its first concert and many concerts since in this great seaside town.