Howie Newman
MUSIC, COMEDY and MORE
KNOCK ON WOOD
Acoustic folk-rock duo
"They are highly accomplished musicians with a sound that is dynamic and delightful. As people, they are warm and genuine."
Marilynn Rea Beyer
Former on-air host, WUMB-FM, Boston Currently at WMFT-FM, Chicago


Howie and Dave Talmage
Howie and Abe Dewing

Howie and Joe Kessler
KNOCK ON WOOD
Knock on Wood is a high-energy acoustic folk-rock duo, featuring singer-songwriter Howie Newman on guitar, lead vocals and harmonica.
Howie is joined by Joe Kessler, Abe Dewing or Dave Talmage, three of the top fiddlers in the area. They also play mandolin and sing backup vocals.
The duo performs Classic Rock covers (list below) and funny original songs (suitable for all ages). It's a very lively show with great musicianship, nice vocal harmonies and a little humor here and there.
When appropriate, they play a few children's songs and music for senior citizens.
About Howie Newman
www.howienewman.com
One of the most engaging performers on the local music circuit, Howie combines music, comedy and audience participation to provide a truly unique entertainment experience.
His amusing compositions are up-tempo and catchy, and he keeps things lively with funny between-songs banter and short comedy bits.
Howie has opened for Tom Paxton, Vance Gilbert, Brewer & Shipley, Pure Prairie League, Bill Staines, Lui Collins, Don White, Modern Man and many others.
He has released six CDs, receiving national airplay on National Public Radio and the Midnight Special as well as dozens of other North American outlets. His music has also been aired in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
About Joe Kessler
Joe Kessler, who plays fiddle and mandolin, has an energetic improvisational style that includes folk, rock, jazz and bluegrass. He is also an outstanding backup vocalist.
Joe has toured extensively throughout the United States and Canada as well as eight other countries. He has performed with Morphine, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, the Boogaloo Swamis and many others.
Joe has played in bands that headlined at the Montreal Jazz Festival and Winnipeg Folk Festival.
Locally, he has appeared at the Paradise Rock Club and the New England Americana Festival.
About Abe Dewing
A versatile performer with a wealth of diverse musical experiences, Abe Dewing adds his own personal touch on fiddle and mandolin. His style is a combination of folk, pop, bluegrass, jazz and classical.
As a member of the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, Abe toured in Great Britain, Austria, Hungary and Yugoslavia. He went on to form the Fusion String Ensemble – an energetic combo that blended rock, pop and jazz – and Deceptive Lemons, a bluegrass band.
Abe has performed at Gillette Stadium and LeLacheur Park (Lowell Spinners) as well as Symphony Hall and Lincoln Center.
About Dave Talmage
Dave Talmage is a talented and versatile performer who plays fiddle, mandolin, banjo, guitar and a host of other instruments. He is also a fine lead and backup vocalist.
Well-versed in many types of music, Dave lends his unique style to country, folk, rock, Irish, blues and jazz.
He was the long-running host of the Stone Church Bluegrass Jam and Lonesome Lunch, weekly events that were community hot spots and musical gems.
Dave is a past winner of the Tennessee Songwriters Competition and runner-up in New England Banjo Championship.



“What a delightful show! Their engaging performance had our feet tapping and our youngsters dancing. From covers of early rock ‘n roll favorites to humorous and touching original works, they had something for everyone.”
Peter Imse
Chair, Bow (N.H.) Rotary Concert Committee

2022 CONCERTS
We performed 34 concerts in 2022. To see where we played, click HERE.
To see our 2021 concerts, click HERE.
Only five shows in 2020 due to the pandemic.
To see 2019 concerts, click HERE.
SAMPLE SONGS
Tracks from Howie's latest CD, When You're Happy, featuring Joe Kessler
2023 CONCERTS
MORE TO COME!
All shows outdoors unless indicated
Monday, Feb. 13, 12-1 p.m.
162 West Union St. (indoors)
Monday, Feb. 27, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
117 East Central St. (indoors)
Thursday, March 23, 1-2 p.m.
144 School St. (indoors)
Wednesday, March 29, 1-2 p.m.
2215 King Philip St. (indoors)
Thursday, April 13, 1-2 p.m.
Plymouth Center for Active Living
44 Nook Rd. (indoors)
Thursday, April 27, 1-2 p.m.
157 Park St. (indoors)
Tuesday, May 2, 2:30-3:30 p.m.
30 Olney St. (indoors)
Thursday, May 11, 7:15-8:15 p.m.
143 School St. (indoors)
Thursday, May 18, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
219 Massapoag Ave. (indoors)
Wednesday, May 24, 11 a.m.-noon
167 Holland St. (indoors)
Wednesday, June 7, 1-2 p.m.
1 Sally Sweets Way, Salem, N.H.
Friday, June 9, 1-2 p.m.
Norfolk Grange
28 Rockwood Rd.
Sponsored by Norfolk Senior Ctr.
Sat., June 10, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Whitman Town Park
Whitman Ave.
Thurs., June 15, 12-1 p.m.
25 Concord Rd. (indoors)
Wed., June 21, 1-2 p.m.
163 West Main St. (indoors)
Friday, June 23, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
167 Holland St. (indoors)
Sunday, June 25, 6-7:30 p.m.
First Baptist Church of Melrose
561 Main St.
BREAD OF LIFE BENEFIT
RAIN OR SHINE
Concert will be held inside
thechurch if it rains
Wednesday, July 5, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
49 Madbury Rd.
Thursday, July 6, 6-8 p.m.
Wehner Park
Lynn St., Everett
Tuesday, July 11, 12-1 p.m.
10 Welcome St. (indoors)
Wednesday, July 12, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Lafayette Park
9 Storer St. Kennebunk, Maine
Fri., July 14, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
14 Wallace Ave. (indoors)
Sunday, July 16, 5-7 p.m.
Hopkinton Town Common
6 Hayden Rowe St.
Wednesday, July 19, 1-2:30 p.m.
Private event
Rye, N.H.
Wednesday, July 19, 6:30-7:45 p.m.
2 Maple St., Georgetown
Sunday, July 23, 6-8 p.m.
Revere American Legion
249 Broadway
Tuesday, July 25, 6-7:30 p.m.
77 Alden St.
Monday, July 31, 1-2 p.m.
10 Krueger Way, Bridgewater (indoors)
Tuesday, Aug. 1, 6:30-8 p.m.
Goodwill Park
416 Green St., Holliston
Wednesday, Aug. 2, 6-8 p.m.
Codman Pool
6 Ballfield Rd., Lincoln
Sunday, Aug. 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Ellis Park
Ocean & Railroad Aves., York, Maine
Wednesday, Aug. 23, 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Little River Park
39 North River Rd., Lee, N.H.
Sunday, Sept. 17, 12-2:30 p.m.
219 County Road, Ipswich
Admission to farm is $20 per car
($15 for members)
Thursday, Oct. 12, 6-7:30 p.m.
Lynnfield Meeting House
617Main St. (indoors)
Tuesday, Oct. 24, 12-1 p.m.
10 Krueger Way, Bridgewater
Wednesday, Oct. 25, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
2 Maple St., Georgetown
Sunday, Oct. 29, 3-4:30 p.m.
33 Walpole St., Norwood
Monday, Oct. 30, 1-2 p.m.
204 Elm St.
Monday, Nov. 6, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
32 Essex St.
Monday, Nov. 13, 6-7 p.m.
8 Pleasant St., Spencer
Sunday, Dec. 3, 3-4:30 p.m.
21 Concord Rd., Sudbury
Monday, Dec. 4, 7-8 p.m.
Old Town Hall
1111 Somerset Ave., Dighton (indoors)
Sponsored by Dighton Public Library


“They are very talented and entertaining. And they really engage the audience, which makes the event even more fun.”
Cristi Collari
Outreach Director
Open Sky Community Services, Whitinsville
Eric Anderson photo
HERE'S WHERE WE'VE PLAYED
OUTDOOR SUMMER CONCERTS
Amesbury
Andover
Ashburnham
Bedford
Bedford, N.H.
Billerica
Canton
Chelmsford
Charlestown
Clinton
Concord
Everett
Holliston
Hampstead, N.H.
Hanover
Holbrook
Hooksett, N.H.
Hopkinton
Hudson
Ipswich
Kennebunk, Me.
Lancaster
Lee, N.H.
Lexington
Lincoln
Litchfield, N.H.
Lowell
Malden
Mansfield
Marshfield
Melrose
Mendon
Milford, N.H.
Millbury
Millis
New Boston, N.H.
Ogunquit, Me.
Plymouth
Quincy
Raymond, N.H.
Revere
Rochester, N.H.
Salem, N.H.
Sharon
Sherborn
Southboro
South Hamilton
Southbridge
Stow
Sudbury
Swampscott
Topsfield
Walpole
Watertown
Wells, Maine
Weston
West Newbury
Weymouth
Whitinsville
Whitman
Wilmington
Windham, N.H.
York, Maine
FARMS
Appleton Farms
Ipswich
Kimball Farm
Westford
LIBRARIES
Atkinson, N.H.
Amesbury
Braintree
Brockton
Brookline
Concord
Clinton
Dighton
Foxboro
Dighton
Durham, N.H.
Duxbury
Exeter, N.H.
Fitchburg
Georgetown
Gloucester
Haverhill
Hopkinton
Hudson
Kingston, N.H.
Kittery, Me.
Lynn
Lynnfield
Lunenburg
Manchester, N.H.
Marshfield
COFFEEHOUSES
Mansfield
Middleboro
Milford
Millis
Milton
Byfield
Northboro
Norwell
Norwood
Pembroke
Randolph
Reading
Shrewsbury
Salem, N.H.
Southbridge
Spencer
Stoneham
Sudbury
Sutton
Taunton
Tewksbury
Walpole
West Roxbury
Wilmington
Windham, N.H.
NEW YEAR'S EVE
First Night Worcester
2016
Rockport NYE
2017, 2018, 2019
Cat in the Cradle
Byfield
Arts on the Green
Shrewsbury
Open Road Coffeehouse
Rockland
We play a wide array of songs and styles. Here's a sample of some cover songs:
Barenaked Ladies
If I Had $1 Million
Beatles
When I'm 64
Bob Seger
Old Time Rock 'n' Roll
Buffalo Springfield
For What It's Worth
Dion
Runaround Sue
Dire Straits
Sultans of Swing
Walk of Life
Dropkick Murphys
Shipping up to Boston
Eagles
Heartache Tonight
Hotel California
The Long Run
Elvis Presley
Don't Be Cruel
Eric Clapton
Lay Down Sally
Everly Brothers
Wake Up Little Susie
Fats Waller
It's a Sin to Tell a Lie
Frank Sinatra
New York, New York
Grateful Dead
Friend of the Devil
Guess Who
No Time
Hank Williams
Jambalaya
Huey Lewis & the News
If This Is It
Johnny Cash
I Walk the Line
Ring of Fire
Kinks
Sunny Afternoon
Lola
Little River Band
Cool Change
Mary Chapin Carpenter
He Thinks He'll Keep Her
How Do
The Bug
Pure Prairie League
Amie
R.E.M.
Man on the Moon
Rolling Stones
Jumpin' Jack Flash
Sympathy for the Devil
Steely Dan
My Old School
Stray Cats
Rock This Town
The Cars
Just What I Needed
Tom Petty
Runnin' Down a Dream
I Won't Back Down
Yer So Bad
The Who
Won't Get Fooled Again
PLUS ... Original tunes, children's songs, music for senior citizens and more (as appropriate).