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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

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Howie and Dave Talmage

Howie and Abe Dewing

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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.

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“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

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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

That Old Car

Low Tech

2023 CONCERTS

MORE TO COME!

All shows outdoors unless indicated

Monday, Feb. 13, 12-1 p.m.

Ashland Senior Center

162 West Union St. (indoors)

Monday, Feb. 27, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Natick Senior Center

117 East Central St. (indoors)

Thursday, March 23, 1-2 p.m.

Woburn Senior Center

144 School St. (indoors)

Wednesday, March 29, 1-2 p.m.

Raynham Senior Center

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.

No. Reading Senior Center

157 Park St. (indoors)

Tuesday, May 2, 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Taunton Senior Center

30 Olney St. (indoors)

Thursday, May 11, 7:15-8:15 p.m.

Walpole Public Library

143 School St. (indoors)

Thursday, May 18, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Sharon Adult Center

219 Massapoag Ave. (indoors)

Wednesday, May 24, 11 a.m.-noon

Somerville Senior Center

167 Holland St. (indoors)

Wednesday, June 7, 1-2 p.m.

Ingram Senior Center

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.

Billerica Senior Center

25 Concord Rd. (indoors)

Wed., June 21, 1-2 p.m.

The Groton Center

163 West Main St. (indoors)

Friday, June 23, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Mansfield Senior Center

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.

Durham (N.H.) Public Library

49 Madbury Rd.

Thursday, July 6, 6-8 p.m.

Wehner Park

Lynn St., Everett

Tuesday, July 11, 12-1 p.m.

Haverhill Citizen Center

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.

Fitchburg Senior Center

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.

Georgetown Peabody Library

2 Maple St., Georgetown

Sunday, July 23, 6-8 p.m.

Revere American Legion

249 Broadway

Tuesday, July 25, 6-7:30 p.m.

Duxbury Free Library

77 Alden St.

Monday, July 31, 1-2 p.m.

Cole-Yeaton Senior Center

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.

Appleton Farms

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.

Cole-Yeaton Senior Center

10 Krueger Way, Bridgewater 

Wednesday, Oct. 25, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Georgetown Peabody Library

2 Maple St., Georgetown

 

Sunday, Oct. 29, 3-4:30 p.m.

Morrill Library

33 Walpole St., Norwood

Monday, Oct. 30, 1-2 p.m.

No. Attleboro Senior Center

204 Elm St. 

Monday, Nov. 6, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Beverly Public Library

32 Essex  St.

 

Monday, Nov. 13, 6-7 p.m.

Richard Sugden Library

8 Pleasant St., Spencer

Sunday, Dec. 3, 3-4:30 p.m.

Goodnow Library

21 Concord Rd., Sudbury 

Monday, Dec. 4, 7-8 p.m.

Old Town Hall

1111 Somerset Ave., Dighton  (indoors)

Sponsored by Dighton Public Library

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“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

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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).

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