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
Howie and Ellen Carlson
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 or Ellen Carlson, two 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 Ellen Carlson
Fiddler/mandolinist Ellen Carlson has performed with many bands in the area, playing her unique improvisational brand of bluegrass, swing, country, rock, Irish and blues. Her vocal talents have been an integral part of all these groups.
Robert Buckingham of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine described Ellen as a fiddler “who has incorporated the best elements of Vassar Clements’s unique style into her own highly melodic playing.”
Her bands have shared the stage with national acts like Martina McBride, Hal Ketchum, Ralph Stanley, Carol Noonan and Lori McKenna. Ellen has also performed in Las Vegas and at Foxboro Stadium’s prestigious Country Music Festival.
To see where we performed in 2021, click HERE.
Only five shows in 2020 due to the pandemic.
To see where we performed in 2019, click HERE.
“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
Howie and Joe Kessler
SAMPLE SONGS
Tracks from Howie's latest CD, When You're Happy, featuring Joe Kessler
2022 CONCERTS
MORE TO COME!
Sunday, April 10, 11 a.m.
Private event, Roslindale
Wednesday, April 13, 1 p.m.
Private event, Newton
Saturday, April 23, 2-3:30 p.m.
Brockton Public Library (indoors)
304 Main St.
Wednesday, May 11, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
1 Sally Sweets Way, Salem, N.H.
Tuesday, May 17, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
4 Chestnut St., Exeter, N.H.
Sunday, June 5, 6-7:30 p.m.
First Baptist Church
561 Main St., Melrose
BREAD OF LIFE BENEFIT
Wednesday, June 8, 6-7:30 p.m.
61 Burrill St.
Thursday, June 9, 6:30-8 p.m.
Town Park gazebo, Whitman Ave.
Whitman
Thursday, June 16, 6:30-8 p.m.
Tyler Park
700 Westford St., Lowell
Friday, June 17, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Town Common
4 North Lowell Rd., Windham, N.H.
Thursday, June 23, 6-7:30 p.m.
236 Main St., Southbridge
Thursday, July 7, 6:30-8 p.m.
15 School St.
Mon., July 11, 12:45-1:45 p.m.
97 West Center St.
Monday, July 11, 6-7:30 p.m.
12 Pleasant St.
Wednesday, July 13, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Lafayette Park, 9 Storer St.
Kennebunk, Maine
Thursday, July 14, 7-8:30 p.m.
129 Main St., Concord, Mass.
Sunday, July 17, 5-7 p.m.
Marshfield Town Hall Green
870 Moraine St.
Tuesday, July 19, 6-7:30 p.m.
5 North Common St.
Wednesday, July 20, 7-8:30 p.m.
Town Green
Boston Post Rd., Weston
Saturday, July 23, 2-4 p.m.
219 County Rd. Ipswich
Sunday, July 24, 6-8 p.m.
Bow Bandstand
3 Bow Center Rd., Bow, N.H.
Tuesday, July 26, 2-3 p.m.
25 Concord Rd.
Thursday, July 28, 6-8 p.m.
5 Academy Ave., Atkinson, N.H.
Tuesday, Aug. 2, 6-7:30 p.m.
4 Uxbridge Rd.
Wednesday, Aug. 3, 6:30-8 p.m.
Wood Park
65 Park St., Hudson
Sunday, Aug. 6, 1-3 p.m.
Haskell Field
40 Fairbank Rd., Sudbury
Tuesday, Aug. 16, 6:30-8 p.m.
431 Main St.
Thursday, Aug. 18, 6-7:30 p.m.
Town Common
4 Epping St., Raymond, N.H.
Friday, Aug. 19, 6-8 p.m.
400 Littleton Rd., Westford
Sunday, Aug. 21, 6-7:30 p.m.
Castle Canyon Playground
97 South Franklin St., Holbrook
Wednesday, Aug. 24, 6-7:30 p.m.
54 Walnut St., Clinton
Thursday, Aug. 25, 6-7:30 p.m.
Rochester, N.H. Common
South Main St.
Sunday, Aug. 28, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Ellis Park gazebo
Ocean & Railroad Aves., York, Maine
“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
Amesbury
Andover
Ashburnham
Bedford
Bedford, N.H.
Billerica
Canton
Chelmsford
Charlestown
Clinton
Concord
Holliston
Hampstead, N.H.
Hanover
Holbrook
Hooksett, N.H.
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.
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
Atkinson, N.H.
Amesbury
Braintree
Brockton
Brookline
Clinton
Foxboro
Duxbury
Exeter, N.H.
Fitchburg
Gloucester
Haverhill
Hopkinton
Hudson
Kingston, N.H.
Kittery, Me.
Lynn
Manchester, N.H.
Marshfield
Mansfield
Middleboro
Milford
Millis
Milton
Byfield
Northboro
Norwell
Norwood
Pembroke
Randolph
Reading
Shrewsbury
Salem, N.H.
Stoneham
Sutton
Taunton
Tewksbury
West Roxbury
Wilmington
Windham, N.H.
First Night Worcester
2016
Rockport New Year's Eve
2017, 2018, 2019
COFFEEHOUSES
Cat in the Cradle
Byfield
Arts on the Green
Shrewsbury
Open Road Coffeehouse
Rockland
FARMS
Appleton Farms
Ipswich
Kimball Farm
Westford
HERE'S WHERE WE'VE PLAYED
NEW YEAR'S EVE
LIBRARIES
OUTDOOR SUMMER CONCERTS
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).