Banish Misfortune is our group of musicians from western Massachusetts, and we play traditional music from Ireland. Our instrumentation includes fiddle, concertina, mandolin, flute, bouzouki, whistle, accordion and guitar, with which

we serve up rousing sets of jigs, reels, hornpipes, waltzes, polkas, airs, and the occasional inspired song or accompanied Irish poem!


         We regularly play in concerts and festivals throughout western New England, as well as every Sunday at The Northampton Brewery from 5:00 to 8:00 pm! And, we were voted one of the "Top 5 Bands in the Valley" in the 2015 Valley Advocate Grand Band Slam!


Special Treat! Click here to see a beautiful 4-minute music video, the finale of a

captivating 45-minute documentary about butterflies in Ashfield, MA, made by our

good friend John Body and featuring our music (among others) throughout!:


https://youtu.be/P8TJaVUXI-8

         We're available to bring old world comfort to any social gathering, whether

a wedding ceremony (fiddle & guitar), the cocktail hour of a wedding reception,

a birthday or retirement party, or a business event (full band). Please visit us on Facebook, and for rates and bookings please contact us at (413) 586-4997 or davemeuser@msn.com.


                                               ~ About the Band ~
David Brule (fiddle), a published local author fluent in Irish Gaelic and several other languages, brings his love of Irish poetry and lore to the band. Sean Burke (mandolin, bouzouki), born in County Mayo, Ireland, roots the groups sensibilities with his genuine approach to the music and remarkable repertoire of heartfelt songs. Tim Donoghue (concertina) is legendary among local Irish musicians, with

a keen wit and a wellspring of songs tucked in his back pocket, from bawdy to beguiling. Kira Jewett is an acclaimed All-Ireland Fiddle Champion and interim principal at Holyoke's Paulo Freire School for Social Justice. T.J. Ezold (flute, accordion, banjo, whistle), Berklee College of Music grad and professional pilot, sets tunes aloft with his multi-instrumental, soaring musicianship. Ellen Redman (flute, whistle, concertina) is a music instructor at Smith College, member of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, and founder of Smith’s Wailing Banshees.

John Tabb is a renowned accordion player throughout western New England, revered and beloved by all who know him. David Meuser (guitar) is a college writing instructor who instills his accompaniment with his lifelong affection for Irish music and culture.


                                            















More upcoming appearances in 2018!:

  • NORTHWEST PARK, Saturday, January 6, 2018, 7:30-9:30 pm,Windsor, Connecticut; Tickets and info are at www.northwestpark.org
  • NORTHAMPTON ST. PATRICK'S ASSOCIATION ANNUAL BANQUET, Saturday, February 24, 2018, 5:30-9:00 pm, Northampton Elks Lodge, 17 Spring Street, Florence, MA
  • WILBRAHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY, Wednesday, February 28, 2018, 7:00-9:00 pm, 25 Crane Park Drive, Wilbraham, MA
  • HUDSON TOWN HALL, Saturday, March 10, 2018, 7:30-9:00 pm, River's Edge Arts Alliance Concert Series, Hudson, MA
  • WHETSTONE STATION BREWERY, Thursday, March 15, 2018, 8:00-10:30 pm, 36 Bridge Street, Brattleboro, Vermont
  • FITZWILLY'S RESTAURANT & BAR, Friday, March 16, 2018, 10:00 am- 12:00 noon, Northampton St. Patrick's Association Breakfast Toast!
  • YARDE TAVERN, Friday, March 16, 2018, 6:00-9:00 pm, On the Common, South Hadley; "Holyoke Road Race/St. Patrick's Parade Kickoff Party"! 
  • NORTHAMPTON BREWERY ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARTY!, Saturday, March 17, 2018, 4:00-8:00 pm, 11 Brewster Court, Northampton, MA
  • CLAPP MEMORIAL LIBRARY (Belchertown Public Library), Friday, March 30, 2018, 7:00-9:00 pm, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA
  • FITZWILLIAM INN, Saturday, May 5, 2018, 6:00-9:00 pm, Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire; more info is at www.fitzwilliaminn.com
  • AGAWAM APPLAUSE CONCERT SERIES, Friday, May 11, 2018, 7:00-8:00 pm, Agawam Senior Center, 954 Main Street, Agawam, MA
  • THE TASTE OF AMHERST, Saturday, June 16, 2018, 1:00-2:00 pm, Amherst Town Common, Amherst, MA
  • SUNDERLAND 300th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, Saturday, June 16, 2018; All day event, and we'll play 5:45-6:45 pm, Sunderland, MA
  • WORTHINGTON 250th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, Saturday, June 30, 9:00-10:30 pm, Worthington, MA
  • SUMMIT HOUSE SUNSET CONCERT SERIES, Thursday, August 2, 2018, 7:30-9:30 pm, Skinner State Park, Hadley, MA; Gate opens 6:00 pm; Information on tickets are at www.friendsofmhr.org
  • THE HEATH FAIR, Sunday, August 19, 1:30-3:30 pm, Heath, MA


Sláinte!


 "There are no strangers here, only friends you haven't met yet."

                                          -- William Butler Yeats

Our first-ever CD,

"No Strangers Here,"

is now available at

all our shows, and

at CD Baby.com!







BANISH MISFORTUNE