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 every Sunday at The Northampton Brewery from 3:00 to 6:00 pm, as well in concerts and festivals throughout western New England! 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. 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.




                                            

Other Area Appearances!:

FIRST NIGHT NORTHAMPTON, ***New Year's Eve***, Monday, December 31, 2018, 5:00-5:45 pm, Northampton Senior Center, 67 Conz Street, Northampton, MA (First Night Button Required!)
NAISMITH'S PUB & PRETZEL, Saturday, February 16, 5:00-8:00 pm, 211 Worthington Street, Springfield, MA; Our first time there!
NORTHAMPTON ST. PATRICK'S ASSOCIATION ANNUAL BANQUET, Saturday, February 23, 2019, 5:30-9:00 pm, Northampton Elks Lodge, 17 Spring Street, Florence, MA
WILBRAHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY, Tuesday, February 26, 2019, 7:00-9:00 pm, 25 Crane Park Drive, Wilbraham, MA
POLUS CENTER "ALL THINGS IRISH" FESTIVAL, Saturday, March 2, 2019; Event is 4:00-9:30, and we'll play 5:30-7:00 pm, American Legion Post 2, 450 South Street, Barre, MA
WESTERN NEW ENGLAND UNIVERSITY, "100 Days to Graduation" Celebration, Thursday, March 14, 2019, 7:00-9:00 pm, Campus Center A, 1215 Wilbraham Road, Springfield, MA
YARDE TAVERN, Saturday, March 16, 2019, 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!, Sunday, March 17, 2019, 4:00-8:00 pm, 11 Brewster Court, Northampton, MA
THE FITZWILLIAM INN, Saturday, June 1, 6:00-9:00 pm, Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire   



Past 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
THE FITZWILLIAM INN, Saturday, May 5, 2018, 6:00-9:00 pm, Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire
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, Friday, June 15, 2018, 6:00-7:00 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
THE FITZWILLIAM INN, Saturday, July 7, 2018, 6:00-9:00 pm, Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire
MAGICAL GREYLOCK "MAGICON" FESTIVAL, Saturday, July 21, 2018, Adams MA; Event is 12:00-6:00 pm, we'll play 12:00-2:00 pm
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, 2018, 1:30-3:00 pm, Heath, MA
YARDE TAVERN, "Halfway to St. Patrick's Day" Party, Saturday, September 22, 2018, 6:00-9:00 pm, On the Common, South Hadley, MA
MUTTS & MIMOSAS, Benefit Brunch for Dakin Humane Society, Sunday, September 30, 2018, 11:00 am-2:00 pm, Quonquont Farm, Whately, MA


                                                                 Sláinte!

Our first-ever CD,

"No Strangers Here,"

is now available at

all our shows, and

at CD Baby.com!

BANISH MISFORTUNE

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

                                          -- William Butler Yeats