Stuart Mason is known in the California traditional music community for his driving, rhythmic guitar, melodic mandola picking, traditional singing style, and inability to hold his whiskey. As guitarist for Molly's Revenge, a dynamic, acoustic Celtic band with a unique and infectious on-stage enthusiasm, he has performed in China, Hawaii, Scotland, and many of the mainland United States. Between these engagements he plays solo and duo gigs that feature traditional Irish tunes, oldtime bluegrass, and his original "oldternative" songs.
His compositions have won multiple awards from the West Coast Songwriter's Association, and his traditional singing has placed first at the Oldtime Fiddler's Convention in Santa Barbara. Stuart has been on guitar teaching staff at the CTMS Solstice Festival and Lark Camp.
Born Stuart Mason Helmintoller in Buckhannon, West Virginia, he spent his early years in West Virginia and southern Ohio. After high school, he supported himself playing bluegrass and country music. He graduated from Ohio State in 1981 and returned to West Virginia, where he lived in Upshur County, worked as a park ranger and traveled to local fairs and festivals from the eastern panhandle to the Kentucky border. While living in the mountains in the old family house, he learned to play the oldest forms of Appalachian fiddle music, which led him directly to traditional Irish music.
In 1981 Stuart left West Virginia and moved to Hawaii for 12 years. On Maui, he performed and recorded albums with acoustic trad bands String Fever and AnRil. In 1997 he returned to the mainland with his wife Joyce and settled in the seaside community of Los Osos, California. Since relocating to California, he has performed at many concert halls, pubs, churches, and festivals, including Live Oak Music Festival, the Chicago Gaelic Park Irish Festival, the Shanghai International Music Carnival, and Feakle International Music Festival in Ireland.
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 162 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001
Where traditions are not so rare; Sea, country and works scent the air; A multitude of monuments, Planted tubs and patterned pavements.
The longish pedestrian malls; The remnants of defensive walls; Historic buildings are a gauge Of the respect for heritage.
Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; Estuaries guarded by shields; Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; Romantic-ruin go-betweens.
Rivers in parts licked by trees, Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, And crossed by practical delights - Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.
Fine churches headed at Durham; Football kits ad infinitum; Kept castles - one for study; Masonry behind masonry.
And, with moulding-works out that way, It’s somewhere for a longer stay..?
This month we mostly have Catie Curtis (with a Richard Thompson cover), Lindsay Fuller and The Cheap Dates (and who amongst us isn't?), Josh Fix with a track from the well-titled album This Town Is Starting To Make Me Angry and the rather lovely Red Rooster.
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 2 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN
Once drove an old sedan, up north, From a place in Sydney to Cairns; Then to Kuranda I went forth, By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market, With fresh fruits of tropical kind; Walked to the creek through lush thicket - Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe; Then, outside, as I wrote for yen, Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey, You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know - Assured voices, elderly men. That’s now several years ago, And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
Four more little sonic gems for your August pleasure are now available on the site. Blitzen Trapper, Boulder Acoustic Society, Jay Brannan and The Wiyos. Yet another fine quartet even though we say so ourselves as picked them out.
We're visiting your page to say hello and invite you to join us in the Fiddle World.
You don't have to play the fiddle to be a member and it's free.
Please at least check it out: http://fiddleworld.ning.com
After you do, comment us back so we know you did. Thanks
Hello, after an unfortunate hiatus, the reasons for which are probably best not gone into here, we finally have some new music on the AUK MySpace site. For your listening pleasure this month we offer Nathan Oliver, Conrad Ford, the irrepressible Todd Snider and the delightful Beccy Owen. Don't forget too, for those of you within striking distance of Leicester, Electric Dustbowl 2 on 19 September.
Are you looking for a new violin or viola bow? My carbon fiber bow was designed for people that play lively music, especially fiddlers
Check it out: http://adamrsweet.com/mybow.html
Thank you
Hey Stu--Do you know any performers who might want to play a few songs on a
Thursday in Santa Margarita? I call our weekly event at the Porch a
songwriters showcase, but there are instrumental acts and performers
doing cover songs too. I'm always open to newcomers, and I also provide
paying gigs to many performers, local and touring acts. Thanks--SK
Something Sacred Online Store Updated!!!!!!!!
Hey Everyone, The Something Sacred online stores has been UPDATED with a TON of NEW men's and women's tee's for spring/summer. Clique the link below to be directed right to the store......plus FREE SHIPPING on all orders.
Hey, It's Dave Clupper. If I haven't told you thank you for your support yet, thank you! Check out the video below for a live clip shot from Downtown Tulsa with my daughter Ellen. Also, stop by my profile and enjoy a majority of my new record "Letting Go" released earlier this month. If you want to own a copy, look for the Buy Now Button on my profile or to just own a track, visit iTunes by clicking here. Talk soon!
Hello, it's that time of the month again when we add more lovely music to our site. This month's happy foursome are The Barker Band in wistful mode, the summer of love-ish Old Californio, the anything but summer love-ish Christopher Rees and, wait for it..."Travelling Salesman's Young Wife Home Alone On Christmas In Montpelier, VT" from Casiotone For The Painfully Alone, which evenr if it was rubbish (and it's not) just had to be included for the names alone.
Itâs that time of the month and our site has four new tracks up for your listening enjoyment.
This monthâs box of delights include the swaggering groove of Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, the insanely catchy folk-pop of Antje Duvekot, the languid Great Lake Swimmers and, a little belatedly but better late than never, The Young Republic.
A particularly strong month, even if we do say so ourselves. Check them out, you won't regret it.
