About...
Tom's music career started in high school when he organized The Wayfarers, a 4 member folk group. They represented the State of NH at the 1964 World's Fair singing folk music cover songs of the Kingston Trio, Peter, Paul, and Mary, and other folk musicians of the day.
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After graduation, he continued with the music, and, for many years, made a living as a solo artist. Somewhere along the line, he started writing songs to add to his performance.
At one point, Tom was offered a gig for St. Patrick's Day, if he could learn enough Irish tunes to put together an act in less than a week. That was the start of an annual week to 10 days of fast paced Irish music that continues each March with a band he put together and named Unicorn. They have been playing together for 25 years, and only see each other during that 7-10 days around St Patrick's Day. They've never once rehearsed, yet each year when they get together and start the first song of the first gig, it all comes together like clockwork. It helps that the other 2 members of the band, a banjo and an upright bass player, are both excellent musicians who each play in bluegrass bands during the year.
When the music gigs started feeling less like fun, and more like work, for various reasons, Tom followed a different path and only performed for the high paying St Patrick's gigs each year. The rest of the year he played no music.
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In 2005 he and his wife moved to Moultonborough, NH, where they knew no one. As he walked his dog, he met neighbors, and they developed close friendships with them. By 2009, they'd settled into their home and had things pretty well as they wanted them. That was when his wife started looking for things to do in the area, and wanted to meet more people. She started by pushing him back into the music.
They found a monthly open mic in Tuftonboro that they started attending. They quickly made new friends as Tom got dragged back into the folk music. After a 25 year hiatus, it was fun again. He has been playing his guitars, singing and writing more songs, and having a great time with it all, and the great friends they have made. In the Lakes Region of NH, they have found a very active folkie commuinty. The people love to get together often for song circles, acoustic open mics, and to support each other at their many performances in local establishments.
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I hope you will check this website often to see Tom's schedule of performances, as well as dates of the monthly Coffeehouse Acoustic Open Mic Nights that he hosts at the Doris L Benz Center in Center Sandwich, NH. The Coffeehouse Open Mics are, for the most part, on the first Saturday of each month from October thru June. Occassionally the dates will have to diviate from that first Saturday due to other scheduled events ar the Benz Center, so please check the schedule page. The Coffeehouse Open Mics are open to all acoustic performers of all abilities. This is a NH group who enjoys listening and they treat every performer with equal respect and encouragement. They all understand that beginners have to start someplace. They were all there at one time in their lives. They do have some extremely talented musicians who participate on a regular basis, so, if you want to just come to listen, which they heartily encourage, you will be etertained by some of the area's most highly respected musicians.
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You can find Tom playing from time to time in the following regular locations...that's not to say that other venues aren't added here and there, so check the schedule often
The Pub of the Corner House Inn, Center Sandwich, NH
Lyceum, Tamworth, NH
The Other Store, Tamworth, NH
South Danbury Church's Friday-Evening-In-Winter, Danbury, NH
Hakuna Organic Cafe, Meredith, NH
Bob Baines Blarney Breakfast, and the Reception, Manchester, NH
Bobby Stephen's Annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration (since 1978!), Manchester, NH
In March 2016, Tom added a wedding reception to his list of gigs for a bride and groom who wanted Irish music played for the cocktail hour of their reception. It was different, and definitley something he'd do again!
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As often as he can, Tom sends out an email promoting many area music events that he knows of. Please email your request to be added to his email list to TomBartlettMusicInquiries@gmail.com
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