Celtic musicians John Weed and Stuart Mason in concert

Published 4:00 pm Monday, February 18, 2013

LONG BEACH, Wash. – John Weed and Stuart Mason play traditional tunes and songs that explore the musical connections between Ireland and America, with tastes of Scotland, Canada and more. On fiddle, guitar, mandola and banjo they bridge the Atlantic to recreate a lost magic that resonates with the listener of today. Both are members of the well-known Celtic powerhouse Molly’s Revenge, the old-time bluegrass group Little Black Train, and the new trio Story Road, with Colleen Raney. With Molly’s Revenge, Mason and Weed have appeared on festival stages from Glasgow, Scotland, to Shanghai, China.

The two will be in concert at the Peninsula Arts Center, 504 Pacific Ave., at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23. Admission is $12 and wine and beer will be available.

An accomplished fiddler across genres, Weed has lived in Ireland and immersed himself in the traditional styles of Clare and Donegal. The result is an old-time Irish fiddling style that complements his forays into bluegrass, swing and other American music. A classically trained violinist, he leverages his understanding of the instrument to coax emotion from every tune. Weed has returned to Ireland many times to hone his skills and collect tunes at their source.

Mason was born in the hills of West Virginia and has been playing traditional music on stage for more than 35 years. He is known for his authentic vocals and driving backing on guitar and mandola in alternate tunings. On banjo he plays in the older clawhammer and two-finger styles. He has won awards for traditional singing (Goleta Old-Time Fiddler’s Convention), mandola (Topanga Banjo and Fiddle Contest) and songwriting (West Coast Songwriter’s Association). Deeply rooted in Americana, Mason’s original songs are the result of the years he spent immersed in traditional music. In addition to the projects listed above, he holds down a long-running weekly residency in San Luis Obispo, Calif., with the Old-Time Fiddle and Banjo Show.

The Peninsula Arts Center can be reached at 360-642-2011. Reservations can be made online at www.peninsulaartscenter.org/concerts