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Updated 1/24/2024

SESSION AMERICANA

  • M

    MA

Institution/Business Type: Performing Group

SESSION AMERICANA is musicians’ musicians: a cast of top-shelf players, singers, and writers who tour internationally, taking their own songs, plus hundreds more from the American songbook, on the road. Original songs delving into American history, agriculure, love, loss, life on the road and shared experience are all a part of the wide diversity Session Americana's catalog. Whether you catch Session Americana in a rock hall or on a festival stage, you’ll be a part of the intimate, raucous scene these players built years ago at Toad, the neighborhood bar where it all began in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 

Late one Sunday night in October 2003, Session Americana had its first jam around a table in the back of Toad (RIP) in Cambridge Massachusetts.  Looking back, the group has a natural, almost inevitable evolution from a loose bunch of friends sitting around swapping songs in a bar, to a hot ticket weekly residency, to a touring collective.  Along the way, they have made 10 records, played clubs and festivals across the US and Europe, and developed some deep collaborative bonds with a wide community of musicians.  Their diligent avoidance of music business “shoulds” have led them down a quirky and joyful path through the music world and the result is evident in the musical prowess they bring to every show. Swapping instruments, lead vocals and their original songs, Session Americana is constantly exploring new collaborations and touring like a band out of time, still searching for a welcoming and homey venue, a long lunch with old friends and a good glass of wine.  

Session Americana members are Billy Beard, Ry Cavanaugh, Jim Fitting, Dinty Child and Jon Bistline

 

Find Me

Billy Beard (He / Him)
Job Title: manager
Phone: 617-283-1704
Address:
220 Pearl St.
Cambridge, MA 02139

Social Media:

Additional Content:

  • Spotify

    All songs and albums by Session Americana

About

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Performing Group

Legal Status:

Commercial / For profit - Corporation

Year Founded:

2005

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Performing Group

Legal Status:

Commercial / For profit - Corporation

Year Founded:

2005

Disciplines

Primary Discipline:

Music - Traditional

Additional Disciplines:

  • Music - Traditional

Activities and Services

Activities and Services:

  • Performance / Concert / Reading
  • Cultural Education
Seasons Active: spring, summer, fall, winter
Events Per Year: 80

Communities

Populations Engaged:

  • Adults
  • Artists
  • General Public
  • Families

Languages Available:

  • English

Geographic Reach:

  • International

Media Gallery

I Have Worked With

The Highland Arts Center

Arts Center

Date: 10/2023-10/2023

Long running relationship with a cultural arts center in Greensboro VT.

The Parlor Room at Signature Sounds

Coffeehouse / Restaurant / Nightclub

Date: 05/2023-05/2023

Performance space connected to record label and one we used to do another residency for recording purposes. The band set up at the coffee house Iconic Social Club for a two day recording session and capped it off with a performance at The Parlor Room. A very supportive venue and company.

The Word Barn

Coffeehouse / Restaurant / Nightclub

Date: 03/2023-03/2023

The Word Barn is a performance space in Exeter NH that provides both poetry events and musical events. As part of our desire to capture new original music we moved into the space for three days and recorded, ate and slept there. This music will be on an upcoming record.

PASSIM FOLK MUSIC AND CULTURAL CENTER / CLUB PASSIM

Cultural Series Organization

Date: 01/2023-01/2023

A very long standing performance space that we have been playing for over 15 years. Last engagement was an all ages pop up show to help with cancellations the club was experiencing

Affiliations and Accomplishments

Awards

Awards:

  • Winner "2005 Best Folk Act" - The Boston Music Awards
  • Winner "Best Roots Act 2006" - Improper Bostonian "Best of Boston" Issue
  • Winner "Best Album by a Local Artist" 2007 - Improper Bostonian
  • Winner "Best Live Ongoing Residency" 2014-The Boston Music Awards

Awards

Awards:

  • Winner "2005 Best Folk Act" - The Boston Music Awards
  • Winner "Best Roots Act 2006" - Improper Bostonian "Best of Boston" Issue
  • Winner "Best Album by a Local Artist" 2007 - Improper Bostonian
  • Winner "Best Live Ongoing Residency" 2014-The Boston Music Awards

Artist Info

Touring Artist

NEST Eligible Artist

Technical Requirements:

  • A full range PA system with at least 11 inputs, EQ, 3 monitor mixes and phantom power
  • Appropriate lighting for indoor show

Fee Range:

From $1500 - $10,000 depending on the situation and distance.

State of Residence:

Massachusetts

Minimum Number of Performers:

5

Maximum Number of Performers:

7

Touring Artist

NEST Eligible Artist

Technical Requirements:

  • A full range PA system with at least 11 inputs, EQ, 3 monitor mixes and phantom power
  • Appropriate lighting for indoor show

Fee Range:

From $1500 - $10,000 depending on the situation and distance.

State of Residence:

Massachusetts

Minimum Number of Performers:

5

Maximum Number of Performers:

7