Princeton Folk Music Society presents House of Hamill



(PRINCETON, NJ) — The Princeton Folk Music Society presents an evening of high energy “upcycled indie Irish folk” with House of Hamill at Christ Congregation Church on Friday, November 17, 2023. Whether they’re ripping through a set of original jigs and reels, adding lush three-part harmonies to traditional folk ballads, or cracking up an audience with stories from the road, House of Hamill puts on a show that captivates audiences from the very first note. Showtime is 8:00pm.

House of Hamill came into being when two singer-songwriters and violinists, Rose Baldino (of Burning Bridget Cleary) and Brian Buchanan (of Enter the Haggis) were brought together to fill a gap in a concert line-up caused when travel problems prevented other members of Burning Bridget Cleary from getting to the concert. The two clicked and began performing as a duo. A few years later, the scenario was repeated when bassist and mandolinist Caroline Browning turned the duo into a trio after spontaneously filling in for a musician whose flight to a music festival in Colorado was cancelled.

Since both Rose and Brian play the violin, the last few years has seen them do “violin only” video versions of well-known rock songs, which they’ve posted to YouTube. So far, they’ve tackled “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Sweet Child of Mine,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and “Hysteria.” Occasionally, they also perform songs live with the help of an electronic looper. “It’s great for wrangling in younger fans who are really into YouTube or Facebook,” says Rose. “It’s almost like a challenge for us to see what crazy song we can do.”

Tickets at the door: $25 ($20 members, $10 students 12 – 22, $5 children 11 and under). You can also purchase tickets online, which will be held for you at will-call.  Christ Congregation Church is located at 50 Walnut Lane in Princeton, New Jersey and has ample free parking.

The “House of Hamill” name is taken from an Irish reel and honors its composer, Ed Reavy, who became a major influence on Irish music in America after emigrating from County Cavan to Philadelphia in 1912.

“House of Hamill perfectly blends traditional Irish folk music with modern style and appeal.” – Andrew Smith, The Montgomery School, Chester Springs, PA.

The Princeton Folk Music Society has encouraged the growth of folk music in central New Jersey for over 58 years. They are continuing to offer live-stream viewing of performances when possible and have chosen to make the stream available under the honor system of folk music. If you watch the stream live or delayed, we and the artist would greatly appreciate you utilizing the “tip jar” to make a contribution in lieu of in-person concert tickets. They recognize that not everyone can make it to the venue for the show, so they’re delighted to be able to present this as an option to participate in the concert.

Photo © House of Hamill