The Gaslight Tinkers / Folksoul Band

African, Caribbean, Funk, Reggae, and Latin grooves meet traditional fiddle music. It's the genre-bending future of the music of the past. The Gaslight Tinkers' blend of global rhythms creates a joyously danceable sound around a core of traditional New England old time and celtic fiddle music, merging boundless positive energy with melody and song. Since its formation in 2012 the band has lit up the East Coast, the West Coast, and the Caribbean, headlining clubs, dances, and major festivals.

Playing what The Valley Advocate describes as “Music that consistently fizzes and pops with unexpected textures and turns,” The Gaslight Tinkers’ shows are packed with delightful surprises, elated crowds, and exuberant musicianship.

Since the band's formation, they've lit up stages and dance floors from the east to west coast and the Caribbean, even debuting on national TV in Trinidad. Independently, Peter Siegel, Garrett Sawyer, I-shea, Joe Fitzpatrick and Emerald Rae have shared stages, played and collaborated with the likes of Pete Seeger, Soca Monarchs of the Caribbean, Noel Paul Stookey of Peter Paul and Mary, The Alchemystics, Trailer Park, Alastair Fraser, and other recognized fiddlers around the world. Together, they are a force that will lift your feet and spirits.

The Folksoul Band creates new music from old traditions, combining horns, vocals, wild rhythms, and New Orleans Mardi Gras spirit to create music for celebration and dancing.

Drawing new impulses from old traditions–it is the living tradition of Mardi Gras dance music and New Orleans that is celebrated here–the city that gave us Louis Armstrong and Fats Domino–the fathers of jazz and rock’n’roll. We go back to the roots to find the spirit that has its source Down There, and we follow its branches of Motown, Soul, and R&B, that reach out to all of us as Americans and even beyond. We go there with horns and guitar, keys, and rhythm, and stellar vocals covering all kinds of dance tunes, and we discover ourselves in the mix, as does our audience.

It’s new and old music, coming out of the oldest and most vibrant of American traditions. The American Folksoul embraces all. This band enjoys a good Mardi Gras parade, and we enjoyed parading with Granny D when she ran for US Senate in NH, and as we do in Peterborough every Children In the Arts Spring Festival, and during Mardi Gras season, and at our own Folksoul Music Festival. Our music is music that’s alive and gets the party going.

It’s dance music, with a natural and organic acoustic balance that does not rely on volume to reach people’s hearts and souls. No other band sounds quite like this one, or makes music exactly like it. It is high-spirited music generated by the musicians and the instruments themselves, and it’s an interesting assortment on both counts!

Masks are required when moving about the space.