Alastair Moock's Pastures of Plenty in Marblehead on March 25

If you've never been to a Pastures of Plenty show before, you're in for a very special night. Alastair Moock has invited some of the region's best musicians to play along with him at the me&thee on March 25. If you know anything at all about Moock, you know that he's a first-class individual who is ALL about community. Many of his fans have followed his career for many years and have been overjoyed for his success (Grammy nominated album) and have also been overcome by emotion when following the saga of his young daughter, Clio, who was diagnosed with leukeumia. Alastair went on to make a soundtrack to Clio's illness and it's inspirational to say the least. Thankfully, Clio is a healthy young girl now and enjoying life with her family!

To get a glimpse into Alastair's world, check out this video.

When Alastair Moock began his Pastures of Plenty series in Boston in 2000, the idea was to bridge some of the gaps he saw in the local music scene — between the folk and roots rock crowds, between the contemporary and traditional scenes, and between younger and older players. But what it really came down to was just bringing together some of the region’s best songwriters and musicians to swap tunes on a stage. So many years later, the series is still “the hippest hootenanny in town” (The Boston Globe).

The Marblehead contingent of players includes Sean Staples, Eric Royer, 11-year old Fiddln’ Quinn, Paul Kochanski and perhaps more. One never knows who to expect on stage at a Pastures of Plenty show. In addition to being the folkdaddy of the Pastures of Plenty band, Alastair Moock is a full-time musician who has been playing the local coffeehouse and club circuit for twenty years. He’s been nominated as singer-songwriter of the year in the Boston Music Awards and has played the Newport Folk Festival. Moock also writes and performs family music and was nominated for a Grammy Award for his album Singing Our Way Through.

Moock recently was artist-in-residence at Marblehead’s Glover School and will be performing a song that he wrote with the children at this special me&thee show. Some of the students will be part of the show and that’s what makes this kind of event so special. As Betsy Siggins, founder of Folk New England, says of Moock’s collaborative shows: “The heart of a Pastures show, is the sweet echo of the past intertwined with a world weary knowing of today. Magical, rootsy, and wise.” Alastair also played at Marblehead's Coffin School on March 15.

Woody Guthrie is a hero of Moock’s and he named these shows after one of Woody’s beloved songs, “Pastures of Plenty.” Singer-songwriter Mark Erelli recommends this show by saying “Woody Guthrie once wrote that he wanted to write songs which made people feel that they were bound to win.” Alastair Moock’s Pastures of Plenty is a rollicking celebration of music and community that would make Guthrie proud. Moock’s respect for tradition never gets in the way of his irreverence for the lines between past and present, performer and audience. By the end of the show, everyone is singing and stomping their feet to the music and everyone is a winner” Now is a time in history where we need community more than ever and this show at the me&thee will make audience members leave uplifted and feeling so much better than when they walked through the door.

Other site of interest:

http://www.uuworld.org/articles/soundtrack-childhood-cancer