We love highlighting our friends from Portland who are advancing the traditional music scene at home while making waves in the evolution of traditional music both here and abroad.

Caitlin Finley (fiddle) and Will Woodson (flute, uilleann pipes) play sparky and driving traditional Irish music that’s grounded in the textures and rhythms of the rich Irish-American soundscape of the 1920s and 30s. With roots in the living Irish musical cultures of Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia, and a tremendous admiration for the first generation of recorded Irish musicians, the duo conjures up the sounds of the dance halls, vaudeville theaters, and house sessions central to Irish-American music from the first half of the twentieth century. Their sophomore album, Once Through the Hall, released in May 2026, is a celebration of this music, and features fiery duet playing on uilleann pipes, fiddle, and flute. The entirety of the material is sourced from early wax cylinder and 78 recordings, “echoing the influence of past masters, but delivered in a manner which shows Caitlin and Will are truly masters in their own right” (John McEvoy). The duo have made appearances at the St. Louis Tionól, the Patrick J. Touhey Memorial Weekend in Boston and the Ward Archives “Archiving Irish America” conference in Milwaukee. Additionally, Will has taught at the East Coast Tionól and the Na Píobairí Uilleann Tionól in Termonfeckin, Co. Louth. Most recently, Caitlin and Will appeared at the Cobblestone in Dublin as part of Na Píobairí Uilleann’s concert series, “Session with the Pipers”. The two live in Portland, Maine.

Caitlin and Will will be joined by multi-instrumentalist, producer, step dancer and host of the TradCafe podcast, Neil Pearlman is a vital and distinctive voice in contemporary folk music. Described as “a tremendous pianist” on BBC Radio Scotland and “a force to be reckoned with” by WGBH’s Brian O’Donovan, Neil is best known for his groundbreaking approach to the piano in Celtic music. Motivated by a deep musical curiosity and a love of collaboration, his playing is continually evolving and spontaneous without losing its roots in the traditional piano styles of Atlantic Canada, New England and Scotland. He has appeared internationally at major festivals such as the Newport Folk Festival, Celtic Connections in Glasgow, Celtic Colours in Cape Breton and the Orkney Folk Festival and has recorded or performed with luminaries of traditional folk music including Natalie MacMaster, Darol Anger, Seamus Egan and Alasdair Fraser.