Pete McDonald: Calendar

Saturday, February 25th, 2012

Beachland Ballroom

Pete opening solo for the Greencards!

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

The Harp

I'll be playing with Ichabod's Stringband (Nate McDonald, Zach Smolko, & Mark Haas) for Cullen Sweeney's Fundraiser & Campaign Gathering. We'll be jamming some old-time music from 5 to 7:30 at The Harp on the near west side.

Cullen Sweeney, is Nate's good friend and colleague at the Public Defender’s office, and Cullen is running for Judge on the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. Nate works with Cullen every day, and he is one of the best lawyers he's ever encountered.

"He has the talent, intellect, experience, and personality I hope to find in a Judge on any court. He is exactly the kind of person we need on the Court of Common Pleas." - Nate Mcdonald

Here's a link to his campaign website: http://www.sweeneyforjudge.com/
You're all invited to Cullen’s fundraiser on January 25th at The Harp from 5:00-7:30. It would be great to see you there. It should be a great party--while Cullen obviously needs donations and would appreciate whatever anyone is willing and able to give, he is also looking to build enthusiasm for the campaign by filling the room and making it a festive night.

Saturday, August 13th, 2011

Raccoon County Music Festival

The Raccoon County Music Festival returns to Burton, OH Saturday August 13, 2011. We have an amazing show lined up this year. Highlights this year include Friday night and Saturday concerts with The Dust Busters (www.myspace.com/dustbustersmusic) and The Little Brothers w/ Pat Conte (http://www.donegone.net/) coming from New York City. Howard & Judy Sacks from Kenyon College with Doug Unger, artist and renowned banjo maker from Ohio, and many other acts on Saturday. In addition to the festival, there will be a special exhibit on traditional music at Kent State University's Geauga Branch just north of Burton town center New Harmonies. (http://www.museumonmainstreet.org/newharmonies/index.htm)

I'll be playing with my band The Waxwings Stringband at 2pm on the main stage

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011

Beachland Ballroom

The Waxwings Stringband will be opening for Jimmie Dale Gilmore, one of the original Flatlanders. Jimmie has a new album out called Heirloom Music that crosses lots of genres of traditional music. Check it out at http://www.jimmiegilmore.com/.

Sunday, June 5th, 2011

Unitarian Universalist Society of Cleveland

Sunday, May 22nd, 2011

Hessler Street Fair - SQUARE DANCE

I'll be playing with some other old-time musicians for a square dance right in front of the stage on the old brick street. Anyone can come to dance - no experience necessary.

Sunday, May 22nd, 2011

Hessler Street Fair - WAXWINGS

The Waxwings Stringband will open up the day on Sunday at noon on Hessler Street. This is the 41st anniversary of the fair. We'll be playing old-time and early country songs.

Saturday, May 21st, 2011

Conservation Rocks!

7:30 Drake Hollow - Featuring Steve Madewell and Al Bonnis
8:30 Fat City
9:30 The Swamp Rattlers
10:30 Pete McDonald & the Black Oaks

By day, they help preserve land in northern Ohio. By night, they jam.

Some of the region’s top musician/conservationists will be performing when Western Reserve Land Conservancy presents the second Conservation Rocks! show May 21 at the Beachland Ballroom, 15711 Waterloo Road, Cleveland. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets, which are $10 in advance and $12 at the door, can be purchased through the Beach...land website at www.beachlandballroom.com or by calling the Land Conservancy at (440) 729-9621. The show is for all ages.

Performing will be Pete McDonald (of Western Reserve Land Conservancy) & the Black Oaks, The Swamp Rattlers (Geauga Park District), Fat City (with Harvey Webster of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History) and Drake Hollow featuring Steve Madewell (Lake Metroparks) and Al Bonnis (U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service). You can also check out displays from conservation groups in the lobby.

The event is designed to build awareness for the land conservation movement in northern Ohio.

The musical genres of the performers include folk rock (Pete McDonald & the Black Oaks), rock ’n’ roll (The Swamp Rattlers), ’50s and ’60s rock ’n’ roll (Fat City) and bluegrass and more (Drake Hollow). In 2010, the inaugural Conservation Rocks! show featuring singer-songwriter Jason White drew a crowd of more than 220 people to the Beachland Ballroom.

Sunday, January 16th, 2011

Beachland Ballroom & Tavern

The Waxwings Stringband will release a CD of old-time and early country songs that we've recorded over the last few years. We're really happy to have the chance to play these songs for everyone.

The opening act consists of Zach Smolko and Anthony Papaleo playing an eclectic mix of tunes including blues, gypsy jazz, 19th century classical banjo, & more. Come on out and join the fun.

6:30 doors
7:00

Sunday, December 5th, 2010

Barking Spider Tavern

Gordon Keller - 6:30
Waxwings Stringband - 7:30
Rachel Wearsch - 9

Friday, September 17th, 2010

Beachland Ballroom

We're getting together for a Beachland Barn Dance to raise money for the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center. http://www.clevelandrapecrisis.org/. There will be performances by One Dollar Hat, Silver String Band, Hiram Rapids Stumblers and The Waxwings String Band. In between performances we will do some square dancing. Please come out for this important fundraiser.

Saturday, August 14th, 2010

Raccoon County Music Festival

This is the traditional music festival that I help put together. We usually hold the festival in June, but this year it's in August. Please help spread the word.

I will be playing with The Waxwings String Band at 1 pm in the old Auburn Church of the grounds of Century Village.

Click on the link for website details at www.raccooncountymusicfestival.com

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

Fundgraiser

I'll be playing as background music/entertainment with The Waxwings String Band.

Check out Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Conservancy's website for details. This is an event to benefit the great work of this organization.

Saturday, July 3rd, 2010

Larchmere Festival

Playing with The Waxwings String Band on the lawn outside the restuarant Felice in the Larchmere neighborhood for the annual community festival.

Saturday, June 19th, 2010

Topography Fundraiser

Playing with The Waxwings String Band at

Saturday, June 19th, 2010

Porchfest

Playing with The Waxwings String Band at 2pm at the corner of Britton & E 126th in Cleveland's Larchmere neighborhood. We're happy to be back playing at porchfest. Check out the website for details.

Saturday, May 22nd, 2010

Beachland Ballroom

The Swamp Rattlers, a roots rock band of conservationists, will open the night up around 7:30. I'll be playing with the full band, Ryan Herrel on bass, Anthony Papaleo on guitar, and Zach Smolko on drums. We will start around 8:30. The Jason White Trio will end the night starting around 9:30.

Saturday, March 13th, 2010

Patterson Fruit Farm

Come to Patterson Fruit Farm to celebrate land conservation with Western Reserve Land Conservancy.

I'll be singing songs everybody knows and some you don't know and maybe have some friends there to play a little old-time appalachian music.

3-4:15 - old-time music

4:45-6 - Neil Young, Dylan, etc. covers

Friday, March 12th, 2010

Beachland Ballroom/Tavern

I'll be playing my original music opening up for Cabinet http://www.myspace.com/cabinetwax. The full band couldn't make it tonight, but I'll be playing with Anthony Papaleo on guitar, Lisa Cyrocki on vocals for a few songs, and maybe some other special guests.

Saturday, February 20th, 2010

Beachland Ballroom/Tavern

A night LOADED with local bluegrass, old-time, and "traditional fusion" (just made that up as far as I know) bands! Come on down to the Beachland for a winter barn dance. Well, I think it's up to you to arrange the dancing in this old Croatian Liberty Home, but it sounds good anyway.

Each band will play for 25-30 minutes with a quick set change between acts, but don't count on these times to be exact.

Here's the lineup.

8:00 Timberwolves
8:40 One Dollar Hat
9:20 The Waxwings String Band
10:00 Heel Splitter
10:40 Hiram Rapids Stumblers
11:20 JP & the Chatfield Boys
12:00 Misery Jackals

Saturday, September 19th, 2009

Geauga Fresh Farmers Market

Old-time music with The Buck Two-Eighty String Band.

Saturday, September 12th, 2009

John Carroll University

A celebration of the life and work of Dr. Miles Coburn.

Friday, August 14th, 2009

Beachland Tavern

I'll be playing original music solo as part of a local music night at the Beachland Tavern.

Sunday, June 28th, 2009

Cleveland Botanical Gardens

Ikabod's String Band (old-time appalachian music) will return to the Botanical Gardens for a milestone celebration for the Hershey Children's Garden.

Saturday, June 20th, 2009

Larchmere Porchfest

I'll be playing old-time music with The Waxwings String Band on a porch at the north end of E. 126th street where 126th meets Britton St....right in my neighborhood. Lots of other bands will be playing on porches throughout the neighborhood. Check out the website link!

Saturday, June 13th, 2009

Century Village - Geauga Historical Society

Pete works with a few other people to plan this traditional music festival every year. Check out the website at www.raccooncountymusicfestival.com. Hope to see you there.

Saturday, June 6th, 2009

Geauga Fresh Farmer's Market

I'll be jamming with the market band this morning. We'll be playing once a month at the market. I'll post the rest of the dates soon.

Tuesday, March 24th, 2009

Beachland Ballroom

Pete with full band opens up for Old School Freight Train.

Saturday, March 14th, 2009

Patterson Fruit Farm

Pete will be playing some great old and new cover songs for Western Reserve Land Conservancy's Triple Tap event at Patterson Fruit Farm. Zach Smolko will join Pete with his fiddle for half the show. They will play some old-time appalachian music.

Saturday, November 15th, 2008

Barking Spider Tavern

Pete will open up for two of his favorite song-writers/bands in the NE Ohio area (G.S. Harper and the Lonesome Tomatoes and Blonde Boy Grunt and the Groans). If you like a cross between Townes Van Zandt, country-honk Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and Johnny Cash then you'll love these bands!

To top it all off, Pete is turning 30 on this very day, and everyone is invited to join the party starting around 4pm. Be prepared for a long night of great music and merriment. We'll have food and the Spider never runs out of drinks. Save on plastic and bring your pint jar for beer!

Schedule for the night:

4 pm - Party begins with food
6:15 pm - Pete takes the stage w/ his band
8:00 pm - G.S. Harper and his band take the stage
10:00 pm - Blonde Boy Grunt and the Groans take the stage - http://www.cmh.net/~hill/

Friday, November 7th, 2008

Hiram College

The Waxwings String Band entertain at the NE Ohio Food Congress in Hiram, OH.

Thursday, October 30th, 2008

Massimo

The Waxwings String Band entertain the OSU Ext. Community Garden celebration.

Saturday, October 25th, 2008

Cleveland Botanical Gardens

Pete will be playing old-time music with his brother Nate and some other special guests. This is a Botanical Gardens Boo-tanical Bash especially for children. Come on down and enjoy the fun! Check out the Botanical website for details.

Saturday, October 18th, 2008

The Levin College of CSU

Pete will be playing for the second year in a row for the Bioneers Cleveland conference (www.gcbl.org/bioneers). He will be playing solo music in a songwriter circle joining Cleveland area songwriters Rebecca Wohlever, Hal Walker, and Beth Gatchell.

Sunday, August 24th, 2008

Walk + Roll

Pete will be playing with The Waxwings Stringband the Walk + Roll festival on Martin Luther King Blvd. in Rockefeller Park and the Cultural Gardens. Walk+Roll promotes bicycling, walking, alternative transportation, public health, diversity and community-building through human-powered neighborhood programs that combine fun with active living, learning and participating.

Sunday, August 24th, 2008

Vermilion River Reservation

Pete will play his original music and some great songs from his favorite songwriters at Lorain County Metro Park's Vermilion River Reservation.

Tuesday, July 29th, 2008

Anthe's at the lakes

Pete will be playing with The Waxwings Stringband to support the Fund Grazer for Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Conservancy. Check out CVCC at www.cvcountryside.org. Local food prepared by Anthe's will be available throughout the night.

Saturday, June 28th, 2008

Barking Spider

Pete will be playing with the Waxwings Stringband for a benefit for Cuyahoga Community Land Trust. Gene's Jazz Hot will play at 4pm and indie rock band Uva Ursi will play at 6pm.

Saturday, June 14th, 2008

Raccoon County Music Festival

Pete helps put together this traditional American music festival held in Burton, OH. Check out the website link for details. Pete will be playing in the square dance band.

Saturday, May 31st, 2008

Meyers Center

Pete will be performing at Geauga County Park District's Meyers Center at Big Creek Park. The night will consist of five acts including Pete playing solo for 2-3 songs and Pete playing with The Waxwings Stringband for 2-3 songs.

Friday, May 23rd, 2008

Beachland Ballroom

Pete will be playing in the Tavern with One Dollar Hat for their CD release!

Thursday, May 15th, 2008

Beachland Ballroom

Pete will open for the Adrienne Young Band in the Tavern. He will be playing his original music solo.

Sunday, April 27th, 2008

Lakewood Library

Pete will be playing with The Waxwings Stringband

Saturday, March 8th, 2008

Patterson's Fruit Farm

Pete will be playing at Western Reserve Land Conservancy's Triple Tap event. Check out The Land Conservancy at www.wrlc.cc.

Sunday, February 24th, 2008

Beachland Ballroom

Pete opens for Lucy Kaplansky. Pete will be playing his original music solo. This show is in the Ballroom.

Friday, January 18th, 2008

Beachland Ballroom

Pete will be playing guitar with old-time stringband One Dollar Hat. Two other great bands too. Check out the Beachland's website for details.

Friday, January 4th, 2008

Beachland Tavern

Pete plays with The Waxwings Stringband. Some Pete originals and some old-time tunes/songs!

Thursday, December 20th, 2007

Beachland Ballroom

Playing with Old-time stringband One Dollar Hat. Opening for the Hackensaw Boys. www.hackensawboys.com

Tuesday, November 6th, 2007

Beachland Tavern

The Waxwings will be opening for Corrine West and The Posse.

Saturday, October 20th, 2007

Westfield Insurance Studio Theater

Pete is playing solo in a songwriter circle with local Cleveland songwriters Rebecca Wohlever, Beth Gatchell, and Hal Walker. The show is sponsored by Ideastream. The event is part of the 2007 Bioneers conference.

Sunday, October 14th, 2007

Apple Butter Festival

Pete will play with old-time string band One Dollar Hat at the Apple Butter Festival in Burton, OH.

Saturday, October 13th, 2007

Oberlin, OH

Pete plays with The Waxwings Stringband at Oberlin College on Tappin' Square.

Tuesday, September 11th, 2007

Beachland Tavern

Pete is playing with The Waxwings (old-time stringband). Opening for Greensky Bluegrass (www.greenskybluegrass.com). This will be The Waxwings first full set at the Beachland!!!

Friday, August 31st, 2007

Jac's

Solo performance of original material. Opening for Ty Stone

Wednesday, August 29th, 2007

The Winchester

Solo performance of orginal material. Opening for Adam Luhta & Nick Zuber.

Saturday, June 16th, 2007

Raccoon County Music Festival

Pete is part of putting together this traditional american music festival. Visit www.raccooncountymusicfestival.com for details. Here's the line-up.
12 pm The Rhondas (All woman trio /roots influenced songwriting)
1 pm Clear Fork Bluegrass Quartet (Bluegrass)
2 pm Andy Cohen (Ragtime/blues)
3 pm Acadian Driftwood (Cajun)
4 pm Pitch the Peat (Irish)
5 pm The Hogwashers (old-time)
6:30 pm Square Dance w/ The Maple Hill Rounders & Caller Lynn Frederick

3:30 pm Fiddle Contest

Saturday, June 2nd, 2007

Cafe Limbo

Pete will play with The Waxwings old-time trio.

Friday, May 18th, 2007

Cafe Limbo

Pete will be playing with the Cyrocki sisters in the old-time trio, The Waxwings. Cafe Limbo is a great little joint on Larchmere Blvd near Shaker Square. If the weather is good, the show will be outside!

Tuesday, May 15th, 2007

Beachland Tavern

A night of music honoring the great Texas songwriter Townes Van Zandt (www.townesvanzandt.com). Pete will be one of a number of performers playing Townes songs. This is a show not to miss!

Friday, May 4th, 2007

Beachland Tavern

Opening for The Greencards (www.thegreencards.com). Pete will be playing acoustic guitar & harmonica w/ Anthony Papeleo on electric guitar and maybe some other guests.

Thursday, March 22nd, 2007

Live from Cleveland

Pete will perform original music with his band on the WRUW 91.1 Case Western Reserve University radio show "Live from Cleveland". Tune in at 10pm.

Friday, March 16th, 2007

Kennedy Center Coffee Shop

Pete will perform his original songs as a duo with Lisa Cyrocki.

Thursday, March 8th, 2007

Beachland Ballroom

Pete w/ full band opens up for King Wilkie (www.kingwilkie.com). This show is in the Ballroom!

Sunday, February 18th, 2007

Beachland Tavern

Pete will be playing with old-time stringband "One Dollar Hat".

Wednesday, January 24th, 2007

Beachland Tavern

Pete will be playing with the old-time stringband One Dollar Hat opening up for The Hackensaw Boys. If you've never seen percussion on a "junk box", then come out to this show!

Sunday, January 14th, 2007

Phoenix Cafe

Pete will be playing old-time music with The Waxwings. Part of the show will involve some children's songs.

Thursday, December 28th, 2006

Beachland Tavern

Pete is opening for Hillbilly Idol. He'll be playing songs off of his last release "Here and Gone" as well as some new songs. Old-time music from The Waxwings. Clogging w/ Laura Lewis and music by One Dollar Hat. Hillbilly Idol will play a set. Brad Smedley and Bill Lestock will join Hillbilly Idol to play Hillbilly Idol-Cajun fusion music. Don't miss it!

Friday, December 15th, 2006

Phoenix Cafe

The Waxwings play two old-time sets between 8 pm and 10 pm.

Thursday, November 16th, 2006

WRUW 91.1 Cleveland

The Waxwings will be playing on WRUW 91.1 Cleveland. The show is called "When the Roses Bloom Again"; hosted by Cuzin' Dave. Tune in on the radio or listen online at wruw.org.

Thursday, November 9th, 2006

The Barking Spider

Playing with "The Waxwings"

Saturday, October 21st, 2006

Muggleton Farm

Muggleton Farm Fall Festival - Will be playing old-time music with the Raccoon County Ramblers for a fundraiser to preserve the Muggleton Farm. About a mile west of the Bell - Rt. 306 intersection on Bell Rd. - You won't miss the signs.

Tuesday, October 17th, 2006

The Beachland Tavern

Opening for acclaimed Irish singer-songwrite Damien Dempsy

Saturday, May 20th, 2006

Hessler Street Fair

Hessler Street is just west of the Euclid (Rt. 20) and Mayfield/Ford intersection by the Case business building.

Saturday, May 13th, 2006

The Winchester

Saturday, May 6th, 2006

House of Blues

This is a free concert. There may or may not be tickets left at the door because the show is for participants in the NCCJ Walk-a-Thon. To learn abou the Walk-a-Thon visit http://www.nccj-northernohio.org/

Tuesday, May 2nd, 2006

Beachland Tavern

Opening for the Weepies. Check them out at www.theweepies.com. This is an "all ages" show.

Thursday, April 13th, 2006

Acoustic Coffee

Tuesday, April 11th, 2006

Club Passim

Open Mic

Saturday, April 8th, 2006

The ABC Cafe

Friday, April 7th, 2006

Moonsense Cafe

Wednesday, April 5th, 2006

The Barking Spider

Saturday, March 18th, 2006

Borders Book Store

Saturday, March 11th, 2006

Patterson's Fruit Farm

The Chagrin River Chapter of Western Reserve Land Conservancy is hosting the fourth annual Triple Tap festival at Patterson's Fruit Farm. Pete will be playing two solo and/or duo sets between 4 and 7pm. Come out and celebrate with the land trust community.

Thursday, February 16th, 2006

The Grog Shop

Thursday, January 26th, 2006

Beachland Ballroom

Opening for Stacy Earle and Mark Stuart

Friday, January 20th, 2006

Hanna Perkins Center

More details soon.

Saturday, January 14th, 2006

Phoenix Cafe

Pete's playing with The Waxwings.

Tuesday, January 10th, 2006

The Barking Spider

Monday, December 26th, 2005

Beachland Ballroom

Pete will be opening for Clarence Bucaro. Clarence grew up around Chardon, but he now lives in L.A.. He will be accompanied by a saxophone player. Pete will perform solo. This show is in the Tavern.

Friday, December 16th, 2005

Enclave

Thursday, December 8th, 2005

Susan's Coffee and Tea

Saturday, December 3rd, 2005

Coffee Corners

Friday, December 2nd, 2005

The Barking Spider

Opening for Crooked Mile

Friday, November 25th, 2005

Roadhouse Stage

Two-band bill with Pete and the Phalanges.

Saturday, November 19th, 2005

KSU Folk Festival Talent Show

Pete will be competing in a contest to win an opening performance for Donovan on the main stage at the Kent State Folk Festival Saturday night.

Sunday, November 13th, 2005

Beachland Tavern

CD RELEASE!!! Pete will be playing at the Beachland Tavern for the release of his new album Here and Gone. Joe Rohan (www.joerohan.com) will be the opening act, and then Pete will take the stage between 8 and 8:30. He will be playing with a full band.

Saturday, October 15th, 2005

Imagine Art Gallery

Saturday, July 30th, 2005

Haas Park

I'll be playing two sets with the band for Haas Family Fest at the park. Zach Smolko will be on drums, Nate McDonald on bass, and Anthony Papeleo on lead guitar. For directions and more information, visit the Chicago Parks website by clicking on the Haas Park link above. Go to "parks and facilities" and choose "Haas Park". Haas Park is generally located on the west side of Chicago. Take the W. Fullerton exit off of I-90 and you'll be close.

Friday, July 22nd, 2005

Beachland Ballroom

I'll be playing with the old-time band that I'm in called Dirty Sons in Britches, which consists of Zach Smolko, Lisa Cyrocki, and Rachel McKinney. We're opening for The Avett Brothers (http://www.theavettbrothers.com/), and the show is in the Ballroom!! Hope to see you there.

Wednesday, June 29th, 2005

The Barking Spider