They call themselves Partly because it fits, and partly because the domain name was available. When Jay Keating and Kelly Diamond decided to start playing music together they couldn’t have come at it from more different places. Jay was a touring stand-up comedian and then a singer-songwriter in the 1980s. He opened for Jay Leno, Jesse Colin Young, Laura Nyro, Mort Sahl and many more. He left the traveling entertainer life to be a producer of commercials and multimedia - ever hear those wacky Don Beyer Volvo commercials over the years? That’s Jay, doing both the writing and the voicing. Kelly Diamond had never performed in her life except at church. She is a successful marketing director, for KID Museum, and has a wonderful family of her own. But they have both decided that this third age of their lives is perfect for writing and singing songs about being older and only a bit wiser. They call it Third Wave Music, a mix of styles including folk, jazz, rock, bluegrass, reggae, and more. The songs are about their here and now - no longer young and hopeful, they are older and still hopeful, sincere, sarcastic, and joyful, with a new perspective.
In they are joined by Jay’s two teenage children, Mae & John Keating, to create a sound that is rich in harmony and humanity, while never taking itself too seriously. They are working on their first recording, and they are pleased to also be playing their first WFMA showcase.
Musician draws on a diverse range of influences, including Lyle Lovett, Taj Mahal, Louis Armstrong and Doc Watson to name just a few. Images and music – crafted stories underpinned by a melodic guitar style that draws the listener in to the story.
Alternative country, old time, folk and blues best describe the music. Performances may include a favorite old fiddle tune such as "Blackberry Blossom" or the Vince Gill/Guy Clark gem "Jenny Dreamed of Trains", the beautiful folk standard "If I Needed You" by Townes Van Zandt or the country blues standard "Corrina". He is an award winning songwriter and a frequent contributor at local songwriter showcases such as The 9 Songwriter Series.
He performs frequently throughout the region and has headlined recently at 49 West in Annapolis, Brewer’s Alley in Frederick and New Deal Café in Greenbelt, Maryland. He has performed at festivals throughout the Mid-Atlantic region including the Virginia Fly Fishing and Wine Festival in Waynesboro, Virginia, the barBAYq in Annapolis, Maryland, and the Oyster Fest in St. Michaels, Maryland, where he was invited to perform his song "The Boatbuilder", a story about legendary boatbuilder Bronza Parks.
"Singer/songwriter Mike Kelly is a master at putting story to song.
Kelly, with his gentle stage demeanor, makes this happen with a combination of his accomplished guitar playing, catchy melodies, hook-filled lyric lines and a healthy dash of wit.." HG Coffeehouse, Accokeek, MD
-- a duo consisting of Tina Eck on flute and whistle and Keith Carr on bouzouki and banjo -- are
trying to impersonate all of the definitions of their name with their music.
They met in the Washington DC session scene some years back and found that “flute and zouk” were a good instrumental
match for what they love to play: traditional dance music from Ireland.
Jigs and reels, polkas and hornpipes, the occasional slow air or vocal number.
loves and tries to capture the essentials of Irish traditional music: boundless energy, wildness and melancholy.
They've been playing together since 2009 and have released three albums Lilt (2010), Onward (2011) and Little Falls (2013).