BELLS & MOTLEY'S PUBLIC PERFORMANCES



E-Mail Bells & Motley
Like us on Facebook for performance updates!  
 

**PERFORMANCES 2025
Fans & Friends, Check below for currently confirmed performances for this year. Know that more are in the works. Thanks so much for being part of our circle!

Saturday January 4, 2025  4:00-7:00
Crailo Historic Site
11 9-1/2 Riverside Avenue, Rensselaer NY
"Twelfth Night, the Celebration of Epiphany..."
was one of the traditional holidays celebrated by the Dutch and English of 17th and 18th century New York. Traditionally falling on January 6th, Twelfth Night marks the final holiday of the Christmas season, marked by unsurpassed feasting and revelry. Come and celebrate with us!

Saturday January 25, 2025  6:00-9:00
Annual Robbie Burns Scottish Celebration Dinner
11 Brae Loch Inn, 5 Albany St. Cazenovia, NY
Mid-Winter Pageantry, Scottish Music and Traditions-
Bells & Motley's 37th Year at Brae Loch Celebration!
Join us in our annual January tradition of Scottish music and pageantry ~ this is a grandest celebration where we revel in our Celtic musical roots. We'll be making music throughout the evening upon the harp, northumbrian bagpipes, fiddle, whistle, bodhran, hammered dulcimer, and more. Highlights of the evening include the traditional "Ode to Haggis" celebration as it is paraded in grandest style reekin' 'round the room. This is an incredibly warm and wondrous evening of music, traditions, and pageantry- the kind of stuff we've been made of all these fine years! The dinner menu is absolutely incredible, course after course.
For extra fun, start off your evening with an intimate cocktail and our music, snuggled close-up in front of the downstairs fireplace beginning by 6:00. www.braelochinn.com/special-events/burns-night

Friday-Saturday-Sunday February 14-16, 2025  
Flurry Dance & Music Festival! in Saratoga Springs 
Come join us at this wonderful annual event, one of the largest traditional participatory dance and music festivals in North America! Bells & Motley will be presenting a variety of concerts and workshops both Saturday and Sunday. You can find our schedule and times, as well as more details at www.flurryfestival.org

Saturday March 15, 2025 6:00-8:00  
Marcellus Village Tavern, 6 East Main St.
St. Patrick's Music Celebration
Irish Music Fest presented by John and Sondra in their own village of Marcellus! Fiddle, bodhran, squeezeboxes, harp, guitar, and singing! Free admission, food & drink available. www.marcellusvt.com

Saturday March 22, 2025
3:00 Performance, Workshops begin 1:00  
Aurora Free Library, 370 Main St., Aurora, NY
"The Tale of Bawshou & The Dragon"
What would you do if the Sun was captured by a powerful Dragon, and hidden in a cave, deep beneath the sea? In this traditional Chinese tale of wonder and adventure, our young hero Bawshou bravely sets out to rescue the Sun with the help of a magic golden Phoenix, to meet the Dragon's three challenges. Featuring costumes, dance, and storytelling techniques of the orient, the action and mystique of the tale are highlighted by live music on authentic Chinese traditional stringed, wind, and percussion instruments, including pipa, erhu, gong, temple bells, drum, & guzhung (ancient Chinese zither harp.) Delightfully participatory storytelling for all ages!
Want to Be Part of the Performance?
Dragon Maskmaking + Lantern Dance Workshops start at 1:00 www.aurorafreelibrary.org

Thursday March 27, 2025   12:30 start  
Homeschooling Co-op, private performance
Holy Family Learning Center
West Seneca, NY
"Medieval Music and Instruments: A Tapestry of History and Cultures" Grades 1-8

Saturday April 12, 2025   Noon  
Dundee Library, Tripp Community Room
32 Water St., Dundee, NY
"15 Miles on the Erie Canal" Participatory Folk Operetta
A lively tale of New York's Grand Erie Canal featuring authentic historic instruments, music, costumes, tall tales, sing-alongs, and characters for an unforgettable experience in New York State's History. Heritage instruments include squeezeboxes, fiddle, banjo, and hurdy gurdy.
Free, and wonderful for ALL ages! www.dundeelib.org

Saturday April 26, 2025   6:00-9:00  
Bailiwick Market & Cafe
441 Route 5, Elbridge NY
"Gravel Hills Revival" - John plays various instruments solo at Bailiwick, with a good-time theme.

Saturday June 14, 2025   11:00-5:00  
Chittenango Canal Boat Museum
"Boat Float 'n Folk Festival"
717 Lakeport Rd, Chittenango NY
This full day celebration commemorates the 200th anniversary of our great canal. History will come alive with all kinds of activities & entertainments, and runs from 11:00-5:00. Bells & Motley have two featured performances: "15 Miles on the Erie Canal" Participatory Folk Operetta, and "Music Along the Canal" Historic Instruments & Songs. (our performance times to be announced soon!) Adult tickets for the festival are $10.00, children 12 and under enter for free. For more information: https://chittenangolanding.org/boatfloatnfolk

Saturday & Sunday June 28-29, 2025   Times TBA  
New Netherlands Marketplace -
"Historic Huguenot Living History Event"
81 Huguenot St, New Paltz NY
This is an amazing living history event marking the 401st anniversary of the Dutch settlement in the Hudson Valley. Bells & Motley will be performing special period music on historical instruments at two concert shows daily, and answering any and all questions about our instruments in between sets. More information and a full schedule soon to come!

Saturday July 19, 2025   12:30  
Dormann Library
101 West Morris St., Bath, NY
"Four Seasons & The Music of Nature and Wonder"
Through time, the sounds of nature have inspired wonderful musical, poetic, and artistic dreams all around the world: From rushing waterfalls, to gentle drops of rain and melting icicles… to birdsong and crickets... to diverse sounds of the four seasons, Bells & Motley are excited to bring audiences on a musical journey using a gamut of historic instruments  for a good measure of surprise: A beautiful introduction to the evocative powers of music and nature for audiences of all ages.  Great for all ages!  dormannlibrary.org

Saturday July 24, 2025   6:30-8:00  
Dundee Library, Seneca Street Park
26 Seneca St., Dundee, NY
Meet Me In the Park Summer Concert Series 
Free, and wonderful for ALL ages! In the event of rain, we will move into the Baptist Church. www.dundeelib.org

Tuesday July 29, 2025   1:00  
Grafton Public Library,
at Petersburgh Veterans Memorial Community Center
 71 Main St., Petersburg, NY
"Four Seasons & The Music of Nature and Wonder"
See program description above

August 25, 26, 28, 29, 2025   12:00, 2:00, 4:00 each day
Witter Agricultural Museum Building
at the New York State Fair, Syracuse NY 
Sondra and John will once again set up tables in the Museum's front yard, bringing an interactive historic instrument display that will include early NYS Heritage instruments, including those of immigrants. Concert performance times will take place 3x each day at 12:00, 2:00, & 4:00. Performing here every year has been a heartfelt musical tribute to this wonderful museum. Make sure to go inside! It has been an important part of our childhood upbringing, and an inspiration for our work in Olden Music, in our 1830's home restoration, and in our gardens! Come visit us! In keeping with tradition, all the music will be at least 150 years old. nysfair.ny.gov/your-visit. 

Wednesday August 27 + Sunday August 31 2025           1:00, 4:00, 7:00  
New York State Fair Grange Building
Syracuse, NY 
John performs Americana and Trad music (solo) on guitar, nyckelharpa, and bagpipes. Shows are indoors at 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00 pm each of the two days. nysfair.ny.gov/your-visit

Saturday-Sunday September 27 & 28, 2025
Hudson Valley Garlic Festival
Saugerties,  NY
Every year since 1992, Bells & Motley has been excited to be invited back to perform music both days at this prime garlic marketplace & festival! It is always such a great time, with so many grand entertainments -and as an added bonus, a team of dancers will perform rustic English Morris dances in celebration of the harvest. Sondra & John play 3 1 hr. musical sets each. Daily admission $10. hvgf.org

Monday October 6, 2025
"Wedding of the Waters" Erie Canal 200th Anniversary Event
Riverfront Park, Brewerton,  NY
Commemorating the 200th anniversary of Gov. DeWitt Clinton's historic journey along the Erie Canal, John and Sondra will be playing music as this gathering welcomes the replica Erie Canal Seneca Chief to Brewerton at this important stop.  The event will feature speakers and presentations beginning at 3:00, with our music from 4:00-6:00.

Saturday December 13, 2025  Time TBA 
Baltimore Woods Nature Center
4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus NY
"Wassail! A Bells & Motley Christmas Concert at Baltimore Woods"
Sondra & John Bromka celebrate the holiday season with their unique collection of instruments from Long Ago and Far Away!  Free! Come join in the singing of historic carols, including Wassailing songs that celebrate community and the joy of the season. In Olde English, Wassail = Wes thu Hael = Be thou Hail & Hearty. Join us in a toast of Wassail, and following the concert, you may wish to continue the celebration and go out “Caroling in the Woods” with lanterns. That’s from 7:00-8:30. (Note: preregistration is required for the woods caroling.)   www.baltimorewoods.org

Sunday December 14, 2025  1:00-4:00
Lorenzo State Historic Site
17 Rippleton Road, Cazenovia NY
"A Traditional Historic Christmas Music Party"
Filling the hall with our historic instruments and Christmas music at this wonderful site has been an annual tradition our ours for nearly 40 years now! So many of you come every year to hear us perform in this special place, and to enjoy the wonderfully creative Christmas decorations, which have a new theme every year. Theme TBA.

Saturday December 20, 2025  7:00 start
The Cranberry Coffeehouse
Unitarian Church 183 Riverside Dr. Binghamton NY
"Bells & Motley Christmas Holiday Concert" + "Champions of Folly Mummer's Play & Morris Dance"
Filling the hall with our historic instruments and Christmas music at this wonderful site once again, singing traditional carols from France, Netherlands, England, Celtic lands, Spain, Italy and perhaps more! Pairing our music with John's Morris Dance team's special holiday tradition is a wonderful thing! Suggested donation $15.

**PERFORMANCES WINTER 2024
Fans & Here are performances from earlier this winter. 

Thursday November 21, 2024  6:00 pm
Newfield Public Library
198 Main Street, Newfield NY
"Music, World Cultures, & The Science of Sound"
There are SO many clever ways people have used the natural material around them - wood and reeds, skins and horns, horse hair and tree resin, and much, much more - to create instruments for sharing the beauty of music, dance, and other cultural traditions together. What ideas did people discover about the science of sound to help shape their fabulous instrument inventions? Let's experiment as they did! As builders of instruments the Bromkas have many exciting instruments and insights to show & to share!    

Saturday November 30, 2024  2:00  
Baltimore Woods Nature Center
4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus NY
"Celebrate the Four Seasons with Music of Nature & Wonder"
Through time, the sounds of nature have inspired wonderful musical, poetic, and artistic dreams all around the world: From rushing waterfalls, to gentle drops of rain and melting icicles… to birdsong and crickets... to diverse sounds of the four seasons, Bells & Motley are excited to bring audiences on a musical journey using a gamut of historic instruments  for a good measure of surprise: A beautiful introduction to the evocative powers of music and nature for audiences of all ages.  www.baltimorewoods.org

Saturday December 14, 2024  1:00
Middletown Thrall Library
11 Depot Street, Middletown NY
"A Traditional Dickens Victorian Christmas Music Party"
An interactive concert program that brings together folks all ages in celebration. Included will be a variety of lively traditional French & Catalan dancing carols, ancient Medieval Christmas aires, sing-along Wassailing songs from Dickens" England, and for rollicking fun, our trademark party-participation version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas."

Saturday January 4, 2025  4:00-7:00
Crailo Historic Site
11 9-1/2 Riverside Avenue, Rensselaer NY
"Twelfth Night, the Celebration of Epiphany..."
was one of the traditional holidays celebrated by the Dutch and English of 17th and 18th century New York. Traditionally falling on January 6th, Twelfth Night marks the final holiday of the Christmas season, marked by unsurpassed feasting and revelry. Come and celebrate with us!

Sunday December 15, 2024  1:00-4:00
Lorenzo State Historic Site
17 Rippleton Road, Cazenovia NY
"A Traditional Dickens Victorian Christmas Music Party"
Filling the hall with our historic instruments and Christmas music at this wonderful site has been an annual tradition our ours for nearly 40 years now! So many of you come every year to hear us perform in this special place, and to enjoy the wonderfully creative Christmas decorations, which have a new theme every year.

Saturday December 21, 2024  7:00 start
The Cranberry Coffeehouse
Unitarian Church 183 Riverside Dr. Binghamton NY
"Bells & Motley Christmas Holiday Concert"
Filling the hall with our historic instruments and Christmas music at this wonderful site once again, singing traditional carols from France, Netherlands, England, Celtic lands, Spain, Italy and perhaps more! Suggested donation $10.

Friday-Saturday-Sunday February 14-16, 2025  
Flurry Dance & Music Festival! in Saratoga Springs 
Come join us at this wonderful annual event, one of the largest traditional participatory dance and music festivals in North America! Bells & Motley will be presenting a variety of concerts and workshops both Saturday and Sunday. You can find our schedule and times, as well as more details at www.flurryfestival.org

Saturday & Sunday June 8 and 9, 2024  
New Netherland Marketplace 1645  History Event
81 Huguenot Street, New Paltz NY
Festival Runs 10:00-5:00 Saturday, 10:00-4:00 Sunday, with our performances at 10:30 + 3:00 daily  
This is a wonderful living history event marking the 400th anniversary of the Dutch settlement in the Hudson Valley. Bells & Motley will be performing special period music on historical instruments at two concert shows daily, and answering any and all questions about our instruments in between sets. For more information information and a full schedule, visit www.huguenotstreet.org/new-netherland-marketplace-1645-a-living-history-event-2024-1    

Wednesday June 12, 2024   1:30
Macedon Public Library
30 Main Street, Macedon NY 
"The Tale of Bawshou & The Dragon" Musical Storytelling What would you do if the Sun was captured by a powerful Dragon, and hidden in a cave, deep beneath the sea? In this traditional Chinese tale of wonder and adventure, our young hero Bawshou bravely sets out to rescue the Sun with the help of a magic golden Phoenix, to meet the Dragon's three challenges. Featuring costumes, dance, and storytelling techniques of the orient, the action and mystique of the tale are highlighted by live music on authentic Chinese traditional stringed, wind, and percussion instruments, including pipa, erhu, gong, temple bells, drum, & guzhung (ancient Chinese zither harp.) Delightfully participatory for all ages!

Monday July 1, 2024  6:30
Newfield Public Library
198 Main Street, Newfield NY
"The Sounds of Nature's Music on World Instruments from Many Cultures"
Nature, Music, and Instruments Around the World and Across Time! Through time, the sounds of nature have inspired wonderful musical, poetic, and artistic dreams all around the world: From rushing waterfalls, to gentle drops of rain and melting icicles… to birdsong and crickets... to diverse sounds of the four seasons, Bells & Motley are excited to bring audiences on a musical journey using a gamut of evocative instruments including harp and medieval fiddles, exotic zithers from Turkey and China, and many other rare exotic historical instruments, for a good measure of total surprise: A beautiful introduction to the evocative powers of music for audiences of all ages.  607.564.3594

Thursday July 18, 2024   7:00
Friendship Free Library
44 West Main Street, Friendship, NY
One World, Many instruments   
In this special concert, our bagpipes, hurdy gurdy, harp, and other early instruments will be featured as we perform historic music set in each of the four seasons, beginning with winter. For further joy, the special birds of each season will be highlighted!
This performance will be held outside so you must bring your own lawn chairs to sit. If raining, will take place indoors at Library. Free and open to all! friendshipfreelibrary.org

Monday August 5, 2024   6:00
Fort Edward Free Library
23 East Street, Fort Edward NY
Olden Music Splendor, From Bards to Bagpipes
This performance will engage audiences of all ages and ignite a love of history, arts, and traditions. Medieval bagpipes, hurdy gurdy, harp, and other early instruments will be featured in this spirited performance of the music of Medieval troubadours, Celtic bards, Village Pipers, and more!
This performance will be held outside so you must bring your own lawn chairs to sit. Free and open to all! 518.747.6743 fortedwardlibrary.sals.edu

Wednesday August 21 & Thursday August 29, 2024
New York State Fair Grange Building
Syracuse  NY
Beginning on the opening day of the fair (Thursday), John performs Americana and Trad music (solo) on guitar, nyckelharpa, and bagpipes. Shows are indoors at 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00 pm each of the two days. nysfair.ny.gov/your-visit

Wed.-Sat. August 22, 23, 24, 25, 2024   12:00, 2:00, 4:00
Witter Agricultural Museum Building
New York State Fair, Syracuse  NY
Sondra and John will once again set up tables in the Museum's front yard, bringing an interactive historic instrument display that will include early NYS Heritage instruments, including those of immigrants. Concert performance times will take place 3x each day at 12:00, 2:00, & 4:00. Performing here every year has been a heartfelt musical tribute to this wonderful museum. Make sure to go inside! It has been an important part of our childhood upbringing, and an inspiration for our work in Olden Music, in our 1830's home restoration, and in our gardens! Come visit us! In keeping with tradition, all the music will be at least 150 years old. nysfair.ny.gov/your-visit

Friday September 27, 2024   6:30
Rensselaerville Library
1459 County Route 351, Rensselaerville, NY
"Fifteen Miles on the Erie Canal" Folk Operetta   
A participatory Folk Operetta of New York's Grand Erie Canal featuring authentic historic instruments, music, costumes, tall tales, sing-alongs, and characters for an unforgettable experience in New York State's History. Heritage instruments include squeezeboxes, fiddle, banjo, and hurdy gurdy. rensselaervillelibrary.org

Saturday-Sunday September 28 & 29, 2024
Hudson Valley Garlic Festival
Saugerties,  NY
Every year since 1992, Bells & Motley has been excited to be invited back to perform music both days at this prime garlic marketplace & festival! It is always such a great time, with so many grand entertainments -and as an added bonus, a team of dancers will perform rustic English Morris dances in celebration of the harvest. Sondra & John play 3 1 hr. musical sets each day, Saturday at 10:30, 1:00, and 3:30, and Sunday at 10:05, 12:25, and 2:45. Daily admission $10. hvgf.org