Teaching & Performing
Looking to hire a fiddle player for your event?
Drop me a line, I’d love to be a part of it!
St. Patrick's Day Celebration
Join us, for a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration with an evening of Irish traditional music with some of Baltimore’s award-winning Irish traditional music scene at the Creative Alliance!
Featuring Irish music supergroup Celtic Corridor (Billy McComiskey, Donna Long, Laura Byrne, Eileen Estes, and Joanna Clare) and Collins & Vocke (Sarah Collins and Jonathan Vocke), come celebrate Irish culture this Saint Patrick’s Day week with an evening of Irish traditional music!
Tickets available here: https://creativealliance.org/event/st-patricks-day-celebration/
Collins & Vocke at Pitango Bakery
Join us at Pitango Bakery in Fells Point for an evening of music with Collins & Vocke on Saturday March 21, 2026.
Collins & Vocke @ Annapolis Oprey
Sarah Larsen and the Black-Eyed Suzies are thrilled to present a NEW kind of concert in Annapolis, Maryland.
Featuring the very best of nationally touring and local talent, the Annapolis Opry brings all flavors of Americana to St. Margaret's Episcopal Church!
Join us once-a-month for a carefully curated series; discover your new favorite local artist, enjoy award-winning Bluegrass music, and connect with your community.
Tickets available here: https://sarahlarsenmusic.ticketspice.com/the-annapolis-opry
Silver Spring Contra Dance
Silver Spring Contra Dance: Gabe Popkin calling with Sarah Collins, Marty Frye, and David McKindley-Ward
When: 09 Apr 2026 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Location: Silver Spring Civic Building, 8525 Fenton Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Registration
Dance Admission – $15.00
Admission for general public
FSGW members – $12.00
Admission for FSGW members
Under 21 / limited income – $5.00
This dance is in the Great Hall at the Silver Spring Civic Building.
Please note: There is no longer free parking at the Civic Center Parking Garage.
Caller: Gabe Popkin
Band: Sarah Collins, Marty Frye, and David McKindley-Ward
Calling Terms: Larks and Robins
Lesson at 7:00 p.m., Dance is from 7:30 to 10:00 p.m.
COVID info: Masks and vaccinations encouraged but not required. More info
Registration is required of all participants. Pre-registration is preferred--you may pay online or wait to pay at the door. You may register at the door. Cash and credit cards are accepted at the door. Registrations may be cancelled prior to the event, and any payment will be refunded as a credit for future use. No refunds will be available after the event has started.
Learn more at https://fsgw.org/event-6549572
Baltimore Trad Fest Irish Masters Concert
7:30pm // Irish Music Masters Concert
Where: Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave., Baltimore, MD
What: A concert of Irish music masters featuring Matt Molloy and John Carty and our Trad Fest instructors, including Kathleen and Pauline Conneely, Rose Flanagan, Marty Frye, Sarah Collins, Dave McKindley-Ward, Catherine O'Kelly, Jim Eagan, Catriona Fee, Patrick Winch Megan Downes, Catherine Brice, and Richard Hearn
10PM-12midnight: Post-Concert Welcome Session at the Creative Alliance Marquee Lounge
Tickets: $35 for single tickets. Included in the weekend pass.
Purchase tickets here: https://www.baltimoreirisharts.com/2026-schedule
Collins & Vocke at Pitango Bakery
Join us at Pitango Bakery in Fells Point for an evening of music with Collins & Vocke on Saturday March 21, 2026.
Music on the Porch
An evening of traditinal Irish and Old Time music hosted by the Unison Preservation Society at the Unison Store. Music by Sarah Collins, Jonathan Vocke, David McKindley-Ward, and Zach Lester.
21081 Unison Road, Middleburg, VA
Music at the Corner Store
Come by for a cozy community brunch vibe with live traditional Irish and Old Time music at the Waterford Corner Store. Music by Sarah Collins, Jonathan Vocke, David McKindley-Ward, and Zach Lester.
40183 Main St, Waterford, VA
Maryland Renaissance Festival
Collins & Vocke return for a third year at the Maryland Renaissance Festival, bringing you live traditional Celtic music on August 29 and 30 and October 17 and 18, 2026.
Maryland Renaissance Festival
Collins & Vocke return for a third year at the Maryland Renaissance Festival, bringing you live traditional Celtic music on August 29 and 30 and October 17 and 18, 2026.
O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat
I’ll be teaching Advanced Beginner Fiddle at the great O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat in Texas this fall. Would love to connect with you there!
St Patrick's Day at James Joyce
Come by the James Joyce in Baltimore for a celebratory St. Patrick’s Day pint and enjoy a few tunes from the Richard Osban Group with Sarah Collins and Jim Eagan on fiddles, Richard Osban on bouzouki and banjo, and Zach Lester on bodhran.
Learn more here: https://jamesjoycebaltimore.com/
Collins & Vocke at Zinnia
Join us for some evening tunes to get in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit at the fabulous Zinnia restaurant in Silver Spring. We’ll be playing in the restaurant, so book a table and enjoy some truly delicious food from Chef Danny Wells!
Learn more here: https://eatzinnia.com/
Collins & Vocke at Rocklands Farm Winery
Join us for some afternoon tunes to get in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit at the beautiful Rocklands Farm Winery in Poolesville, MD. Enjoy the beautiful gardens and delicious wines, and grab some lunch from Nick’s Pizza food truck!
Learn more here: https://www.rocklandsfarmmd.com/
Irish Session @ the Baile Cask & Kettle
Collins & Vocke will be hosting the weekly Irish Session at the Baile Cask & Kettle in Hagerstown, MD from 7-10 PM on March 12.
Arts Alive: Second Tuesdays
Collins & Vocke will be performing at Arts Alive: Second Tuesdays, a free all-ages concert series held at Brookletts Place (Talbot County Senior Center) in Easton, MD.
Tuesday March 10, 2026
12:15-1:00pm—Brookletts Senior Center lunchtime concert
400 Brookletts Ave., Easton, MD
The concert series is a partnership between Carpe Diem Arts and Upper Shore Aging.
Admission: Free and open to the public; no membership is required to attend.
Lunch: A hot lunch is served at 12:00 noon for a suggested donation or low fee.
Contact: Call Teresa at 410-822-2869 (ext. 222) or email tgreene@uppershoreaging.org.
Trad Fest Fundraiser Concert
Friday, 2/27, 2026
Doors open at 7pm, Silent Auction starts at 7pm, Music starts at 7:30
Tickets: $25
Purchase tickets here: https://www.baltimoreirisharts.com/fundraiser
Where: Church of the Nativity and Holy Comforter, 6112 York Rd, Baltimore, MD 21212
Bring cash for refreshments and the 50/50 raffle.
Join us for an entertaining evening of some of Baltimore's finest Irish traditional music!
Featuring greats such as Billy and Sean McComiskey (button accordion); Donna Long and Matt Mulqueen (piano); Laura Byrne and Marty Frye (flute); Jim Eagan, Sarah Collins, Jessica Zito, Brendan Callahan, Caitlin Hearn, and Joanna Clare (fiddle); Catriona Fee (Concertina); Seán Earnest (Guitar); Patrick Winch (Banjo); Richard Hearn and Frances Cunningham (Bouzouki), Myron Bretholz (Bodhran) and MORE! There will be dancers, music, a silent auction and other events to be announced....
All proceeds will benefit the 13th annual Baltimore Irish Trad Fest to be held April 9-12. Bringing in some of the world’s most talented Irish traditional musicians and dancers from around North America and Ireland, the Baltimore Irish Trad Fest is an annual weekend of educational music and dance workshops, sessions and a concert held at various venues around the city of Baltimore.
We will again be holding a silent auction. Please contact us if you have any items of $50 or higher value that you'd like to donate.
Greater Washington Ceili Club Dance
The next GWCC ceili will be on Sunday, February 22nd, starting at 3 PM with a Birr Set dance lesson, then live music by the Sole Stirrers (Matt Mulqueen, Billy McComiskey, Laura Byrne, Sarah Collins and Richard Hearn) at 4 PM.
More info here: https://gwcc-online.org/activities/ceilis/
Collins & Vocke at Fivesparks (Harvard, MA)
Collins & Vocke at Fivesparks
Time: Sunday January 18, 2026, 3 PM
Address: Fivesparks, 7 Fairbank St. Harvard, MA 01451
Price: $20
Tickets: https://forms.gle/jhjg5LdsoVToQpZt9
About Collins & Vocke
Sarah Collins and Jonathan Vocke bring a fresh take to Irish music, pairing traditional fiddle melodies with old time two-fingered banjo. Drawing inspiration from the Celtic traditions that Sarah grew up with in the Boston area and the old-time and folk scene that Jonathan calls home in Baltimore, the pair explores the space at the intersection of these musical styles. The music they create together is first and foremost about groove, and plays with the balance of lightness, sensitivity, and grounding. The program of music will include Irish, Scottish, and Old Time tunes and songs, featuring fiddle, guitar, and banjo. Sarah grew up in Harvard, graduating from Bromfield in 2010, and is excited to return to town and share her music with family and friends.
Listen here: https://youtu.be/mtrvOOCcOeY?si=OgO49LD7QjCtATiK
BCMFest 2026: Old Blind Dogs
I’m very excited to be joining the Old Blind Dogs for a headliner performance at my home festival, the Boston Celtic Music Festival. Tickets available here: https://www.passim.org/live-music/bcmfest-2026/
The East Coasters @ Mississippi Celtic Fest
See the website for more details about set times and tickets!
https://celticfestms.org/wp/
Collins & Vocke @ Maryland Renaissance Festival
We’re back for another year at the Maryland Renaissance Festival! Stay tuned for our set times.
Tickets go on sale August 1: https://rennfest.com/
Old Blind Dogs Tour September 2025
I’ll be joining the Old Blind Dogs for a third tour, filling in for their fiddle player Jonny Hardie. Check out the list of cities and venues at their website: https://www.oldblinddogs.co.uk/tour-dates
Collins & Vocke @ Maryland Renaissance Festival
We’re back for another year at the Maryland Renaissance Festival! Stay tuned for our set times.
Tickets go on sale August 1: https://rennfest.com/
Old Blind Dogs @ Ten Mile Creek Revival
27th - 29th June 2025
Ten Mile Creek Revival Festival
Laytonville, California, USA
See Website for Stage Times
Baltimore Irish Trad Fest
I’ll be teaching advanced beginner fiddle at the 2025 Baltimore Irish Trad Fest. More details to come!
On Tour with Old Blind Dogs
Sarah Collins joins the legendary Scottish band Old Blind Dogs for a month-long tour across the United States, making stops in the midwest, upstate New York, New England, as well as the Evanston Celtic Festival and the Durango Celtic Festival.
Pure Dead Brilliant Concert 2025
A festive night led by innovative fiddler Hanneke Cassel with 20+ additional stellar trad artists on fiddle, cello, piano, guitar, and more playing in various configurations. Experience the musical influences of the Isle of Skye and Cape Breton Island with Americana grooves and musical innovations, creating a cutting-edge acoustic sound that retains the integrity and spirit of the Scottish tradition.
The evening’s line-up will include fiddlers Hanneke Cassel, Kevin Henderson, Katie McNally, Jenna Moynihan, Calum Bell, Sarah Collins, and Laura Risk; duo San Miguel Fraser and quintet Scottish Fish; cellists Natalie Haas and Brendan Hearn; guitarists Conor Hearn, Keith Murphy, and Eamon Sefton, and pianist Neil Pearlman.
Tickets: https://grotonhill.org/concerts/pdb-fiddle-concert-25/
Marty Sarah and Dave in Montague, MA
Our dear friends Marty Frye, Sarah Collins, and Dave McKindley-Ward, three extremely accomplished Irish Musicians based out of the DC, Boston, and Baltimore areas, are coming up to the region and playing a gig at the Montague Common Hall on Monday, January 20 at 7:30 pm.
Swinging through the Western Mass region on their way West freshly returning from the Boston Celtic Music Festival, Marty, Sarah and Dave will be bringing their version of Irish music, a sound influenced by an appreciation for old-time and other groovy genres. You can check out some of their recordings on Sarah's website: https://www.sarahcollinsfiddle.com/marty-sarah-dave
Tickets will be pay at the door (doors will open 7:00 pm), $15 - $20, sliding scale. Don't miss this great chance to hear some exceptional music from some of the best folks around! We are so excited to welcome them to W. Mass!
Also we need your help in spreading the word to any groups or communities that might be interested, so please help forward the message along.
An Afternoon of Irish Music
Three close friends, having played tunes in many configurations for years, finally assemble in a trio with roots in DC, Boston and Baltimore. Sarah Collins, Marty Frye, and David McKindley-Ward have a shared passion for the tunes, and a shared quest for the balanced lightness and depth of a good groove. With Marty on flute, Sarah on fiddle, and David on bouzouki, this new trio presents their version of Irish music, a sound influenced by an appreciation for old-time and other groovy genres. Sarah grew up in Harvard, graduating from Bromfield in 2010, and is excited to return to town and share her music with family and friends.
Admission: $20 at the door.
Boston Celtic Music Festival 2025
Performing as a trio, Marty Frye, Sarah Collins, and David McKindley-Ward will be debuting their new band to the Boston area at the 2025 Boston Celtic Music Festival.
Baltimore Folk Club Presents: Marty Sarah & Dave
In collaboration with the Baltimore Irish Music School, the Baltimore Folk Club will be presenting a concert of traditional Irish music from Marty Frye, Sarah Collins, and David McKindley-Ward. The concert will feature an opening performance by some of the students of the Baltimore Irish Music School.
Reserve your seat here: https://forms.gle/wNMkVb134Kf4Gpc8A
The East Coasters in Concert and Conversation (with Sarah Collins)
I’ll be sitting in with The East Coasters band for this show, doing my best Calum Bell impersonation. Looking forward to playing with these dear friends, Richard Osban and Madeline Dierauf.
The East Coasters are a group of young Irish musicians from the East coast of the US whose sound and arrangements are a rich blend of the music in their local communities.
Madeline Dierauf is from Western North Carolina, and began playing Irish music under the tutelage of Asheville’s Beanie O’Dell before quickly becoming immersed in Atlanta’s Irish music scene. Her music has taken her to many stages, from Wilkesboro’s Merlefest to IrishFest Atlanta and the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Her sensitive and thoughtful approach to the tunes and harmonies is a cornerstone of the band’s unique sound.
Richard Osban is a driving and dynamic guitarist based in Baltimore, Maryland. He cut his teeth on Irish music while living in Europe, and toured internationally with several Irish and Scottish music projects before returning to the US. He has performed on festival stages and been an instructor at many teaching festivals both in Europe and the US, and his deliberate approach to harmony reinforces and underpins the band’s groove.
Tickets available here!
Hamlin St. Diner: Roots Relief for Helene Recovery
Hi friends,
We'd like to invite you to a special night of music and community this coming Sunday, November 3 to support relief efforts following Hurricane Helene's devastation of Western North Carolina and the surrounding areas. This concert is the brainchild of our housemate and music instigator extraordinaire Becky Hill who has spent significant time teaching traditional dance in WNC. She has many connections in the region so you can be assured that we're vetting the best organizations to donate to with residents in the region. Moreover, many of the finest local roots musicians are lending their talents and will perform some one-off collaborations. Appalachian music has been such a big part of the HSD series over the past decade. We want to help however we can from afar so we hope you will join us!
DATE: Sunday, November 3rd
PLACE: Brentwood, MD (rsvp for address)
TIME: doors 7pm, show 7:30pm
DONATION: 100% to relief orgs
**please rsvp to hsdrsvp@gmail.com so we can get an accurate count**
Boston States Staff Concert
Tickets available here: https://www.bostonstatesfiddle.com/tickets
Looking for a fiddle player for your next event?
I perform regularly for dances (contra dances, ceilidh dances, and square dances), as well as for weddings, funerals, birthday parties, St. Patrick’s Day events, formal dinners, and other corporate events.
Drop me a line with your event details and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can!