A look back at the legendary Tannerville Jam sessions of the 1980s and 1990s as Reading PorchFest brings acoustic music back to the Tannerville Gazebo on June 27
Reading, MA — Reading PorchFest 2026 organizers, Alan and Ace Foulds, are the first to admit that they are not the first people to bring music to the streets of Reading. In fact, Reading has super strong musical roots, as evidenced by the 95-year-running Reading Symphony Orchestra, the 107-year-strong Reading Community Singers, and PorchFest participants, including The Reading Community Concert Band.
Reading also has strong ties to Porch-based concerts. The PorchFest team had heard hints of a Tannerville connection to roots music. With the welcome addition of the Tannerville Gazebo as a venue this year, it seemed like the right time to bring that history to light.
The Foulds turned to their favorite local music historian, Mike Curren, to get more details.
What follows is Mike’s recollection of those halcyon days. By the way, Mike is the composer of an ode to our town titled “Down at Wood End,” which you can find on YouTube.
According to Mike Curren, the Tannerville Jam was the brainchild of the late Officer Rick Nelson, fiddle player par excellence. Ironically, he lived on High Street, just the other side of the tracks, while Paula and I were living on Mineral Street at the time.
Mike Curren
Rick had formed an acoustic band which featured Officer Ray Doucette on guitar, and his wife Doris, who now lives in Tannerville (she would sing from time to time).
A strong connection was their Canadian Maritime family background – a big part of the history of Reading. The band’s membership grew and shrank over about 8 years in the 80s and 90s. The genre was a mix of Cape Breton fiddle tunes, Country and Western songs, Blue-Grass songs (instrumentals and songs), and occasionally folk songs. Because of the Cape Breton influence, the band became known as “DownEast Revival”.
In any given set, you could hear “The Mason’s Apron”, a Jimmy Rodgers song, a Bob Dylan song, a Willie Nelson song, a Bill Monroe tune, and maybe “Sweet Wyoming Home” by Bill Staines. It all depended upon the inclination and tastes of whoever showed up.
Terry Weir and his wife Lori were regulars, as well as Adam and Ed Dewey – they all brought considerable talent on guitars and mandolins, so they always made sure Bluegrass was a part of the repertoire. Adam and Terry went on to found the band “Yankee Division” and ultimately “Adam Dewey and Crazy Creek,” releasing 2 albums and appearing at numerous bluegrass festivals here and in Europe. Terry went on to dedicate most of his time to Celtic music (and fishing).
‘Rehearsal’ was held at the community hall at Tannerville. Residents soon began to assemble early Thursday nights to watch and listen. Eventually, Rick applied for funding through the Mass Arts Council to support our efforts (mics, music stands, speakers, etc.), and we also performed regularly at the old bandstand in Memorial Park. The jam session rehearsals were a delight, as not only Tannerville residents but also our own children and neighborhood friends would stop by. Occasionally, we had a “guest artist,” and sometimes they became a member!
And there was an offshoot to this phenomenon- a luthier from Maine opened up an instrument repair shop called Victoria Violin, where Christopher’s Restaurant is today. He must have had 100 fiddles hanging from the walls. Adam Dewey got a job there as a repairman. Many of us would get our instruments fixed or tuned up there. On a Sat. afternoon, you could find most of “Downeast Revival” sitting in the shop, and eventually we spilled out on the front stoop, and the next thing you know, a “picking party” much like our “rehearsals” at Tannerville would break out, and maybe even some refreshments to lubricate the whole environment. People came from all over the north shore to participate- kind of a bluegrass anarchy, with 4 banjos, 6 guitars, 2 mandolins, a dobro, 3 fiddles and a Bass. Boston musicians like Don Borshelt and Brian Clancy would often attend. There is one recording of this mayhem floating around on someone’s iPhone ; ) !
Long live acoustic music!!!
In that spirit, on June 27, 2026, from 1:00-4:00, Reading PorchFest will present: Mike Farma and Billy Goodrich at the Tannerville Gazebo.
