We recommend purchasing in advance at
https://maineshakers.com/event/yard-sauce-sept25/
Join us in the historic 1794 Shaker Meeting House for a Benefit Concert by Yard Sauce: Jeff Christmas, Chris Moore, and Callie Brennan on Friday, September 5, 2025 at 7 pm
(Doors open at 6:30 pm)
Shaker Village, 707 Shaker Rd, New Gloucester, Maine
YARD SAUCE is a Maine-based, acoustic string trio featuring Chris Moore (mandolins and vocals), Jeff Christmas (guitar and vocals) and Callie Brennan (fiddle and vocals). Their dynamic live performances draw from the group’s eclectic musical tastes, diverse regional traditional music influences, and a deep catalog of original songs. Old-time, bluegrass, country and folk traditions (including traditional Shaker music) are all part of the mix in every live set. The trio trades off on lead vocal and harmony duties, delivering arrangements of traditional and original tunes with their distinctive, down-to-earth authenticity combined with virtuosic instrumental skills.
CALLIE BRENNAN (fiddle and vocals) was raised in Maine, where she spent her childhood writing short stories, practicing fiddle tunes, and tracking mud all through the house. At twelve years old she began studying with Ronald Lantz, who is to thank for her constant cracking of jokes. Callie received a Bachelor’s degree in violin performance from the University of Colorado, Boulder, where she studied with Lina Bahn and Harumi Rhodes. In her third year she traveled abroad to Sydney, Australia, studying under the tutelage of Ole Bohn at the Sydney Conservatorium. In 2016 she moved to London where she completed two Master’s degrees in music and violin performance at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and indulged in far too much tea. Back in the States, she held title positions with the Spartanburg Philharmonic (Concertmaster), the West Virginia Symphony (principal 2nd), and the Fort Collins Symphony (principal 1st), and section positions in the Colorado Ballet and Colorado Music Festival. Also appearing regularly with the Colorado Symphony and Colorado Opera, she (unfortunately) never did find the time to ski the Rockies – a reality she’ll never be able to live down. Callie has an extensive background in chamber music and has trained with ensembles such as the Portland String Quartet, Takács Quartet, Heath Quartet, Endellion Quartet, Chilingarian Quartet, and the Zodiac Trio. She has enjoyed several solo appearances with orchestra, performing the Walton Violin Concerto in Waterloo, London, and more recently, Mozart’s third concerto for violin with the Spartanburg Philharmonic, a concert sponsored by the Habisreutinger Stradivari Foundation. Having recently moved back to Maine, Callie now holds a position with the Portland Symphony Orchestra and has fulfilled her long-time dream of joining the Portland String Quartet. When not practicing or dashing off to rehearsal, she spends her time trail running, beach walking, and eating alarming amounts of chocolate.
JEFF CHRISTMAS (guitar and vocals) began playing music when he was 6 years old. Since then he has made his way from pop guitar to musical theater to jazz bands to opera to Americana and just about everything in between. Jeff specializes in vocal instruction with experience in a wide variety of genres. He is equally at home on the operatic stage and in a smoky bar. Pedagogically, Jeff believes that no genre has a monopoly on good, healthy, artistic singing and works to nurture that in all of his students. Jeff was raised in Burlington, North Carolina and has lived in California, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and South Carolina before moving to Portland in 2015. He got his undergraduate degree in Music Industry Studies (with a minor in Spanish) at Appalachian State University and then went on to get a Masters of Music from the Boston Conservatory.
CHRIS MOORE (mandolins and vocals) grew up in Maine. As a youth he studied piano with Naydene Bowder and violin with Ronald Lantz. He graduated from Waynflete School and went on to receive his degree in acting from Skidmore College. After college, Chris moved to New York City, where he worked as a performance artist, musician, puppeteer, and on the staff of the Arts at St. Ann’s in Brooklyn. While in New York, he studied with mandolin master Andy Statman. In 1989, Chris founded the band Rust Farm with guitarist John McGann and released two albums. Maine audiences will also know him as mandolinist with The Fogg Brothers bluegrass band. Chris has composed, performed, and recorded music for dance, film, television, spoken word, theater, and visual art projects. He has performed as a classical soloist and was awarded a Maine Arts Commission Fellowship for songwriting. His songs have been recorded by and performed by many artists. Chris has taught lessons,classes, and workshops in mandolin, songwriting, English Country Dance and traditional Shaker music. He lived in Nashville, TN from 2003-2013, where he founded the band Kindling Stone, featuring original compositions along with 19th century tunes from the Shaker and Sacred Harp traditions. Chris returned to Maine in 2013 to work as the Director of Music Education for 317 Main Community Music Center in Yarmouth. His latest solo recording, “Changing Union” (2025) was produced by folk icon Tim O’Brien.
Proceeds of this concert benefit the ongoing historic preservation of the Herb House Cultural Center.
The Herb House project aims to create a communal space for people to share traditional arts within the only active Shaker Community in the world.
General Admission
Tickets are $25. We recommend purchasing in advance at
https://maineshakers.com/event/yard-sauce-sept25/
Seating is limited
Please consider making an additional donation in your shopping cart at checkout. Thank you!
You may also like the following events from Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village:
Also check out other
Music events in New Gloucester,
Entertainment events in New Gloucester,
Arts events in New Gloucester.
|
