Alastair Moock’s Pastures of Plenty

When Alastair Moock began his Pastures of Plenty series in Boston in 2000, the idea was to bridge some of the gaps he saw in the local music scene—between the folk and roots rock crowds, between the contemporary and traditional scenes, and between younger and older players. But what it really came down to was just bringing together some of the region’s best songwriters and musicians to swap tunes on a stage. Twenty-five years later, the series is still “the hippest hootenanny in town” (The Boston Globe).

The list of guests over the years reads like a who’s who of (mostly) New England-based folk and Americana musicians: Bill Morrissey, Mark Erelli, Lori McKenna, Barrence Whitfield, Peter Mulvey, Alisa Amador, Vance Gilbert, Ronnie Earl, Crys Matthews, Sean Staples, Reggie Harris, Lisa Loeb, and The Silver Leaf Gospel Singers, to name just a few.

Past shows have taken place at premier venues throughout the northeast, including the Newport and Boston Folk Festivals. But the home base for the series has always been Club Passim in Cambridge, MA where Moock still presents the show annually every November.

Alastair Moock

• Folk
• Singer/Songwriter

Alastair Moock is an award-winning singer-songwriter; a Grammy-nominated family musician; a social justice and songwriting educator for all ages; and co-founder of The Opening Doors Project, an anti-racist music organization. He has toured throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia, performing at renowned events like the Newport Folk Festival and Scotland’s Celtic Connections. The Boston Globe called him “one of the town’s best and most adventurous songwriters” and The Washington Post declared “every song a gem.”

Mercedes Escobar

• Blues
• Country
• Singer/Songwriter

Fluctuating between unleashed and sweet, Guatemalan singer-songwriter Mercedes Escobar’s raw, guttural vocals dominate any stage. Her voice has been likened to a mix between Linda Ronstadt and Howlin’ Wolf. She’s created a unique genre which blends the rawness of old blues and country vocals and guitar, with the intensity of magical realism lyrics and the sonic traditions of her home culture; All while staying true to her modern values against prejudice in music, race and gender, and highlighting her story-driven songwriting. She calls this “Latin Americana.”​
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Mercedes has shared the stage with artists such as Gaby Moreno, Rubén Albarrán (Café Tacvba), Malacates Trébol Shop, etc. She is also featured in the soundtrack of acclaimed independent films Temblores (2019) and Cadejo Blanco (2022; the latter also credits her as music supervisor). After graduating Berklee College of Music in May 2024, Mercedes is recording an upcoming bilingual album, which is being co-produced by Grammy-winning producer and artist Gaby Moreno. This show will be an exclusive preview of that album’s work.

Other than her work in music, Mercedes organized the first Pride event in Antigua Guatemala, and was appointed “Ambassador Against Violence Against Women and Girls” by UN-Women Guatemala.

Eric Royer

• Bluegrass

Eric Royer has been performing as a Bluegrass banjo player and vocalist for over 25 years with his unique One Man Band and in the Boston-based band the Resophonics (Boston Music Award Winner-Best Roots/Americana Act). Royer has been a member of several long term music residencies, the latest being his band The Royer Family Band’s weekly show at Atwoods Tavern.

Pamela Means

• Folk
• Singer/Songwriter

Pamela Means is an Easthampton MA-based, multiple award-winning, singer-songwriter and jazz musician. Protest anthem writing, Biracial, Queer, Artist-Activist and, “one of the fiercest guitar players and politically-rooted musicians in the industry today,” (Curve Magazine) – who’s worn a hole in two of her guitars – with her “insanely brilliant” (Press Herald, Portland ME) and “stark, defiant songs.” (New York Times)

Tim Gearan

• Folk
• Rock
• Singer/Songwriter

A beloved fixture in the Boston music scene for more than 25 years, Tim Gearan has become a bonafide local music hero. His warm, raspy baritone, jaw-dropping guitar skills and wry, poignant songwriting have graced the bars, pubs, and music halls throughout New England, creating a loyal cult-like following.

Gearan, a New York native, started his career as a lead blues guitarist, spending ten years touring as a sideman for the great Toni Lynn Washington, as well as collaborating with the Grammy-winning singer/guitarist Susan Tedeschi. Finding his own artistic voice, Gearan settled in Somerville and began writing and performing on his own, crafting an intoxicating blend of Americana, folk and blues with shades of Randy Newman, Tom Waits, JJ Cale, Leon Russell and Lowell George. He quickly established himself as a force in the Boston’s resurgent roots music scene, and his Boston area residencies have become a “can’t miss” staple of the city’s nightlife.

Sean Staples

• Americana
• Bluegrass
• Folk
• Roots
• Singer/Songwriter

Paul Kochanski

• Americana
• Rock

A Grammy-nominated craftsman always in service to the song, Paul is currently  with Lori McKenna (2-time Grammy winner), “Big” Al Anderson (former NRBQ) and blues guitar giant Ronnie Earl.

Born and raised in the wilds of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula,  he began playing professionally at age 14.

He studied at the Berklee College of Music and quickly became involved in the Boston rock scene, performing and recording with popular club bands.

He co-founded The Swinging Steaks – an alt.country/Americana originator that released their national debut “Southside of the Sky” on legendary Capricorn Records in 1993.

As touring wound down for the Steaks, Paul became an in-demand bassist, performing and/or recording with the best of New England’s singer-songwriters.