Hello Stranger: The Songs of Hazel & Alice
- Bluegrass
Tickets will be on sale to the public 10/9 at noon. On sale to all Passim members 10/2 at noon. On sale to All Access Passim members 9/25 at noon.
All tickets have a $3 processing fee and a $2 preservation fee. The $3 processing fee is waived for tickets purchased at our box office.Hazel Royer
- Bluegrass
- Old Time
Hazel Royer is a Boston musician that primarily is an upright bassist, guitarist, and singer. She plays a variety of styles including Folk, Jazz, Old-Time, Bluegrass, Rock, and Blues. Hazel is currently a member of the acclaimed bluegrass group Big Richard. She grew up playing folk and bluegrass music in the Boston music scene with her father, Eric Royer.
Rachel Sumner
- Acoustic
- Americana
- Folk
- Guitar
- Singer/Songwriter
Rachel Sumner is an award-winning songwriter, singer, and educator whose work bridges the worlds of folk, bluegrass, and chamber Americana. A classically trained musician turned Americana songwriter, Sumner first made her mark as a co-founder of the genre-bending roots group Twisted Pine before launching her solo career. Her lyric-driven songs, known for their intricate melodies and evocative storytelling, have earned her widespread recognition, including the prestigious Kerrville New Folk Competition win and the Lennon Award in the folk category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. In 2024, her original compositions and reimagined folk arrangements were archived at the Library of Congress following a live performance and oral history interview.
As a performer, Sumner has captivated audiences across the country, both as a solo artist and with her band, Traveling Light. Her music transcends folk conventions, blending poetic storytelling, lush harmonies, and dynamic instrumental interplay with the virtuosic talents of her bandmates, Kat Wallace (fiddle) and Mike Siegel (upright bass). Whether in an intimate listening room or on a festival stage, Sumner’s performances invite listeners into richly woven sonic landscapes.
Beyond the stage, Sumner is a dedicated educator with a passion for helping artists find their voice—both literally and figuratively. She specializes in songwriting, vocal technique, and music business coaching, guiding students in developing their craft, refining their artistic identity, and navigating the realities of a career in music. She has taught at WUMB’s Summer Acoustic Music Week and Winter Weekend programs, as well as privately and at the Passim School of Music. Drawing from her own experience as an independent artist, Sumner empowers songwriters and performers with the tools they need to build sustainable, fulfilling careers while staying true to their artistic vision.
Maxfield Anderson
- Bluegrass
- Roots
Maxfield Anderson is an American roots multi-instrumentalist, teacher, writer and music director, currently living in Somerville, MA. As an artist, Maxfield aims to bring new light to honored traditions and to share the joy of making music with others.
Growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Maxfield’s home was filled with an array of musical styles. After years of playing violin, his attention was taken hold by bluegrass and western swing fiddle, quickly leading him to discover the mandolin. He moved to Boston to study mandolin and American roots music at Berklee College of Music. Additionally, Max is a proficient guitar player, and after a year of isolation, finally broke down and added clawhammer banjo to the repertoire.
Teaching music has always been a big part of Max’s artistry. He believes that traditional music is an excellent vessel for understanding an instrument and finding your own voice as a musician. Teaching at Club Passim since 2020, Max has taught group courses in Beginner & Intermediate Mandolin, Bluegrass Ensemble (co-taught with Trevin Nelson), and Intro to Tune Writing. He also offers private instruction on mandolin, fiddle, guitar, music theory, and tune writing out of his home studio.
In addition to performing and teaching, Maxfield recently wrote and music directed the ‘Homegrown Stringband’ roots trio at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, OH. The trio performed authentic bluegrass, folk, and old time string band music throughout the summer season of 2022.
Maxfield graduated from Berklee College of Music with a BFA in Music Performance. He is an active gigging musician in the Boston music scene, and has toured throughout the Northeast playing listening rooms, ball rooms, bar rooms, back rooms, front porches and festival stages.
