Helicon: Winter Solstice
Helicon, a Baltimore folk music supergroup, returns to Dumbarton for a lively Winter Solstice celebration rooted in bluegrass, old-time, and Irish-American traditions. The program moves from classic ballads to energetic reels, incorporating musical influences from around the world and featuring a ten-musician ensemble alongside acclaimed Irish step dancer Jonathon Srour.
The performers bring together hammered dulcimer, clawhammer banjo, fiddle, flute, whistles, accordion, guitar, and other traditional instruments. The concert celebrates the quiet renewal of winter while looking ahead to the new year.
When: Saturday, December 12, 2026
Showtimes: 4:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Historic Dumbarton Church, 3133 Dumbarton St NW, Georgetown
Tickets: $50 for the in-person concert; $14 for the livestream
Livestream: The livestream is available for the evening performance only.
Lineup: Ken Kolodner, Robin Bullock, Chris Norman, Brad Kolodner, Rachel Eddy, Elke Baker, Alex Lacquement, Patrick McAvinue, Sean McComiskey, and Jonathon Srour. The program also features the Ken & Brad Kolodner Quartet and Charm City Junction.
Performance: Helicon’s repertoire combines bluegrass, old-time, Irish-American folk, and international influences. The ensemble’s sound ranges from traditional ballads to fast, dance-like reels.
Ken and Brad Kolodner Quartet: Father and son Ken and Brad Kolodner create a distinctive roots sound with hammered dulcimer and clawhammer banjo, drawing on old-time, bluegrass, and American music. Ken is a highly regarded hammered dulcimer player who has led the Sandbridge Hammered Dulcimer Retreats for nearly two decades. Brad is a clawhammer banjo player, radio host, recording artist, and major contributor to Baltimore’s old-time music community. The two run the Baltimore Old Time Jam and Baltimore Old Time Music Festival. Rachel Eddy, a versatile performer on fiddle, banjo, guitar, and mandolin, performs with the quartet.
Charm City Junction: The Baltimore-based group includes Brad Kolodner, Patrick McAvinue, Sean McComiskey, and Alex Lacquement. McAvinue is an award-winning fiddler, former touring member of Audie Blaylock & Redline and Dailey & Vincent, and a member of the U.S. Navy Band’s Country Current. McComiskey is an innovative Irish button accordion player from a prominent Irish traditional music family. Lacquement is known for an adaptable style spanning jazz, old-time, and bluegrass, as well as for his work as an arranger, composer, and producer.
Robin Bullock: Bullock is an internationally recognized folk guitarist and multi-instrumentalist whose honors include multiple Washington Area Music Association awards and a Governor’s Award from the Maryland State Arts Council. He has also performed and recorded extensively as a Celtic musician and teaches guitar and mandolin.
Chris Norman: Norman is a wooden flute player, flute maker, composer, recording artist, and founder of the Nova Scotia-based Boxwood flute festival. His playing has appeared on more than 40 recordings and on film soundtracks. He also performs on small pipes and penny whistle.
Elke Baker: Baker is a U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion who has performed throughout North America, Japan, Ireland, West Africa, and Scotland. She has led the Potomac Valley Scottish Fiddle Club since 1993 and has worked as a music educator and artist-in-residence. Baker and Ken Kolodner have collaborated for more than 25 years.
Jonathon Srour: Srour is a four-time touring member of Michael Flatley’s *Lord of the Dance* and has also performed with *Riverdance*, *Magic of the Dance*, *Feet of Flames*, and Hammerstep. He was ranked fifth in the world in Irish dance in 2005 and has won the senior belt at the North American championships three times. He will provide Irish step dancing during the program.
Run time: Not specified.
Ages: Not specified.
Accessibility: Not specified.