2026

Thanks to everyone who came out to shows this year and to all the venues for their support of local music. I released my third record for Patuxent Music this year, Anyway, which features three award winning songs (Common Ground Acoustic Roots Songwriting Contest, Winfield New Song Showcase) along with stellar musicianship from the intrepid Patuxent session players. It’s been getting airplay and I hope you get a chance to check it out on your favorite streaming service. It’s also available in CD format on Bandcamp: (https://michael-kelly.bandcamp.com/album/anyway).

I recently made a video for my song Chesapeake Waterman which was a lot of fun to do, and it features the 2026 Skipjack Race that took place on Deal Island this summer as well as shots from the Cambridge race which was, sadly, cancelled due to weather. You’ll also see some of the Deal Island boat docking contest. The video should be out before the end of the year on various social media platforms.

Still writing, performing and playing and looking forward to seeing you again.

Peace!

2025

Thanks for another great year! Thank you to all the venues and their incredible staffs for supporting local music, to the folks who came out and to Tom Mindte for his impeccable mandolin playing. New record should be out in March/2026, can’t wait to share it with you! Peace.

Walnut Valley Festival’s 2025 New Song Showcase

Happy to announce my song ‘Joseph’ was named alternate winner in the Religion or Spirit category!

2024

Thanks to all the fine folks who support local music. 2024 is in the books and I’m looking forward to playing more music in 2025!

8/9/2024 Walnut Valley New Song Showcase

My song “One Good Friend” was named Alternate Winner in the Love Songs category! The Walnut Valley Festival, synonymous with Winfield, Kansas, is where the National Flatpicking Contest is held each year. I’m not sure when the Songwriting contest was added but songwriters share the stage with the pickers and I would have loved being there to perform on Thursday but had a previous booking. Anyways, what a happy and wonderful surprise!

May 2024

I would like to extend love, prayers and a wish for peace to the family of Phil Wiggins. I met Phil in a Metro parking lot when I went to pick him up for a recording session (Elmer’s Blues, Color Factory, 2017). I had a Little Walter CD playing in the car and before he even sat down he said “Little Walter!”. Took him about a millisecond to recognize the player. His solo on Elmer’s Blues is complete mastery … I miss him already as do many.

April 2024

1st place, Common Ground on the Hill Songwriting Contest, Chesapeake Waterman

Such a nice surprise!

2023

A wild and wonderful season! Thanks to the venues and to you my friends for supporting local music!

Thanks to:

Barnhouse Brewery

Black Ankle Vineyards

Blue Valley Vineyards

Dirt Farm Brewery

Easton Farm Market

Elk Run Vineyards

Janemark Vineyards

Perigeaux Vineyards

Two Lions Vineyards

49 West

2022

Hard to believe that 2022 is already drawing to a close. I want to thank everyone for your kindness and support this year. I love playing music, I love playing for you and I am blessed to have the chance to. Special thanks to Danny Knicely (dannyknicely.com) and Tom Mindte (pxrec.com) for joining me at shows this year, it is indeed a pleasure to play with such amazing musicians. I am over the moon grateful to the following venues for their support of local music:

Barnhouse Brewery, Leesburg, VA

Black Ankle Vineyards, Mt. Airy, MD

Chincoteague Island Bluegrass Festival, Chincoteague Island, VA

Dirt Farm Brewery, Bluemont, VA

Easton Farm Market, Easton, MD

Elk Run Vineyards, Mt. Airy, MD

Honah Lee Vineyards, Gordonsville, VA

Knights Gambit, Charlottesville, VA

Perigeaux Vineyards, St. Leonard, MD

Two Lions Vineyard, Upper Marlboro, MD

49 West, Annapolis, MD

Please check the website (michaelkellytunes.com) and Facebook (facebook/michaelkellytunes) for upcoming shows and please check out https://michael-kelly.bandcamp.com/ for the new recording Kingfisher featuring Rob Benzing, Danny Knicely, Tom Mindte, Mark Schatz, Rickie Simpkins and Jay Summerour. Peace!

New Recording!

Kingfisher is now out and available on Patuxent Music (pxrec.com) and Bandcamp as well as most if not all of your favorite download/streaming sites. This recording features Rob Benzing on banjo, Danny Knicely on mandolin, Mark Schatz on bass, Rickie Simpkins on fiddle and harmony vocals and old friend Jay Summerour makes an appearance as well. Mixed and engineered by Tom Mindte (who also added harmony vocals on one track), mastered by Mike Monseur and artwork by Michael G. Stewart.