An energetic dance band from Boston, San Diego, and Vermont, the Free Raisins fuse New England roots with a modern groove. They promise a versatile mix of supremely danceable tunes—come out and get your two scoops worth!
The Free Raisins are:
Audrey KnuthFiddle
Jeff KaufmanMandolin, Feet
Amy EnglesbergPiano, Accordion
The Free Raisins, walking and playing.
We have a CD, and you can listen on Spotify.
Past gigs
date time venue caller
2010 FriAug 13 7:30 Springstep Nell Wright
2010 WedAug 25 8:00 CCTV ch10 (concert)
2010 MonSep 13 5:00 Brandeis (concert)
2010 SatOct 9 7:30 Brandeis Tony Parkes
2010 TueOct 12 8:00 MIT Susan Elberger
2010 SatOct 16 8:00 Northboro Dan Pearl
2010 SatNov 20 3:00-6:00 Brandeis Rachel Shapiro
2010 SatDec 4 7:30 Medway Paul Wilde
2010 SatDec 11 7:30 Brandeis Sue Rosen
2011 FriJan 14 6:00-8:00 Arisia Chris Lahey
2011 SatMar 26 7:30-10:30 Swarthmore College Leland Kusmer
2011 SatApr 16 3:30-4:20 NEFFA Bob Golder
2011 SatMay 7 7:30-10:30 Medway Chris Lahey
2011 SatJun 18 8:00-11:00 Concord NH Kim Roberts
2011 TueAug 9 8:00-10:30 MIT Dereck Kalish, Susan Elberger
2011 SatAug 13 8:00-11:00 Cotuit MA Linda Leslie
2011 SatAug 27 8:00-11:00 Kingston NH Marcie Van Cleave
2011 SatSep 24 8:00-11:00 Mystic CT Rachel Shapiro
2011 SatOct 1 7:30-10:30 Medway Tim Van Egmond
2011 MonOct 10 7:30-10:30 Concord MA Linda Leslie
2011 TueOct 11 8:00-10:30 MIT Susan Elberger
2011 FriNov 4 8:00-11:00 Concord MA Sue Rosen
2011 SatNov 5 7:30-10:30 Swarthmore College Jim Kitch
2011 SatNov 12 8:00-11:00 Worcester MA Paul Wilde
2011 SunDec 11 7:30-10:30 Glen Echo Sunday Adina Gordon
2011 SunDec 18 7:30-10:30 BIDA Lisa Greenleaf
2012 WedFeb 1 7:30-10:30 Amherst MA Quena Crain
2012 SatFeb 4 7:30-11:30 Charlestown MA Daniel Friedman and Tavi Merril
2012 ThrFeb 9 7:30-10:30 Concord MA Rachel Shapiro
2012 SatFeb 18 8:00-11:00 Concord NH Rachel Shapiro
2012 SatMar 10 8:00-11:00 Cotuit MA Linda Nelson
2012 SatMar 31 6:00-6:50 DEFFA Ricky Holt
2012 TueApr 10 8:00-10:30 MIT ?
2012 SatApr 14 7:30-10:30 Medway MA Paul Wilde
2012 SatApr 21 10:00am-10:50am NEFFA Gaye Fifer
2012 SatMay 12 8:00-11:00 New York NY Christine Hale
2012 FriJul 27 8:30-11:30 Glen Echo Friday Michael Barraclough
2012 SunJul 29 7:30-10:30 Glen Echo Sunday Ann Fallon
2012 MonJul 30 8:00-11:00 Knoxville TN Warren Doyle
2012 TueJul 31 8:00-10:30 Winston-Salem NC Louie Cromartie
2012 WedAug 1 8:00-11:00 Baltimore MD Perry Shafran
2012 ThrAug 2 8:00-11:00 Rochester NY Kristin Seibert
2012 FriAug 3 8:00-11:00 Ithaca NY House Callers
2012 SatAug 4 8:00-11:00 Syracuse NY Kristin Seibert
2012 TueAug 14 8:00-10:30 MIT Tavi Merrill
2012 SatAug 18 8:00-11:00 East Sandwich MA Linda Leslie
2012 WedAug 29 7:30-10:30 Amherst MA Dave Eisenstadter
2012 SatSep 8 7:30-10:30 Jamaica Plain MA Chris Ricciotti
2012 SatSep 15 8:00-11:00 East Sandwich MA Linda Leslie
2012 SunSep 16 7:30-10:30 BIDA Kristin Seibert
2012 SatOct 20 8:00-11:00 Northboro Dan Pearl
2012 FriOct 26 8:00-11:00 Middletown CT Steve Z-A
2012 SatOct 27 8:00-11:00 Mystic CT Jeff Kaufman
2012 SunNov 11 2:00-10:00 Greenfield MA Bob Isaacs
2012 ThrNov 15 7:30-10:30 Concord MA Linda Leslie
2012 SatDec 8 8:00-11:00 Cotuit MA Don Heinold
2012 FriDec 14 8:00-10:30 Wellesley College Dereck Kalish
2013 FriJan 4 8:00-11:00 Belfast ME Chrissy Fowler
2013 SatJan 5 7:30-10:30 Medway MA Paul Wilde
2013 FriJan 18 6:00-8:00 Arisia Dave Eisenstadter
2013 SatJan 26 8:00-11:00 Kingston NH Marcie Van Cleave
2013 TueJan 29 8:00-10:30 MIT Dave Eisenstadter
2013 ThrFeb 21 7:00-9:30 University of NH Mary Wesley
2013 SunFeb 24 7:30-10:30 Cambridge MA Lisa Greenleaf
2013 SatMarch 16 8:00-11:00 East Sandwich MA Linda Leslie
2013 FriMarch 22 8:00-11:00 Brooklyn NY Tavi Merrill
2013 SatMarch 23 8:00-11:00 New York NY Marty Fager
2013 SunMarch 24 7:00-10:00 Enfield CT Ralph Sweet
2013 SatApr 6 7:30-10:30 Medway MA Linda Leslie
2013 SatApr 13 8:00-11:00 Worcester MA Quena Crain
2013 SatApr 20 8:00-8:50 NEFFA Donna Hunt
2013 SatMay 4 8:00-11:00 Deerfield NH Rickey Holt
2013 SatMay 18 8:00-11:00 Montpelier VT Will Mentor
2013 Fri-May 24- Weekend Catapult Multiple Callers
MonMay 27 Atlanta GA
2013 Fri-May 31- Weekend Great Bear Groove Nils Fredland
SunJun 1 Oswego NY Sarah VanNorstrand
2013 SatJun 8 8:00-11:00 Cotuit MA Rachel Shapiro
2013 SatJun 15 8:00-11:00 Concord NH Rachel Shapiro
2013 SunJul 14 7:30-10:30 Glen Echo Sunday Tom Hinds
2013 MonJul 15 8:00-11:00 Asheville NC Tamara McGovern
2013 TueJul 16 8:00-10:30 Clemmons NC Kristin Siebert
2013 WedJul 17 8:00-11:00 Charlotte NC Kristin Siebert
2013 FriJul 19 8:00-11:00 Charlottesville VA Kristin Siebert
2013 SatJul 20 8:00-11:00 New Haven CT Terry Doyle
2013 SatSep 7 8:00-12:00 Cornell University Bob Isaacs
2013 WedSep 11 7:30-10:30 Hampshire College Nils Fredland
2013 ThrSep 19 7:30-10:30 Concord MA Sue Rosen
2013 FriSep 20 8:00-11:00 Rutland MA David Kaynor
2013 TueOct 8 8:00-10:30 MIT Clinton Ross
Christi Bothwell
2013 FriOct 11 8:00-11:00 Bates College Hannah Otten
2013 SatOct 12 8:00-11:00 Worcester MA Quena Crain
2013 FriNov 1 8:00-11:00 Concord MA Sue Rosen
2013 SatNov 2 8:00-11:00 Peterborough NH Rebecca Lay
2013 SatNov 16 8:00-11:00 Northboro MA Don Veino
2013 SatNov 23 8:00-11:00 Kingston NH Marcie Van Cleave
2014 MonJan 6 7:30-10:30 Concord MA Don Veino
2014 SatJan 11 8:00-11:00 Hartford CT Quena Crain
2014 WedJan 15 7:30-10:30 Amherst MA Brian Hamshar
2014 FriJan 31 8:00-11:00 Albany NY Luke Donforth
2014 SatFeb 1 7:30-11:00 Chatham NY Bob Isaacs
2014 SatFeb 8 2:30-5:30 Jamaica Plain MA Luke Donforth
2014 Fri-Feb 14- Festival Dance Flurry Lisa Greenleaf
SunFeb 16 Saratoga Springs NY Mary Wesley
Donna Hunt
2014 FriFeb 28 8:00-11:00 Burlington VT The Mad Robins
2014 SatMar 1 8:00-11:00 Ottowa ON Sarah VanNorstrand
2014 SunMar 2 7:00-10:30 Montreal QC Sarah VanNorstrand
2014 SatMar 29 8:00-11:00 Montpelier VT Will Mentor
2014 Fri-
Sun
Apr 18-
Apr 20
Weekend Appalachian Spring
Elk Park, NC
Terry Doyle
2014 Fri-
Sun
Apr 25-
Apr 27
Festival NEFFA
Mansfield MA
Dugan Murphy
Brian Hamshar
2014 Fri-
Sat
May 2-
May 3
Weekend Spring Fling
Owen Sound ON
John Krumm
2014 FriMay 16 7:00-9:45 New York NY Donna Hunt
2014 SatMay 17 8:00-11:00 New York NY Dave Eisenstadter
2014 SunMay 18 7:00-10:00 Enfield CT Ralph Sweet
2014 MonMay 26 3:30-7am Dawn Dance Luke Donforth
2014 Fri-
Sat
Jun 13-
Jun 14
Weekend June Bug Bash
Tampa FL
Luke Donforth
2014 ThrJun 19 7:30-10:30 Concord MA Will Mentor
2014 SatJun 21 8:00-11:00 Concord NH Kim Roberts
2014 WedJul 16 7:30-10:30 Amherst MA Dave Eisenstadter
2014 ThrJul 17 8:00-11:00 Rochester NY Dave Eisenstadter
2014 FriJul 18 8:00-11:00 Pittsburgh PA Dave Eisenstadter
2014 SatJul 19 8:00-11:00 Buffalo NY Dave Eisenstadter
2014 SunJul 20 4:00-9:30 Toronto ON Dave Eisenstadter
2014 MonJul 21 8:00-10:00 Cincinnati OH Dave Eisenstadter
2014 TueJul 22 8:00-11:00 Indianapolis, IN Dave Eisenstadter
2014 WedJul 23 8:00-11:00 Bloomington, IN Dave Eisenstadter
2014 ThrJul 24 8:00-11:00 Glenside PA Dave Eisenstadter
2014 FriJul 25 8:30-11:30 Glen Echo Friday Dave Eisenstadter
2014 SatJul 26 8:00-11:00 Brooklyn NY Maia McCormick
2014 SatSep 6 8:00-11:00 Montpelier VT Nils Fredland
2014 Fri-
Sun
Sep 19-
Sep 21
Weekend Adirondack
Dance Weekend

Lake George NY
Mary Wesley
2014 Fri-
Sun
Sep 26-
Sep 28
Weekend YDW
Weston VT
Rachel Shapiro
Adina Gordon
2014 Fri-
Sun
Nov 7-
Nov 9
Weekend Fire Ant Frolic
Austin TX
Cary Ravitz
Lauren Peckman
2014 SatNov 15 3:00-10:30 Poughkeepsie NY Quena Crain
2015 FriJan 9 8:00-10:45 New York NY Will Mentor
2015 SatJan 10 4-6, 8-11 New York NY Will Mentor
2015 FriJan 30 8:00-11:00 Albany NY Will Mentor
2015 WedFeb 18 7:30-10:30 Amherst MA Luke Donforth
2015 ThrFeb 19 7:30-10:30 Concord MA Many Callers
2015 SatMar 7 4-6, 8-11 Hanover NJ Bob Isaacs
2015 Fri-
Sun
Mar 27-
Mar 29
Weekend Pigtown Fling
Cincinnati OH
Lisa Greenleaf
2015 SatApr 4 8:00-11:00 Montpelier VT Luke Donforth
2015 SatApr 18 All-day Fiddlehead Frolic Bob Isaacs
2015 Fri-
Sun
Apr 24-
Apr 26
Festival NEFFA
Mansfield MA
Bill Olson
Medley Callers
2015 Fri-
Sun
May 8-
May 10
Festival LEAF
Asheville NC
Adina Gordon
Charlotte Crittenden
2015 FriMay 29 8:00-11:00 Albany NY Bob Isaacs
2015 MonJun 1 7:30-10:30 Concord MA Don Veino
2015 Fri-
Sun
Jun 12-
Jun 14
Weekend Flamingo Fling
Oklahoma City OK
Luke Donforth
2015 Fri-
Sun
Jun 19-
Jun 21
Weekend Swing Into Summer
Plymouth MA
Rachel Wallace
Adina Gordon
2015 WedJun 24 7:30-10:30 Amherst MA Susan Petrick
2015 ThrSep 10 8:00-11:00 Mt. Airy PA Rick Mohr
2015 Fri-
Sun
Sep 11-
Sep 13
Weekend FootFall
High View WV
Luke Donforth
Janine Smith
2015 SunSep 13 7:30-10:30 Glen Echo Sunday Luke Donforth
2015 WedSep 30 7:30-10:30 Amherst MA Ron Blechner
2015 SunOct 11 2:00-5:30 Greenfield MA Lisa Greenleaf
2015 Fri-
Sun
Oct 23-
Oct 25
Weekend Fall Ball
Tampa FL
Luke Donforth
2015 Fri-
Sun
Nov 6-
Nov 8
Weekend Fall Dance Weekend
Pittsburgh PA
Rick Mohr
Mary Wesley
2015 FriNov 13 8:00-11:00 Greenfield MA Luke Donforth
2015 ThrDec 31 8:00-12:15 San Diego CA Jeremy Korr
2016 FriJan 1 4-6;7-10 San Diego CA Open Calling
2016 SatJan 2 8:00-11:00 Los Angeles CA Frannie Marr
2016 SunJan 3 6:30-9:30 Santa Barbara CA Frannie Marr
2016 FriMar 25 8:00-11:15 Greenfield MA Nils Fredland
2016 Fri-
Sun
Apr 22-
Apr 24
Weekend Trillium Twirl
Battle Creek MI
Sarah Van Norstrand
2016 ThrMay 19 7:30-10:30 Concord MA Dan Pearl
2016 FriMay 20 8:00-11:00 Brooklyn NY Quena Crain
2016 SatMay 21 3-6;8-11 New York NY Susan Kevra
2016 SunMay 22 7:00-10:00 Enfield CT Dave Eisenstadter
2016 Fri-
Sun
Jun 10-
Jun 12
Weekend Dance Trance
Lexington KY
Adina Gordon
2016 MonJun 13 ? Louisville KY Jerome Grisanti
2016 Fri-
Sun
Jul 1-
Jul 3
Weekend IndepenDance
Milwaukee WI
Luke Donforth
2016 Fri-
Sun
Aug 12-
Aug 14
Weekend Fly the Coop
Gainesville GA
Cis Hinkle
Beth Molaro
2016 Fri-
Sun
Oct 21-
Oct 23
Weekend SoleFest
Springfield MO
Diane Silver
2016 Fri-
Sun
Nov 4-
Nov 6
Weekend Hey Fever
Ottawa ON
Rick Mohr
Sarah VanNorstrand
2017 SatJan 14 7:30-10:30 Midwinter Ball
Baltimore MD
Luke Donforth
2017 ThrFeb 2 8:00-11:00 Seattle WA Seth Tepfer
2017 Fri-
Sun
Feb 3-
Feb 5
Weekend Dancing Fool
Seattle WA
Cis Hinkle
Seth Tepfer
2017 MonFeb 6 7:30-10:00 Portland OR Susan Petrick
2017 ThrMar 9 7:30-10:30 Concord MA Linda Leslie
2017 FriMar 10 7:00-9:45 New York NY Will Mentor
2017 SatMar 11 3-6, 8-11 New York NY Will Mentor
2017 Fri-
Sun
Apr 7-
Apr 9
Weekend Springforth
Richmond VA
Gaye Fifer
2017 SunApr 9 7:30-10:30 Glen Echo Sunday Susan Taylor
2017 Thr-
Sun
Jul 6-
Jul 9
Weekend Roanoke Railroader
Roanoke VA
Sarah VanNorstrand
Emily Rush
Warren Doyle
2017 Fri-
Mon
Sep 1-
Sep 4
Weekend Northwest Passage
Portland OR
Lindsey Dono
Seth Tepfer
2017 Fri-
Sun
Sep 15-
Sep 17
Weekend Echo Summit
Echo Summit CA
Cis Hinkle
Luke Donforth
2017 SatOct 7 ? Private Event
Holliston MA
?
2017 Fri-
Sun
Oct 13-
Oct 15
Weekend Mountain Madness
Jonesborough TN
Darlene Underwood
Lisa Greenleaf
2018 Fri-
Sat
Jan 12-
Jan 13
Weekend Phoenix Winter Frolic
Phoenix AZ
Carol Ormand
2018 ThrFeb 15 7:30-10:30 Contra Dance
Portland OR
Susan Petrick
2018 Fri-
Sun
Feb 16-
Feb 18
Weekend Corvallis Contra Weekend
Corvallis OR
Susan Petrick
Will Mentor
2018 Fri-
Sun
Apr 13-
Apr 15
Weekend Queer Contra Camp CA
Aptos CA
Lindsey Dono
Will Mentor
2018 Fri-
Sun
May 4-
May 6
Weekend LCFD Spring Dance Camp
Woodstock CT
Maia McCormick
2019 ThrFeb 14 7:30-10:30 Concord MA Dereck Kalish
2019 Fri-
Sun
Feb 22-
Feb 24
Weekend Fiddling Frog
Pasadena CA
Lisa Greenleaf
Bob Isaacs
2019 Fri-
Sun
Mar 22-
Mar 24
Weekend Beantown Stomp
Cambridge MA
Nils Fredland
Angela DeCarlis
Dereck Kalish
Shari Shakti
2019 ThrMay 9 8:00-11:00 Asheville NC Beth Molaro
2019 Fri-
Sun
May 10-
May 12
Weekend LEAF
Asheville NC
Alex Deis-Lauby
Bob Isaacs
2019 Fri-
Sun
Nov 15-
Nov 17
Weekend Catalina Dance Weekend
Catalina Island, CA
Emily Rush
Dana Parkinson
2020 Fri-
Sun
Apr 17-
Apr 19
[cancelled] Desert Spring
Phoenix AZ
Lisa Greenleaf
Will Mentor
2020 Fri-
Sun
Oct 23-
Oct 25
[cancelled] Tree Town Stomp
Ann Arbor, MI
Will Mentor
2020 Fri-
Sun
Nov 6-
Nov 8
[cancelled] Foggy Moon
Monterey CA
Nils Fredland
Sarah VanNorstrand
2020 SatNov 14 [cancelled] San Luis Obispo ?
2021 Fri-
Sun
Jan 15-
Jan 17
[cancelled] Contra Carnivale
San Luis Obispo CA
?
2021 Fri-
Sun
Apr 16-
Apr 18
[cancelled] Desert Spring
Phoenix AZ
Will Mentor
?
2021 Fri-
Mon
May 24-
May 27
[cancelled] Dancing Bears
Wasilla AK
?
2022 Fri-
Sun
Oct 21-
Oct 23
Weekend Tree Town Stomp
Ann Arbor, MI
Adina Gordon
2023 Fri-
Sun
Jan 13-
Jan 15
Weekend Contra Carnivale
San Luis Obispo CA
Will Mentor
Seth Tepfer
Lindsey Dono
2023 Fri-
Sun
Apr 14-
Apr 16
[cancelled] Desert Spring
Phoenix AZ
Will Mentor
Cis Hinkle
2023 Fri-
Mon
May 26-
May 29
Weekend Dancing Bears
Wasilla AK
Wendy Graham Settle
Jacqui Grennan
2023 Fri-
Sun
Nov 3-
Nov 4
Weekend Foggy Moon
Monterey CA
Nils Fredland
Lindsey Dono
2024 Fri-
Mon
Apr 5-
Apr 7
Weekend Epicenter
Mill Valley CA
Alex Deis-Lauby
Seth Tepfer
date time venue caller
2025 ThrMar 27 8:00-10:30 Mt Airy
2025 FriMar 28 8:00-11:00 Glen Echo Friday
2025 Sat-
Sun
Mar 29-
Mar 30
Weekend #dance
Glen Echo MD
Lisa Greenleaf
2025 Fri-
Sat
Oct 3-
Oct 4
Weekend Dancing Fish
Melrose FL
2025 Fri-
Sat
Nov 7-
Nov 9
Weekend Dance in the Desert
Tuscon AZ
The Free Raisins, sitting on a wall and talking.