Ric Allendorf

Ric started his musical life north of Boston in a suburban home filled with instruments and songs. Influenced by show tune-loving parents and a Berklee-trained older brother, Ric spent hours listening to the family’s diverse record collection, taking lessons on accordion, and noodling at his brother’s keyboards or the living room piano. In 1982, at the age of 15, he learned to play “Blackbird” on a borrowed Ovation guitar, sparking a lifelong interest in fingerstyle playing. 

As a native New Englander, Ric has invested over three decades in acoustic music, visual arts, and arts education. Since attending the Cape Cod Songwriters Retreat in 2014, his music pursuits have led to recognition as a finalist in three performing songwriter competitions (with a third place win in 2021) and the 2018 CT Folk Festival Emerging Artist finalists concert. Among his most noteworthy features are the Suzi Wollenberg Folk DJ Showcase at the 2021 NERFA Conference, Club Passim's 2018 and 2021 Campfire Festivals, the 2019 Providence Folk Festival and nearly a dozen Club Passim tributes nights including those for Emmylou Harris, Bob Dylan, Ellis Paul, and Nanci Griffith. Other performance highlights include features at the Rose Garden Coffeehouse, the South Shore Folk Music Club, and the Spire Center of Performing Arts with opening sets for Archie Fisher, Abbie Gardner, Boxcar Lilies, Susan Cattaneo, and Ray Wylie Hubbard. Ric continues to actively perform and feature throughout New England. 

Ric uses music as navigation, discovery, and anchoring. His songs are personal and intuitively familiar. Whether performing solo or in collaboration, Ric's playing style gravitates toward unique voicings, percussive frailing, and fingerpicking patterns that honor his influences: early folk & blues, singer-songwriters of the 80s and 90s, as well as Celtic, British and Canadian fingerstyle players.

In late 2016, Ric joined a long-time friend, touring sound engineer Brian Evans, to record his debut CD titled Take It All In which includes eight original songs and one by another friend and collaborator Joe L'Esperance. The CD features violinist Katy Boc of Sparrow Blue, singer/instrumentalist Raianne Richards, drummer Jeff Armstrong, and San Antonio guitarist Bob Charles. These mostly-acoustic songs explore themes from throughout Ric's life; milestones of life's hardships and celebrations that emerge from a deep well of reflection. 

When not playing music, Ric remains active in the visual arts, teaching illustration at Massachusetts College of Art & Design in Boston and freelancing. Some of this work includes: 

• identities for the Cape Cod Songwriters' Retreat, the New Haven Folk Consortium, and the Americana band Sparrow Blue;
• illustrated promotional material for Monica Rizzio, Grace Morrison, and the Vinegrass Music Festival;
• concert posters for the Rose Garden Coffeehouse and the 2018 Regent Theatre Celebration for Dick Pleasants;
• CD packaging for Chris LaVancher's 'After The Flood', Andy & Judy's 'Reflections' and 'This Road', David Roth's 'Think Twice', 'Practice Makes Progress', 'So Far So Good', and 'Last Day On This Earth'.
• Illustrated books for Llewelyn Publishing, Guideposts Publishing, Sky & Telescope, Rhode Island Monthly
• Over a decade of art direction, branding and user interface design for dozens of corporate clients outside the music industry. 

Want to see samples and talk more about commissioning some visual art? Get in touch!

Recent accomplishments:
• Finalist and Performer in the 2022 Linden Tree Coffeehouse Winter Potpourri Showcase
• Performer in the 2021 NERFA Folk DJ Showcase for emerging artists, presented by WAMC's Wanda Fischer. 
• Finalist and Third Place Winner in the 2021 Maine Songwriters' Association Song Contest
• Performed at the Club Passim 'Tribute to Nanci Griffith
• Performed at the 2021 Club Passim 'Labor Day Campfire.Festival
• Performed at the Club Passim 'Tribute to Bob Dylan
• Performed at the Club Passim 'Tribute to Ellis Paul
• Performed at the 2019 Providence Folk Festival, Songcrafter Stage
• Performed at the Club Passim 'Tribute to Woodstock 50th Anniversary' night
• Performed at the Club Passim 'Tribute to Gillian Welch' night
• Performed at the Club Passim 'Tribute to Emmylou Harris' night
• Opener for Mark Mandeville & Raianne Richards, Club Passim (June 2019)
• Finalist in the 2018 CT Folk Festival Emerging Artist audition showcase
• Performed at the Club Passim 2018 Memorial Day campfire.festival
• Release of debut CD 'Take It All In', January 2018
• 2017 winner of the Open Mic Challenge at the Spire Center for Performing Arts in Plymouth, MA
• Finalist in the 2017 Rhode Island Songwriters Association (RISA) Performing Songwriter Competition
• Finalist in the 2017 Rose Garden Coffeehouse Performing Songwriter Competition
• Featured Performer on the Massachusetts Walking Tour from 2016 to 2019
• Opener for Archie Fisher, Amazing Things Arts Center (June 2017)
• Opener for Susan Cattaneo, South Shore Folk Music Club (Nov 2017)
• Opener for Abbie Gardner, Rose Garden Coffeehouse (Jan 2018)
• Opener for Ray Wylie Hubbard, The Spire Center for Performing Arts (May 2018)
• Opener for The Lied To's, Soule Homestead Summer Concert Series (July 2018)
• Opener for The Boxcar Lilies, Off The Common Coffeehouse (February 2019)
• Performed at the Joe Davies Folk Festival, Soule Homestead (Sept 2017, with duo)

Festivals & Benefits:
• 10th Annual Herring Fun Festival, Middleboro, MA (Apr 2023)
• Providence Folk Festival, Riverside RI (Aug 2019)
• Estelle Ford 'Future Nurse Scholarship' Music Festival, Lancaster MA (July 2019)
• Bill McGrath Music Series; Alzheimer's Fundraiser Benefit, Cranston RI (Sept 2018)
• CT Folk Festival finalist audition concert, New Haven CT (Apr 2018)
• Dana Farber Patient Assistance Fund Benefit, Middleboro MA (Aug 2018)
• Joe Davies Folk Festival, Middleboro MA (Sept 2017)
• Lakeville Arts & Music Festival, Lakeville MA (Sept 2017)
• Titicut Green Fall Arts & Music Festival, Middleboro MA (Sept 2015)

House Concerts:
• Quiet Corner House Concerts, Brooklyn CT (Apr 2019)
• The Music Salon, Waltham MA (Oct 2018)
• Harmony House Concerts, Yarmouth MA (Oct 2018)
• Le Grande Désastre House Concerts, Arlington MA (Feb 2018)

Selected Stages:
• Club Passim (Cambridge, MA)
• The Burren (Somerville, MA)
• First Encounter Coffeehouse (Eastham, MA)
• Titicut Green Coffeehouse (Middleboro, MA)
• Off The Common Coffeehouse (Bridgewater, MA)
• Rose Garden Coffeehouse (Mansfield, MA)
• Linden Tree Coffeehouse (Wakefield, MA)
• Tuneful Brew Coffeehouse (Duxbury, MA)
• South Shore Folk Music Club (Beale House, Kingston, MA)
• The Spire Center for Performing Arts (Plymouth, MA)
• Parish Center for the Arts (Westford, MA)
• Amazing Things Arts Center (Framingham, MA)
• The Center for Arts Natick (TCAN, Natick, MA)
• Sandywoods Center for the Arts (Tiverton, RI)
• Hopkinton Center for the Arts (Hopkinton, MA)
• Expresso Yourself Coffeehouse (Medfield, MA)
• Soule Homestead Summer Concert Series (Middleboro, MA)
• Belfry Inn & Tavern, (Sandwich, MA)
• Running Brook Vineyard (North Dartmouth, MA)
• Mayflower Brewery (Plymouth, MA)
• Nickel City Arts (Akron, NY)
• Trinity Church Music Series (Portland, CT)
• New Morning Songwriter Series (Woodbury, CT)
• Old Colony History Museum (Taunton, MA)
• Westport River Watershed Alliance Center (Westport, MA)
• Blackstone Valley Music (Uxbridge, MA)
• LOMA (Lincoln Public Library, Lincoln, MA)
• Holly Hill Farm (Cohasset, MA)
• Bittersweet Farm (Westport, MA)
• The Hearing Room (Lowell, MA)
• One Broadway Collaborative (Lawrence, MA)
• Somerville Armory (Somerville, MA)
• Brooklyn Coffee & Tea House (Providence, RI)
• Union Coffee Co. (Milford, NH)
• Cape Cod Winery (Falmouth, MA)
• Victoria Station Cafe (Putnam, CT)
• The Mediator Room (Providence, RI)
• AS220 Gallery (Providence, RI)
• Serendipity Cafe (Maynard, MA)
• Main Streets Market & Cafe (Concord, MA)
• Mann Farmstead (Scituate, MA)
• The Find on 6 (Johnston, RI)
• Gulu Gulu Cafe (Salem, MA)
• Second Friday Sessions Coffeehouse (Hudson, MA)
• Pub On Park (Cranston, RI)
• Fog Bar & Cafe (Rockland, ME)
• Harvest Gallery Wine Bar (Dennis, MA)
• Lakeville Arts & Music Festival feature (Lakeville, MA)
• Somethin's Brewin' Book Cafe (Lakeville, MA)
• Better Bean Coffee Company (Bridgewater, MA)
• True Grit Art Gallery (Middleboro, MA)
• Hingham Arts Walk (Hingham, MA)
• Cafe Arpeggio (New Bedford, MA)
• Rick's Music World (Raynham, MA)

Livestream Features:
• SongBreak with Linda Sussman & Josie Bello (June 2022)
• 2021 NERFA Saturday Open Mic with Kellie Lin Knott (November 2021)
• 2021 NERFA Suzie Wollenburg Folk DJ Showcase (November 2021)
• Club Passim: Tribute to Bob Dylan (May 2021)
• Vanilla Bean Café Open Mic Feature (May 2021)
• Club Passim: Tribute Night to Ellis Paul (December 2020)
• Club Passim: Tribute to Holiday Songs (December 2020)
• Club Passim Tribute Night: Songs of 2020 (December 2020)
• Club Passim Tribute Night: Songs of 2010 (November 2020)
• Serendipity Songwriter Showcase w/Dan & Faith (November 2020)

Other Selected Video and Radio:
• "The Blue Grotto" hosted by Myron Simms (CKJM FM –  Chéticamp, Nova Scotia)
• "The Song" hosted video show by Mary Wheelan (FCAT-TV)
• "An Acoustic Session" video show produced by Cathy Stacy (WCAT-TV)
• "The Old Songs Home" live radio performance hosted by Bob Weiser (WOMR)
• "The Hour 9 Lounge" live radio performance hosted by Stan Blackmur (WICN) 
• "Hudson River Sampler" radio show hosted by Wanda Adams Fisher (WAMC)
• "Free Form Folk" radio show hosted by Ken Abrams (WRIU)
• "Thursday First Light" radio show hosted by Chuck Cole (WOMR)
• "Quahog Radio" radio show hosted by Ramblin' Bob Bourque (WOMR)
• "Almost Famous" radio show hosted by John Shea (WATD)
• "The Sunday Night Folk Festival" radio show hosted by Susan Forbes Hanson (WHUS)
• "Folk Revival" radio show hosted by Nick Noble (WICN)
• "Acoustic Blender" radio show hosted by Bill Revill (WESU)
• "Radio Nowhere" radio show hosted by Joltin' Joe Pszonek
• "The Cheap Seats" radio show hosted by Cat Wilson (Ocean 104)
• "Mostly Folk" podcast, hosted by Artie Martello
• "Out Of The Woods" podcast, hosted by Jon Colcord
• "Acoustic Outpost" podcast, hosted by Dan Murphy
• "Readifolk Radio Show" podcast/stream from UK, hosted by Ian Freedman
• "Jason Titley Radio Show" radio show from UK, hosted by Jason Titley
• "The Miller Tells Her Tale" podcast from Scotland, hosted by Karen Miller

Songwriting Retreats & Workshops:
• RISA Songwriting Workshop with Joe Doyle, livestream (Mar 2021)
• RISA Songwriting Workshop with Susan Cattaneo, Providence RI (Nov 2018)
• PCA Songwriting Workshop with Tom Smith, John Schindler, and John Ferullo, Westford MA (Sept 2018)
• Cape Cod Songwriters Retreats, Provincetown MA (Jan 2014, 2015, 2016)
• Penny Nichols' Wintersongs, Olivebridge, NY (Feb 2002)
• End Construction; David Wilcox Songwriting Workshop (1990)

Active Memberships: