Dinty Child & Mark Erelli

About this event

Legendary Boston-based songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Dinty Child and Mark Erelli bring their duo to the stage for a collaborative show featuring live renditions from their catalogue of co-written songs.

The show blends Erelli’s acclaimed singer-songwriter sensibility with the raucous, inventive musicianship Child has honed as a founding member of the renowned band Session Americana and the Chandler Travis Philharmonic. As in-demand individual artists, it’s difficult to get their schedules to align, so these performances offer a rare, up-close look at one of Boston’s most creative musical partnerships.

Their songs explore shared humanity with humor, warmth, and a sense of spiritual curiosity, resulting in a blend of introspection and playfulness that reflects both artists’ unique styles. “It’s not really a ‘show’ at all, per se,” Erelli admits. “It’s more like getting to eavesdrop on two friends sitting knee to knee, swapping stories, instruments, melodies, and harmonies.”

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.

A multi instrumental long time member of the Boston roots scene mafia, Dinty Child can most often be seen with local legends Session Americana, but also as a member of the Sun Ra meets Ringling Brothers caravan of the Chandler Travis Philharmonic, as part of the unapologetically loud and grimy Catbirds, as a sensitive sideman to folks like Rose Cousins and Kris Delmhorst, and even as frontman and ringmaster of the twenty piece Funky White Honkies.

Mark Erelli is a critically acclaimed American singer-songwriter and guitarist known for his distinctive blend of rock, folk, and Americana. His music is known for its lyrical depth and intricate instrumentation, drawing influence from classic rock icons.

Highlights from Erelli’s career include 14 solo albums; three records with his bluegrass band Barnstar!; sideman stints accompanying Marc Cohn, Paula Cole, and Josh Ritter; and a pair of records he produced for GRAMMY-winning songwriter Lori McKenna.

In the summer of 2020, he faced a profound personal challenge when he was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a degenerative eye disease, after a two decade-long career. This diagnosis raised questions about how his diminishing eyesight might affect his songwriting and creative insight. These concerns and his quest for creative expression are central themes in his newest studio album, Lay Your Darkness Down. In 2025, Mark released his first live album, Live in Rockport, backed by a string quintet playing songs from across his catalogue. Mark’s music has been praised in Rolling Stone, Associated Press, NPR, The Boston Globe, and many other notable outlets. Folk Alley encourages people to “listen close; there’s sure to be something in there to break your heart a split second before it leads you straight to grace.” Whether he’s wielding a pen or a Telecaster, Mark Erelli’s music welcomes the casual listener, and richly rewards those who choose to dig deeper.