Pat Wictor

This is an in-progress presentation of the next project I'm working on, tentatively titled "Seneca's Blues: Getting Through the Day and Becoming Resilient." It'll eventually be a book and CD.

The blues is stoic music, and Seneca's Stoic philosophy has a lot in common with the blues. Both start with accepting the world as it is, not how we wish it to be. Both re-frame and shift our perspective so that we can better handle life as it is ("I'm sittin' on top of the world."). Both acknowledge suffering and seek transcendence, in the small daily ways we can achieve it, to live more fully, even joyously, without denying our suffering and obstacles.

This presentation is in-person, free and open to the public, and live-streamed online.

Join Zoom Meeting https://queenslib.org/4vwwXqU

Meeting ID: 845 4333 7156 Passcode: 501467

Tickets $15 / $25 premier seating

A multi-artist show in tribute to the music of Phil Ochs, who left this world 50 years ago.

The lineup includes myself, Reggie Harris, Fee Doyle, Peaceknicks, Zoe Firn, Small Chucks, and Christian Rutledge.

All proceeds benefit the New York Immigration Coalition.  https://www.nyic.org/

An evening celebrating the songs of Phil Ochs, which have only gained relevance in our current times. A collaborative evening with the three of us.  We love singing and playing together, as we've done for decades. We'll sing a few originals too..

My 4th time at this lovely musical gathering in Northern Virginia. This year, it's in-person AND streaming!

It's run like a big house concert - to attend, reach out to them here, for reservations, directions, and more info: https://mountvillefolk.org/contact

Donations welcome. If you can't make it, make a small donation and watch it streaming!

My set will be at 8:00pm on Saturday night, but the Festival starts Friday at 6pm and again on Saturday at 3pm. Lots of live music - full schedule below.

Friday:
6pm - The Waychangers* (Loudoun Co. VA) - Longtime Mountville favorites Les & Stephanie Thompson join forces with Martin Fair and Jeff Edgin for a lively set of acoustic Americana.
7pm - Cowpoke* (Leesburg VA) - eclectic trio of guitar, saxophones and drums crafts a catchy original Americana, folk and roots blend
8pm - Spice Cake (College Park/Riverdale MD) - Yaya Patterson and Miles Spicer drop jaws with their eclectic blues, 20s & 30s songs and storytelling, and bring a new album in 2026
9pm - Songwriters-in-the-Round featuring Michelle Swan* (Fairfax VA), Rachel May* (Baltimore MD) and host Lisa Taylor

Saturday:

1pm - SYCAMORE SONG CIRCLE beneath the big tree by the creek hosted by Lynn Hollyfield
3pm - Wayne Snow* (Charles Town WV) - alternative/indie singer-songwriter, guitarist and creative force behind Howling at the Earth
4pm - Rachel May Trio* (Baltimore MD) - vulnerable, cheeky, and mystical rootsy soul-folk singer/songwriter
5pm - Kipyn (Kai) Martin (Sykesville MD) - highly acclaimed non-binary singer/songwriter and Shenandoah native, also known for their Joan & Joni shows
6pm - Jesse Ruben* (Atlanta GA) - lyrical singer/songwriter and founder of We Can Project. Sponsored by Focus Music
7pm - Big Howdy* (Silver Spring MD) - all-star progressive bluegrass quartet featuring longtime Mountville favorite Randy Barrett along with Dede Wyland, Tom McLaughlin and Ira Gitlin
8pm - Pat Wictor (Brooklyn NY) - fan favorite singer/songwriter & slide guitarist honors and extends rural blues & gospel traditions
9pm - Andrew McKnight & Beyond Borders (Loudoun Co. VA) - our host band turns their closing set into a party!

Kaleidoscope is Deborah Latz, Jesse Goldman, Jeannette Miller, and Pat Wictor. We create playful and beautiful improvised a cappella vocal music.

We'll be leading Circlesinging - conducted choral vocal improv - at Make Music NY.  If you can carry a tune and want to sing together, you're invited!

Venue, location and time TBA - mark the calendar and stay tuned!

Traditional Song Week celebrates the power and diversity of community singing.

I'll be teaching two classes that come from two of my musical passions: "Play Your Guitar Like an Orchestra," and "Small-Group Vocal Improvisation - Go New Places!"

I'll be part of a distinguished cast of instructors: Susan Pepper (balladry), Kathy Bullock (gospel choir and abolitionist songs), Chris Koldewey (sea chanties), Josh Goforth (shape-note singing and music theory), Sara Grey (ballad interpretation), Joe Newberry (song styles and accompaniment), Zoe Mulford (community singing and songwriting), Sally Rogers (songs of Jean Ritchie), Howie Bursen (banjo and guitar songs), Claudia Schmidt (vocal wellness and harmony), Cara Valenti (vocal warm-ups and technique), and myself.

A 9-day tour to Ireland with concerts by me and my wonderful friend Judy Kass, as well as pub sessions with Irish music. We'll travel to southwestern Ireland, counties Cork, Kerry, and Clare, sightseeing during the day and enjoying music at night.