(Meriden, NH) David Bromberg is returning to the Pioneer and Connecticut River Valleys for the first time in at least four years, and this time he’ll appear as a Quartet. There are two nights in the area planned by longtime Bromberg promoter, Twin Cloud Concerts. The David Bromberg Quartet will appear on Friday, April 16th at the Chapin Auditorium on the campus of Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts and on Saturday, April 17th at the Latchis Theatre in Brattleboro, Vermont. Completing the three state tour, on Sunday, April 18th they will appear at the Opera House in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Opening the show on Friday will be singer-songwriter, Felix McTeigue, who is the son of Maggie Roche of the famed “The Roches” and opening the show on Saturday will be Songwriter and noted guitarist, Brooks Williams. Both shows begin at 8:00pm. All seats are reserved and priced at $30.00 and $27.00 each.

The shows are sponsored by radio station, “93.9 The River”.

Tickets may be purchased several ways; Via the internet at www.twincloud.com or over the phone by calling 1-800-THE TICK (800-843-8425) or locally at 413-586-8686. Tickets are also available for both shows in person at “Northampton Box Office” at 150 Main Street in Northampton, Massachusetts. And tickets for the Saturday show in Brattleboro, Vermont may be purchased in person at the Front Desk of the Latchis Hotel with CASH ONLY at 80 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT.

Seeing David Bromberg in concert is a rare opportunity. He has ‘retired’ several times over the years. But the “99 percent retired” Bromberg is a legend among his still-rabid following, who maintain a thriving Internet subculture, swapping bootleg tapes of his 60’s and 70’s live gigs and chatting about where and when he might pop up next. “Hopefully there’s a clinic they can go to,” says the still acerbic Bromberg, gently chiding his fans’ tendency towards hero worship.

For those who don’t remember, Bromberg was considered a musician’s musician, a master of the guitar, banjo, mandolin, and violin, who initially had a successful career as a sought-after session and backup instrumentalist. After a short stint with a gospel singer named Brother John Sellers, Bromberg became the quintessential rock ‘n roll sideman, playing guitar for Chubby Checker and Jay and the Americans, and helping producers of canned pop rock achieve the sounds for fake bands like the Archies. “It was really stupid work - I could probably blackmail a few people,” says Bromberg of those early days.

Bromberg soon found work more worthy of his talents, backing up Jerry Jeff Walker on the classic, “Mr. Bojangles” and Bob Dylan on his seminal “Self Portrait” album. His performance of “Bullfrog Blues” at the legendary Isle of Wight Festival in 1970 sparked a decade of success as one of America’s premier folk artists. As much a comedian, verbal essayist, satirist, and philosopher as he was a musician, Bromberg performed storied live shows once characterized as “the thinking man’s foot-stomping music”.

A popular collaborator with other recording artists, Bromberg created albums that benefited from the talents of featured guests like Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Ricky Skaggs, and members of the Grateful Dead.

Bromberg’s fate as a cult hero was sealed when he quit performing and recording in 1980, upon graduation from violin-making school. He’s been collecting fine violins ever since, and has become an expert in the field to the extent that he’s put together an exhibit of his collection for the Smithsonian. According to his manager of 28 years, Gary Haber: “David has probably one of the most valuable collections of American-made violins in the world. He has established himself as a very successful dealer in fine instruments. Frankly he does better now financially than he ever did in music.”

Bromberg is happily married and raising a couple of kids in Wilmington, Delaware where, in a unique arrangement with the city, he renovated a building and created a music store, school and repair shop all under one roof. He acts as a sort of musical ambassador for the neighborhood around his storefront.

“It wasn’t so much that it was terrible,” says Bromberg of his touring days, “but it took me away from my family. And when you’re traveling between cities there’s so much unproductive time - it’s like you’re dead. People call me up and offer me money, but now I have a lot of demands: no clubs, no two-set nights - who wants to get out at 4:00am anymore ? The main thing is that I want it to be fun - for me, the musicians, the audience, everybody.”