After a successful debut in Boston over Memorial Day Weekend, Grand Rapids singer/songwriter Ralston will be returning for the Labor Day edition of Club Passim's Cutting Edge of the Campfire where for more than 40 years it has been a vital cornerstone in the arts community of New England, fostering both performers and audiences alike. The place to play in the 60's as a folk musician; being even more influential than clubs in New York and Berkeley.Club Passim still remains today the premier club to play in New England. Located just off Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts next to chef Didi Emmon's restaurant Veggie Planet. And it was here that a friend of then unknown 17-year-old Joan Baez rented the club out just to get her on stage. Baez quickly built a worshipful following and became a regular feature. Here, she introduced Bob Dylan who played between acts. This past Memorial Day Weekend was the 6th annual Cutting Edge of the Campfire Festival where Grand Rapids singer songwriter Ralston was selected to be among 100 new and established artists to perform.
Featured in songwriting sets with with Chicago's Al Rose , NYC's Frank Tedesso and Joe Brack , Boston's Lloyd Thayer and Chicago's Chris Mills , Ralston performed sets Saturday and Sunday. He also hit the street to explore the city's busking scene taking in open mic's including Central Square's. Cantab Lounge.
Many now well-known musicians cut their teeth here including Tom Rush, Peter Wolf, Taj Mahal, Judy Collins, Suzanne Vega, Nanci Griffith, and Shawn Colvin. Many such musicians keep in touch with Club Passim and some return for Celebrity Series benefit concerts.