Biography

Philadelphia band Mason Porter has a ton of fun on stage. And that’s how it should be. It’s that positive energy that connects them with their audience every time. They play a style of American music that is unique in many ways; traveling in the borderlands of folk-rock, bluegrass and pop. They have the ability to combine the earthy, Appalachian instruments with a more edgy urban appeal. With a danceable vibe, an energetic live show and fresh approach to improvisation, Mason Porter and its growing community finds itself at home everywhere they go.
Mason Porter's brand new release, Key to the Skyway (June 2015), is their best effort yet. A soundtrack for the days where you blow off work, turn up the radio and just head out on whatever open road you can find. A collection of fun songs delivered with a lively energy and finished in a summery sheen. The album shows the evolution of Mason Porter from its folk trio roots to a bigger and more refined sound with the addition of Kevin Killen on drums and Sarah Larsen on violin. The help of guests Ben Smith on keys and Kiley Ryan on vocals completes the album perfectly.
Mason Porter’s 2014 release, Home For The Harvest, was met with great enthusiasm and helped usher in the next wave of growth for the band. The album, which drew comparisons to the Grateful Dead’s American Beauty and Neil Young’s Harvest, received significant airplay from The Coffee House channel at SiriusXM as well as national AAA and Folk DJ support. Fred Knittel of WXPN’s Folkadelphia program says: “What continues to make West Chester, PA’s Mason Porter a force to be reckoned with in the Americana and roots community, especially regionally, is the intimacy that they bring to each song. Whether it is in live performance, on record (like their latest Home For The Harvest). “ And he also notes the band’s “uncanny ability to draw the listener in and keep them close. I can only think that this magical power is the result of a strong and long-standing chemistry between the members.”
Mason Porter got its start in late 2006 informally as friends playing folk songs together at parties in West Chester, PA. The band released their debut EP Mason Porter (2008), resulting in immediate praise. Les McIntyre of Bluegrass Unlimited wrote of this inaugural recording, “The music of Mason Porter could be best described as alternative bluegrass…in this debut recording, the eclectic trio show musical prowess that is difficult to overlook.” Following up with full length CDs Thunder In The Valley (2009) and a collection of traditional folk and covers, Story Of the Rifle (2011), the band became a fixture on the regional scene. Through the process of writing, recording and constant gigging, the band developed its original sound blending folk, bluegrass, blues, country and rock influences into the unique personality that is Mason Porter.
The band consists of founding members Joe D’Amico (mandolin, guitar, vocals), Tim Celfo (upright bass, vocals), Paul Wilkinson (guitar, vocals) and is typically augmented with drums and other instrumentalist at live shows. The current lineup includes Kevin Killen (drums) and Sarah Larsen (violin).
Mason Porter has become a staple favorite on the regional festival and club circuits and is constantly pushing itself into new places and making new friends. They have shared the stage with acts such as Ralph Stanley, Greensky Bluegrass, Peter Rowan, Larry Keel, New Riders Of The Purple Sage, Charlie Daniels, Spirit Family Reunion, Carolina Chocolate Drops, David Mayfield Parade, American Babies and more.