2026:  Back to Touring

Between the pandemic, the loss of venues, back surgery and the move to Floyd, Virginia in 2025, my calendar has been pretty empty.

I am intent on getting out on the road again, knowing in my soul that I am happier and more useful performing, than doing anything else.

I’m available for teaching concerts in schools, public concert series, coffeehouses, house concerts, guitar workshops, music camps and the like.  Please reach out and we’ll see if we can make a visit happen.

At this time in my life, making a difference is at least as important as making money. Respect, goodwill, and friendship have become revolutionary acts in our country. Join me in extending those!

Events

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  • Common House Concerts-Belfast, Maine

    Common House Concerts Belfast, ME, United States

    We're making new friends in Maine each time we go. Such fine folks! Please pass the word about this October […]

  • NYC-Lower East Side House Concert

    Lissas in Manhattan actual address provided when you RSVP, Manhattan, NY, United States

    On the evening of Friday, October 18, Scott Ainslie will present an unamplified house concert of acoustic blues and original […]

  • Floyd Radio Show

    Floyd Country Store 206 SOUTH LOCUST STREET, Floyd, VA, United States

    Scott will be a featured artist on this monthly radio show - broadcast live from the Floyd Country Store, in Floyd, VA.

     Listen live at 7:30

  • Big Porch House Concert, Durham NC

    Big Porch House Concerts NC, United States

    Coming back to my old haunt in Durham NC for a relaxed Sunday afternoon concert in early November: a perfect […]

  • Albemarle NC Schools

    Albemarle NC Albemarle, NC, United States

    I'm happy to be bringing my teaching concerts back to Albemarle, NC for Monday and Tuesday, November 4-5. These are […]

  • Blue Tavern, Tallahassee FL

    Blue Tavern 1206 N. Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL, United States

    I'm happy to be returning to this little Tallahassee stand-by. Carrie Hamby and her crew always make us welcome. Come […]

  • Concert, Clearwater, FL

    Unity of Clearwater 2465 Nursery Rd, Clearwater, FL, United States

    We'll be back at Unity of Clearwater for Sunday service on November 10, and a concert on Monday November 11.

  • Seminole FL – Private House Concert

    Private Home Seminole, FL, United States

    Our hosts are inviting ever-expanding circles of their closest friends. If there remain seats unclaimed, we'll post contact information here. […]

  • Guitar Workshop: The Music of Mississippi John Hurt

    Seminole, FL actual address provided when you rsvp., Seminole, FL, United States

    A guitar student from Swannanoa has offered to host a guitar workshop at his house in Seminole, FL Limited to […]

    $35

  • Blues Concert at Timucua, Orlando, FL

    Timucua 2000 South Summerlin, Orlando, FL, United States

    A concert in a wonderful-looking and sounding venue:  Timucua.

    Doors open at 7:00
    Introductions at 7:30

    Music (live-cast) starts at 7:38!

    Not in Florida?  You can watch from anywhere!  www.youtube.com/TimucuaArts   7:38 E.S.T.

  • Unity Eastside, Tallahassee FL

    Unity Eastside 8551 Buck Lake Road, Tallahassee, FL, United States

    My musical brother Darryl Steele has paved the way for me to join him and the musical director Vicki Herlovich […]

  • Music on Malphrus, Bluffton SC

    Music On Malphrus 110 Malphrus Road, Bluffton, SC, United States

    Music On Malphrus is a concert series hosted by the UU Congregation of the Low Country in Bluffton SC. Doors […]

  • Charleston House Concert

    River House Concerts actual address provided when you rsvp., Charleston, SC, United States

    A first time house concert with a friend. R.S.V.P.  lorna.songs@gmail.com -- She'll send you the actual address / directions. Pot […]

  • “Beat The Black Friday Blues” in Floyd, VA

    Hotel Floyd 300 Rick Lewis Way, Floyd, VA, United States

    Got the Black Friday Blues? Come to Floyd, Virginia on Saturday for a day of Blues Guitar Workshops and an evening concert. Stay over at the venue Hotel Floyd at a special discounted room rate.

    $15 – $20

  • Private House Concert, Peterborough NH

    Private House Concert Greensboro, NC, United States

    Our hosts assure us that their email list will fill all the available chairs, and they've asked us only to […]

  • The National Music Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

    National Music Centre 850 4th Street SE, Calgary, ALBERTA, Canada

    An early afternoon educational concert sponsored by Scotia Bank at Studio Bell in The National Music Centre on the African […]

  • Acoustic Blues/Slide Guitar Workshop: Berryville VA

    The Barns of Rose Hill 95 Chalmers Ct, Berryville, VA, United States

    The Barns of Rosehill will be the site for this hands-on workshop for acoustic guitarists on the roots and branches […]

  • The Barns of Rosehill, Berryville VA

    The Barns of Rose Hill 95 Chalmers Ct, Berryville, VA, United States

    ALERT!!! TIME CHANGE!!! Doors open at 7:00; music at 8:00; an open session following the concert for those who'd like […]

  • Cathedral of Light

    Cathedral of Light 2570 Valley View Lane, Farmers Branch, TX, United States

    Sunday morning service at 10:30 Afternoon concert

  • Common Ground On The Border 2020, Sahuarita AZ

    Good Shepherd United Church of Christ 17750 S. La Cañada Drive, Sahuarita, AZ, United States

    The Good Shepherd United Church of Christ of Sahuarita, Arizona and Common Ground On The Hill in Westminster, Maryland cooperate […]

  • Harmony Playground House Concerts, Poway CA

    Harmony Playground Poway, CA, United States

    One of the great things about the traveling life is making new friends, sometimes dozens of them at a time! […]

  • Whittier CA with Reggie Harris

    Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts Whittier College, 13406 E. Philadelphia Street, Whittier, CA, United States

    I'm happy to be returning to the scene of my double-bill performance with the august David Lindley (the Ruth B. […]

  • Harmony Center for Spiritual Living – afternoon Concert

    Harmony Center for Spritual Living 12907 E. Bailey St., Whittier, CA, United States

    No, Scott is not singing harmony with himself -- Harmony is the name of the place! Church service and Sunday […]

  • Santa Fe House Concert

    Phil's Studio Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, NM, NM, United States

    On Saturday, February 22nd, I'll be playing a rare date in Santa Fe, NM. Please alert your friends there to […]

  • Studio Bell, The National Music Centre, Calgary Canada

    National Music Centre 850 4th Street SE, Calgary, ALBERTA, Canada

    I'll be presenting an early afternoon teaching concert on the African roots of American Music at the National Music Centre […]

  • Calgary House Concerts, Calgary Canada

    Calgary House Concerts Calgary, ALBERTA, Canada

    Dave Donovan will be hosting us for a house concert at 4:00 p.m. A couple sets, a nice break between […]

  • University of Colorado-Denver, General Recital

    University of Colorado Denver, CO, United States

    Todd Reid and Sean McGowan have invited me back to address their students on Friday, the 13th of March. This […]

  • POSTPONED-First Congregational Church of Terre Haute

    First Congregational Church of Terre Haute 630 Ohio Street, Terre Haute, IN, United States

    We met pastor Kathi Elliott at Common Ground on the Border in January and are please to say that we'll […]

  • POSTPONED – The Cary Theater, Cary NC

    The Cary Theater 122 E. CHATHAM ST., Cary, NC, United States

    THIS EVENT WILL BE RESCHEDULED - DATE TBD My old friend and stalwart acoustic music promoter David Sardinha is hosting […]

  • POSTPONED-The Singer & The Song-WUMB Weekend

    Grotonwood Camp & Conf. Center 167 Prescott St., Groton, MA, United States

    This weekend featuring eight of the Summer Acoustic Music Week regulars is focused on the issues that singers and songwriters […]

  • POSTPONED: Marlboro VT House Concert

    Private Home Marlboro, VT, United States

    We hope to be able to reschedule this -- some time! Megan Littlehales has been hosting events in an old […]

  • POSTPONED – Lizzie Rose Music Room, Tuckerton NJ

    Lizzie Rose Music Room 217 East Main Street (Rt. 9), Tuckerton, NJ, United States

    THIS HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 20, 2020. This non-profit music presenting organization was established in 2014 to bring fine […]

  • POSTPONED-Focus, Sterling VA

    Community Lutheran Church of Sterling 21014 Whitfield Pl., Sterling, VA, United States

    I'm happy to be returning to northern Virginia to play for these good people on Saturday, May 16th.

  • ONLINE LIVE-STREAM, co-sponsored with RiverVibes Concerts and The Cooperage Project

    YOUR LIVING ROOM...

    Scott's ONLINE Streaming concert will be a 4:00 pm EDT Sunday afternoon, in hopes of making it easier for our friends in the U.K. and Europe,  where it will be 9:00 pm.  For west-coast friends, it will be 1:00 p.m.

    Please bookmark and check the page at https://cattailmusic.com/live/ for the updated info and FaceBook event link.

  • Kent County High School, Chestertown MD

    Kent County High School 25301 Lambs Meadow Rd, Worton, MD, United States

    As outreach hosted by our friends at Sumner Hall in Chestertown MD, I'll be presenting a teaching concert on the […]

  • Sumner Hall, Chestertown MD

    Sumner Hall 206 S. Queen Street, Chestertown, MD, United States

    Tom McHugh has been tasked with booking a series of community concerts in one of only two existing African-American Grand […]

  • Carroll Cafe, Takoma-Washington DC

    Seekers Church 276 Carroll St. NW, Washington, DC, United States

    This cafe has been bringing great acoustic music into its beautiful upstairs room for years. I'm happy to be returning […]

  • CANCELLED for 2020: Old Songs, Altamont NY

    Old Songs Festival 100 Main St., Altamont, NY, United States

    This august festival has passed from the hands of Andy Spence to Joy Bennett and I am, as ever, delighted […]

  • Searsmont, Maine Library Concert

    Searsmont Town Library 37 Main Street South, Searsmont, ME, United States

    We met Steven Brown, the library director, when Scott played in Belfast last fall. He heard the radio show Scott […]

  • ONLINE TEACHING for the REVISED Summer Songs, Stony Point NY

    Stony Point Center 17 Cricketown Rd., Stony Point, NY, United States

    I was looking forward to joining the staff at Summer Songs again, after an absence of many years.

    Instead I’ll be doing two ONLINE WORKSHOPS.

    More details will be added here!

  • CANCELLED for 2020: Swannanoa Gathering-Guitar Week

    Warren Wilson College 701 Warren Wilson Rd, Swannanoa, NC, United States

    As fine a gathering of musicians as one might hope for, instructors and students/participants at the Gathering have carefully honed […]

  • Guitar Week Swannanoa

    Warren Wilson College 701 Warren Wilson Rd, Swannanoa, NC, United States

    Scott recorded instruction for his Mississippi John Hurt class that would have been this week at Swannanoa. See guitarweek page […]

  • Focus Music Live Stream Concert

    Washington's Mount Vernon Mount Vernon, VA, United States

    For and with our friends at Focus Music in Northern Virginia:    On an internet device near you! https://focusmusic.org/event-3912162

  • CANCELED-TradMad, Pinewoods Camp, Plymouth MA

    Pinewoods Camp 148 Halfway Pond Road, Plymouth, MA, United States

    Think of a week at camp: cabins, a clear swimmable lake, but add in phenomenal music and food that will […]

  • Scott Ainslie at Isis Lounge, Asheville, NC

    Isis Restaurant & Music Hall 743 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC, United States

    This is the date rescheduled from April, 2020. I’m happy to be returning to Isis, a club named for the […]

  • Rescheduled – Lizzie Rose Music Room, Tuckerton, NJ

    Lizzie Rose Music Room 217 East Main Street (Rt. 9), Tuckerton, NJ, United States

    THIS HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FROM APRIL 2020 This non-profit music presenting organization was established in 2014 to bring fine live […]

  • WUMB Virtual Blues Music Camp

    Internet Device , United States

    I'll be teaching three classes via ZOOM and participating in a staff concert on Saturday evening at 8:00 pm with Phil Wiggins and Miss Tess.

    Understanding Open Tunings  1 and 2. (10:00 am, Saturday and Sunday)

    and

    Slide Guitar, Essential Techniques (2:00 pm Saturday)

    For more information:  wumb.org

  • Live in person at Caffe Lena (and also livestreaming)

    Caffe Lena 47 Phila Street / P.O. Box 245 , Saratoga Springs, NY, United States

    I'll be playing in the same room with a live audience for the first time since March 2020. Seating will […]

  • On Zoom: Lessons From A White Blues Singer – Golden Link Vocal Workshop

    On Line Rochester, NY, United States

    He calls this 'lessons from a white blues singer,' and that is exactly what it is. What techniques make black singing and speaking styles so compelling? How do we trigger the emotion of an audience when we sing? Can this be learned? Ainslie says, "Yes."

  • Millwood Guitar Camp – private

    Millwood Blues Week Millwood, VA, United States

    In person instruction (no streaming) for this private guitar camp.

  • Swannanoa Guitar Week Online

    Internet Device , United States

    Streaming Instruction in real time - See SG Online for details on the programs, schedule, and registration. My classes are: […]

  • ISIS – Asheville, NC

    Isis Restaurant & Music Hall 743 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC, United States

    Happy to be back in Asheville, NC.

  • Outdoor concert for the Searsmont, ME Town Library

    Searsmont Town Library 37 Main Street South, Searsmont, ME, United States

    We met Steven Brown when we were in Maine a few years back, and had to cancel a concert last […]

  • TradMaD Camp 2021 – Plymouth, MA

    Pinewoods Camp 148 Halfway Pond Road, Plymouth, MA, United States

    We're on the books for Pinewoods Camp in Plymouth, MA, but are awaiting decicisions re: Covid.

  • Blues, Bourbon & Barbecue: A Benefit for Family Promise

    Crystal Lake Barn, Bluffton SC Flat Water Road, Bluffton, SC, United States

          Blues, Bourbon, & Barbecue: A Benefit Family Promise of Beaufort County Crystal Lake Barn, Hampton Lake Bluffton […]

  • UU Church Concert: Music on Malphrus, Bluffton SC

    Music On Malphrus 110 Malphrus Road, Bluffton, SC, United States

            October 7, 2022 7:00 p.m. Music on Malphrus RETURNS Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Low Country […]

  • Cleveland Heights OH House Concert

    Stephen & Evie Morris 3033 Edgehill Road, Cleveland Heights, OH, United States

    My friend, harmonica player David Krauss has graciously arranged a house concert at the home of his friends Stephen & […]

  • The Wild Fern

    The Wild Fern 1703 VT Rte. 100 N. spreadintheluv@gmail.com, Stockbridge, VT, United States

    Heather Lynne & Rick Redington established this charming Stockbridge VT venue, playing for tips on the weekends. When the pandemic […]

  • Summer Acoustic Music Week

    Geneva Point Center 108 Geneva Point Rd., , Moultonborough, NH , NH, United States

    I'll be teaching Blues Singing Techniques for Non-Blues Singers, and a course on Slide Guitar in Standard and Open Tunings. […]

  • Trad Mad 2023

    Pinewoods Camp 148 Halfway Pond Road, Plymouth, MA, United States

    More info:  http://www.tradmadcamp.org/

  • Sunapee Coffeehouse

    Sunapee Coffeehouse 9 Lower Main Street, Sunapee, NH, United States

    This is a lovely, community-oriented acoustic music series. The Venue, an old church, opens at 6:00. Music 7:00-9:00. Refreshments on […]

  • Old Songs Concert

    Old Songs Community Arts Center 37 Main Street, Voorheesville, NY, United States

    Old friends and Old Songs will be on display on Saturday, November 11th at the Old Songs Community Arts Center […]

  • Paw Paw WV House Concert

    Private House Concert, Paw Paw, WV Paw Paw, WV, United States

    Join us early Friday evening for a 6:00 p.m. BYO snacks and drinks to share house concert in Paw Paw, […]

    $15 – $20

  • Newton, Massachusetts House Concert

    This private event is by invitation only. House Concert Sunday, April 14, 2024 2:00 PM Newton, MA To receive an […]

  • Newton MA House Concert

    This is a private Sunday afternoon house concert. You are welcome to join us by requesting an invitation. Scott Ainslie […]

  • Newton MA-House Concert

    By invitation only: Sunday Afternoon House Concert April 14, 2024 2:00 PM Newton, MA To receive an invitation, please send your […]

  • House Concert in Greenville, SC

    Greenville, SC Private Home

    Though private events, house concerts have become increasingly important to touring musicians. They feature a built-in audience of friends of […]

  • Scott Ainslie: The Balsam Inn, Balsam, NC

    The Balsam Mountain Inn 68 Seven Springs Dr,, Balsam, NC, United States

    Enjoy an evening of live music presented by historian, storyteller, and musician Scott Ainslie in the historical dining room at […]

  • A Second House Concert, Greenville SC

    Greenville, SC Private Home

    Though private events, house concerts have become increasingly important to touring musicians. They feature a built-in audience of friends of […]

  • Music for Dessert Concerts, Purcellville VA

    Franklin Park Performing and Visual Arts Center 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville, VA, United States

    This lovely concert series, based in a renovated barn (with a silo!) in Franklin Park features performers who engage their […]

  • 10th Annual Artisan Guitar Show-Harrisburg PA

    Artisan Guitar Show Best Western Central, Harrisburg, PA, United States

    John and Denise Detrick are the hosts and organizers of this remarkable gathering of artisanal guitar builders and vendors. I'll […]

  • Pine Grove Hall Guitar Workshop, Pine Grove Mills, PA

    Pine Grove Hall 101 E. Pine Grove Road, Pine Grove Mills, PA, United States

    At 3:00 in the afternoon, I'll be offering a two-hour participatory workshop (guitars in hands), Demystifying Open Tunings, on the […]

  • Pine Grove Hall Concerts, Pine Grove Mills, PA

    Pine Grove Hall 101 E. Pine Grove Road, Pine Grove Mills, PA, United States

    At 3:00 in the afternoon, I'll be offering a two-hour participatory workshop (guitars in hands), Demystifying Open Tunings, on the […]

  • New Town Festival Gospel Sing

    St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall 203 Gilbert Street, Blacksburg, United States

    After I sang Sam Cooke's Change Gonna Come at the local Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday celebration at the invitation of […]

  • Mile Post Music on the Blue Ridge Parkway

    Mabry Mill 266 Mabry Mill Road SE, Meadows of Dan, VA, United States

    This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the founding of Music on the Blue Ridge, a series of free and […]

  • EuroBlues Week, Northampton, England

    University of Northampton Northampton, United Kingdom

    This will be my third time teaching and playing at this residency Blues camp in Northampton, England. I'll be joining […]

  • TradMad (Traditional Music And Dance) 2026

    Pinewoods Camp 148 Halfway Pond Road, Plymouth, MA, United States

    TradMad (Traditional Music And Dance) week comes near the end of the season for Pinewoods in Plymouth, MA. It features […]

  • TradMad-Pinewoods Week

    Pinewoods Camp 148 Halfway Pond Road, Plymouth, MA, United States

    TradMad (Traditional Music And Dance) week comes near the end of the season for Pinewoods in Plymouth, MA. It features […]