Meet the Co-Founders

Since 2010, co-founders Mark Mandeville & Raianne Richards have organized an annual non-profit bipedal concert tour of Massachusetts in support of arts and culture for towns throughout the state.

Both artists are products of central Massachusetts mill and factory towns, and for all their national exposure as performing songwriters, they are passionately dedicated to the region and what it has to offer. Each summer for the past nine years they have organized the “Massachusetts Walking Tour” where they hike the roads and trails of the Commonwealth, more than 100 miles in less than two weeks, in support of the arts in local communities along the way. Each evening they stop over in yet another Massachusetts town, putting on a free concert there, along with local performers and fellow artists who accompany them on their journey. These annual two-week treks also raise awareness of the trails and greenways in Massachusetts, using music to make important connections.

Since 2013 Mark and Raianne have been joined by faithful companions Hoot and Holler . Hoot and Holler are the sum of two parts: guitarist Mark Kilianski and fiddler Amy Alvey. Each are songwriters dedicated to honing their craft, both equally influenced by wordsmiths like Gillian Welch and Townes Van Zandt as they are to authentic mountain musicians like Roscoe Holcomb and Ola Belle Reed. After spending the better part of 2016 living in a camper van while playing shows across the country, they now call Asheville, North Carolina their home. Order a copy of their newest CD Reasons to Run.

Since 2013, the Massachusetts Walking Tour has been assisted by the Director of Conservation Strategies at Appalachian Mountain Club, Kristen Sykes. While providing logistical and promotional support, Kristen has accompanied the troupe annually, performing at the concerts, singing and playing ukulele.

Newest member of the troupe Vito Caccavelli, recent graduate from Uxbridge High School, is an integral member of the Blackstone Valley Music Rock Band Camp Program, facilitating student ensembles as well as performing as a musician in his community.