Ryan & Brennish Thomson

Old time Country Dances in Newmarket, New Hampshire, in the late 1970’s, early 80s

by Ryan Thomson

In 1978, when The Last Chance String Band started the twice a month dance in Newmarket, New Hampshire, we didn’t have a proper sound system. I lived in Newmarket at the time and arranged for the use of the Town Hall for our dances. The town hall was only two blocks from my apartment. I cobbled together parts including an old Bogan hi fi amplifier, an electric guitar speaker cabinet, a Radio Shack mixer, and a speaker from a Sony reel to reel tape recorder. 

Here we are playing in one of our first dances in the Newmarket Town Hall. From left is Ryan Thomson fiddling, Jim Marks - guitar, Paul Mangion - banjo, and Steve Hundert standing and calling. Not seen is fellow band mate Charlie Nolan, playing guitar, hidden behind Ryan’s fiddle in the picture below.

I continued running the Newmarket dance and fiddled at every dance in the town hall until the fall of 1982 when I was hired to play in a full time Nashville band. I turned over the dance to Claire Mattin to run as she saw fit and the dances continued with other bands and musicians. 

Newmarket Town Hall dance poster

Last Chance String Band dances at the Stone Church, Newmarket

Newmarket Town Hall dance poster

Newmarket Town Hall dance

Newmarket Town Hall dance poster