Jack
The Almost True Story of the Molly Maguires
Hi Friends!
I hope everyone out there is enjoying St. Patrick's Day festivities this week. I want to share and endorse a book that I recently became aware of, titled, "Jack" The Almost True Story of the Molly Maguires. The author, Jaclyn Maria Fowler is originally from the anthracite coal region of east PA, and is proud of her Irish ancestry and PA coal region heritage. As a young girl her father, Jack would tell her the stories and history of the alleged "Molly Maguires". Today her book focuses on these historical accounts and John Kehoe's tragic role in the center of all of this. Her writing in this book is exquisite and she gives all the details you could ever hope to have in building a mental picture of the pages you are reading. After reading this book, I feel like I have a much more complete understanding of the events that unfolded during those years. Her writing gave me a sense of the emotions, economic conditions, and daily interactions that these folks experienced, which helped me to make the human connection and experience the historical interpretation in a more meaningful and informed way. Anyone and everyone who has interest in this uniquely American historical event needs to read this book to get an up-close and detailed perspective on the coal region folks who helped shape our great nation.
Like Jaclyn Maria, I too grew up listening to the stories my pop told me about the "Mollies". My family were coal miners in those days and they, like many struggled with alcoholism, negative health, and hard economic conditions. The Mollies were heroes to guys like my pop, because they stood up for the common man in the face of the rich and powerful. Even though pop didn't know the full history, he always wanted me to know about them and our coal mining heritage. Today, my family and our hillbillly band continues to remember and celebrate our Irish and coal mining history.
We are so honored to have this awesome copy of "Jack" signed personally and gifted to our band. Thank you Jaclyn for gifting us with your talented writing and we are truly grateful for your loyal heart to the anthracite coal regions.
March 2026 is a Loaded Month for The Coal-Fired Ramblers
Get Ready for Some Irish Bluegrass!
Hey Friends!
We are excited to share this news with you guys! We are proud to announce three performance dates at Jack Kehoe's Hibernian House in Girardville PA! These dates are:
1. 03/14/26 7pm-10pm
2. 03/17/26 6pm-9pm St. Patrick's Day
3. 03/21/26 7pm-10pm
Even if you are not from the local area, you should be aware of the major historical and tragic events that are associated with this place. This is the epicenter of the historical event that we all know as the "Alleged" Molly Maguires. Our friend Joe Wayne (the owner) is the great-grandson of "Black-Jack Kehoe" who owned and lived in this building. He was accused of being the leader of the Mollies, and was sentenced to death by hanging on the gallows at Pottsville Prison 1878. He was an Irish coal miner and a champion for better working conditions for miners. He and his fellow coal miners were up against some of the most powerful mine foremans, politicians, and coal barrons of all time, especially Frank B. Gowen. Joe Wayne and his family worked hard to clear their family name and seek exoneration for their grandfather. In 1979 the governor of PA granted Jack Kehoe the exoneration his family sought. In 1970 Sean Connery played Joe's grandfather in the award winning motion picture, "The Molly Maguires" by Paramount Pictures. Also, this event is what triggered the beginning of worker's rights in the United States of America.
This is true American History folks, and we are honored to help celebrate it with all of you right here in the coal regions. If you are looking to make an authentic connection with coal region history in March, then come on out to join us!
Hope to see you there!
Albert Music Hall
Welcome to Albert Music Hall! Since 1974, live Pinelands, Bluegrass, Country, Old Timey, Americana, and Folk music each weekend
Hi Friends!
If you are looking to take a small road trip in 2026 to the Jersey coast, then perhaps you would like to visit one of our performances at the Albert Music Hall in Waretown NJ.
Check them out:
Since 1974, the Albert Music Hall is the best place on the East Coast to Hear Live Bluegrass, Country, Folk, Americana, Old Timey & Pinelands Music every Saturday night, year 'round.
We will be performing live on the following dates in 2026:
3/7 Irish Show
7/11 Bluegrass Fest performance and workshop
10/11 Harvest Hootenanny
12/5 Bluegrass Christmas
Please check out their website for details and updates:
https://www.alberthall.org/about-us
Hope to see you soon!!
The Day OF The Rope
an original composition
Friends!
We want to send a big Thank You To Joe Wayne for being such a kind and gracious host for our band's visit to his family's historical Hibernian House in Girardville, PA. He gave us the grand tour and shared many of his pictures, documents, and stories regarding the alleged Molly McGuires and his great-grandfather's execution at the Schuylkill County Prison gallows in 1877. We got to spend the afternoon with Joe and even touch his great grandfather's prison celll door and hold his shackles in our hands. The best part of our visit today was his review and blessing of our original song titled "Day Of The Rope"! Awesome!!
Thank you so much Joe and this means so much for our band! We are looking forward to returning St. Patrick's Day weekend!
Series of new YouTube videos
Please check them out!!!
Hi Friends! The Coal-Fired Ramblers have been planning to perform a series of videos to showcase both our older and newer songs. Please be sure to navigate to the YouTube videos section of this website to check them out!
Thank you for listening!
SI Recording Studios
11/30/24
We were very happy to return to SI Recording Studio on 11/30/24 to record a few originals that we have created over the past year. We also worked on a special collaboration recording project with our great music friends 'The New Black Sage Project". We are excited to release these songs in January 2025!
The Coal-Fired Ramblers Live in the WDVR FM Radio Studio
07/27/24 at 5pm with "Live From The Blacksmith Shop"
Hi Fans, Friends, and Family!
Things just keep getting better for The Coal Fired Ramblers! After celebrating the broadcast of two of our songs on the radio, we got invited to the WDVR FM studio in New Jersey to perform LIVE in the studio! Our live performance will be broadcast this Saturday (07/27/24 ) starting at 5pm. We are performing on a program called "Live From The Blacksmith Shop". We will have a chance to talk about our music and our direction. We are so honored for this opportunity
Please Check out the following link to access the archive for our live performance from 07/27/24 on "Live From The Blacksmith Shop" to hear us!
Thank you to everyone that supports and encourages us and please support WDVR FM Radio!!!
Listen to The Coal-Fired Ramblers on Bluegrass Horizon!
recordings and live performance from the WDVR FM Studio
Hi Friends!
Please tune into the Bluegrass Horizon Broadcast on WDVR FM radio every Monday from 7pm-10pm for a chance to hear our songs. You can still hear our songs from the 07/22/24 and 07/29/24 broadcasts by clicking on the following link:
Please show your appreciation to this broadcast by supporting WDVR FM Radio.
Thank you friends!
2024 AFBA Bluegrass Festival
Our band's first major festival!
Thank you to the AFBA for giving our band a chance to perform at the 2014 AFBA Bluegrass Festival! This was our first major festival and we had a blast on this awesome stage!!! We hope to have the opportunity to return in 2025!