Geraldine

GOOD TIME OLD TIME

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Big news!! 🌊 We’re headed to @annapolisbaygrassfe

Big news!! 🌊 We’re headed to @annapolisbaygrassfestival this September again, as House Band!
Stoked to be a part of this iconic annual beachfront festival in Maryland.

📍 Sandy Point State Park • Annapolis, MD
🗓️Sept 19 & 20, 2026
🦀 www.baygrassfestival.com #2026AnnapolisBaygrass #AnnapolisBaygrassFestival

Calling all ale enthusiasts, hop heads, beer guzzl

Calling all ale enthusiasts, hop heads, beer guzzlers, and lager lovers! We are taking residence in our two favorite breweries this weekend. Pherm Brewing Saturday 2/21 7-10 and Pickett Brewing Sunday 2/22 1-4. Gonna be a party! Link to tickets for Pherm show in bio. #brewery #brewerytour #bluegrass

Silly Things (The Cryptid Song) I’ve had some fo

Silly Things (The Cryptid Song)

I’ve had some folks ask for recorded versions of some of the 31 Days songs. Thank you!

Not sure if this one will be a Geraldine song or not, but it seems to resonate with folks. People like cryptids… Who knew!?

#cryptids #songwriting #songwriter #mothman #bigfoot

Kai Knorr Bass Solo on Chicken TV - 01/05/26 Kai

Kai Knorr Bass Solo on Chicken TV - 01/05/26

Kai Knorr tames the wild rooster when Cory threw him a bass solo on ‘Chicken TV’ last Saturday at the Chesapeake Winter Bluegrass Festival. Then Josh jumps in and fiddles to the flock! Check out the full video on our You Tube Channel. Chicken TV - https://youtu.be/iXhZBxHaTAY #bass #basssolo #chickens #bluegrass

We had such a good time at the 2026 Chesapeake Win

We had such a good time at the 2026 Chesapeake Winter Bluegrass Festival! What an honor to share the stage with such talented folks and be a part of such a vibrant bluegrass scene!

Between our two main stage sets and John’s solo set with Mason Via and Seth Mitchell, we performed more than 20 original songs on Saturday. 🤘

This was our one cover song from the weekend. It is a favorite of ours - Tim O’brien’s, “You Were On My Mind This Morning,” led by Cory Chubb.

Check out the full video on You Tube. #TimObrien #Bluegrass #songwriter

https://youtu.be/6eUkCDRAmQw

Thank you Chesapeake Winter Bluegrass Festival! Wh

Thank you Chesapeake Winter Bluegrass Festival! What a Grand Old Time! 🪕 ❄️ 🎻

Next weekend! Geraldine will be playing two sets,

Next weekend! Geraldine will be playing two sets, John will be playing a songwriting round with Mason Via from Old Crow Medicine Show and Seth Mitchell, and John will also be running a songwriting workshop. Let’s do this! #festival #bluegrass

January 30 – 31 – Chesapeake Winter Bluegrass Fest

January 30 – 31 – Chesapeake Winter Bluegrass Festival – Annapolis, MD

February 21 – Pherm Brewing – Gambrills, MD

February 22 – Pickett Brewing – Baltimore, MD

Pinhole Camera Photo by @olewhippoorwill

January 30- February 1 Annapolis, MD https://wi

January 30- February 1

Annapolis, MD

https://winterbluegrass.com Geraldine will play two shows, John will be teaching a songwriting workshop and also performing a songwriters in the round with Mason Via on Saturday. See you there!!

Bluegrass Unlimited - January 2026 - On The Fringe

Bluegrass Unlimited - January 2026 - On The Fringe

There are several notable milestones you achieve when learning an instrument and writing songs - finally nailing the dreaded F chord when you are first learning guitar, taming that tricky up/down guitar picking pattern, getting your ‘bum-ditty’ to sound rhythmically cohesive on banjo, crafting your first complete song, performing in front of people for the first time, being paid for a gig, having someone request a song that you wrote, getting a genuine encore at a show, hearing your music on the radio… just to name a few. There are a myriad of other highlights we all hold onto to keep us going when you have a dud of a show, forget a lyric, or hit a wrong note.

To help with those lows, I have a special list on my computer that I have kept with me since 2001 titled ‘confidence’. It is a laundry list of some of these achievements and kind words people have shared with me about my songs or Geraldine over the years. Today is a special feather in that proverbial cap and an exclamation mark in bold font black sharpie on my Confidence List - seeing my band’s name in print in Bluegrass Unlimited, the a magazine that has inspired me and kept me aiming higher, digging deeper, practicing longer, and singing louder since I first found a used copy at Bill’s Music Shop and Picking Parlor in Columbia South Carolina in the winter of 1998.

This is for all the amazing musicians and friends I’ve been fortunate enough to surround myself with over the years who made Geraldine what it is today. A much too short list of gratitude - Josh Anderson, Jonathan Vocke, Jocelyn Haversat, Noah Bowman, Ben Lassiter, Sarah Larsen, Cory Chubb, Kai Knorr, Joe Wall, Cathy Ferguson, McIver Law, Jeff Reddekopp, Arty Hill, Caleb Stine, Charlie Cole, Michael Buccino, and Nick Sjostrom.

Kudos to Tim Newby for so eloquently capturing the spirit of this band and getting what we are about.

I’d like to give a very special shout out to my father, Dennis Bolten, who taught me my first chord and whose support been steadfast on this journey. Dad, it’s a great read, yet so hard to turn the page…

https://bluegrassunlimited.com #bluegrassunlimited

Real Talk - Chesapeake Winter Bluegrass was our fa

Real Talk - Chesapeake Winter Bluegrass was our favorite hang last year. It was my first hotel-based festival and my oh my, what a gooood time.

We couldn’t be more excited to spend the weekend jamming and rubbing elbows with the all the amazing pickers in the bluegrass scene and the heavy hitters of Bluegrass on Jan 30 - Feb 1! 🪕❄️ 🎻

Heads up! I’ll be teaching the songwriting workshop as well. Let’s dig in and write a hit together!

Day Tickets Available!
Hotel rooms still available!

🔥 On Stage This Year:
🎶 Lonesome River Band – award-winning headliners
🎶 Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass – IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year
🎶 Mason Via – songwriter, formerly of Old Crow Medicine Show
🎶 Valerie Smith – powerhouse vocals & originals
🎶 The Plate Scrapers - original and creative Appalachian musicianship
🎶 Geraldine – Baltimore’s old-time dance band and award winning songwriting
🎶 Black-Eyed Suzies – Maryland’s favorite female bluegrassers
🎶 Eddie Lightner & the Potomac Pickers – rising favorites

Jim Pankey is our ARTIST AT LARGE! 🤯

PLUS ➡️ youth “Rising Pickers” academy, jam sessions, and workshops for all levels.

📅 Jan 30 – Feb 1, 2026
📍 Annapolis, MD
👉 Tickets + info:

www.winterbluegrass.com

🎶 Don’t just hear bluegrass—live it this winter! ❄️🪕

Backwater Books Songwriter Showcase LOW TICKET WA

Backwater Books Songwriter Showcase

LOW TICKET WARNING!! Songwriter night at Backwater Books and old town Ellicott City Friday, January 9, 7PM. Featuring Sweet Leda, Grayson Moon, John Bolten. Only a handful of tickets left. Ticket link in bio.

Song is a new song titled ‘Where Does The Time Go?’

#songwriter #songwriting #bibliopub

I can’t wait to kick off the 2026 season of the An

I can’t wait to kick off the 2026 season of the Annapolis Opry, happening Sunday, January 11 at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church at 2 PM (Doors at 1:30)! I’ll be playing a special solo set of new original songs and hanging with some of my favorite people on the planet. PS- yes, that is a bald-faced hornet nest. yes, I’m allergic to hornets…. PSS- song is a new song titled ‘Ain’t It Right’

January 11, 2026
Big Howdy, Mike Munford and Jon Glik, John Bolten of Geraldine. LINK IN BIO. #songwriter #opry #annapolis

Well, this is a heck of a way to finish the year!

Well, this is a heck of a way to finish the year!

Listen, y’all, you can’t swing a dead rat around this town without hitting more than handful of truly exceptional songwriters and musicians, many of whom I’m lucky to call close friends, which makes receiving this honorable mention truly honorable and even more humbling.

I’m very grateful for the Songwriters Association of Washington (@saw_buzz) for cultivating and supporting such a rich community of songwriters and creating opportunities to learn and share the craft. After all the bs that goes into promoting and coordinating shows and hauling equipment, etc., knowing that you connect with folks through your music and being recognized in such a way is a gem worth holding onto and makes it worth it.

Big kudos to the band and extended family (@janderson995 @sarahlarsenmusic @cory_chubb @knorr.cal and Jonathan Vocke) who help arrange, polish, refine, and kick the crap out of all my weird songs.

Heads up!!! Painting The Town was recorded by @nick_sjostrom for our upcoming album!

#songwriter #songwriting #SAW #painting

Every now and again there comes along an opportuni

Every now and again there comes along an opportunity to gather in a beautiful space with beautiful people, listen to songs and stories by impassioned artists, and see music performed with such heart that it nestles firmly in yours.

The Annapolis Opry on January 11th will be one of those times. This is Sunday Concert Series is hosted by fiery local favorites, The Black Eyed Suzies, and will feature Maryland’s country/bluegrass mainstays Big Howdy, as well as bluegrass ninjas Jon Glik and Mike Munford. 🪕🥷🎻

I’m truly honored to be playing some new original songs for the Opry with these special friends. I cherish these listening room gatherings where it’s all about the songs, and I’m sure you will as well.

Tickets are going fast! Link in bio.

January 11, 2PM (doors at 1:30PM) St. Margarets Episcopal Church - 1601 Pleasant Plains Rd., Annapolis, MD. #bluegrass #songwriting #sunday #annapolis #opry

After such a fun year writing songs, spending time

After such a fun year writing songs, spending time in the studio, and playing some of our favorite shows yet, it’s easy to give a heartfelt thanks. We are thankful for all of you for your support, encouragement, and love! Gobble Gobble! See you out there! 📸 by Ben Owens. ❤️🫏🦃❤️ #thanks #thankfull

Day 31 - The Devil Makes Three This is a differen

Day 31 - The Devil Makes Three

This is a different kind of drinking song. In this case, I imagine it’s the devil leading the narrator to drink.

THANK YOU! This has been a lot of fun and I’ve enjoyed sharing these songs with you all. More songs coming soon!

Woodshedding Month - I’m sharing 31 new songs in October. #songwriting #songwriter #devilmakesthree

Day 30 - Curse My Heart This song is about listen

Day 30 - Curse My Heart This song is about listening to your heart and holding onto the good you know to be true.

Woodshedding Month - I’m sharing 31 new songs in October. #songwriting #songwriter #loveislove

Day 29 - Shadows This is a song about writing a s

Day 29 - Shadows

This is a song about writing a song. It takes a lot of digging to get to a place of vulnerability where you can really find and express how you genuinely feel.

Woodshedding Month - I’m sharing 31 new songs in October. #songwriting #songwriter #shadows

Day 28 - Gone I’ve always been intrigued by wishi

Day 28 - Gone

I’ve always been intrigued by wishing wells… How many wishes have they caught? Which wishes came true? Which ones were forgotten? Would a well ever give up its secrets? Can I dive in and take my wish back?

Woodshedding Month - I’m sharing 31 new songs in October. #songwriting #songwriter #wishingwell

Day 27 - Love is Strange It sure is, isn’t it?

Day 27 - Love is Strange

It sure is, isn’t it?

Woodshedding Month - I’m sharing 31 new songs in October. #songwriting #songwriter

Day 26 - Arrowheads I used to look for arrowheads

Day 26 - Arrowheads

I used to look for arrowheads in the ag fields along the Ohio. We would hang out near there and build a fire under the trestle bridge (see: Old Friend). Given the location of the river and the backwaters, I imagine the indigenous peoples who lived here before us gathered and celebrated in the same spot. The story is evolving… We were able to put out the fire!

Woodshedding Month - I’m sharing 31 new songs in October. #songwriting #songwriter #arrowheads

Day 25 - Wood and Wire Initially this was from th

Day 25 - Wood and Wire

Initially this was from the perspective of a lonely luthier but it evolved into a song about a person who can fix ‘almost’ anything.

Woodshedding Month - I’m sharing 31 new songs in October. #songwriting #songwriter

Day 24 - Hell Among the Yearlings There is a fidd

Day 24 - Hell Among the Yearlings

There is a fiddle tune and also one of my favorite Gillian Welch album’s that share this name.

Woodshedding Month - I’m sharing 31 new songs in October. #songwriting #songwriter #horses #yearlings

Day 23 - Baton Rouge This year marks the 20th ann

Day 23 - Baton Rouge

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the levees failing during Hurricane Katrina, which left 80% of New Orleans and 95% of St. Bernard Parish underwater. More than 1500 people died during the disaster. The images of the devastation are burned deeply into my memory.

Woodshedding Month - I’m sharing 31 new songs in October. #songwriting #songwriter #batonrouge #hurricane #katrina #neworleans

Day 22 - Be Here Now Writing on the water is alw

Day 22 - Be Here Now

Writing on the water is always inspiring for me. This song came from spending a restful weekend with some dear friends at a goat farm on the Chesapeake Bay.

For Joebie.

Cameo by Crazy Eyes. 🐈‍⬛

Woodshedding Month - I’m sharing 31 new songs in October. #songwriting #songwriter #blanket #beherenow #catcameo

Day 21 - Oh No, Oh My When I got word that John

Day 21 - Oh No, Oh My

When I got word that John Prine died, I sat down to write this little ditty about the end of the world...

Woodshedding Month - I’m sharing 31 new songs in October. #songwriting #songwriter #atombomb #bananapeel #johnprine #pandemic

Day 20 - Jelly Jar Blues A song about temptation

Day 20 - Jelly Jar Blues

A song about temptation and damnation and jelly. 🪰🫙

Woodshedding Month - I’m sharing 31 new songs in October. #songwriting #songwriter #fly #jelly

Day 19 - Old Friend This song was spurred by a so

Day 19 - Old Friend

This song was spurred by a songwriting prompt a few weeks ago in a Miles of Music songwriting group - “Choose someone in your life you want to catch up with. Instead of calling, write them an update in a song.”

Woodshedding Month - I’m sharing 31 new songs in October. #songwriting #songwriter #friend #milesofmusic

Day 18 - Reckoning You are never alone when you

Day 18 - Reckoning

You are never alone when you are missing someone and have heavy thoughts.

Woodshedding Month - I’m sharing 31 new songs in October. #songwriting #songwriter #reckoning

Day 17 - The Melting Pot Is Melting Down. Woody

Day 17 - The Melting Pot Is Melting Down.

Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Hazel Dickens all knew the value of folk music for giving a voice to the people. Some of our most popular songs are rooted in cause to make positive change. Here are the first two verses of one in this tradition.

Woodshedding Month - I’m sharing 31 new songs in October. #songwriting #songwriter #meltingpot

The Melting Pot Is Melting Down

The melting pot is melting down
Spilling us on the ground
How can we be safe and sound
If the melting pot is melting down?

—

Politician tell the truth
What more can a man do
Than plow his field straight and pray for rain?
We’ve heard tell all the lies
Can’t you look us in the eyes
And tell us you’re not the one to blame?

—

We don’t have to tighten the bible belt
Or fix the crack in the liberty bell
Just cast your vote and let your voice ring
Cause when all is said and done
We’ve all lost or one
We’re in this together, you and me

Day 16 - A Minute Or Two I wrote this one a coupl

Day 16 - A Minute Or Two

I wrote this one a couple years ago but put it on the shelf, thinking it wasn’t quite done. Revisiting it and slowing it down a bit, I think we have a sweet country tune! Thanks to William Brauneis for singing this one!

Woodshedding Month - I’m sharing 31 new songs in October. #songwriting #songwriter #sidewalk

Day 15 - Song For The Riverbed I love a good walt

Day 15 - Song For The Riverbed

I love a good waltz! I wrote this about 15 years ago but it is not one that we perform. I’ve never brought it to the band to work on… thoughts? Time to dust it off?

Singing by Lilly.

Woodshedding Month - I’m sharing 31 new songs in October. #songwriting #songwriter #riverbed

Day 14- My friend from back home has been restorin

Day 14- My friend from back home has been restoring an old Pontiac. I thought it would be fun to write a song from the perspective of the car… specifically a car that wasn’t fortunate enough to make it into the hands of someone like my friend Dave.

My daughter helped with harmonies. 🥰

Woodshedding Month - I’m sharing 31 songs in October. #songwriting #songwriter #cars #pontiac

Day 13 - Want What I Want I’ve spent the last th

Day 13 - Want What I Want

I’ve spent the last three days at a beautiful 1880 farmhouse in western Maryland for a Miles of Music songwriting retreat. Gateful for this time to explore, discover, and share new songs with such a talented and inspiring group. This song was born today (posting a day late!). Looking forward to polishing this and finishing it! Grateful!

Woodshedding Month - I’m sharing 31 songs in October. #songwriting #songwritjng

Day 12 - Fence Thanks to William Brauneis for ba

Day 12 - Fence

Thanks to William Brauneis for banjo and harmony!

Woodshedding Month - I’m sharing 31 songs in October. #songwriting #songwriter #fence

Day 11 - Lonesome Lullaby I wanted a slow song wi

Day 11 - Lonesome Lullaby

I wanted a slow song with a lot of room for harmony. I like the idea of missing someone so much that you try to fall asleep so you can see them in your dreams.

Thanks to William Brauneis for banjo and harmony!

Woodshedding Month - I’m sharing 31 songs in October. #songwriting #lullaby

Day 10 - Bought And Sold This was a Covid-era so

Day 10 - Bought And Sold

This was a Covid-era song that was quite fun to write but I never got the chance to flesh it out. I’m still working on the chorus a bit and trying to see what this song wants to be. It also sits well on the banjo… hmmm….

Woodshedding Month - I’m sharing 31 songs in October. #songwriting #songwriter #killyourtv #ginzu

Day 9 - Picket Line This is one I’ve been sittin

Day 9 - Picket Line

This is one I’ve been sitting on for a couple years, waiting for the last verse to come my way. I’m still digging for this one, but it’s pretty fun to sing and work it out. I tend to choose words that are fun to say and sing… “ticket for the picket line” has a nice bouncy feel.

Woodshedding Month - I’m sharing 31 songs in October. #songwriting #songwriter #picketline #union

Day 8 - Where Does The Time Go? I’m having a lot

Day 8 - Where Does The Time Go?

I’m having a lot of fun with this one - a folk song about relativity! It’s not done but it’s getting closer. The chorus was written this week and it’s still settling in. I was jazzed to rhyme procrastination and gravitational time dilation! 🤓

Woodshedding Month - I’m sharing 31 songs in October. #songwriting #songwriter #time #relativity #einstein #newton Every time I blink my eyes
I’m watching the day turn into night
Like Newton told Einstein
“I just can't find the time”

It’s a permanent temporal abstraction
A temporary thought distraction
Listen to the the tik and the tok
Racing round the clock

Where Does The Time Go?
When your not here
And time moves on
Like I’m standing still
Trying to catch the moment
But I never will

Stars were born and stars died
While I’m waiting for my clothes to dry
The minutes just slipping past
Down the hour glass

Blame it on procrastination
or gravitational time dilation
Things get heavy and slow
the faster that you go

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“The perfect blend of grit, drive, originality and fun – Baltimore’s Geraldine embodies all that’s good in a modern stringband.” – Folk Alley, Bluegrass Country Radio

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