Geoff Bartley

Geoff Bartley (born 1948) is an American acoustic guitarist and singer-songwriter based in Boston, Massachusetts. Since 1994, Bartley has played guitar regularly alongside Tom Paxton.

Early life and influences Geoff Bartley was born in New York City in 1948 and grew up on the eastern shore of Maryland. His mother played piano and his father, a doctor, played clarinet. He grew up surrounded by classical music. Since 1994, he has regularly accompanied folk musician Tom Paxton.

Can Tab Lounge and the bluegrass connection In 1991, Bartley began hosting a folk singer-songwriter open mic at the Can Tab Lounge in Cambridge on Monday evenings. The success of the folk open mic led the venue asked him in 1993 to host Tuesday evenings as well, and he decided to make that a bluegrass event. Bluegrass Tuesdays eventually became what musician Matt Glaser called "the epicenter of bluegrass in Boston." In 2016, the Boston Bluegrass Union recognized Bartley's contributions to bluegrass with its Industry Heritage Award. His song "Sunny Side of Town" won the 2015 Podunk Bluegrass Festival Songwriters Competition. His recordings Put the Big Stone Down (2009) and Mercy for the Dispossessed (2011) both reached number one on the international Folk DJ Radio chart. Through his open mics, he has been a mentor to many aspiring songwriters. In 2009, he was awarded the Jerry Christen Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award by the Boston Area Coffeehouse Association. In 2015, Bartley was the winner of the Podunk songwriting contest. Bones and Breath (with Timothy Mason) (2003) Interstates (2005) Blackbirds in the Pie (2008) Put The Big Stone Down (2010) Mercy for the Dispossessed (2011) Uncle Wiggly's Bicycle Ride (2015) Particles of Light (September 2016) The Ballad of Billy Bridger (2023)