“We use it as an opportunity to play in front of people,” Blackmer said. “We’re not here to make money, though it’s nice when we do.” The set Grove Street was practicing that day was for their upcoming St. Patrick’s Day concert in tribute to Turlogh O’Carolan, an 18th century blind Irish harpist who composed over 200 songs, and Bob McQuillen, a Peterborough folk music legend.

Now, normally, I’m accustomed to Celtic music that is heavy on fiddles and percussion. The set from Grove Street was much softer, more melodic, and, in some ways, more fun. Watching a quartet, especially one as talented as this, is a unique experience. Each musician feeds off the other, creating a balanced sound that also allows each instrument to shine. “That’s the nature of chamber music,” Duhon shared.

Grove Street manages to have an entire musical conversation in a series of short Irish jigs and ballads. Beaulieu’s flute rises like a cresting wave above the subtle timing of Duhon’s cello, before Murray’s piano moves in for a melodic interlude, all while Blackmer provides the rhythmic heart with his guitar. The group plays as though they’ve known each other for years, which they have.

Though Grove Street has been a quartet for less than 5 years, each member has played with one another at some point in time for the last 30 years. Beaulieu and Blackmer have collaborated for 25 years, Duhon came on as cellist four years ago, and Murray came on as pianist this past July, though she’s been writing songs with Blackmer for years.

The cafe was relatively quiet that Tuesday, but a dedicated fan, Melody Russel, talked to me about the richness of Grove Street’s music. “Have you ever heard music like this?” she asked. “You know, they really got the ball rolling for music here at The Bagel Mill.”

There is a calendar that hangs in the cafe of bands that will be playing—five groups, one for each day of the work week. I made a point of returning on Friday to listen to Maple TreeO, a related group with a similarly impressive repertoire. Friday could not have been more different in weather than Tuesday. The sun was shining with the promise of spring, and the light shone in through the windows, glinting off of the metal keys of band instruments.

Maple TreeO, as its pun-inspired name suggests, is a trio consisting of Blackmer, again on guitar, David Flemming on flute, and Joy Flemming on bassoon. The trio grew their repertoire organically to include quite a mix of styles.

In a single morning I heard jazz, classics from the American songbook, pop songs from the 1950s and 60s, and more Turlough O’Carolan. Though it may not sound so on paper, the combination works. It works so well that I began to wonder why these songs didn’t employ bassoon to begin with.

Like Grove Street, Maple TreeO creates that same wholesome sound, though they create more opportunities for humor within the music. David Flemming can be puckish on the flute, but this forces Joy (his wife) and Blackmer to stay on their toes and have a little bit of fun themselves. That is the charm of each of these two bands. They both, first and foremost, love music, And they both know how to have fun. “Whatever genre we play doesn’t matter to me, because it’s the music that gets me,” David said.

Maple TreeO will be playing a concert at Music 4UU at 25 Main Street, Peterborough, at4 p.m. on April 20. You can also hear them playing every Tuesday and Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at The Bagel Mill, 145 Grove Street, Peterborough.