Nights by the Train Station

Local musicians join the Pickers Circle at the SEPTA train station in Swarthmore. Photo: Ben Martin

If you are walking in Swarthmore on a Thursday night — perhaps taking an evening stroll or enjoying the weekly Nights in the Ville event — as you near the train station you may hear the sound of guitars, harmonics, and singing, and see a small group of people, sitting in folding chairs on the platform near the ticket office, and enjoying songs—some classics, some folk songs, some improvised tunes. 

(Left to right) Josh Gwinn, Fiona Murray, and Chris Sparks share their talents at the Pickers Circle. Photo: Ben Martin

John Conboy is the organizer of this group of musicians that he calls Pickers Circle. Originally from the Wallingford-Swarthmore area, John was living in Texas until the pandemic prompted him to come back to our area to take care of his mother. Pickers Circle is also the name of his former musicians’ circle in Luckenbach, Texas, where he played his guitar three nights a week, often accompanied by strangers or friends: it was a place where people of different backgrounds, regardless of politics or financial ability, could come together to simply enjoy music.

When John moved back to Pennsylvania, he wanted to recreate this community, where people could take turns playing music and could share the experience. He explains that he wanted to “share the joy that comes with music.” Leaving Texas was a big sacrifice for John – it meant leaving his friends and his home. But his new Pickers Circle has provided him with a connection to others here in Swarthmore. He believes that music can, as he puts it, “bridge the gap between beings” and help them share their hearts and spirits. Anyone, regardless of ability, is welcome to join the circle.

Last Thursday, the Pickers Circle started up around seven o’clock. Several people had gathered, including Grey, one of John’s friends from high school, and some new friends whom John met for the first time that night. Some came with instruments; others just brought themselves. Many of those gathered said they had had come to a previous Pickers Circles, and had come back that night because they had enjoyed the atmosphere and the talent they had encountered. A small audience, including a dog, listened delightedly as the group members took turns singing songs, supported each other’s music, and let their melodies flow through the summer air.

Read the companion piece by Ben Martin, “Picking Your Friends”.