Sunday, May 13, 2018 – 7:00 pm

An Evening with Martyn Joseph

Martyn Joseph is a powerful singer and songwriter gifted with the rare ability to speak to the soul with his expressive and poignant lyrics. With a career spanning 30 years, 32 albums, over a half a million record sales and thousands of live performances, the versatility of his music touches genres of folk, rock, soul, folk funk and Americana, yet somehow all these labels cannot define the spirit of his music. Compared to Bruce Springsteen, John Mayer, Bruce Cockburn and Dave Matthews, he has created his own style and reputation as a mesmerizing live performer and stands in his own right, built on a reputation for giving what thousands have described as the best live music experience of their lives. He’s a jaw dropping guitar player who has developed a unique percussive style, teamed up with a powerful show stopping voice, and has been called “The Welsh Springsteen”. He has won the love of audiences from USA and Canada to Europe through an impressive number of live dates, and has previously toured with the likes of Art Garfunkel, Jools Holland, Ani DiFranco, Suzanne Vega, Mike and The Mechanics, Joan Armatrading, Celine Dion and Shirley Bassey. 2016 was one of Martyn’s busiest, and this was acknowledged by him being nominated in the “Hardest Working Artist” category at the UK Independent Music Awards, being the only folk artist to receive any nomination. Martyn Joseph. A unique talent driven by passion and love for his trade, continues to write, sing and play from the heart. It’s a road he’s been travelling for most of his life and, as he often tells his audience, ‘you keep turning up and so will I.’

$25 Suggested Donation

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Saturday, June 16, 2018 – 7:30 pm

An Evening with Benjamin Dakota Rogers

Benjamin Dakota Rogers is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and composer. Combining fiddle and guitar, he is writing honest folk music that draws you in with stories and spoken-word poetry. Benjamin’s third album and latest release titled “Whisky & Pine”, is eleven original songs delivered with reflective emotion and warm harmonies. His poetic ballads blend flawlessly with his rousing guitar and fiddle compositions, cementing his status as an up-and- coming alternative folk powerhouse.  With strong influences stemming from traditional music and the east coast, Benjamin’s hard-driving fiddle technique is transformed into his own contemporary style. His thought and emotion-provoking songs show hints of his influences: Leonard Cohen, Gregory Allen Isakov and Passenger. His engaging live performance is delivered with his unique voice, guitar and explosive fiddle. Inspired at the tender age of seven, Benjamin found a passion and purpose in folk music after inheriting his Great-Grandfather’s violin. From budding musician to awe-inspiring performer, his love of creating meaningful music has taken the reins and garnered much attention from folk artists and enthusiasts alike.

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Sunday, August 12, 2018 – 7:00 pm

– annual pot luck dinner at 6 pm –

An Evening with Mari Black & the World Fiddle Ensemble

Multistyle violinist and champion fiddler Mari Black is rapidly building a reputation as one of the most dynamic young artists of her generation. Her energetic playing, engaging stage presence, and commitment to bringing people together through music have made her a favorite with audiences across the country and around the world. Equally at home in a wide variety of musical traditions, Mari is the 2015/2013 U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion, 2014 Glenfiddich Scottish Fiddle Champion, 2014/2012 Canadian Maritime Fiddle Champion, 2011 Canadian Novelty Fiddle Champion, 1st Prize Winner at the 2010 American Protégé International String Competition, and 2-time laureate at the American String Teachers’ Association Alternative Styles Awards. On stage, she creates shows that draw on elements from many different styles including jazz, tango, folk, Western classical, as well as Celtic, American, and Canadian fiddling. Her performances take listeners on a musical journey exploring the diversity and celebrating commonalities in the dance-driven folk music of the world. She is currently touring nationally with her World Fiddle Ensemble and Celtic Band, performing and celebrating diverse styles of traditional and modern dance music.

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Saturday, September 22, 2018 – 7:30 pm

An Evening with The Durham County Poets

Durham County Poets are a lively and soulful five-piece folk and roots band from Southwest Quebec’s Chateauquay Valley that performs an eclectic blend of blues, folk and rock with tinges of country, gospel and swing tossed in for good measure.  Although together only since 2011, Durham County Poets are seasoned musicians. Its members collectively have more than a century of diverse musical experience – having previously played in blues, rock, country, Cajun and vaudeville outfits.  Fronted by Kevin Harvey, a bluesy crooner, on lead vocals and harmonica, Durham County Poets feature David Whyte (electric and acoustic guitars), Neil Elsmore (acoustic guitar), Carl Rufh (double bass) and Rob Couture (drums/percussion).  All of the Durham County Poets are songwriters. Either individually or collaboratively, they compose a musical potpourri of ballads, gospel, blues and country-rock songs – making for varied sets while performing in concert. The obvious joie de vivre they feel playing together is reflected in the good-time feel the Durham County Poets share with concert audiences and listeners.

$25 Suggested Donation

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Saturday, October 13, 2018 – 7:30 pm

An Evening with The Black Feathers

The Black Feathers are an award-winning duo from Gloucestershire in England. The perfectly paired voices of Ray Hughes and Sian Chandler intertwine effortlessly to create a sound combining elements of folk, roots, alt-country and Americana. They married in 2012, which also marked the beginning of their musical adventure as The Black Feathers. They designed the band logo on honeymoon and the music soon followed. This close collaboration became the backbone of their sound. Whether playing to an audience of 1500 strong at the Colston Hall in Bristol, or to 80 crammed in to the Green Note in London they give an intimate performance that draws the listener in to a special, strong and unique bond between two people. Within their first year they were awarded the ‘5 Valleys Folk award’ and the following year also picked up the ‘Folkstock Arts Foundation’ award for best live performance. They have toured in Germany, Holland and in the USA including a sold out show at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Tennessee. 2014 saw the release of Strangers We Meet, the duo’s debut 5 track EP. It gained national airplay on BBC Radio2, as well as warm reviews from national music press, including an interview in The Sunday Times. The Telegraph also listed it as one of the best albums of 2014. They released their impressive and critically acclaimed debut album ‘Soaked to the Bone’ in 2016.

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Friday, November 16, 2018 – 8:00 pm

An Evening with Scott Cook

A roots balladeer with a rare personal warmth, Canada’s Scott Cook has managed to distill the stories collected over a decade of near-incessant touring across Canada, the USA, the UK, Europe, Asia, Australia, and elsewhere into straight-talking, keenly observant verse. He brings humor, a disarming honesty, years of roads, and a deep love of humanity to his songcraft and storytelling. He is equally at home alone on stage, accompanying himself with fingerstyle guitar and clawhammer banjo, or backed by his acoustic trio the Second Chances. Cook’s songs are true stories set to music, drawing on influences from folk, roots, country, soul, and blues. He has made his living playing music full-time since 2007, and despite all the hard miles, he still believes that songs can change your life, and your life can change the world.

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Sunday, December 9, 2018 – 4:00 pm

An Afternoon with The Early Mays

The Early Mays are Emily Pinkerton, Ellen Gozion and Rachel Eddy, who share songs based in a love of American tradition, while also exploring their own creative voices. All three are celebrated solo artists who bring their rich and carefully honed craft to The Early Mays. Emily weaves folk, classical and world music traditions together in her songwriting. She recently won a New Music USA grant to compose a song cycle for banjo and chamber ensemble, scheduled for release on New Amsterdam Records, November 2017.  Ellen is an accomplished ballad singer and visual artist who has taught at the Augusta Heritage Center, and was an American Music Abroad finalist with the US State Department.  Born and raised in West Virginia, Rachel is a prolific performer who has shared the stage with musical legends including Tim O’Brien, Uncle Earl and Bruce Molsky.  She moved back to the US last year after 6 years of living and touring in Europe.  There is an unsurpassed magic that springs from entwined and entrancing vocal harmonies.  The Early Mays love the camaraderie of the studio, the road, and rehearsals, and you can feel the gratitude radiate from whatever stage they are on.  You’ll never leave a show without carrying a little bit of that warmth away with you.

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Friday, February 1, 2019 – 8:00 pm

An Evening with Joe Crookston

Joe Crookston – Songwriter, guitarist, painter, fiddler, slide player, eco-village member and believer in all things possible. Named 2016 Folk Alliance International Artist-in- Residence. He’ll surprise you and awaken the cynics. He’s plumbing for lyrical gold like a social archeologist. His songs are universal, his rhythm infectious and in concert, he is funny as hell one moment and transcendent the next. Whether he’s picking his 48 Gibson, weaving through lap slide songs or looping his fiddle, he will draw you in. It happens every time. Watch a YouTube video. It’s good, but it’s not the same. You gotta come to a show. With unwavering courage to be himself, he is literate, poignant and funny as hell. He lives in Ithaca NY, and tours regularly in the US, Ireland and Canada.

Best quote: “I hate folk music, but I absolutely LOVE Joe Crookston’s music.!”

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