A number of talented acoustic performers will grace Long Island stages during March. Although more extensive listings appear in the AcoustiCalendar, here are a few highlights:

 

Susan McKeown – Saturday, March 3, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.

Congregational Church of Huntington, Centerport

Although she’s lived in New York for more than a decade, Susan McKeown hails from Dublin, Ireland, and her Irish heritage is clearly reflected in much of her music. A singer-songwriter whose music defies easy categorization, she’s both a gifted interpreter of traditional songs and a singer and writer of somewhat more hard-edged contemporary material. McKeown, who sparkled during a recent “New Sounds” performance at the Winter Garden in Manhattan’s World Financial Center, has been touring of late with The Klezmatics and recently backed the group on Wonder Wheel (Lyrics by Woody Guthrie), the well-deserved Grammy Award-winner for best contemporary world music album. McKeown’s appearance is part of the Folk Music Society of Huntington’s monthly First Saturday Series, which begins with an hour-long open mic at 7:30 p.m.

Catie Curtis - photo credit: Kelly DavidsonCatie Curtis – Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 8 p.m.

Landmark on Main Street, Port Washington

A superb singer-songwriter, Catie Curtis closes out this season’s Fabulous Females of Folk series that earlier featured Dar Williams and Lucy Kaplansky. A very melodic and socially aware songsmith, Curtis and Mark Erelli, another gifted New England-based singer-songwriter, captured the grand prize in the International Songwriting Competition last year for “People Look Around.” The song, written in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, appears on her latest release, Long Night Moon. Sharing the bill with Curtis are The Chapin Sisters, acclaimed singer-songwriter Tom Chapin’s harmonizing daughters. (Photo by Kelly Davidson)

 

The Roches - Photo by Irene YoungThe Roches – Friday, March 16, 2007 at 8 p.m.   (Cancelled )

Boulton Center for the Performing Arts, Bay Shore

New York sisters Maggie, Terre and Suzzy Roche are back together again showcasing their impressive songcraft and delightful three-part vocal harmonies as they tour in support of Moonswept, their new CD slated for release on March 13.


Beaucoup Blue & Terence Martin with Dan Bonis – Sunday, March 18 at 2.

University Cafe, Stony Brook

Beaucoup Blue is a Philly-based father and son acoustic blues & roots duo that evoked a well-deserved standing ovation following its rousing performance as part of the Folk Music Society of Huntington’s first annual Emerging Artists Showcase in January. Father and son, David and Adrian Mowry, share this afternoon bill with singer-songwriter Terence Martin, who also has been drawing receptive audiences and positive buzz. Dan Bonis accompanies Martin.

 

Christine Lavin – Friday, March 23, 2007 at 8 p.m. 

(Rescheduled from  March 16)

Our Times Coffeehouse at the Ethical Humanist Society, Garden City

A very entertaining, uber-talented, prolific and incredibly funny NYC-based singer-songwriter with 17 solo releases to date, Christine Lavin also has helped some of her contemporaries immensely by showcasing their works on compilation discs she’s produced (her latest is entitled One Meatball, and comes complete with recipes).

 

Livingston Taylor – Saturday, March 31, 2007 at 8 p.m.

Boulton Center for the Performing Arts, Bay Shore

He may not be as commercially successful or well-known as his brother James, but Livingston Taylor is a superb singer-songwriter whose melodic tunes and mellifluous voice can help brighten even your darkest days. You will be “in luf” with him.