"The nights were long and cold and scary; can we live through February?"
That’s a question posed by Dar Williams in her song "February" from her 1998 release, Mortal City. Indeed, we can.
Although it may be bitter cold out at times, Long Islanders can find plenty of good, live acoustic music indors to help warm our hearts and souls. In addition to a number of talented local artists, you are bound to love the sound that the gifted and eclectic young Canadian duo known as Twilight Hotel (a highlight of both the 2007 Shelter Valley Folk Festival in Ontario and the AcousticMusicScene.com Showcase at last year’s NERFA conference) makes in Babylon on Valentine’s Day, while talented New England-based singer- songwriters Greg Greenway and Danielle Miraglia visit our shores on Feb. 1 and 16, respectively. More than 60 concert, coffeehouse, open mic and jam session listings for the month follow, along with a few set for early March. — Michael Kornfeld
Friday, 2/1
Folk duo Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen, The Good Coffeehouse Music Parlor at the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture, 53 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn. 8 p.m. (www.bsec.org). 718-768-2972. $15.
Greg Greenway, New England-based singer-songwriter with a powerful voice, Garden Stage at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Central Nassau, 223 Stewart Avenue, Garden City. 8 p.m. (www.uuccn.org). $15.
Bennett Harris, Long Island acoustic blues guitarist, Jesse’s Roadhouse BBQ, 1810 Merrick Road, Merrick. 8:30 p.m.
Island Songwriters Showcase, featured artist followed by an open mic, Border’s, Jericho Turnpike, Syosset. 8 p.m. Those wishing to perform must sign up at 7:30 p.m. Free.
PeaceSmiths Topical, A-Typical, Folk Music, Poetry & Whatever Coffeehouse, First United Methodist Church, 25 Broadway (Route 110), near Montauk Highway, Amityville. 8 p.m. 631-798-0778. $7 suggested donation.
Saturday, 2/2
Folk Music Society of Huntington’s Annual Showcase Concert at the Congregational Church of Huntington, 30 Washington Drive, Centerport (just off Route 25A) features talented member artists Suzanne Ernst, Bob Koenig, Ken Korb, Stu Markus, Ed Mocko, Larry Moser & Mary Nagin, James O’Malley, Ron Renninger, Glen Roethel and Andy Romanoff. 7:30 p.m. concert is not preceded by an open mic this month. (www.fmshny.org). 631-425-2925. $15; $12 for members.
Open Mic, Cool Beanz, 556 North Country Road (25A), St. James. 8-11 p.m.
Sunday, 2/3
Brooklyn Songwriters Exchange, Brooklyn Lyceum, 227 4th Avenue, Brooklyn. 7 p.m. $10
Ponkiesburg Pickin’ Party, weekly traditional acoustic music jam, Kili, 81 Hoyt Street (between State & Atlantic), Brooklyn. 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 2/6
Folk Open Sing, presented by the New York Pinewoods Folk Music Club in conjunction with the Ethical Culture Society & tThe Good Coffeehouse Music Parlor at the Ethical Society, 53 Prospect Park West (near 2nd Street), Brooklyn. 7-10 p.m. For information, call Alison Kelley, 718-636-6341.
Open Mic, Cool Beanz, 556 North Country Road (25A), St. James. 8-11 p.m.
Open Mic, The Cup, 3268 Railroad Avenue, Wantagh. 9-11:45 p.m. (sign-up for two-three-song sets begins at 8:30 p.m.). $1 cover.
Open Mic, Life Cafe, 983 Flushing Avenue, East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. 9 p.m. to midnight.
Open Mic, Spike Hill, 186 Bedford Avenue (corner of 7th Street), Williamsburg, Brooklyn. 8 p.m. (performer sign-up at 7:45 p.m.).
Traditional Irish music & dancing night at Ceol, 191 Smith Street in Brooklyn’s Boerum Hill neighborhood. 7-10 p.m.
Thursday, 2/7
The Homegrown String Band (LI’s Jackofsky family plays spirited original music and select traditional numbers in an old-time style), preceded by a one-hour set featuring LI singer-songwriters Roger Silverberg and Hank Stone, "Live in the Lobby" series, Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, 71 East Main Street, Patchogue. Doors open at 7 p.m. 631-207-1313. $10.
Cathy Kreger, LI-based singer-songwriter, Starfish, 2095 Merrick Road, Merrick. 6:30-10 p.m.
Old-Time Jam, Freddy’s, Dean Street & Sixth Avenue, Brooklyn. 9 p.m. – midnight.
Open Mic, featuring singer-songwriters and spoken word, The Perch Cafe, 365 Fifth Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn. 7:30 p.m. $5 suggested donation.
Glen Roethel, New York singer-songwriter and song stylist performs with Gathering Time, a spirited folk & acoustic music trio with wonderful harmonies, Fiddleheads American Fish House & Grille, 62 South Street, Oyster Bay. 7:30-11:30 p.m. No cover.
Friday, 2/8
Phil Minissale, finger-pickin’ good "Long Island Blues Boy," Cool Beanz, 556 North Country Road (Route 25A), St. James. 8 p.m. $3 cover charge.
Saturday, 2/9
Acoustic Long Island Winter Concert with nationally touring singer-songwriters Jen Chapin, Chris Ayer and Madi Diaz , preceded by a Long Island Songwriter Showcase featuring ALI co-creator and emceee Dave Dircks, John Flor, Rorie Kelly, Miles to Dayton, Bess Rogers, John-Paul Vest, and Martha Trachtenberg & Tom Griffin, at the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, 71 East Main Street, Patchogue. 7:30 -10:30 p.m. This concert benefits Long Island Cares, the emergency food bank founded by Harry Chapin. (www.acousticlongisland.com). 631-207-1313. $12-$32.
Bill Carney’s Jug Addicts, NYC jug band, Barbes, 9th Street and 6th Avenue, Brooklyn.
David Massengill, Tennessee-bred, New York-based singer-songwriter and noted dulcimer player performs selections from his new album, Dave on Dave, a tribute to Dave Van Ronk, The Eclectic Cafe, Unitarian Universalist Society of South Suffolk, 28 Brentwood Road, Bay Shore. 8:30 p.m. show, preceded by an hour-long open mic at 7:30 p.m. (www.eclecticcafe.org). 631-661-1278.
Open Mic, Cool Beanz, 556 North Country Road (25A), St. James. 8-11 p.m.
Sunday, 2/10
Brooklyn Songwriters Exchange, Brooklyn Lyceum, 227 4th Avenue, Brooklyn. 7 p.m. $5.
Singer-songwriter John Wesley Harding makes a return visit to the Sunday Street Acoustic Series at The University Cafe, Stony Brook Union Building at Stony Brook University. 2 p.m. (www.universitycafe.org). $18 (until 2/7); $22 at the door (if available). For reservations and additional information, send an e-mail to SundayStreet WUSB@aol.com or call 631-632-1093.
Ponkiesburg Pickin’ Party, weekly traditional acoustic music jam, Kili, 81 Hoyt Street (between State & Atlantic), Brooklyn. 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 2/13
Acoustic Long Island weekly series of coffeehouse podcasts featuring an hour-long open mic followed by a 45-minute set by featured performer Rachel Griffin, a jazz-pop singer-songwriter from Maine, Deepwells Mansion, Route 25A (just west of Moriches Road intersection), St. James. 8-10 p.m. (www.acousticlongisland.com).
Open Mic, Cool Beanz, 556 North Country Road (25A), St. James. 8-11 p.m.
Open Mic, The Cup, 3268 Railroad Avenue, Wantagh. 9-11:45 p.m. (sign-up for two-three-song sets begins at 8:30 p.m.). $1 cover.
Open Mic, Life Cafe, 983 Flushing Avenue, East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. 9 p.m. to midnight.
Open Mic, Spike Hill, 186 Bedford Avenue (corner of 7th Street), Williamsburg, Brooklyn. 8 p.m. (performer sign-up at 7:45 p.m.).
Thursday, 2/14
Babylon Village Arts Council’s 2nd Thursday Concerts features Twilight Hotel, a young Winnipeg, Alberta-based duo whose sizzling sound combines rootsy blues and European accordion-influenced cabaret, Astoria Federal Savings Bank, 180 West Main Street, Babylon. 7:30 p.m. 631-669-1810. Free.
Friday, 2/15
10 local artists vie for cash prizes during a Bob Dylan Song Contest sponsored by the Our Times Coffeehouse at the Ethical Humanist Society Building, 38 Old Country Road in Garden City, NY. Cash prizes of $150, $100 and $50 will be awarded to the three top performers as judged by a panel and the audience on the basis of originality of interpretation and quality of musicianship. 8 p.m. (www.ourtimescoffeehouse.org). 516-541-1006. $15.
HPL Cafe, open mic, Huntington Public Library, 338 Main Street, Huntington. Performers must sign up in advance to perform by calling 631-427-5165.
Saturday, 2/16
Cathy Kreger, LI-based singer-songwriter, Starfish, 2095 Merrick Road, Merrick. 7-11 p.m.
Danielle Miraglia, a soulful Boston area singer-songwriter and delta blues-influenced guitarist; and Phil Minissale, the finger-pickin’ good "Long Island Blues Boy" who turned 21 last month, who shared the stage last summer during a song swap at the 2007 Huntington Folk, share a bill in the Folk Music Society of Huntington’s Hard Luck Cafe series at the Congregational Church of Huntington, 30 Washington Drive, Centerport. (www.fmshny.org). 631-661-1278. 8 p.m. $10; $7 for members.
Open Mic, Cool Beanz, 556 North Country Road (25A), St. James. 8-11 p.m.
Sunday, 2/17
Brooklyn Songwriters Exchange, Brooklyn Lyceum, 227 4th Avenue, Brooklyn. 7 p.m. $5.
Ponkiesburg Pickin’ Party, weekly traditional acoustic music jam, Kili, 81 Hoyt Street (between State & Atlantic), Brooklyn. 4:30-7:30 p.m.
ambeR rubarth & special guests, Spike Hill, 184 Bedford Avenue. Brooklyn. 8 p.m. No cover.
Song Crew Open Mic, Munch Cafe & Grill, 71-60 Yellowstone Boulevard (corner of Dartmouth Street), Forest Hills, Queens. 3-5 p.m.
Wednesday, 2/20
Acoustic Long Island weekly coffeehouse podcast series features an hour-long open mic followed by a 45-minute set by featured performer Abbie Gardner, Red Molly’s talented singer-songwriter and dobro player, Deepwells Mansion, Route 25A (just west of Moriches Road intersection), St. James. 8-10 p.m. (www.acousticlongisland.com).
Open Mic, Cool Beanz, 556 North Country Road (25A), St. James. 8-11 p.m.
Open Mic, The Cup, 3268 Railroad Avenue, Wantagh. 9-11:45 p.m. (sign-up for two-three-song sets begins at 8:30 p.m.). $1 cover.
Open Mic, Life Cafe, 983 Flushing Avenue, East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. 9 p.m. to midnight.
Open Mic, Spike Hill, 186 Bedford Avenue (corner of 7th Street), Williamsburg, Brooklyn. 8 p.m. (performer sign-up at 7:45 p.m.).
Thursday, 2/21
Glen Roethel, New York singer-songwriter and song stylist performs with Gathering Time, a spirited folk and acoustic music trio with wonderful harmonies, Fiddleheads American Fish House & Grille, 62 South Street, Oyster Bay. 7:30-11:30 p.m. No cover.
Bruce MacDonald and Ken "The Rocket" Korb, acoustic blues duo, Bobbique, 70 W. Main Street, Patchogue. 7:30 p.m.
Friday, 2/22
Open Mic Coffee House, Middle Country Public Library, 575 Middle Country Library, Selden. 6:30-8:45 p.m. (sign in and set-up at 6 p.m.). 631-585-9393.
Saturday, 2/23
Cathy Kreger, LI-based singer-songwriter, Elijah Churchill’s, 1031 Route 25A, Fort Salonga. 8-11 p.m.
Open Mic, Cool Beanz, 556 North Country Road (25A), St. James. 8-11 p.m.
Sunday, 2/24
Brooklyn Songwriters Exchange, Brooklyn Lyceum, 227 4th Avenue, Brooklyn. 7 p.m. $5.
LI bluesman Bennett Harris and his acoustic trio (guitar, bass & fiddle) present an afternoon of acoustic blues at the South Country Public Library, Station Road, Bellport. 2 p.m. 631-286-0818. Free.
Cathy Kreger, LI-based singer-songwriter, Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station. 1:30-3 p.m. 631-928-1212. Free.
Dan LaVoie, harp guitarist, Connetquot Public Library, 760 Ocean Avenue, Bohemia. 2-3:30 p.m. 631-567-5079. Free.
Gerry O’Beirne, Celtic singer-songwriter and guitarist who has played with Patrick Street and the Waterboys, makes a rare LI appearance, with fiddle player Rosie Shipley. LI’s own Johnny Cuomo opens. Sunday Street Acoustic Series at The University Cafe, Stony Brook Union Building at Stony Brook University. 2 p.m. (www.universitycafe.org). $15 in advance; $20 at the door (if available).
Open Mic, Three Jolly Pigeons, 6802 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn. 8 p.m.
Ponkiesburg Pickin’ Party, weekly traditional acoustic music jam, Kili, 81 Hoyt Street (between State & Atlantic), Brooklyn. 4:30-7:30 p.m.
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Central Nassau presents a concert benefiting Doctors Without Borders, featuring a host of performers — including bluegrass banjo player Marty Cutler, the three-part vocal harmonies of Gathering Time (Glen Roethel, Stuart Markus & Hilary Foxsong) r & b singer Lil’ Mo, alt-folk singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Bruce Markow, Long Island Blues Boy Phil Minissale, 13-year old bass fiddler and singer Mason Sansonia, award-winning Manhattan cabaret singer Marcus Simeone, Bill Vanaver and others — 223 Stewart Avenue (corner of Nassau Boulevard), Garden City. 4-8 p.m. (www.uuccn.org). $15 suggested donation at the door. Cabaret-style seating.
Wednesday, 2/27
Acoustic Long Island series is off for vacation.
Open Mic, Cool Beanz, 556 North Country Road (25A), St. James. 8-11 p.m.
Open Mic, The Cup, 3268 Railroad Avenue, Wantagh. 9-11:45 p.m. (sign-up for two-three-song sets begins at 8:30 p.m.). $1 cover.
Open Mic, Life Cafe, 983 Flushing Avenue, East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. 9 p.m. to midnight.
Open Mic, Spike Hill, 186 Bedford Avenue (corner of 7th Street), Williamsburg, Brooklyn. 8 p.m. (performer sign-up at 7:45 p.m.).
Thursday, 2/28
Cathy Kreger, LI-based singer-songwriter, Bobbique, 70 W. Main Street, Patchogue. 7:30-10:30 p.m.
Friday, 2/29
Chuck Brodsky, singer-songwriter and musical storyteller, performs as part of the Traveling Toubadour Series at The Good Coffeehouse Music Parlor at the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture, 53 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn. 8 p.m. (www.bsec.org). 718-768-2972. $10.
Coming Up in March …
Saturday, 3/1
Phil Ochs Song Night features John Flynn, Kim & Reggie Harris, Greg Greenway, Magpie, David Roth, Pat Wictor, and emcee Sonny Ochs (Phil’s sister), Folk Music Society of Huntington’s First Saturdays Series, Congregational Church of Huntington, 30 Washington Drive, (just off Route 25A), Centerport. 8:30 p.m. concert is preceded by an hour-long open mic tat 7:30 p.m. (www.fmshny.org). 631-425-2925. $20; $15 for members.
Open Mic, Cool Beanz, 556 North Country Road (25A), St. James. 8-11 p.m.
Sunday, 3/2
Brooklyn Songwriters Exchange, Brooklyn Lyceum, 227 4th Avenue, Brooklyn. 7 p.m. $10
Cady Finlayson Band performs lively Irish fiddle tunes and ballads, Queens Central Library, 89-11 Merrick Boulevard, Jamaica.
Ponkiesburg Pickin’ Party, weekly traditional acoustic music jam, Kili, 81 Hoyt Street (between State & Atlantic), Brooklyn. 4:30-7:30 p.m.
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