You don’t have to be Irish to enjoy Irish music. And there will certainly be a lot of opportunities to hear some “reel” good tunes and ballads this month in the run-up to St. Patrick’s Day.
In addition to some fine music being performed by local artists, a number of talented touring artists visit our Isle this month. Of particular note are the performers on the bill for the Folk Music Society of Huntington’s Phil Ochs Song Night that kicks off the month on March 1; Celtic fiddler Eileen Ivers at Bay Shore’s Boulton Center for the Performing Arts and Cathie Ryan, the former lead singer of Cherish the Ladies, at Port Washington’s Landmark on Main Street, both on March 7; the blues & roots music pairing of former LIer Toby Walker and Pat Wictor at the Garden Stage in Garden City that same night (Walker also has two solo gigs on LI in March, while Wictor pays homage to Phil Ochs in Centerport); a free program of Andean music performed by Hinantillan at the West Hempstead Public Library on March 9 and a visit by young Canadian singer-songwriter Nathan Rogers (son of the late Stan) to Stony Brook’s University Café the same day; an anticipated capacity crowd for a March 15 homecoming engagement by Port Washington native Richard Shindell at The Landmark on Main Street; the LI debut of Ellis, a sparkling and thoroughly engaging singer-songwriter from Minnesota, at Garden City’s Our Times Coffeehouse on March 21; a not-to-be-missed duo performance by 17-year-old singer-songwriter & Falcon Ridge Folk Festival fave Anthony da Costa and Red Molly’s Abbie Gardner at Acoustic Long Island in St. James on March 26; an intimate house concert in Babylon featuring the talented Canadian husband & wife duo The Laws, with gifted guitarist and conservatory-trained singer-songwriter Randall Williams opening on March 28.
Calendar listings and details on these and other acoustic music happenings on Long Island in March follow.
– Michael Kornfeld
Saturday, 3/1
Phil Ochs Song Night features John Flynn, Greg Greenway, Kim and Reggie Harris, Magpie, David Roth, Pat Wictor and emcee Sonny Ochs (Phil’s sister) singing songs written by the late troubadour as well as their own numbers. Folk Music Society of Huntington’s First Saturdays Series, Congregational Church of Huntington,
Sunday, 3/2
Brooklyn Songwriters Exchange, Brooklyn Lyceum,
Cady Finlayson Band performs lively Irish fiddle tunes and ballads, Queens Central Library,
The Folk Music Society of Huntington presents its monthly Folk Jam & Sing Along for singers and instrumentalists at the Huntington Public Library,
Ponkiesburg Pickin’ Party, weekly traditional acoustic music jam, Kili,
Tuesday, 3/4
Buddy Merriam & Back Roads, LI bluegrass stalwarts, Checkmate Inn,
Wednesday, 3/5
Acoustic Long Island hour-long open mic followed by a 45-minute set by featured performers Kim & Reggie Harris, Deepwells Mansion, Route 25A (just west of Moriches Road intersection), St. James. 8-10 p.m. Free. (www.acousticlongisland.com).
Open Mic, Cool Beanz,
Open Mic, The Cup,
Open Mic, Life Café,
Open Mic, Spike Hill,
Thursday, 3/6
Cathy Kreger, LI-based singer-songwriter, Starfish,
Old Time Jam with Zot’s Dream (jug music featuring banjos, washboard, wash-tub bass, tin-can drums, etc), Freddy’s
Glen Roethel, New York singer-songwriter & 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.
Friday, 3/7
Banjo Rascals, The Hicksville Public Library,
Ari Eisinger, Philadelphia-based fingerstyle guitarist, performs as part of the Traveling Troubadours series for the 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; $6 for kids.
An Irish Evening with Cathie Ryan, the talented singer-songwriter who spent seven years as lead singer for Cherish The Ladies, Landmark On Main Street, Port Washington. 8 p.m. (www.landmarkonmainstreet.org). 516-767-6444. $25-$35.
Island Songwriters Showcase, Border’s Books, Jericho Turnpike, Syosset. 8 p.m. Featured performer followed by an open mic. Those wishing to perform must sign up at 7:30 p.m. (www.islandsongwriters.org).
Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul, master Celtic fiddler was featured in “Riverdance,”
Shilelagh Law, Irish music,
Toby Walker and Pat Wictor will provide some blues and roots music to stir your souls when they share the Garden Stage at the Unitarian Universalist Congegation of Central Nassau, 223 Stewart Avenue (corner of Nassau Boulevard), Garden City. (www.uuccn.org). 516-248-8855.
Saturday, 3/8
Yabba Dabba Do… The Eclectic Café presents an evening with NYC-based singer-songwriter Kelly Flint (a post-modern folkie with a tinge of American known to many as the female vocalist in Dave’s True Story) and LI singer-songwriter Hank Stone, Unitarian Universalist Society of South Suffolk,
A Celebration of Irish Dance featuring students of the Donny Golden School of Irish Dancing in a spirited & colorful performance of traditional Irish step dances set to lively Celtic tunes, Mineola Memorial Library,
Cathy Kreger, LI-based singer-songwriter, Elijah Churchill’s, 1031 Route 25A,
The Lonesome Heroes, indy psychedlic country band from Austin, TX, Hank’s Saloon, 46 Third Avenue (corner of Atlantic Avenue), Park Slope, Brooklyn. 10 p.m. No cover.
The Wolfe Tones’ Derek Warfield sings Irish songs,
Sunday, 3/9
Blue Spruce Cloggers (Appalachian Mountain-style clog dancing, tap & Irish-step dancing), accompanied by the Blue Detour Bluegrass Trio, Huntington Public Library’s Village Auditorium,
Bluegrass Brunch featuring Austin, TX-based The Lonesome Heroes, Superfine, 126 Front Street (at Pearl Street), DUMBO, Brooklyn. Noon-3 p.m.
Brooklyn Songwriters Exchange, Brooklyn Lyceum,
Fiddler’s Green (featuring Larry Moser, Mary Nagin and Patrick O’Rourke) perform a program of songs and tunes from the Emerald Isle that is sure to set your toes to tapping, Comsewogue Public Library,
Jim Hawkins presents a program of traditional Irish storytelling and music, Hillside Public Library,
Hinantillan, music of the Andes featuring an array of instruments, West Hempstead Public Library, 500 Hempstead Avenue, West Hempstead. 2 p.m. 516-481-6591.
Irish balladeer Kevin Smith, North Merrick Public Library,
Lonesome Traveler, a musical narrative about Lee Hays and The Weavers is performed by Ira Perlman (president of the Folk Music Society of Huntington) and Denise Romas (whose beautiful voice and guitar accompaniment bring a special sound to these songs), East Islip Public Library,
Ponkiesburg Pickin’ Party, weekly traditional acoustic music jam, Kili,
Nathan Rogers, the son of Canadian folk music legend Stan Rogers has been generating critical acclaim for his own original songs as well as powerful renditions of songs associated with his late father, Sunday Street Acoustic Series at the University Café, Stony Brook Union building, Stony Brook University. 2 p.m. (www.universitycafe.org). Advance tickets are $17 until March 6. Remaining tickets, if available, will be $22 at the door.
Songs & Music of
Sampawam’s Creek performs a family concert of folk songs and sea chanteys,
Wednesday, 3/12
Acoustic Long Island hour-long open mic followed by a 45-minute set by featured performer Jen Kearney,
Open Mic, Cool Beanz,
Open Mic, The Cup,
Open Mic, Life Café,
Open Mic, Spike Hill,
Thursday, 3/13
Phil Minissale, the finger-pickin’ good Long Island Blues Boy, 21, plays Toast Coffeehouse ,
Friday, 3/14
Cady Finlayson Band performs lively Irish fiddle tunes and ballads, Oratory Church of St. Boniface,
Mary Flower, Portland, Oregon-based blues guitarist, performs as part of the Traveling Troubadours series for the 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; $6 for kids.
Chris Merwin presents an eclectic mix of multicultural, popular and original music, North Shore Public Library, 250 Route 25A, Shoreham. 7 p.m. 631-929-4488.
Saturday, 3/15
Folk Music Society of Huntington’s Hard Luck Café features select performers from the Island Songwriters Showcase (Pedro Pereira, Denise Romas, Walter Sargent, Tim Huss, Sonny Meadows and Suzanne Ernst), Congregational Church of Huntington,
Richard Shindell, Port Washington native who is among the most gifted singer-songwriters on the national touring circuit today makes a homecoming visit to the Landmark on Main Street,
Sunday, 3/16
Brooklyn Songwriters Exchange, Brooklyn Lyceum,
10th Annual Irish Experience Festival features Ceili Rain, Screaming Orphans (four sisters from Donegal who make beautiful music together — including original acoustic folk-pop and traditional Irish fare @ 4 p.m.), Michael O’Rourke & The Black Velvet Band, Hofstra University Physical Fitness Center, off Hempstead Turnpike, Hempstead. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 516-463-6582. $3 suggested donation.
Buddy Merriam & Back Roads, LI bluegrass stalwarts, Longwood Public Library,
New & Traditional Irish Music program, The Bryant Library,
Ponkiesburg Pickin’ Party, weekly traditional acoustic music jam, Kili,
Little Toby Walker plays and sings the blues, East Meadow Public Library,
Monday, 3/17
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, Fiddler’s Green (featuring Larry Moser, Mary Nagin, Patrick O’Rourke & John Corr) perform a program of songs and tunes from the Emerald Isle that is sure to set your toes to tapping, East Meadow Public Library,
Free Grass Union, LI-based bluegrass band, Marino’s Remedies Cafe, corner of Hoffman & Pennsylvania Avenue, Lindenhurst. 9:30 p.m. No cover.
Wednesday, 3/19
Acoustic Long Island hour-long open mic followed by a 45-minute set by featured performers LI’s own Miles to
Open Mic, Cool Beanz,
Open Mic, The Cup,
Open Mic, Life Café,
Open Mic, Spike Hill,
Thursday, 3/20
Glen Roethel, New York singer-songwriter & 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.
Friday, 3/21
Ellis, a wonderful 30-something singer-songwriter from Minnesota who was part of last year’s Falcon Ridge Preview Tour and has been captivating audiences ever since with her music, bubbly personality & infectious laugh, makes her LI debut at the Our Times Coffeehouse, Ethical Humanist Society building, 38 Old Country Road, Garden City. 8 p.m. (www.ourtimecoffeehouse.org). $15.
Free Grass Union, LI-based bluegrass band, Beau’s Place, 54 Broadway, Greenlawn. 10:30 p.m. No cover.
Saturday, 3/22
Gathering Time (a spirited folk and acoustic music trio with wonderful harmonies featuring Glen Roethel, Stuart Markus and Hillary Foxsong) and Gina Forsyth, a talented singer-songwriter and fiddler from New Orleans, perform in a basement studio in a private residence in
Cathy Kreger, LI-based singer-songwriter, Elijah Churchill’s, 1031 Route 25A,
Sunday, 3/23
Brooklyn Songwriters Exchange, Brooklyn Lyceum,
Ponkiesburg Pickin’ Party, weekly traditional acoustic music jam, Kili,
Wednesday, 3/26
Acoustic Long Island hour-long open mic followed by a 45-minute set by featured performers Anthony da Costa with Abbie Gardner (prolific and talented 17 year-old singer-songwriter from Pleasantville, NY who was a winner in the prestigious Kerrville New Folk Competition last year and was voted as the emerging artist “most wanted” to return to the Flacon Ridge Folk Festival, is joined by Red Molly’s talented dobro player and singer-songwriter), Deepwells Mansion, Route 25A (just west of Moriches Road intersection), St. James. 8-10 p.m. Free. (www.acousticlongisland.com).
Open Mic, Cool Beanz,
Open Mic, The Cup,
Open Mic, Life Café,
Open Mic, Spike Hill,
Friday, 3/28
The Laws (a talented Canadian husband & wife duo who now make their home in
Screaming Orphans, four sisters from Donegal who make wonderful music together, ranging from catchy, melodic acoustic pop originals to traditional Irish tunes, Woodhaven House, 63-98 Woodhaven Boulevard, Rego Park, Queens. 10:30 p.m. No cover.
Saturday, 3/29
Little Toby Walker sings and plays the blues,
The Wiyos – whose music is a mix of vaudevillian ragtime blues, hillbilly swing and old –time country – perform for the the Last Licks Café, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Huntington, 109 Browns Road, Huntington. 8:30 p.m. (www.lastlickscafe.org). $15.
Sunday, 3/30
Jeff Black, a singer-songwriter of piano ballads and guitar-driven rockers, plays the Sunday Street Acoustic Series at the University Cafe at Stony Brook University. Local artist Mary Lamont opens in a special acoustic trio setting with Lora Kendall on fiddle and Jim Marchese on guitar) 2 p.m. ( www.universitycafe.org). 631-632-1093. Tickets are $15 until March 27 & $20 at the door (if available).
Brooklyn Songwriters Exchange, Brooklyn Lyceum,
Ponkiesburg Pickin’ Party, weekly traditional acoustic music jam, Kili,
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