Compiled by Michael Kornfeld
Warm weather and some hot acoustic music are in the forecast for Long Islanders this summer, including a number of outdoor concert series and festivals. More than 125 concerts, open mics and jam sessions set for June through mid-July appear in this installment of the Long Island AcoustiCalendar.
In addition to lots of homegrown and locally-based talent, a number of top-notch touring musicians and singer-songwriters will be visiting our shores. Among them are Steve Tilston (June 1), Aztec Two-Step (June 6), Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet (June 7), Amy Speace & the Tearjerks (June 7), Emmylou Harris (June 20), Tom Paxton (June 21), Carolina Chocolate Drops (June 26), Dar Williams (June 28), Anthony da Costa and Abbie Gardner (July 6), and Janis Ian (July 6).
Sunday, 6/1
Brooklyn Songwriters Exchange, Brooklyn Lyceum,
Henry Butler, noted
Ponkiesburg Pickin’ Party, weekly traditional acoustic music jam, Kili,
Strike the
Sunday Street Acoustic Series at the University Café features Steve Tilston, a gifted British singer-songwriter and fingerstyle guitarist whose songs have been covered by Fairport Convention and others, Stony Brook Union building, Stony Brook University. 7 p.m. (www.universitycafe.org). Tickets are $22 at the door (if available).
Stephane Wrembel, French virtuoso guitarist, Barbes,
Tuesday, 6/3
Acoustic Open Mic with Jim Treutlein & friends, Jessie’s Roadhouse,
Buddy Merriam & Back Roads, LI bluegrass stalwarts, Checkmate Inn,
Wednesday, 6/4
Acoustic Long Island hour-long open mic followed by a 45-minute set by Amy Speace,
Folk Open Sing, sponsored by the Good Coffeehouse and the Pinewoods Folk Music Society of New York, Ethical Cultural Society building (basement), 53 Prospect Park West (near 2nd Street), Brooklyn. For information, call Alison Kelley, 718-636-6341.
Open Mic, Cool Beanz,
Open Mic, The Cup,
Open Mic, Life Café,
Open Mic, Spike Hill,
Roots n’ Ruckus, a night of folk, old-time and blues music, at Jalopy,
Thursday, 6/5
Johnny Cuomo, LI-based singer-songwriter, Molly Malone’s,
Cathy Kreger, LI-based singer-songwriter, Starfish,
Old Time Jam with Zot’s Dream (jug band music featuring banjos, washboard, washtub bass, tin-can drums, etc), Freddy’s
Little Toby Walker, masterful fingerstyle blues guitarist and all-around entertainer, helps celebrate America’s musical diversity in concert at the Henry Waldinger Memorial Library, 60 Verona Lane, Valley Stream. 7 p.m. 516-825-6422. Free.
Friday, 6/6
Aztec Two-Step, the harmonious folk-rock duo of Rex Fowler and Neal Shulman who have been performing for more than 35 years, and Danny (“Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues”) O’Keefe, play the
Cady Finlayson presents an evening of spirited fiddling and Irish ballads 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; $6 for kids.
Gathering Time, a trio featuring Glen Roethel, Stuart Markus and Hillary Foxsong that has been capturing attention and winning fans with its spirited blend of folk and acoustic originals, stylistic interpretations of choice covers, and wonderful three-part vocal harmonies, plays The Garden Stage at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Central Nassau, 223 Stewart Avenue (corner of Nassau Boulevard), Garden City. 8 p.m. $15.
Bennett Harris, fingerstyle Piedmont and Delta blues and ragtime guitarist, Jessie’s Roadhouse BBQ, 1810 Merrick Road, Merrick. 8:30 p.m.
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 with Vinny Crici at 7:30 p.m. (www.islandsongwriters.org).
PeaceSmiths Topical, A-Typical, Folk Music, Poetry and Whatever Coffeehouse, First United Methodist Church,25 Broadway/Route 110 (southernmost end near Merrick Road/Montauk Highway), Amityville. 8 p.m. (www.peacesmiths.org). 631-798-0778. $7 suggested donation.
Pedro Pereira Musical Birthday Bash features the LI-based singer-songwriter & ISS newsletter editor and some of his musical friends, Cool Beanz, 556 North Country Road (Route 25A), St. James.
The Rhythm Kings Acoustic Duo, Popei’s Clam Bar,
Saturday, 6/7
Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet, laissez les bon temps roulez avec some fine Cajun music from
Bill Carney’s Jug Addicts perform spirited jug band music, Barbes,
Phil Minissale, the finger-pickin’ good Long Island Blues Boy who’s now 21 and readying to release his debut album, plays Spoon Coffeehouse, 27A
.jpg "Amy Speace & the Tearjerks close out the Folk Music Society of Huntington’s First Saturdays Series for the season. [photo: Bob Berkowitz, RSB Imageworks]")
Amy Speace & the Tearjerks close out the Folk Music Society of Huntington’s First Saturdays Series for the season. Blessed with an amazing voice and a gift for songwriting, Amy Speace is one of the best new contemporary
Sunday, 6/8
“Sunday in the Park,” an afternoon of fine art, acoustic music, poetry and dance along the waterfront in
Acoustic Open Mic with Jim Treutlein & friends, Jessie’s Roadhouse,
Miller’s Crossing, LI-based bluegrass band whose repertoire is comprised mostly of originals, performs at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum,
Ponkiesburg Pickin’ Party, weekly traditional acoustic music jam, Kili,
Monday, 6/9
Lucky 13 Songwriters Night featuring LI-based singer-songwriters Marci Geller, Cathy Kreger, Terry Winchell and Sue De Vita, Mirelle’s Restaurant, 170 Post Avenue, Westbury. 7 p.m. $10 cover.
Tuesday, 6/10
Acoustic Open Mic with Jim Treutlein & friends, Jessie’s Roadhouse,
Wednesday, 6/11
Acoustic Long Island hour-long open mic followed by a 45-minute set by Andy Stack, a young Queens-based singer-songwriter, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, Deepwells Mansion, Route 25A (just west of Moriches Road intersection), St. James. 8-10 p.m. (www.acousticlongisland.com). Free.
Open Mic, Cool Beanz,
Open Mic, The Cup,
Open Mic, Life Café,
Open Mic, Spike Hill,
Roots n’ Ruckus, a night of folk, old-time and blues music, at Jalopy,
Thursday, 6/12
Johnny Cuomo, LI-based singer-songwriter, Molly Malone’s,
Cathy Kreger, LI-based singer-songwriter, Mac’s Steakhouse,
Phil Minissale, the finger-pickin’ good Long Island Blues Boy who’s now 21 and readying to release his debut album, plays Toast Coffeehouse,
Friday, 6/13
The Brooklyn Women’s Chorus, 45 women sing out for peace and justice at The Good Coffeehouse Music Parlor at the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture, 53 Prospect Park West near 2nd Street), Brooklyn. 8 p.m. (www.bsec.org). 718-768-2972. $10; $6 for kids.
Jack’s Waterfall — an eclectic, high-energy, LI-based acoustic ensemble fronted by composer and multi-instrumental Jack Licitra, whose music fuses jazz, blues, folk, pop and global rhythms — plays the Grounds and Sounds Café at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Stony Brook on Nichols Road (just north of Route 247, near the university). 8:45 p.m. performance is preceded by an open mic at 8 p.m. (www.groundsandsounds/uufsb.org). $15.
Cathy Kreger, LI-based singer-songwriter, Starfish,
Glen Roethel,
Patricia Shih — emotive, enlightening and entertaining LI-based singer-songwriter and award-winning children’s artist — performs a rare concert for adults (with hubby Stephen Fricker on bass), marking her 40th year as a professional musician, for the Our Times Coffeehouse at the Ethical Humanist Society, 38 Old Country Road, Garden City. 8 p.m. (www.ourtimescoffeehouse.org). $15.
Saturday, 6/14
Saturday Night Jam, bluegrass and acoustic, Sunny’s Bar,
Sunday, 6/15
Brooklyn Songwriters Exchange, Brooklyn Lyceum,
Cathy Kreger, LI-based singer-songwriter, Meeting House Creek Inn,
Ponkiesburg Pickin’ Party, weekly traditional acoustic music jam, Kili,
.jpg "Pat Wictor & Cheryl Prashker [photo: Gordon Nash]")
Pat Wictor (gifted and rootsy singer-songwriter, song stylist and lap-style slide guitarist) celebrates the release of his new CD, Sunset Waltz, and performs with percussionist extraordinaire Cheryl Prashker at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum, 440 Montauk Highway, Great River. 2 p.m. (www.islipartscouncil.org). 631-224-5420. Free admission. $6 parking fee per car. Bring folding chairs or blankets.
Stephane Wrembel, French virtuoso guitarist , Barbes,
Tuesday, 6/17
Acoustic Open Mic with Jim Treutlein & friends, Jessie’s Roadhouse,
Wednesday, 6/18
Acoustic Long Island hour-long open mic followed by a 45-minute set by Gregory Douglas, a 27 year-old Vermont-based artist whose music blends contemporary folk, pop and rock, Deepwells Mansion, Route 25A (just west of Moriches Road intersection), St. James. 8-10 p.m. (www.acousticlongisland.com). Free.
Open Mic, Cool Beanz,
Open Mic, The Cup,
Open Mic, Life Café,
Open Mic, Spike Hill,
Roots n’ Ruckus, a night of folk, old-time and blues music, at Jalopy,
Thursday, 6/19
Johnny Cuomo, LI-based singer-songwriter, Molly Malone’s,
Cathy Kreger, LI-based singer-songwriter, Mac’s Steakhouse,
Andy Statman, influential mandolinist and clarinetist, plays Klezmer and more, Barbes,
Friday, 6/20
Friends of the Arts presents Emmylou Harris at Planting Fields Arboretum in
The Moonlighters, vocal harmonies accented by guitar and ukulele, Barbes,
Teddy Thompson, Richard’s son follows in his footsteps,
LI-based performing artists Ed Wernersbach, Tony DeStefano and Laura Perdicaro, Spoon Coffeehouse, 27A Wellwood Avenue, Lindenhurst. 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, 6/21
Fourteen Feet, NY-based Americana-roots rockers play acoustic, RS Jones,
Homegrown String Band (Inspired by the rural string bands of the early 20th century, LI’s Jackofsky family has been performing trad. music and lively originals together for more than a decade), Eastenders Coffeehouse, 40 East Main Street, Riverhead. 8 p.m.
Buddy Merriam & Back Roads, LI bluegrass stalwarts, present a free concert at The Common Ground, a lovely park located between Gillette and Candee Avenues in
Tom Paxton, one of the leading folk troubadours of our time, performs as part of the annual Huntington Summer Arts Festival on the Chapin Rainbow Stage at Heckscher Park, Prime Avenue of Main Street (Route 25A), Huntington. LI’s own Bob Westcott opens. 8:30 p.m. (www.huntingtonarts.org). Free. Bring lawn chairs or blankets.
Saturday Night Jam, bluegrass and acoustic, Sunny’s Bar,
Sunday, 6/22
An afternoon of blues and jazz with Phil Minissale (the finger-pickin’ good Long Island Blues Boy who is now 21) and Steve Adelson (an esteemed player of the Chapman Stick) at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum, 440 Montauk Highway, Great River. 2 p.m. (www.islipartscouncil.org). 631-224-5420. Free admission. $6 parking fee per car. Bring folding chairs or blankets.
Ponkiesburg Pickin’ Party, weekly traditional acoustic music jam, Kili,
Songs of the Sea Concert Series presents Strike The Bell, a sea shanty duo featuring Stuart Markus and Judith Zweiman, in the Fire Island Lighthouse Keepers Quarters. Park in the eastern end of parking field 5 at Robert Moses State Park and walk along the boardwalk to the lighthouse. 3p.m. This free event is presented by the Friends of Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society with support from Suffolk County and the Folk Music Society of Huntington.
Stephane Wrembel, French virtuoso guitarist , Barbes,
Tuesday, 6/24
Acoustic Open Mic with Jim Treutlein & friends, Jessie’s Roadhouse,
Wednesday, 6/25
Acoustic Long Island hour-long open mic followed by a 45-minute set by Bess Rogers, a young Brooklyn-based indie, folk and pop artist, Deepwells Mansion, Route 25A (just west of Moriches Road intersection), St. James. 8-10 p.m. (www.acousticlongisland.com). Free.
Open Mic, Cool Beanz,
Open Mic, The Cup,
Open Mic, Life Café,
Open Mic, Spike Hill,
Roots n’ Ruckus, a night of folk, old-time and blues music, at Jalopy,
Thursday, 6/26
Carolina Chocolate Drops, the Folk Alliance’s Emerging Artists of the year revisit the black string band music of the 1920s and 30s, share a bill with the Dixie Hummingbirds, whose roots go back to the same era, in the Celebrate Brooklyn! series at the Prospect Park Bandshell, Prospect Park West and
Johnny Cuomo, LI-based singer-songwriter, Molly Malone’s,
Cathy Kreger, LI-based singer-songwriter, Starfish,
Friday, 6/27
Buddy Merriam & Back Roads, LI bluegrass stalwarts, perform (with LI-based singer-songwriter Terry Winchell opening) as part of the annual Huntington Summer Arts Festival on the Chapin Rainbow Stage at
The Wingdale Community Singers perform a wide range of folk music with instrumental accompaniment, Barbes,
Saturday, 6/28
Saturday Night Jam, bluegrass and acoustic, Sunny’s Bar,
Dar Williams, one of today’s most gifted and engaging contemporary singer-songwriters, performs at the intimate Stephen Talkhouse,
The Wingdale Community Singers perform a wide range of folk music with instrumental accompaniment, Barbes,
Sunday, 6/29
Bennett Harris Acoustic Trio — featuring the fingerstyle Piedmont & Delta blues and ragtime guitarist, bass player Gary Brooks and fiddler Richard Barbera — perform at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum,
Ponkiesburg Pickin’ Party, weekly traditional acoustic music jam, Kili,
Stephane Wrembel, French virtuoso guitarist, Barbes,
Tuesday, 7/1
Acoustic Open Mic with Jim Treutlein & friends, Jessie’s Roadhouse,
Buddy Merriam & Back Roads, LI bluegrass stalwarts, Checkmate Inn,
Roots n’ Ruckus, a night of folk, old-time and blues music, at Jalopy,
Thursday, 7/3
Cathy Kreger, LI-based singer-songwriter, Starfish,
Paul Zunno (blues guitarist and songwriter, who grew up on LI and formerly played lead guitar for Wilson Pickett) and Return to the Dream (an alternative acoustic ensemble featuring LI’s own Martha Trachtenberg and Tom Griffith, as well as Diane Garisto and Andy Hunerberg) perform as part of the annual Huntington Summer Arts Festival on the Chapin Rainbow Stage at Heckscher Park, Prime Avenue, off Main Street (Route 25A), Huntington. 8:30 p.m. Free. Bring lawn chairs or blankets.
Saturday 7/5
Third Annual Acoustic Long Island Summer Concert on the lawn of the
Homegrown String Band, (Inspired by the rural string bands of the early 20th century, LI’s Jackofsky family has been performing trad. music and lively originals together for more than a decade), as part of The Music Project’s concert series at the Custer Institute & Observatory, 1115 Main Bayview Road (south of Route 25), Southold. Call 631-765-2626 for details.
Roger Silverberg, LI-based singer-songwriter and guitarist is joined by Mike Christian on bass, Spoon Coffeehouse, 27A
Sunday, 7/6
Anthony da Costa & Abbie Gardner celebrate the release of their first duo CD, Bad Days, Better Nights, during what promises to be an enjoyable house concert in
Janis Ian, who is still writing and belting out songs several decades after scoring hits with “Society’s Child” and “At Seventeen,” performs as part of the annual Huntington Summer Arts Festival on the Chapin Rainbow Stage at Heckscher Park, Prime Avenue and Main Street (Route 25A), Huntington. 8:30 p.m. (www.huntingtonarts.org). Free. Bring lawn chairs or blankets.
Sunday, 7/8
Glen Roethel,
Patricia Shih, award-winning and thoroughly entertaining singer-songwriter and children’s artist, performs as part of the Huntington Summer Arts Festival’s Family Series on the Chapin Rainbow Stage at Heckscher Park, Prime Avenue and Route 25A, Huntington. 7:30 p.m. (www.huntingtonarts.org). Free. Bring folding chairs or blankets.
Wednesday, 7/9
“Encore,” a free evening concert featuring the talented musical performers from the Northport Arts Coalition’s June 8 “Sunday in the Park” event, takes place at the Northport Public Library, 151 Laurel Avenue, Northport. 7 p.m.
Bennett Harris Acoustic Duo, featuring the fingerstyle blues and ragtime guitarist and bass player Gary Brooks, Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library, 1125 Broadway, Hewlett. 7 p.m. 516-374-1967.
Open Mic, Spike Hill,
Roots n’ Ruckus, a night of folk, old-time and blues music, at Jalopy,
Thursday, 7/10
Cathy Kreger, LI-based singer-songwriter, Mac’s Steakhouse,
Friday, July 11
.jpg "Gathering Time [photo: Ted K]")
Gathering Time, LI’s new folk-rock harmony trio (featuring Glen Roethel, Stuart Markus and Hillary Foxsong) presents a tribute to the great songwriters and folk-rock groups of the 1960s and 70s, Dix Hills Center for the Performing Arts at Five Towns College, 305 North Service Road (of the L.I.E.), Dix Hills. 7:30 p.m. (www.dhpac.org). 631-656-2148. $20.
Second Annual Great South Bay Music Festival features some 40 musical acts (rock, jam, folk and blues) including living blues-folk legend Odetta, LI-based folk-pop singer-songwriter Caroline Doctorow, local Delta blues and ragtime guitarist Bennett Harris, Jack’s Waterfall (the eclectic, high-energy, LI-based acoustic ensemble fronted by singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jack Licitra), and alternative acoustic foursome Return to the Dream (featuring Martha Trachtenberg, Tom Griffith, Diane Garisto and Andy Hunerberg).
Claudia Jacobs Band plays the Grounds and Sounds Café at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Stony Brook on
Little Toby Walker, masterful fingerstyle blues guitarist and all-around entertainer, plays the Hauppauge Public Library, 601 Veterans Memorial Highway Hauppauge. 7 p.m. 631-979-1600. Free.
Saturday, 7/12
East End-based singer-songwriter Caroline Doctorow performs as part of The Wine Press Concert Series, Paumanok Vineyards,
Fourteen Feet, NY-based Americana-roots rockers play acoustic, RS Jones,
Second Annual Great South Bay Music Festival,
Sunday, 7/13
Second Annual Great South Bay Music Festival,
Cathy Kreger, LI-based singer-songwriter, Meeting House Creek Inn,
Like/Follow Us!