Marsha Chartrand

“Live from Riverfolk” … it’s Thursday night!

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What’s a bandura? Find out at Riverfolk’s first online streaming concert, this Thursday, April 16 at 7:30 pm, featuring Michael Kostowskyj playing this Ukrainian instrument.

As a result of the recent Stay Home orders issued to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Riverfolk has been forced to cancel all of its programming, including its monthly Blacksmith Shop Concerts and Spring fund-raising events.

Like most arts organizations across the country, Riverfolk depends on its programming revenue to to pay artists and serve its community. Innovative solutions like streaming online are popping up all over social media networks, and Riverfolk is adding to the mix by launching weekly online concerts directly from their Facebook page beginning this Thursday, April 16, at 7:30 pm.

Riverfolk artists, both local and nationally-renowned performers will live stream these concerts directly from their homes; donations will be collected, and a portion of the proceeds will be used to support Riverfolk’s ongoing programs, with the majority of the proceeds going to our presenting musicians.

These two-hour concerts, starting at 7:30 pm EDT, will each feature artists with a variety of specialized skills and instrumentation. The first player will perform from 7:30-8:20 pm; the second from 8:30-9:20 pm.

Already confirmed are the following performers:

April 16–7:30 pm Ukrainian Bandura player Michael Kostowskyj performing a variety of genres; and at 8:30 pm, Grant Flick on Fiddle, Guitar, and Nyckleharpa, playing Folk and Jazz

April 23–7:30 pm Harmonica great Peter “MadCat Ruth playing Blues, Rock ‘n Roll, Folk, and World music; at 8:30 pm, presenting Mr. B on boogie-woogie blues Piano!

April 30–7:30 pm TBD; starting at 8:30 pm will be local favorite Singer/Songwriter Abigail Stauffer playing Folk and Neo-Soul.

May 7–the 7:30 pm performer will be well known singer/songwriter Joe Reilly, playing “Music from the Heart;” at 8:30 pm, enjoy Aaron Jonah Lewis, playing avant-garde jazz on the Banjo and Fiddle.

May 14–Manchester native, now performing in New Orleans, singer/songwriter Natalie Mae Palms will lead off at 7:30 pm, followed by more local music from area singer/songwriters Annie and Rod Capps, playing Urban Folk at 8:30 pm.

May 21–Don’t miss the Street Swing and Stomp Blues performance of Shari Kane & Dave Steele, at 7:30 pm; with another long time folk favorite on local and statewide stages, singer/songwriter Jen Sygit.

May 28–If you weren’t able to see Ara Topouzian perform his amazing Armenian music at the January Blacksmith Shop concert, you have another opportunity to see him here, beginning at 7:30 pm. He is followed up by Cary Cocher on Vibraphone at 8:30 pm.

“Riverfolk is hoping with this concert series to provide culture, comfort, and inspiration for these uncertain times,” said board member Aileen Rohwer. These Thursday night events will help to fill some of the musical void left when live musical performances were suspended as a result of the Stay Home-Stay Safe advisories.

To attend the concerts, go to the riverfolkmusicandarts.org website and click the Facebook Link at the bottom of the page. You do NOT need an account to view the livestream. If it asks you to create an account, you can click “not now” and still view the music event.

In other Riverfolk news, James Horton has been elected to serve as the organization’s new President as of April 5, 2020. Early in January, longtime founder and president Mark Palms stepped down to focus onhis own personal projects and continue the development of the “Dance, Manchester” events. While Carol Palms was appointed to serve as interim president, the board identified James Horton as the next viable candidate. Jim Joined Riverfolk in 2017 as a longtime volunteer and supporter. Residing in rural Lodi Township, Jim served as art teacher in his working career, and is now a letterpress printer, engraver and enthusiast of folk traditions. He saw in Riverfolk a good fit for serving the community with traditional values.

Until the current gathering restrictions are lifted, the remainder of Riverfolk’s programming–including Summertime Gazebo Concerts, Cultural Art Strings Summer Camp, and Riverfolk Jam Camp–are all on hold. Riverfolk plans to continue serving the community through its online streaming series and by engaging local artists to provide visual art content. Local Artist Margaret Shaw has already committed to post a weekly coloring sheet for people to engage in coloring therapy. You can find these sheets posted on their Facebook page or website.

Riverfolk would like to invite everyone to include a little art and music in your daily life to assist with connections, calming activities, or inspiration.

Grant Flick, a native of Bowling Green, Ohio, is currently studying jazz performance at the University of Michigan. He will perform on fiddle, guitar, and nyckleharpa starting at 8:30 pm Thursday.

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