The Folk Project September 2021 www.FolkProject.org TM Please note that the events, dates, and times reported in this newsletter were accurate at the time of publication, but because of the evolving changes owing to the COVID-19 situa- tion, we recommend that you use any contact information provided to determine whether such activities have been canceled or postponed before you go. Troubadour Concerts Resume Friday We’re Back in the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship on Sept. 3 After 18 months of hiatus, the lights will be back on at the Troubadour Acoustic Concert series, resuming an otherwise almost continuous 47-year history of presenting concerts and Open stages. It will be a welcome event for the whole crew of the Troubadour as well as the throngs who will attend the opening concert with Mike Agranoff and the Annie Donahue Trio on September 3. It will largely be a continuation of our pre-COVID operation, but there will be some changes. In recogni- tion of the tail end of the Pandemic, we will be requiring the wearing of face coverings inside the building. And to further ensure everyone’s safety, we will be limiting attendance to only those who have been fully vaccinated. We will be checking proof of vaccination at the door. (Please don’t assume this is only a formality. No proof, no admission.) These restrictions will be amended over time as COVID conditions and the directives of medical authorities change. There will be some positive changes as well. We will also be resuming live-streaming our con- certs that ended with the demise of Concert Window in September of 2019. So those of you who cannot make the live show can still see it on video. Concerts will now be streamed on the same Facebook Live platform that has so well served our Stayaway concerts since March 2020. There will be a nominal $3 ticket price to view the concert, and we will continue to ask that you make a free-will donation to the headline act, as you so generously have done for the Stayaway artists. The changes will add somewhat to our volunteer needs. We will require extra help at the admissions desk to check Vax cards, and more sound and video techs at the controls to process good sound for the live stream. (If any of you ever had the notion to try your hand at the soundboard, but were unsure as to how, we will train you.) We’re also looking for more volunteers in the “Exchequer” role of handling the money at the show. Anyone willing to lend a hand and be part of the team, please contact Volunteer Chair Jean Scully. She will start you on your way. See you all at the Troubadour. Yippee!! —Mike Agranoff, Program Chair QUICK GUIDE TO THE INSIDE Virtual Song Circle .......................................................................... 4 Fall Acoustic Getaway Canceled.................................................... 4 No Masks Required for FP Television ........................................... 4 A Note From Our President ............................................................ 5 Free PFMS Virtual Concert ............................................................. 5 Board Meeting: The Summary .....................................................10 In Memoriam .................................................................................10 Good o’ the Order .........................................................................11 Members’ Gigs (& Friends) ...........................................................13 NOTE: web links in the eNewsletter are clickable Streaming Tuesdays The Troubadour To join these events, go to FolkProject.org/streaming-tuesdays Acoustic Concert Series September 2021 Tue., Sep. 7: Jaime Michaels 7:30 start Concerts every Friday at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship Jaime Michaels is a truly inspiring and creative artist whose lyrics are clever, $10 door unless 21 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ reflective, and wry. His music is generally upbeat, but he’s laser-focused on otherwise noted www.FolkProject.org • 973/335-9489 • [email protected] the heart—sweet, but never sappy, crafty but always insightful. He writes songs with a sense of purpose and sings them with a commitment to the Fri., Sep. 3: Mike Agranoff with The Annie Donahue Trio depth of meaning that a true artist expects from his art. As the Troubadour’s Program Chairman, Mike Agranoff has been its public face for decades. So it’s only fitting that he lead the Troubadour out of COVID-enforced Jaime has issued ten CDs and gained recognition nationally as a songwriter’s shutdown. As well as stewarding the Troubadour, he’s also a regularly touring sea- songwriter, so it’s funny that just this year he earned an Emerging Artist showcase at Falcon Ridge. soned performer, and a full set from him can be pretty impressive. His prodigious This vital, creative, and talented performer is always poignant and uplifting. He continues touring skills on guitar and concertina support a wide variety of music. Expect anything both in the US and in Italy, with a special feature performance at the 2018 Kerrville Folk Festival. from irreverent parodies to traditional ballads; from blazing dance tunes to Bach Michaels is the kind of artist you can’t miss. Join us for a special concert. concerti; from great chorus songs to his signature spoken-word recitations. In addition to some old favorites, expect brand new and long-abandoned songs from his vast repertoire. Tue., Sep. 14: Carrie Elkin & Danny Schmidt The Annie Donahue Trio features Annie Donahue (singer/songwriter), Todd Dennison (guitar/ Carrie Elkin & Danny Schmidt normally tour separately and solo, so it’s a vocals), and Craig Limey (bass/vocals). They gave their debut performance at the 2018 Folk Project Fall Getaway to rave reviews. They combine traditional folk music and gospel with jazz influences special treat when they share the stage together. If their chemistry seems to create unique musical arrangements with tight three-part vocal harmonies. They strive to make exceptional, they come by it honestly, as they are a rare breed: a romantic music that touches listeners with songs that are introspective, joyful, meditative, and move them partnership in real life, not just musical life. The two together on stage are a to join in singing. classic case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. Danny Schmidt is best known for his riveting poetic lyrics, and gypsy spirit Carrie Elkin is best known Fri., Sep. 10: Open Stage (admission: $5, Open Stage only) for her incredibly soulful and dynamic vocals. Together, the respective strengths they each bring The Folk Project Open Stage is the place where a diverse collection of acoustic musicians performs for a welcoming, supportive, and attentive audience. We’re a individually merge into a much greater whole: a performance of great energy and spirit that audi- listening room, not a noisy bar. We’ve often seen previews of our regularly sched- ences seem to be able to connect with emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually. uled opening acts for the first time at our Open Stage. (For information on how to sign up to perform at our next Open Stage, visit www.OpenStage.FolkProject.org.) Tue., Sep. 21: Arielle Silver Arielle Silver has the heart of Laurel Canyon and the soul of the Chelsea Hotel. Fri., Sep. 17: Jesse Ruben with Bill Buttner This East Coast-born/West Coast-based singer-songwriter is a consummate sto- Jesse Ruben is a young Brooklyn-based songwriter who can bounce between fre- ryteller. Her rich, expressive voice and acoustic guitar frame expansive melodies netic, wordy, cleverly written, almost manic ditties to incredibly tender and specific that echo her tours and travels across the American heartland. Her songs are love songs in the blink of an eye. He is at once spontaneous and beautifully crafted in his delivery, and a real charmer to boot. luminous, literate, alive, and filled with the exacting details of the seismic heart- Opening act Bill Buttner is a singer/songwriter from Marlboro NY who has impressed us at his breaks of ordinary life. Music Connection named Arielle in their top ten 2020 numerous appearances at the Troubadour’s Open Stages. His unassuming and low-key delivery “Top Prospects” and “Hot 100 Unsigned Artists.” Also a literary writer and holistic belies the impact of beautifully written and heartfelt songs. Those songs are best described as folk/ yoga teacher, Arielle leads retreats and teaches creative writing at Antioch University, Los Angeles. Americana with his major influences being Steve Earle, Bruce Springsteen, and Bob Dylan. This concert is guaranteed wonderful, and we invite you to an hour of joy and music. Fri., Sep. 24: Matt Nakoa with Dave Kleiner & Liz Pagan (An Agranoff Imperative!) Tue., Sep. 28: Robert Bidney Matt Nakoa is an award-winning songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist. Robert Bidney is a singer-songwriter whose message is as strong as his melo- A modern troubadour, he makes his home on the highways and concert stages dies. His music is relatable and has a strong commercial sensibility. Over the of America and appears regularly with folk music icon Tom Rush. The Boston Globe says of Nakoa, “Between his piano chops and heartfelt originals on gui- years, his songs have been covered by an eclectic group of artists around the tar, he drops jaws.” His stage presence is electrifying, bringing audiences to world, but his dream was to produce an album of his own. With a strong voice their feet at concerts and festivals throughout the country. If you’ve not seen him, this will be an and an always evolving attitude, he performs an eclectic collection of univer- unforgettable show. (Note from Troubadour Chair, Mike Agranoff: This guy is the real deal. In all sal meditations on love and harmony and the things that threaten them, told departments: songwriting, instrumental virtuosity, vocal chops, and stage charisma, Matt scores in a confidently unadorned lyrical style that only an experienced songwriter would attempt. With off the chart! You gotta see this man.) its message of love instead of hate, his music resonates in today’s social climate.