Branford Folk Music Society

The Branford Folk Music Society sponsors the Branford Folk Coffeehouse, a monthly concert of folk music, September through May, at the First Congregational Church, on the green in Branford, Connecticut.

The group also holds monthly "house hoots" at members' homes, open to all for informal singing and playing, and produces a monthly newsletter with schedules and information on concerts and folk performers in Connecticut and the region. Branford Folk Music Society members receive a copy of the newsletter in the mail, as well as discounts in admission to our coffeehouse concerts. Become a member of the Branford Folk Music Society.

February 13, 2010: Gerard Edery

Gerard Edery explores several of the world's musical traditions. Commanding songs in some dozen languages, he brings an ancient repertoire to the contemporary stage, while fueling the evolution of Sephardic music with new arrangements and original compositions. Gerard and his wife Elspeth Strang, who will appear with Gerard for the concert, will present a varied program of Sephardic songs, English ballads, French Renaissance folksongs, and Spanish and American folk tunes. From joyous hymns of celebration to poignant ballads of loss, from flamenco-inspired pieces to holy works of praise, their instrumental virtuosity and passionate performance make for an unforgettable musical experience.

Gerard, a vocalist, composer, cantorial soloist and guitar and saz player, is recognized as a leading musical folklorist and a master singer and instrumentalist. He has at his command a remarkable range of ethnic folk styles and traditions from around the world. Not only does Gerard regularly uncover and preserve songs from Europe, the Middle East, South America and ancient Persia, he energizes these repertoires by interpreting them for contemporary audiences and by teaming up with some of the world's most highly acclaimed virtuoso musicians.

Considered one of the world's leading interpreters of Sephardic song, Gerard has been honored with the Sephardic Musical Heritage Award. In addition to a busy concert schedule, he also has 12 CD releases to his name as well as a critically acclaimed Sephardic songbook released by Tara Publications and Sefarad Publishing. The New York Jewish Week calls Edery and his ensemble "among the best interpreters of Sephardic music in the business."

Elspeth Strang Edery sang before she could talk. She sang throughout her childhood in church choirs and in school productions. At age 11 she moved with her family from Rhodesia, present day Zimbabwe, to New Brunswick, Canada.  She continued singing but also started playing the flute. Though Elspeth has trained extensively in dance therapy and social work, she is now a practicing psychoanalyst in New York City. They are recording a children's album which will be released on Sefarad Records later this year.

As a prelude to the performance of Gerard and Elspeth Edery, New Haven-area oud player Nick Laggis will offer musical selections in the church hall lobby.

Listen to this audio webcast for the February 13th concert (8 m. 1 s.; MP3 format).

March 13, 2010: John Whelan

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day early as seven-time All-Ireland button accordion champion John Whelan brings his uniquely passionate energy and stirring Irish tunes to the Branford Folk Music Society for a return visit. Whelan, a resident of Milford who has been referred to as the modern-day king of button accordion, will lead an ensemble for the concert that includes Jerry O'Sullivan, widely acknowledged as America's premier uilleann pipes player, and fiddler Rose Flanagan, one of the original members of Cherish the Ladies, the renowned all-women's traditional Irish music group.

John has recorded seven solo albums, appeared as a guest artist on numerous Celtic compilation albums, performed at hundreds of shows and festivals, played on the "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" television show and appeared in three major motion pictures including Ang Lee's "Ride With the Devil" and "Gods and Generals" starring Robert Duvall. His unique musical vision and high-energy live performances led to him being named "Traditionalist of the Year" in 1998 by Irish Echo, the national newspaper's highest honor for traditional folk music. John was raised on the sounds and spirit of the Irish fiddle and pipes. Born to Irish parents living in Dunstable, England, John spent his early years learning his ancestral music and by age 14 had recorded his first album in honor of his father, "The Pride Of Wexford." John's artistry fully blossomed in 1980 when he immigrated to the United States. He appeared in the original production of the Broadway musical "Riverdance" and then teamed with Eileen Ivers, the show's fiddler, to record a cutting-edge album entitled "Fresh Takes" for Green Linnet Records. Following that came a cascade of innovative albums for Narada Records combining Celtic music's brightest lights with American and world music stars such as country music's Kathy Mattea, Broadway's Bernadette Peters, Latin guitarist Oscar Lopez and Ugandan superstar Samite. In recent years, John has returned to his roots with release of several albums of traditional Irish music.

Jerry O'Sullivan long ago achieved a reputation for technical and melodic mastery of the uilleann pipes, an Irish bagpipe known for its subtlety and expression. Jerry is also widely recorded on the tin whistle, the low whistle, the Highland bagpipes, and the Scottish smallpipes. He has appeared on more than 90 albums and has performed or recorded with diverse artists such as The Boston Pops, Don Henley, Paul Winter, James Galway, Dolly Parton, The Colorado Symphony Orchestra, The Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Eileen Ivers, and many others. He was a featured soloist on Paul Winter's GRAMMY-winning album, "Celtic Solstice."

Rose Conway Flanagan is a traditional Irish fiddle teacher from Rockland County, New York who originally began music lessons as a child with Martin Mulvilhill while she was growing up in the Bronx.  She further developed her Sligo style of playing with the help of Martin Wynne and her older brother Brian. Rose was an original member of "Cherish the Ladies" and currently conducts a large music school in her hometown of Pearl River, N.Y. In her spare time she has been a teacher at the Alaska fiddle camp as well as a regular instructor at the Catskills Irish Arts Weeks, runs various sessions, and plays with her group the Green Gates Ceili Band in the tri-state area.

New Board Members Sought

The Board of Directors is currently accepting nominations to fill at large positions on the Board.

• Qualifications: enjoyment of traditional folk music and desire to see it continue in Branford. Skills in particular areas such as finances, grant writing, small business administration, etc. are welcome but not required. Must become a member of BFMS if not already a member.
• Responsibilities: attend about eight board meetings a year, attend and help at most of the nine concerts of the season (September through May).
• Benefits: free attendance when you help out at a concert, decision making contribution to the programming and other issues of the society, opportunity to get to know some wonderful people who are musicians.

Click here for the application form.

Branford Folk Music Society T shirts for sale now

Pick up one for yourself (and a friend too!) at any of our nine concerts from September thru May.
Or you can order by email: branfordfolk@yahoo.com
T shirt: Large centered color logo on ice gray background: $15
Polos and Henley styles with small color logo on left chest: $20 (by special order)

Branford Folk CD Openers

Got CD's? Frustrated by that pesky shrink wrap that is so difficult to remove?
Fret no more! Branford Folk Music Society has the perfect solution!
The Branford Folk 30th Anniversary CD opener!
Get one and you can be listening to the new CD's you buy at our concerts as soon as you get in your car. Branford Folk CD openers make the perfect Valentine's gift, housewarming present and will come in handy during the summer folk festival season. Priced at just $2.00 so you can get them for all your friends and place one near every CD player in your home. Pick them up at the next concert!