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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.
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Branford Folk Coffeehouse
The Branford Folk Coffeehouse is in the auditorium of the First
Congregational Church of Branford, 1009 Main Street, Branford, CT. To get
there, take I-95 Cedar Street exit #54, go south on Cedar Street to the
end (crossing Route 1), turn left on Main Street. The Congregational
Church is the brick church on the green (on the right). Wheelchair
accessible. Concerts begin at 8:00 P.M. Unless otherwise specified,
admission is $15 for nonmembers, $12 for members, and $5 for children 12
and under. For more information, call 203-488-7715.
Email: branfordfolk@yahoo.com
Please contact us if you are interested in helping the coffeehouse as a
volunteer. In particular, refreshment donations will be welcomed.
If you are wondering if a concert will be held on an evening when the
weather is bad, please call 203-488-7715. (There is no one at the church
who can give out concert information.) Also, cancellations will be posted
on WTNH Channel 8.
35th Anniversary Schedule
To celebrate Branford Folk Music Society's 35th anniversary season and
to honor Folk Legacy's 45 years of making music available to all, we have
built our performer schedule around the people who have been recorded by
Folk Legacy Records. (Indicated by * in the schedule below)
Sept. 13, 2008: Cliff Haslam* with the Ancient Mariners
Cliff Haslam - A mainstay of the folk music scene in southeastern New
England for decades, Cliff Haslam has inspired countless people to sing,
learn songs and to join in on the choruses. The Ancient Mariners are a
Guilford based chantey group who grew out of the Ancient Mariners Fife &
Drum Corps. They and Cliff are regular performers at the Mystic Sea Music
Festival.
Oct. 11, 2008: Watersign
An ensemble dedicated to keeping alive the wonderful tradition of
community singing. An exploration of "humankind's first
instrument" - the voice.
Nov. 8, 2008: Ed Miller*
Ed Miller has been hailed as "one of the finest singers to come
out of the Scottish Folksong Revival" and as "one of Scotland's
best singing exports."
Dec. 13, 2008: The Paton Family* (Founders, Folk Legacy Records)
For a rare treat Caroline and Sandy will be joined by their sons,
Robin and David for an evening of family oriented music.
Jan. 10, 2009: Bob Zentz*
Bob is a singer of songs, old and new, about people, places and times
gone by, a player of dozens of the usual (and unusual!)
"unplugged" folk instruments, a collector of stories in verse,
a teller of "the tales behind the songs", a commentator on the
ecology of the human spirit, and a scholar of the evolution of
"homemade music".
Feb. 14, 2009: An evening of real Irish music with PV O'Donnell, Bonnie Milner* and Dan Milner*
PV O'Donnell is a master fiddler in the Donegal style. He played his
first recital at the age of 4. Bonnie and Dan Milner are well known for
their singing of traditional music, both as soloists and as a duet. Their
material is drawn from a number of traditions, including Ireland, sea
music, English ballads, etc. They also sing some contemporary pieces that
have the feel of old songs. PV and the Milners will delight you as they
trade tunes, songs, stories, reminiscences, poetry ... There is no
telling where the night may lead.
Mar. 14, 2009: Brian Peters
Traditional songs and music from England with squeezeboxes and guitar.
"A singer, guitarist and melodeon player of rare ability" -
Dirty Linen (USA).
April 11, 2009: Cindy Kallet* and Grey Larsen
Cindy Kallet and Grey Larsen each well known and loved for their
decades of music making have joined musical forces in a new duo.
May 9, 2009: Bill Staines*
"Any new song that can live comfortably beside the well-worn
songs of folk tradition has a good chance of surviving the test of time.
Such, we believe, are the songs of Bill Staines" - Charles
"Sandy" Paton, Folk Legacy Records.
Previous concerts at the Branford Folk Coffeehouse
Branford Folk Photo Gallery
The Branford Folk Music Society is a member of
the North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance,
and the Arts Council of Greater New Haven.
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The Branford Folk Music Society primarily books
"traditional" and/or "traditions based" acoustic
music, rooted in the Anglo-Celtic and/or American folk genres, and other
traditional forms, such as Cajun, French Canadian, Klezmer, etc. We are
also open to booking "traditions based" performers who write
their own material provided their music demonstrates a knowledge and
respect for these long established traditions.
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The Branford Folk Music Society posts monthly concert listings on the
following web sites and blogs:
Guidezilla.com at http://guidezilla.com/
americantowns.com at http://www.branford.americantowns.com/
Nonprofit Bulletin at http://www.nhbulletin.blogspot.com/
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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!
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Folk Music on the Radio
WNHU (88.7 FM, West Haven, CT):
"The Folk Show", John Mazza, Barbara Ruth and others, Sunday noon-2:00 P.M.
wnhufolk@yahoo.com
http://www.newhaven.edu/wnhu/
WSHU (91.1 FM, Fairfield, CT) and WSUF (89.9 FM, Noyack/Greenport, NY):
"Profiles in Folk", Steve Winters, Friday 10:00 P.M.-Midnight.
"Prairie Home Companion", Saturday 6:00-8:00 P.M.
"Thistle and Shamrock", Fiona Ritchie, Saturday 8:00-9:00 P.M.
"AcoustiConnections", Walt Graham, Saturday 9:00-10:00 P.M.
http://www.wshu.org/
Branford Folk Music Society
P.O. Box 441
Branford, CT 06405
http://folknotes.org/branfordfolk/