English ballads & old songs with Deb Cowan & John Roberts

Branford Folk Music Society

May 14, 2011: Debra Cowan with John Roberts

The Branford Folk Music Society will close its 2010-11 concert season with a special presentation of Debra Cowan and John Roberts, internationally known and respected folk singers. For both performers, their pairing up for concerts all began with a question in 2009: "How are you getting to Chicago?" And with that, John and Debra decided to team up for a series of small concerts in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Illinois before arriving as separately booked artists at the Fox Valley Folklore Society's annual festival. The combination of car-pool and mini-tour was successful enough that John and Debra decided to do more performing together both in the United States and the United Kingdom. They met for the first time at the New Bedford Whaling Museum in 1999 where John and his long-time musical partner Tony Barrand were performing a concert of maritime songs. Afterwards, they continued to meet at various folk music events in New England and became friends, often appearing on stage together at New England folk festivals. John and Debra both share an enthusiasm and passion for the old songs and ballads that have been handed down through oral tradition in the English-speaking world. Even though a John Roberts and Debra Cowan evening will certainly include many traditional songs, there will be contemporary songs as well, some by writers personally known to both performers. Be prepared to join in and sing along!

Debra Cowan's appearance at this special Branford Folk concert is funded in part by the New England States Touring program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and the six New England state arts agencies.

From the minute she begins to sing, Debra Cowan grabs her audience and doesn't let go. Her ability to communicate the story within the song is rare. Her rich voice conjures images of stony-grey Celtic castles, green and rolling English landscapes and humorous American scenes as she moves through a repertoire full of traditional balladry with a sprinkling of sea music, contemporary songs and outrageously comic songs. Her love of songs from the British Isles has led Cowan to search out the connections with their North American ancestors.

In her newest release "Fond Desire Farewell", she's taken contemporary and time-honored public domain songs and put them in a modern setting. Debra's shared the stage with artists as varied as Brooks Williams, Richard Shindell and John Renbourn.

John Roberts, before coming to the United States in the 1960s, developed his interest in folk songs in high school when he and a group of friends decided to form a folk club. While doing graduate work at Cornell University, John met fellow student Tony Barrand and the two, sharing a common heritage and interest in folk song, began a partnership in 1969 that continues to this day. Their second recording, "Across The Western Ocean" is still regarded as a classic documenting the songs of the transatlantic packet ship trade and together they have numerous recording credits on many compilations in addition to their own releases. As well as performing with Tony, John has also continued to develop his art as a solo performer. With concertina and banjo, he sings the traditional folksongs of his native Britain in a manner that is at once authentic and authoritative, yet highly engaging and entertaining. His solo CD of sea songs, "Sea Fever", was released in 2007 to critical acclaim.

Wheelchair accessible.

Branford Folk Coffeehouse welcomes refreshment donations of pastries, cold drinks and other assorted goodies!  Bring your own travel mug or thermos and take home any leftover coffee!

Branford Folk Music Society - Traditionally, the Best Folk Music in southern Connecticut since 1973.