The Princeton Folk Music Society launches its 2026 Fall Season with “Rakish,” a duo comprising violinist Maura Shawn Scanlin and guitarist Conor Hearn. In a performance that is something more akin to concert music, Rakish explores tunes and songs from Irish and American folk traditions. The duo stretches boundaries, going beyond basic session playing. As Conor puts it, “there has been a shift from playing in the more informal setting of an Irish or Scottish session, where, in terms of arrangement, you’re always winging it to a certain extent. Over the years, we’ve moved to more of a concert approach, where there is more of a deliberate choice to put our own slant on things.” Maura Shawn adds “we have moments in a piece where we’ll be playing one way, with me playing the melody and Conor playing harmony, and suddenly we’ll flip and I’ll play harmony while Conor plays melody. Having a duo is a nice way of flip-flopping those roles a lot. It’s fun, and it keeps people guessing.” The name “Rakish” is derived from the traditional fiddle tune “Rakish Paddy.”
Maura Shawn, a two-time U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion and a winner of the Glenfiddich Fiddle Competition, wields the technical range of an accomplished classical violinist and the deep sensitivity of a traditional musician. Conor, a native to the Irish music communities of Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, MD, makes his home in Boston, playing guitar for a number of traditional music acts and bands.
“Scanlin and Hearn both have lovely voices individually, and they harmonize in a most excellent way. Scanlin’s fiddle playing provides great texture and depth.” Daniel Neely, The Irish Echo
To hear Rakish, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UOcl18l7LI&t=14s
8:00 pm. Friday, September 18, 2026, Christ Congregation Church, 50 Walnut Lane, Princeton, NJ. Tickets online or at the door (if not sold-out): $30 ($25 members, $10 students 12-22, $5 Child 11 & under). Tickets and livestream Access: www.princetonfolk.org. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Ample free parking.
For more information: www.princetonfolk.org.
Photo credit, Sasha Pedro