Five Upcoming Concerts at Unitarian Fellowship

If you're a fan of the Minstrel series of concerts at the here's an advance look at the schedule, straight from the source:

1. Friday, July 22: The Dirdy Birdies Jug Band with Katie Weiss: The Dirdy Birdies first played the Minstrel in 1987, after they'd been together for over a decade. This is a band that's conceptionally tight and musically loose. They resurrect the old jug band standards of the '20's and '30's with faithful adherence to the style: lots of cheap tricks, bad jokes, double entendres, and great fun. Guitar, fiddle, washboard, washtub bass, jug, kazoo, a harmonica-playing whale, and big harmonies.

Folk Project member Katie Weiss puts on an unassuming, yet solid performance of traditional American folk songs. She sings in a lovely clear alto, accompanying herself with assertive flatpick guitar playing. Her performance reminds us why these old standards have stayed with us over the years.

2. Friday, July 29: The Minstrel's 36th Birthday Show: Hey, kids! Let's put on a show! The Minstrel's Birthday Show is an annual celebration of the founding in 1975 of the coffeehouse that was to become the Minstrel Acoustic Concert Series. The show features members of the Folk Project teamed up in randomly selected duos and trios performing on stage. From the seasoned professional to the talented amateur, these musicians rise to the occasion in a grand display of this remarkable organization that has survived and thrived for 36 years. Admission for this night only is $8.00. (Includes birthday cake)

3. Friday, August 5: Mara Levine & Caroline Cutroneo with Bill Buttner: Mara Levine's & Caroline Cutroneo's strong suits are their voices: rich and strong and blended in gorgeous harmonies. They sing original, traditional and contemporary folk with a dash of blues. Mara has been a welcome part of the Folk Project scene for the past two years. Audience members so inclined will find plenty of opportunity to add their own voices to their choruses and find harmonies of their own. They will be joined on stage by others in their circle of musical friends for a grand evening of beautiful music. Opening act Bill Buttner is a singer/songwriter from Marlboro NY who has impressed us at his numerous appearances at the Minstrel's Open Stages. His songs are best described as folk/Americana with his major influences being Steve Earle, Springsteen, and Bob Dylan.

4. Friday, August 12: A Folk Project Special Concert: Aztec Two-Step: Celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, the venerable duo Aztec Two-Step were true icons of the post '60's folk-rock genre. Rex Fowler and Neal Shulman's music is filled with poetic image-laden lyrics, close harmony singing, and sparkling guitar work. They've not stopped writing, and their new work is as exciting as their classic "Persecution & Restoration of Dean Moriarty" that graced the FM airways in 1972. They also pay homage to their predecessor harmony duo, Simon & Garfunkel with some great renditions of their music. Please note for this Special Concert only, tickets will be $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Usual 2nd Friday Open Stage changed to August 19.

5. Friday, August 19: Open Stage: This is an opportunity for all acoustic musicians to perform a 15-minute set on our stage, and for the audience to be treated to a diverse collection of acoustic musicians. We’ve often seen previews of our regular scheduled acts for the first time at Open Stage. For information on how to secure a performance slot, call 973-335-9489.