Folk for Folks

Strumming her fingers precisely against the strings of the guitar slung around her neck, singer/songwriter Jo Williamson harmoniously sang 1970s folk music during her show  Sunday at the .

“I’ve always been inspired by folk music, I love its simplicity. I love how folk music tells a story,” Williamson said.

Singing A capella, a few of the songs included in her show were "Big Yellow Taxi" by Joni Mitchell and "Don’t Think Twice" by Bob Dylan. In between each tune, Williamson spoke to the audience about the significance of folk music. “It’s the root of other music genres,” she said.

With her powerful voice captivating the folks in the crowd, Williamson received thunderous applause at the end of each song.

Describing her style of music as classical, folk and experimental, Williamson has two released records - Be the Man and Wake on the Hudson. Wake on the Hudson was written while she lived on her friends' 66 foot Canadian fishing boat, Split Rock that was docked on the Jersey side of the Hudson and Be the Man was written in South Williamsburg over the fall of 2010.

Performing since 2006, Williamson performs in Manhattan at venues such as the Rockwood Music Hall and Banjo Jims. This was her first time singing at the Syosset Library - she performs at other libraries regularly throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties. She is a graduate of New York University Tisch School of the Arts, and has worked with avant-garde/classical composer Faye Ellen Silverman who wrote "Left Behind," a fifteen minute piece for French horn and voice.

This composition was based on a musical story Williamson created with Ann Ellsworth called Left Right. Williamson recently debuted By Associations, a radio show that features live music and guests on WPKN 89.5 Bridgeport, CT. It airs every first Saturday of the month from 8 p.m.to10 pm.

To listen to snippets of Williamson’s songs, visit www.jowilliamson.com. For more information about free programs at the library, call 516 921-7161 or visit www.syossetlibrary.org.