Folkie Fest: Blues to Bluegrass

This event will be a little different, as our friend Kerry Kearney will be narrating and sharing a bit about the evolution of blues music to what is now known as bluegrass. The origins of bluegrass and the blues are fascinating and intertwined with American musical heritage. The blues came before bluegrass, emerging from the experiences of African Americans in the Mississippi Delta region. Blues music reflects the struggles, emotions, and stories of the African American community, often accompanied by soulful vocals and simple instrumentation. Blending elements from various genres, including gospel, country, and blues, created the distinct bluegrass sound. It introduced a new form of traditional country music characterized by hard-driving acoustic instruments and high vocal harmonies. Join us on Sunday April 6th as we navigate the journey with music and stories, and showcasing some of Kerry Kearney’s guitar collection. Also performing we welcome LI blues artist Kane Daily, bluegrass will be represented by The Mountain Maidens, Martha Trachtenberg, and Chic Voorhis.

Kerry Kearney is a slide guitar master, plays and works his instrument to limits that amaze even the most seasoned musician or cultured music fan. Kerry Kearney’s style, music from the “Psychedelta”, is his own brand containing an upbeat mix of American Blues & Roots, created from writing and performing on the circuit for over 40 years. Along with his band, he has continued to experience an overwhelming and positive response over the airwaves and especially when performing live. His wailing upbeat style of blues, driven by tasty, inspired guitar riffs, electrifying slide and infectious rhythms, has allowed Kerry to amass a huge loyal following.

Kane Daily has over the years gained the attention of audiences in local bars and restaurants across Long Island, NY. Growing up in a Musical Family, he is a self-taught true musician. Beginning his career in the late-seventies cover circuit, He was weaned on Sixties Hard Rock and 70’s guitar driven blues/rock sounds. Kane later embraced the Delta-Blues style of guitar playing, including acoustic and slide for which he has become known. In performance and recordings he can be seen and heard occasionally performing with local groups. Additionally his own trio has performed on stages and venues at festivals among great national and semi national artists!

The Mountain Maidens are Marie Mularczyk O’Connell, Candice Baranello and Lorraine Berger. They are three dynamic voices blended in splendid ancient and modern harmonies that will lift your spirit, excite your senses and warm your heart. They sing ballads, folk songs, Medieval, Irish Traditional music, love songs, country and gospel songs including themes of social justice to the accompaniment of guitars, banjo, dulcimer, bouzouki, spoons and castanets.

Martha Trachtenberg was a founding member of the Buffalo Gals, the first all-woman bluegrass band, back in the mid-1970s, aka the dawn of time. Her 1999 CD, It's About Time, won straight As from Newsday and radio airplay both in the States and abroad. Martha’s songs have been recorded by a number of artists from the bluegrass world, including Tony Trischka and Skyline, Nothin’ Fancy, Missy Raines and Jim Hurst, Dede Wyland, John and Cathy Cadley, and, most recently, IBMA’s 2024 Male Vocalist of the Year, Greg Blake. She has shared the bill with Janis Ian, David Bromberg, Livingston Taylor, and Lucy Kaplansky, to her infinite delight. For the past three years, she has taught and/or performed at the prestigious Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival and is slowly but surely assembling songs for another CD. So slowly, in fact, that the working title is Better Late Than Never.

Chic Voorhis, a Port Jeff-based musician, has been influencing the Long Island music scene since the mid-1970s. In the early days, Chic played guitar and mandolin in bands and duo’s including Greasy Joe & the Surfboards (50s, 60s), Offshoot (folk-rock), Chic & Cooch (acoustic blues) and Angels in Overdrive (country), as well as solo performances at colleges and clubs across Long Island and northern New Jersey. Chic was a fixture at the New Moon Café (E. Setauket), the Hobbit Hole (Selden) and other legendary music venues of the day. After raising a family and pickin’ at home, in the 1990s, Chic played in a classic rock band (Bishops

Gate) and later formed Chic & Friends Rhythm & Schmooze to explore swing, blues, folk, bluegrass and jam music, tapping every facet of his musical background. Throughout the years, Chic has composed a number of original songs that reflect the life and times of the musician, and incorporate the styles of music he has explored during many years of playing. Chic will be joined

by John Brisoƫ on mandolin and vocals and will be performing a collection of original Blues to Bluegrass music.

Join us at the Moriches Community Center, 313 Frowein Rd, Center Moriches, NY 11934

2 pm to 5 pm

$15 (cash only) at the door

Facebook event link: https://www.facebook.com/share/18hfU5yB9b/

Folkie Fest offers an ongoing concert series with local acoustic artists in the spirit of folk music as envisioned by the late Pete Seeger. We provide a listening space and support local, singer/songwriters sharing their original work. A portion of the proceeds are donated to the community center, and a 50/50 raffle is held to benefit Long Island Cares: The Harry Chapin Food Bank.

Like "Folkie Fest" on Facebook to keep up with all our events. If you want to check out some of the past events and some of the artists we have had on our stage, there are highlights on the Folkie Fest YouTube channel. To keep up with happenings, like Folkie Fest on Facebook, or sign up for our mailing list at folkiefest@gmail.com