Westport, CT – First Folk Sunday is showing its true roots. Before you go to the polls on Tuesday November 5, come to the Woody Guthrie concert at First Folk Sunday on Sunday November 3. Woody Guthrie, the man who wrote the song that many people have adopted as their national anthem, “This Land is Your Land,” would be very happy to know that Westport’s favorite folk series, First Folk Sunday, is honoring him and his music 2 days before the election.
Suzanne Sheridan, First Folk Sunday’s headline singer and artistic force for the past two seasons, will be joined, for this ultimate tribute to the musical icon of American democracy and freedom, by Matt Lavigni, Paul Bluestein, Susan T. Reid, Myra Healy, and Colin Healy. Matt Lavigni is returning to First Folk Sunday following his sold-out solo appearance last year.
Susan T. Reid and Paul Bluestein each have been playing string instruments for more than fifty years – just not together, until recently. Susan started as a guitar player in her teens and later studied fiddle with Eileen Ivers, the fiddle virtuoso. She eventually took up the banjo and was taught by her friend, Pete Seeger. She comes from a love of traditional Scottish, Irish and American music and released an album of her favorites titled “Bridges to Home” in 2016. Paul Bluestein got his first guitar when he was 16 and learned to play by listening to the folk singers of the 60’s and then the folk-rock of the 70’s. Performing together as the duo “Side by Side” Paul and Susan have blended the music of Appalachia, Greenwich Village and Long Beach, California.
Colin and Myra Healy, as teenagers, discovered folk music together. They performed at local events and ran the Lorien Coffeehouse in Huntington Center in the 60’s and the Twelfth Note Coffeehouse in Stratford in the 90’s. The Healy’s performed with the Ash Creek String Band for almost 4 decades. They currently host a song circle at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Stratford on the second Friday of each month. Colin is a founding member of the Walkingwood Mandolin Quartet. Myra taught music and children’s literature for preschool students at Housatonic Community College. They perform a wide variety of popular (and obscure) roots music on many vintage and handmade instruments including guitar, fiddle, mandolin, octave mandolin, harmonica and 5 string banjo.
For tickets to the performance on November 3, click on the First Folk Sunday website. The music cover charge is $15. Table service is available for those who would like to enjoy brunch or lunch, and cocktails and beverages are offered, also.
Doors open at noon for this Guthrie musical afternoon. There is ample parking at the Saugatuck Rowing Club with additional parking across the street at 518 Riverside Avenue. For more information visit the First Folk Sunday website at https://firstfolksunday.com and for questions, call 203-984-7562.