SATURDAY OCTOBER 11, 2014

8:00pm

JOHN GORKA

With special guest

LINDSAY MAY

$28 ($25 members)

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From New Jersey, John Gorka is a world-renowned singer-songwriter who got his start at a neighborhood coffeehouse in eastern Pennsylvania. Though small, Godfrey Daniels was and is one of the oldest and most venerable music institutions and has long been a hangout for music lovers and aspiring musicians. In the late 1970’s, John was one of these aspiring musicians. Although his academic coursework at Moravian College lay in Philosophy and History, music began to offer paramount enticements. Soon he found himself living in the club’s basement and acting as resident MC and sound man, encountering legendary folk troubadours like Canadian singer-songwriter Stan Rogers, Eric Andersen, Tom Paxton and Claudia Schmidt. Their brand of folk-inspired acoustic music inspired him, and before long he was performing his own songs – mostly as an opener for visiting acts. Soon he started traveling to New York City, where Jack Hardy’s legendary Fast Folk circle (a breeding ground for many a major singer-songwriter) became a powerful source of education and encouragement. Folk meccas like Texas’ Kerrville Folk Festival (where he won the New Folk Award in 1984) and Boston followed, and his stunningly soulful baritone voice and original songwriting began turning heads. Those who had at one time inspired him – Suzanne Vega, Bill Morrissey, Nanci Griffith, Christine Lavin, Shawn Colvin – had become his peers.

In 1987, the young Minnesota-based Red House Records caught wind of John’s talents and released his first album, I Know, to popular and critical acclaim. With unusual drive and focus, John hit the ground running and, when an offer came from Windham Hill’s Will Ackerman in 1989, he signed with that label’s imprint, High Street Records. In 1998, after five successful recordings and seven years at Windham Hill/High Street, John felt the need for a change and decided to return to his musical roots at Red House Records. The choice was driven, in part, by the artistic integrity that the label represents in an industry where the business of music too often takes precedence.

John has recorded 11 critically acclaimed albums, John released a collector’s edition box featuring a hi-definition DVD and companion CD called The Gypsy Life. Windham Hill also released a collection of John’s greatest hits from the label called Pure John Gorka. In 2010, he also released an album with his friends and Red House label-mates Lucy Kaplansky and Eliza Gilkyson under the name Red Horse. Getting high praise from critics and fans alike, it landed on the Billboard Folk Charts and was one of the most played albums on folk radio.

John lives in Minnesota and when not on the road, he enjoys spending time with his wife and children. He continues to tour, playing festivals, theaters and clubs all over North America and Europe.

“The leading singer/songwriter of the New Folk movement”

 – Rolling Stone

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Opening the evening will be singer-songwriter Lindsay May. Lindsay is from a tiny town in Shuswap BC. An acoustic guitar and mandolin wielding alt-country songstress, she has been a Kerrville New Folk Finalist, New Mountain Stage Finalist and Vancouver Folk Festival ‘Picking a Folk Star’, Ukelele Song Contest Runner Up.

 Not only is her songwriting craft top notch, she gets asked back to many festivals including Harmony Arts in West Vancouver and Motown Meltdown at Vancouver’s legendary Commodore Ballroom, she has also opened for Canadian Folk Legends Valdy and Shari Ulrich.

“Equipped with an engaging stage presence and a sincere gift for gab, she’s also blessed with a larger-than-life voice and the enthusiasm to drive it home,
commanding complete attention.”

- Roots Music Canada