(NEWTON, NJ) -- What happens when folk greats John Gorka, Lucy Kaplansky, Patty Larkin, and Cliff Eberhardt get together on one stage? A night of great music coupled with a comedic twist and storytelling. The four come together for On a Winter's Night, which comes to The Newton Theatre on Saturday, February 26, 2022 at 8:00pm.
You may know veteran singer-songwriter Patty Larkin from co-founding their other group “Four Bitchin’ Babes;” John Gorka who has been called “the preeminent male singer-songwriter of what has been dubbed the New Folk Movement,” by Rolling Stone magazine, Lucy Kaplansky who alongside John Gorka helped form the folk super-group Red Horse, and Cliff Eberhardt who recently released an acoustic album of all Doors songs as well as a special tribute album of Bob Dylan to celebrate his 70th birthday. But you’ve never seen them all together like this.
Part of the singer/songwriter movement for the past three decades, On A Winters Night celebrates the CD that was produced with many veterans of folk and Americana 25 years ago. These artists have released dozens of recordings and individually toured steadily throughout the decades. They are now back together, for one night, to celebrate the magic that was created in 1994!
LUCY KAPLANSKY - Heralded by The New Yorker, "Lucy Kaplansky is a truly gifted performer with a bag full of enchanting songs". In 1998 Lucy teamed with Dar Williams and Richard Shindell to form supergroup Cry Cry Cry and recorded some of their favorite songs written by other artists. The resulting album, Cry Cry Cry (which The New Yorker dubbed “a collection of lovely harmonizing and pure emotion,” and to which Entertainment Weekly gave an “A” rating), was an astonishing success in stores and on radio. In 2010, Lucy joined up with acclaimed singer-songwriters John Gorka and Eliza Gilkyson to record an album as part of new folk super-group Red Horse. Lucy continues to tour and receive airplay both nationally and internationally. Her CD Ten Year Night is the #1 selling album of all time at Red House Records.
JOHN GORKA - Hailed by Rolling Stone as “the leading singer/songwriter of the New Folk movement,” John Gorka is perhaps the quintessential singer-songwriter of the 90’s folk scene. Originally from New Jersey, John served an apprenticeship at Godfrey Daniels coffeehouse in Bethlehem, PA, then the Greenwich Village Fast Folk scene. Winning the prestigious New Folk award at the Kerrville Folk Festival, in 1984, he was then signed to Red House Records on which he released his landmark first of 17 recordings, I Know. Boston Globe penned Gorka “for the sophisticated intelligence and the provocative originality of his songs.” Recent accolades include 2016’s Indie Acoustic Project’s Best Singer/Songwriter CD of the Year for Before Beginning. 2018 brought his latest release, True In Time.
PATTY LARKIN - She redefines the boundaries of folk-urban pop music with her inventive guitar wizardry and uncompromising lyrics and vocals. Acoustic Guitar Magazine hails her, “soundscape experiments” while Rolling Stone praises her, “evocative and sonic shading.” She has been described as, “riveting” (Chicago Tribune), “hypnotic” (Entertainment Weekly), and a “drop-dead brilliant” performer (Performing Songwriter). Recently an Artist-in-Residence at Berklee College of Music – and now on the faculty at Fine Arts Work Center – Larkin reflects, “I have been energized by the poets, writers and artists I have met while teaching, and find myself on a journey to break down some of the predictable pathways that songs can travel.” Her 14th CD, Bird In A Cage, is currently in production.
CLIFF EBERHARDT - One of the most original songsmiths currently on tour, Eberhardt is a highly intelligent, articulate artist whose penetrating and profound lyrics are sometimes overshadowed by his extraordinary guitar playing. Upon close listening, the Philadelphia-born singer’s gift for the English language is abundantly clear. The words that tumble from his mouth are framed by a raspy yet deeply elegant voice. Like John Hammond and Richie Havens, Eberhardt continues to carry the torch for traditional and contemporary folk music through his strong live shows. Whether he’s out on tour solo or with a small band, Eberhardt’s guitar playing, singing, and original folk songs and blues make for a compelling, thought-filled, emotional roller coaster of a concert.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.skypac.org. Ticket prices start at $39.00. The Newton Theatre is located at 234 Spring Street in Newton, New Jersey.
