originally published: 03/30/2023
(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Renowned New York singer-songwriter and recording artist Christine Lavin will perform at the Troubadour Acoustic Concert Series on Friday, April 7 at 7:30pm at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown. Singer-songwriter Bill Hall will open.
Lavin has been a leader in New York’s contemporary folk scene for four decades. Her work is infused with humor, inspired by the ironic and absurd in her own life and in our world today. “Without realizing it,” she said, “I've written the soundtrack to a movie of my first 70 years.”
Sometimes, she uses her own humorous experiences to invite the audience to take a good look at themselves, as is the case with her song titled ‘Wut? inspired by suffering partial hearing loss from feedback at a show. “I waited five years to finally admit that I needed hearing aids. I don't want anyone with hearing loss to live in denial like I did. If I inspire someone to get their hearing checked, then I'm doing the right thing,” Lavin said.
In a time when people have become accustomed to watching shows on screens, a Christine Lavin concert is a truly interactive experience. She also seeks to fully engage listeners with opportunities to unleash their inner performer. She said, “I'll be looking for men in the audience to be my backup singers for ‘Sensitive New Age Guys,’ so if you've ever had a hankering for being one of Gladys Knight's ‘Pips,’ here's as close as you might ever come.”
“You could stay home and read a book, but it's much more fun to come out and be a part of the story, so, come on out,” Lavin said.
Tickets are $10.50 and available for purchase online.
Opening act Bill Hall rose to prominence as a member of the 1970s band Frostwater, which headlined at most of the Northeast’s major folk festivals and venues. Described as “a songwriter’s songwriter and poet’s poet,” he has appeared on stages and in recordings with icons Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary), Pete Seeger, Allen Ginsburg, Harry Nilsson, Melanie, Don McLean, Livingston Taylor, and others.
Like Lavin, Hall has been creating since his youngest days. His lyrics reflect a keen observation of life and love skillfully intertwined with music that is oftentimes dreamy, mystical, and haunting. “It’s baked into my DNA, the bard-gene - chromosome 3p25-26 - also related to melancholia. I am helpless before its influence and therefore I write because I am compelled to do it,” he said. And he added, “For me, the process of crafting a good song involves a balance of spirit, emotion, and intellect.”
This opening act will serve as a sneak preview of Bill’s upcoming Headline Set on July 7. He will be recording this show for potential live tracks to be included in his forthcoming first CD.
The Folk Project is New Jersey’s leading acoustic and traditional music and dance organization, presenting over 100 live events annually. It has been holding concerts and musical events for 50 years, including open stages, songwriter circles, dances, and now also online shows.
Project volunteers present more than 100 events annually, with a unique mix of homegrown and nationally acclaimed performers. They present music styles that go well beyond what you may consider traditional American folk music, including blues, swing, gospel, jazz, sea chantey, Irish, vaudeville, doo-wop, gypsy, jug band and rock ‘n’roll. Musicians come from as close as our local Jersey neighborhoods to as far away as Europe and China.
The Folk Project is also an artistic community that offers support, instruction and performance opportunities. Their performing members range from local beginners to full-time touring professionals. They provide multiple showcases for every level of talent and many ways to interact with other musicians.
Their concerts, dances, festivals, parties and member shows are a great way to participate in this very active and social community, centered on a love of music, dance and fun.
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