Photo © Oliver Strong
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- The Princeton Folk Music Society presents harpist Lily Neill and guitarist Clive Carroll on Friday, March 20, 2026 at Christ Congregation Church in a tour de force performance, with sparks flying across 36 strings! Showtime is 8:00pm.
Primarily known as soloists, their musical union extends from their love of music composition and a vast array of musical styles. To their duo they bring all the intensity of their solo performances and more, conjuring a genre-bending orchestra. Expect to hear eat-your-heart-out blues, fiery dances from Eastern Europe, time-bending tunes from the Balkans, beguiling Irish airs, jaunty Ragtime numbers, and Elizabethan lute classics.
Tickets at the door: $25 ($20 members). Tickets are available for purchase online. A live-stream also available. Christ Congregation Church is located at 50 Walnut Lane in Princeton, New Jersey. There is ample free parking.
American-born Lily Neill began performing as a child, amassing an impressive number of awards, and recognition from everyone from U.S. President Bill Clinton to legendary Irish band, “The Chieftains”. Irish Music Magazine crowned her, “part of the new Harp revolution.” She has captivated audiences around the world with the dynamism and breadth of her performances. Lily plays a lever harp, a relatively modern type of harp that is a cross between the medieval Irish and Scottish harps, and the pedal harp. The inherent synergy in this instrument contributes to her wholly rooted, yet eminently distinctive and modern sound. Lily’s concerts feature everything from original compositions and tangos, to Elizabethan music, ragtime, and traditional tunes from across the globe.
English guitar phenomenon Clive Carroll is known for his unique tone, versatility, and unmistakable voice as a composer. Total Guitar (magazine) called him “arguably the most accomplished fingerstylist in the world today” He has toured and collaborated with classical and steel string guitar greats such as John Williams, Tommy Emmanuel, Xuefei Yang, and Ralph Towner.
Early in his career, Clive got a gig as the opening act for legendary fingerstyle guitarist John Renbourn. The two discovered that they shared a lot of musical tastes, including medieval and Renaissance music, jazz, and some contemporary classical music. That night led to a friendship and touring partnership that lasted until Renbourn’s death in 2015 and helped shape Clive’s musicianship: “He taught me how to perform in the real world and I’ll be forever grateful for the opportunities he gave me.” Recently, Clive (with help from Lily and other musicians) released The Abbot, an album celebrating John Renbourn’s music. Lily describes it at “a massive double-CD project, with an early music ensemble and previously unrecorded music that Renbourn wrote. Our duo material is a little different, but we’ll slip in a nod or two to Renbourn.”
The Princeton Folk Music Society has encouraged the growth of folk music in central New Jersey for over 60 years. As they continue to explore new ways of presenting and promoting folk music while ensuring a Covid 19-safe environment for their audiences, their concerts this season will available for viewing by live streaming, as well as on-site in Princeton. They welcome everyone to join them, in person or virtually for their concerts.
