Want to help keep our water drinkable, swimmable, and teeming with life for the next generation?

Join us for a night of indie folk music in support of Hudson Riverkeeper with singer-songwriters Joshua Garcia, Kate Copeland, Rachael Kilgour, Kirsten Maxwell, and Belle-Skinner.

All concert proceeds will be donated to Hudson Riverkeeper (www.riverkeeper.org)

Co-sponsored by Folk Music Society of New York, Northeast Regional Folk Alliance, and Jeremy Aaron’s Greenwich Village Showcase.

PERFORMERS:
Rachael Kilgour

Rachael Kilgour is a Minnesota-based songwriter and performing artist whose sincere, lyric-driven work has been called both brave and humane. Married in her early twenties, Kilgour devoted her young adulthood to parenting her stepchild and building family and community. Her work from that time (Self-Titled 2008, Will You Marry Me? 2011, Whistleblower’s Manifesto 2013) chronicled her life as a young parent in a same-sex partnership and addressed sociopolitical issues from government corruption to income inequality and religious hypocrisy. The 2015 grand prize winner of the esteemed international NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition, Kilgour has been featured at NYC’s Lincoln Center and by the ASCAP Music Cafe at the Sundance Film Festival. She was also a finalist in the 2015 Telluride Troubadour Contest. A versatile performer, Kilgour has shared stages with the likes of indie artists Haley Bonar & Jeremy Messersmith as well as folk legends Greg Brown, Cheryl Wheeler & Catie Curtis. Listen to her music here: http://newsongrecordings.com/album/rabbit-in-the-road

Joshua Garcia

“Mexican American folk songwriter Joshua Garcia has a booming voice that gives you shivers. The first time I heard him sing, it shocked me dead silent. I turned toward him and listened until the moment he was finished. Everyone in the audience was silent, hypnotized by him. “You can buy yourself freedom but you can never be free,” was one line. “I’m sewin’ my dreams in the suitcase factory” was another. His lyrics are subtle and they project honesty and humanity, which is not easy to come by these days. He is one of the last of a dying breed of topical singer/songwriters who write unforgettable revelatory songs.” Listen to his music here: https://soundcloud.com/joshuagarciamusic

Kirsten Maxwell

Based on Long Island, Kirsten Maxwell has made great strides since diving head first into her career. She is often compared to Joan Baez, Judy Collins and Joni Mitchell, for her soaring vocals and retro-folk style. Kirsten gives everything to her live performances and has been described as “making love to the audience”. Although her self-taught guitar chops are minimal, she plays with such delicacy and taste that the guitar seems to be extension of her body. Her delivery creates a level of intimacy that welcomes new audiences in like old friends. With a quick wit and commanding stage presence, Kirsten gives the impression of being more accomplished than her 24 years.

In April 2015, she independently released her debut album, Crimson. It has been met with great success and fans await her highly anticipated EP, to be released this Spring. Listen to her music here: http://www.kirstenmaxwell.com/music-1/

Kate Copeland

An award-winning singer/songwriter composer/arranger based out of New York City. A graduate of Oberlin Conservatory’s composition program, she has worked in the studio with a variety of artists in addition to putting out her own music. Some recent production credits include Abakis’ “I’m One Too” (2014), General Mojo’s “How Hollow A Heart” EP (2016), and Mike O’Malley’s “Growlers” EP (2016). She released her first solo album, “recollection room,” in June 2015, and her follow-up EP “Red and Blue” in May 2016. Most recently ASCAP declared her this year’s winner of the prestigious Robert Allen Award. Listen to her music here: http://www.katecopelandmusic.com/#music-section

Belle-Skinner

A singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer from New York. With a hauntingly beautiful, lilting soprano and innate sense of melody she crafts tales of songbirds, sirens and desert nomads – nuanced and layered stories which bridge the gap between past and present. Though her influences cover a broad range of genres – from French chansons and Russian folk to contemporary alt-pop and rock – her voice often draws comparisons to the likes of Joni Mitchell, Angel Olsen, and Regina Spektor. In 2015 she was a finalist at the Telluride Troubadour Competition; a showcasing songwriter on the main-stage at Rocky Mountain Folks Festival in Lyons, CO; a semi-finalist in The 2015 Great American Songwriting Contest; a finalist in July 2016’s SolarFest Songwriter Showcase; and in August 2016 a showcasing artist at MusikFest, the country’s largest free music festival. Listen to her here: https://belle-skinner.bandcamp.com/album/we-shut-our-eyes

Jeremy Aaron

The host of the evening is a NYC-based singer, community organizer, poet, guitarist, violinist, and the creator of Greenwich Village Showcase. Warm and real, his music evokes nights around the campfire between old friends. While growing up in upstate NY, he studied fiddle with virtuoso Jay Ungar and classical violin with Alicia Edelberg, Associate Concertmaster for the NYC Opera. His songwriting style incorporates traditional folk, jazz, soul, and poetry. He loves to get the audience singing along and stomping their feet, because he believes music is powerful when we sing together. He is releasing his first full length album “In The Magic Light” in April 2016, which has aired on syndicated radio show “Wandering Minstrels,” WFUV, WFDU, PopnRock radio, Morning Commute with Nick, Ear to The Ground Music, and more.

He created the Greenwich Village Showcase to make his dream of a communal music space for NYC singer/songwriters come true. Each month at Caffe Vivaldi, the showcase brings together aspiring singer/songwriters to continue the spirit of folk music. In addition to performing his own songs, Jeremy is the fiddler and guitarist in Spuyten Duyvil, who were recently nominated for the International Folk Music Awards ‘Album Of The Year.’ Listen to him here: https://jeremyaaron.bandcamp.com/