FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 18, 2010
Contact: Debra Chesman, Valley Folk Music Coordinator
607-962-4461

Valley Folk Presents: Little Toby Walker in Concert

When: Saturday, February 20 2010, 7:30 PM Concert
Where: Drake House at 171 Cedar Arts, Corning NY (Corner Cedar and First Streets)
Admission: $12 cash or checks at-the-door only;
Students 1⁄2 price (Full-time College/High School); Children 14 and under free with adult.

Toby Walker is an accomplished finger-style guitar virtuoso, adept at blues, rags and hot country picking, coaxing more out of a guitar than anyone can imagine. Walker is also a skilled singer and songwriter, drawing inspiration from both traditional and contemporary music. With that musical foundation, Walker creates something uniquely his own and has been eagerly received throughout the U.S., England and Europe.

Walker’s passion for blues, rag, folk, and other traditional American music drove him to the Mississippi Delta, Virginia and the Carolinas where he tracked down some of the more obscure and immensely talented music makers of an earlier era. He learned directly at the feet of Eugene Powell, James "Son" Thomas, Etta Baker, and R.L Burnside, among others. These travels are reflected by the talent, passion, and soul of a Toby Walker performance. Whether it is telling the humorous and heartwarming tales of other masters, talking about his inspirations, or astounding audiences with his mastery, his performances are a listener’s feast, moving an audience long after the encores.

You can catch a taste of Walker at www.littletobywalker.com under “music”. But make no mistake about it - he is to be experienced live. Audiences everywhere, including the Bound for Glory live radio show in Ithaca will vouch for that. The love Toby has for his craft pushes him to share his history and experience where he has performed in libraries and schools allowing others to share the sounds, sights, and emotions of his music. His teaching credits include, among others, Jorma Kaukonen's Fur Peace Ranch in Ohio. In 2006, Carnegie Hall acknowledged his rare talents and hired him to augment and teach in their "American Roots" program aimed at honor level middle school students, demonstrating the history of blues music and traditions, while teaching the history of African Americans as they migrated from the south into the north. His mastery of the blues was recognized in Memphis when he became the New York recipient for the International Blues Challenge Award. There is no doubt that Toby Walker has found his life's calling, and as a result everyone keeps calling for more Toby Walker. Come and hear what they are talking about at Valley Folk in Corning.

Visit www.littletobywalker.com Click on “contact” on the top right of the page and choose “press kit” from the drop down menu for high res photos.

Visit  www.valleyfolk.org and our Facebook page for more info about the Valley Folk concert series, directions, contact details to volunteer on our new committees for publicity, hospitality and sound, including an opportunity for free concert sound training.

The 2010 concert season continues with concerts by Anne Hills on March 20 as part of the Festival of Women in the Arts, April 17 with Bill Staines and a NY folk trio Gathering Time on May 8.

For more information contact Debra Chesman, 607-962-4461 or

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 19, 2010
Contact: Debra Chesman, Valley Folk Music Coordinator
607-962-4461

Valley Folk Announces 2010 Concert Season in Corning

When: Monthly Jan-May, October and November, all on Saturday nights at 7:30 PM.

Where: Drake House at 171 Cedar Arts, Corning NY (Corner Cedar and First Streets).

Concerts: Admission $12 on the door only, cash or checks. Half price for full time students and wheel-chair occupants; 14 and under free with adult.

The 2010 concert season begins on Jan 30th with a rare duo appearance by Claudia Schmidt and Sally Rogers followed by Little Toby Walker playing the blues on Feb 20. Next is the beautiful folk singing and original songs of Anne Hills on March 20 as part of the Festival of Women in the Arts. April 17 brings prolific traditionally-styled songwriter Bill Staines and the sweet harmonies of the new folk trio Gathering Time on May 8.

October opens with the superior songwriting and entertaining of Michael Smith and the much sought-after hammered dulcimer and fiddle workshops taught by Ken Kolodner, culminating in a concert with his son Brad on banjo.

“Valley Folk will implement a few small changes along with our decision to remain in Corning at the 171 Cedar Arts’ Drake House Studio Theater for 2010 while we present a season of eclectic folk music,” according Debra Chesman, the coordinator of Valley Folk Music.

The first small change is the price. The cost of admission is going up slightly from $10 to $12 for general admission. However, there is a new half price admission for high school and full-time college or university students, as well as for wheel chair occupants. Children 14 and under (middle school and under) can still attend for free with a supervising adult. When compared with other similar folk concert series, presenting some of the same performers, this is very good value for money. Valley Folk concerts are partially grant-supported in order to keep the prices affordable. (These concerts are made possible, in part, by a Decentralization Grant from the NY State Council on the Arts, administered locally by the Arts Council of the Southern Fingerlakes.)

As is the new custom at Valley Folk, one can arrive early (while they set up the concert hall) to sing and play instruments with other audience members in another room. All acoustic instruments and voices welcome. The pre-concert jam begins at 6 PM. The door opens at 7 PM for the 7:30 concerts.

For more information contact Debra Chesman, 607-962-4461 or

For more information...
Contact: Debra Chesman, Valley Folk Music Coordinator
607-962-4461