FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 18, 2007
Contact: Debra Chesman, Valley Folk Music Coordinator
607-962-4461

Valley Folk Begins 2008 Music Season with Lara Herscovitch

(Elmira, NY) Valley Folk 2008 concert series begins with Lara Herscovitch on Saturday January 12, 2008, at 254 Baldwin St., Elmira, New York (Rural Research Labs' carriage house). The concert will start at 7:30 PM, and the admission is $10, at the door only (under 16 are free with adult). Warm beverages and baked good will be available at intermission.

Lara Herscovitch is a well traveled, award winning, folk singer-songwriter who has worked in the U.S., Latin America, Africa, and Asia, on behalf of disadvantaged individuals--focusing on education, community development, human services, and the environment. She has undoubtedly absorbed some of the culture and flavor of each of these places and has infused them into her music. Herscovitch mixes folk with elements of jazz and Latin rhythms, sung in both English and Spanish. Her lyrics have smarts and whimsy, her voice and performance style instantly captivating. She truly stands out in a crowd of rising folksingers.

Lara was raised in New York and lives in Connecticut. She narrowly escaped law school, and trained instead as a social worker. But giving up her former working role to become a full time musician has not severed her ties to the environment. Designed as a socially responsible company in keeping with her spirit, Herscovitch's la Rama Records ("the branch") uses recycled products and donates a percentage of CD sales to nonprofit environmental organizations.

Debra Chesman, coordinator of Valley Folk first saw Lara Herscovitch showcasing her music at the 2006 Northeast Regional Folk Alliance conference held in the fall of each year, at an old "Borscht Belt" resort in the Catskills. It was during a DJ's choice showcase, meaning the DJ's had nominated their favorite performers for this event. The room had a predominance of venue operators and DJ's. Chesman thought Herscovitch had that certain musical spark, something that set her apart from some of the other performers. Another noticeable thing was that she wasted no time getting the audience involved in the music. For most people who frequent the folk scene, the invitation to participate is part of why they like to be in the audience--to sing along on the refrain or to help keep rhythm if asked. But DJ's are a different breed. They are self-disciplined to remain silent listeners as they spin songs and tunes on the radio. It takes a charismatic performer to get DJ's to over-ride their practice of quiet listening and participate in the songs. Herscovitch can do that. Come to Valley Folk to see and hear for yourself.

Visit our website at www.valleyfolk.org for more information, and visit Laura's website at www.LaraHerscovitch.com.

Concerts are held at the Rural Research Labs at 254 Baldwin St., Elmira., New York

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 6, 2007
Contact: Debra Chesman, Valley Folk Music Coordinator
607-962-4461

Valley Folk Music Features Award-winning Songwriters Throughout the Next Season

(Elmira, NY) While Valley Folk Music’s monthly concert series starts off the fall on Saturday October 13 in a very traditional way with Adam Miller’s fine interpretations and story-telling of American history through song, the next four concerts feature something different. Or do they? Traditional folksingers sing about the life, work and struggles of humans; they tell stories of real people and actual events. So do all of the award-winning songwriters of this series, as Valley Folk presents a new generation of songwriters who write “in the tradition”. These are not the stereotypical singer/songwriters who are self absorbed and writing about the contemplation of their own navels and unrequited love while incessantly strumming guitars, which has in some circumstances, given modern folk music a bad reputation. Instead, they are highly skilled in the craft of songwriting, accompanying songs with tasteful instrumentation and filled with a love of history, tradition and connecting with the audience. For those of you lamenting the aging and slow disappearance of some of the great performers and interpreters of folk music from the last great folk scare of the 1960’s, Valley Folk is here to assure the aging baby-boomer generation that folk music is still alive and well in the capable hands of the next generation, eager to carry on the tradition of speaking up, speaking out, telling the truth and sounding terrific when they do. But they are the contemporaries of the current 30-40 year olds and introducing younger people to the traditions in a way that peers can.

The November 17 concert is a double bill of Canadians songwriters. Maria Dunn explores the stories of working people in Western Canada with tales of resilience and hope through experiences of immigration, internment, exploitation and The Depression. John Wort Hannam performs what he calls blue collar roots music. He champions the working class with songs about small towns and those people with the courage to leave them, those with the courage to stay, and those with the courage to return.

December 8 features outstanding vocalist Joe Jenks, who has earned wide recognition for his songs about working people, and for his unique merging of musical beauty, social consciousness, and spiritual exploration. Jencks has one entire CD of his devoted to workers and unions. His concerts can heal your soul and inspire you to action.

The 2008 performances begin with Lara Herskovitch, mixing folk with elements of jazz and Latin rhythms, sung in both English and Spanish. Her lyrics have smarts and whimsy, her voice and performance style instantly captivating.

The rest of the season will be announced after the Arts of the Southern Fingerlakes have made funding decisions for 2008, but if all goes well, look for another double bill, one very traditional act and the season’s culmination in a 2-day master class in songwriting and with a concert performance by a “songwriter’s songwriter” in collaboration with another arts organization.

Visit our website at www.valleyfolk.org for more information. Concerts are held at the Rural Research Labs at 254 Baldwin St., Elmira

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