Content

• Folksinger John Roberts will join January 9 Song & Story Swap via Zoom
• History of 70s pop rock online course
• Paul Kaplan album nears completion

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John Roberts will join January 9 Song & Story Swap via Zoom

Please come share in an evening of music and stories at the Pioneer Valley Folklore Society Song & Story Swap.

Viewers may also watch the event via YouTube Livestream beginning at 7pm on January 9.

The featured performer at the January 9 Song & Story Swap will be celebrated folksinger John Roberts.

Called "one of folk music's most beloved voices" by Sing Out! magazine, John Roberts is a singer of folksongs from the British Isles. Born and raised in Worcestershire, England, of a Welsh family, he currently lives in Schenectady, NY, and has been an active member of the Northeast folk song and dance communities for over 40 years. Singing solo, he often accompanies his songs on concertina or banjo, or sings them a cappella.

John has performed at various folk festivals including the Mystic Sea Music Festival, the Newfoundland Folk Festival, New Bedford’s Summerfest and Working Waterfront Festivals, the San Francisco Sea Music Festival, the Fox Valley (IL) Festival, and the Old Songs Festival. Music of the sea is one of his specialities. As well as a solo CD, Sea Fever, he has recorded sea songs albums with Tony Barrand (Across the Western Ocean) and with the trio Ye Mariners All - all available from Golden Hind Music and Bandcamp.

Since 1975 John Roberts has been a mainstay of Nowell Sing We Clear, a four-member musical group known for its annual yuletide concert series. The troupe, which includes Tony Barrand, Fred Breunig and Steve Woodruff has released six CDs and a book, Songs & Carols for Midwinter & Christmastide.

John also performs in tandem with singer Debra Cowan, with whom he has recorded a CD, Ballads Long & Short."

Learn more about John Roberts at johnrobertsfolksong.com.

This month’s opening round theme is Farewell, adieu

Looking ahead to next month, the February 6 Song & Story Swap will feature musician-songwriter Bob McCarthy.

The Song & Story Swap is held on the first Saturday of each month, excepting July and August, and is jointly sponsored by the Pioneer Valley Folklore Society and the Nacul Center. Visit the Folklore Society website at pvfs.us.

The Song & Story Swap is open to the public, free of charge with donations accepted ($5 - $10 is suggested). Donations to the featured performer may be made securely via credit card or Paypal at https://pvfs.us/donate.

People of all ages gather to share stories and songs that are traditional, newly written, or of personal experiences. You can tell, sing, or lead everyone in singing, or request a song or story. Listeners are welcome.

For information contact Paul Kaplan, (413)-687-5002 or visit https://pvfs.us.

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Learn 1970s Pop Rock History from the Rockin' Prof

This month former Song & Story Swap guest Craig Morrison of Montreal, Quebec will present a series of online classes on A History of 1970's Pop Rock. Known as "the Rockin' Professor," Craig has gained widespread popularity for his ethnomusicology teaching and his live performances of classic rock & roll with his band Vintage Wine.

Classes begin on January 19. Find registration info at at the Cummings Centre website.

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Paul Kaplan's We Shall Stay Here nears completion

Over the past several months Paul Kaplan has been hunkered down at work on a new CD of 12 original songs to be titled We Shall Stay Here. Recording is complete, but mastering, graphic design and CD duplication remain. In order to raise funds to support these steps Paul has set up a Kickstarter campaign. To contribute or learn more about the project, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/paulkaplan/we-shall-stay-here-cd.

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