More Joy! Folk Band Returns To Portola Valley

From More Joy!: More Joy!, the five-piece folk music group, returns to Portola Valley, Saturday night, April 29th, for a concert combining its Prairie Home Companion style storytelling and conversation with folk, country and popular music. The “Stayin Connected Concert” features songs from Bob Dylan, the Dixie Chicks, Loggins & Messina, Linda Ronstadt and old country favorites.

Things kick off at 7:30 at the Ladera Community Church in Portola Valley. A $10 donation benefits the Global Fund For Women, one of the world’s leading foundations for gender equality, standing up for the human rights of women and girls.

Former Portola Valley residents Iris Harrell and Ann Benson now live in Santa Rosa, but they have not forsaken their Peninsula roots. When they first met in Dallas, Texas, 38 years ago, they quickly became a music duo, calling themselves More Joy! Shortly thereafter, they moved to Northern California in 1985 and created a design/build company, Harrell Remodeling. When Harrell retired in 2015, More Joy! came to musical life again with the help of local musicians who shared their love of folk music.

More Joy! artists include local musicians Paula Filseth, Santa Cruz (violin & fiddle), Ann Benson, Santa Rosa, formerly of Portola Valley (acoustic guitar & vocals), Spike Connor, Redwood City (electric bass & vocals), Iris Harrell, Santa Rosa, formerly of Portola Valley (vocals & yodeler), and Ginger Walmsley, Menlo Park (keyboard & percussion).

Doors open at Ladera Community Church, 3300 Alpine Road, Portola Valley, at 7:00. Tickets are available at the door.

Images Courtesy Of More Joy!