Folkie Fest: A Little Bit Country

Folkie Fest offers ongoing concert series with local acoustic artists in the spirit of folk music as envisioned by the late Pete Seeger. We provide a listening space and support live, local, singer/songwriters sharing their work.

This will be an online show, on the Folkie Fest YouTube channel as well as the Folkie Fest Facebook page. Looking forward to resuming in-person events soon.

This event features local artists sharing their own work. Performing will be Gene Casey, the Belle Curves, Meghan VK and Natalie & the Damn Shandys.

Gene’s Casey’s original music met with great acclaim with local and international indie radio play. Several of his roots-drenched songs have been used in “A Prairie Home Companion” and on the soundtracks to television and feature films, including “Justified” and “Sons of Anarchy” ; the 2012 thriller “The Tall Man” starring Jessica Biel, the 2013 release “The Killing Season” starring Robert DeNiro, and Rob Reiner’s “Being Charlie.” In 2014 Gene and the Lone Sharks were inducted into the Dan’s Papers “Best of the Best” Hall of Fame, having been honored over 20 times. A year later Gene, “the premier barroom troubadour of Eastern Long Island” (author Josh Alan Friedman) received the Long Island Sound Award by the L.I. Music Hall of Fame, “for contributions to the Island’s musical landscape.”

Inspired by the sounds of folk music from The Carter Family to First Aid Kit, producer-vocalist-songwriter-instrumentalist Delaney Hafener created The Belle Curves. Leaning on her eclectic influences in reflective, thoughtful songwriting, she and a rotating group of musicians create a unique indie/folk aesthetic.

The full-length album Promising Light is available everywhere via Silo Recordings. The follow-up protest EP ‘2020’ was released in October 2020, and the most recent single ‘February Girl’ came out in February 2021.

Meghan VK has a sound that’s both familiar and fresh, offering soul woven with nostalgic callbacks to Reba and Dolly, New York based Meghan VK brings a powerful and natural vibrato to each and every song. Named by NSAI as “One To Watch” for her songs 'Let It Burn' and 'Game Face', as well as being named as “recommended for publisher consideration” for 'One of Those Nights' and 'Full Sentence', Meghan’s proudest accomplishment goes much deeper, and touches on her time playing the Angela’s House Benefit for medically fragile children alongside Lindsay Ell. Meghan has opened for acts such as Chris Stapleton, Dierks Bentley, Little Big Town, Old Dominion, Brett Eldredge, Jake Owen, Billy Currington, Toby Keith, Chris Janson, and Sam Hunt. Her last live performance (pre-pandemic) was on the main stage opening for Michael Ray and Lanco for 96.1's police benefit show.

Natalie & The Damn Shandys are a compelling Americana/Country band, based out of New York and consisting of Natalie Anne (vocals/guitar), Rob Wagner (guitar/mandolin/vocals) and Ben Gorham (piano/vocals).

Natalie & The Damn Shandys engage listeners with honest and heartfelt lyrics complimented by soaring harmonies and organic musicianship. Attending one of their shows is a truly unique experience filled with a full range of emotion as they fearlessly share genuine life stories with their audiences.

Donations are gratefully accepted, but not required. All proceeds will be divided among the artists. Virtual tickets may be purchased for any amount at https://morichescommunitycenter.org/

Normally, we hold a raffle to benefit Long Island Cares: The Harry Chapin Food Bank. Please consider a donation there: https://www.licares.org/make-a-difference/ways-to-give/donate/

Like "Folkie Fest" on FB to keep up with all our events. Visit our YouTube channel to see past performances.

Folkie Fest is an informal organizer of small listening events highlighting local singer songwriters and supporting local 501-c-3 organizations such as the Moriches Community Center and Long Island Cares: the Harry Chapin Food Bank in the spirit of folk music as defined by Pete Seeger.

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If you would like more information email folkiefest@gmail.com or through the Folkie Fest Facebook page.