At the Blink of a Hat” at the Camden Library Coffeehouse

“At the Blink of a Hat” at the Camden Library Coffeehouse May 7

“At the Blink of a Hat” is the trio of Julia Plumb, Baron Collins-Hill, and Will Brown, whose music is “quick, playful, and a delight to the ear!” They will perform at the Camden Library Coffeehouse on Thursday, May 7, at 7:00 pm. The trio is an example of the fresh approach to traditional music that is the hallmark of the Library Coffeehouse. Individually, they play a wide array of instruments, and together, they all have “a bit of the coyote in them” which displays itself as a playful exchange that is evident in their arrangements of both traditional and original tunes and songs. Coffeehouse admission is only $8.

Baron and Julia are also known as the duo Velocipede, while Will also plays with the groups Meteora, Wildage, and the Night Owls. Their program will include traditional fiddle tunes as well as some songs of Americana, the British Isles, and other folk genres with arrangements that are delightful.

Julia Plumb grew up in Nobleboro and has a wealth of knowledge about traditional tunes and dances of the British Isles, France, the Maritimes, and Appalachia. Her light lilting touch on the fiddle is a joy to hear and, as the story goes, not too soft and not too hard, but “just right!”

Baron Collins-Hill grew up in the Waterville area, and plays mandolin, tenor guitar, and harmonium. A graduate of Hampshire College with a degree in music performance and ethnomusicology, Baron is a master of crooked tunes, rhythms, and instrumental playfulness.

Will Brown is now celebrating 50 years at learning how to play the guitar, and presently is enjoying his attempt at keeping up with Julia and Baron in both anchoring and interpreting tunes and songs; and as an old friend says: “he’ll be along shortly.”

As the elder of the trio, Will mused on the name of the trio. “I’d thought about tagging us as ‘Velocipede and the Gorgosaur’ — gorgosaurs, as you may know, are those plant eaters who have that built in ‘deer in the headlights’ look on their faces, usually because they are about to be devoured by a flock of young velocipedes racing up behind them and looking quite like a Cirque du Soleil troupe. The Gorgosaurs are always minding their own business, munching on the local Farm to Table vegetation in their neighborhood and deserve not such a demise. Such a shame to not finish your dinner. That said, ‘At The Blink of a Hat’ came also to mind and does not beg a complex explanation.”

The next Library Coffeehouse, on June 4, will be the “Songwriters Coffeehouse” featuring musicians of the library’s Songwriters series, including music from David Dodson, John Nicholas, as well as the participants in the sessions.