Claudia Schmidt September 1 at Camden Library Coffeehouse

Claudia Schmidt returns to the Camden Library Coffeehouse on Thursday, September 1, at 7:00 pm, to open the fall season of the Coffeehouse. Admission is only $12. Claudia Schmidt is an acclaimed singer with nineteen albums of mostly original songs, exploring folk, blues, and jazz idioms, accompanying herself with 12-string guitar and mountain dulcimer in performance. Schmidt’s performances are a quirky and wonderful hodge-podge (her word!) of music, poetry, story, laughter, drama, and celebrating the moment. She always includes her original work along with very personal versions of the work of others; what you get is a unique look at the world from someone who says what she sees with clarity, humor, and wonder.

Tickets are available at the library, or call or email for reservations, 236-3440 or info@librarycamden.org.

The San Francisco Bay Guardian said: “Schmidt’s shows are a lot like falling in love. You never know what’s going to happen next, chances are it’s going to be wonderful, every moment is burned into your memory and you know you’ll never be the same again.” More succinctly, Garrison Keillor says, “When Claudia sings a song, it stays sung.”

Schmidt weaves her way through her concert in much the same manner as a jester. Interwoven anecdotes, reveal an endless display of humor and longing, leaving audience members yearning to become an integral part of her world. “Those who keep trying to categorize Claudia Schmidt’s music should just give it up and file her under the general category ‘TALENT’ — Big talent!” (Post-Bulletin, Rochester, MN)

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Library Coffeehouse Features Meteora April 7

 The trio Meteora, comprised of Will Brown of Lincolnville and Jim Loney and Kat Logan of Friendship, are favorite performers at the Camden Library Coffeehouse and will return for an April 7 appearance. They had to postpone their concert last November due to a bout with pneumonia, but they are back as strong as ever this spring! Admission to the Coffeehouse is only $7, refreshments will be available, doors open at 6:30 for the 7:00 pm Coffeehouse on Thursday, April 7.

Meteora has been performing together for over five years now, with a repertoire that includes their originals, plus new arrangements of folk, Indie, world folk, blues, traditional songs and dance tunes, “and some pop songs from your parent’s record collection,” says Will. They sing throughout the area from Brunswick and Belfast with occasional jaunts upcountry and out of state. Audiences enjoy their tight three-part harmonies, varied instrumentations, and lively arrangements. Their programs touch on a lot of musical bases as well as heartstrings.

Kat Logan and Jim Loney are a singer-songwriter couple from Friendship, Maine. Kat has a crystal clear, inviting voice and plays piano, accordion, banjo, and guitar. She has performed folk, country, and blues music throughout New England for the past 20 years. Jim is also a singer-songwriter and has performed Delta Blues and R & B for many years. Jim was also attracted to Cuban Son music and played with the band Primo Cubano. He plays guitar, banjo, and hand percussion. Will Brown has been playing and singing folk music in concert since his teens. Will plays guitar, laud, banjo, frame drum percussion, and does handy sprints on the cornet. He has been recording with Gordon Bok, Cindy Kallet, Grey Larsen, and Anne Dodson over the past 30 years. Kat has also recorded with Gordon Bok and both Will and Kat recorded songs on the 2009 Grammy Nominated Folk Album: “Singing Through The Hard Times – A Tribute to Utah Phillips.”

www.shootmainestudios.com

“Songwriters’ Coffeehouse”

“Songwriters’ Coffeehouse” June 5

The songwriters of the Camden Public Library’s Songwriters Session have been enjoying working this winter on their new songs in preparation for the June 5 Library Coffeehouse. Led by veteran songwriters David Dodson and John Nicholas, the group has been producing original work that spans styles from rockabilly to singer-songwriter, blues, ballads, love songs, hymns, and more. The Coffeehouse is on Thursday, June 5, at 7:00 pm; suggested donations at the door will be $5.

The Songwriters Sessions are an opportunity to get some positive feedback and perhaps even some harmony or instrumental backup for budding songwriters. “We concentrated on some of the decision-making processes that go into choosing lyrics, melodies, chords, styles, rhythms, and rhymes,” said Dodson. “I used some of my recently-written songs to illustrate choices and changes that can be made to help a song come up to its potential. We worked on structure, rhythm, melody, and of course the meaning of life.” David Dodson will also perform at the June 5 Coffeehouse along with Rachel and John Nicholas and the musicians of the Songwriters Sessions.

The Camden Public Library maintains a year-round tradition of live music, usually folk and acoustic, on the first Thursday of the month, at the Library Coffeehouse. The Library Coffeehouse has been hosting live musicians for ten years now. Visit www.librarycamden.org for more information.

The Return of Wildage to the Library Coffeehouse

The Return of Wildage to the Library Coffeehouse November 7

“Wildage” is a fall favorite at the Camden Library Coffeehouse, and the trio will return for a musical and entertaining evening on Thursday, November 7, at 7:00 pm. Admission will be $8, and $7 for seniors & students. George Fowler and Will Brown have played together for a number of years at Coastal Maine events. George is on the teaching staff at the Maine Fiddle Camp as well as last year’s Fiddle Camp on Prince Edward Island. His Montville Project has recorded two CDs of Essential New England Contradance Tunes as well as another mixed bag CD of tunes with guests from all around Maine. Will sings and plays various stringed instruments and has recorded with Gordon Bok, Anne Dodson, David Dodson, Cindy Kallet and Grey Larsen. Will also plays in the trio Meteora with Kat Logan and Jim Loney.

This incarnation of Wildage includes an exciting new addition to midcoast Maine, Baron Collins-Hill. Baron grew up playing the mandolin in Maine and recently graduated from Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts with a degree in music performance and ethnomusicology. Versed in traditional fiddle music, bluegrass, and jazz, he is known for his rhythmic experimentation and unique harmonic sense on both the mandolin and the tenor guitar. Baron also plays with fiddler Julia Plumb in their duo Velocipede.

The evening will present a varied mix of tunes, some up tempo, some waltzes, and some airs that are new to the repertoire. You will hear some dance tunes, some with a country twist, some downright Appalachian, and some with a contemporary twist. The melodic three-part riffs have just fallen from the sky into their hands as the have practiced together. There will be memorable songs as well as tunes, most of which will also be new to you.

“This will be a ‘guaranteed great’ concert!” says Will. “ Baron’s youthful energy has woken the sleeping beasts within the old codgers, you might say. Come enjoy the new awakening with us!”

Coffeehouse June 7 Features Library’s Songwriters

 On Thursday, June 7 at 7:00 pm, the Camden Public Library will feature the new work of the Songwriter’s Sessions. The June Coffeehouse has become a much-anticipated annual tradition at the library. The musicians have been working all winter writing and polishing the performance of their new work. The sessions have been led by veteran songwriters David Dodson and Jim James. James will MC the evening; there is a suggested donation of $4. Call Ken Gross at the library at 236-3440 for more information.

The music ranges from traditional-sounding ballads to humorous ragtime to a capella compositions. The musicians support each with vocals and instrumentation. The series continues a tradition of helping songwriters prepare their work for presentation. Songwriters in the past have found the sessions to be very helpful in providing regular feedback as the songs progress, and have found the monthly meetings to be a great advantage in helping provide the discipline to keep writing. The sessions are also an opportunity to find like-minded musicians to perform with. As one writer put it, “Songwriting is a challenging and sometimes wrenching process, and it is great to have the comments and support of fellow writers. And if others enjoy it and see part of their life story in it as well, that’s a bonus!”

Several of the musicians of the Songwriters Sessions, working with David Dodson.

Some of the musicians who will be performing at the Songwriters Coffeehouse on June 7, 7:00 pm at the Camden Public Library.