On select Friday nights throughout the year, Unity Hall at All Souls Congregation in New London is transformed into a venue for music lovers of all ages. Friday Night Folk at All Souls is a community concert series that has brought performers such as John Gorka, Bill Morrissey and Richard Shindell to New London for over two decades. These Friday night festivals were founded in 1989 as the brainchild of Nick Evento, who has been directing the concert series ever since. In the ’90s, the base attendance rate was around twenty members, but popularity and publicity have spread: it’s not unusual now to see over ninety people in attendance.
The atmosphere surrounding the concert is that of a professional music series held in the comfort of your own living room. The complimentary snack and beverage station (illuminated throughout the concert by a small lamp one might imagine on a bedside table) provides a variety of baked goods made by volunteers. Clutching steaming mugs of tea and met with the sight of a small dog curled up on a blanket in the back of the room, first-time concert goers feel completely at home in the large hall. But don’t let the cozy ambiance fool you; the high audio quality and diverse musical talents reveal the professional operation beneath this casual exterior.
The first in this year’s concert series, a showcase of local artists, took place on Sept. 13. Sue Mead, a classic folk singer-songwriter from Niantic, opened the night with a series of both original and familiar tunes, catering to requests from the audience. Her original songs ranged the gamut from the uplifting lyrics of “Sacred Journey” to the slower, sadder tune of “Does He Still Drink.” In contrast to Mead, the featured artist of the night, Sister Mary, had a modern style of folk that elicited the description of “psychedelic bluegrass.” A young native of Rhode Island, Sister Mary’s variety of folk diverged from the more traditional sound. Her unique and perfectly wavering voice was complimented by the medley of banjo, guitar and snare drum. Many of her songs, such as “Road Whiskey” and “Bed of Rose,” evoked the ephemeral sounds of Iron and Wine, a group that also frequently performs with minimal accompaniment. Overall, the evening was rich with folk favorites as well as heartfelt original songs, creating a perfect fusion of classic and modern.
While this recent concert focused on the tried-and-true themes of love and loss, Friday Night Folk also seeks to continue the mission of All Souls to “joyfully support social justice and outreach activities.” According to Nick Evento, the board at Friday Night Folk “tries to bring in performers that are not just for entertainment, but are also part of what we feel is social justice.” As a result, Friday Night Folk has partnered with the Voluntown Peace Trust, an education center for social change and sustainable living. The Trust offers programs, retreats, workshops and spaces to groups and individuals “developing alternatives to the violence of our age.” Peace-promoting musicians have also performed in the concert series. In January, Geoff Kaufman and Charlie King with Karen Brandow will be performing at All Souls. King’s music is heavily influenced by anti-war music of the ’60s and has been credited with bringing the War Resistance League, an organization committed to eliminating war and its causes, to New London.
While over 50 individuals were in attendance on Friday, Conn students were sparsely represented in the mix. However, Jesse Edwards ’15, the only Conn student at the concert other than myself, was not just a listener, but also an active member of Friday Night Folk. A native of Mystic, Connecticut, Edwards has been involved with community organizing and the music scene in New London since high school. Since last spring, Edwards has been doing some sound work and videography for Friday Night Folk. “My favorite thing about Friday Night Folk is that it brings communities together around a style of music that has traditionally been about community,” Edwards said. He and the other volunteers who keep the concert series up and running would love to see more Conn students getting involved in community events. All are encouraged to attend the next concert in the Friday Night Folk series on Oct. 4 at All Souls Congregation, featuring nationally acclaimed contemporary folk musician John Gorka. Concert tickets are $20 at the door, $17 in advance and $10 with a student ID. Contact Nick Evento at fnfolk@gmail.com for more information on the concert series or to get involved.
