Saturday, January 25, 2020 MICHAEL SPEAR DUO featuring SMILIN’ ED JULIA LEVTINA opening Folkin’ smokin’ original Americana with a social conscience. Yeah, I write that one.

Michael Spear Duo at Jamey’s House of Music

Saturday, January 25th, 2020

Tickets – $15 online advance / $18 door

Dinner – 6pm, Showtime – 8pm

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS AND MORE INFO

The Michael Spear Duo featuring Smiling Ed is a Philly-based duo and Philadelphia Folksong Society Music Co-op member, featuring multi-instrumentalist Smiling Ed and singer-songwriter, guitarist and occasional pianist Michael Spear. Michael is a prolific songwriter, having written over two thousand songs. Smiling Ed is a wizard of the strings including banjo, mandolin, dobro, guitar and bouzouki, and has studied with banjo legend Pete Wernick. Ed is a sought after sideman and plays with many local and regional acts including the Manatees.

Michael Spear Duo was a co-winner of the Godfrey Daniels 2016 best of Godfrey’s open mic and have played at Bethlehem’s Musikfest and multiple times at the Philadelphia Folk Festival.

Their home venues include Malelani Café, Philadelphia Folksong Society, WaR3house 3, and the Mermaid Inn. They are also long-time members of the decades old weekly unnamed night jam group, jamming regularly with a number of well-known local musicians including Phyllis Chapell of Siora; Jay Popky of Beaufort, and The Cornerstones; Katherine Rondeau; Ken Ulansey of the Ken Ulansey Ensemble; Stacy Weathers of The Cornerstones and other bands; and, Jefferson Berry of the Urban Acoustic Coalition—who included a cover of Michael’s “Circus Song” on the their 2018 EP.

Their all original songs cover topics such as the political system (“Get Back Hope,” “Children of the Corn”) USA-born children of immigrants (“Call Me An Immigrant”), juvenile criminal sentencing (“Life Without Parole”), freedom (“No More Russian Lullaby”), homelessness (“We Need A Home”), the #MeToo movement (“For All of the Hurt”), and Black Lives Matter (“Already Dead”). They aren’t just all doom and gloom and politics however. Funny songs (“Circus Song”) & love songs (“Done Fly Away in the Morning”) round out their traditional-sounding yet original tunes.

Like them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/spearduo/

Born and raised in Odessa, Ukraine, but now calling Philadelphia her home, singer-songwriter Julia Levitina is bringing a global perspective to her unique brand of Americana. Subtly blending in Russian and French folk influences from her youth, Julia’s newly released debut EP, Take Your Time Loving Me, is a snapshot of an artist who has literally and figuratively crossed oceans and seas to pursue her dreams. Julia’s songs are upbeat, thoughtful, sometimes tongue-in-cheek musings about what it takes to live life to the fullest and find courage to to that.

Already an established sculptor, Julia sees her musical adventure as part of a continuum, where one art form flows seamlessly into another at the hands of an artist who has something significant to say.

Julia’s musical influences include chanson française, i.e. Serge Gainsbourg and Francis Cabrel, and great Russian bards, such as Vladimir Vysotsky. They find an unexpected home alongside her current favorites, like Josh Ritter.

Julia has played the Tin Angel, World Café Live, the Grape Room, Bourbon & Branch and the Random Tea Room in Philadelphia; Saxbys and Evermore Coffee Roasters in New Jersey; Burlap & Bean in Newtown Square and Chesapeake Art Center in Baltimore, among others.

https://www.facebook.com/julialevitinamusic/

Harmonica with Seth Holzman

Beginner Harmonica with Seth Holzman

Beginner’s Harmonica for Adults with Seth Holzman (ages 13 and up):
Every Monday, 6:30 – 7:45pm, January 27th, 2020 through March 23rd, 2020 (no class February 17th)

Learn to play simple traditional folk songs and elementary blues on one of America’s most popular, portable instruments – the harmonica!  Basic techniques such as bending, trilling, tongue-blocking, vibrato, and wah-wah will be covered.  Individual attention will be given to each student.  No musical background is required.  Bring a 10-hole diatonic key of C major harmonica (such as the Hohner Special 20, Hohner Marine Band Model 1896, or equivalent) to the first class.  Required text may be purchased for $9.00 from the instructor the first night.  (Optional: bring a tape recorder, a digital recorder, or some other recording device if you wish to record the classes.)

REGISTER FOR BEGINNER’S HARMONICA HERE

Blues Harmonica with Seth Holzman

Blues Harmonica 1 (Ages 13 and up)
Every Monday, 8:00 – 9:15pm, January 27th, 2020 through March 23rd, 2020 (no class February 17th)

Let’s continue our work with the harmonica and focus on the Blues.  The harmonica’s unique sound is integral to the distinctiveness of many great blues bands.  Learn some techniques and styles of background and lead playing.  We will work on songs by Slim Harpo (“Something Inside Me,” “Raining In My Heart”), Little Walter (“Last Night,” “Hoochie Coochie Man”), Sonny Terry (“Bring It On Home To Me”), etc.  Bring a 10-hole diatonic key of C-major harmonica such as the Hohner Special 20, Hohner Marine Band Model 1896, or equivalent, to first class.  Required text may be purchased for $9.00 from the instructor the first night.  (Optional: bring a digital recorder or some other recording device.)  (Note: This class is for people who have taken Harmonica For Beginners or others who have acquired similar skills and knowledge and have Seth’s permission to take the class.)
REGISTER FOR BLUES HARMONICA 1 HERE

Seth Holzman

Seth has been playing harmonica since 1965, teaching harmonica since 1975, and has performed with Muddy Waters, Koko Taylor, Ronnie Earl, Roomful of Blues, Magic Slim & The Teardrops, and many others. Seth was inspired to play by (and eventually studied with) the great blues harmonica player Sonny Terry. He is a caring and thoughtful instructor who teaches the techniques and musical knowledge he wishes he had known when he began his own studies. Seth currently performs in the greater Philadelphia area with Stevie and The Bluescasters.  For any further questions about the courses, contact Seth at 610-724-3168 or email him at zepharpo@aol.com.

Beginner Voice Class with Molly Hebert-Wilson

About Molly Hebert-Wilson

Singer Molly Hebert-Wilson has a BFS in musical theater from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. An actress, musician, and vocalist, Molly’s vocal styles range from classical to powerhouse belting. She is also a vocal coach, preparing children in the Great Groove Band for performance at Philly Folk and other festivals, at at the Philadelphia Folk School and privately. Molly currently sings and plays upright bass for Philadelphia band, Rare Spirits.

Godfrey Daniels , Friday, January 31st , 8pm

Susan Werner @ Godfrey Daniels
Join us for the first time Bethlehem sings in her namesake city, as we open for one of our long-time favorites and “One of the most innovative songwriters working today.” according to the Chicago Tribune. With 2019’s “NOLA”, Susan delivers another one of her unique concept albums, based on the piano stylings of Professor Longhair and Dr. John, these nine new tunes cook up a foot-stomping musical gumbo.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS AND MORE INFO