A Night of Words, Music, and Surprise: Thursday, January 14, 2027, 7 pm-9 pm
If you found your way here, congratulations! You're one step closer to a night full of inspiration and genius. Ken Waldman & The Wild Ones features Alaskan Fiddling Poet, Ken Waldman, with Cambridge MA guitarist (and fiddler and accordion player), Erica Weiss, Brooklyn banjo player (and global personality), Ilan Moss, plus Brooklyn bass player, Robert Wood. They'll go from rocking and rowdy traditional string-band numbers (made new through poetry and storytelling accompaniment) to Waldman's original waltzes to undoubtedly a guest or two. Separately, the four have not only played music all over the continent, but they've traveled the world. Together, they aim to make sure everyone watching and listening is having as much fun as they're having playing. Ken Waldman & The Wild Ones are on for a few minutes for the 7:30-7:45 roots music sampler and again from 8:45-9:00 (where they'll conclude the evening with a few friends, and quite possibly go past the scheduled end of the show).
From 7:00-7:30 we begin with two sets from our featured artists who'll be bringing theater (and complementary music to the evening): Joshua Kane is a celebrated actor--and rare, compelling presence--who might seamlessly pivot from Shakespeare to Poe to astounding mentalist feats, or go in a different direction entirely--and tonight it will indeed be a different direction. Experience Joshua Kane's singing. His show is In My Own Lifetime: How Broadway Musicals Made Me Jewish--it's how he found his Jewish voice through the American Musical Theater. Following Joshua will be Steve Duchrow, a Midwest renaissance man who has channeled another Midwest renaissance man, Carl Sandburg, and will do excerpts of his play, Carl Sandburg's LINCOLN. It's the kind of history that makes sense of this historic time in our culture.
7:30-7:45 the remaining groups will offer short sampler sets, beginning with Ken Waldman seguing with his own Carl Sandburg poem before he leads his Wild Ones in a tune. Following Ken Waldman & The Wild Ones in no particular order will be the powerful duo of Janie Rothfield & Allan Carr. International touring artists Janie Rothfield (fiddle/clawhammer banjo) & Allan Carr (guitar/mandola) play a unique blend of traditional and original Celtic and Appalachian music with great singing, hot instrumentals, and with Allan’s humor, always a whole lot of fun! Also on hand tonightwith guitarist, bass player, singer Allan Carr,Maura Shawn Scanlin and guitarist, Conor Hearn; they wowed audiences on a recent Western U.S. tour. Also we host rural Pennsylvania's Bachelor Farmer, Jeff Corle, whose song, Empty Barn, written in response to having to sell off the cows from his family dairy farm, went viral and changed his life; a singer and songwriter, he speaks and writes compellingly about the economic challenges of dairy farming. We're also pleased to welcome a phenomenal fiddle/cello/guitar trio, The Nightjars; that's Maya Leibowitz on fiddle, Gabriel Furtado on guitar, Ellen Gira on cello. Two exceptional Canadian artists will also be performing: Barbra Lica is a JUNO-nominated singer/songwriter/producer who has headlined jazz festivals in Japan and in the States as well as her home country; Sarah Hagen is not only a widely touring and beloved classical pianist, but her comic Perk Up, Pianist! show has toured North American and European festivals and has her compared to Victor Borge.
At one point, we thought that was going to be the complete line-up, but in early November we were fortunate to add two more showcase artists. Fiddler, guitarist, and singer, Lily Henley, has been touring her interpretations of Sephardic Jewish ballads. We're excited to host her as well as the exceptional Venezuela-meets-Appalachia pair, Larry & Joe. That's Larry Bellorin and Joe Troop--bilingual vocals and virtuosic multi-instrumentalists.
Guaranteed you'll want to arrive at the start and stay through to the end.
Updated schedule for Thursday night, January 8:
. . . Like a major arts festival stage--but at the iconic, intimate Don't Tell Mama
7:00-7:30: 8 short samplers, an introduction to all of tonight's artists
7:30-7:45: Sarah Hagen, https://sarahhagen.com/
7:45-8:00: Rakish, https://www.rakishmusic.com/home
8:00-8:15: Lily Henley, https://www.lilyhenley.com/bio
8:15-8:30: Barbra Lica, https://barbralicamusic.com/
8:30-8:45: The Nightjars, The Nightjars music is here
8:45-9:00: Jeff Corle, https://jeffcorlemusic.com/
9:00-9:15: Larry & Joe, https://www.larryandjoe.com/
9:15-9:30: Ken Waldman & The Wild Ones, https://www.kenwaldman.com
The venue: Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th, an easy walk from the Hilton, the conference hotel. It's 46th St. between 8th and 9th Avenue. We're in a back cabaret room, the same space Ken Waldman has used for a decade of producing APAP showcase evenings. It seats 80, and is open to both APAP attendees and the general public. APAP attendees are comped (and reservations are strongly recommended); it's $20 for the general public. There's a two-drink minimum, and it's a cash-only establishment. Doors open at 6:30, but you can also arrive early to grab a meal, or a drink in another of the rooms. It's a famous club, a lively piano bar up front. Again, it's an easy walk from the Hilton. Come see us! (For the first 8 APAP reservations, the drinks are our treat.)
Questions? Reservations? ken@kenwaldman.com