Old Songs, Inc. is a not-for-profit, educational, 501(c)3 corporation
Virtual Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 11 am–4 pm.
PO Box 466 • 37 S Main • Voorheesville, NY 12186-0466
(518) 765-2815 • info@oldsongs.org
Past Events
March 2021
Joy Bennett & Chris Koldewey
Old Songs at Caffè Lena — Virtual Concert
A unique opportunity to hear this duo. Together, Joy & Chris will share with you their many treasures from the sea and shore. You’ll hear rousing chanteys, soulful ballads and laments, old favorites and new finds, and close harmonies. And, you’ll have lots of opportunity to sing along.
Chris has been singing folk music since his early teens, comes from a family rich in maritime traditions, and his lullabies as a child were traditional songs of the sea. A multi-instrumentalist, Chris may be heard playing Guitar, Concertina, Banjo, or Mandolin. He spent twenty years associated with the Chantey Department at Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut, one of the few places left where museum visitors can hear the songs and see the work for which they were used. chriskoldewey.com
Joy has been singing most of her life, developed a love of sea chanteys at South Street Seaport Museum in college and today is a highly respected singer as a founding member of the internationally acclaimed ensemble “The Johnson Girls”, an all female a capella sea chantey and maritime quartet with a devoted following since 1997.
The concert will be streamed on YouTube. Please mention Joy & Chris in the Tip Jar to support the artists and Old Songs. No Advanced Ticket Sales.
John Roberts
Old Songs at Caffè Lena — Virtual Concert
For more than 50 years, British expatriate John Roberts has been singing and playing folk songs. Songs of the sea are one of his great specialties. He is also considered one of the foremost Anglo concertina players in the English-speaking world and uses the banjo for unique settings in many of the songs he sings. He can give the background of any song he performs, generally delivered as a ripping good story telling the listener the circumstances from which it might have been written and from whom the song was collected. John and his long-time music partner, Tony Barrand (another British expatriate) are often cited as influences and mentors to many listeners, singers and musicians when it comes to traditional folk music of the English speaking world.
The concert will be streamed on YouTube. Please mention John Roberts in the Tip Jar to support the artists and Old Songs. No Advanced Ticket Sales.
September 2021
$24
Rushad Eggelston at Caffè Lena
Presented in collaboration with Caffè Lena.
Rushad Eggleston, a.k.a. Rushadicus, is a mystical realm-hopping jester of infinite glee, whose unprecedented extremely fast bouncy cello style blows minds of all kinds. A charming entertainer with unbridled passion, his joy is so contagious that many showgoers complain of sore facial muscles afterwards (the name Rushad means “joyful soul”).
A whimsically adventurous sense of melody shines through in all shades & styles on any of the many instruments Rushad bejicks “to keep it fresh”. Sometimes he reads mystical poetry in his own language, speaks in tongues, channels aliens, throat-sings, beat-boxes, or does skits as different characters such as Negative Ralph, Country Bob, The Goblin, or Guru Fafa which he has a right to embody because of his half-indian heritage.
Somewhat of an acrobat, Rushad can spin on one leg, hang upside down, do splits, play in plough pose, and catch flying fruits in his mouth while playing fast intricate cello rhythms. A distinguished flatpicker, his innovation and skill are admired by many guitar luminaries. Although some of his music is avant garde and experimental (he has an amazing deathmetal cat-voice), he is an expert at making personal anthems to those for which he is playing.
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In order to ensure everyone’s safety, Caffè Lena is now requiring proof of vaccination for all attendees. View the Full Caffè Lena Safety Policy
The concert will be held in-person at Caffè Lena and streamed on: CaffeLena.tv
May 2022
$22
The Remarkable, Irresistible Erie: Snapshots and Voices
Old Songs presents at Caffè Lena, In Person AND Live Streamed
Produced and directed by Ms “Andy” Spence, this is a performance telling stories of the people, the places, and the history of the original and enlarged Erie Canal, presented in song with narration. The concert features songs by folklorist and historian George Ward, Canadian Joe Grant, Dan Berggren & Jean Ritchie along with other familiar traditional Erie songs.
Musicians and singers: George Wilson, fiddle, bass & banjo; Paul Draper, vintage banjo; George Ward, concertina; Annie Rosen, ukulele; Jonny Rosen, guitar, Kate Blain, guitar; Alan Thomson, piano.