P.O. Box 92398
Rochester, NY 14692
www.goldenlink.org
Media contact (not for publication): Dave Townsend, (585) 467-8690
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 2024
Golden Link Presents a New Voices Showcase with Levi Gangi and Kelly Izzo Shapiro
Rochester, NY – Golden Link’s “New Voices” Showcase features two local musicians who are new to our monthly concert series. Join us for a chance to hear some exciting new voices on this special double bill. Levi Gangi and Kelly Izzo Shapiro will perform a concert for the Golden Link Folk Singing Society on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at 7:30 pm at Greece Baptist Church, 1230 Long Pond Road, Rochester NY 14626.
With a "mature musical intuition" and singing that "overflows with sincerity" (Rochester CITY Magazine), Levi Gangi writes original Americana songs that create a landscape, telling stories through imagery. His songs engage listeners with boot-stomping rhythms and lilting, faraway melodies. Levi plays a vast catalog of original folk and Americana music, as well as covers in the vein of Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Fleetwood Mac, and Ryan Adams. He grew up playing piano and guitar, sneaking into the practice rooms behind the music majors in college. He has an enduring love for the magic and the sweat of songwriting.
A dedicated songwriter who studied at the music conservatory at SUNY Purchase, Kelly Izzo Shapiro has a sound that has been compared to Joni Mitchell, Janis Ian, and Sarah McLachlan. She is a Woody Guthrie Songwriting Contest winner and has written more than 4,000 songs. She has also written two musicals – one performed at the acclaimed New York Musical Theater Festival – with a third in the works. She is one of the producers of the annual showcase of songwriting talent called "If All of Rochester Wrote the Same Song." For this concert, she will be accompanied by her husband, guitarist Mike Shapiro.
"Gangi’s straightforward song structure belies a mature musical intuition that gets the most out of familiar instrumentation, proven chord progressions, and uncomplicated lyrics." – Rochester CITY Magazine
"This young lady has the voice of an angel and writes great, original songs."
– Bernunzio's Uptown Music
Online ticket sales end at midnight on January 10.
General Admission: $20 ($22 at the door)
Golden Link Members: $15 ($17 at the door)
Students: $10
Children under 12: $5
See below for a calendar listing of this and other upcoming concerts.
Phone or email interviews with the performer(s) can be arranged.
Photos of the performers are available at:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_wnU3-4eJhUJ3pkjFscIKC4JpKX2ykUN?usp=sharing
Founded in 1971, the Golden Link Folk Singing Society is dedicated to presenting, promoting, and preserving folk music in the Rochester area. Golden Link is a volunteer-operated and member-supported 501(c)3 not-for-profit arts, cultural, and educational organization.
CALENDAR LISTINGS
New Voices Showcase: Levi Gangi / Kelly Izzo Shapiro
Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Greece Baptist Church, 1230 Long Pond Rd, Rochester, NY 14626
For this year’s "New Voices" Showcase, we will be featuring two local musicians who are new to our monthly concert series.
Levi Gangi plays a vast catalog of original folk and Americana music, as well as covers in the vein of Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Fleetwood Mac, and Ryan Adams. He grew up playing piano and guitar and has an enduring love for the magic and the sweat of songwriting. His songs engage listeners with boot-stomping rhythms and lilting, faraway melodies.
A dedicated songwriter who studied at the music conservatory at SUNY Purchase, Kelly Izzo Shapiro has a sound that has been compared to Joni Mitchell, Janis Ian, and Sarah McLachlan. She is a Woody Guthrie Songwriting Contest winner and has written more than 4,000 songs and two musicals. She is one of the producers of the annual showcase of songwriting talent called "If All of Rochester Wrote the Same Song." For this concert, she will be accompanied by her husband, guitarist Mike Shapiro.
Tickets: General Admission: $20 ($22 at the door), Golden Link Members: $15 ($17 at the door), Students: $10, Children under 12: $5. For more information, visit www.goldenlink.org.
Midwinter Music Madness: Home Remedy (Rosie Newton & Lydia Garrison)
Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Greece Baptist Church, 1230 Long Pond Rd, Rochester, NY 14626
Home Remedy features original songs by Lydia Garrison written on fiddle, banjo, and guitar, paired with Rosie Newton’s emotive and powerful singing and playing on fiddle, accordion, and guitar. They both come from the old-time music tradition, which means they know how to put their heads down and get in the groove with fast and rocking fiddle and banjo tunes. You may know Rosie from Ritchie & Rosie (with Richie Stearns) or Rose and the Bros and Lydia from The Darling Clementines or The TurtleDuhks – with two members of the Juno Award-winning Canadian band The Duhks.
There will be a pre-concert hootenanny starting at 4:00 pm and a chili supper starting at 5:30 pm (more details to come).
Tickets: General Admission: $20 ($22 at the door), Golden Link Members: $15 ($17 at the door), Students: $10, Children under 12: $5. For more information, visit www.goldenlink.org.
Newberry & Verch
Friday, March 21, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Greece Baptist Church, 1230 Long Pond Rd, Rochester, NY 14626
Joe Newberry and April Verch showcase tunes, ballads, step dancing, and original songs by way of the Ozarks and Canada’s Ottawa Valley, respectively. With beautiful harmony singing, breathtaking instrumentals, and exquisite dancing, these two singular musicians hit the stage in perfect rhythm, making audiences remember why this music existed in the first place.
Verch (fiddle, vocals, step dance) is best known for two decades of international touring with The April Verch Band and a 2020 JUNO Award Nominee. Newberry (guitar, banjo, vocals) is an award-winning songwriter known for his work with mandolin icon Mike Compton, as well as The Transatlantic Sessions and A Prairie Home Companion.
Tickets: General Admission: $25 ($27 at the door), Golden Link Members: $20 ($22 at the door), Students: $10, Children under 12: $5. For more information, visit www.goldenlink.org.
Brooks Williams
Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Greece Baptist Church, 1230 Long Pond Rd, Rochester, NY 14626
Georgia-born and Cambridge, England-based guitarist singer and songwriter Brooks Williams is a leading light on the acoustic roots music scene, with more than 33 recordings and appearances at countless venues and festivals for more than three decades. From Celtic Connections to Cropredy, Glastonbury to Philadelphia, Kerrville to Winnipeg, there are very few stages Brooks Williams hasn’t played.
Brooks Williams’ guitar skills are evident as he effortlessly slides in and out of folk, blues, and country. It comes as no surprise he is listed in the Top 100 Acoustic Guitarists. He wraps that guitar playing around songs with rich narratives about gold prospectors, guitar players, motorcycle riders, golden palominos, and ne’er-do-wells, and sings them with a voice you melt into. His songs are rooted in tradition, wryly observed, and relevant.
Tickets: General Admission: $25 ($27 at the door), Golden Link Members: $20 ($22 at the door), Students: $10, Children under 12: $5. For more information, visit www.goldenlink.org.
Kaleidoscope
Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Greece Baptist Church, 1230 Long Pond Rd, Rochester, NY 14626
Kaleidoscope is four fearless vocalists – Pat Wictor (of Brother Sun), Deborah Latz, Jeannette Miller, Jesse Goldman – who improvise pieces that surprise and delight.
The four met in the Circle Singing community of vocal improvisers started by Bobby McFerrin and members of his Voicestra. Assuming roles normally played by instruments, from vocal percussion to bass or horn lines to soloing, they create music that is by turns soulful, whimsical, lyrical, playful, and funny. From moment to moment, you never know what will happen, and neither do they!
There could be interactive moments where you get to influence – or participate in – the music making. Be prepared for a myriad of colorful soundscapes and high-flying musical fun!
Tickets: General Admission: $25 ($27 at the door), Golden Link Members: $20 ($22 at the door), Students: $10, Children under 12: $5. For more information, visit www.goldenlink.org.