Alaskan Folk Singer Brings Musical Imagry of the Sea to New City

Rain was the only appropriate weather to accompany Kray Van Kirk's performance.

The Alaskan folk singer evokes images of the sea and sailors in many of his songs, and at some point during his performance Sunday at a New City home, the most appropriate of participations dropped by, along with roughly 35 people to see him sing.

Van Kirk said he used to own a boat, although he no longer does and doesn't really have time to go sailing anyway. But the imagery doesn't just come from an admiration of water.

"It also comes from growing up a total geek," he said, adding that he grew up reading science fiction, such as Ray Bradbury, Harlan Ellison and the "Lord of the Rings" books. "Sailing imagery has been around in lots of science fiction, if not sailing on the water then sailing through space."

Just listening to some of the songs Van Kirk performed Sunday, it's easy to see how prevalent sea life is in his music. He played roughly an hour and a half, split into two sets, one featuring eight songs and the other 10. A few titles of songs he performed are "The Captain And The Lady," The Shores of Wales," Sailor With A Broken Wheel" and "My Lover Was A Sailor."

The concert was sponsored by The Borderline Folk Music Club, a non-profit organization in Rockland that looks to spread the knowledge and appreciation of folk and bluegrass music by holding intimate concerts throughout the year. Sunday's show was held at group member Steve Shapiro's house on Trailside Court.

According to Sol Zeller, the group's president, The Borderline Folk Music Club doesn't usually hold concerts during the summer, but this was a rare opportunity. Van Kirk doesn't tour too frequently, and especially not on the east coast, but he was on his way to Europe for a few weeks of shows and had a one-day layover in New York.

"I said, 'Let's try it and see what happens,'" Zeller said. "It was too good of a chance to pass up."

Zeller said the group typically doesn't hold concerts during summer because that's when a lot of festivals are happening and a lot of people travel. He also said the group holds usually seven concerts a year, some being house concerts and others taking place at the New City Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

Van Kirk said he enjoys performing house concerts for a few reasons.

"They're very easy to set up and just really casual," he said. "Music has been recorded for only a hundred years or so, but music has been played for thousands just like in this setting. It wouldn't matter if we lost power. And it's nice to talk with the crowd."

There was quite a bit of crowd interaction, as the concert-goers sat on couches and chairs in Shapiro's living room, with even the farthest back seat still within 25 or so feet of the singer-guitar player. Van Kirk joked with the crowd between songs, and some of those in attendance even sang along with him during. A few people softly sang along on a cover of John Hartford's "Gentle On My Mind," as well as on a cover of Stan Rogers' "Northwest Passage."

Van Kirk also spent time between songs talking about life in Juneau, Alaska, where he is attending the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Juneau School of Fishery and Ocean Sciences seeking his Ph.D. in fisheries biology.

One story he told the crowd was how late one fall night he got out of bed to go turn off the backyard lights, which he forgot to do earlier, and noticed his car's front passenger door open. He went to close it, but found a bear sitting in the front passenger seat not doing anything. Van Kirk waited and eventually the bear got out of the car and walked down the street. The bear then started making regular trips to Van Kirk's car until it was time to hibernate for the winter.

"He never scratched anything or did any damage," Van Kirk said. "I didn't want to lock the door because I didn't want to upset him, which might then cause him to do some damage to the car."

Van Kirk also talked about all the different kinds of animals that live near him in Alaska.

"I not afraid of wolves, and I'm cautious around grizzlies," he said. "I'm more scared trying to drive around here."

Van Kirk said he doesn't tour too much, although he does shows around Alaska, but he is on his way to Europe for about three weeks where he'll do shows in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. He is hoping that he can start touring more after he returns from his current tour.

"Calvin told Hobbes, 'I must follow the inscrutable exhortations of my soul,' and I told myself, 'Dude, you've just got to do what you've got to do,'" Van Kirk said.

While he did have CDs for sale, Van Kirk mostly gives his music away for free, as most of it can be downloaded off his site (www.krayvankirk.com). He had some CDs made up to send ahead to radio stations in Europe to promote his shows and had extras, so he brought them to his concert on Sunday. Van Kirk's slogan is "Music without borders, music without cost."

"Whether or not I do this isn't going to have any huge repercussions," he said. "It just feels right."

He said his New City show was a "great jumping off point. It was a great crowd, and everyone seemed really into the music."

There is a popular folk music scene in the area, and shows like Sunday's and The Borderline Folk Music Club contributes to that.

"There's a great folk scene around here," said Michelle Fortier, a volunteer helping out at the show on Sunday. "You can probably find a concert – whether at a house or a venue – at least once a week."

Fortier also managers folk singer Loretta Hagen, who is performing at The Borderline Folk Music Club's next show, which is its annual picnic. The show, Aug. 29 at the New City Volunteer Ambulance Corps, used to be known as the Pinewood Folk Music Society and was held in Long Island. Jean Ritchie, one of the organizers of the festival, however can no longer run it, so The Borderline Folk Music Club decided to take it over and keep it going.

It's free to go to, although people going are asked to bring a pot-luck lunch dish that can be shared amongst six people. Anybody is allowed to perform at the show, as well.

Reservations are required, and for additional information and reservations contact Zeller at 845-354-4586 or solz1@optonline.net.