Arts & Entertainment
Borderline Folk Music Performers Draw Packed House (VIDEO)
There were a few folk celebrities present at this performance
The Borderline Folk Music Club held its first concert of 2012 at the when Joe Crookston played in front of a packed house.
“(Crookston) is fantastic. We’ve been trying for three years to match our schedules,” said Sol Zeller, president and founder of the club. “He was playing a show in Baltimore and had to pass through the area on his way back home to Ithaca. He agreed to stop in and we’re happy to have him.”
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"I really enjoyed performing for the Borderline club. What (Zeller) does really allows me to have a career," said Crookston. "He does all this stuff as a volunteer, sets everything up and it's just awesome. It allows me to travel around the country every year, play my music and make a living."
Crookston has been signed to Milagrito Records, has three full-length albums and has been touring for the better part of the decade.
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Great Blue—comprised of the folk singing duo Steve Kaplan and Shirl Lawrence—opened for Crookston and were invited on stage to lend a hand with their strings and vocals.
“I’ve listened to some of Joe’s stuff and I’m going to be listening to a lot more,” said Kaplan. “Joe’s stuff can be funny, heart-wrenching or heart-warming, but it’s very engaging and eclectic. It just draws you right in.”
Borderline features folk musicians from throughout the metropolitan area and recently has featured nationally-known folk musicians. In addition to hosting events at the New City Ambulance Corps, the group also hosts shows in which folk musicians perform mini-concerts in the homes of Borderline members.
“They run a very professional coffee house with a very nice crowd. The crowd is engaged, intelligent and knowledgeable about the music,” said Kaplan. “And Sol himself is very seasoned and a very good host.”
The next Borderline concert is Sunday, Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. at the New City Volunteer Ambulance Corps featuring Loretta Hagan with opening act Chris Brown. Admission is $20 or $15 for members. For more information, contact Sol Zeller at 845-354-4586 or solzl@optonline.net
