Acoustic Celebration

08/14/2024

What an incredibly lovely evening we had ChirpCT in Ballard Park with music lovers eating up the very talented AJ Lee & Blue Summit. Thurs evening also slated to be nice weather when legendary British Blues Guitarist Matt Schofield Music trio performs for us at 7:00 p.m.

08/13/2024

The inimitable, extraordinary bridge between East and West, Harry Manx returns to Acoustic Celebration on Sunday, Sept. 15 at North Hall, St. Stephen's Church, Ridgefield at 4p.m. Reservations available by sending a check for $30 per person to Acoustic Celebration, c/o Manners, 109 Round Lake Rd. Ridgefield, CT. 06877. Include your email address and we will send you confirmation of receipt via email. That's all you'll need to get in.

Harry Manx has been dubbed an “essential link” between the music of East and West, creating musical short stories that wed the tradition of the Blues with the depth of classical Indian ragas. His unique sound is bewitching and deliciously addictive to listen to.

Born on the Isle of Man, Manx spent his childhood in Canada and left in his teens to live in Europe, Japan, India and Brazil. He honed his hypnotic live show on street corners, in cafes, bars and at festivals. But it was Indian music that captured his attention and in the mid 80s he began a five-year tutelage with Rajasthani Indian musician Vishwa Mohan Bhatt (Grammy winner with Ry Cooder for A Meeting by the River). Receiving the gift of Bhatt’s custom-made, self-designed Mohan Veena (a 20-stringed sitar/guitar hybrid) was the catalyst for Harry to forge a new path with his now signature east-meets-west style of music. While the mohan veena itself is beyond exotic, Manx uses it within traditional Western sound structures.

A successful touring performer, Manx has brought his “breathtaking” solo shows across Canada and into the USA, Australia, and Europe. He has appeared at many prestigious festivals, world-class theatres, concert halls and infamous Blues clubs around the globe. Playing the Mohan Veena, lap steel, harmonica, stomp box, and banjo, Manx quickly envelops the audience into what has been dubbed “the Harry Zone” with his warm vocals and the hauntingly beautiful melodies of his original songs.

08/08/2024

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06/08/2024

Well not only do we have Francey coming back on Nov. 17, mark your calendars for Sunday, Sept 15 at 4p.m. when Harry Manx returns to Acoustic Celebration. Tickets on sale at end of June.

05/24/2024

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dy7XYGLjP-58%26fbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1_Ugd5BJZ9WnUjXoEtM_1-o22nD7G_I9usaFMig8t8mlIARh3pJGL5s04_aem_Acfh7JYch4ow-sjetga34RxA-6dZv_2eGAGfk3h4KZsjZp58w_eq1jdtVqfqZOFP-awJNfBz4O2njDPq_nhPOzHs&h=AT3LcPr4mdFY4u3TtUdehe6s7L2268VQbtSlYyo2rMrmJtRQjVcj2Zet7pbu5dYkwOLYwoTtFKMqAxbzMgadsoaLqySkBRCn4cgXNBGc-rH12Th-01m5erLgBESwVdJfEb4

05/22/2024

Friends, the full schedule of ChirpCT 2024 will be in the A&L section of The Ridgefield Press this week. You can also find it on Chirp's website at www.chirpct.org. I am, as always, excited about our upcoming season but I am over the moon that Allison Russell who played for Chirp quite a number of times over the years since 2010, first as Po Girl with Awna Teixeira and then with her husband JT as The Birds of Chicago will be performing at Forest Hill Stadium June 5, 7 and 8, appearing with Hozier, the well known Irish performer. I've never made it to the Stadium for the Open, but I'm not going to miss this. I'm going June 5, but on Tues. June 4, I hope you'll be with me in Ballard Park to hear Christine Ohlman making a special appearance with the Paul Gabriel Blues Band.

04/28/2024

Save the Date! If you love David Francey the way we do, or if you're curious as to why we think he's extraordinary, join us Sunday, Nov. 17th at 4pm when David Francey returns to us, this time at North Hall of St. Stephens Church 341 Main St. Ridgefield. Tickets on sale shortly for David and more come the fall.

03/31/2024

David Francey, already a legend in his lifetime, won his 4th Juno (Canadian Grammy) March 23 for Best Traditional Roots Album for his recent release "The Breath Between." He will be back in Ridgefield for the first time in many years, Sunday, April 7 at 4:00 p.m. to share those songs and others from his past albums. $30 tickets are still available at https://acousticcelebration.org/events/ or by sending a check to Acoustic Celebration, c/o Barbara Manners, 109 Round Lake Rd. Ridgefield, CT. 06877. Please include your email address so we can confirm immediately. Remaining tickets will be $35 at the door of Temple Shir Shalom, 46 Peaceable St. Ridgefield, CT from 3:30 p.m. on the 7th.
David Francey is a Scottish-born Canadian carpenter-turned-songwriter, who has become known as “one of Canada’s most revered folk poets and singers” (Toronto Star). Born in Ayrshire, Scotland to parents who were factory workers, he moved to Canada when he was twelve. For decades, he worked across Canada in rail yards, construction sites, and in the Yukon bush, all the while writing poetry, setting it to melodies in his head and singing it to himself as he worked. He was past 40 when his wife, artist Beth Girdler, encouraged him to share his songs and sing in public.("Torn Screen Door" was his first in 1999. There have been 4 Juno awards and 13 albums since). He has had his songs covered by such artists as The Del McCoury Band, The Rankin Family, James Keelaghan and Tracy Grammer. The Edmonton Journal has written "David Francey is known as one of Canada's finest tunesmiths and a champion of the Everyman, admired for his less-is-more approach to writing. It's amazing how he manages to address deep stuff with such spare ingredients" The Edmonton Journal

02/12/2024

Dear Friends,

Today, out of the blue, I received an underwriting check for a CChirpCTconcert with the following note:
"For so many years, I attended many of your awesome concerts and often was not able to contribute. Yet I remember you on stage saying, 'It's okay if you can't contribute, but if you hit it big in the future remember us.' And so it is an honor to....do so-remember the harmonic love."
Oh my goodness, what a beautiful and meaningful surprise!!!!!😊😊 Thank you dear underwriter for enabling me to cry happy tears for once.

02/06/2024

It has been too long, but it is definitely not too late to welcome back one of Canada's greatest artists to AAcoustic Celebrationon Sunday, April 7, 2024. DDavid Franceywill perform for us at St. Stephen's North Hall, 351 Main Street at 4p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance and may be reserved by sending a check with your email address to Acoustic Celebration c/o Manners, 109 Round Lake Rd. Ridgefield, CT. 06877. We will email you back to confirm your reservation upon receipt of your check. If any tickets remain they will be available at the door for $35.
David Francey is a Scottish-born Canadian carpenter-turned-songwriter, who has become known as “one of Canada’s most revered folk poets and singers” (Toronto Star). A truly authentic folk singer, Francey is a documentarian of the working person who never imagined earning a living from his music. But when he was in his 40s, his wife, artist Beth Girdler, encouraged him to share his songs and sing in public. The reaction was instant. His first album Torn Screen Door came out in 1999 and was a hit in Canada. Since then, he has released eleven albums, won three Juno Awards and has had his songs covered by such artists as The Del McCoury Band, The Rankin Family, James Keelaghan and Tracy Grammer.
Francey also had the honour of receiving the prestigious SOCAN Folk Music Award as well as taking home the Grand Prize in both the International Acoustic Music Award and in the Folk category for the John Lennon Songwriting Award. Songwriting at its finest!!!!
To listen to his music you can go to AcousticCelebration.org or to You Tube.

12/08/2023

I am saddened tonight to learn that last night I lost a friend and the world lost a genius. Ridgefield lost the man who worked with me and a group of other committed theatre lovers to bring our dream of a performing arts venue worthy of our town to fruition. Without the talent and dedication of Richard Pilbrow our town's now legendary Ridgefield Playhouse would not have opened as the world class venue it is recognized to be. Richard, the British theatre designer and founder of Theatre Projects (1957) was involved with its creation from the start in 1994 to its opening on Dec. 12, 2000. How blessed we were to have him living in Ridgefield when he wasn't jetting around the world to oversee the lighting of productions in London (at the National Theatre), Toronto, Los Angeles, Seattle, Sydney Australia, on Broadway and so many other places. No matter how occupied he was with other projects during the six plus years it took us to turn our vision into a reality, Richard and Theatre Projects were always there to make certain that everything that went into the venue was nothing less than first class.

Personally, I will be ever indebted to Richard for some of the most gratifying working years of my post-legal life. And I am so grateful for the continuing friendship we sustained thereafter. Molly, my heart breaks for you and Daisy and all the other wonderful children and grandchildren who were fortunate enough to have Richard in their lives, even if only for too short a time. Richard has left a string of jewels across the globe by which he will be long long remembered. Thank you, friend.
https://www.richardpilbrow.com

05/19/2023

Counting down the days until ChirpCT season opens Tues. Jun.6
18 days till the RTs take the stage in Ballard Park

Director: Wynn Harrison https://instagram.com/wynn.c.harrison/DP/Editor: Matthew Kern https://matthewkerndp.comColorist: Calvin Bellas https://calvinbellas.c...

05/01/2023

The Acoustic Celebration is a non-profit series of Sunday 4:00PM concerts that run fall thru spring

05/01/2023

Next Sunday, May 7: 4:00 P.M. The extraordinary Welsh singer/songwriter Martyn Joseph returns to Ridgefield Don't miss it!!

Martyn Joseph is a completely unique and mind blowing artist. For one man and a guitar he creates a performance with a huge far-reaching sound that is energetic, compelling and passionate.
He is gifted with the rare ability to speak to the soul with his expressive and poignant lyrics and has a career spanning 30 years, 32 albums, over a half a million record sales and thousands of live performances.

Compared to Bruce Springsteen, John Mayer, Bruce Cockburn and Dave Matthews, he has created his own style and reputation as a mesmerizing live performer and stands in his own right, built on a reputation for giving what thousands have described as the best live music experience of their lives. A unique talent driven by passion, social awareness and love for his trade, he’s a jaw dropping guitar player who has developed a unique percussive style, teamed up with a powerful show stopping voice, and has been called “The Welsh Springsteen”.

Advance reservations available by emailing [email protected].
Advance tickets, $25. Tickets at the door $30.

The Acoustic Celebration is a non-profit series of Sunday 4:00PM concerts that run fall thru spring

04/18/2023

Sunday, April 30 at 4p.m. in North Hall of St. Stephens
Buddy Mondlock writes songs. He does it so well that some great songwriters have recorded his songs on their own albums. Guy Clark, Nanci Griffith, and Janis Ian, to name just a few. You might’ve heard his song “The Kid” (recorded by David Wilcox, Peter, Paul and Mary and Cry, Cry, Cry) and maybe even sung it yourself around a campfire. He draws you into his world - where a single snowflake follows the trajectory of a relationship, where you get you pocket picked by a Roman cat, where you might swim over the edge of the world if you’re not careful and where dreams that don’t come true still count. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jO9Plwt3qs
Tickets in advance $20, $25 at the door. 351 Main Street

In November 2013 Buddy Mondlock stopped by my workshop to record a few videos. Buddy is playing a rosewood GF model. As usual, you are listening to the artis...

04/15/2023

Tomorrow, April 16 at 4:00 p.m. join us in St. Stephen's North Hall for a concert by the legendary (though still young) Canadian artist
Dave Gunning. Tickets available at the door (cash or check)

03/26/2023

03/26/2023

Acoustic Celebration is presenting 3 incredibly talented singer/songwriters this spring in celebration of its return from Covid hiatus. Check out Dave Gunning on April 16: Buddy Mondlock on April 30; and last but very far from least, the extraordinary Welsh singer Martyn Joseph. You can reserve tickets by emailing [email protected] to confirm advance pricing (then pay at the door). Concerts are all Sunday afternoons at 4:00 p.m. in the North Hall of St. Stephen's Church, 351 Main St.

12/07/2022

Tickets make great holiday presents

12/03/2022

Tickets on sale now: www.acousticcelebration.org/events

With a career spanning two decades, Dave Gunning has gained a reputation for being a great storyteller and engaging performer who has the profound ability to take listeners on a musical journey through his songs. Much of his material is about the underdogs, heroes, family, the heart and reflects the messaging of social justice and caring about the world around us.

Dave has toured extensively across Canada and abroad and has earned multiple Canadian Folk Music Awards, a Juno nomination and ten East Coast Music Awards for his well-crafted work. The new album, The Same Storm offers twelve original compositions reflective of life on the east coast of Canada
We've had a rough go these last few years with Covid and more Covid and now RSV, flu and Covid. But am planning a number of Acoustic Celebration concerts this spring including the return of Canadian Singer/songwriter Dave Gunning Sunday, April 16 and on Sunday, May 7 the incomparable Welsh performer Martyn Joseph. Tickets for both are on sale now. So mark your spring calendars now and hope to see you. All Acoustic Celebration concerts start at 4:00 p.m. and take place at St. Stephens Church, 351 Main St. Ridgefield

10/04/2022

Friends of ChirpCT and Acoustic Celebration, we are starting back up!
Please. Put Sunday, October 9 on your calendars now to come enjoy the songwriting prowess of Scott Cook Music, a Canadian troubadour in the finest tradition. Thanks to Ridgefield Thrift Shop grant we couldn’t use during Covid, concert is free for those 65 and older. $20 suggested donation for those under 65. BUT we need to know in advance if you are planning to attend. So please email me at [email protected] to let me know if you are planning to attend.
Looking forward to seeing many of you who love great singer/songwriters and love it even more when you discover someone you’ve never heard before. Concert at 4 pm in North Hall of St. Stephens Church, 381 Main St. Ridgefield

08/11/2022

WoW!! going to be beautiful night tonight without being too hot. Hope you'll come out and join us at another of ChirpCT's . This one brings the debut in Ridgefield of the RTs, formerly the Rad Trads who are known for their eclectic take on rock n’ roll, which mixes punk rock energy, horn drenched soul & precise musicianship with a lighthearted but sincere delivery. So go get some takeout from one of Ridgefield's many restaurants and join us in Ballard Park, opposite the library, at 7:00 p.m. EST. Concert will also be live streamed.