Free concert celebrates Gilman legacy in Fredonia
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The 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center will present a special free concert celebrating the founders of its Folk in Fredonia Music Series at 2 p.m. Sunday.
The special concert will honor Dick and Carmen Gilman who have graced Fredonia with their music and the music of others for more than 40 years! The husband and wife are folk musicians themselves and were members, along with Dan Berggren and the late Steve Warner, of the folk group the Newton Street Irregulars. In the 1970s and 80s, they founded and programmed the State University of New York at Fredonia's Unicorn Coffeehouse as a performance space for budding folk musicians. And, they created and continue to support the Folk in Fredonia Music Series at the Opera House, now in its 28th year.
Nineteen musicians from as far away as Maine and Oklahoma will appear in the concert, performing all styles of folk music and telling stories of their encounters with the Gilmans and with Fredonia! Featured guests include Dan Berggren, Dan Duggan & Peggy Lynn, John Kirk & Trish Miller, Chris Koldewey & Joy Bennett, Marc Facci, and Davy Sturtevant. They will be joined by a number of local and regional musicians, all performing to honor Dick and Carmen!
Admission to the concert is free, although reserving tickets in advance is recommended. Tickets can be reserved in person at the Opera House Box Office or by phone at 716-679-1891, Tuesday-Friday, 12-4:30 p.m. Remaining tickets will be available at the door.
Opera House programming is made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and in part by the United Arts Appeal of Chautauqua County.
The 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center is a member-supported not-for-profit performing arts center with a mission to "present the performing arts for the benefit of our community and region ... providing access to artistic diversity ... and high quality programming at an affordable price." It is located in Village Hall in downtown Fredonia. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.fredopera.org.