Boardman, Muise and Gawler trio to perform new and traditional fiddle tunes and songs - Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel

Greg Boardman, Steve Muise and Elsie Gawler, a folk music string trio performing new and traditional fiddle tunes and songs, will perform in a concert to benefit New Beginnings, at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at Trinity Church, 245 Bates St. in Lewiston. Contributed photo

Greg Boardman, Steve Muise and Elsie Gawler, a folk music string trio performing new and traditional fiddle tunes and songs, will perform in a concert to benefit New Beginnings at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30, at Trinity Church, 245 Bates St., in Lewiston.

Boardman sings and plays fiddle, viola, cello and guitar, performing traditional and original folk and country music of the Northeast. Boardman, in his youth, sought out many fine musicians and story-tellers from older generations, including Nettie Mitchell, Otto Soper, Sandy Ives, Leo Murphy, Cherry Frechette, Simon St. Pierre and Dudley Laufman, some of whom came of age at the very beginnings of radio and recording, having learned their craft through family and community contact. Boardman’s extensive performing activities have taken him from the American Folk Festival to Merrill Hall auditorium to hundreds of local granges, churches, festivals, schools, opera houses, farmers markets and homes. As founder of Maine Fiddle Camp, a teacher in the Lewiston Public Schools, and a fellow of the Maine Arts Commission Traditional Arts program, he continues to assist local members of every living generation in furthering their knowledge and experience of the traditional music of Maine.

Muise of Farmington is perhaps best known for his fiddling leadership of several decades of the Franklin County Fiddlers, a dynamic band of high school musicians who have delighted audiences throughout Maine, as well as Ireland, Canada, and clear down to Louisiana. Of Acadian French lineage, Muise, as well as being past recognized teacher-of-the-year by the Maine Music Educators Association, is an interpreter and performer of the folk music of Canadian Francophonie par excellence. His jazz education at Berklee College of Music has served him well, as he drives his music, instrumental and vocal, in a personal way. A member of the bands Boreal Tordu, Frigate and the staff at Maine Fiddle Camp, Muise applies the fire that lit him to his audience, colleagues and students.

Gawler grew up in Belgrade, one of the three Gawler sisters, the children of Maine music favorites John and Ellen Gawler. She has played cello and sung from a very young age, and is recognized for her unique and effective approach to playing traditional music on cello. As a member of the celebrated Gawler Family Band, the Gawler Sisters and Childsplay, as well as the staff of Maine Fiddle Camp, she is a singer, player and teacher whose reach is international. Her new CD, Sweet as Honey, found at elsiegawler.com, showcases her songwriting, singing and multi-instrumental skills.

New Beginnings is a 24-hour emergency shelter, supportive housing and outreach team helping youth from throughout Maine find safety off the streets. This Lewiston non-profit partners with youth to create lasting change so all youth have a safe place to live and opportunities to grow. More information is at newbeginmaine.org

Advance tickets cost $20 and are available at Main Street Music in Auburn (207-376-3376).

For more information, call 207-344-3106.

« Previous

Arts collective to present ‘Freedom & Captivity’ events at UMF

UMF Emery Community Arts Center features live piano concerts, Oct. 28, Nov. 2, 3

filed under: