Friends of the Library Annual Meeting & Performance by Atwater-Donnelly Trio

Annual Meeting & Concert
Following a brief Friends of the Library annual meeting scheduled for 1:30 pm, will be an afternoon performance by the Atwater-Donnelly Trio with a unique and thrilling blend of traditional American and Celtic folk music and percussive dance from 2 to 3 pm.
 
Rhode Islanders Elwood Donnelly, Aubrey Atwater, and Cathy Clasper-Torch blend gorgeous and unusual vocals and play guitar, Appalachian mountain dulcimer, violin, cello, mandolin, tin whistle, harmonica, banjo, bones, spoons, limberjacks, and other surprises including Appalachian clog dancing and French Canadian footwork. CDs, books and DVDs will be for sale at the performance.
 
This concert is held to honor Ruth Corkill, a former library director. Refreshments will be served following the performance. 
 
Free and open to all
Sponsored by Friends of Barrington Public Library
 
About Atwater-Donnelly Trio: 
The highly acclaimed husband-wife duo, Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly met as volunteers at the Stone Soup Coffeehouse in Providence in early 1987. Within just a few months these self-taught musicians from Rhode Island formed a duo. Married since 1989, Aubrey and Elwood perform throughout the United States and, on occasion, abroad. Their ten recordings receive international airplay. Highlights include airplay on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered," Fiona Ritchie's "Thistle and Shamrock," and the nationally syndicated "Midnight Special" out of Chicago.

Atwater~Donnelly have won Motif Magazine's Music Awards in the following categories: "Best Local Folk Act" 2006; three awards in 2007: "Best Folk Act" for the Atwater~Donnelly Band, "Album of the Year" for "The Halfway Ground,” and "Best Female Vocalist" for Aubrey Atwater, which Aubrey won again in 2009; “Best Folk Act” 2010; “Folk Act of the Year” 2011; “Americana Album of the Year” for “Each Other's Story” 2012; “Best Folk Act” 2014; “Best Americana World Music Act” 2015; Elwood won “Best Americana Male Vocalist” 2015; and in 2016, Atwater~Donnelly won “Best Folk Act” and Aubrey won “Best Americana Female Vocalist.”

In addition to thirteen recordings, Aubrey has written three books of poetry and a songbook and Elwood has written a songbook of The Carter Family, for mountain dulcimer, a book of recipes and musings, and has created a songbook for "The Halfway Ground" and for "The Weaver's Bonny." The duo is part of more than fifteen compilation CDs and has appeared on numerous recordings of other musicians.

Cathy Clasper-Torch has played and performed on piano, violin, viola, and er-hu (Chinese violin) since childhood. A resident of Rhode Island, she teaches piano and violin, and performs/records with several bands and musicians in the area. With a background in classical violin and jazz piano, Cathy adeptly weaves a love of harmonies and improvisation into the music.

Cathy is in great demand in the Southern New England folk circuit for her easy stage presence, virtuosity, and improvisational skills. Since 2003, Cathy has absorbed much of the Atwater~Donnelly repertoire and is now a staple in Atwater~Donnelly regional concerts, contributing a deeply rich third dimension and mastery, knowing just where to add an exquisite cello line, an exuberant burst of old-time fiddle, and a third and utterly unique voice.

 

Event Location: 
Collis Family Gallery A (Second Floor)
Collis Family Gallery B (Second Floor)
Salem Family Auditorium (Second Floor)
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