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Emerging Legends Concert Series

All concerts are free and open to the public!

The University of Pittsburgh Library System (ULS) and Calliope: The Pittsburgh Folk Music Society have joined together to present The Emerging Legends Series at The Cup & Chaucer, the Hillman Library’s café on the ground floor of the library.

For more information on the series visit: www.calliopehouse.org

The Overtones

Friday, January 27 · Noon–1 p.m.

The Overtones were founded in March 2008 by University of Pittsburgh class of 2011 graduate Grace Lindsay. She founded the group with only a few singers, and the group has now grown to 20 wonderful mixed voices. Now under the musical direction of Joy Givens, The Overtones have grown even more, and plan to travel to Penn State at the end of February to compete in the ICCA (International Competition of Collegiate A Capella) competition as one of two groups selected from the University of Pittsburgh. The group is also managed by Hope Tremblay, Allison Ziegler, and Erica Comley, but the entire group works together to make it what it is, with incredible arrangements being created by multiple members of the group. Their musical style ranges from slow ballads like that of Ingrid Michaelson, to the fast beats of Ke$ha and rock hits of the 80s. Their eclectic music style matches the group dynamic perfectly, as they have a variety of voices, from a strong powerful bass, to a flighty and soft soprano.

For more information follow them at @PittOvertones on Twitter!

Joy Ike

Friday, February 3 · Noon–1 p.m.

Joy Ike's music is an indie-infused mix of jazz, pop, and neo-soul. She has often been compared to the likes of Fiona Apple, Corrinne Bailey Rae, and Norah Jones. The Pittsburgh-grown, Nigerian singer/songwriter has garnered much success in the independent music scene and has been voted "Best Solo Artist" by the Pittsburgh City Paper for the last three years. Joy Ike's music has often been recognized for its lyrical depth- addressing social issues and universal subject matters of love, loneliness, and the search for God.

For more information: joyike.com

Parker Sisters

Friday, February 10 · Noon–1 p.m.

Justine Parker, Pitt Alumni, and Alison Parker, current student of the University of Pittsburgh, are better known as the Parker Sisters. They started playing the violin about 15 years ago and have continued to study music and perform together ever since, using their classical training to expand into the realm of old-time, Appalachian fiddle music. They continue to pass on the old-time music tradition though workshops at the Great Blue Heron Music Festival, as well as teaching lessons locally.

For more information: www.tigermaplestringband.com/

The Ortner-Roberts-Duo

Friday, February 17 · Noon–1 p.m.

The German clarinetist Susanne Ortner and the American pianist Tom Roberts met in 2006 in Pittsburgh while performing. Subsequently they developed a joint concert repertoire, initially a melding of two supposedly unrelated musical and cultural styles: Harlem Stride Piano and Klezmer. Tom and Susanne have not undertaken this project with any political or sociological agenda. It simply occured very naturally through their love of their retrospective musics and the desire to fuse the two musical personalities into a cohesive whole.

In addition to Harlem Stride and Klezmer, their affectionately called "Yiddish/Creole Fusion", the Roberts draw their inspiration as well as their repertoire from a myriad of different sources from around the world. The two artists throw  Calypso, Gipsy, Tango, Rembetika, and the Valse Musette from Paris in their musical trunk. The contents will be cleverly mixed together in elaborate arrangements. The dust from precious and almost forgotton musical gems will be removed, and they will be polished to a high gloss.

For more information: www.ortnerrobertsduo.de

Peter King

Friday, February 24 · Noon–1 p.m.

King’s two CDs, “Dancing on a Long Leash” and "The Road to Ubatuba," offer moody, melodic, intelligent tunes that venture into the crossroads where blues and jazz meet the singer-songwriter tradition.

A guitarist's guitarist, he is also known for exciting instrumentals -- both originals and world music pieces from Ireland to Brazil.

King performs frequently with local stalwarts such as Marc Reisman, Tim Menees and Mark Perna and has opened for nationally known musicians including Jeffrey Gaines, Willie Porter and the late, great Dave Van Ronk.

WYEP host Barb S. wrote, "The smile on King’s face was infectious. He was enjoying himself and so was the audience as he drew us in to his music." In Pittsburgh declared, "Don't miss your chance to hear this musical master at work!"

To find out more about Peter King, please visit: peterkingmusic.com

Cathasaigh

Friday, March 2 · Noon–1 p.m.

Cathasaigh is Southwest PA's foremost roots revival singer/songwriter, creating a striking blend of music and lyrics that are as thought-provoking as they are enchanting, drawing on 60's folk, traditional Celtic and new age influences.

Six times voted one of Pittsburgh's "Best Singer/Songwriters" by the City Paper, fans hear shades of Lisa Hannigan, Enya and Joan Baez in her music. Cathasaigh’s deep awareness of the tragedies and triumphs of the human soul make it easy to see why everyone can relate to her music as she transcends religious, cultural, generational and social boundaries. Learn more:

To find out more about Cathasaigh, please visit: www.cathasaigh.com/
Cathasaigh YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/user/CathasaighMusic/videos

Puro Queso Jazz Quartet

Friday, March 2 · Noon–1 p.m.

The Puro Queso Jazz Quartet was founded by Venezuelan bass player, José Layo Puentes, who along with other University music students had been playing Italian folk music together since 2002.  In 2003, they were joined by Mexican guitarist Victor Ruiz, with the  idea of playing strictly jazz (with a mostly Latin flavor), and they began a routine of rehearsals to begin to integrate their personal experiences into  a distinct group sound.

In 2005 the musicians began performing weekly at a well-known bar in downtown Pittsburgh accompanied by New York saxophonist Paul Eiss, whose integration into the group occurred organically after a couple of exploratory rehearsals. During this period the group began to define itself and started giving concerts at other local venues, such as museums and festivals, as well as social events.

The Puro Queso Jazz Quartet continues to make an unassuming but sincere contribution to the already rich and demanding local jazz culture.

To find out more about the Puro Queso Jazz Quartet, please visit: www.puroquesojazz.com

Steve Gallo & Donna Occhipinti

Friday, March 23 · Noon–1 p.m.

Members of The Pittsburgh's Songwriter's Circle

For more information on the Songwriter's Circle: www.myspace.com/pittsburghsongwriterscircle

Phil Smith & Steve Weber

Friday, March 30 · Noon–1 p.m.

Phil Smith and Steve Weber made their debut as a duo in 2009 at Calliope's Emerging Legends Series at University of Pittsburgh. They have also performed in the Monongahela Sheiks (Steve) and Smokestack Lightning (Phil). Both are faculty members at University of Pittsburgh, Steve in Chemistry and Phil in English. As part of his curriculum Phil teaches a course entitled Ballads & Blues, which focuses on the intersection of music and literature. Both Phil and Steve serve on the Board of Directors of Calliope and are lifelong supporters of acoustic blues and folk music.

Mark Tamsula & Dick Withers

Friday, April 6 · Noon–1 p.m.

Mark Tamsula has been performing and teaching in the Southwestern Pennsylvania region for over 30 years. He plays and teaches fiddle, banjo, guitar and mandolin, drawing from an ever expanding repertoire of tunes and songs. Mark regularly performs with the bands Lackawanna Longnecks (old time) and Grand Bon Rien (Cajun).

Richard Withers has performed and recorded Old-time music on the banjo and Irish music on the flute, whistle and other instruments over the past three decades. He can be heard playing clawhammer banjo on recordings with the old-time string band Lackawanna Longnecks and Irish-style flute with Hooley, a Pittsburgh-based traditional Irish group

For more information : www.appalachianmusic.net/uitbh/

Garden Gate

Friday, April 13 · Noon–1 p.m.

Ellen Gozion & Penny Anderson

Ellen Gozion, noted local folk musician, presents traditional unaccompanied ballads, folk songs and tunes from the Southern Appalachians and the British Isles. This spirited and soulful entertainer’s singing style has been described as “plaintive and haunting” and as having “the purity of a woman singing in the mountains.” Ellen recently celebrated the release of her CD, Across the Blue Mountains. 

For more information on Ellen Gozion: ellengozion.com

Previous Emerging Legends Concerts