A Night of Words, Music, and Surprise: Thursday, January 14, 2027, 7 pm-9 pm
If you found your way here, congratulations! You're one step closer to a night full of inspiration and genius. Ken Waldman & The Wild Ones features Alaskan Fiddling Poet, Ken Waldman, with Cambridge MA guitarist (and fiddler and accordion player), Erica Weiss, Brooklyn banjo player (and global personality), Ilan Moss, plus Brooklyn bass player, Robert Wood. They'll go from rocking and rowdy traditional string-band numbers (made new through poetry and storytelling accompaniment) to Waldman's original waltzes to undoubtedly a guest or two. Separately, the four have not only played music all over the continent, but they've traveled the world. Together, they aim to make sure everyone watching and listening is having as much fun as they're having playing. Ken Waldman & The Wild Ones are on for a few minutes for the 7:30-7:45 roots music sampler and again from 8:45-9:00 (where they'll conclude the evening with a few friends, and quite possibly go past the scheduled end of the show).
From 7:00-7:30 we begin with two sets from our featured artists who'll be bringing theater that wlll complement the evening: Joshua Kane is a celebrated actor--and rare, compelling presence--who might seamlessly pivot from Shakespeare to Poe to astounding mentalist feats, or go in a different direction entirely--and tonight it will indeed be a different direction. Joshua's Kane show, In My Own Lifetime: How Broadway Musicals Made Me Jewish, is how he found his Jewish voice through the American Musical Theater. Following Joshua will be Steve Duchrow, a Midwest renaissance man who has channeled another Midwest renaissance man, the celebrated poet, Carl Sandburg; Steve will do excerpts of his play, Carl Sandburg's LINCOLN. It's the kind of history that makes sense of this time in our culture.
From 7:30-7:45 five roots music groups will offer short sampler sets, beginning with Ken Waldman seguing from Steve Duchrow's set with his own original Carl Sandburg poem before leading his quartet in a tune. Following Ken Waldman & The Wild Ones in no particular order will be international touring artists Janie Rothfield (fiddle/clawhammer banjo) & Allan Carr (guitar/mandola), who play a unique blend of traditional and original Celtic and Appalachian music with great singing, hot instrumentals, and Allan’s humor. Also on hand tonight will be The Hilary Hawke Band, a New York City three-piece that takes banjo, guitar, and fiddle to new heights. We also welcome Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalists, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer. They're here with hammer dulcimer virtuoso, Chao Tian and their From China to Appalachia trio project. We're also most happy to host Boston-based fiddler/guitarist/singer/dancer, Sophie Mae Wellngton, will certainly wow us.
Guaranteed you'll want to arrive at the start and stay through to the end.
Schedule for Thursday night, January 8 (schedule is subject to change):
. . . Like a major arts festival stage--but at the iconic, intimate Don't Tell Mama
7:00-7:15: Joshua Kane's In My Own Lifetime: How Broadway Musicals Made Me Jewish
https://joshuakane.com/onstage/in-my-own-lifetime-how-broadway-musicals-made-me-jewish/
7:15-7:30: Steve Duchrow's Carl Sandburg's LINCOLN
https://www.sandburgcarl.com/about-3
7:30-7:45: 5 short samplers, an introduction to tonight's roots music artists
7:45-8:00: The Hilary Hawke Band, https://www.hilaryhawkemusic.com/hilary-hawke-band
8:00-8:15: Sophie Mae Wellington, https://www.sophiewellington.com/
8:15-8:30: Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer & Chao Tian, https://www.cathymarcy.com/from-china-to-appalachia/
8:30-8:45: Janie Rothfield & Allan Carr, https://janierothfield.com/janieandallan
8:45-9:00: Ken Waldman & The Wild Ones, https://www.kenwaldman.com (expect plenty of guests--we might likely go later!)
The venue: Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th, an easy walk from the Hilton, the conference hotel. It's 46th St. between 8th and 9th Avenue. We're in a back cabaret room, the same space Ken Waldman has used for more than a decade of producing APAP showcase evenings. It seats 80, and is open to both APAP attendees and the general public. APAP attendees are comped (and reservations are strongly recommended); it's $20 for the general public. There's a two-drink minimum, and it's a cash-only establishment. Doors open at 6:30, but you can also arrive early to grab a meal, or a drink in another of the rooms. It's a famous club, a lively piano bar up front. Again, it's an easy walk from the Hilton. Come see us! (For the first 8 APAP reservations, the drinks are our treat.)
Questions? Reservations? ken@kenwaldman.com