Folkus Fridays / first and third Friday of the month / May Memorial UU Society 3800 East Genesee St., Syracuse; (315) 446-8920 / website / how to get there Reserve Tickets: Call 440-7444 or e-mail tickets@folkus.org.

"Second Saturdays" / second Saturday of the month / Westcott Community Center Corner of Euclid Ave. and Westcott St., a half-mile east of SU; (315) 478-8634 / website / how to get there Reserve Tickets: Call 478-8634.

"Words and Music" Songwriter Showcase / schedule varies / Jazz Central 441 E. Washington St., Syracuse; (315) 479-5299 / website / how to get there Reserve Tickets: e-mail showcase@ wordsandmusic.info.

Vance Gilbert
artist's website / artist's myspace

Accomplished songwriting, lyrical eloquence, virtuosic singing, and outrageous, edgy humor

May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society
3800 East Genesee St, Syracuse, N.Y.
(just inside the Syracuse city limits from Dewitt)

Friday, October 17
8 p.m. / $15
For reservations, email tickets@folkus.org or call (315) 440-7444.

Vance Gilbert occupies a unique niche as a folk musician. His music is an eclectic mix, strongly influenced by jazz and R&B, but with roots in '60s pop. His song stylings bop and weave, deftly weaving catchy melodies and insightful lyrics into a folk framework. His beautifully written songs and melodic artistry have led some to call him a musical visionary.

"His passionate vocal delivery, brilliantly intuitive guitar playing, and immeasurable courage…..give you a feeling of utter joy."-- Dirty Linen

Gilbert is a gifted guitarist, but his most outstanding instrument is his rousing voice, with its remarkable power and range. He sings to the passions and pains of all of us with a voice that enthralls your soul. But it's his humor and spontaneity that make his live performances so compelling. Gilbert spends a lot of time telling stories and swapping gibes, his comedic skill and showmanship drawing audiences into the moment. His mission is to give people a good time and they return again and again, always expecting to be surprised, never being disappointed.

"His songs will make you laugh and cry simultaneously. But don't roar or sob too hard - you might miss something." -- Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Although he's known as a sensitive and witty performer, Gilbert is also an exceptional songwriter. He has the rare ability to stuff a novel's worth of meaning into a few lines, the lyrics carrying their message with subtlety. Powerful stories and unblinking introspection provoke tears of laughter one moment, tears of sadness the next. Never one to shy away from taking chances, Gilbert stretches his songwriting skills on his new CD, "Up On Rockfield," released in September. Gilbert says he was looking for a vibe that was reminiscent of different artists. Designed as a concept album, it features eleven original songs that pay homage to some of his favorite performers. "I wanted to write as if I was someone else," says Gilbert. "I'll leave it to you to figure what tunes sound like which artists."

"The voice of an angel, the wit of a devil, and the guitar playing of a god" -- Fort Worth Star Telegram

Gilbert started out as a jazz singer but switched to folk in the early 90's. He began performing at open mikes in Boston, but his musical career took off after he toured with Shawn Colvin. Since then he has released ten CDs and has become renowned for his easy-going humor, soulful artistry and deep humanism.

"Vance Gilbert has some of the most exquisite and masterful vocals on the folk circuit." -- Sing Out

Bob Halligan Jr. of Ceili Rain
w/ Christopher Ames, Peterson and Dennihy, and series host Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers

Jazz Central
441 E. Washington Street, Syracuse
(315) 479-5299

Thursday, October 23
7:30 p.m. (doors open at 7) / $10
For reservations, email showcase@wordsandmusic.info.

Sponsored by the Folkus Project, the Words and Music Songwriter Showcase series features established and emerging artists of all genres in an up-close-and-personal acoustic setting.

Veteran songwriter and performer Bob Halligan Jr., whose songs have been recorded by artists ranging from Cher to Blue Oyster Cult, headlines the Words and Music Songwriter Showcase in October. Opening the show are up-and-coming songwriter Christopher Ames, the duo Peterson and Dennihy, and series host Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers, a grand prize winner in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest.

Bob Halligan Jr. has written nearly 1,000 songs, 200 of them recorded and released internationally, having sold over 30 million units. Among the artists who’ve recorded his tunes are Cher, Kiss, Michael Bolton, Judas Priest, Kathy Mattea, Joan Jett, and Blue Oyster Cult. Films featuring his songs include Iron Eagle, Light of Day, Hard as Nails, and Wayne’s World. Halligan has produced albums on major and indie labels, and has sung on recordings with Billy Joel, Michael McDonald, Darlene Love, and others. Halligan’s current group, the Celtic pop-rock band Ceili Rain, has won 10 Unity Awards and tours internationally. www.ceilirain.com

Christopher Ames was recognized as Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year at the 2006 KCCM Awards, held annually in the Kansas City area. Now based in Central New York, Ames has five CDs on the Remnant Music Group label. His most recent CD, Everyday with You, includes the single “Champion,” co-written with Bob Halligan Jr. www.christopherames.com

Jon Peterson and Donna Dennihy have been performing and writing songs together for over ten years. Their new CD, Getting Warmer, is a collection of songs influenced by a love of acoustic music, words, and harmony. www.myspace.com/petersonanddennihy

Host Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers is a grand prize winner in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. In addition to performing his own music, he is a contributor to NPR’s All Things Considered, author of Rock Troubadours and The Complete Singer-Songwriter, and founding editor of Acoustic Guitar magazine. www.jeffreypepperrodgers.com

The Words and Music Songwriter Showcase is a celebration of original music from Central New York and beyond, featuring established and emerging artists of all genres in an up-close-and-personal acoustic setting. Since its debut in January 2008, the series has featured such top talent as Lisa Gentile, John Cadley (The Lost Boys), Colin Aberdeen (Los Blancos), Ashley Cox, and Gary Frenay and Arty Lenin.

For artist links and song samples, updates, and more details, see: www.myspace.com/wordsandmusicshowcase. (To join the Words and Music e-mail list, click here.)

The Words and Music Songwriter Showcase is a program of the CNY Jazz Arts Foundation, and is made possible with funds from the DeFrancisco Arts and Cultural and Heritage Grants of the Cultural Resources Council.

Next Meeting: November 4
A meeting of and for local songwriters . . . play something new and get the reactions and advice of other songwriters . . . then return the favor. For more info