The Arts

Next Stage presents singer/songwriter John Gorka on Aug 16

PUTNEY—The Next Stage Arts Project presents singer-songwriter, John Gorka live in concert on Thursday, Aug. 16, at 8 p.m.

Gorka’s musical career spans 20 years and numerous albums, but he got his start at a neighborhood coffeehouse in eastern Pennsylvania.

In the late 1970s, he found himself living in the club’s basement and acting as resident emcee and sound man, encountering legendary folk troubadours like Eric Andersen and Tom Paxton. Their music inspired him, and before long he was performing his own songs — mostly as an opener for visiting acts. Soon he started traveling to New York City, and then on to folk Meccas such as the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas, where he won the New Folk Award in 1984.

In 1987, Minnesota-based Red House Records, released Gorka’s first album, I Know, to popular and critical acclaim. Two years later, an offer came from Will Ackerman’s Windham Hill folk label, High Street Records. Gorka recorded five albums with High Street over the next seven years, and in 1998 he returned to Red House. His latest CD release So Dark You See was named one of the Top Folk Albums of 2009 by The Boston Globe.

Gorka is known for his tireless touring (over 150 nights a year at times), and for the depth, craft, and emotion of his songwriting. Gorka’s songs have been performed by such artists as Mary Chapin Carpenter and Nanci Griffith. He has been featured nationally on NPR, CMT, Austin City Limits, and Mountain Stage. His song Where No Monument Stands was featured in the documentary Every War Has Two Losers, about activist Oregon Poet Laureate William Stafford.

All proceeds from the show will benefit Next Stage Arts Project, a community oriented, nonprofit arts organization that presents a wide range of cultural events, including lectures, readings, concerts, and films.

Next Stage is located at 15 Kimball Hill. For additional information and tickets, visit www.nextstagearts.org or facebook.com/nextstagearts.

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