This spring the Midwest Trust Center at Johnson County Community College will present some of the top folk artists from across the country and around the world.
The Small Glories
7 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 5
Roots powerhouse duo The Small Glories – Cara Luft and J.D. Edwards – are a musical tour-de-force partnership planted on the Canadian prairies. With a stage banter striking a unique balance between slapstick and sermon, these veteran singer-songwriters have a way of making time disappear, rooms shrink and audiences feel as if they are onstage with the band writing, living and performing the songs.
Voices of Mississippi
7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 11
Based on the 2019 double-Grammy Award–winning “Voices of Mississippi: Artists and Musicians Documented by William Ferris,” the program features live musical performances integrated with film, audio recordings and rare photographs captured by folklorist William “Bill” Ferris, who will serve as host for the evening.
The show features musicians Sharde Thomas, Ruthie Foster and Luther and Cody Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars, all of whom have deep ties to Mississippi and artists documented by Ferris.
DakhaBrakha, Ukrainian folk-punk
8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 24
DakhaBrakha was created in 2004 at the Kyiv Center of Contemporary Art (DAKH) by avant-garde theatre director Vladyslav Troitskyi and given a name that means “give/take” in the old Ukrainian language. Theatre work has left its mark on the band’s performances; their shows are always staged with a strong visual element.
After experimenting with Ukrainian folk music, the band has added rhythms from around the world into their music, creating the bright, unique and unforgettable sound of DakhaBrakha. The group strives to bring Ukrainian melodies to the hearts and consciousness of younger generations in Ukraine and the rest of the world.
Danú St. Patrick’s Celebration
8 p.m., Friday, Mar. 10
For more than two decades, Danú’s virtuosi players on flute, tin whistle, fiddle, button accordion, bouzouki and vocals (Irish and English), have performed around the globe and recorded seven critically acclaimed albums. Their live DVD, One Night Stand, was filmed at Vicar St. Dublin.
Danú takes its audiences on a musical journey to their native Ireland, offering a moving and memorable concert experience. Their popular recordings are available on the Shanachie label, and live performances are often broadcast on NPR, the CBC and the BBC.
John McCutcheon
8 p.m., Saturday, Mar. 11
As an instrumentalist, John McCutcheon is a master of a dozen instruments, most notably the rare and beautiful hammer dulcimer. His songwriting has been hailed by critics and singers around the globe. His 30 recordings have garnered every imaginable honor, including seven Grammy nominations.
It’s in his live performances that McCutcheon feels most at home. It’s what has brought his music into the lives and homes of one of the broadest audiences any folk musician has ever enjoyed. People of every generation and background seem to feel at home in a concert hall when McCutcheon takes the stage, with what critics describe as “little feats of magic,” “breathtaking in their ease and grace…,” and “like a conversation with an illuminating old friend.”
Ticket Information
Individual tickets and season packages are on sale now. Purchase yours online jccc.edu/MidwestTrustCenter or by phone (913) 469-4445. Box Office hours are Monday-Friday 10am-5pm and one hour before performances.
For more information about these and other shows in the 2022-2023 Season, visit www.jccc.edu/MidwestTrustCenter.
Midwest Trust Center at Johnson County Community College
Tickets start at $25. Purchase yours at jccc.edu/MTC
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