Me&thee favorite John Gorka is an honored icon of folk tradition. Energetic acoustic music that is not a trend, not a fad, but an expression of everyday life, is his trademark. John’s rich baritone voice and unique songcraft weave a magical spell that can only be described as ‘Gorka.’ Anne Heaton opens the show. Anne was named one of 2009’s Ten Breakout Bands and has been nominated for a 2009 Boston Music Award for Folk Act of the Year.

John Gorka started playing banjo and guitar in high school and sang in the church folk group. John started working on his own songs right from the start. He moved to Bethlehem, PA to go to college, where he formed the Razzy Dazzy Spasm Band with Doug Anderson and Russ Rentler. Doug took him to Godfrey Daniels Coffeehouse where he discovered the world of live folk and acoustic music. Godfrey’s featured national and international performers of folk, blues, Celtic, old time, bluegrass, singer-songwriter and other acoustic based music. Upon graduation, he became a sort of house opening act at the club through the early 1980’s. Jack Hardy invited John to come to New York City to record for the Fast Folk Musical Magazine and be a part of their live reviews. After a few false starts John’s debut recording, I Know, was released in September of 1987 on Red House Records of St. Paul, MN. He has gone on to release many more CDs which include a varied mixture of relevant and contemporary songs. John continues to tour extensively. His latest CD, So Dark You See was released in 2009.

Anne Heaton grew up in Chicago, lived in New York and now lives in Somerville, Mass., the home of Q Division Studios, which — only a bike ride away from her home — is where she now records most of her music including her sophomore release, Give In, and her newest release. Blazing Red. Heaton’s independent debut album, Black Notebook, received national critical acclaim. Performing Songwriter chose Black Notebook as a Top DIY Pick, describing the album as “lush, sweet, funny and sorrowful” while the Washington Post called Give In “tender, amusing, barbed, and spiritual.” Anne is known for the infectious energy of her live performances and tours regularly. In 2005, Anne won Soul City Cafe, a national competition of live performances and online voting to choose Jewel’s opener for her West Coast Tour. In addition to Jewel’s tour, Anne also toured as an opening act for Melissa Ferrick and HEM as well as opened for/performed with Jill Sobule, The Pernice Brothers, Jennifer Kimball, Jonatha Brooke, and Edie Carey.

Anne Heaton photo by Julia Gillard