Easton-based folk and traditional string band Ampersand are playing for a winter coffeehouse at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at Easton (UUFE), 7401 Ocean Gateway (US 50) on Saturday, January 25^th at 4pm.  Admission is $20/person (children $5).  Light refreshments will be served.  Warm up a winter’s afternoon with lively music and good company!

Ampersand’s core members (Beth Lawton, Dick Hogle, Topher Lawton, and Dave Moore) bring guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, hammered dulcimer, harmonium, banjo, bass, cello, penny whistles, and percussion to support rich vocal harmonies for this evening of lively songs and tunes.  They will be joined by local favorite Mark Faber on percussion, piano, and limberjack!  The program will include engaging colonial-era tunes, sea shanteys, and modern folk music, with a few sing-alongs and audience favorites as well.

This coffeehouse supports the work of the Unitarian fellowship, an open religious community that strives for social justice, values diversity, cares for one another, and protects our natural environment.  UUFE welcomes questioning minds, diverse identities, and expansive hearts, and strives to be a beacon for independent thought, progressive change, and spiritual growth.  A recent Washington Post commentator recommended “joining a Unitarian congregation” as one of five suggested steps to counter angst about the current political climate.  Come see what we’re all about!

For more information, please go to Ampersand’s website.

Delmarva Public Media is restyling two of its three stations to create separate station identities offering contemporary listeners distinct audio experiences.

Schedule adjustments include: 

• WSDL 90.7 has more news and talk in the mornings following NPR Morning Edition. In the afternoons and evenings, the station features adult album alternative (AAA) music programs.
• WESM 91.3 continues to air NPR programs and jazz, but is also leaning into its Black radio station roots adding R&B, blues, funk, soul and urban alternative.

Delmarva Public Media’s third station, WSCL 89.5, will retain its popular classical 24/7 format.

 “Three public radio stations in a market our size is unique and a testament to the Delmarva region. Each station can present its own identity and unique content for different audiences.” said Judy Diaz, Delmarva Public Media’s general manager. 

WSDL 90.7

Since 2020 WSDL 90.7 has been mainly a repeater of WESM 91.3. The program changes give the station its own identity focused on news and talk and a wider variety of adult album alternative (AAA) music. “The ‘D’ in WSDL now stands for discourse, dialogue and music discovery.” said Bryan Russo, Delmarva Public Media chief content officer. New schedule highlights include:

• More news and talk shows follow NPR Morning Edition on weekday mornings. This creates a larger news block with news magazines such as Think, On the Media, Hidden Brain, TED Radio Hour and many more.
• AAA music programs bookend NPR All Things Considered on weekday afternoons built largely around nationally syndicated shows like Strange Currency and Americanarama, which has aired on WSDL since 2023 on Sunday evenings.
• The “Three O’Clock Throwback” hour features carefully curated programs (The Atomic Radio Hour with Mister 1960, Dollar Country and Stuck in the Psychedelic Era) focusing on sounds and songs from a different time and will explore more niche genres like classic country, western swing, and the “Midcentury Museum of American Music” from the 1950s and 60’s.

These changes, coupled with the existing AAA music featured on World Café and XPoNential Radio give WSDL its own unique sound. 

WESM 91.3

WESM is launching a new weekday afternoon program lineup spearheaded by four nationally syndicated shows produced at Historic Black College/Universities (HBCU) stations across the country and distributed by the African American Public Radio Consortium. These changes help the station honor its history, while putting it in a position to pivot into the future with the addition of shows that feature jazz, soul, gospel, blues and urban alternative — content that is helping to shape the sound of HBCU public radio stations across the nation today. New schedule highlights include:

• Monday afternoon is all jazz with New Urban Jazz Lounge and Notes from the Jazz Underground with Paul Abella.
• It’s Funky Tuesday afternoons with Catch the Flo and Tonic: The Funky Groove Show.
• On Wednesday tune in to Rhythm Lab Radio as DJ Tarik Moody redefines the urban sound with a mix of jazz, hip-hop, soul and more.
• Thursdays feature Return to the Source with traditional jazz music.
• Friday afternoons include a deep dive into contemporary jazz on The Get Down with Ragan Whiteside and a musical journey through the R&B and Gospel on Soulsations with Carla Eckels.
  

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About Delmarva Public Media

With three public radio stations Delmarva Public Media reaches 40,000 listeners every week, from the Bay bridge to Chincoteague and from the Chesapeake Bay to the Delmarva beaches, in addition to Virginia’s western shore and the tip of New Jersey. The stations are a service of Salisbury University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, which own the licenses and provide valuable support to ensure public radio is strong throughout the Delmarva Peninsula. 

Tred Avon Players is thrilled to kick off its 2025 season with Neil Simon’s classic comedy, PLAZA SUITE. Directed by Ed Langrell, Angel Perez and Maureen Curtin, the production runs from February 13-23, 2025 at the Oxford Community Center. Season passes and individual show tickets are available at www.tredavonplayers.org.

Set in the luxurious Suite 719 of New York City’s iconic Plaza Hotel, PLAZA SUITE unfolds across three acts, each featuring a different couple navigating the complexities of love, life, and relationships.

In the first act, Karen and Sam, a long-married couple, revisit the suite where they spent their honeymoon, only to find their relationship may be on the rocks. Act two follows Muriel and Jesse, former high school sweethearts who reconnect in Suite 719, seemingly rekindling old flames. The final act introduces Norma and Roy, frazzled parents of the bride, desperately trying to coax their daughter out of the bathroom on her wedding day. Each story delivers its own unique blend of humor, heartache, and surprising revelations about love, reminding audiences of the unpredictable nature of relationships.

The talented cast includes new and returning actors to the TAP stage: Melissa Barcomb-Doyle (Karen Nash), Dean Goodwin (Sam Nash), Joseph Spain IV (Bellhop/Borden Eisler), Michelle Spain (Waiter), Leigh Marquess (Jean McCormack), Charles Ulveling (Jessie Kiplinger), Mary Ann Emerson (Muriel Tate), Susan Patterson (Norma Hubley), Brian McGunigle (Roy Hubley) and Jackie Royer (Mimsey Hubley).

PLAZA SUITE opens on Thursday, February 13 and runs for seven performances through Sunday, February 23. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday afternoons are at 2:00 p.m. at the Oxford Community Center, 200 Oxford Rd in Oxford. Tickets are adults $25 / students $15 (fees included). Preview Night (February 13) and Sunday matinees sell out quickly!

Stay out of the cold and enjoy this warm-hearted comedy that promises to captivate and entertain with its sharp dialogue, relatable characters, and timeless themes! Seating is limited—buy your tickets now! www.tredavonplayers.org

About Tred Avon Players

Founded in 1982, the Tred Avon Players is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to enrich, educate and entertain its community by providing a high-quality theater experience. Hundreds of local performers, stagehands, audience members and donors have been the backbone of its success throughout the decades. To learn how you can get involved and to purchase tickets for upcoming shows, visit www.tredavonplayers.org and follow Facebook and Instagram.

The Ward Foundation, in collaboration with the Waterfowl Festival and the Maryland State Arts Council, is pleased to announce the Folklife Apprentice Film Series event, scheduled for January 23, 2025, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at the Waterfowl Festival Building, located at 40 S. Harrison St, Easton, MD.

This engaging evening will feature a selection of short films from the Maryland State Arts Council’s Folklife Apprenticeship program, showcasing diverse cultural traditions and artistic practices.

“Going into 2025, we are thrilled to be offering such an engaging and meaningful program featuring films from all across the artistic landscape. We are excited to engage a larger audience by offering diverse educational opportunities along with our partners at the Maryland State Arts Council and the Ward Foundation,” remarked Deena Kilmon, executive director of the Waterfowl Festival. “We encourage the community to take advantage of this wonderful free arts program.”

Attendees will have the unique opportunity to participate in a hands-on activity, painting a bufflehead silhouette under the guidance of Master Carver, Waterfowl Festival Hall of Fame honoree and National Heritage Award Winner, Rich Smoker.

Admission to the event is free; however, registration is required.

To register, please visit the Ward Foundation’s website at https://wardfdn.org/learn-explore/program-calendar/folklife-apprentice-film-series/.

Event Details:

• Date: January 23, 2025

• Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

• Location: Waterfowl Festival Building, 40 S. Harrison St, Easton, MD

• Admission: Free (Registration required)

For more information about the event and other programs, please visit the Ward Foundation’s website at https://wardfdn.org/. Ward Foundation PO Box 2132 Salisbury, Maryland 21802 Phone: 410-339-0668 Email: [email protected].

https://wardfdn.org/

About the Waterfowl Festival

Since 1971, the Waterfowl Festival has raised nearly six million dollars for conservation and education efforts. Proceeds from the festival support various environmental, art, student scholarships,  and cultural initiatives, ensuring that future generations can understand and enjoy the beauty and diversity of waterfowl and their environments. The festival also plays a vital role in supporting the local community, drawing visitors from around the country and boosting the regional economy.

About the Ward Foundation:

The Ward Foundation is dedicated to promoting and preserving the legacy of the Ward Brothers, artistic traditions, community heritage, and connections to the natural environment.

Through various events, programs, and educational initiatives, the foundation supports and interprets the rich cultural heritage of the region.

Images

• Black Storytelling

  • Mentor artist Janice Greene (left) taught Black storytelling to apprentice artist Naomi Reid during a 2021-2022 Folklife Apprenticeship.© Maryland State Arts Council 2024, MSAC.org.

• Carving by Rich Smoker/courtesy Waterfowl Festival

CARPE DIEM!  ARTS ALIVE!

SECOND TUESDAYS: FREE LUNCH-TIME PERFORMANCE SERIES

Talbot County Senior Center at Brookletts Place

400 Brookletts Ave., Easton, MD

Kicking Off the Arts Alive Series: January to May 2025

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

12:15-1:00pm

Glenn Pearson and Jeff Cooper:

Favorites from the American Songbook!

Glenn Pearson (piano and vocals) and Jeff Cooper (bass) will present popular swing and jazz standards, and favorite show tunes.  The two have been friends and professional musicians for over 40 years. After meeting in high school they formed a band and later attended Peabody Conservatory. Jeff focused on musical theater while Glenn concentrated on piano performance. Their true passion is engaging audiences with their talent, wit, and style, and sharing their love for iconic American music. Performance highlights include the Kennedy Center, National and Ford’s theaters, Wolf Trap, the Smithsonian, and on Broadway. Glenn has also performed at the White House for many Presidents over the past four decades, as well as countless embassies, galleries and museums. 

Carpe Diem Arts is pleased to join forces again with the Talbot County Senior Center to present the popular free lunch-time concert series at Brookletts Place in Easton (400 Brookletts Ave.)

Performances are scheduled on the Second Tuesdays of the month–through May 2025. Mark your calendars for a stellar winter and spring line-up.  Check out the flyer and list below.

The lunchtime concerts take place at Brookletts Place, 400 Brookletts Ave., Easton, Maryland and are free and open to the public. The program is welcoming of all ages: seniors and families, home-schoolers, community groups, retirees. It’s also the perfect lunchtime break for local office workers.  A lovely venue for a memorable 45-minute mid-day concert.

NOTE: Lunch is available at 12 noon for $2.75 with reservations two weeks in advance.

RSVP: Makayla Cisco– 410-822-2869 / [email protected]

Winter/Spring 2025 Concert Schedule

Jan 14–Glenn Pearson and Jeff Cooper: From the American Songbook

Feb 11–Karen Somerville Trio: Tribute to Billie Holiday

Mar 11– Song Riot: Gabe Hutter, Paul Oorts, Christopher Brown 

Apr 8–Veronneau: Lynn Veronneau and Ken Avis

May 13–Janie Meneely and Rob Van Sante with Chris Noyes

Talbot County’s favorite (and only!) improv comedy troupe, Improv Easton, is excited to invite the community to start their 2025 journey by daring to try something new. Mark your calendars to attend Improv for All! on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, at 40 S. Harrison Street in Easton.

This free event is open to all to drop in and try improv games and exercises–no prior comedy or theater experience is required. The workshop is designed for individuals who are new to improv. It’s a chance to meet new people, share some laughs, and see what improvisational comedy is all about in a low-pressure, supportive, and relaxed setting. More than just comedy, improv skills have been shown to have wide-ranging benefits beyond the stage, helping members improve confidence, listening skills, creativity, and adaptability.

To enjoy this evening of fun, interested community members should visit https://tinyurl.com/Jan14TryImprov.

About Improv Easton

Improv Easton’s mission is to provide opportunities for creative connection in our community through the art of improv comedy. Since 2019, the troupe has been meeting weekly to play improv games, develop scenes, and hone their craft. They have been featured in various publications, including Attractions Magazine and the Talbot Spy, and interviewed by WHCP radio. They have appeared in numerous venues throughout Talbot County, including the Avalon, the Stoltz Pavilion, the Academy Art Museum and Oxford Community Center, etc. Improv Easton is a fund of the Mid Shore Community Foundation.

For more information about Improv Easton or upcoming events, follow them on Facebook and Instagram, or email [email protected].

Windon Distilling Co. is probably best known for their award-winning spirit line, Lyon Rum. Having just finished their 11th year of production, the distillery is elated to be opening their new event space, Golden Hour, next to their staple tasting room in Saint Michaels, Maryland. To celebrate its opening, they welcome local jazz musician Stephen Philip Harvey and his chordless-trio, SPH+2, for a live performance in this new intimate space. The concert is set for Friday, January 17, 2025. Doors open at 5pm with a cocktail hour, and music starts at 6pm. Tickets are $30 and available via Eventbrite. Be one of the first to experience the new Golden Hour in this exclusive concert experience.

“The Golden Hour is a special space that is truly a physical expansion of the hospitality that guides everything we have done at the distillery for the last 11 years,” said founder and luminary, Jaime Windon. “This space is designed for showcasing the things we love the most: rum cocktails alongside brilliant and inspiring music, art and community. To be able to debut it while enjoying jazz along with our friends and neighbors in January is a dream!”

Harvey shared similar sentiments. “I’ve been enjoying Lyon Rum for the decade I’ve lived on the Eastern Shore. I’m elated that I get to be part of this opening event! It’s a rare opportunity to be able to play jazz in Saint Michaels, especially in such a beautifully designed space.” His trio, SPH+2, will be performing well-known jazz standards and music from their debut album, Library Card (2024). This collection of pieces boasts original, straight-ahead jazz compositions inspired by children’s book played in an intimate format. 

For more information about Lyon Rum and the Windon Distilling Co., please visit https://www.lyonrum.com. For more information on Harvey and his music, please visit www.stephenpharvey.com. To learn more about the Golden Hour, get your tickets now!

Other Relevant Links:

Ticket Link – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/live-jazz-lyon-rum-tickets-1115610363629?aff=oddtdtcreator 
Stream “Library Card” on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK5cekMN55Y&list=OLAK5uy_mGA_nqQpi07l_aRGDnHyexXZBmE9RRpWs 
Website – https://www.stephenpharvey.com/ 
Instagram – https://instagram.com/stephenpharvey
Facebook – https://facebook.com/stephenpharveymusic
Stream Library Card (All Links) – https://music.hiddencinemarecords.com/library-card  

With December holiday concerts in its rear view mirror, the staff and singers of Easton Choral Arts Society (ECAS) are ready to begin rehearsals for a spring performance of Creation – a new work by popular American composer Dan Forrest, commemorating the 225th anniversary of Haydn’s oratorio The Creation. 

As the Forrest work premiered in February of 2024, only a few choruses have thus far performed it. Easton Choral Arts is excited to bring this new work to the Eastern Shore.

The performance will be accompanied by two professional vocal soloists and a group of professional instrumentalists playing a wide variety of instruments. Of particular interest will be the three percussionists – each rotating between as many as 7 different instruments. In addition to the beautiful music, Creation will be a mesmerizing visual experience as well. 

ECAS Artistic Director Alexis Ward has this to say:

“The music of Dan Forrest’s Creation is absolutely stunning—lush harmonies, powerful orchestrations, and moments of both grandeur and intimacy. Each movement feels like a journey, drawing listeners into a sonic world of awe and wonder. Forrest has an extraordinary ability to weave ancient texts with modern musical language, creating something timeless yet fresh. The percussion parts in particular add an incredible layer of texture and expression that is absolutely captivating. It’s a privilege to work with such a remarkable piece, and I can’t wait for our audience to experience its beauty and emotional depth.”

The group’s first two rehearsals of the season, under Director Ward and Assistant Director/Accompanist Amy Morgan, are an open opportunity for new singers to meet the singers, participate in warm-ups, borrow copies of the music and explore several movements from Creation. Singers from Grade 8 through senior citizens are welcome.

ECAS is a warm and welcoming choral community that requires no formal auditions – just an interview with the director to determine the best voice part for each singer.

Rehearsals take place on Tuesday evenings from 6:45 to 9:00, at Christ Church in Easton. The open rehearsals will be on January 14th and 21st. 

More information can be found on the ECAS website: eastonchoralarts.com, in particular on the “Join Us” page, or by emailing questions to the Membership chairperson – [email protected]