SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2011

On Sunday, March 13, Two of a Kind (David and Jenny Heitler-Klevans) will present a family concert at the Folk Factory. Doors open at 2:30, and the show will start at 3:00pm. Admission is by requested donation of $5 to $10 (sliding scale) per person (half price for no or low wage). The concert can be sign language interpreted upon request, and should be requested by March 7 if possible by calling (215) 848-6246. The concert is wheelchair accessible (but the bathrooms are not yet). The Folk Factory coffeehouse is located at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration in Mount Airy, at 6900 Stenton Avenue (the corner of Stenton Avenue and Gorgas Lane). For directions or further information, visit www.folkfactory.org or call (215) 848-6246.

Kim and Reggie Harris embody the very meaning of inspiration. With an exposure to a rich diversity of music and history growing up here in Philadelphia, and coupled with their astounding talents for harmony and creativity, these unique performer/composers have forged a remarkable career of authenticity and cross-cultural appeal. There is no mystery why this vibrant and inspiring husband and wife duo has received standing ovations, love and respect from audiences of all ages throughout North America, Europe and the Caribbean for over 30 years.

Songwriters, storytellers, song leaders and cultural ambassadors, Kim and Reggie combine a strong folk and gospel legacy with a solid backbeat of rhythm and pop. They call up the roots while they explore the new. They engage and excite... they simmer... they rock... they groove! And, in the spirit of their friends and mentors Pete Seeger, Ysaye Barnwell, Tom Paxton, and Bernice Johnson Reagon, they elicit participation and powerful emotions that speak to the heart as well as to the head!

From the stages of the Kennedy Center to a myriad of theatre arts centers, festivals, universities and schools around the world, Kim and Reggie Harris consistently exhibit the best of what music has always been... a full spectrum expression of human possibility. Kim and Reggie Harris create music that creates community. Kim and Reggie Harris are the real deal!

Charlie King and Karen Brandow are musical storytellers and political satirists. They perform with the sweet and precise harmonies of life partners. They sing and write passionately about the extraordinary lives of ordinary people. They have created 6 joint recordings, including their latest, Higher Ground, and Remembering Sacco & Vanzetti. In addition to a full time career of concert touring, Charlie and Karen have sung in support of numerous groups working for peace, human rights, environmental sanity and alternatives to violence, for which they have been recognized by the Culture Works Collective. Their central vision as entertainers is to leave audiences with a sense of optimism and possibility about the future. "We try to cover a broad emotional landscape in our concerts. The stories we collect and the songs we write take the listener on a journey of humor, heartache and hope. What we most value in a song is the way it helps us see an old reality in a totally new light."

Charlie King has been at the heart of American folk music for over 40 years. His songs have been recorded and sung by many other performers including Pete Seeger, Holly Near, and Arlo Guthrie. Honors include an "Indie" award for one of the top three American folk recordings of 1984 and a Peacemaker Award from the War Resisters League. Pete Seeger nominated Charlie for the Sacco-Vanzetti Social Justice Award, which he received in November 1999. Charlie has released a dozen solo albums since 1976. He has also released three albums with the touring ensemble Bright Morning Star, and numerous compilation albums with other artists. He cites as musical influences the folk music revival of the 1960's, the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War era. Folk legend Peggy Seeger says, "If we had more Charlie Kings in the world I'd be less worried."

Karen Brandow was born in Philadelphia, and began singing and playing guitar as a teenager. While living in Central America, she broadened her repertoire to include Latin American music of the "Nueva Canción" or New Song Movement. She performs songs in English and Spanish. While doing human rights work in Guatemala from 1986-1994, Karen studied voice, performance and classical guitar. She performed at political and cultural events in that country as a soloist and was a founding member of the a cappella singing group, the Non-Traditional Imports. Karen has been performing with Charlie King since 1998.

Together, they are, as the Victory Music Review says, "Two voices that complement each other beautifully & instrumentation that is spare, acoustic & just right."

The Folk Factory Coffeehouse is located at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration in Mount Airy, at 6900 Stenton Avenue (the corner of Stenton Avenue and Gorgas Lane), Philadelphia, PA 19150. For directions or further information, visit www.folkfactory.org or call (215) 848-6246.

The Folk Factory, based at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration in Mount Airy, is a forum for people interested in music of all kinds and progressive social change. Facilitated announcements of progressive events (marches, boycotts, etc.) can be made before the start of each event. The Folk Factory is an organizational affiliate of the People's Music Network for Songs of Freedom and Struggle, co-founded by Charlie King and Pete Seeger. Regular concerts are normally around the second weekend of most months, and an Open Stage/Open Circle is held normally on the fourth Thursday of most months. To volunteer or for more information, visit www.folkfactory.org or call (215) 848-6246.