Rough Folk

It’s no surprise that Hank Stone has been hailed as one of Long Island’s best songwriters. His memorable hooks and melodies, his "two notes and you know it’s Hank" guitar style and his uncanny ability to tell a story with a song make the emotional impact of his music both immediate and compelling. Known primarily as a solo artist, Hank recently joined forces with long-time friends Todd Evans and Mike Christian to create the band Rough Folk.

Genre-hopping guitarist/vocalist Todd Evans brings on the spice and hot sauce with a style that combines jazz, swing and world music textures. His eclectic song choices and rich baritone voice provide the perfect "ying" to Hank’s self-penned "yang."

Multi talented multi-instrumentalist Mike Christian is the group's wild card. Switching seamlessly between electric bass, Ashbory (rubber string) bass and a one-of-a-kind suitcase drum kit, Mike gives the group its drive and energy along with a healthy dose of folk flavored funk.

The band wowed us at a recent open mike and we just had to invite them back to do a full set.

More at roughfolk.com

Lonesome Traveler

Lonesome Traveler is a musical narrative about the life of Lee Hays and his legendary folk groups: The Weavers and The Almanac Singers. Based on the book, "The Lonesome Traveler; the Life of Lee Hays" by Doris Willens, the show tells of Lee Hays and his contemporaries- Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, whose songs and actions affected the labor movement, the march to social justice and the direction music would take thereafter.

These men and their music had a remarkable impact at a critical time in American history. The musical thread moves from the labor movement and follows the rise of the Weavers including songs of Leadbelly and Woody Guthrie along with songs written by Lee and other members of the Weavers.

The show, performed by Long Island musicians Ira Perlman and Denise Romas, features such favorites as "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine", "If I Had a Hammer", "Union Maid", "Goodnight Irene" and more.

Ira Perlman (Narrator/Vocals/Guitar) holds a BA in Theater from HH Lehman College CUNY. He has appeared on college and community stages in multiple productions. As a singer and guitarist he has appeared in various New York and Long Island coffeehouses and is currently the President of the Folk Music Society of Huntington.

Denise Romas (Vocals/Guitar) has been a lover and performer of folk music ever since she got her first guitar at age 11. She has been performing solo in venues all over Long Island. With a BA in Music Education and a Masters in Elementary Education, Denise teaches music and directs children's choruses in elementary schools on Long Island. Her single "A Healing Angel" has been used as the background for videos and she was invited to perform it at a special presentation in Killeen, TX.

More at iraperlman.com and deniseromas.com