Each month Halcyon Arts brings world music to New England, and our concert in May presents April Verch & Cody Walters performing Fiddle, Dance, Banjo and Song ​from the Ottawa Valley to the Hills of Appalachia. They will take the stage at the ​UU Society of Amherst, 121 N. Pleasant St., Amherst, MA, on Sunday, May 22 at 3:00 pm.

Husband and wife duo April Verch & Cody Walters is a true partnership of kindred musical spirits, each a world-class musician in their own right. Combining their unique backgrounds from Verch’s native Ottawa Valley and Walters’ heartland roots in Kansas, their music showcases endless creativity and versatility—transitioning effortlessly from traditional Ottawa Valley step dancing and fiddle tunes, to old-time fiddle-banjo duets with tight-knit vocal harmonies, to innovative sandpaper foot percussion, all contrasted against Verch’s sweet soprano voice.

Verch and Walters began playing together in 2007 when Walters joined the April Verch Band as their bassist. Initially formed as a pickup band centered around Verch’s own fiddle and dance stylings in 2000, the band grew and blossomed into an established trio of world-class musicians, spanning several musical traditions and backgrounds, yet all united in their mission to share the music they love. Together they have traveled to four continents, performed in fourteen countries, and played everywhere from tiny pubs and dusty festival workshops all the way to legendary stages such as the Kennedy Center and the Ryman Auditorium. In 2018—fittingly amidst their ever-busy tour schedule—April and Cody were married.

During the heart of COVID lockdowns in 2020, the couple began performing as a duo out of necessity, and learned firsthand that sometimes, art born of necessity can yield unexpectedly beautiful results. They developed new material, arrangements and a concert performance that hum with the ease and playfulness that can only be cultivated through deep understanding and trust—as musicians and as partners.

The duo’s diverse repertoire and unbridled passion come to life on stage with a presence that is versatile, robust, and masterfully executed. Audiences remark at their sincerity in sharing stories between tunes.  Verch’s delicate voice, energetic footwork, sand paper foot percussion and stunning playing (sometimes combined all at once!) are jaw-dropping. Walters’ melodic banjo stylings, solid rhythm guitar accompaniment and tasteful vocal harmonies are at once understated and brilliant, dueting with Verch’s skills in glorious harmony. Their ability to preserve the authentic folk traditions of the past and reintroduce them into the musical landscape of the present is a testament to their masterful musicianship and widespread appeal.

April Verch & Cody Walters will be performing live, in-person on Sunday, May 22 at 3:00 pm at the ​UU Society of Amherst, 121 N. Pleasant St., Amherst, MA. Tickets are available now on our website, www.hartsne.org, or by calling 413-345-2917. ​

​One World Music Award Winner David Rose, of Mexican and Native American heritage (Choctaw/Cherokee), has been a passionate lifelong musician. He has recorded as a solo artist and with the band Painted Raven. He has performed in music festivals across the country, and has been nominated for both an Indian Summer Music Award and a NAMA (Native American Music Award). David's flute music was featured on internationally acclaimed Mars Lasar's “Tahoe Spirit.”

Welcome to our new Spotlight Series. In this inaugural edition we highlight the exceptional folk singer and songwriter, Joe Jencks who will be performing at the UU Meetinghouse in Amherst, MA on Sunday, March 13 at 3:00 pm.

“The key to the future is people joining in. The music of Joe Jencks captures this essential spirit. Joe is a fantastic singer who carries on the traditions.”
~ Pete Seeger

Joe Jencks is an 22-year veteran of the international folk circuit, an award-winning songwriter, and celebrated vocalist based in Chicago. Merging conservatory training with his Irish roots and working-class upbringing, Joe delivers engaged musical narratives filled with heart, soul, groove and grit. Having penned several #1 Folksongs including the ever-relevant Lady of The Harbor, Jencks is also co-founder of the harmony trio, Brother Sun. From Festivals like Falcon Ridge, Kerrville, Mariposa, and Old Songs, to venues like Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, Jencks has enthralled diverse audiences with his approachable style. Joe is noted for his unique merging of musical beauty, social consciousness, and spiritual exploration. Blending well-crafted instrumentals and vivid songwriting, Jencks serves it all up with a lyric baritone voice that has the edgy richness of a good sea-salt caramel.

Joe’s most recent solo CD – The Forgotten: Recovered Treasures From The Pen of Si Kahn - contains 14 previously unrecorded songs from American Folk legend, Si Kahn. Joe recorded the CD in Canada, with famed producer Ken Whiteley, and the collection of songs represents a return to Joe’s more traditional Folk roots in both theme and musical styles. Celebrating the lost legends of hard working people from New England textile mills to Appalachian coal mining towns, from the Civil Rights movement to forgotten industrial towns in the Midwest. The Forgotten shines a welcome light on the lives of people whose experiences still need to be told and remembered.

Jencks’ 2017 release – Poets, Philosophers, Workers, & Wanderers debuted as the #1 CD on the International Folk DJ Chart, also garnering recognition for #1 Song and #1 Artist. Additionally the recording spent eight weeks as the #1 CD on Sirius XM Radio’s Americana Chart. With arrangements that blend sparse acoustic performances with Copeland-like orchestral tapestries, and encompass Celtic, Blues, and Traditional Folk styles, this CD reflects the depth of Joe’s musical knowledge and diversity of influences. In addition, guest artists including: Ysaye Barnwell (Sweet Honey In The Rock), Cathy Fink, Harpeth Rising, Tret Fure, Reggie Harris, Edie Carey, Jon Carroll and many more. This long awaited collection of songs represents Joe’s finest work to date, both as a vocalist and as a songwriter.

Having penned several #1 Folksongs including the ever-relevant “Lady of The Harbor,” Jencks has become a fan favorite throughout North America. Co-founder and a vocal arranger for the harmony trio Brother Sun, Joe is also in demand as an arranger with over 30 appearances as a guest vocalist on various studio recordings.

From coffeehouses to Carnegie Hall, Jencks has made a mark on the American music scene, singing and telling stories that educate, illuminate, and uplift. For more information on recordings and concerts, please visit: www.joejencks.com

The Upper Room, Greenfield, MA, has maintained and offered a physical space for contemplative practice, prayer and meditation for the past six years. During that time, it has operated entirely by donations. A deep and abiding calling has kept Aggie, who maintains the Upper Room and offers it to the public, has kept it going all this time and, amazingly, this far through the pandemic.

​Last week, I was sad to hear Aggie was thinking about closing her ministry and ending her lease with The Episcopal Church of Saints James and Andrew. So, I asked to meet with her. I was struck by the rooms beauty and the obvious loving care she has put into maintaining the space. The spiritual energy was palpable. Comfortable chairs and light streaming in through the south facing windows invited me to relax and slip into a place of internal quiet. For all this time, it has been one of Greenfield's best kept secrets. 

The Upper Room, of course, refers to The Cenacle (from Latin cēnāculum, meaning "dining room"), and it is specifically a room in Mount Zion in Jerusalem, just outside the Old City walls.  In the Gospel accounts, it is held to be the site of the Last Supper, where Jesus' shared his final meal with his disciples. It is also the location of the disciple's prayer meetings after Jesus' death.

John 20: 19-22: "When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.""

As I soaked in the spirit of the place, Aggie shared with me her ministry and the struggle she has had throughout the pandemic. She told me about her love for the space and some of the images that adorned the walls and shelves. Her heart obviously grieved the potential loss of the space and her ministry, and I felt my heart break, too. I knew I did not want to see her end her beloved ministry.

So I shared the vision of Halcyon Institute for Spiritual Studies. I told her about the Schattner Library and its need for a new home. I told her a bit about the groups I have been offering online. And I shared a desire to collaborate, share the space, and halve her rent to the church. I was surprised when she was open to the idea, and even more pleased when she said that collaboration could begin in April. In the meantime, we would let the idea percolate.

That afternoon, I emailed the Halcyon Board about the possibility of the collaboration. I asked for their approval. After all, there are many questions. Who knows when we will come out of the pandemic enough to have in-person meetings? Even then, will people want to return to in-person meetings? How well would it serve our purposes for groups and the library? Will the library overwhelm the space?

It would be a space for groups of up to 12 (16 with a few extra chairs), perfect for our small groups such as Spiritual Journeys, Silent Fire, and Spiritual Texts which are now offered online. It is certainly too small for the whole library, but there are some built in shelves on the north wall that Aggie said we could use. We might even be able to put one of the bookshelves that belong to the library on another wall, but more than that would be too overwhelming. Who knows when we will come out of the pandemic and whether in-person groups will be be attractive again?

Nevertheless, despite the questions, some of which are unanswerable, the Board's response was overwhelmingly positive. They are grateful to Aggie for her ministry and her  willingness to cooperate with Halcyon Arts. And we look forward to seeing how the new collaboration goes over the course of the first year beginning mid-April,