The first moth of the new year brings a busy schedule for the American Community Music Association. The ACMA presents three shows at its listening room, one at the downtown Fort Myers library plaza and one at the Alliance for the the Arts in January.
It would not be a proper start in 2023 for the ACMA if it’s not the fabulous Reckless Saints kicking off the new year on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. at All Faiths Unitarian Congregation in Fort Myers.
The Reckless Saints are Roy Schneider and Kim Mayfield. This husband and wife team runs the gamut from engaging acoustic folk to driving bluesy tunes, with hints of twang sprinkled in. The ringing impression from their music is the seamless blending of so many forms of roots music combined with meaningful and often insightful lyrics. Roy and Kim have named their style as Blue-Twangled Folk ‘n’ Roll.
Opening the show will be The Pearl Street Band which is comprised of Mike McMillan, Bob Williams, Bill Veach and Clark Johnson. Tickets at the door are $12 for member and $18 for non-members.
On Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 6 p.m., Songwriters at the Plaza in downtown Fort Myers will feature locals Bill Metts, Ray Cerbone and Ralph Leeseberg. This show is free.
David Mayfield – Jan. 21
Back by popular demand with his booming voice, amazing finger picking and wordsmithing, David Mayfield is returning to the ACMA listening room stage on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m.
Ohio-based Americana singer-songwriter David Mayfield has deep roots in the bluegrass and folk scenes. The Kent native grew up playing bass and touring with his family’s bluegrass band, later embracing guitar and mandolin as a teenager and earning national awards for his deft flatpicking style. He has spent time performing with and producing his sister Jessica Lea Mayfield, and in 2007 joined progressive bluegrass outfit Cadillac Sky.
ACMA member and singer-songwriter Ross Jordan will open the show. Tickets are $12 for members and $18 for non-members.
ACMA @ The Alliance on Sunday, Jan. 22 at 4 p.m. will feature Friction Farm with Silvia Medina opening the show.
Modern-folk duo Friction Farm, is a husband and wife team of traveling troubadours. Aidan Quinn and Christine Stay, combine storytelling, social commentary and humor to create songs of everyday life, local heroes, and quirky observations. Their lyrically rich, harmony-driven songs earned them spots as Kerrville New Folk Finalists, Falcon Ridge Emerging Artists, and South Florida Folk Festival Songwriter winners. Friction Farm’s latest CD, “Evidence of Hope,” which reached #10 on the Folk Radio Chart, was inspired by the collision of strong political polarity with personal kindness, the intersection of fragility and breathtaking beauty. Tickets are $16. The Alliance for the Arts is located at 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers.
Ruth Wyand – Jan. 28
The ACMA wraps up the month with Ruth Wyand in concert on Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. at the listening room. Mary Dahl will open that night.
You may not ever meet a person and performer as authentic as Ruth Wyand. Being diversified is Ruth Wyand’s specialty. Demonstrating guitar virtuosity with powerful fingerpicking, bottleneck slide and a warm alto voice Ruth plays a mix of Americana, jazz, blues, folk, country with a portion of Piedmont picking and bluegrass clawhammer thrown in. Her songwriting is universal, using a melting pot of styles with lyrics that are timeless, relatable, emotionally resonant, sometimes witty, sometimes serious but always human and genuine. Tickets are $12 for members and $18 for non-members.
The ACMA listening room is located at All Faiths Unitarian Congregation, 2756 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers.
For more details, visit online www.americanacma.org
