Published: May 16, 2008 02:31 pm         

Simple Gifts folk music trio performs tonight in Romney

ROMNEY, W.Va. - Three women plus 12 instruments equals one good time when Simple Gifts takes the stage at The Bottling Works on today starting at 8 p.m.

The award-winning band performs on an impressive array of instruments, including two violins, concertina, mandolin, hammered dulcimer, recorders, guitar, and piano plus some more unusual instruments like the bowed psaltery, baritone fiddle, banjolin, guitjo, tabla and doumbek.

Simple Gifts presents a wide variety of ethnic folk music, including everything from lively Irish jigs and down-home American reels to hard-driving Klezmer freilachs, haunting Gypsy melodies, and exotic Balkan dance tunes. Throughout their performances, they put their own distinctive stamp on traditional tunes, easily blending styles from diverse cultures.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.HampshireArts.org or at the door. Those under 17 years of age may attend free of charge.

This program is presented by the Hampshire County Arts Council with sponsorship from FNB Romney and financial assistance from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the WV Commission on the Arts.

This project is partially supported by a grant from Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour, developed and funded by the Vira I. Heinz Endowment; the William Penn Foundation; the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency; and The Pew Charitable Trusts; and administered by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.

According to the Celtic Classic Festival in Bethlehem, Pa., "few musicians can match the warmly personal stage presence Simple Gifts possesses.

"It is obvious that these women love the music they play, and they know how to share their talents, their enthusiasm, and their sense of humor with the audience."

Linda Littleton, Rachel Hall and Karen Hirshon have performed as Simple Gifts since 1995. The group was founded by Littleton in 1989 and has performed throughout the mid-Atlantic region, including appearances at the Smithsonian, Brooklyn Museum of Art, National Governors' Convention, Longwood Gardens, Whitaker Center, Hershey Theatre, Philadelphia Folk Festival, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Ontario Center for Performing Arts, Clarion Folk College, and dozens of colleges and universities throughout the region. Simple Gifts has opened for Natalie MacMaster, Tom Paxton, John McCutcheon, Robin and Linda Williams, Jay Unger and Molly Mason, and Boys of the Lough.

Simple Gifts has recorded six albums. Their newest, "Crossing Borders: Music of Many Lands," was recognized by Indie Acoustic as including "one of the best songs of 2005."

Their previous album, "Time and Again," won a bronze star (third place) in the Crossroads Music Awards. Their recordings include traditional music from Romania, Hungary, Russia, Bulgaria, Greece, Ireland, Scotland, France, Sweden, Denmark, and America, plus original compositions by each group member.

Preceding the concert from 6 to 8 p.m. will be an opening reception for a new Fiber Arts Exhibit in The Bottling Works lobby/Visitors featuring works by artists Carol Hobbs, Susan Feller and Laurie Gunderson.

The public is encouraged to come meet the artists and discuss their work, which ranges from the traditional to the contemporary, with them.

Hooked rugs, shibori silk banners, quilts and quilted fashions, and fiber baskets will be among the wide range of items on display through June 26. Many pieces will be for sale.

The exhibit may be viewed when the Visitors Center is open (Tuesday throught Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday noon to 4 p.m.) as well as during performances at The Bottling Works.