Porco podcast with Rico and Petrus

12.23.19 at the Washington Square Hotel Stephen Petrus- Author/Curator of art exhibit Folk City Richard Barone- Musician, Event guru Bob Porco- One-track mind There's very little intention to over edit this conversation. I'm thankful for the time Richard and Stephen shared. We plan to take a few seconds out of this clip to make a promo. Turns out I'm leaving it as is, for the most part....for now. It's experimental but we discussed the vital importance that the Gerde's Folk City 60th Anniversary party must be an absolutely, positively sold out show. BUY TICKETS A link from venue: https://www.theiridium.com/Events/Gerde%E2%80%99s-Folk-City-at-60/January-24th-2020 Link for ticket sales: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/gerdes-folk-city-at-60-iridium-tickets/10185365?pl=iridium&REFID=iridium Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/2411622555754753/ Blog post: https://folkcityatfifty.blogspot.com/2019/12/gerdes-folk-city-at-sixty-concert.html Come celebrate  The 60th Anniversary  For world renown cabaret  Gerde’s Folk City Folk City was the epicenter of the Washington Square Folk and Blues Revival It was known for being the first paying gig for a constellation of Folk and Rock legends. Gerde’s became the premiere showcase for America's most critically acclaimed singer-songwriters, Bluesmen and traditional Folk artists from around the Country. Folk City ultimately hosted acts as far and wide as Gospel matinees on Sunday in 1960 to Sonic Youth in the ‘80s.  Hear songs from the vast music catalog of Greenwich Village come to life. Our All Star house band will pay tribute to the anthems of American music history. Solo performances by Texas Songbird Carolyn Hester- Folk City’s first ever Act! Multi dimensional song craftsman James Maddock Terre Roche of the Folk Rock pioneers, The Roches Worldwide Mod Rocker Willie Nile Bandleader extraordinaire, Rolling And Rockin’ Rob Stoner The drummer is class act Konrad Meissner  Your show’s Hosts:  Richard Barone of The Bongos Original proprietor, Mike Porco’s grandson, Bob Porco

FOLK. ROCK. BLUES. ROOTS - Folk City at 60

Don't think twice!

Buy a couple of tickets today.

Music lovers,

It’s that time of the century again!

New York City’s first “honest-to-God Folk Music Cabaret”** is celebrating another decade of making a difference in America. 

Gerde’s Folk City was the place where “the cross fertilization of musical eras and styles forged important links in the chain of American Music.” (I can’t say it better than Suze Rotolo!)

We’re offering a night of music, words and multi-media to commemorate the conversion of my grandfather’s Italian restaurant into one of the world’s most influential music venues EVER. 

In 1960, my dear friend Israel Goodman Young and Mike Porco made a handshake deal to create a “little club” by inviting America’s best traveling musicians to come in from the cold for an honest week’s work. 

In February of that year, Porco, Oscar Brand, Charlie Rothschild and Logan English invented what we now call THE OPEN MIC. 

The free Monday night Hootenanny was the deal breaker between Izzy and Mike. Word of this free stage show literally traveled across the Nation. Folk City went on to host The Village’s first “talent night” starring Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, Simon and Garfunkel throughout the years. 

The thought of eventually getting hired for a week was every musician’s goal. 

And that’s how it all started. 

Sixty years later, Gerde’s Folk City still matters. I have the great honor to invite us all to get together again and cheer Mike Porco’s good name. 

The links to info and tickets are included here. 

Link to venue:

https://www.theiridium.com/Events/Gerde%E2%80%99s-Folk-City-at-60/January-24th-2020

Ticket sales:

https://www.ticketweb.com/event/gerdes-folk-city-at-60-iridium-tickets/10185365?pl=iridium&REFID=iridium

FaceBook event:

https://www.facebook.com/events/2411622555754753/

Our line up includes:

Carolyn Hester- Mike Porco’s first hire!

Rob Stoner

Terre Roche

James Maddock

Willie Nile

Bongo frontman Richard Barone and I are hosting. Join us!

Times Square is 45 blocks from the original Folk City but there’s a train that’ll get you there. 

Folk, Rock, Blues and Roots,

Bob

**That’s a quote from Dave Van Ronk. 

GERDE'S FOLK CITY at SIXTY concert announcement

Come celebrate 

The 60th Anniversary 

For world renown cabaret 

Gerde’s Folk City

Experience songs from the era performed by an All Star band. 

Hear voices from the past come to life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The subway you will need to get there

Folk City was the epicenter of the Washington Square Folk and Blues Revival. 

 The seminal club hosted the first professional gig for a constellation of American Folk acts during the Washington Square Revival of the 1960s.

Beginning in 1960 and virtually overnight, Folk City became the premiere showcase for America's most critically acclaimed singer-songwriters, Bluesmen and traditional Folk artists from around the Country.

At the center of the action was Mike Porco, the enigmatic restauranteur and champion of struggling talent.

Gerde's Restaurant was an Italian eatery situated ‘off the beaten path’ East of Washington Square and MacDougal Street yet it became the unlikely launch pad of a musical movement.

For the next 20 years, Gerde's was a beacon of light for the professional traveling, and oft times wayfaring, musician dreaming of an audience for their work. Blues masters were playing the Greenwich Village clubs passing on their knowledge to many aspiring new comers.

In his autobiography, Bob Dylan called Gerde's "the preeminent Folk club in America." Folk City's distinctive fraternity of such aspiring young artists and legendary recording stars borders on myth. 

Folk City ultimately hosted acts as far and wide as Gospel matinees on Sunday in 1960 to Sonic Youth in the ‘80s.

Suze Rotolo said that Gerde's was where "the cross-fertilization of different styles and musical eras forged important links in the chain of American musical history."

In early 1960, Mike Porco added a Monday night 'Hootenanny,' widely regarded as New York's first "open mic." Mike Porco, an opportunist who was never one to turn away a crowd, was instrumental in, literally, setting the stage for the music revolution of the 1960s.

In a short time, Porco became a steadfast supporter, champion and surrogate father for those reshaping the sound of American music.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

West 4th and Mercer was where America’s timeless songs were born and bred. 

Folk. Rock. Blues. Roots. 

Come celebrate ‘New York’s Center of Folk Music’

Hosted by Mike's grandson, Bob Porco 

and Bongo frontman Richard Barone.

Complete list of performers 

ANNOUNCED SOON

with link for tickets

and details on the show.

The Iridium

January 24, 2020

From the inside of Gerde's on W.4th St. LIFE Magazine was there.