MIKE PORCO CENTENNIAL CONCERT Artist Lineup

Mike Porco owned Gerde's Restaurant, an Italian eatery situated in Greenwich Village east of Washington Square on West 4th Street. On January 26, 1960, Gerde's turned into a music venue in cooperation with Izzy Young, the director of the Folklore Center. GERDE'S FOLK CITY then became the unlikely epicenter of a global music paradigm shift.

During Mike Porco’s stewardship (1960-1980) the club hosted early performances by a constellation of Folk Music stars – notably, Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, Phil Ochs, Judy Collins and José Feliciano.

Folk City's distinctive fraternity of such aspiring young artists and legendary recording stars borders on myth. Gerde's was where the cross-fertilization of different styles and musical eras forged important links in the chain of American musical history.

In his autobiography, Bob Dylan called Gerde's "the preeminent Folk club in America." Rolling Stone's Book of Lists called Folk City one of the three top music venues in the world, along with The Cavern and CBGB.

~~~~~~~~

POSITIVELY PORCO is a star-studded documentary film under production. It chronicles the 1960’s Folk and Blues Revival as it was experienced at a place many musicians called HOME.

Hosted by Porco's grandson, the Mike Porco 100th Birthday Anniversary concert will act as a reunion and celebration of the music that emanated from the Village's golden era.

Live music performances by David Amram, Tom Chapin, Rob Stoner, David Massengill, Bev Grant, Mark Cohen, Lydia Adams Davis, Vince Martin, Vincent Vok, Roland Mousaa, Willie Nininger, Randy Burns and a couple of surprise guests will make Porco's 100th birthday a special evening. Director's cuts of POSITIVELY PORCO will be shown for good measure.

TICKETS:
http://townecc.tunestub.com/event.cfm?id=178288&cart#fbShareLinkTag

Towne Crier
Website:
http://townecrier.com/

PORCO HQ:
http://folkcityatfifty.blogspot.com/

IMPORTANT:
Short clip of
Positively Porco will be shown at 7PM

Doors at 5

Music at 7:30

Friends of Mike Porco LIVE at The Gaslight 2012

David Amram Quartet 12.15.12
(Photo Sidney Danz)

Frank Christian 10.27.12

Alana Amram and the Rough Gems
with Vince Martin
2.25.12

Tom Pacheco 2.25.12

Erik Frandsen 3.24.12
with Kate Sland

Oscar Isaac 3.24.12

John Goodman with Oscar Isaac

Randy Burns 4.28.12
(Photo Frank Beacham)

David Massengill 4.28.12
(Frank Beacham)

Randy Burns, Bob Porco, David Massengill
(Frank Beacham)

Roy Bookbinder 5.26.12
(Photo Frank Beacham)

Stefan Grossman 5.26.12
(Frank Beacham)

The Dirdy Birdie Jug Band 6.23.12
(Frank Beacham)

Zoë and Peter Stampfel 6.23.12

Judy Gorman 7.28.12

VAGABONDO! movie premiere 7.12.12
with Vince Martin

Rod MacDonald 8.2.12
with Randy Burns, Mark Dann
(Frank Beacham)

Jonathan Kalb 8.25.12
(Frank Beacham)

Paul Geremia 8.25.12

Steve Katz and Danny Kalb 9.22.12
(Photo Sidney Danz)

John Kruth, Steve Katz, Danny Kalb 9.22.12
(Sidney Danz)

Vince Martin, Bob Porco
Mike Porco Tribute 10.27.12
(Frank Beacham)

Ted Lyons, Sally Spring 10.27.12 

POEZ 10.27.12

Sally Spring 10.27.12

Louise Mosrie 11.17.12

Cliff Eberhardt 11.17.12

David Amram Quartet 12.15.12

Frank Christian
1952-2012

MIKE PORCO BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE AT THE GASLIGHT

Mike Porco, Bob Dylan, Eric Andersen, Joan Baez, Oct 23, 1975

The Dean of Folk City, MIKE PORCO, was born this date 98 years ago. When he came to America as an 18 year old kid from Italy, becoming one of the most important figures involved in reviving American Folk and Blues music was the farthest thing from his mind. But that's just what happened.

As owner of Gerde's Folk City, he hired nearly every established Folk, Roots and Blues star to come through Greenwich Village in the 60s and 70s. Of course, he hired many up and coming stars who would later go on to become household names.

So many would-be stars cut their teeth at Gerde's and so many other recording artists from a wide array of genres landed work at Folk City. Thousands of Folk City's patrons have witnessed some of the most historic shows the Village has ever seen.

It was this date in 1975 when Bob Dylan, arguably at the height of his storied career, brought his entourage back "home" where it all began. The location was different in 1961 for Dylan's first gig opening up for John Lee Hooker. Gerde's was on 4th and Mercer. By 1975, Folk City was at 130 West 3rd. One thing was the same: Mike Porco still had a stage full of stars playing every week.

On October 23rd 1975, there happened to be a triple bill of musicians playing. Dylan and company got wind that it was Mike Porco's birthday so they decided, 'what better place' to kick off the Rolling Thunder Revue. On top of that, they could all pay respects to Mike on his birthday. Dylan waited and listened and spent time at Gerde's for hours before it was his turn to play. The party, as you can imagine, went into the wee hours of the morning. To this day, all in attendance STILL share fond memories of "the time Dylan came back.".

THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27TH, the world famous Gaslight Cafe on MacDougal St will, again, host a birthday tribute to Mike Porco. Recording artist and SALLY SPRING and her husband TED LYONS will headline the main event. The incomparable FRANK CHRISTIAN will open in what is shaping up to be one of the more memorable shows in the FRIENDS OF MIKE PORCO series live at the Gaslight.

The night will start out with stories and tales from the life and times of Mike Porco and Gerde's. A few of Mike's musician friends will stop in to play a song or two and then the wonderful show starts at 7pm.

Come down and join us for the first annual Mike Porco Tribute at the Gaslight!

For advance tickets:
http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4396289420

MIKE PORCO TRIBUTE SHOW AT THE GASLIGHT

Mike Porco made thousands of friends when he was owner of Gerde's Folk City from 1959-1980. Hundreds of those were the musicians who played on its stage. 

Tonight, two FRIENDS OF MIKE PORCO will honor him by performing live at the Gaslight in the first annual Mike Porco Birthday Tribute show. 

Frank Christian is the guitar virtuoso heard on over 50 albums recorded by people like Suzanne Vega, John Gorka, Christine Lavin, The Smithereens, Dave Van Ronk and most notably, Nanci Griffith. Frank accompanied Griffith on tours around the US and UK playing to crowds at Carnegie Hall and Royal Albert Hall. He has written and recorded a couple albums of his own and remains a much sought after studio musician and composer. 

Sally Spring burst onto the Greenwich Village scene right around the time Mike Porco was considering retirement. He has seen it all and simple words of encouragement to Sally inspired her as she continued on to tour the world. Her most recent release, 'Made of Stars,' held the #1 spot on the UK Americana charts. Sally may be considered one of the original artists to have helped establish the modern "Americana" sound.

Her husband Ted Lyons accompanies her on tour and in the studio on multiple instruments. The two make beautiful music together! 

Christian and Spring may have different styles, but their connection to Mike Porco and Gerde's during their "early days" in the Village make them perfect choices for this show. 

Ninety eight years after his birth, join us as a couple of surprise guest musicians who knew Mike best honor him and Folk City with a song or a story before the main event. 

Get advance tickets here:
http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4396289420

PRESS ON SALLY SPRING:
The force that has driven her musical journeys and achievements is "that singular ability to touch people's souls with song, to bring the emotion rising from deep inside the listener," notes the Winston‐Salem Journal,
"She's a treasure." notes Gene Parsons (The Byrds). 

PRESS ON FRANK CHRISTIAN:
“An accomplished guitarist and singer, Mr. Christian commands a wide variety of styles...A distinctive stylist performing distinctive original material...Christian writes and sings languid, blues-flavored songs that conjure up the New York bohemian life with a dreamy, understated sensuality.."
-The New York Times

“One of Frank Christian's fortes is the ability to write new songs that sound like standards—instant classics...
One of New York's finest talents." 
-Boston Globe

“Outstanding-excellent singer/songwriter/guitarist”    -New York Post