a fun afternoon of humor and folk music

high street near W. New England Ave., Columbus OH

28 August, 2022

Description

Long-time Central Ohio musicians Mary Miller and Mike Hale are planning a concert with a unique mix of folk music and humor Sunday August 28 from 2 to 4 pm at La Chatelaine Bistro at 627 High Street in Worthington. As admission, $10-$15 donations are suggested, and the money raised will go to help produce next May’s Central Ohio Folk Festival. Mary will lead off the show with her hilarious observations about everyday life and situations. Plus, we may be treated to a satirical song, where a famous serious tune is paired with new funny lyrics. We may hear one of Mary’s own creations in that vein, and perhaps one penned by singer-songwriter Deirdre Flint. It’s sung to the tune of “Blowin’ in the Wind.” – How many roads must a man drive down Before he'll admit that he's lost Why when a man becomes married, is he - unable to find his own socks. How many times will it take til he knows - he's seen the Three Stooges enough For another treat, Mary plans to morph into her “cousin,” the late great country music comedienne Minnie Pearl, complete with her hat and its price tag. Having done dozens of comedy shows across Ohio and beyond, Mary sees positive benefits in comedy. “I believe laughter and being fully present in life to observe "the funny" around us in our everyday lives & relationships can truly lead to a healthier life and state of mind,” Mary says. “AND it is FUN and we can all use more fun in our lives. Humor connects us in a way that nothing else can do.” Following Mary’s comedy set, Mike will join her on stage for a round of Americana songs. It’s a fairly modern genre that Mike describes as a fusion of folk and country music about “love, loss, and life, heavy on storytelling.” Some of these songs they’ll perform as a duo, but Mike and Mary also promise a few solos. Many will be pop, rock, folk, and country tunes from the 1950’s, 60’s, and 70’s. Actually, Mike recalls that Mary was the first person he ever performed with nearly 25 years ago when he was just beginning to build the confidence he needed to share his music with the world. “I met her at an open mic, and she didn’t play guitar at that time,” Mike explains. “She asked if anyone in the place could accompany her, and I volunteered. The song was ‘Love at the Five and Dime,’ and we still sometimes do that song together.” At the August 28 concert, songs like that by Americana specialist Nanci Griffith will be in the spotlight, along with tunes by other compelling singer-songwriters, such as John Prine, Cheryl Wheeler, Guy Clark, Bob Dylan, Dan Fogelberg, Todd Snider, and others. Mike was a key player in Halfway Home, a Columbus Americana band that performed all across Ohio and beyond for more than a decade. Like Mary, he continues to perform as a solo act and to lead local open mic nights.