On April 3, 2013, over 50 people attended the Art-in-a-Bag drop-in craft time!

In April 2013, two folk bands visited NOPL @ North Syracuse.

Folk Music Series: NOPL @ North Syracuse
Sponsored by the Freinds of Nopl @ North Syracuse

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers & Wendy Ramsay Duo
Sunday 4/7 at 2pm
NOPL @ N. Syracuse

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers, a grand prize winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and the founding editor of Acoustic Guitar magazine is joined by singer-songwriter Wendy Ramsay on vocals, guitar, flute, clarinet, and toy accordion. Sponsored by the Friends of NOPL @ N. Syracuse. Free.

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers, a grand prize winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, is joined by quirky singer-songwriter Wendy Ramsay on vocals, guitar, flute, clarinet, and toy accordion. Expect a mix of original songs and unusual covers, with close vocal harmonies. Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers came upon his first guitar at 12, and hasn’t looked back. “I started writing songs almost immediately. Guitar and songwriting have been at the center of my life ever since.” He has used his skills to educate a new crop of musicians and songwriters. “Education is central to my work as the founding editor of Acoustic Guitar magazine and author of guidebooks and instructional videos for musicians. I teach a course on songwriting at SU and lead workshops for guitarists and songwriters.”

Unlike many folk musicians, Wendy didn’t start with guitar. “My first official music lessons were in fourth grade when I started playing clarinet. After that I learned sax, flute, oboe, and then finally started teaching myself guitar when I was 24.” Wendy is now a frequent performer and collaborator in the Central New York music scene.

Genessee Ted
Sunday 4/21 at 2pm
NOPL @ N. Syracuse

Genesee Ted, a local folk band made up of members Dana Cooke (mandolin), Shirley Stevens (guitar), and Eileen Rose (mountain dulcimer), will play a blend of old-timey, mountain, traditional, and bluegrass songs.

Shirley Stevens, who has always had a love of music, took on guitar in college after listening to the Kingston Trio. “I learned to play out of a book from our local library,” she says. Shirley enjoys playing “roots music” with Genesee Ted and connecting with the audience. Her favorite moments during a performance are when they “get the audience singing with us, or clapping…I want to see those toes tapping!”

Eileen Rose has been a mainstay of the local folk music scene. “My Mountain Dulcimer is quite unique to this area,” says Eileen, who has been playing the instrument for over a decade. “Our trio brings our genuine love of old-time music and heartfelt harmonies to life when we perform.”

Dana Cooke was a songwriter before he became a performer. He was introduced bluegrass and traditional music in the early 2000s, and it wasn’t long until he played his first mandolin. “I found the mandolin supremely approachable and charming. It became my second instrument and led me even more deeply into bluegrass and old-time music.”