Pickin' Parlor Outdoor Concert featuring The Wizards of Accoustic Guitar

The Friends of the Winfield Public Library welcome The Wizards of Acoustic Guitar to our annual Pickin’ Parlor, this year held outside at Baden Square. Held the Monday before the Walnut Valley Festival, this free annual concert invites everyone to enjoy great music and get ready for the Walnut Valley Festival.  This free concert will be on Monday, September 13 at 6:30pm at Baden Square – bring your own chair or blanket for seating. The Wizards of Acoustic Guitar features Brian Henke, Helen Avakian with Dave Irwin, and Mark Sganga - all in town for the Walnut Valley Festival. In addition, Parents as First Teachers will be there with fun activities for the family.

Henke, of Bay Village, OH, is as much a musical shaman as he is a musician.  He’s a multi-award winning virtuoso acoustic guitarist who plays his music with the passion and grace that comes from his deeply held belief that music is indeed magic.  His sound includes every style you can think of on acoustic guitar.  He describes it as “a big stewpot of everything, stirred up, simmered and served to taste.”

Avakian, of Madison, WI, is the 2014 International Fingerstyle Champion. She has won numerous songwriting awards, including seven first prizes and four honorable mentions from the NewSongs Contest at the Walnut Valley Festival. Her music has been favorably compared to Tori Amos, Jewel, and Natalie Merchant.  In addition, Dave Irwin will be joining Avakian. Irwin has been performing jazz and fingerstyle guitar for over two decades.

Sganga, of New York, is the 2009 International Fingerstyle Guitar Champion.  With a performance that is said to weave a rich tapestry of beautiful melodies and imaginative improvisation, his musical style epitomizes “World Music”.  Sganga has performed in the United States and Europe and has played command performances in India with violin virtuoso L. Subramaniam.  WOR Radio acclaimed him as “one of the top guitarists in the New York area”.

This event is free, open to all, and sponsored by the Friends of the Winfield Public Library.