An Evening of Live Music at the Cinema Arts Centre, March 19

Bluegrass banjo player Jeff Scroggins and members of his band will share a bill with folksinger Mara Levine during the Folk Music Society of Huntington’s monthly Hard Luck Café series at the Cinema Arts Centre (423 Park Avenue, Huntington) on Thursday, March 19.  The 8:30 p.m. concert in the Cinema’s Sky Room will be preceded by an open mic at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are  $15 ($10 for Cinema Arts Centre and FMSH members).  For more information, visit www.fmsh.org or call (631) 425-2925. 

Jeff Scroggins is an acclaimed banjo player who has toured internationally with his band, Jeff Scroggins & Colorado. A winner of the prestigious National Bluegrass Banjo Championship and dozens of state and regional banjo contests, Jeff has attracted many fans worldwide with his fiery style and lightning-fast licks. He also teaches for Swallow Hill Music in Denver, Colorado and is in demand as an instructor at many bluegrass music camps in the U.S. and abroad.

Jeff will be joined by band members Tristan Scroggins (his son) on mandolin and Greg Blake on vocals and guitar, along with special guest Larry Cohen (Silk City, Skyline) on bass. Long Island’s own Martha Trachtenberg and Tom Griffith will also join him for this performance.

Mara Levine: Called one of the best singers of her generation by Christine Lavin, the folksinger and jewelry designercreates beautiful interpretations of fine traditional and contemporary folk songs. Reviewers have said Mara’s voice is reminiscent of folk icons Judy Collins and Joan Baez.

Mara’s second album, Jewels and Harmony, received stellar reviews, was the #1 album on the Folk DJ chart for January 2013, and placed #3 overall for 2013.  Her version of Bob Franke’s “Straw Against the Chill” with Joe Jencks and her arrangement of Paul Simon’s “Leaves That Are Green” with folk-harmony trio Gathering Time both were  #1 songs on the monthly Folk DJ charts.

Jeff Scroggins and his band, along with members of LI-based folk harmony trio Gathering Time, will join Mara for this performance. 

About the Presenters

Established in 1973, the Cinema Arts Centre (www.cinemaartscentre.org) seeks to bring the best of cinematic artistry to Long Island and use the power of film to expand the awareness and consciousness of our community. LI’s only not-for-profit, viewer-supported, independent cinema presents a wide array of films that are often accompanied by discussions and guest speakers.  

Now in its 46th year, the Folk Music Society of Huntington (www.fmsh.org) presents two monthly concert series, a monthly folk jam and an annual folk festival in conjunction with the Huntington Arts Council.  

In Photo above – Shown (l.-r.) are Greg Blake, Mara Levine, Jeff Scroggins and Tristan Scroggins.