It is fitting that this world-renowned singer-songwriter, who cut his teeth on the coffeehouse circuit, should return to the me&thee, one of the longest running and most revered coffeehouses on the East Coast. New Jersey-born John Gorka debuted at Godfrey Daniels, another venerable and respected coffeehouse in eastern Pennsylvania in the late 1970s. Bitten by the folk bug, Gorka soon abandoned his Philosophy studies at Moravian College and took up residence in the club’s basement, acting as host and sound man for legendary performers like Tom Paxton, Eric Andersen and Claudia Schmidt. It was there that Gorka began penning and performing his own songs.

Soon Gorka hit the road, traveling to Boston and New York City to play at the legendary Fast Folk circle in Greenwich Village, which was a breeding ground for many a singer-songwriter, and hitting the festival circuit including the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas where he won the New Folk Award in 1984. After a few false starts John’s debut recording, I Know, was released in September of 1987 on Minnesota-based Red House Records to much critical and popular acclaim. He has gone on to release many more CDs and DVDs which include a varied mixture of relevant and contemporary songs.

On October 2, listen for songs from Gorka’s latest release, Bright Side of Down, which features guest vocal appearances from his Red House Records labelmates Lucy Kaplansky, Eliza Gilkyson, and Claudia Schmidt. A masterful live performer, gifted with a goosebump-inducing baritone and a twisted sense of humor, John Gorka is impossible to pigeonhole. “I don’t mind calling myself a folksinger,” he reflects, “although, I’m not so sure that’s what I am. I’m a blend of folk, rhythm and blues and gospel. It’s been said that in folk music, the music is more important than the singer, and for me to become a folksinger, now that would be a real achievement.”

Photograph by Jos van Vliet

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For the past few years, Rj Cowdery has been turning heads and winning accolades at festivals all over the country with her songwriting craft and skill as a guitarist. In fact, Cowdery has followed a similar path on her journey as John Gorka. Both won at the prestigious Kerrville, Texas Folk Festival, a breeding ground for many major singer-songwriters Rj has played at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, another mecca for emerging and established singer-songwriters, as well as at the Sisters Folk Festival in Oregon where she won the Dave Carter Memorial Songwriting award. Rj’s newest CD, Something Fine, is being released this fall.

• Gorka is widely heralded for the sophisticated intelligence and provocative originality of his songs. Boston Globe
• Wry, slice-of-life observations reminiscent of Lyle Lovett and John Prine Associated Press . . . the leading singer/songwriter of the New Folk movement Rolling Stone
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• Every Rj Cowdery song is a quiet thrill-a shotgun seat on a ride of the heart. I am so impressed by her unfiltered emotion, set in haunting lines of melody and guitar craft. She’s rare, and I’m proud of this album we made. Billy Crockett, Producer
• Rj Cowdery struck me like lightening when I first encountered her at the Kerrville Folk Festival. Unassuming, honest, deeply emotional, self-deprecatingly charming and funny, Rj has just crafted a beautiful album that any fan of contemporary folk should put on the top of their wish list. Amy Speace, Award winning singer-songwriter
• There is no possible way to listen to Rj Cowdery’s music and notfeel deeply. The tone of her voice, the clarity of her guitar and spot on emotive lyrics plumb the depths of human hope and struggle. These are not just songs, they are arrows shot directly to center of the heart. Joe Crookston, Award winning singer-songwriter

• John Gorka’s

• Website | Video

• Rj Cowdery’s

• Website | Video