‘At Home Concert Series’ videos posted on division’s YouTube channel

On Nov. 16, 2020, the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs posted, on its YouTube channel, the final segment of the “At Home Concert Series” which featured 16 performances by local musicians who were video-recorded between April 24 and Sept. 1, 2020 in the warm acoustics of four division-owned historic properties across the state.

YouTube screenshot of Cathy Jane and Adam Clifton performing at the Zwaanendael Museum as part of the “At Home Concert Series” on July 21, 2020.
YouTube of Cathy Jane and Adam Clifton performing at the Zwaanendael Museum as part of the “At Home Concert Series” on July 21, 2020.

The “At Home Concert Series” was created to provide safe cultural experiences for people in keeping with the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. It is a partnership between the division and the Delaware Friends of Folk, a Dover-based nonprofit that supports folk music and folk musicians on the Delmarva peninsula and throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

Commenting on the series, John Kidd, president of the Friends of Folk’s board of directors, wrote that “Many of the musicians … are dependent on playing out several times a week if not more. The Covid-19 pandemic forced them to cancel essentially all their shows in the spring and summer. … HCA [Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs] Director Tim Slavin contacted us and suggested a series of videos featuring local out-of-work artists performing inside HCA’s historic places, with the division providing a professional videographer and a small stipend for the artists. Having presented acoustic music for over 25 years, Friends of Folk was familiar with the wide range of talent available in Delaware and the series fell together rather quickly. We are pleased to help showcase Delaware talent in Delaware’s historic places.”

Recorded and processed by Ed Larrivee of the division’s Collections, Affiliates, Research and Exhibits (CARE) Team, each video begins with an introduction by Kidd who served as master of ceremonies for the entire series. Following is a complete list of performances.

At Home Concert Series

Mike Miller at The Old State House on April 24, 2020. Singer/guitarist

Joey Fulkerson at The Old State House on May 5, 2020. Acoustic blues and folk

Sol Knopf at The Old State House on May 7, 2020. Singer/songwriter

Greg Ellingsworth at The Old State House on May 19, 2020. Singer/songwriter

Vince Torres at The Old State House on May 21, 2020. Singer/songwriter

The Honey Badgers at The Old State House on May 26, 2020. Folk/Americana duo

Jim Rezac at The Old State House on May 28, 2020. Singer/songwriter

Crabmeat Thompson at the New Castle Court House Museum on June 9, 2020. Blues and folk

Phyllis Chapell and Steve Jewett at the New Castle Court House Museum on June 9, 2020. Jazz, folk, pop and world music

Bruce Anthony and Sam Nobles at Buena Vista on June 11, 2020. Jazz

E. Shawn Qaissaunee and Sam Nobles at Buena Vista on June 11, 2020. Jazz

John Flynn at Buena Vista on June 18, 2020. Singer/songwriter

Bryan Scar at the Zwaanendael Museum on July 21, 2020. Folk/Americana

Cathy Jane and Adam Clifton at the Zwaanendael Museum on July 21, 2020. Acoustic folk

Ed Shockley and Ritchie Rubini at the Zwaanendael Museum on Aug. 11, 2020. Original music inspired by rhythm and blues

Paul Cullen at the Zwaanendael Museum on Sept. 1, 2020. Latin/jazz guitar and vocals

The “At Home Concert Series” is not the only collaboration between the division and the Friends of Folk. Annually since 2014, the division has worked with the First State Heritage Park and the Friends of Folk to present “The Old State House Concert Series,” a set of free live performances held in The Old State House on the second Friday of each month between October and March. Go to the following for the 2020–2021 series schedule.

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