begin at 7:30 pm
begin at 2:00 pm
otherwise noted)
Medusa (quartet)
Concert at 144 Cedar Street, Corning
In the red-brick UM Church--door on First St.
Get ready to stomp your feet, laugh, cry, and hear sounds you've never heard before with this electrifying chamber-folk band. Wielding forgotten fiddles that would turn classical music scholars to stone, these four folk musicians are reimagining the Western String Quartet. By inviting back instrumental voices previously regarded as too ugly for “polite society” Medusa tempts us to redefine what is beautiful. With their Canadian Folk Music Award (CFMA) nominated debut album, Medusa’s dynamic arrangement style cross-pollinates the songs of Middle Eastern, Scandinavian, Celtic, Appalachian and Eastern European music, as well as original tunes, to create something previously unheard. The band connects audiences across dividing lines of culture and identity to reveal the common thread beneath. Please bring your classical-music-appreciating friends—they will not be disappointed!
Medusa Quartet cross-pollinates traditional music from around the world with original tunes, engaging stories, and their one-of-a-kind stringed instruments to create a "must-see live show!". Medusa is Saskia Tomkins (she/her)—Nyckelharpa & fiddle; Marta Sołek (she/her)—Suka, Płock fiddle, Lyra, Cello; Lea Kirstein (they/she)—Cello, viola, fiddle; and Georgia Hathaway (they/them)—Fiddle.
One of the most misunderstood figures in ancient mythology, Medusa was wrongfully punished and cast out for being the victim of a violent act, but is remembered solely for her frightful ugliness and lithifying gaze. Through their personal narratives of alienation due to racism, sexism, immigration, queerness, and disability, Medusa the band aims to retell this story by bringing back what has been cast out. Marta Solek and Saskia Tomkins resurrect the Suka, the Płock fidel, and the Nyckelharpa - near-forgotten traditional folk fiddles with disreputable connotations that were rejected for centuries in their home countries of Poland and Sweden. Instead of a snake-haired Gorgon, they see Medusa as a symbol of vision, power, and inclusivity, and a source of inspiration for anyone who has been denied their true self.
"Medusa shred strings virtuosically, fusing the past & present, inviting all listeners to smile, dance, and be mesmerized. They are an amazing group of musicians, and a must-see live show!"—Sam Boer (musician, playwright, podcast host, critic)
Visit the band’s website here: https://medusaquartet.com
There is a self-running jam on concert nights beginning 90 minutes before each concert when we get in the building to set up. Bring your instrument and come jam with us!
Valley Folk
friends of traditional arts
Corning, NY, USA