The 27th annual Winterfolk Benefit Concert for Sisters of the Road is Saturday, January 31 at the Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., and this year’s headliner is autoharp master and Northwest musical treasure, Bryan Bowers.
Bowers name has become synonymous with the autoharp, a 36 string instrument introduced in the 19th Century. An exceptional and inspiring storyteller, songwriter and entertainer, Bowers is a member of Frets Magazine “Gallery of the Greats” along with Chet Atkins, David Grisman and Tony Rice. He’s even had a hit on Dr. Demento’s radio show.
Other performers this year include recently-relocated to Portland Kate Power and Steve Einhorn; multi-instrumentalist songwriter Kathryn Claire; Don Lange (owner of the Lange Winery, in Dundee); Avery Hill; The Artichoke All-Stars and host-master of ceremonies and the founder of Winterfolk, Tom May.
Tickets are $30 in advance and $32 at the door, through the Aladdin Box Office and Music Millennium, 3158 E. Burnside St. The annual raffle this year will give one lucky winner a day of studio time at Billy Oskay’s Big Red and a Simon & Patrick Woodland Pro Folk acoustic guitar. Tickets are $10 each, available at Artichoke Music, 3130 SE Hawthorne Blvd. and Arcane Amps, 3341 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Winner will be drawn at Winterfolk, but need not be present at the concert to win. For more information, go to Aladdin Box Office or call Brenda at 503.222.5694 ext. 114.
For more than a quarter of a century, Winterfolk has benefited Sisters Of The Road’s nonprofit Cafe and organizing work for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Sisters continues to provide low-cost and no-cost meals in Portland’s Old Town. Founded 35 years ago, it remains a shining example of an organization reaching out and helping to change people’s lives, one hot meal at a time. www.sistersoftheroad.org .