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The Oswego Music Hall is excited about bringing the fast-rising duo Stephanie Bettman and Luke Halpin to its stage on Saturday, May 17 at 8:00 p.m. Bettman and Halpin are quickly developing a reputation for irresistible lyrics, transcendent harmonies, and roof-raising instrumentals. Their music creates a fully acoustic, delightfully eclectic sound that's far greater than the sum of its parts. This duo takes their audience from up-tempo down home fiddlin' to soulful ballads, then hooks listeners with folk/pop catchy melodies and lyrics that stick with them long after the concert is over.
Stephanie Bettman is at the least a triple threat. An accomplished writer, singer, and fiddler: her lyrics are infused with wit and wisdom, poetry and insight. Vocally she draws comparison to the soaring soprano of Joan Baez and the plaintive emotion of Emmylou Harris. Meanwhile, her fiddling, which combines elements of bluegrass and jazz, is filled with influences from such masters as Stephane Grappelli, Byron Berline and Johnny Gimble. A former actress and circus artist, Bettman is at ease in front of an audience and creates intimacy with her crowd no matter the size.
Luke Halpin is a well-established multi-instrumentalist: master of the guitar and the mandolin, impressive on fiddle, banjo, and adept at nearly anything he picks up. Halpin draws inspiration from the likes of Sam Bush, Mark O'Connor and Tony Rice and holds his own in comparison. A dynamic and sensitive vocalist himself, the harmony blend he and Bettman achieve is chilling and at times simply transcendent. Halpin has a long history in the music biz, having shared the stage with the likes of Merle Haggard, Lone Star and The Steve Miller Band (to name a few). His quirky sense of humor is a perfect foil to Stephanie's dry witty presence.
Touring nationally together since 2008, Bettman & Halpin have been recognized in various Regional and National competitions, including Grand Prize Winners in the So Cal Live Acoustic Music Competition, Winners in Southern California's Topanga Banjo / Fiddle Contest, and Music Connection's Top 25 New Music Critiques.
Check out some of their music at http://www.stephaniebettman.com and then treat yourself to a live performance at the Music Hall on May 17. The venue is the McCrobie Civic Center, 41 Lake Street, Oswego. The atmosphere is intimate with candle-lit tables surrounding a small stage. Desserts, snacks, popcorn and beverages are available for purchase.
Ticket prices for this event are $12 if purchased in advance and $14 at the door. Children 12 and under are half-price; under 5 is free. Tickets can be purchased on-line at http://oswegomusichall.org/ or at the river's end bookstore, 19 West Bridge Street in Oswego. Holders of tickets purchased before 1 pm on the day of the concert will have preferred seating. After 1 pm, seating will be general admission. For information about becoming a member, go to the website or contact Membership Secretary, Carol Forrest at 343-2988.
The Music Hall's next event is its all out celebration--the annual Season Finale, May 31. It will feature the prolific songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Greg Klyma, an Emerging Artists Showcase, dinner, and a gala Sunset Reception. The Music Hall has been run entirely by volunteers from its inception over 36 years ago. Volunteers can earn admission to shows through different tasks. Music Hall concerts are made possible in part with funding by the NYS Council on the Arts. For more information call 315-342-1733 or access the Music Hall website: http://oswegomusichall.org/
