Mark your calendar for a live local music performance that you don’t want to miss! Groovin’ in New Fairfield is welcoming back TOBY WALKER with special guest JULIE CORBALIS on Saturday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m., at the New Fairfield Senior Center, 33 Route 37, New Fairfield, CT.  Tickets are $10 and doors open at 6:45 pm.   

Internationally and nationally acclaimed Toby Walker has been hailed as a roots music fingerstyle guitar virtuoso who has toured the US, England, Wales, France, Germany, Belgium and Holland.  Walker blends the styles of blues, ragtime, country, bluegrass, rock and old time jazz into his own unique style. Jorma Kaukonen of Hot Tuna and the Jefferson Airplane says “Flat out… you have to hear this great musician… I’m blown away” and has employed Walker to teach at his famous Fur Peace Ranch Guitar Camp for 6 years. In 2010 Walker won the NY Music Award for ‘Best Instrumental CD,’ sharing the honors with Mariah Carey, Rufus Wainwright and Judy Collins among many others. Walker has recently released three instructional guitar DVD’s for the world famous musicians.  Carnegie Hall acknowledged his rare talents and hired him to augment and teach in their “American Roots” program aimed at honor level middle school students.

Julie Corbalis is a New York-based singer-songwriter who has been performing her own music as well as classic covers since 1996. Corbalis has recorded six albums to date, and counts as her musical influences the Beatles, Sheryl Crow, Eric Clapton, The Animals, and the Rolling Stones.  She has also been a featured performer at The Bitter End (New York, NY), Brooklyn Bowl (Brooklyn, NY), Pete Seeger’s Clearwater Festival (Croton-On-Hudson, NY), The Towne Crier (Pawling, NY), the Pleasantville Music Festival (Pleasantville, NY), and the Some Kind of Jam 9 Festival (Schuylkill Haven, PA). She has opened for a number of well-established musical acts such as Colin Hay (Men at Work), Amy Correia, Mickey Hart, Jeffrey Gaines, Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion. 

Advance tickets can be purchased at the New Fairfield Senior Center. Tickets can also be purchased at the door, pending availability.  All sales are final. Additionally, a moderately priced dinner catered by Bruno’s Restaurant is offered before the show.  Choices include:  eggplant rollatini, chicken francese, pizza, coffee, tea, hot mulled cider, water and homemade desserts.  For additional information, and to reserve space, contact: grcoffeehouse@gmail.com.

About Groovin’ in New Fairfield:  Groovin’ in New Fairfield seeks to develop and promote ongoing, regularly scheduled live music programs in New Fairfield and surrounding areas.  It is a non-profit organization supported by sponsors, local businesses, grants from charitable organizations and patron donations and is staffed by volunteers.  It operates under the New Fairfield Parks and Recreation Commission.

Written by Jeff Main, President of Groovin’. Contributed photos.