Friday, May 2, 2025: Vance Gilbert
7:30 p.m. Open Mic (7:00 signup), 8:30 p.m. show
Suggested Donation $25 (Cash or Check Only)

“If Joni Mitchell and Richie Havens had a love child, with Rodney Dangerfield as the midwife, the results might be something close to the great Vance Gilbert,” says Richmond Magazine.
One of the originators of the finally recognized R&B/Folk/Jazz-crossover subgenre, Vance was born and raised in the Philadelphia area. Starting out hoping to be an R&B and jazz singer once at college, there he discovered his affinity for the storytelling sensibilities of the acoustic singer-songwriter thing. Word spread like wildfire about Gilbert’s stage-owning singing and playing, and Shawn Colvin invited him to be special guest on her 1992 Fat City tour where he took much of America by storm and by surprise. “With the voice of an angel, the wit of a devil, and the guitar playing of a god…” wrote the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Noted not only for being the ever consummate performer, Gilbert has recorded 13 albums, including 5 for Philo/Rounder Records. Along with being opener of choice for artists as varied as Arlo Guthrie, Anita Baker, The Milk Carton Kids, and Southside Johnny, the mid 2000’s found Gilbert opening 150+ shows for comedian George Carlin.
Most recently he’s been the opener of choice for Mad About You/Stranger Things star Paul Reiser’s stand-up shows for the last 7 years, along with his own busy acoustic music touring schedule.

Gilbert has also been a prominent presence at some of the world’s most prestigious gatherings and halls, among them the Newport, Winnipeg, Rocky Mountain, Calgary, Ottawa, and Falcon Ridge Folk festivals, the Kate Wolf Music Festival, and Australia’s Woodford Folk and Mullum Music Festivals, Mountain Stage, Boston’s Symphony Hall, Nashville’s Lyman Auditorium, The Barns at Wolftrap, and a private party for his veterinarian where there was terrific lo mein.

Vance’s new album, “The Mother Of Trouble,” features Grammy winner Lori McKenna on background vocals, Juno award recipient and Bonnie Raitt Grammy hit song co-writer Joey Landreth on guitars, and Americana-Roots master mandolinist Joe K. Walsh. Oh, and Management wants to make sure to tell you that this is the 14th release for this acoustic stalwart.

Considered by many to be an integral part of the national folk scene, his previous record “Good Good Man” features an eclectic roster of musical types including rocker Mike Posner, world renown Celtic harpist Aine Minough, bluesman Chris Smither, and Al Green’s organist Stacey Wade.

“Vance (and some of his people) maintain that this, his 14th album, is his best, and I don’t see any reason to argue with that.”
– John Platt, WFUV

Stu adds, “Vance can charm you, make you laugh, make you cringe just slightly, then bring it all right back with a smile, and that’s before he even starts playing a song. He’s a consummate performer, which is probably why he’s been doing it so long. Or maybe it’s the other way around. Either way, you’ll never forget, or regret, having seen him.”

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Our Times Coffeehouse takes place at the Long Island Ethical Humanist Society, located at 38 Old Country Rd., Garden City, a half mile west of the Mineola Railroad Station. Its phone number is (516) 741-7304.