Next show: Oct. 21 - John Gorka with Michael Manring
John Gorka with Michael Manring
John Gorka is one of the core artists of Tales from the Tavern. As partners, we have released two CD / DVD projects together – John Gorka Live at Tales from the Tavern (Volumes 1 and 2,) both of which show why he is regarded as one of the greats of folk music.
John’s professional story begins in the late 1970s when, as a young Moravian College History and Philosophy student, he moved into the basement of the venerable Pennsylvania coffee house and concert club, Godfrey Daniels and started acting as resident emcee and soundman. There he encountered traveling troubadours such as Stan Rogers, Eric Andersen, Tom Paxton and Claudia Schmidt. Their brand of acoustic folk music inspired him, and before long he was performing his own songs. Soon he started traveling to New York City, where he received further education and encouragement. Folk meccas like Texas’ Kerrville Folk Festival (where he won the New Folk Award in 1984) and Boston followed, and his stunningly soulful baritone voice and emerging songwriting began turning heads.
In 1987, Minnesota-based Red House Records caught wind of John’s talents and released his first album, I Know, to popular and critical acclaim. Two years later, he signed with Windham Hill / High Street Records, for whom he released five albums the next seven years. Those recordings and a steady touring schedule brought new accolades. Rolling Stone magazine called him “the preeminent male singer/songwriter of the new folk movement.” His rich multi-faceted songs full of depth, beauty and emotion gained increasing attention from critics and audiences across the country, as well as in Europe where his tours led him through Italy, Belgium, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, Switzerland and Germany.
In 1998, after five successful recordings and seven years at Windham Hill/High Street, John returned to Red House Records, and has since released another dozen-plus albums. He is also a frequent collaborator with other artists, including Eliza Gilkyson, Lucy Kaplansky, Cliff Eberhardt, Patty Larkin, and more.
Joining John for this performance is the wonderfully distinctive and innovative bassist, Michael Manring.
We are delighted to welcome back John Gorka along with Michael Manring to Tales from the Tavern.
Scroll down for a complete list of artists who have performed at Tales from the Tavern.
ARTISTS who have performed at Tales from the Tavern:
Priscilla Ahn - Dave Alvin – Phil Alvin - Eric Andersen - Joan Baez – Sam Baker - Marcia Ball - BettySoo - Ryan Bingham - Birds of Chicago - Stephen Bishop - Tim Bluhm - Suzy Bogguss - Ray Bonneville - Bonny "Prince" Billy and The Cairo Gang – Karla Bonoff - Jackie Bristow - Brother Sun - Pieta Brown and Bo Ramsey - Chuck Cannon - Bill Carter - Carlene Carter - Matt Cartsonis - Peter Case - Annabelle Chvostek - Slaid Cleaves - Jacob Cole - Ron Colone – Elizabeth Cook - Jake Copass - John Corbett - Marshall Crenshaw - AJ Croce - Joe Crookston - David Crosby - Rodney Crowell - Kacey Cubero - Paul Curreri – Catie Curtis - Ruben Lee Dalton - Greg DeLeon - Grey DeLisle - Kris Delmhorst - Jesse DeNatale - Henry Diltz - Gerald DiPego - John Doe - Donovan - Andrew Duhon - Fred Eaglesmith - Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart – Craig Eastman - Tim Easton - Cliff Eberhardt - Kenny Edwards - Carrie Elkin - Ramblin' Jack Elliott - Lauren Ellis - Aireene Espiritu - Fabulous Ginn Sisters - Stephanie Finch - Rosie Flores - Steve Forbert - Gib Foss - Jeffrey Foucault - Tom Freund - Richie Furay - Tony Furtado - Chris Gaffney - Mary Gauthier - Dan Gerber - Eliza Gilkyson - Tony Gilkyson - John Gorka - Jon Dee Graham - Tracy Grammer - Art Green - Sarah Lee Guthrie - Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion - John Hammond - Butch Hancock - Andrew Hardin – Michael Reno Harrell - Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen - Tish Hinojosa - Malcolm Holcombe - Rita Hosking - I See Hawks in LA - Janis Ian - Erin Inglish - Johnny Irion - Ruby Jane - John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band - Jill Knight - Danny Kortchmar - Eric Koskinen - Jimmy LaFave - Patty Larkin - Jim Lauderdale - Phil Lee - Greg Liesz - Bob Lind - David Lindley - Juke Logan and Bill Lynch - The Long Ryders - Shelby Lynne - Michelle Malone - Mama’s Broke - The Mammals - Michael Martin - Iain Matthews - Anne McCue - Country Joe McDonald - John McEuen - Erin McKeon - Jonathan McEuen - Audrey Auld Mezera - Michael on Fire - Katy Moffatt - Cary Morin - Steve Moris - RB Morris - Gurf Morlix - Geoff Muldaur - Peter Mulvey - Mustangs of the West - Dan Navarro - Nefesh Mountain - Willie Nile - Danny O'Keefe - Carla Olson - Beth Orton - Gretchen Peters - Kelly Joe Phelps - Glen Phillips - Sean Phillips - Rod Picott - Owen Plant - Steve Poltz - Willy Porter - Abby Posner - Steve Postell - Chuck Prophet - Joe Pug - The Quebe Sisters - Joel Rafael - Willis Alan Ramsey - Walt Richardson - Kim Richey - Wil Ridge - Tom Rush - Tom Russell - Martha Scanlan & Jon Neufeld - Danny Schmidt - Maia Sharp - Vonda Shepard -Dick Siegel - Darden Smith - Michael Smith - Preston Smith - Chris Smither - Ed Snodderly - JD Souther - Amy Speace - Devon Sproule - Dave Stamey - James Lee Stanley - John Stewart – Mark Stuart -Forest Sun - Gregg Sutton - Eric Taylor - Jack Tempchin - Paul Thorn - Karen Tobin - Tom Ball & Kenny Sultan - Greg Trooper - Teresa Tudury - Karen Tyler - Ian Tyson - Randy Weeks - Kevin Welch - Corrine West - Cheryl Wheeler - Wheeler Brothers - Kenny White - David Wilcox - Paul Williams - Peter Yarrow - The Young Dubliners