The first portion of the program was dedicated to Guitarist John Fahey, an innovative and eccentric guitarist who in the 1960s and 1970s was an important influence on many guitarists including Leo Kottke and Peter Lang, died Feb. 22 from complications following sextuple heart bypass surgery earlier in the week. He would have been 62 years old on Feb. 28. Fahey preferred to be known as an "American primitivist" but in many respects he was also acknowledged as the "godfather of the New Age guitar movement." An ardent record collector in the 1950s and 1960s, Fahey was instrumental in the rediscovery of blues artists Skip James and Bukka White.

"New folk" comprised the second portion of the show, highlighting recent debut recordings received from performers who make their home in Connecticut. One other performer, Licia Sky, lives in the Boston area but her CD was sent along by a relative in Stratford, who is a listener.

We finished the night with a belated song for Mardi Gras which, unfortunately, seems to be transitioning in recent times from celebrated folk rituals to straight-out drunken brawls.

In memoriam: John Fahey, 1939-2001

• "Title", Album, Label
• "Russian Christmas Overture", The New Possibility, Takoma

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• "In Christ There Is No East Or West", "On Doing An Evil Deed Blues", "John Henry", The Legend Of Blind Joe Death, Takoma

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• "View (East From The Top Of The Riggs Road/B&O Trestle)", "March! For Martin Luther King", The Essential John Fahey, Vanguard
• "Auld Lang Syne", The New Possibility, Takoma

New Folk

• Artist, "Title", Album, Label <

• New Moon, Diggin' For Clams/Mice In The Attic, The Red-Haired Girl, Sally Anne, Morgan On The River Bank, Old Friends, Upstart Yankee

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• Lara and LaRama, Home, Sin Tierra, Sin Tierra, LaRama

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• Licia Sky, Moving Forward, Looking Back, Song Of Choosing, Moving Forward. Looking Back, Independent

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• The River Gods, Anchor's Weight, Hey Hey La De Da, Capsule, Riverworks Media

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• Crows Feet, Wrap My Sorrows, 'Til Something Better, Live At Phil's, Bluefish Music

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• Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys, La Danse de Mardi Gras, Louisiana Spice, Rounder,

How To Reach The New Folk:

New Moon: (203) 245-8374

Lara (Herscovitch): LaRamaRecords@earthlink.net

Licia Sky: skysong@quik.com

The River Gods: therivergods.com

Crows Feet: crowsfeetmusic.com