The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center at Northern Michigan University will present a concert by the folk duo Newberry & Verch as part of the 2023 Winter Roots Festival. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 18, in Forest Roberts Theatre. The duo has toured across North America, Europe and the United Kingdom.
Joe Newberry is known internationally for his clawhammer banjo playing, but is also an accomplished guitarist, singer and songwriter. A recording of his song “Singing As We Rise” won the 2012 IBMA Gospel Recorded Performance Award. He also shared the 2013 IBMA Song of the Year for “They Called It Music.” A longtime guest on A Prairie Home Companion, Newberry was a featured singer on the Transatlantic Sessions 2016 tour of the U.K., and at the Transatlantic Session's debut at Merlefest in 2017. He grew up in the Missouri Ozarks, surrounded by singers and dangers.
April Verch was the first woman to win the Canadian Grand Masters and Canadian Open Fiddling Championships. She has since performed in 18 countries with “The April Verch Band” and winning awards, she was one of six fiddlers representing the Canadian fiddle tradition to the world during the opening ceremony for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. She has released 12 solo recordings to date, receiving JUNO, Canadian Folk Music and Independent Music nominations and awards.
The duo has appeared at events including Nova Scotia's signature Celtic Colours International Festival, the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in New York state, and Celtic Connections in Glasgow, Scotland.
Tickets are $15 in advance or $17 at the door for the general public. Tickets for NMU students and those under 18 are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. They can be purchased at nmu.universitytickets.com.