10/23/2016 The Pilot, Event preview , 'Verch, Newberry Team Up at Rooster’s Wife'

The Rooster’s Wife takes pride in bringing unusual offerings to the Sandhills. Thursday, Oct. 27, will find quite a pair in the listening room of the Poplar Knight Spot in downtown Aberdeen, as April Verch and Joe Newberry take the stage.

With the change of seasons and the crisp autumn air comes this fresh new collaboration. This October marks the first tour for this new duo project. The talented pair comes to Aberdeen on the heels of a dazzling performance at Cape Breton’s famed Celtic Colours International two weeks ago.

Joe Newberry grew up in a family full of singers and dancers. He took up the guitar and banjo as a teenager and learned fiddle tunes from great Missouri fiddlers. April Verch grew up listening to her father’s country band play for dances in the Ottawa Valley. She started step dancing at age three and fiddling at age six.

Both Newberry and Verch became masters of their traditions and tour the world with their respective bands and projects. Yet they never forget the roots of their music, that connection to the people in the audience, on the dance floor, to the community sparked by a good song. For these veteran performers who come from distinct traditions and parts of the world, their collaboration is fueled by their kindred passion for bringing people together to celebrate traditional music.

The Rooster’s Wife is a community arts organization dedicated to bringing the best in live music to the Sandhills. Home base is the gallery room of Poplar Knight Spot, 114 Knight St. in downtown Aberdeen, two blocks east of U.S. 1. Seating is by general admission when the doors open at 6 pm. Dinner is served a la carte. Children under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult. For more information, visit www.theroosterswife.org or call (910) 944-7502.