Folk music fans in Poway, prepare for an evening of soulful strings and heartfelt harmonies as legends Deidre McCalla and Kevin Roth prepare to hit the stage at Templars Hall this Friday night. Deidre McCalla, hailing from Atlanta, brings her Black, feminist singer/songwriter vibes to the mix, pairing her acoustic guitar with candid lyricism and a voice that commands attention. San Diego's own Kevin Roth is set to charm audiences with his famed mountain dulcimer skills, a sound that has earned him international acclaim.
McCalla's set is poised to highlight her fifth and latest album, "Endless Grace," a Folk Radio Chart-topper in June 2022. "Shoulder to the Wheel" and "I Do Not Walk this Path Alone" are among the hits fans can anticipate, songs that not only reached the top of the charts but that also saw McCalla scoop the 19th Annual International Acoustic Music Award for Best Folk/Americana/Roots Song — "the first woman to ever win that category in IAMA history," as reported by San Diego Folk Heritage.
Meanwhile, Roth, a regular in Poway's folk scene with an annual performance under his belt, will be recording the night's show — aiming to capture the intimacy and acoustic magic of Templars Hall. Roth recounted to The San Diego Union-Tribune that fans can expect "a mix of his hits along with some new music," played on his custom six-string guitarcimer and a baritone dulcimer. Both stringed instruments promise to fill the hall with their distinctive "louder, fuller sound."
McCalla's previous performances have seen her sharing the stage with a roster of folk icons, from Suzanne Vega to Sweet Honey in the Rock, and her presence onstage is nothing short of electric. "I live for being on a stage with an audience... The stage is the thing for me," she told The San Diego Union-Tribune. Roth, whose dulcimer first strung him into fame with a Smithsonian Folkways Records album at 16, is no stranger to the limelight. His successful battle with melanoma has only deepened his music, enriching his performances with an undeniably compelling authenticity.
Tickets for the Poway performance are on sale, with a price tag of $15-$18. Those interested in catching these two folk heavyweights weaving their musical stories should head over to Templars Hall, located at 14134 Midland Road in Old Poway Park, at 7:30 p.m. this Friday, Feb. 23. For further details and ticket purchase, visit San Diego Folk Heritage.
