Marion Halliday with Roger Street Friedman

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Fergie's Pub, 1214 Sansom St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107

Excited to be putting together a show with award winning songwriter Roger Street Friedman who will be coming through Philly in mid-November as part of a Northeast tour. If you haven't heard Roger or his music you need to do so - he is a true emerging musical force. I'll be joined for my set by Michael Damora on bass, Jim Salamone on drums, and Irene Lambrou on backing vocals. It will be a FUN evening. Below is more information about both acts:

MARION HALLIDAY released her first solo full-length album in July 2019 and it debuted at #3 on the folk radio charts (data compiled by Folk Radio International) with airplay on 60+ public radio stations across the US and several foreign countries. The title track from the album, Rings Around Saturn, has been described as 'beautifully sung ...a delicate and thoughtful piece that showcases a tremendous, characterful vocal talent' (Stereo Stickman) and other tracks, such as Thoughts and Prayers, have been described by critics as 'miraculous, her voice is a new beacon of peace in this troublesome time.’ (Indiepulse Magazine). Additionally, Marion was named “One of the Ones to Watch” by the Nashville Songwriters’ Association International and the runner-up for 2018 Best of Philly Live Performer (folk/country category). Marion has found great inspiration for her songwriting in the history of her new home-town of Philadelphia, writing songs about an escaped convict from Eastern State Pen, the forlorn beauty of Laurel Hill Cemetery, the statue to the Lenape in Wissahickon Park, and the revolutionary war memorial at Washington Square. She has also written songs on more universal, contemporary topics such as domestic abuse, gun violence, suicide, and the scourge of heroin and meth addiction ravaging our country. Marion’s music also includes amusing reflections on the challenges of relationships, as well as an abiding love of bourbon.

ROGER STREET FRIEDMAN s a singer, songwriter, social activist, husband and a father of two, from Sea Cliff, NY. In 2017, Roger released his second album, Shoot The Moon. It’s a full-emotional spectrum collection of vivacious and reflective vignettes from real life that recalls the singer-songwriter tradition of Marc Cohn, Randy Newman, Warren Zevon, Mark Knopfler and Robbie Robertson. In an age of irony, few songwriters are this brave in their vulnerability. The album received national airplay and reached #2 on the Roots Music Report’s Americana Album chart, where it spent over 25 weeks in the top 20. Roger’s song “Everyday,” which won second place in the Americana category of Unsigned Only 2019 and honorable mention in Folk/Singer-Songwriter—is the first single from this album.

Critic Bill Bentley said, “[Roger] writes with the wisdom of someone who’s seen his share of living, and actually was savvy enough to take notes along the way…” and called Shoot The Moon “one of the best albums” of the year.

Previously, Roger garnered acclaim for his debut, The Waiting Sky. Champions for the album included USA Today, No Depression, American Songwriter, Relix Magazine, MSN, The Alternate Route, Elmore Magazine and the New York Daily News. He’s toured regionally, performed on Today in Nashville, opened for such venerated artists as Los Lobos and The Blind Boys of Alabama and shared festival stages with Amy Helm and Dar Williams. For the past two years Roger has been dividing his time between New York and Nashville where he’s been writing and performing.

This past March, Roger teamed up with folk greats Tom Chapin, Guy Davis, Joel Rafael and Peter Yarrow on his track “Sun Never Sets,” which is a compelling protest song in support of all immigrants, past, present and future. He is hoping the song and accompanying video will raise awareness of, and support for, groups that provide legal, financial and educational assistance to immigrants and refugees. Roger performed at the Clearwater Hudson River Revival Festival this past June and the Huntington Folk Festival in July. He is a 2019 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Grassy Hill Emerging Artist, a two-time NERFA semi-formal showcase artist and has a formal showcase this November. Roger’s third full-length album is expected to be released late this year.