Music at the Fletch presents Atwater-Donnelly, a Rhode Island folk duo, in a free concert, August 13 at 6PM. Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly have toured throughout the United States and internationally, singing and playing an assortment of instruments, including guitar, banjo, Appalachian dulcimer, tin whistle, and limberjack.

The married couple met as volunteers at the Stone Soup Coffeehouse in Rhode Island in early 1987 and started playing together a few months later. They specialize in traditional American and Celtic folk music, but write and play their own songs as well. The award-winning duo have researched traditional folk music and dance in Appalachia, the Ozarks, and New England among US venues and performed in Ireland, England, and Prince Edward Island, sharing stages and festival billing with folk legends like Jean Ritchie, Pete Seeger and Doc Watson. They have recorded extensively with their music appearing on National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered,” Fiona Ritchie’s “Thistle and Shamrock,” and the nationally syndicated “Midnight Special” out of Chicago. Atwater-Donnelly also conduct workshops in traditional music and dance and participate in theatrical performances. A notable regional appearance was The Last Mary, a community project for their home town of Foster which included twenty-two of their original compositions.

Atwater- Donnelly will play on the porch of the library, and concert attendees should bring chairs or blankets as well as their own refreshments. In case of rain, the concert will move inside to the library’s function room. All Music at the Fletch events are free, but contributions to the music fund are gratefully accepted.

Janice Trecker