First Wednesday of the Month : Local Cream Songwriter Showcase
Hosted by FocusMusic board member Annette Wasilik :
Every first Wednesday of the Month singer/songwriter Annette Wasilik invites a collection of the best local and not-so-local singer/songwriters to perform with her at Hank Dietle's Tavern at 11010 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD. The show kicks off at 8pm and is free to attend, but a suggested donation of $20 is... suggested!
Sat 4/15 - Lara Herscovitch w Juliet Lloyd (Gaithersburg)

Lara Herscovitch "...possesses not only a huge reservoir of musical talent and a voice with a bell-like clarity, but a keen sense of global concern and a fierce intellect... It might seem too good to be true, but true it is... a rising talent who is truly someone to watch for." -Acoustic Live in New York City
Official music video for Lara Herscovitch's song "Angels," from the album Highway Philosophers (LaraHerscovitch.com). A Blackland film.

“While it might sound cliche, Juliet Lloyd has dedicated her life to her music. Literally. After pursuing it as a career in her early 20s, she walked away from it, opting instead for a more corporate, more stable life. Fast-forward more than a decade, add in one global pandemic, and Lloyd only recently decided to dedicate all her time to her music career again…” Frederick News Press
Saturday, April 15, 2023
FocusMusic Presents Lara Herscovitch w Juliet Lloyd at
Island Pride Oasis | 617 S Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20879 | 7.30pm | $25 adv, $30 door | webcast available separately or with purchase, webcast will be archived for later viewing for all ticket-holders
Lara Herscovitch is a singer-songwriter-poet-performer-author gem. As described in The Boston Globe, she brings “a luminous voice and a buoyant stage presence… big-hearted lyrics embrace the sum of life… Herscovitch’s music blows on the embers of a lagging spirit or a dormant creative life.” Lara leads with authenticity, integrity, humor and heart. Sound Waves Magazine described her music as “expertly written prose… songwriting at its best… good for your ears AND your soul.” Acoustic Live in New York City added, “She possesses not only a huge reservoir of musical talent and a voice with a bell-like clarity, but a keen sense of global concern and a fierce intellect... It might seem too good to be true, but true it is.” More about Lara at LaraHerscovitch.com
Tonight Lara's paired with local artist Juliet Lloyd!
“…With such success and overwhelming popularity, it seems as if Lloyd’s future is as boundless as her vocal range…”
The Daily Orange
After a nearly 10-year hiatus from writing and recording, acclaimed DC-based singer/songwriter Juliet Lloyd has released of High Road, an EP containing five new songs, available on streaming platforms everywhere on July 6, 2022.
“It seems like music is the one thing I keep coming back to,” Lloyd says, acknowledging a career that began nearly 20 years ago and has spanned multiple cities and states and a number of professional and personal changes. “High Road is a set of songs that has taken a long time to come out, but I feel like I needed that time, that break, for them to be what they are.” Stylistically, the album shares some traits with Lloyd’s earlier, piano-driven pop—but this time tinged with a sweeter country edge to complement her signature R&B vocals.
More about Juliet julietlloyd.com
Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door to members of Focus or venue (where applicable), $30 at the door to non-members. Virtual tickets (when available) are $25 in advance and $30 day-of the performance.
FocusMusic encourages all attendees to protect themselves and others through vaccination and masks. If you are not feeling well, we ask you not to attend the event. (COVID policy updated 9/23/22)
Depending on payment method, you will receive 2-3 emails. Registration details will be EMAILED along with a receipt (and sometimes a third email from your payment service). You will receive an email with the subject line "Your ticket for..." For in-person events, there's no need to do anything further. Your name will be at the front desk! For virtual events there will be a link to click in this email, so please save it! If you do not receive that email - please check your spam folder. If you still cannot find details contacting tickets@focusmusic.org.
Sun 4/23 - The Nordic Fiddlers Bloc (Rockville)

"I surrender unconditionally to these master musicians. The worn concept of tradition and innovation have rarely been used as smart as this" – LIRA
Sunday, April 23, 2023
FocusMusic Presents the Nordic Fiddlers Bloc at Focus Mount Rockville - Tikvat Israel | 2200 Baltimore Rd, Rockville, MD 20851 | 7.30pm | $25 adv, $30 door
From the moment Kevin Henderson, Olav Luksengård Mjelva and Anders Hall of The Nordic Fiddlers Bloc first played together in 2009 they felt a particular chemistry in the sound they created.
Some seven hundred gigs later, playing across Scandinavia, mainland Europe, the U.S. and the UK, that chemistry continues to draw the trio together.
Passion is a word that comes up often in conversation with Henderson, Mjelva and Hall. It’s a word that lies behind the trio’s determination to find exactly the right tunes to play and exactly the right way to play a certain phrase (Henderson has been known to find forty different examples of them playing the same motif stored on his mobile phone from rehearsals). Passion for the music they make is also what makes them endure forty-two-hour flights that should only have taken two – to – three hours to get to a concert rather than let the promoter and audience down.
More about The Nordic Fiddler's Block at thenordicfiddlersbloc.com
Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door to members of Focus or venue (where applicable), $30 at the door to non-members. Virtual tickets (when available) are $25 in advance and $30 day-of the performance.
FocusMusic encourages all attendees to protect themselves and others through vaccination and masks. If you are not feeling well, we ask you not to attend the event. (COVID policy updated 9/23/22)
Depending on payment method, you will receive 2-3 emails. Registration details will be EMAILED along with a receipt (and sometimes a third email from your payment service). You will receive an email with the subject line "Your ticket for..." For in-person events, there's no need to do anything further. Your name will be at the front desk! For virtual events there will be a link to click in this email, so please save it! If you do not receive that email - please check your spam folder. If you still cannot find details contacting tickets@focusmusic.org.
Sat 4/29 - Iona (Alexandria)

Saturday April 29th, 2023
FocusMusic and WFMA Present Iona at St Aidan's Episcopal Church
8531 Riverside Road, Alexandria, VA 22308 | 7pm | adv and virtual tickets $25 | Livestream will be available for at least 48 hours after the event
IONA treats its audience to high energy entertainment featuring multiple fiddling styles, dynamic dancing, driving percussion, and strong vocals from all the Celtic nations, including America. Presenting the music and dance of all the Celtic countries--Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, Brittany, Asturies and Galicia-- IONA emphasizes that America is not only the repository of all these cultural influences, but also the progenitor of many of its own. Audiences are encouraged to clog along, or dance Breton line dances, and join in singing.
Conceived in 1986, IONA has evolved into one of the top rated pan-Celtic groups in the world. Co-founders Barbara Tresidder Ryan (lead vocals, Celtic bouzouki, guitar and bodhrán) and Bernard Argent (wooden flute, whistles, doumbek, back-up vocals) are joined by Air Force Band veteran Jim Queen on fiddle, banjo and vocals, and Chuck Lawhorn on 6-string bass guitar, whistles and vocals. And Marsha Searle will be dancing with the group for this show.
The group has released eleven albums, the most recent of which, Silver, is their 25th anniversary celebration.
More about IONA at www.ionamusic.com
Tickets (both in-person & virtual) for this concert will go on sale soon!
In-person tickets purchased in advance are $25. All virtual tickets are also $25.
Members of WFMA, Focus Music and St Aidan’s congregation will receive a 10% discount on advance ticket purchases (both in-person & virtual).
If available, in-person tickets may be purchased at the door for $30 (non-members) / $25 (members), starting at 6:30 PM.
No tickets will be mailed. The list of all ticket purchasers will be at the door on the night of the show, starting at 6:30 PM.
All ticket purchasers (both in-person & virtual) will receive an email two days before the show with info about attending the concert in-person and instructions for viewing the live stream.
Sat 6/17 - Sara Beck, Lauren Lucas, & Kimberly Quinn (Columbia)

Saturday June 17th, 2023
FocusMusic and One World Coffeehouse Present Lo Fi Dolly Album Release Show
Featuring Sara Beck, Lauren Lucas, & Kimberly Quinn at Owen Brown Interfaith Center – Sanctuary C
7246 Cradlerock Way Columbia, MD 21045 | 7:00 pm | $25 | all tickets include access to OWC's Livestream of the event.
Sara Beck and Lauren Lucas have been individually writing and recording music for over 20 years. You’ve seen them on the road touring with Blake Shelton, Stevie Wonder, Old Dominion, Kevin Costner & Modern West, The Bacon Bros. (Kevin and Michael), and Kenny Chesney – just to name a few. They've graced listening room stages from The Bluebird to Gruene Hall to The Birchmere. They’ve garnered Academy of Country Music and Tony Award nominations, as well as song placements on the ABC network and the History Channel, both as artists and songwriters for other recording artists – including Danielle Peck, Jaida Dreyer, and Risa Binder.
Their love for old country music and classic singer-songwriters is one of the things that brought the two together. In the early 2000’s, they formed an all-women, Nashville-based music collective with several other talented singer/songwriters playing the country standards they grew up on. They called themselves The Honky Tonk Angels, and together they brought heartbreaking harmonies and a hefty dose of sisterhood to bars, weddings, and bonfires all over middle Tennessee. Along the way, they co-wrote songs together that each released separately, including “Come On” (Beck/Chisolm/Lucas) and “Burning Down the Dark” (Beck/Jones/Lucas).
Now – inspired by the “Trio” albums by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris – Sara and Lauren have joined forces with another original Honky Tonk Angel – Kimberly Quinn – to release an album of some of the very tunes that ignited their friendship way back when. In Spring of 2023, Sara Beck, Lauren Lucas and Kimberly Quinn will release “Lo Fi Dolly,” an album of reimagined country classics, including songs by Dolly, Emmylou, Ronnie Milsap, Vince Gill, Roseanne Cash, Willie Nelson and others.
Having toured together for years on and off, Lauren and Sara are looking forward to bringing the flavor of “Lo Fi Dolly” and their original songs to a stage near you in the spring and summer of 2023. Live onstage together, the two women swap stories, guitars, snare drums, and stompboxes – taking the audience on a musical ride that is both intimate and sweeping. Their harmonies are tight, and their affection for each other and the art of making music take center stage. This is a show not to be missed.
Learn more about them at sarabeck.net
One World Coffeehouse shows open doors half an hour before performance. This event is open to fully vaccinated individuals only. All performers and venue staff have been fully vaccinated. Performers will not be required to wear masks while performing. All tickets for this show are $25 and may be purchased in advance online or at the door with cash, check, or credit card. Ticketholders must present a printed ticket or a scan code via their smart phone on arrival at the venue. Additional details: Your ticket entitles you to view a live stream of the show via Zoom should you be unable to attend in person. Your ticket confirmation information email will include details about the live stream. Please do not share this information with anyone. On Zoom, only individuals whose names match the ticket purchaser will be admitted to the live stream. Note that this live-stream service is intended as an added benefit for those who are unexpectedly unable to attend the show. No refunds will be provided related to quality problems or other issues with the streaming service. We recommend that you test your systems before the show to ensure you are able to participate online. We will do our best to assist anyone who requests our help during the show, but do not have dedicated volunteers for this purpose, so we cannot guarantee we will be available.
Sat 10/21 - Ken Kolodner (Columbia)

“Ken & Brad are both exceptionally talented musicians and they have created a tight, top-notch sound.” – Bluegrass Today
Saturday October 21, 2023
FocusMusic and One World Coffeehouse Present Ken Kolodner and Band at Owen Brown Interfaith Center – Sanctuary C
7246 Cradlerock Way Columbia, MD 21045 | 7:00 pm | $25 | all tickets include access to OWC's Livestream of the event.
Back by popular demand, Ken and Brad Kolodner bring their world-class bluegrass band featuring hammered dulcimer and clawhammer banjo.
More about Ken Kolodner at kenkolodner.com
One World Coffeehouse shows open doors half an hour before performance. This event is open to fully vaccinated individuals only. All performers and venue staff have been fully vaccinated. Performers will not be required to wear masks while performing. All tickets for this show are $25 and may be purchased in advance online or at the door with cash, check, or credit card. Ticketholders must present a printed ticket or a scan code via their smart phone on arrival at the venue. Additional details: Your ticket entitles you to view a live stream of the show via Zoom should you be unable to attend in person. Your ticket confirmation information email will include details about the live stream. Please do not share this information with anyone. On Zoom, only individuals whose names match the ticket purchaser will be admitted to the live stream. Note that this live-stream service is intended as an added benefit for those who are unexpectedly unable to attend the show. No refunds will be provided related to quality problems or other issues with the streaming service. We recommend that you test your systems before the show to ensure you are able to participate online. We will do our best to assist anyone who requests our help during the show, but do not have dedicated volunteers for this purpose, so we cannot guarantee we will be available.
Sat 11/18 - Joan & Joni - Kipyn Martin & Allison Shapira (Columbia)

"That was one of the best tributes I can recall. It was totally respectful to the originals. Allison and Kipyn don't try to copy Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell; they play the songs in their own way. It was one of the most enjoyable shows of the year for me." Anne Saunders, Artistic Director, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
Saturday November 18, 2023
FocusMusic and One World Coffeehouse Present Joan and Joni
(Kipyn Martin and Allison Shapira) at Owen Brown Interfaith Center – Sanctuary C
7246 Cradlerock Way Columbia, MD 21045 | 7:00 pm | $25 | all tickets include access to OWC's Livestream of the event.
Two outstanding area singer-songwriters — Kipyn Martin and Allison Shapria — present the songs of Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell along with their own original music. This show is not to be missed!
More at joanandjoni.com
One World Coffeehouse shows open doors half an hour before performance. This event is open to fully vaccinated individuals only. All performers and venue staff have been fully vaccinated. Performers will not be required to wear masks while performing. All tickets for this show are $25 and may be purchased in advance online or at the door with cash, check, or credit card. Ticketholders must present a printed ticket or a scan code via their smart phone on arrival at the venue. Additional details: Your ticket entitles you to view a live stream of the show via Zoom should you be unable to attend in person. Your ticket confirmation information email will include details about the live stream. Please do not share this information with anyone. On Zoom, only individuals whose names match the ticket purchaser will be admitted to the live stream. Note that this live-stream service is intended as an added benefit for those who are unexpectedly unable to attend the show. No refunds will be provided related to quality problems or other issues with the streaming service. We recommend that you test your systems before the show to ensure you are able to participate online. We will do our best to assist anyone who requests our help during the show, but do not have dedicated volunteers for this purpose, so we cannot guarantee we will be available.
Events
Current COVID policy
Please note that FocusMusic's COVID policy may be updated without notice as conditions require, and may be further modified by the individual venues.
1/13/22
We request that all attendees be vaccinated and be prepared to show vaccination status for admission (or a negative COVID test dated within the past 72 hours). Additionally, we require that the audience and staff wear masks at all times inside the building unless actively eating or drinking. We thank you for complying with what we’ve determined to be best for our community.