By Sara Baldwin
Folk trio Harpeth Rising will perform at the Indy Folk Series at 7 p.m., March 18. The Indy Folk Series is a nonprofit venue for curated folk music with high-quality acoustics. The series features a variety of acoustic music, ranging from bluegrass and jazz to Celtic music and more, all in a coffeehouse setting.
The Harpeth Rising members call themselves “chamberfolk,” giving a nod to their classical training. According to Harpeth Rising cellist Maria Di Meglio, the band has a diverse musical background and draws on a variety of styles. Di Meglio and Jordana Greenberg, the band’s violinist and lead singer, met while studying at the renowned Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. They began playing together in 2011. Banjoist and clawhammer player Michelle Younger joined the band about a year ago.
The band played more than 100 shows last year and was on the road about 175 days.
“We have a lot of roots and connections to Indiana,” Di Meglio said. “We tour all over the country and all over the world. But for us, this is definitely an area that feels like home.”
At their upcoming Indy Folk Series performance, they will play two 45-minute sets.
“We like to talk to the audience in between songs,” Di Meglio said. “We like to tell stories from the road. The song-writing component is driven from our life experiences, so it all ties in together.”
Di Meglio described the Indy Folk Series as an intimate experience, where they engage with the crowd. The venue lends itself to crowd participation.
The concert will take place at 615 West 43rd St., Indianapolis. Tickets for adults are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. For students and seniors, tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Children 12 and under are free.
