Hard Luck Café: James O’Malley -and- Mountain Maidens

Long Island’s own James O’Malley (jamesomalley.com) and Mountain Maidens (facebook.com/groups) will share the stage during the monthly Hard Luck Café concert series co-presented by the Folk Music Society of Huntington and the Cinema Arts Centre (423 Park Avenue, Huntington) in the Cinema’s Sky Room on Wednesday, January 17, from 7pm-10pm.

An open mic, for which sign-up is at 6:30pm, precedes the concert. Tickets are $20 ($15 for Cinema Arts Centre/FMSH members) and can be purchased online at cinemaartscentre.org or at the box office now through the evening of the event. 

James O’Malley

James O’Malley is a hugely talented lyricist and musician who writes knowingly of life’s foibles, triumphs, and defeats. He delivers his songs in a subtle, whispering tenor that completely draws the listener into the story he is telling.  A native of Brooklyn, NY, James has toured colleges and coffee houses throughout the country.  His influences include Tim Hardin, Chuck Pyle, Donovan, Joni Mitchell, Laura Nyro, Mickey Newbury, Mississippi John Hurt, Randy Newman, Big Bill Broonzy, Bert Jansch, and Gordon Lightfoot — and he learned his fingerpicking basics from legendary folk guitarist, Eric Darling.

James has performed alongside and “on the bill” with Iain Matthews, Pat Wictor, Janis Ian, Little Toby Walker, Cheryl Praksher, Chuck Pyle, The Kennedys, Richard Shindell, Cheryl Wheeler, Louise Taylor, Jack Williams, Pete Kennedy, Corrin Huddleton, Caroline Doctorow, Dana Cooper, Lynn Miles, Tom Pacheco, and in years gone by, Tim Hardin, Harry Chapin, Jack Hardy, David Bromberg, and Ry Cooder.

James O’Malley at work

James lives in a 19th-century Victorian on the eastern end of Long Island.  He has produced and released four CDs: I’m Ready (2001); If Only In My Dreams (2005); Tales To Tell (2010); and The Writer Remains (2015). James’ music and songs have been featured on scores of radio stations nationwide and around the world.

“You know James O’Malley if you know what it’s like to be in love for decades, to work a job to keep your family going, while finding a little time to feed your muse. Likewise, James knows you and sings your songs. His voice may seem familiar, gently reminding you of Paul Simon…He weaves narratives in details that convey profound sweetness as if it was an ordinary thing…Here is an artist who knows how to take sweetness seriously.”  –Music Matters

Mountain Maidens Lorraine Berger, Candice Baranello, and Marie Mularczyk O’Connell

Mountain Maidens’ three dynamic voices blended in splendid ancient and modern harmonies will lift your spirit, excite your  senses, and warm your heart. Trio members Marie Mularczyk O’Connell, Candice Baranello, and Lorraine Berger sing ballads, folk songs, medieval and Irish traditional music, love songs, and country and gospel songs, including themes of social justice, to the accompaniment of guitars, banjo, dulcimer,  bouzouki, dumbeck, spoon, castanets and lots of percussion instruments including washboard.

The three first met at Swing The Teapot Irish Pub in Floral Park where they were singing Irish music for St. Patrick’s Day.  They knew right then and there they would be a trio; there was instant magic, harmony and camaraderie.

Marie Mularczyk O’Connell plays  just about every string and percussion instrument there is (guitar, banjo, mandolin, dulcimer, Irish bouzouki, dumbeck, bones, and spoons) and sings British and American folksongs and Jewish music. Candice (Candy)  Baranello is a member of the Long Island group Wild Ginger. She plays dulcimer, washboard, and bodhran and sings traditional, old-timey, classical and gospel music. Lorraine Berger is a member of the Huntington Choral Society; she plays guitar, flamenco castanets, and dance board, and sings in a beautiful alto.

Candice Baranello, Marie Mularczyk O’Connell, and Lorraine Berger of Mountain Maidens

“The happiest discovery for me this summer was the arrival of the Mountain Maidens CD, We’ll Walk The Road Together. Their vocal clarity and creative and striking arrangements give a new freshness to a wide variety of older songs. They are my new favorite women’s trio — a great group.”  —Bob Sherman, WFUV/WQXR radio host of Woody’s Children, September 2018