Warmth, vitality, and spontaneity mark the performances of Susie Burke & David Surette, and have earned them a reputation as one of the finest acts on the lively New England folk scene. Susie’s beautiful, complex voice and David’s graceful, nimble-fingered string playing combine with extraordinary results on their own blend of contemporary, traditional, and original folk and acoustic music. Together since 1988, Susie and David have built a loyal following for their music, through a steady series of concerts and well-received recordings. Their most recent duo recording, Waiting For The Sun, was released in the fall of 2015, and they are planning a new release to celebrate 30 years of performing together.
Burke and Surette have been an essential part of the New England folk music community for years. They have collaborated with many of the region’s top musicians, and performed in all sorts of settings, including concerts, clubs, coffeehouses, festivals, fairs, churches, and schools. They are both instrumental and vocal teachers, and have taught regularly over the years as part of their musical endeavors, both in private lessons, group classes, and in many music weekends and summer music camps. David is head of the Concord Community Music School’s folk programming, and is also artistic director of their March Mandolin Festival. They have also raised two lovely and very musical daughters, with whom they make rare and eagerly-anticipated appearances as the Burke/Surette Family Band; their eldest, Isa, is a part of the Boston-based trio Lula Wiles, while their youngest, Julianna, is co-director of her Bowdoin College a capella group, Miscellania.
Come out to a show, and see and hear what folk fans all over New England have known for years: Susie and David are the real deal.
Opening the evening is Without a Paddle. For tonight’s performance Virginia Gerlach and Dennis Schuler will be joined by Jim Poulicci and Bill Parker. Without a Paddle has always been more than a bluegrass band. We have always been bluegrass with a twist. We have been mixing in country, swing, gospel and even some pop songs. Without a Paddle makes regular appearances on the Heartlands Hayride Radio show on WDVR FM radio, the Appalachian Fiddle and Bluegrass Association Festival, the Northeast Pennsylvania Bluegrass Festival, and the Wilmington Winter Bluegrass Festival. Over the past few years we have been incorporating some original songs. We strive to keep our music fun and fresh – we are always looking for something new.
October concert flyer.
The Perkasie Patchwork Coffeehouse is a ministry of the Perkasie Mennonite Church. The coffeehouse is warm and cozy, with lots of atmosphere. It is a place where people can enjoy fellowship and see some of the best performers available up close and personal, in an intimate setting. Perkasie Patchwork Coffeehouse is located in the church fellowship hall, which is air conditioned and handicap accessible.
Admission: $12 for adults; $10 for adults 65 and over; students 13 and up, $6; 12 and under free. All ticket sales at door, no advance sales, no reservations. Delicious desserts and drinks are available. The doors open at 7:00 and performances begin at 7:30.
A portion of our proceeds from each concert will go to a local or international social cause. The benefit for our October and November 2019 and February 2020 concerts will be RamPacks, a program initiated by St. Paul’s UCC in Sellersville in cooperation with Pennridge Ministerium to provide weekend food for local hungry children in the Pennridge School District. You can also drop off donations of non-perishable food at Patchwork for Pennridge FISH (Fellowship In Serving Humanity), our local non-profit food pantry and clothing outlet here in Perkasie at all our concerts.