In a new partnership created to perform the music of the Civil War era, Amanda Straney on fiddle and vocals and Bill Fahy on guitar and banjo will play a free concert, “Soldier’s Joy: The Civil War in Songs and Letters,” at Oneida Public Library, 220 Broad St. in Oneida, on Wednesday, May 17, at 7:00 p.m.
Straney and Fahy will mingle their performance of popular songs heard at the campfires and in the parlors of America during the U.S. Civil War (1861-65) with readings of letters written by New York State soldiers and the stories behind the songs’ composition.
Straney, who works days as the manager of the Occupational and Physical Therapy Department at St. Luke’s Hospital of the Mohawk Valley Health System, was trained early on in performing classical violin music back home in Connecticut, but she soon combined the classics with a love of bluegrass fiddling. In Upstate New York, helping to organize the Great American Irish Festival in Frankfort, she became immersed in the Irish and Celtic music scene.
Straney has performed with the Blarney Rebel Band and is currently a member of Craobh Dugan, the Utica branch of the international Irish music organization called Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eirean. Last March, she performed at Oneida Library with the Rattlin’ Bog band in a St. Patrick’s Day concert.
Bill Fahy has been performing with guitar, banjo and mandolin around Central New York for the past 20 years. His repertoire includes traditional Celtic music, Old Time Country, bluegrass and early jazz.
Fahy has played with the Flophouse String band, the Sail Cats, the Tired Hands String band, Springhouse and other regional groups. Currently, he is a member of Craobh Dugan and regularly plays in the Rattlin’ Bog band. He has also written several original songs and tunes.
Soldier’s Joy is a free concert open to the public. For more information, stop by the Oneida Library, 220 Broad St., or call (315) 363-3050.