Cheryl Wheeler is a gifted songwriter with a beautiful voice and she’s a natural story teller with a fantastic sense of humor. Her funny songs are legendary. Her stage presence is all-consuming. Her audiences ride a rollercoaster of sincere emotions, telling insights, and hysterically funny commentary.

Cheryl’s songs have been covered by artists as diverse as Dan Seals, Peter Paul and Mary, Kenny Loggins, Garth Brooks, Suzy Boggus, Melanie, Bette Midler, Maura O’Connell, Sylvia, Kathy Mattea, and Holly Near.

If you know Cheryl, you probably can’t wait to see her again. If you don’t know Cheryl, it’s about time you met her.

Toby Walker is an award winning guitarist and entertainer who tours the US, United Kingdom, and Europe. He was the 1st place recipient of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis and has been inducted into the NY Blues Hall Of Fame.

Walker has taught at Jorma Kaukonen’s Fur Peace Ranch, The Swanannoa Gathering, and many other guitar camps. He also has eight instructional DVD’s on Homespun Music Instruction.

Walker traveled to the deep south where he studied with traditional blues and folk musicians such as Eugene Powell, James “Son” Thomas, and Etta Baker

“If he doesn’t get them with his phenomenal guitar playing or catchy songs, he gets them with his wonderful stories. True entertainers have an engaging spirit that puts a smile on your face. Arlo Guthrie has it. David Bromberg has it. And so does Toby. ”
– John Platt – WFUV

Ellis Paul is a songwriter, author, illustrator, and teacher. He has been a constant presence on the American folk circuit for over thirty years. In that time, he has released twenty two albums of original music and performed over 5,000 shows. His songs have made their way into big screen features including blockbuster films such as: Me, Myself & Irene, Shallow Hal and Hall Pass, as well as having been recorded by Grammy award winning country artists.

His work has been described as descriptive narratives of people at a crossroads in their lives. Despite the nature of these stories, the humanity in the writing makes them about all of us.

His stage performance is a combination of humor, improv, and poignant story songs. He has performed on stages at the Newport Folk Festival, Carnegie Hall, clubs and coffeehouses all over the world, and was awarded an Honorary Degree from the University of Maine and inducted into the Maine Music Hall of Fame. He has received numerous award including fifteen Boston Music Awards and the prestigious Kerrville New Folk Award. His album released in 2019, The Storyteller’s Suitcase, was named NERFA album of the year and he was named IAMA International Acoustic Artist of the Year. His most recent album “55”, further deepens his reputation as one of folk music’s finest touring artists.

The Folk Project Open Stage, North Jersey’s premier open  stage, is back live on the second  Friday of every month. The  Main Stage features two-song (or  ten  minutes, whichever is shorter) sign-up slots for our audience. To sign up to perform email Chairman Todd at openstage@folkproject.org.

Admission: $7 at the door only (tickets for the live show not available online.)  Children 12 and under free but must be accompanied by parent or guardian.

Gathering Time is an internationally touring folk-rock trio that blends ’60s spirit with modern sensibilities. Known for their stellar harmonies, insightful songwriting, and dynamic musicianship, Stuart Markus, Gerry McKeveny, and Christine Sweeney (since 2022) captivate audiences with a mix of original songs, folk classics, and traditional tunes. Their energetic stage presence and infectious chemistry win over even non-folk fans. WFUV’s John Platt praises them as “among the finest performers in the New York metropolitan area” with harmonies that “can charm the birds out of the trees”, original songs and a savvy repertoire of covers

“Tom Chapin and Friends” are masters of over a dozen instruments, captivating audiences with their rich harmonies, dynamic versatility, and infectious warmth. They’re to put on a special show celebrating Chapin’s 80th birthday. Tom is known for his soulful vocals and multi-instrumental talents, performs on banjo, autoharp, and both 6- and 12-string guitars. His career spans six decades, 27 albums, and three Grammy Awards. As a recording artist, concert performer, storyteller, and activist, Chapin has also acted on Broadway and worked extensively in television, radio, and film. Dedicated to social causes, Chapin is a steadfast advocate for the arts, justice, and environmental sustainability.

The Folk Project Open Stage, North Jersey’s premier open  stage, is back live on the second  Friday of every month. The  Main Stage features two-song (or  ten  minutes, whichever is shorter) sign-up slots for our audience. To sign up to perform email Chairman Todd at openstage@folkproject.org.

Admission: $7 at the door only (tickets for the live show not available online.)  Children 12 and under free but must be accompanied by parent or guardian.

As a storyteller, Adam Traum wraps his catchy hooks with infectious grooves. His songs have a consistent verve, which reflects his belief in music as an essential element of the human experience. The material Adam writes, evokes images of an Americana landscape spinning tales of love, heartbreak, beauty and the occasional observational diatribe. When he performs live Adam brings his sunny disposition and genuine love of playing music to the stage. His tasteful instrumental chops and relaxed but powerful voice are a great complement to his well-crafted songs.

The rootstock of Traum’s music germinated in the fertile ground of the Catskill Mountains. He was raised in a musical family in Woodstock, New York; Traum regularly raided his father’s record collection listening to the masters of electric blues, country and folk and spent hours playing along and figuring out his favorite riffs.

Adam’s musical journey led him to roots music after a transformative experience at MerleFest seeing Tony Rice play guitar. Traum’s sound is marked by honesty and authenticity, whether acoustic or electric.

After 50 years of bold work, Holly Near is still one of the most consistent and well informed voices for Change. Her work is loving, challenging, funny, thought-provoking, and remains rooted in the global community. As an outspoken singer and ambassador for peace, Holly brings a unique integration of world consciousness and self-evaluation, always growing and sharing experience humbly and boldly.

Holly is known for the anthemic quality of some of her songs. As a songwriter she takes up the challenge of turning big concepts into small, personal stories. A recipient of dozens of awards from organizations such as the ACLU and the National Organization of Women, Holly was one of Ms Magazine’s Women of the Year recipients and has been nominated for Grammys as well as the Legends of Women’s Music Award.

The Folk Project Open Stage, North Jersey’s premier open  stage, is back live on the second  Friday of every month. The  Main Stage features two-song (or  ten  minutes, whichever is shorter) sign-up slots for our audience. To sign up to perform email Chairman Todd at openstage@folkproject.org.

Admission: $7 at the door only (tickets for the live show not available online.)  Children 12 and under free but must be accompanied by parent or guardian.

Garnet Rogers has established himself as ‘One of the major talents of our time”. Hailed by the Boston Globe as a “charismatic performer and singer”, Garnet is a man with a powerful physical presence – close to six and a half feet tall – with a voice to match. With his “smooth, dark baritone” (Washington Post) his incredible range, and thoughtful, dramatic phrasing, Garnet is widely considered by fans and critics alike to be one of the finest singers anywhere. His music, like the man himself, is literate, passionate, highly sensitive, and deeply purposeful. Cinematic in detail, his songs “give expression to the unspoken vocabulary of the heart” (Kitchener Waterloo Record). An optimist at heart, Garnet sings extraordinary songs about people who are not obvious heroes and of the small victories of the everyday. As memorable as his songs, his over-the-top humor and lightning-quick wit moves his audience from tears to laughter and back again.

Award-winning and Billboard-charting artist Flamy Grant is a shame-slaying, hip-swaying, singing-songwriting drag queen from western North Carolina. Her 2022 debut record, Bible Belt Baby, reached the #1 spot on the iTunes Christian Charts (the first drag performer to achieve this feat), was nominated for Best Pop Album at the San Diego Music Awards, and was named one of the Top Ten Queer Country Albums of 2023 by Rainbow Rodeo Magazine. Her single “Good Day” also debuted at #20 on the Billboard Christian digital sales chart. Flamy is a winner of the 2023 Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Competition and a 2023 QueerX Award nominee for Best Drag Artist and has been featured in Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, People, and more. Her music has over 750,000 streams on Spotify, Apple, and Amazon music. A powerhouse vocalist and intrepid songwriter who blends folk, gospel, and roots, Flamy drags you into a therapeutic, theatrical mix of storytelling and song.