First Encounter is pleased to welcome back Eastham native Sarah Burrill, who brings to her music and performance a depth and passion that is nothing short of contagious. Whether she is belting out a blues, caressing the melody of a delicate love song, encouraging social consciousness and change or singing about her pajamas, it is an experience that inspires courage, strength and hope. She does all of this while creating an atmosphere of playfulness and spontaneity that is disarming and uniquely Sarah. It takes no time at all to understand she is here to have fun and brings her audience right along with her. Sarah got her start at First Encounter when she was 14, and she has matured into a nationally acclaimed artist who has opened for many well known performers including Jesse Colin Young, Patty Larkin, Richard Shindell and Ferron. Her most recent CD, “If by Chance,” produced by Greg Greenway, is a brilliantly crafted collection that reveals a versatile and gifted singer/songwriter. She is now working on a collection of her Greatest Hits from the 80s, scheduled for releaase this summer. Her art is life-affirming, and her performance is a celebration that is not to be missed.
http://www.sarahburrill.com/home.cfm
Kevin Connolly has been writing and performing for almost twenty years, carving out his own way of writing American songs and earned a reputation as a passionate performer. Connolly has toured extensively in the U.S. and Europe while maintaining strong ties to his New England roots. Working the college and coffeehouse circuit solo, Kevin has also played major festivals including Newport Folk, SXSW, Kerrville Folk and Bumbershoot. He has opened for a long list of notable artists including the Indigo Girls, Huey Lewis, Todd Rundgren and Joan Osborne. Kevin’s songs have also been featured on network television in episodes of NBC’s “First Watch” and in films like Danny Aiello’s “Mojave Moon.”
Raised on Boston’s South Shore, Kevin comes from a musical family with composer/brother Jim Connolly a fixture of the West Coast “New Music” scene. Early influences like John Prine, Tom Waits and Bob Dylan remain inspirations and guiding forces. Writing descriptive songs that capture something about regular life in America today has been a running theme and preoccupation.