John Hartford Birthday Bash at Waldo Folk! – Kansas City, MO

Join us on Monday, December 30th, to celebrate John Hartford’s birthday with performances of his greatest hits by Beth and Brandon, The Matchsellers, and Betse & Clarke. The show starts at 7:00 PM in the Tap Room at Waldo Pizza.

Beth and Brandon combine their classical, folk, jazz, and choral music training to create a modern perspective on a vintage sound. With a focus on vocal melody and harmony, their songs sound as if they had been unearthed with the patina of decades in the songbook of Americana. An array of instruments (guitar, banjo, and bass) pass between the hands of the duo to bring award-winning original and standard tunes to life. Both members of local Kansas City bands, the duo was forged in the rich musical melting pot of the Rural Grit Happy Hour at The Brick in KC’s Crossroads Arts District. Together they seek the time and means to provide a genuine and meaningful musical experience to their audiences.

For more than a decade, The Matchsellers have infused traditional roots music with a modern, art-house twist. Hailing from Kansas City, The Matchsellers’ songs are a rich tapestry of storytelling, humor, and sentimentality, offering a fresh take on timeless themes. Core members Andrew Morris (guitar) and Julie Bates (fiddle) founded the band in Germany in 2013, where they met while working as English teachers. Since then, they have crafted a signature style and live show that leaves spectators laughing, dancing, crying, and wondering what could possibly happen next. Top-notch harmonies, musicianship, and idiosyncratic song & stagecraft have made the group one of the most original and sought-after acoustic groups in the Midwest and beyond.

Regular folks, exceptional music: Betse & Clarke have roots in Ozark old-time music, honoring traditional songs and tunes that resonate with the human experience. Betse Ellis plays powerful and beautiful old-time fiddle tunes, sings traditional Ozark songs, and shares her own songs with themes relating to human experience. Long known for her energetic style in her former band The Wilders, Betse’s earned a level of maturity while maintaining her contagious enthusiasm. Clarke Wyatt is an engaging finger-style banjo player, drawing inspiration from great traditional and inventive banjoists of earlier decades such as Mike Seeger and John Hartford. The combination of deep reverence for tradition and commitment to creativity makes this duo a captivating act to witness.

These artists are incredibly talented and we are thrilled to have them at Waldo Folk!

The two-hour show will start at 7:00 PM and doors will open at 5:30 PM on Monday, December 30th at the Tap Room at Waldo Pizza.

Food and drink from Waldo Pizza will be available for purchase throughout the show.

Seating is first come first serve at shared tables. Please arrive early to select your seat.

Tickets are required for entry.