Join the Strathmore Speakers Series and Onondaga Free Library for a live music event featuring celebrated local folk musicians, John and Cathy Cadley and John Dancks. The Cadleys have been entertaining audiences throughout Upstate New York and New England for many years with their powerful mix of traditional bluegrass, “new acoustic” a la Alison Krauss, and numerous original folk composition. Through the power of their music, the Cadley’s will share with us their experience of the Syracuse folk scene, its storied past, and its increasingly bright future. A brief Q&A will follow their performance. 

This event will be held on Thursday, September 14th at 6:30 pm in-person at the Onondaga Park Firebarn. Like all Strathmore Speaker Series and Onondaga Free Library events, this presentation is free and open to the public.

About Our Performers

THE CADLEYS

The Cadleys’ music has been captured on six CDs—two with John and The Lost Boys, two John and Cathy duet albums, and two solo projects featuring John’s songwriting. Many of John’s originals have been recorded by national artists such as Jim Hurst (five-time IBMA guitar player of the year), Missy Raines (five-time IBMA bass player of the year), Grammy-nominated and world renowned banjo player Tony Trischka, Washington, DC, recording artist Dede Wyland, Amy Gallatin and Stillwaters, famed guitarist Richard Kiser, and Lou Reid, who, with his band Carolina, took John’s song “Time” to the #1 spot on the bluegrass music charts, where it remained for three months and was performed by Lou, Vince Gill, and Ricky Skaggs on The Grand Ol’ Opry.

Their live performances bring it all to life. Joined by mandolinist extraordinaire Perry Cleaveland and award-winning bassist John Dancks, The Cadleys deliver a show that offers everything an audience comes go see: hair-raising harmony singing, virtuoso musicianship, entertaining audience rapport, and the feeling that they’ve enjoyed a truly special night of music.

JOHN CADLEY

John began playing guitar at the age of 13 after hearing a recording of the Kingston Trio—and he’s been performing ever since. Beginning in folk music, he moved on to bluegrass and then country music, playing with such seminal Northeast bands as the Down City Ramblers, Cross Creek, Texas Hots, and The Lost Boys.

John has been a touring road musician out of Nashville, and his songs have been recorded by national bluegrass artists such as Tony Trischka, Jim Hurst, Missy Raines, Amy Gallatin, Richard Kiser, the International Guitar Duo, and Lou Reid, who took John’s song, “Time,” to the #1 spot on the national bluegrass charts for three consecutive months. John was recently inducted into the Syracuse Area Music Hall of Fame.

CATHY CADLEY

Cathy discovered a passion for the guitar at age 11 when she began taking lessons from her uncle, international touring singer/songwriter Ed Hamell.

Since then she’s studied a variety of genres, including classical, jazz, flatpicking bluegrass, and clawhammer banjo. One of the highlights of a Cadleys concert is seeing the audience response when Cathy breaks from her mesmerizing singing, developed over 20 years as the director of a church vocal and instrumental ensemble, to deliver a fast, soulful acoustic guitar solo. It’s a rarity to have both those talents, plus a third—i.e., her ability to connect instantly with an audience. Taken together, they make Cathy Cadley a powerful live performer.

JOHN DANCKS

John (JD) Dancks has been a fixture on the Central New York acoustic music scene since his days at Syracuse University, when he played with banjo great Tony Trischka in the Down City Ramblers. He has also played with renowned guitarist Russ Barenberg and in the national touring act Country Granola with singer Danny Weiss.  

JD is first-call bassist for anyone playing blues, country, rock, jazz, and folk. So much so, that he has been inducted into the Syracuse Area Music Awards “Hall of Fame.” He’s added his solid, tasteful playing to many studio sessions as well, recording both locally and for national labels such as Rounder Records.

JD is also a resident of Strathmore.

Learn more about the Cadleys here.