Pop, soul features of upcoming concert | CPT PPP Coverage

John Kearns, executive director of the Huntingdon County Arts Council, said Farmer brings to his music a sonorous voice and charismatic personality.

“Eric has such a deep, rich voice. It’s really captivating,” Kearn said, adding the concert is part of the arts council’s monthly mission to give local audiences new musical experiences.

“Eric’s music is a mix of soul, folk, pop and ethnic influences—difficult to classify but wonderful to listen to,” Kearns said. “He’s a great singer and performer and people will get a real kick out of hearing him.”

Farmer draws inspiration from artists like Bobby McFerrin, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gay and, as a songwriter, explores relationships, social issues and the human condition.

Farmer has previously worked with the Arts Council during the annual Folk College weekend, serving as an instructor. Sunday’s concert will be his first time in concert at the Arts Center.

Farmer was burnin State College and grew up in North Carolina. He returned to State College to study at Penn State and in 2016 earned a doctoral degree in educational leadership. As a teacher, he uses music to facilitate conversations among middle and high school students about identity and social issues.

Farmer first fell in love with music at an early age, listening to singers during worship services.

“The first live music I heard was in church and it was infectious,” he said. “It was the most uplifting music I’ve heard. I’m not here to create church music, but to create music that lifts people up in the same kind of way.”

Sunday’s concert is expected to run 90 minutes. Tickets are available online at huntingdoncountyarts.com, at the Art Center during exhibit hours, or at the door.

The monthly concert series will continue Sunday, Nov. 12, with Van Wagner, folk musician and historian. The 2023 series concludes Sunday, Dec. 10, with a Christmas program featuring harpist Anne Sullivan and flutist Joan sparks.

Kearns said the 2014 concert series will kick-off with pianist Andrew Greene, director of the annual Ragtime and American Music Festival, providing live accompaniment to a selection of silent era films.

Kearns said there’s still more on the way at the arts center in October.

Coming up later this month is the return of the Art Cat Jazz Club, featuring a live performance No Filter Jazz led by music educator and trumpeter Jordan Canner, from 7-10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, at the arts center. Kearns said tickets are on sale now and forewarns jazz lovers that, while tickets will be available at the door, last year’s event sold out.

The art center gallery is preparing for its next exhibit, “Oh, Shoot,” featuring the work of the Huntingdon Camera Club. An opening reception, which is free and open to the public, will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13.