COYLE — Such a good time was had last December with Lynne and Roger Ferguson that “we decided right then and there to have them back again next year, if they were willing,” Norm Johnson recalls.
Next year is here, and so are Lynne and Roger, formerly married folk musicians headed back to the Laurel B. Johnson Community Center for a Sunday afternoon Christmas concert.
“That was a really fun show. People are so nice; it’s a beautiful drive. Everything’s good about it,” Lynne said of the gig.
In this year’s model, to start at 3 p.m. Sunday, admission will again be by donation while listeners of all ages are welcome. As ever, Johnson will serve up complimentary coffee and cookies at intermission.
“I’m going to sing a bunch of Christmas carols, with acoustic instruments,” Lynne promised, “and some material from ‘Wintersongs,’ ” her CD.
Some original country songs and, for good measure, Duke Ellington’s “Drop Me Off in Harlem” are also part of the plan.
Roger, a flat-pick guitar champion, will be by her side, seeing as how he knows all of Lynne’s songs well.
“I really enjoy working with him,” she said of the man to whom she was married for 20-something years.
Now Roger lives, plays and teaches guitar, mandolin and fiddle in Kitsap County and at camps around the region.
Lynne makes her home in Suquamish, where she runs the Native Horsemanship Youth Program (Nativehorsemanship.org).
As with last year’s concert, donations from Sunday’s show will benefit the nonprofit organization, which offers classes to young people with disabilities, regardless of their ability to pay.
Lynne is known for her country- and folk-music career, one that has included working with Mark O’Connor, Jerry Douglas and Taj Mahal.
Today she is devoted to the horsemanship program, “a very grass-roots nonprofit” run by volunteers such as herself.
“A small donation is huge to us,” she said.
For more information about Sunday’s show and the Concerts in the Woods series at the Laurel B. Johnson Community Center, 923 Hazel Point Road, visit www.coyleconcerts.com.
Details can also be had by contacting Norm Johnson at 360-765-3449 or johnson5485@msn.com.
