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“Kray Van Kirk is a gifted songwriter whose allegorical weave of contemporary and mythological themes is both remarkable and tremendously relevant. He backs that up with deft guitar work and a voice that embodies power and genuine tenderness. A stellar and meticulous musician, equally rooted in the mind and the heart.” – Joe Jencks“The evening’s act was Kray Van Kirk, whose 12-string guitar and soaring vocals were spellbinding.” – Daily Fringe Review, Edinburgh, Scotland
A fine finger-style guitarist with a precise baritone, Kray Van Kirk has a Ph.D. from the University of Alaska, but he set science aside to write songs, tell stories, and summon heroes.
“We are driven by myth and the seasons of the heart,” he says. “The quest is to journey inside, find whatever it is that burns at the core of your soul, and bring it back into the light. In a world divided it is critical to write songs and tell stories that show absolutely everyone they get to be the hero.”
His song “Thunderbird” resurrects the Phoenix in an empty desert diner in the American Southwest (yes, the Phoenix drives a Thunderbird). “The Queen of Elfland” plucks Thomas the Rhymer from the English-Scottish border in 1250 and drops him and the Queen into a subway car. “The Library Song” has Superman moonlighting among the stacks, “Rosa and Hector” ride through Sherwood Forest on canes and a wheelchair, and “The Midnight Commander” celebrates an insane old man leading the city of New York to take up arms (and underwear) against hatred.
Kray released his new album, Empire, in March 2026, as a way to summon heroes and remind us that hope is not dead. As he says, "Hope happens ... as a community, all of us together. No one is excluded, no one is left out."
A charming, Quixotic, and decidedly eclectic performer, Van Kirk has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland and toured the U.S. and Canada. In 2022, he won the Acorn Singer-Songwriter Competition. He was one of the featured performers at the Golden Link’s 2024 Turtle Hill Folk Festival.
Please Note:
• Tickets will be available at the door, but we encourage purchasing in advance through the website to expedite your entry into the concert. Also, purchasing in advance will save you money!
Online ticket sales end at midnight on May 1st.
General Admission: $25 ($27 at the door)
Golden Link Members: $20 ($22 at the door)
Students: $10
Children under 12: $5
• This is an alcohol and smoke free event •
goldenlink.org for tickets and info: https://www.goldenlink.org/content.aspx?page_id=4091&club_id=724073&item_id=2659612
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Event Venue
Greece Baptist Church, 1230 Long Pond Rd, Rochester, NY 14626, United States
Tickets
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