Celtic musician & entertainer Jerry Barlow performs at Olney Community Library and Arts Center

Monday, Feb. 24 the Olney Community Library and Arts Center (OCLAC) hosted a Celtic music jam session. Jerry Barlow, well known for his Celtic music playing and tales to match, visited the OCLAC to play and tell stories.

Those that came out to listen to Mr. Barlow were not disappointed. It was a fun evening shared by local Olney residents.

Barlow started playing when he was 15. He enjoyed learning and playing folk music when he first began to learn to play the guitar and sing. As Barlow grew as a performer, he branched into country music where he had one of his songs recorded by Conway Twitty, several others as well by other famous country recording stars.

Later, Barlow moved away from Nashville to the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee where he began to see how the Celtic music had an influence to the native musicians of the Appalachians. Barlow says a lot of the Irish and Scotts first settled in the region which of course led to the Celtic influence for the region. After moving to the area, Barlow realized that this was the music he wanted to specialize in, which he has specialized in for the past 20 years.

Barlow says he much prefers small town venues such as the OCLAC here in Olney. Barlow says this was his third time back at the OCLAC and he says he meets the nicest people here.

For more information about Jerry Barlow, please visit JerryBarlow.com.