Celtic singer visits Olney Community Library & Arts Ctr

Guitarist and storyteller Jerry Barlow filled the stacks of the Olney Community Library and Arts Center with the mellow, swinging sound of ancient Celtic tunes at a concert on March 23 sponsored by Texas-New Mexico Power.

Mr. Barlow, who has played at the Olney library three times previously starting in 2015, entertained the crowd of about 30 people with stories about each song – most of them Scottish jigs or ballads of whaling ships, love and misadventure – and tales of his travels throughout the country playing for audiences ranging from fidgety kids to Nashville professional musicians. Mr. Barlow spent part of his career as a songwriter, and now lives in Golden, Colorado.

Mr. Barlow wove his song repertoire with dashing tales like that of the brave Lady Agnes who held Dunbar Castle against English invaders in 1332, and the druids who wielded great influence in Celtic society. The evening ended with Mr. Barlow’s take on the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie theme song, “He’s A Pirate” and renditions of Beatles and country music.

Mr. Barlow was last in Olney in 2020, and spent the COVID years creating a new album of Celtic songs, “Of Castles and Kings.”

“I like it because I could stay at home and work on it and I didn’t have to tour so I really did what I wanted,” he said.

The OCLAC board met prior to the concert to set summer programs and hours, and talk about the upcoming student art show and a possible fundraiser featuring dueling pianos. The student art show reception will be held Thursday, April 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. The Children’s summer reading program will feature the annual Pet Show, movies, percussionist Mark Shelton, balloon guy Rob Holliday, and library will be open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The students’ works, except for the floral arrangements, will be exhibited all week at the library, Director Lori Cox said.