Though perhaps technically a singer-songwriter, Ian Fitzgerald prefers the term folk singer. While “singer-songwriter” carries with it the negative connotations brought on by too many over-emotive, heart-on-their-sleeve performers, “folk singer” points more accurately to the tradition in which Ian’s music is rooted. From early twentieth century field recordings through Woody Guthrie, Hank Williams, Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, Gillian Welch, and hundreds of artists in between, Ian has been influenced by one of the sturdiest strains of American music.  Ian has been performing since 2004, and his schedule just keeps getting busier. Since the start of 2011, Ian has performed in eight states (MA, RI, CT, NH, ME, VT, NY, PA, DE) and one Canadian province (Nova Scotia). Over his career, he’s performed at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival’s Emerging Artist Showcase, Club Passim’s Cutting Edge of the Campfire Festival, the Word X Word Festival, the In The Dead of Winter Festival, and the New England Americana Festival among many others. And in 2009, his song “Lillian” won the Boston Folk Festival Songwriting Contest and earned Ian a performance spot at the festival.  Since April of 2012, Ian’s live performances have been enhanced by the addition of harmony vocalist Courtney Gallagher. In addition to developing harmony parts for a slew of Ian’s newest works, Courtney has added her touch to a number of Ian’s older songs.  Ian and Courtney perform at coffeehouses, clubs, concert halls and venues of all kinds both as openers and headliners. They will be heard together on Ian’s upcoming new record, due later this year.