Sisters Folk Festival (SFF), in support of Circle of Friends, is presenting Steve Seskin in concert, in Music and Mentors, Thursday, June 4 at The Belfry in Sisters. Seskin, a hit songwriter, accomplished teacher and anti-bullying advocate performed at last year’s Sisters Folk Festival.

“We felt a partnership with Circle of Friends was a perfect fit because of our similar shared visions. Rather than having Steve only doing a concert, we saw an opportunity to help raise awareness and support for Circle of Friends, while at the same time connecting young people to a great music teacher and inspiration,” says Brad Tisdel, creative director of Sisters Folk Festival.

SFF is planning on having a few Americana Project students who have been mentors in the community perform, and a collaboration song between the mentees of Circle of Friends and Steve on an original song. Seskin will be working in the schools that day through the Americana Project as a guest artist. The Americana Project, the educational outreach of Sisters Folk Festival, has mentored young people in music and self-expression through the arts for the past 15 years. It is the organization’s intention to create lasting, meaningful, student-to-student connections, and is one reason for the success and sustainability of the program.

Steve Seskin is one of the most successful writers in music today, with a boatload of songs recorded by music luminaries such as Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Collin Raye, Peter Frampton, Waylon Jennings, Alabama, and Peter Paul and Mary. A Steve Seskin concert will have you wiping away a tear one minute and laughing out loud the next. His songs all have messages that touch the heart: from the feelings of a little boy missing his father, to growing up and being true to yourself, to one of his most well-known themes of being considerate to and respectful of one another as expressed in “Don’t Laugh at Me.”

Other Seskin hits include: I Think About You, Life’s A Dance, No Doubt About It, If You’ve Got Love and Grown Men Don’t Cry. His song Don’t Laugh at Me was a finalist for CMA Song of the Year in 1999, and has spurred an entire tolerance movement, launched by Operation Respect. Seskin met and partnered with Pater Yarrow in bringing the program into thousands of schools nationwide.

“Music is such a great inspiration in a child’s life. We are very excited for Circle of Friends to have this opportunity with Steve Seskin. His contagious passion for music and children will create a great experience for all.” Says Debbie Newport, executive director of Circle of Friends.

For more information on the upcoming Music and Mentors concert, and all 2015 Sisters Folk Festival events, or to purchase tickets go to www.sistersfolkfestival.org or call the festival office at 541-549-4979.