Back in late 1959, a small Italian restaurant in Greenwich Village called Gerde’s was just a neighborhood joint to stop in for a quick bite to eat or a drink after work. Mike Porco, who had been running the restaurant with his cousins since 1952, was approached by Izzy Young and Tom Prendergast with an offer.

Izzy, who ran the Folklore Center in the Village, and Tom suggested that Mike offer folk music in the evenings at Gerde’s, and they would be happy to book the talent and handle the publicity. Izzy and Tom would sell tickets to pay for the performers, and Mike would keep the profits from whatever food and drink was served. Seeing nearby Washington Square Park filling up with thirsty kids playing folk music lead Mike to believe there was merit to this idea.

On January 8, 1960 , Ed McCurdy and Brother John Sellers were the first performers at what was being called “The Fifth Peg” at Gerdes. The Clancy Brothers, the Tarriers, Eric Weissberg and others were also booked and the room began filling up.

Within a few months, Mike Porco took over the work of Izzy and Tom (he hired Charlie Rothschild to manage the venue and Logan English to emcee) and renamed his club “Gerde’s Folk City”. The club would become the center of the universe for the growing “folk revival”. Within a year, Bob Dylan would play Folk City and the reputation of the venue spread around the globe.

In 1970, Mike Porco moved the club to 130 West 3rd Street where it would remain open until 1987. Mike sold the club to new owners in the early 80’s, but Folk City was always THE stage for both established and up-and-coming artists in the acoustic folk field.

Folk City is just a memory now, but a good memory that continues to inspire. Mike Porco is no longer with us, but his grandson Bob Porco has been working on a book about Mike and came up with an idea to present a concert in honor of the 50th annivesary of the opening. Bob appoached the owners of the Village Undergound, a club located in the basement of 130 West 3rd street, and they have agreed to use their historic site as the location for what promises to be an historic “reunion” concert.

On Monday June 7th at 130 W3rd St NYC will once again become host to the musicians that made Folk City famous. (The Fat Black Pussycat is actually in operation in the actual site, but The Village Underground is the venue downstairs in the basement of 130 W3rd and is where the musical festivities will be taking place.)

Doors will open at 5pm, and the music will start at approximately 7pm. The music could last for hours. Over 30 artists are scheduled to appear, and Jack Hardy and Dominic Chianese (yes, the face we know and love from The Sopranos was actually an emcee at the original Folk City – and Dominic is a wonderful musician and singer as well!)

Among the performers currently scheduled:

For more information, visit www.folkcityatfifty.blogspot.com for details!