The Nightjars
Musical Conversations rooted in tradition and led by curiosity
The Nightjars are an acoustic ensemble focused on the expressive possibilities of traditional acoustic instruments. Drawing from Appalachian and Gaelic traditions, as well as contemporary songwriting, the band builds music that feels both familiar and newly formed. Arrangements emphasize texture, space and interplay between the instruments rather than sticking to fixed roles. The result is a sound that is grounded in history while remaining open to risk and reinvention.
Meet the Band
Ellen Gira
Ellen Gira is a vibrant and versatile cellist and teacher. Her unique musical voice fuses folk and traditional influences with her classical training, from her native DC area and at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Her musical projects and repertoire span numerous fiddle styles, including Scottish, Irish, Old-Time, Canadian, and Scandinavian.
In addition to playing with The Nightjars, Ellen has toured as part of the acclaimed fiddle-cello duo Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira, whose debut album All It Brings won “Traditional Album of the Year” at the 2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards. Notable performances with this project include Celtic Connections, Celtic Colours, and live performances on BBC Radio and for HRH King Charles III. Recently, Jocelyn & Ellen have also joined forces with Swedish duo Woodlands to form Atlantic Crossing, an all-female international quartet performing music from both sides of the Atlantic. Atlantic Crossing made its debut in Summer 2024 at the Urkult Festival in Sweden, performing live on Swedish National Radio.
As a teacher, Ellen brings her passion for music and collaboration into the studio. Having earned her doctorate in trad cello pedagogy at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, she has taught Scottish Trad Cello at the RCS, and now works with cellists and traditional musicians in the DC area.
Gabriel Furtado
Gabriel Furtado is a West Philadelphia-based guitarist and singer known for his ability to weave in and out of acoustic music genres. Whether it’s playing traditional jazz with The Hot Club of Philadelphia, Bluegrass with the Cheddar Boys, Appalachian music with Rubble City Stringband at the West Philly Square Dance, or french musettes with Rob Curto, his rhythmic approach to the instrument sets the audience’s foot tapping. Recent engagements have seen Gabriel gracing the stages of the Kimmel Center, The Philadelphia Folk Festival, Chris’ Jazz Club and the Sellersville theater.
Classically trained, Gabriel discovered the joy of traditional and folk music later in life, after twenty years of studying the classical guitar. Gabriel began seriously studying Bluegrass guitar at the age of 30, and the style now forms the backbone of his technique. A passionate teaching artist, Gabriel maintains a full roster of students, teaches workshops, and works with young and expectant families of Philadelphia’s migrant communities to write songs for their children, as part of Carnegie Hall’s Lullaby Project.
Maya Leibowitz
Maya Leibowitz is an innovative fiddler, violinist and composer from Philadelphia, PA. Now in her final semester at Berklee, Maya is pursuing a double major in Violin Performance and Jazz Composition. She is deeply rooted in old-time, Scottish, and Irish traditional music, having studied with fiddlers such as Bruce Molsky, Jenna Moynihan, and Katie McNally. In addition to her traditional music studies, Maya is also an experienced jazz violinist, having performed in the Boston Progressive Jazz Festival, the Berklee Jazz and Gender Justice Festival, and with the Maya Leibowitz Quartet in her own concerts. She especially enjoys combining fiddle melodies with jazz-forward harmonies and improvisation to create new sounds.
Winter Tour
January 08
Don't Tell Mama
(back cabaret room)
343 W. 46th, New York NY
7pm
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with Larry & Joe, Rakish, Sarah Hagen, Lily Henley, Barbara Lica, Jeff Corle, Ken Waldman & The Wild Ones
January 09
Don't Tell Mama
(back cabaret room)
343 W. 46th, New York NY
8:30pm
•
a co-production with Danielle Devlin of Canis Major Music, with Barbra Lica, Cantrip, E.T.E. Alla Boara, Luca Stricanoli, Terrance Simien, Elizabeth Mitchell, and Ken Waldman & The Wild Ones.
January 11
Double Bill
with The Wilder Flower
86 Patton Ave, Asheville NC
4:00pm
January 15
185 King Street, Brevard NC
4pm doors || 7pm show
January 17
Birmingham Contra Dance
309 23rd Street, North Birmingham, AL
7pm
January 18
Birmingham House Concert
Details TBA
January 23
FAI Private Showcase – The Little Mercies Swamp Party
Sheraton New Orleans
500 Canal Street, New Orleans LA
11:00pm
January 24
FAI First-Timers Showcase
Sheraton New Orleans
500 Canal Street, New Orleans LA
10:30pm
January 24
FAI Private Showcase – The Sweet Emma Barrett Room
Sheraton New Orleans
500 Canal Street, New Orleans LA
1:30am
January 25
407 Lee Ave
Lafayette, LA
7pm
