Don Julin and Alan Epstein, mandolin players/teachers extraordinaire, join forces for an evening showcasing the many worlds of the mandolin. Don Julin, author of the best selling "Mandolin For Dummies"has developed a reputation for being one of the most eclectic mandolin players/teachers on the scene today. Based in Traverse City, Michigan, Don has been playing, teaching, and writing music with the mandolin for over 35 years. His original compositions have been used on many network and cable television programs. Recent clients include Sony Classics, HBO, VH1, MTV, NBC, Showtime, Bravo, National Geographic Explorer, Fox Sports, and many more. During 2013-2016 Julin hit the road playing around 500 shows with Billy Strings, introducing this young, rising bluegrass star to the world. He currently is performing in a few regional groups. The Don Julin Quartet: an acoustic instrumental group, The Ol’ Microtones: an electric reggae band, and The Big Fun Jam Band: original compositions and jazz. Today, Don spends much of his time teaching at mandolin camps around America and running the online mandolin school Mandolins Heal The World. Alan Epstein has been playing music for over 45 years. He has studied with some of the top mandolin players in the world, has played in numerous bluegrass bands, was the founder of the modern day Pittsburgh Mandolin Orchestra, toured with Don Julin's Neptune Quartet and since 2007 has been picking, singing, strolling and teaching the mandolin in the Capital district. In 2017 Alan released two recordings highlighting his diverse style of mandolin playing, "Sunset on Meriden Hill" a mandolin and guitar duet instrumental recording with Jim Prendergast on guitar and "That Lonesome Bluegrass Sound" featuring Alan singing and playing mandolin on bluegrass standards accompanied by a full bluegrass band. These days Alan spends most of his time teaching mandolin and bluegrass jamming locally and at camps nationwide, and as many of you know, over the past 4 years he has been the host of the popular Crandall Public Library's Winter Bluegrass Jam. Live! Folklife Concerts are scheduled on Thursday evenings, recorded live, and are offered free to the public (doors open at 6:30). For samples from past concerts, go to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-q5rn8NWzQ1pbzQMzuMV8571uwFrL0xD This series is produced every Spring and Fall by the Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library, and funded in part by the Friends of Crandall Public Library and the New York State Council on the Arts-Folk Arts Program with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.