Stephanie Bettman and Luke Halpin

Tehachapi's own Luke Halpin will be returning to town with fiddler and singer/songwriter Stephanie Bettman on Friday, March 13, for a concert at Fiddlers Crossing. The duo last performed in Fiddlers Crossing in 2011 to a full house. With their infectious mixture of folk, bluegrass and jazz, with mostly original songs, the evening will be filled with joyful fiddling tunes and soulful ballads.

Many in Tehachapi will remember Luke Halpin as a youngster, growing up playing music with his parents, Nancy and Phil Halpin, who play bass and guitar. Luke learned mandolin, fiddle and guitar at an early age, and started playing with other professional bands when still a teenager. He has worked with Merle Haggard, Lone Star, and The Steve Miller Band, among others.

Stephanie Bettman is an Albuqueque, N.M. native who has also worked as in actress in plays, musicals and operas from LA to New York. She writes most of the songs, and with her fine soprano voice, she has been compared to folk icons such as Joan Baez, Emmylou Harris, and Alison Krauss.

Bettman and Halpin have won recognition in various regional and national competitions. They were the grand prize winners in the 2008 SoCal Live Acoustic Music Competition. They also were winners in the 2007 Topanga Banjo/Fiddle Contest, and have received numerous other accolades.

Together, Stephanie Bettman and Luke Halpin will present a joyous celebration of acoustic music and song that is all the sweeter to those "who knew Luke when...."

The concert starts at 7:00 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30. Tickets are $20, available at Tehachapi Treasure Trove, Tehachapi Furniture, Lucky's Barbershop, or at the Fiddlers Crossing's Wednesday Open Mics and First Fridays events.

Tickets are also available online at FiddlersCrossing.org, and may be reserved by calling (661) 823-9994.

Fiddlers Crossing is at 206 East F Street, Downtown Tehachapi at Robinson Street.