Henry Ferland

A fingerstyle guitar concert featuring mining songs!

Friday, July 31st, 2026 7pm

Henry Ferland is bringing American fingerstyle, country, folk, and traditional music down into the Widow Jane Mine. With a large repertoire from the Kentucky thumb-picker Merle Travis (1917-1983), who was a pioneer of the guitar - known for his style called Travis Picking - and wrote many songs about the Kentucky coal miners who worked their lives away night and day underground. Join us for a night of classic mining songs and new American fingerstyle originals by award-winning guitarist Henry Ferland.

Henry Ferland is an exceptional fingerstyle guitarist who plays melody, rhythm, bass, and percussion simultaneously, often while singing. His repertoire and influences include Americana (Chet Atkins, Merle Travis, Tommy Emmanuel) Jazz (Wes Montgomery, Julian Lage), contemporary artists (Paul Simon, James Taylor), as well as a growing body of original work. His deft musicianship and personable grace wins audiences and keeps them coming back.

Henry’s music career began with the cello in 3rd grade. He became interested in fingerstyle guitar in 6th grade, which led to winning a thumbpicking competition in Muhlenberg, Kentucky, in 10th grade (2018 International Home of the Legends Junior Shootout.) Henry attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He played so much he developed Carpal Tunnel in both hands which made playing guitar impossible. After a year-long setback with help from the Musicians Treatment Foundation and multiple surgeries, Henry regained use of his hands, made a full recovery, and graduated in 2024. 

Since leaving Boston, Henry has made a name for himself in the Hudson Valley New York music scene. He opened for Martin Taylor at The Colony and, at the Towne Crier in Beacon, opened for and performed with Stanley Jordan.

In September 2025, he returned to Muhlenberg, KY, to become a Thumb-Picking Double Grand Champion (traditional and contemporary, adult category). And three weeks later, he shared the stage with multiple GRAMMY winner and his hero, Tommy Emmanuel.

Please dress warmly as the mine is a constant 55°.  We have approximately 100 chairs for rent this year but feel free to bring your own chairs and blankets on the ground are also fine. Wear sturdy shoes for the walk to the mine on gravel roads. Please arrive 15 minutes early to allow time to park and walk to the mine.