Folk singer to perform at mActivity

Cheryl Wheeler part of East Rock Concert Series at coffee bar Sunday

NEW HAVEN — New England folk troubadour Cheryl Wheeler will be the latest established folkie to make the scene in the mActivity Coffee Bar today when she performs as part of Fernando Pinto’s East Rock Concert Series.

Area singersongwriter Anne Marie Menta will open the show — one of many Pinto is bringing in to mActivity these days — which begins at 7 p.m. (Doors at 6:30.)

Tickets are $25 in advance, available at cherylwheeler.bpt.me, or $30 on the day of the show. mActivity is at 285 Nicoll St., near Wilbur Cross High School in the East Rock neighborhood.

Wheeler has been a leading member of the regional folk scene since the 1983 release of her self-produced EP, “Newport Songs,” which she followed up with her first two albums, 1986’s “Cheryl Wheeler” and 1991’s “Half a Book,” on the independent North Star label.

A native of Timonium, Maryland, she’s a natural storyteller who is widely known for her wit as well as for her musical poetry, with the former sometimes taking over and running with the ball.

A respected songwriter, Wheeler’s songs have been covered by artists ranging from Dan Seals, Peter Paul

and Mary, Kenny Loggins, Garth Brooks and Suzy Boggus to Melanie, Bette Midler, Maura O’Connell, Sylvia, Kathy Mattea and Holly Near.

Menta hails from New Haven and grew up in a family — with three brothers — in which playing and listening to music was a passion. Since 1999, she has released three CDs of original music, including the most recent “Seven Secrets,” and is currently planning her fourth.

Her music blends both the personal and universal in a contemporary folk style accented by some country spice.

Wheeler