The Folk Project Troubadour Acoustic Concert Series presents Frank Vignola & Vinny Raniolo and Caroline Cotter

Frank Vignola is one of the most extraordinary guitarists performing before the public today. His stunning virtuosity has made him the guitarist of choice for many of the world’s top musicians, including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Donald Fagen, Lionel Hampton, Tommy Emmanuel, John Lewis, the Boston Pops, the New York Pops, and guitar legend Les Paul, who named Vignola to his “Five Most Admired Guitarists List” for the Wall Street Journal. Frank is one of the most extraordinary guitarists performing before the public today. His virtuosity is stunning.

Vinny Raniolo is a touring performer and educator known for his dynamic playing across diverse musical settings. His career has taken him to 18 countries and led to collaborations with Frank Vignola, Tommy Emmanuel, Bucky Pizzarelli, Vince Giordano, and Deana Martin. Vinny has appeared on three PBS programs, including Tommy Emmanuel and Friends, and in Frank Vignola’s Four Generations of Guitar as the youngest player alongside Bucky Pizzarelli, as well as the Music Gone Public series. His film and recording work includes contributions to HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, Prime’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Woody Allen’s Café Society, and Martin Scoreses’s The Irishman, and Killers of the Flower Moon.

Caroline Cotter’s sunlit songs explore connection, longing, gratitude, and the human experience with a honeyed voice and lyrical honesty. A seasoned traveler and touring artist, she’s performed over 1,000 shows across 45 states and 16 countries—everywhere from Parisian living rooms to schooners off the Maine coast. Her music reflects a life shaped by global travel, spiritual practice, and deep introspection. Cotter’s three albums—Dreaming as I Do, Home on the River, and Gently as I Go—offer emotional insight and poetic storytelling. Her songs move from sweeping themes to intimate detail, whether honoring lost loved ones or celebrating human generosity. Festivals like Freshgrass and Rocky Mountain Folk Fest have featured her work, and she’s earned accolades from the Maine Songwriters Association and national competitions. Cotter finds purpose in wandering and songwriting, capturing fleeting truths with warmth and clarity. When not on the road, she lives by the sea in Maine.