FOREST CITY, PA — The Forest City Area Historical Society will host an evening of folk music by Russ Rentler on Saturday, August 3 at 7 p.m. at the historical society’s museum, located at 629 Main St.

Rentler, back by popular demand, started playing stringed instruments with his first ukelele in the fifth grade. He purchased it with S&H Green Stamps in Dover, NJ. 

Later, he played music at Moravian College in a folk band with John Gorka, who later became a luminary in the New Folk Movement.

After college, Russ went to medical school in New Jersey and specialized in internal medicine. In his free time, he continued to perform acoustic music on hammered and mountain dulcimer, mandolin, fiddle, dobro, autoharp, bass cello and bouzouki without being able to read music.

He has won several awards for songwriting and his song “New Car Smell” was played on National Public Radio’s “Car Talk.” He recently won the Deep South Dulcimer Championship on hammered and mountain dulcimer.

In 2016, Russ Rentler left medicine, which has allowed him to concentrate on original and traditional music.

Sing Out Magazine has described him as “a gifted songwriter as well as a fine musician.”

While at the concert, you can view the many historical items and history of the Forest City Regional Area. The museum is handicapped accessible and air-conditioned.

There is no admission for the concert, but donations will be welcomed.

August 3 is also Forest City’s Trail Town Festival. There will be vendors on the street starting at 4 p.m. and a Light Parade after dark.