FOLK | John Gorka 

With widespread accolades, John Gorka has been one of folk music's brightest stars, though he seems to stick to solo outings and the intimate venues of the coffee-house circuit. The thing that separates Gorka, besides his rich baritone, is the scale of his storytelling, which makes snapshots of everyday life seem as if epic tales are unfolding. Adding to the Minnesota-based troubadour's thoughtful lyrics are expert melodies that have been his calling card ever since emerging from the Greenwich Village folk scene of the 1980's.

John Gorka performs Saturday, November 11, at Café Veritas at First Unitarian Church, 220 South Winton Road. 7:30 p.m. $10-$18. cafeveritas.org; johngorka.com.