The 153rd “First Friday for Folk Music,” Savannah’s monthly showcase of local and touring folk musicians, will feature Jacob Johnson and the Savannah Ceili Band. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church at 520 Washington Ave.

Jacob Johnson

Hailing from upstate South Carolina, Johnson is a one-of-a-kind solo acoustic performance artist who specializes in a style of guitar playing he calls “neo-acoustic folk/funk.” In his short career he has already shared the stage with the likes of The Steel String Theory, Dave Matthews collaborator Tim Reynolds and even funk maestro Robert Randolph. In live performances, his off-the-cuff sense of humor and tongue-in-cheek sensibility disarm the audience and leave them completely unprepared for the multilayered guitar masterworks he unleashes. Johnson thumps, taps and slaps his acoustic guitar into submission, weaving a musical tapestry that usually climbs to sonic frenzy whilst never losing its balance or control. His lyrics, thoughtful and realistic, are delivered with the wry sort of charisma that makes you wonder if he isn’t just making it all up as he goes. And sometimes he is.

Savannah Ceili Band

The Savannah Ceili (pronounced “Kay-lee”) Band is a Savannah-based group that was formed to promote Irish traditional songs and dance music. They began playing a few years ago at traditional music sessions around town. Earlier session members included Dan O’Connell (flute, tin whistle, accordion, vocals), Chris Hagan (lead vocals, guitar, tenor banjo) and Jerry Stenger (guitar, vocals), all whom have played in the Tery Alts, one of the first bands to promote Irish music in Savannah. The session group has been joined by Irish music veterans Colleen Settle (fiddle, spoons), Michael Corbett (lead vocals, guitar, five-string banjo, octave mandolin, and concertina), and Jim Quigley (bodhran, mandolin). The group has played at the Savannah Irish Music Festival 2007 for several years as well as the Tybee Festival of the Arts.