IRISH MUSIC: Poor Man’s Gambit brings its distinctive sound, steeped in Irish culture, to Princeton on Friday, January 19. (Photo courtesy of Poor Man’s Gambit)

On Friday, January 19 at 8 p.m., the Princeton Folk Music Society presents Poor Man’s Gambit, a Philadelphia-based Irish music band, at Christ Congregation Church, 50 Walnut Lane. The multi-instrumentalist group comprises Deirdre Lockman (fiddle and vocals), Corey Purcell (button accordion, cittern, bodhran, vocals, and dance), and Federico Betti (guitar and fiddle).

Lockman and Purcell are steeped in the traditional Irish culture of the Philadelphia area. Both started as step dancers in childhood, and went on to dance competitively at national and international levels. In time, however, they found their true calling in Irish music. Lockman began competing in fiddle competitions, and Purcell started teaching himself Irish-style button accordion. He studied with all-Ireland button accordion champion John Whelan. His musical interests expanded to include other instruments and voice.

Betti grew up in Italy, where he first learned to play the fiddle and fell in love with traditional Irish music. In 1996 he co-founded Inisfail, a group that would become a leader in the Italian Irish music scene. After sharing the stage at music festivals in Italy with various Irish musicians and bands such as Altan, Dervish, and Lúnasa, he moved to Ireland in 1999. He immersed himself in the Galway traditional music scene, learning from a range of fiddle players and traveling to festivals all over the country.

Tickets are $20 and $25 ($10 for students, $5 for children 11 and under). Visit princetonfolk.org for more information.