Rep. Jay Kaufman's award-winning public-policy forum, Open House, provides a special treat in May, with back-to-back free folk concerts, first was on May 7, and the next is Tuesday, May 14, at 7 p.m., at the historic Depot in Lexington Center, 13 Depot Square. 

That night singer/songwriter Hugh Moffatt will perform.

Artists who have recorded Hugh's songs includes Jerry Lee Lewis, Ronnie Milsap, Alabama, Dolly Parton, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Johnny Cash plus many others from all styles of music.

He has released nine CDs and toured extensively around the world, although May 14 marks one of his rare New England appearances.

He puts words and music together to create works of beauty and genuine emotional impact in styles ranging from folk music to opera. Jay has been known to quote lines from Moffatt's songs in his public life and in his teaching.

Singer/songwriter David Roth performed May 7.

Jay met David at WUMB radio's "Summer Acoustic Music Week" last August, took his songwriting class, enjoyed his music, appreciated his spontaneity, sense of humor and politics and is thrilled to host him for an evening of song and celebration.

David's songs have found their way to Carnegie Hall, the United Nations, several "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books, the Kennedy Center, NASA's Space Shuttle "Atlantis," Peter, Paul & Mary concerts, the Kingston Trio's new CD, and two songbooks and 12 CDs of his own. He is poignant to improbable, holistic to hilarious, and anything can happen.

He might describe this as a "Town Meeting with a soundtrack."

In 1997, the forum was awarded the prestigious Beacon Award, cable television's equivalent of an Emmy, as the nation's best government relations series. 

The series was also named the best television series by Massachusetts Cable Television Commission. The series is produced through a partnership between Rep. Kaufman and LexMedia, which records the forums for broadcast in Lexington, Arlington and Woburn.