Howie Newman (left) and Joe Kessler, a.k.a Knock on Wood, will perform a concert of funny original songs and well-known covers at the Somerville Public Library on Sunday, May 18.

Howie Newman and Joe Kessler, also known as Knock on Wood, are anything but a typical folk combo, performing funny original songs (suitable for all ages) as well as well-known rock covers. Their varied repertoire includes everything from Tom Petty to Buffalo Springfield to the Stray Cats.

No matter what they play, it features excellent musicianship, pleasing vocal harmonies, and … lots of fun.

Knock on Wood will be playing a free concert at the Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Ave., on Sunday, May 18, from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Newman (guitar, harmonica, vocals) is the songwriter, and his engaging manner, which includes G-rated comedy and lots of audience participation, has charmed audiences all over New England. Song topics include baseball, his wife’s inability to parallel park, and not-so-graceful aging. There are also heart-warming songs about his first grandchild and surviving the pandemic.

A former sportswriter for the Boston Globe, Patriot Ledger, Lowell Sun, and other newspapers, he will also be performing one of his many baseball songs, which include Why Did You Go, Johnny Damon?

Kessler plays fiddle and mandolin with an energetic improvisational style that includes folk, rock, jazz, and bluegrass. He has also toured extensively throughout the United States and Canada as well as eight other countries, performing with Morphine, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, the Boogaloo Swamis, and many others.

“We’re not the traditional guitar-and-fiddle duo,” says Newman. “Joe and I like to keep things up-tempo, do some rock covers, and get the audience involved. The idea is to play some great music and have fun.”

This program is funded in part by a grant from the Somerville Arts Council, a local agency that is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

For more information about Knock on Wood, including videos and music samples, visit www.howienewman.com/knockonwood.