Vance Gilbert burst onto the singer/songwriter scene in the early ’90s when a buzz started spreading in the folk clubs of Boston about an ex-multicultural arts teacher and jazz singer who was knocking ’em dead at open mics. Word of this Philadelphia born and raised performer made its way to New York, and Shawn Colvin invited him to be a special guest on her Fat City tour. Gilbert earned encores, a rarity for openers. Eight CDs later, he will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 12, at Deertrees Theater in Harrison. Tickets are $16. Call the box office at 583-6747 or log on to www.deertreestheatre.org.