PORTLAND — Vermont-based fiddler and folk singer Lissa Schneckenburger, formerly of Litchfield, is performing across the country in support of her latest CD.

She and acoustic guitarist Bethany Waickman will take the stage Thursday, Oct. 21, at The Empire, 575 Congress St. A contra dance will follow the 7 p.m. performance. Chrissy Fowler will be calling.

Schneckenburger and Waickman will give a sample of traditional dance tunes from the CD, “Dance,” on Footprint Records, as well as some well-loved favorites from past releases.

Schneckenburger’s fiddling is uplifting and lively, and her singing gentle and evocative.

“Dance” is the second in a pair of CDs devoted to exploring New England’s rich musical heritage. The first recording, “Song,” released in 2008, focuses on a selection of ballads; “Dance” continues the musical conversation with a sampling of 10 instrumentals.

Each piece is taken from New England’s folk music tradition and has a specific dance that goes with it. These tunes are commonly called “chestnuts,” a reverent reference to the tree that was once common throughout the Northeast. The selections range in tone from the sublime to the raucous and include a wide range of accompanying instruments: guitar, double bass, percussion, harmony fiddle, piano accordion, tenor banjo and horns.

“These tunes have been played for hundreds of years, and by countless generations,” Schneckenburger said. “I love the feeling of connecting with the past as we put a fresh take on these timeless melodies.”

“We had so much fun playing around with different sounds and arrangements, and thinking about how these old dance tunes might speak to us, as a new generation of musicians,” she said.