When Bettman & Halpin walked onto the stage on Nov. 7 , the modest crowd greeted them eagerly. All except one grouchy toddler who tried to demand the duo sing a child’s song for her. “We do original songs though.” Stephanie Bettman, singer and songwriter, said regretfully. But as the duo struck the first chords of their second song, “Fiddlers’ Bend” even the young critic seemed to be enjoying the lively music. The folk duo Bettman & Halpin, made up of Stephanie Bettman and Luke Halpin, played their original music in the Showcase Theater. The band had stopped in Liberal briefly for a meet and greet on Wednesday before continuing to do a concert in Garden City on Thursday. They started their concert with a few original songs and a little banter that quickly had the crowd on their side, and in the palm of their hands. The show was peppered with explanations of songs, and humorous stories and banter, along with music that showed the skills of both Halpin and Bettman off. The two of them managed to mix in enough honesty with their audience to prevent their stories from feeling scripted, a talent some acts struggle with. Their music was well written and meaningful, all of which left me quite impressed. I don’t usually listen to folk music, but even I found myself swaying and humming along with the charming duo and their show. Neither Bettman nor Halpin outshined or played second fiddle to the other. In fact, they both eagerly interacted with fans and each other throughout the night. For anyone looking to expand their music knowledge, and help an upcoming band, the duo keeps up with their fan base through email and Twitter both of which can be found on their website www.stephaniebettman.com.