Upcoming Concerts
Saturday, January 21, 2012 – 7:30 pm
An Evening with Mike Cross
For over 30 years, Mike Cross has been headlining festivals and selling out concert halls from coast to coast delighting audiences with his mastery of both the guitar and fiddle, playing 12-string bottleneck blues, fiery Irish jigs and a wealth of his own music and stories filled with humor characteristic of a Mark Twain or Will Rogers. It has been several years since Mike has played in the Baltimore/DC area and we’re pretty sure this show will fill up fast so make your reservations early!
THIS SHOW CURRENTLY HAS A FULL RESERVATION LIST
Please email us if you would like to be placed on the waiting list in case of cancellations.
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Friday, February 10, 2012 – 8 pm
An Evening with Irish singer-songwriter
Don Stiffe
Don Stiffe comes from County Galway, Ireland and has been singing for most of his life but recently has emerged on the national folk scene having toured Ireland, the US and Europe and been a finalist on the “All Ireland Talent Show” (Ireland’s version of American’s Got Talent). Don’s long awaited debut solo album “Start of a Dream” was released in 2006 to critical acclaim. He lived in Boston in the 90’s where he was involved in the folk scene and was a regular visitor to St. Louis where he spent time in the company of the legendary accordion player Joe Burke who described him as “The Bard of Bohermore”. Don guarantees a most impressive performance in front of a live audience as those who have seen him in Ireland, Europe and the USA will testify. We saw Don perform twice while we were in Ireland during the summer of 2011 and fell in love with his songs, his voice and his connection to the audience. He has been selling out live performances since the release of “Start of a Dream”. To quote Sean Laffey (Irish Music Magazine) on Start of a Dream “… the musical quality of the album is in the premier league… style, taste, pace and final execution are flawless and his choice of songs is inspired … a class act, with a class album”. Don’s passionate singing of original and traditional songs and his connection with the audience makes for a magical evening of music!
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Sunday, March 25, 2012 – 7:00 pm
An Evening with Ellis Paul
with special guest Peyton Tochterman
Ellis Paul is one of the leading voices in American songwriting and one of the top songwriters to emerge out of the fertile Boston folk scene. He helped create a movement that revitalized the national acoustic circuit with an urban, literate, folk rock style that helped renew interest in the genre in the 90’s. His charismatic, personally authentic performance style has influenced a generation of artists away from the artifice of pop, and closer towards the realness of folk. Though he remains among the most pop-friendly of today’s singer-songwriters, his songs regularly appear in hit movie and TV soundtracks – he has bridged the gulf between modern folk sound and the populist traditions of Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger more successfully than perhaps any of his songwriting peers.
THIS SHOW CURRENTLY HAS A FULL RESERVATION LIST
Please email us if you would like to be placed on the waiting list in case of cancellations.
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Saturday, April 21, 2012 – 7:30 pm
An Evening with K.C. Clifford
with special guest Tony Denikos
K.C. Clifford is a 3-time Woody Guthrie Award-winning folk singer-songwriter from Oklahoma known for her powerful voice, stage presence and courageous lyrics. Orchid, her fourth independently produced album, is scheduled for release on March 2. Music has always been a guiding force in K.C.’s life, and her talent and love of performing on stage revealed itself at an early age. She was two when she first sang in public and composed her first song at age seven. Early musical influences included artists such as Paul Simon, Carole King, The Beach Boys and the popular bluegrass band Mountain Smoke, founded by her father in the late 1960s. K.C. Clifford’s 10-year career has been marked by a long list of awards and achievements, and a devoted fan base she treats more like extended family. K.C.’s family of fans financed Orchid by donating to her internet-based “Be My Record Label” campaign. Those who have experienced one of K.C.’s live shows know this is where she shines brightest. Laying bare every bit of strength and insecurity, she sings the songs of her life with grace and ease – and a disarming smile – bringing audiences to laughter and tears often enough she has considered making handkerchiefs a permanent fixture at concerts. Baltimore based songwriter Tony Denikos opens the show. Tony writes, records and performs some of the most refreshingly down-home Americana music in the country. A native of Laurel, MD, Tony’s wide range of influences include artists such as John Fogerty, John Prine, Lowell George, Graham Parker & Bruce Spingsteen. Tony’s third CD “Already Gone” immediately charted at #2 on the Euro Americana Charts and at #7 on the Freeform American Roots Chart. Already Gone is a collection of 11 distinctive tunes that explore the entire spectrum of Americana music. There are stories here that everyone can relate to about love, working class attitudes, hope, regret, forgotten patriots and unwitting heroes.
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Friday, May 11, 2012 – 8:00 pm
Special Anniversary Concert Co-Bill featuring
An Evening with John Wort Hannam & Brian Ashley Jones
John Wort Hannam comes from a long line of people who make a living using their hands. He now carries on the tradition making his living writing songs and playing music. Thriving on live performance, John Wort Hannam is truly happy when he is on the road playing and connecting personally with an audience. He tours extensively in Canada and the US. His many appearances have included a 2009 Mainstage performance at the Kerrville Folk Festival, a 2008 performance at Trafalgar Square and the 2006 Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington DC in conjunction to one of John’s songs, “Church of the Long Grass” appearing on the prestigious Folkways recording label. He actively tours performing at festivals, clubs, coffeehouses and house concerts across North America. An award winning songwriter, his credits include three-time Grand Prize Winner at the Calgary Folk Festival, 2007 New Folk Winner at Kerrville Folk Festival songwriting competition, and a nominee for the Double Canadian Folk Music Award. John will be joined by Canadian fiddler extraordinaire Scott Duncan. Brian Ashley Jones is a soulful singer, accomplished guitarist, and versatile Americana songwriter whose compositions have been placed in film and television and recorded by a variety of other performing artists. Jones’ songs find influence in the guitar-driven country, blues and bluegrass that he absorbed in his hometown, Spartanburg, South Carolina. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Brian performs internationally at festivals and concert series and leads seminars for music education programs, music business conferences, and NSAI chapters around the USA. His 2008 independent release, “Courier“, made the Top 40 of the Roots Music Report, broke the Top 100 of the Americana Music Association’s album chart, and received widespread commercial, college, public, and international radio play. The swampy instrumental “Pull ‘em Up” has been featured in the widely acclaimed PBS television series “Road Trip Nation” and footage of Jones performing “Free To Miss You” live at The Bluebird Cafe has been featured in the British network television show “Amanda Holden’s Fantasy Lives”. The Brian Ashley Jones showcased these songs as an official performer at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for Best American Roots Guitar Player in the Alternate Root’s 2011 Reader’s Choice Awards! Brian is join by Tisha Semeral on the upright bass and harmony vocals.
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Saturday, June 23, 2012 – 7:30 pm
Co-Bill Featuring
Connor Garvey & Barnaby Bright
Connor Garvey returns with his folk-funk guitar and soulful vocals that have critics comparing him to the likes of Josh Ritter and Jason Mraz along with the Brooklyn-based indie folk rock duo Barnaby Bright whose sound incorporates powerful harmonies, unique instrumentation, intelligent lyrics, and genuine warmth on stage. Catch these rising stars now!!
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Sunday, August 5, 2012 – 7:00 pm
An Evening with
Pierce & Grace Pettis
Award-winning singer-songwriters Pierce Pettis and his daughter Grace Pettis come together to share their talents for an evening of incredible harmonies. Pierce Pettis, adored by both critics and public alike, is one of this generation’s most masterful songwriters. His music is distinguished by his uncanny ability to capture universals in human experience by drawing on the humor and trials in daily life. Pettis’ music can simultaneously pull on our hearts and keep us laughing. The beautiful harmonies, inventive yet subtle percussion, strong guitar, and Pierce’s rich vocals are a constant throughout his body of work. Pettis has appeared nine times on American Public Radio’s Mountain Stage, been featured on National Public Radio’s E-town, Morning Edition and World Cafe … appeared on VH-1, CBS News, and the Nashville Network. During his long career Pierce Pettis has been a writer at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Alabama, recorded for Fast Folk Musical Magazine in New York, won the prestigious New Folk songwriting competition at the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas, and was a staff songwriter at Polygram/Universal Music Publishing in Nashville. He has received numerous songwriting awards including a 1999 ASCAP Country Music Award for “You Move Me” –recorded by Garth Brooks. At the age of 18, Grace Pettis moved from the small town of Mentone, Alabama to Austin, Texas, to chase the dream of becoming a professional performing songwriter like her father. While studying Communication at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Grace was also honing her songwriting skills and playing open mics on the weekends. During those four years, as a volunteer at Blue Rock Studio in Wimberley, TX, Grace was privileged to meet and hear many great artists who came through to play Blue Rock’s renowned concert series. Grace’s own songwriting was improving and it didn’t take long for producer and Blue Rock Studio owner Billy Crockett to take notice. Grace’s debut, self-titled recording was made at Blue Rock, produced by Billy Crockett, and released in the fall of 2009 while Grace was still a student in college. Later that year Grace won NPR’s prestigious Mountain Stage NewSong Sonwriting Contest, and took “best song” in that competition for her “Nine to Five Girl.” Pierce and Grace are the first father-daughter winners of the prestigious Kerrville New Folk song competition, Grace winning in 2011 and Pierce winning the year Grace was born in 1987. Both are accomplished performers in their own right, together they will take you on a journey of artful storytelling and heartfelt emotions.
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Saturday, September 8, 2012 – 7:30 pm
An Evening with Jonathan Byrd
with special guest David Glaser
Jonathan Byrd is a 7th generation North Carolinian who doesn’t sing songs, he sings truth. He’s more than just a singer and songwriter. He’s a poet, a traveling troubadour, and a philosopher of life. He can say more in two words than most other people can say in a novel. A Jonathan Byrd concert is a mesmerizing experience that will take you on a roller coaster ride of emotions and leave you wanting to climb back on for another ride as soon as possible. Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and local favorite David Glaser opens the show and will also perform with Jonathan throughout the evening.
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Saturday, October 13, 2012 – 7:30 pm
An Evening with Johnsmith
At a time when national fame, fortune and reputation are often awarded to performers of pedestrian and limited talents and abilities, it is wholly refreshing to encounter an artist whose work possesses a genius that cannot be denied, ignored or overlooked. Johnsmith is one such artist; a gifted songwriter, moving performer and roaming troubadour.
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Sunday, November 4, 2012 – 7:00 pm
An Evening with Vance Gilbert
Vance Gilbert burst onto the singer/songwriter scene in the early 1990’s when the buzz started spreading in the folk clubs of Boston, Philadelphia and New York. Eight accomplished albums later, Vance continues to refine his unlikely union of humor, virtuosity, and the unexpected. Whether with classic, or original songwriting or ageless interpretations of covers, his is a presentation steeped in deep humanism and bravery, stunning artistry and soul, and contagious, unbridled joy – inarguably the blue ribbons that tie and seat the seemingly impossible package that is….Vance Gilbert.
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