House Concerts - Community Weblog

Speaking Of Farming

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 03:31:35 GMT

Well.... community gardening, really. Marc & I took a half plot down at the Bear Creek Gardens this summer. If you would have predicted this 12 months ago, I would have called you out of your mind, but we have had a great experience. If you've ever even thought about it - consider it seriously for next year.

While it may seem daunting to some, it's really the perfect example of a strong communiity. The more experienced gardeners are more than willing to answer any questions that us neophytes throw at them. And we even have fresh tomatoes on the vine already! It's strangely satisfying to sit down to weed and get up an hour later and be able to actually view the fruits of your labors. What a concept after rearing kids!

If you're not in the position to grow your own - please consider supporting Susan & Patrick at Venetucci and all the other organic farmers around town. It's better for all our futures.

Another Fantastic Summer Concert

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 14:53:48 GMT

This is a great chance to spend time at Venetucci Farms after hours! Susan and Patrick are hosting an evening with Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart. I'm not sure how many tickets are still out there, but you should call soon...

While often referred to as Steve Earle’s sister, Stacey Earle is well out of her brother’s shadow at this point. She and her husband, Mark Stuart, provide audiences with a complete entertainment package in their live performances. Armed with clever acoustic guitar interplay, autobiographical songwriting, lovely harmonies, and humorous storytelling, this couple captivates your attention from the first moment they are onstage. The years of touring the folk/Americana circuit (playing 170 concerts a year) have given them a knack for reaching out to the audience in an intimate “come in to my living room” fashion.

Concert:   Stacey Earl & Mark Stuart
When:    Saturday, July 24, 7:00 PM
Limited Seating: $15 in advance
Where:   Venetucci Farm, 5210 South Highway 85
Contact: Susan Gordon, 391-8102

Take A Local Mini-Vacation

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 14:57:02 GMT

We hope you're having a great summer. The music that is out there this summer is awesome. Holding true to our mantra, we won't have any concerts this summer, but we are busy planning the Fall/Winter schedule as we speak. I see Zoe coming back this Fall!

There is one concert we wanted to let you know about - a chance to spend an incredible evening at the Chico Basin Ranch in Hanover, CO in the company of it's stewards, Duke and Janet Phillips. They will host Corb Lund and the Hurtin' Albertans next Saturday night, June 12th. We checked out the venue on Monday and think that you'll have a magical evening. Imagine a cottonwood grove, lights strung in the trees, a dance floor in the center, a bar in the corner and a country band presiding. Ana Mai pointed out that one of the cottonwoods rivaled the great tree from the set of Avatar. 250 people sat comfortably under said tree at a recent meeting!

The ranch is about 20 minutes from the PPIR exit off I-25. Because it is so far from town, the Phillips' are opening up the fields around the stage for camping. Marc and I will probably throw in a tent and spend the night.

The $20 at the door will support the educational programs at Chico Basin Ranch. We would suggest bringing along a picnic dinner, chairs, beverages, and bug spray. Come on down to the ranch and take a mini-vacation. I swear that time stops when you're out there...

Concert:   Corb Lund & The Hurtin' Albertans
When:    Saturday, June 12, 7:00 PM
Donation @ Door: $20
Where:   Chico Basin Ranch,  22500 Peyton Highway South
Colorado Springs, CO 80928

TONY FURTADO!?!?!

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 14:55:50 GMT

We just received an copy of Tony's latest CD - Deep Water. INCREDIBLE!!! After reading his wiki biography, I realized that we have a minor legend playing here in less than 2 weeks. Deep Water takes you from mind blowing finger picking (Bawds of Euphony) to thoughtful, almost spiritual, hip-grinding blues (Lighten Up Your Load). Now I understand all the disbelief when I've told people that he's playing here at the house! The reaction from our concert goers has been impressive - snapping up 12 tickets at a time?! I think we under-priced this concert...

The added bonus of Trina Hamlin is nothing to overlook either... She guest stars on 2 tracks on a ground breaking new genre of blues by Brixton Boogie "Urban Blues". Check out her music - complete w/ harmonica - here.

There are still way too many seats open for this concert. Take advantage of our pricing mistake & please spread the word?! Looking forward to seeing you here...

Demolish Those Winter Blues With Tony Furtado

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:06:42 GMT

One thing we always try to do is find the right mix of showmanship, monster talent & songwriting skills. We think that you will find all of this in Tony, right here at FHC in March! Usually we don't just copy from an artist's webpage, but we're announcing this show on with rather short notice. Take a look at Tony's videos or catch his music here and then decide whether or not this is dead on...

"From his teenage years until the present, Tony has wandered through genres and styles, never growing static and always evolving musically. He has toured tirelessly for over two decades and has garnered a great deal of respect from his peers, and has opened for and toured with acts such as Greg Allman, Susan Tedeschi, Taj Mahal, Leftover Salmon, Eric Johnson and he has shared the stage with the likes of Sonny Landreth, Keith Richards, David Lindley, Derek Trucks, Norah Jones, among many others. Like his vast catalogue of recordings, a Tony Furtado show has something to offer everyone. His music has taken him all over the country and into the hearts of many a music lover. Whether he’s playing with a band, or recording as a solo artist, his playing and considerable skills as a multi-instrumentalist and his strong songwriting prowess have led to him to be embraced on record and on stage."

Opening for Tony will be Trina Hamlin - with the following praise racked up about her...

"Trina Hamlin's music smolders sweetly just before it sets the place on fire. Add in that irresistibly twinkling grin and you've got the foundation for a wonderful time." --Marilyn Rea Beyer, WUMB Boston

"I have never seen anyone play harmonica like that. Neither has anyone else. Trina is truly one of the most compelling musical performers on the stage today." --Susan Werner

Upcoming Shows

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:53:35 GMT

Feel free to suggest the concert series to your friends who you think would enjoy it - but please DON'T add to others' spam!

Friends House Concerts
PO Box 38943
Colorado Springs, CO 80937
Tel: 719-329-1644

Tony Furtado with Trina Hamlin
Date: Friday, March 12, 2010
Time: 7:30 PM
Artist Donation: $20 made out to Tony Furtado

www.RockyMountainHighway.com

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:15:24 GMT

Courtesy of a couple of fans, we received a shout out just before the Eliza concert on www.rockymountainhighway.com . THANK YOU! It's a compilation website of "americana, alt-country, bluegrass, blues & roots music" shows all up and down the Front Range. We appreciated their keen wit in their write up of 10 reasons why one should go to FHC. You should take a look at their site from time to time to check up on concerts around the area.

Upcoming Concerts

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:58:06 GMT

Feel free to suggest the concert series to your friends who you think would enjoy it - but please DON'T add to others' spam!
We had an issue with checks not arriving for the artist in time for Eliza, so please get your checks made out to Peter in the mail by December 2nd:

Friends House Concerts
PO Box 38943
Colorado Springs, CO 80937
Tel: 719-329-1644

Peter Mulvey with Carsie Blanton
Date: Saturday December 12. 2009
Time: 7:30 PM
Artist Donation: $20 made out to Peter Mulvey

Finishing out the year with Peter Mulvey

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:18:12 GMT

Our condolences to those of you who DID NOT join us for the Eliza Gilkyson / Nina Gerber concert. The show was remarkable. Eliza's vocals were complimented so perfectly by Nina's mastery of the guitar.

We still have one more concert this year - just a couple of weeks away. After completing his 1100-mile concert tour by bicycle in September, Milwaukee singer-songwriter Peter Mulvey is back on the road, performing songs and spoken-word pieces from his new CD, LETTERS FROM A FLYING MACHINE (Signature Sounds). His 12th album intersperses new songs with spoken word readings of four letters to his young nieces and nephews (written on airplanes) with his thoughts on the state of modern civilization. "The entire record is about time and love and responsibility - great big ideas. I'm the kind of guy who thinks a lot about why we're here and what we owe each other. Frankly, it's all tied up together." Over the past 20 years, Mulvey has pursued an eclectic path as a writer and musician, performing on the streets of Dublin, the subways of Boston and now, touring as a headliner. The Irish Times: "Peter Mulvey is a phenomenal performer with huge energy, a quick fire, quirky take on life, and an extraordinary guitar style. A joy to see."

Eliza Gilkyson & Nina Gerber

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:18:21 GMT

Join us in a week from this Thursday for an intimate evening here at the house with Eliza Gilkyson & Nina Gerber. We're so behind bringing Eliza here that she has brought out 2 CDs since her concert here in 2005. The most recent, Beautiful world, has garnered some great reviews:

New York Times
"lush and passionate...edgy lyrics with piercing imagery"

Austin Chronicle
"cathartic to the point of jubilation, brimming with radio-polished tunes"

When the Great Correction Comes , the song that inspired the recent CD turned out (unfortunately) to be rather prophetic. Graham Green provides a thoughtful review here. You might also want to check out a recent concert review here.

(Whitney confesses that one of her all time favorite songs remains Gilkyson's Requiem written in the wake of the Katrina.)

Eliza will be joined by a true musician's musician, Nina Gerber. Nina's mastery of the guitar is evidenced by her accompaniment of any of the following artists: Kate Wolf, Nanci Griffith, Greg Brown, Lucy Kaplansky, Mollie O'Brien, Dave Alvin, Karla Bonoff, John Gorka, Cheryl Wheeler, Tom Paxton, and many others.

Upcoming Concerts

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 17:46:14 GMT

Feel free to suggest the concert series to your friends who you think would enjoy it - but please DON'T add to others' spam!
Mail all checks made out to the artist AND dated
the month of the concert to:

Friends House Concerts
PO Box 38943
Colorado Springs, CO 80937
Tel: 719-329-1644

Eliza Gilkyson & Nina Gerber
Date: Thursday, November 12, 2009
Time: 7:00 PM
Artist Donation: $25 check made out to Eliza Gilkyson

Peter Mulvey with Carsie Blanton
Date: Saturday December 12. 2009
Time: 7:30 PM
Artist Donation: $20 made out to Peter Mulvey

SOLD OUT, SOLD OUT, SOLD OUT

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:00:14 GMT

Please DO NOT send any more checks in for the Willy & Natasha concert - Sunday October 18th, 7:00 PM. We are more than sold out! There are still seats for Eilza Gilkyson in November and Peter Mulvey in December - but don't wait too long...

A City Worth Fighting For

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:56:20 GMT

On another related note, Ballot Initiative 2C, we're looking for your vote, not a donation...

Quality of life was the overriding reason we moved to Colorado Springs back in 2000. There are so many outstanding aspects to this incredible city at the foot of Pikes Peak. We sincerely hope that Friends House Concerts has added to the quality of your life over the last 6 or so years. We know that your presence in our home has lifted our spirits time & time again.

At the moment, our city government is in a very tight spot. Significant cuts are slated for the fire & police departments as well as the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Department. All city-funded transit services will be completely shut down in 2010. Click here for a full listing of the proposed cuts for 2010. Recent events involving the mayor & the council have fueled cynicism among the electorate, but the fact remains that these cuts will affect the functioning of this city we love. Slower emergency reaction times could actually increase your homeowners insurance rates. That alone might be more than the actual cost of the requested mil levy.

While it won't completely fix the state of the city, there is a mil levy 2C, that will allow the city to continue providing some of the services that are now in danger of disappearing. I hope you will study and eventually support this issue on the November ballot. Here's a quick video on the issues and a facebook page to support... Mail in ballots go out in Mid-October, so we need to gather as much support for the initiative as possible before then.

December - Peter Mulvey!

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 22:44:39 GMT

Our last concert of the year will be an evening with the incredible musician Peter Mulvey:    master guitar wizard, erudite song writer and just all around great guy. The depth in any Mulvey song is incredible from the mastery of tune & rhythm, to the lyrics, even down to the concept of his albums. (Remember that Peter recorded 10,000 Mornings in the Boston subway, complete with the sound of trains coming and going.)

Peter's latest album that just hit the market this month, Letters From A Flying Machine, again piques our interest.   The frame for this recording is the letters that he has written over the last decade to his nieces & nephews from the road, complete with readings from planes.... The release date was just last week, so I'm not finding any reviews for this press time, but we will update as we find them.

Here is a great recent recording of Peter up at KBCO Studio C up in Boulder.   There is another Youtube video with almost 16,000 views - proving what an incredible player Mulvey is...

Escape from the craziness of the holiday season and join us where you will NEVER have to fake having a good time!

November - A Taste of Texas

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 21:16:45 GMT

Years ago it was too hot to do concerts here at the house, so at the last moment we moved Eliza Gilkyson & her band over to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. We've wanted to have her back here at the house ever since. For those who have faithfully watched for her return - your wait is just about over.

Join us in November for an intimate evening here at the house with Eliza Gilkyson & Nina Gerber. We're so behind bringing Eliza here that she has brought out 2 CDs since her concert here in 2005. The most recent, Beautiful world, has garnered some great reviews:

New York Times
"lush and passionate...edgy lyrics with piercing imagery"

Austin Chronicle
"cathartic to the point of jubilation, brimming with radio-polished tunes"

When the Great Correction Comes , the song that inspired the recent CD turned out (unfortunately) to be rather prophetic. Graham Green provides a thoughtful review here. You might also want to check out a recent concert review here.

(Whitney confesses that one of her all time favorite songs remains Gilkyson's Requiem written in the wake of the Katrina.)

Eliza will be joined by a true musician's musician, Nina Gerber. Her mastery of the guitar is evidenced by her accompaniment of any of the following artists: Kate Wolf, Nanci Griffith, Greg Brown, Lucy Kaplansky, Mollie O'Brien, Dave Alvin, Karla Bonoff, John Gorka, Cheryl Wheeler, Tom Paxton, and many others.