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Past Concerts:

The Steel Wheels w/Susan Herndon
Friday January 13, 2012

The Steel Wheels are truly an Americana band, rooted in musical styles that explore the territories between blues and bluegrass, old-time sing-alongs and foot-stompin' fiddle tunes. They are subtle innovators who respect the past but whistle their own tunes, layering in rich textures and decidedly modern energy to forge a new sound. The band shines exceptionally in their live shows, exhibiting palpable chemistry, energy, and musicianship that inspire comparisons to The Avett Brothers, Old Crow Medicine Show, and The Legendary Shack Shakers. Their last album, Red Wing, garnered widespread critics' praise and was met with tremendous success on the radio. 2010 was a breakout year for The Steel Wheels with 5 nominations from the Independent Music Awards and numerous placements on "best of the year" lists. It spent 13 weeks on the Americana Music Association Top 40 radio charts, topping out at #15 as well as cracking the top 10 of the EuroAmericana charts. Red Wing ranked #70 of the top 100 Americana albums of 2010 and #2 of all independent releases (Americana Music Association). The Steel Wheels are currently on their "Down Low Tour," which means that concert attendees get an exclusive opportunity to purchase their new album Lay Down Lay Low before anyone else - before it is even pre-released to radio!

Susan Herndon is an Oklahoma-based singer-songwriter whose latest album, the Lloyd Maines-produced All Fall Down, is a collection of songs that includes country, pop, blues, rock, reggae, bluegrass, jug-band, a ballad, a poetry-ramble, and a French song. The unifying thread being, "quite simply, she has one of the sweetest and most comforting female voices... of course it doesn't hurt that she's also a gifted songwriter." Susan will open the show at 7:30 pm, and the Steel Wheels go on at 8:00 pm. Coffee and water will be provided. Bring a friend and a snack to share. $15 suggested donation, but no one will be turned away.

Twilight Hotel
Friday December 2, 2011

Twilight Hotel is the musical partnership of Brandy Zdan & Dave Quanbury. Together they possess an elusive chemistry and musical style that is dark, moody and rooted in a nostalgic passion for scratchy records and vintage guitar tones. They combine a rock n roll sensibility, compelling songwriting, and haunting arrangements while standing comfortably outside your predictable genre box.

Hailing from the fertile music scene of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Zdan & Quanbury have been combining their talents for 8 years and now make their home in Austin, Texas. In 2008, they released their sophomore album 'Highway Prayer,' which received critical praise both nationally & internationally, including a debut at #2 on the Euro Americana Chart, a Western Canadian Music Award for Outstanding Roots Album Duo/Group, and a 2009 JUNO nomination for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year. Their latest release 'When the Wolves Go Blind' further defines Twilight Hotel's sound and received 2011 Canadian Folk Music Awards nominations for Contemporary Album of the Year and Pushing the Boundaries. From the hypnotic ride of the title track to the cinematic landscape of 'The Darkness,' the album is infused with a sense of travel and reflection.

"Most of the songs on the album were co-written between the two of us while we were touring 'Highway Prayer,'" says Zdan. "The experiences we had out there on the road and the feeling we'd have coming home to Winnipeg in the winter informed the lonely lap-steel lament 'Frozen Town,' and the odyssey 'Mahogany Veneer.' In the past we'd written third person narratives about seedy characters and Americana but this time around we realized that we were becoming the subjects of our writing."

Paper Moon Shiners is a collective of some of Austin's finest and most in-demand musicians. Elena Antinelli, Frank Meyer, Oliver Steck, and Stanley Smith perform a thoroughly entertaining mix of Jazz, Blues, and Skiffle. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Paper Moon Shiners open the show at 7:30. $10 suggested donation, but no one will be turned away.







The 2011 Kerrville New Folk Winners
Thursday November 10, 2011

Now in its fortieth year, the Kerrville Folk Festival is one of the world's premier destinations for folk music fans and performers, and the New Folk competition is a favorite part of festival. In the interest of identifying the best up-and-coming songwriters, eight hundred entries were narrowed down to thirty-two finalists, putting them in the company of The Flatlanders, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Nanci Griffith, Tish Hinojosa, Lyle Lovett, Robert Earl Keen Jr., James McMurtry, Jimmy LaFave, Shawn Colvin, and Slaid Cleaves. Despite the brutal heat and mid-afternoon time slot, the 2011 finalists played to a packed house of musicians and music fans. After the fun but difficult job of listening to and evaluating each performer, judges Michael Camp, JohnSmith, and Patrice Pike selected this year's six winners: Mai Bloomfield, Megan Burtt, David Moss, Cassie Peterson, Grace Pettis, and A.J. Roach. Five of the six (Burtt, Moss, Peterson, Pettis, and Roach) are touring central Texas house concerts and listening rooms, and will play at Open Ears Concerts on Thursday night before ending the tour on Friday with a performance at the Rice Festival in Fischer.

The tour is sponsored by the Texas Folk Music Foundation and Cabin 10, Inc.


Sarah McQuaid with Sarah Dinan
Saturday October 22, 2011

Sarah McQuaid was born in Spain, raised in Chicago, holds dual Irish and American citizenship, attended university in France, and now resides with her family in Cornwall, England. Her diverse international background makes her music cosmopolitan while retaining a touch of rustic familiarity. She crafts elegant original songs and performs with a warm and earthy voice, engaging stage presence, and eloquent guitar style. She also interprets traditional Irish and Appalachian folk songs, Elizabethan ballads, and 1930s jazz numbers. She has a remarkable ability for retaining the soul of these classics while adding a touch of her own personality. Sarah is touring extensively across the US, performing shows and teaching guitar workshops on the DADGAD tuning. She is also working on a new CD to be released in early 2012.

Sarah Dinan's love of music and storytelling is evident in her performance and her voice has been described by both critics and audiences as "breathtaking," "crystal clear," "angelic," "beautiful," and "enchanting." Sarah sings a variety of genres and has performed with some of Texas’ most respected Celtic and Folk musicians. She has a natural aptitude and appreciation for folk music and her clear alto voice is perfect for the lilting songs and haunting ballads she sings. Sarah is joined by Alexis Buffum on fiddle, Dana Martin on guitar and Nick Mitchell on drums and percussion.

Sarah's Tour Diary and photos.


Arborea
Friday September 23, 2011

Arborea is husband and wife duo Buck and Shanti Curran. Based in Maine, they have been touring heavily in North America and Europe behind their latest CD "Red Planet." In May, they were featured on NPR's World Cafe: Next, which described their music as "a very quiet, spiritual, entrancing style of folk." Sid Smith of BBC writes that they "aren't strictly speaking folk, country, or ambient but during the 32 minutes of their third album, the record drifts smokily somewhere between them all. [They] construct a fragile, resonant world with a lingering Americana after-taste, shimmering with the same wide-open spaces Ry Cooder's captured so well on Paris, Texas." I too was entranced by their music when I first heard them at SXSW, and was equally impressed with their open-ness, generosity, and parenting skills. Buck is also a luthier who designs and hand-builds beautiful looking and sounding guitars, and Shanti is also an accomplished photographer.

Barbara Nesbitt is an Austin-based singer-songwriter whose unique powerful voice is at once plaintive and harrowing while sweet and melodic. Barbara will open the show at 7:30 PM. Bring a friend, bring a snack to share, hear some amazing music, and meet some amazing human beings. $10 suggested donation.

Sixth Annual Variety Show and Silent Auction a Success!
Saturday August 20, 2011

We had over three hours of performances and over 100 attendees, and we raised over $2,000 to help keep the concert series going. Many thanks to Paula, Sharon, Susy, and Peggy for putting together the silent auction; to David for being MC; to Andy for the sound; to the generous people who donated and purchased auction items; and to everyone who participated.

Videos: First Half Second Half


Nathan Hamilton
Friday July 22, 2011

Nathan performed in our very first show as part of Pop Stars! Dads Who Rock. However, both before and since then, he has had a stellar career as a songwriter, singer, and bandleader. His solo and band records - with The Good Medicine Band, aka The Sharecroppers, and No Deal - have all received critical praise and earned him a reputation as one of Texas' favorite sons. We heard many old favorites and some new ones from his upcoming CD "Beauty Wit and Speed." The Better Halves opened the show with great singing, songwriting, and guitar picking. Their new CD "Tete a Tete" will be out next month and they will have a CD release show at Artz Ribhouse at the end of August.

View the video of Nathan's performance.


Jeff Talmadge
Friday June 17, 2011

Many thanks to Jeff and Jan Seides.

You can view a video of Jan's set here.


Jon Brooks
Friday May 13, 2011

According to The Toronto Star, "Jon Brooks stands among an exalted few in the enduring Canadian song tradition - Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Fred Eaglesmith, Bruce Cockburn - as a lyricist, composer and performer with a fierce commitment to his craft and vision." His 2010 Kerrville New Folk performance confirmed this praise and earned his status as a New Folk Winner. In his own words, "I'm not interested in 'happy songs' - I've chosen to write healing songs and, for that reason, I'm obliged to reveal a wound or two now and then. I'm even less interested in writing 'unhappy songs' - I want to write hopeful songs, inspiring songs and I expect I owe today's listener some hopeful argument - some legitimate reason - as to why we should believe our present world could be improved, or healed. The highest aim of song is to invoke empathy - to offer that rare sight of ourselves in others. In this sense, the folk singer is simply trying to politicize love, hence my contention that today's songwriter should be a lobbyist for compassion to be our principle representative in government office."

Doors open at 6:30 PM. Bring all your family and friends, and a snack to share. Listen online at www.jonbrooks.ca or you can get a preview on KOOP radio the day of the show on the "This Great White North" show.

Show starts at 7:30 PM. Doors open at 6. $15 suggested donation.


Tom Waits Hoot Night!
Friday April 8, 2011

Marilyn Rucker hosted several of Austin’s finest musicians as they performed some of their (and your) favorite Tom Waits songs. In addition to Marilyn,performers included Mark Ambrose, Steve Brooks, Gary Feist, Jimmy Fenno, Matt Hiland, Dennis Jones, Frank Meyer, an Seides, Jean Synodinos, and Brandy Zdan and Dave Quanbury (aka Twilight Hotel). Over $300 was raised for the St. Andrew's Food Pantry.

Steve Brooks with Mo McMorrow
March 11, 2011

Wow that was fun! Many thanks to Steve and Mo. If you missed it, you can still check out their web sites: www.stevebrooks.net and www.myspace.com/momcmorrow.


Nakia with Jean Synodinos
February 25, 2011

A very warm thank you goes out to Nakia and Jean Synodinos. We laughed, we cried, we closed our eyes and swayed as the music lifted us out of our daily grinds. In short, it was a wonderful evening of music, friendship, and food. Both artists performed both old favorites and new songs to be released soon. Watch for big news from Nakia in the near future!

Here's a video of Jean's set:


Lynne Hanson and Lynn Miles
January 21, 2011

These two amazingly talented chanteuses Canadiennes delivered songs of love, death, abuse, despair, hope, and joy. We thank them both for a wonderful evening of music. Check out the video below of Lynne Hanson's set.


Corinne West and Kelly Joe Phelps
November 12, 2010

Matt Harlan’s precise finger-picking, comfortable and comforting vocal delivery, and introspective lyrics set the perfect tone for the evening. Corinne West and Kelly Joe Phelps followed with a symphony of interlacing guitar parts and perfectly melded vocals that far surpassed the performances on their CD Magnetic Skyline, and that’s saying a lot. The audience was cradled in a womb-like atmosphere – miraculously complex, organic, liquid, soft, dark, and warm – while also recognizing that something momentous, exciting, and perhaps dangerous is imminent. They continue to perfect and evolve a sound that is a uniquely balanced and natural offspring of two fertile creativities and masters of their crafts. It was a magical musical evening for me and I hope it was for everyone else. Many thanks to Corinne, Kelly Joe, Matt, and to everyone who attended – especially those of you traveled far to be here.


Sara Hickman
October 15, 2010

We had another great crowd and another fabulous time. Many thanks to Sara, Hilary, and Stuart for their soulful and energetic performances. Also, thanks to Troop 917 for their help in promoting and producing the show!


Austin Lounge Lizards
September 24, 2010

We had our biggest show to date on September 24, with over 120 in attendance! Thank you very much to the Austin Lounge Lizards and Marilyn Rucker for putting on a fantastic show, and to everyone who attended and assisted with making it happen.


St. Andrew's Variety Show and Silent Auction
August 21, 2010

Wow! We cannot say thank you enough to all of the volunteers, generous donors, auction bidders, audience, and performers who participated in the Variety Show and Silent Auction. It was a marvelously fun evening and we raised over $900 to help sustain and improve the concert series. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!


Leonard Cohen Hoot Night!
May 1, 2010, 7pm

For four decades, Leonard Cohen has been one of the most important and influential songwriters of our time, a figure whose body of work achieves greater depths of mystery and meaning as time goes on. His songs have set a virtually unmatched standard in their seriousness and range. Sex, spirituality, religion, power – he has relentlessly examined the largest issues in human lives, always with a full appreciation of how elusive answers can be to the vexing questions he raises. But those questions, and the journey he has traveled in seeking to address them, are the ever-shifting substance of his work, as well as the reasons why his songs never lose their overwhelming emotional force.

Songwriters the world over list Cohen at the top of their influences and inspirations. Several of these gathered, including Marilyn Rucker (our host for the evening), Jean Synodinos, Gary Feist, and Dennis Jones. It was a fun night of song and poetry. A collection was taken to benefit the St. Andrew’s Food Pantry, which provides food, showers, and comfort to over 200 families each month.


Tom Pacheco

We were honored to host Tom Pacheco in a rare visit to the south from a legend of the folk underground. He has written songs with and performed with the likes of The Band, Doug Kershaw, Flaco Jimenez, Pete Seeger, Stephen Bruton, and many others. Matt Harlan, whose new CD "Tips and Compliments" debuted at #1 on the Euro Americana Charts, opened.

Tom Yeager, of Songbird Sanctuary, did a lot of research and wrote a couple of excellent articles about Mr. Pacheco. The following paragraphs are his work. Many thanks to Mr. Yeager for introducing me and many others to this amazing songwriter, for helping kick-start arrangements for this show, for his excellent writing, and for letting us borrow his work.

Tom Pacheco began studying Flamenco and classical guitar at age 10 from his father, Tony Pacheco, a jazz guitarist who played with Django Reinhardt and performed solo throughout the clubs of Europe. At 19, Tom released his first album of original folk songs and began playing in the Greenwich Village basket house clubs in New York City. That was in 1965 and well before the arrival of Jack Hardy or David Massengill, other heroes of the post folk revival era in the Village.

That dangerous folk scare of the late fifties had died down or rather had morphed into folk rock. Tom rode that wave then and still does, but he has always kept one foot firmly cemented in the early part of that period embracing the influences of Pete Seeger, Phil Ochs, and early Bob Dylan. Tom's compassion for our world and for what it should be and his condemnation for those who prevent that while pocketing the proceeds guides a strong current of Tom's work. Two of Tom's best lines in this style come from "Rebel Spring" and speak well to this: "Somewhere we've lost the reigns of our destinies/to the sweet songs of shepherds we don't see". We must think of Tom as one of the great protest singers, but he is much more than that in the same way that Woody Guthrie was much more.

"A Master craftsman... In many ways [Tom's] is a voice crying in the wilderness, just as Guthrie's was back in the time of the great depression, and Seeger's was in the fifties - and Dylan's was, when he gave voice to those unable to express their own fears and frustrations in the early sixties. In many ways, Tom Pacheco is continuing that great tradition of putting into words those thoughts and emotions which many of us feel but are unable to express with the eloquence and conviction that he does." - Maverick Magazine, United Kingdom

Tom's populist approach and his condemnations of the clueless also contribute to the comparisons with Woody Guthrie and with Bruce Springsteen. Note these words from "Nobodies": "I'm nobody. Who are you? Maybe you're nobody, too. The world was made for the fortunate few. Nobodies just struggle on through. I'm nobody. Who are you?" And from "South Beach": "Everybody's beautiful on South Beach. Tan bodies that will knock you out, / Everyone is going to have their teeth bleached or get silicone tits that shout. / The bartenders pose like Greek gods. The waitresses are all sublime. / Everyone lives to be looked at. They've got only one enemy, TIME."

Tom excels in several styles and musical forms but some of his most compelling songs are his story songs and folk ballads. Some are well-researched histories. Others are speculative. Pete Cronquist says Tom can write a song about anything and the canon of Tom's stories proves it. The Journal of Graeme Livingston is about the man who killed Jack the Ripper, and Jessica Brown is about the woman who killed the grassy knoll gunman. The friendship of Woody Guthrie and Jack Elliot is chronicled in Woody and Jack, and there are fun tributes to Jerry Garcia and the "Last Rolling Stone." Tom takes a mind expanding ride with Hunter Thompson in Riding with Mr. Thompson. There is a dramatic 10 minute epic about Che Gueverra, a heart tugger about the bus boy who served Robert Kennedy's last meal, and an exposé on the expansionist campaigns of Teddy Roosevelt.

In his 40+ years as a professional songwriter, Tom has issued 23 LPs and CDs. His songs have been recorded by Richie Havens, Jefferson Starship, The Band, Rick Danko, Norwegian superstar Steiner Albrigtson, and others. Last November, to commemorate his 3000th(!) copyrighted song, Scotland's Loudon Castle hosted Tom in a splendid celebration concert. Tom wrote many of his songs in the years he lived in Europe, and he is far better known there than in our country. Tom's long association with The Band include them indeed being his band on one of his records, and it brought forth some co-writes and production credits by several members on Tom's recordings

"Tom Pacheco deserves to be mentioned in the same tones of reverence as John Prine, Townes Van Zant, Guy Clark and Steve Earl...Tom Pacheco is one of the most impressive singer/songwriters of our times." - Hugh Gregory, Folk Roots

For a year I have been collecting stories about Tom from various sources. Most are from early in his career, but I'll share one with you I've pieced together from the Spring of last year. It's quite a tale. It seems the worker bees in a bull-pen office of a southside Chicago organization were playing what's on your I-Pod one day and got a bingo when it was discovered that everyone had a copy of Tom's 2005 song Rebel Spring marked as a favorite. They thought this beautiful song about our devolved culture but which includes a hopeful and encouraging ending explained exactly why that organization existed. Apparently the boss's wife walked through and was so impressed upon hearing the song that the idea came up to use the song in their work. So someone called Tom and told him that they wanted to use the song. He agreed. Then they told him that they needed him to come play the song. Not hesitating a moment, he agreed, again. Easing into it like that, they then dropped the kicker and told him to start packing. They needed him tomorrow. In the middle of the night a black Suburban picked Tom up and whisked him to a New York airport. Tom is not certain where they landed, but he thinks it was in Pennsylvania. Tom was led into a busy hotel room so he could play the song for the boss's wife. Being a very polite group, introductions were made before hand: "Mr. Pacheco, may I present to you, Michele Obama?" Tom played Rebel Spring and the room was stunned. "Will you wait here a moment, Tom?" Michele asked, they all being on first name basis by that time. She returned in a minute with a calm but very busy Barack Obama. Instead of repeating "Rebel Spring," Tom played "The Man from Illinois" a song he had just completed on the plane. The jaws dropped. The song is a classic hero ballad and captures the whole mood of Barack's life and campaign including the minutiae from his books and the overall hopeful message that the Obama campaign represented. Barack and David Axelrod decided right then that Tom would accompany the campaign through a few states to warm up the crowds with his songs and to finish off with "The Man for Illinois" before Tom introduced Barack to the cheering crowds.


John Spillane
March 7, 2010

John Spillane is an Irish musician, songwriter, performer, recording artist, storyteller, poet, dreamer - a canvas filled with color and brilliance. Place him in the genre of folk, acoustic, traditional, world or pop - that’s fine with John. Whether performing solo with guitar, with gentle accompaniment, or with full band before 10, 10,000 or 100,000, John entertains, charms, and mesmerizes. John is a native of Cork, the County he lovingly describes as “the centre of the universe”, and it has been a huge creative influence on him. Vocally, he is quite unique with an almost sean nós-like element in his singing and he is said to have a voice “full of honesty, commitment and sensitivity.” John’s performances shimmer with the magic realism that permeates many of his songs as he effortlessly flits between beautiful poetry tinged with melancholy to roguish, irreverent Cork humour.

John’s awards and honors include: • Twice winner of the Meteor Award (think Irish Grammy) for Best Traditional Folk category 203 and 2006 • Irish Music Award winner • Twice winner of the prestigious Realta Song Contest 2001 and 2002 • Winner of the Top Solo Performer for 2009 by the Irish Music Association

Some quotes from the press: • "...some of the most skillfully crafted, vividly realized songs anyone has written in Ireland over the past dozen years." Earle Hitchner, premier writer/reviewer for Irish Echo and The Wall Street Journal. • "funny, quirky, massively entertaining. John is a story teller, a shanachie." Dan Regan, Founder, Kansas City Irish Festival. • "[John] writes catchy, heartfelt folk-pop songs with the bonus of actually meaning something." The Sunday Business Post (My Dark Rosaleen & The Island of Dreams). • "He's carved a niche writing melodic, compelling, simple songs. Spillane is at his best when his delivery is unforced and lyrical." Oliver P. Sweeney, The Ticket, Irish Times (My Dark Rosaleen & The Island of Dreams). • "glorious technicolour hues that transcend linguistic boundaries; world music for a new world." Siobhan Long, Irish Times (The Gaelic Hit Factory). • "these tracks exhibit Spillane’s remarkably prolific output of gorgeous, peaceful tunes." Lisa Coen, Hot Press (Hey Dreamer).

I had the good fortune to catch John’s February 21 show in Jackson, MS. It was everything I had been promised and more. He was humorous, witty, endearing, touching, and entertaining. The capacity crowd at Fenian’s Pub was laughing, crying, and singing along and really didn’t want to let him leave.

Thanks to Vicki at Onion Creek House Concerts for helping set this up.


Michael Fracasso
February 20, 2010

Thanks to Michael for a thrilling show, and thanks to everyone who came out to listen. We heard lots of old favorites and were treated to some new, not-yet-recorded songs. If you haven’t done so yet, you can listen to some of Michael’s music online at www.myspace.com/michaelfracasso.


Carrie Elkin
January 28, 2010

With the vocal fire of Patti Griffin and the lyrical rawness of Rickie Lee Jones, Carrie Elkin's songs are, at once, intimate yet universal, naked yet richly adorned. Arthur Wood of Folkwax says it best….."I have never seen a performer so in love with the act of singing. That's the gospel truth, and from what I've subsequently learned I'm not the only one to believe or state that. Onstage Elkin was simply a force of nature.” Carrie was recently chosen as a Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artist, a finalist for the prestigious NPR show Mountain Stage, and a showcasing artist for the SXSW Music Festival.

Carrie Elkin is one of those people you just can’t help but like. Her warmth, generosity, and kindness are endearing and comforting and those qualities spill over into her music. Though based in Austin, she has been touring extensively in North America and Europe behind her latest CD “The Jeopardy of Circumstance” and our January show will be one of her first after returning from the UK. You can read some of the great press she’s received on her website, and you can listen online at her MySpace site.

Thank you to everyone who came out to share the evening with us. Carrie played and sang beautifully, entertained us with some of the stories behind the songs, led us in some heartfelt sing-alongs, and even previewed some new songs planned for her upcoming CD. It was a joyous and warm evening despite the cold and rainy weather.


Danny Schmidt
November 20, 2009

On Friday November 20 we welcomed the esteemed Danny Schmidt (www.dannyschmidt.com). He played a split bill with Carrie Elkin back in January 2009, and everyone liked them both so much, we invited each back for a full show. Click here to view a video clip from that show.

His songs are deep and poetic - at once personal and universal. They cover wide-ranging topics with a wisdom far greater than the number of his years. Add his adept finger-picking guitar style and easy but sincere delivery, and he truly is one of the greats of the singer-songwriter crowd. Rich Warren of Sing Out! magazine says "He is perhaps the best new songwriter I’ve heard in the last 15 years."


Bobbie James Celebration
November 14, 2009

Local Cancer Survivor Bobbie James hosted a benefit concert at St. Andrew’s on Saturday November 14. All proceeds went to the Lance Armstrong Foundation in support of its mission to inspire and empower people affected by cancer. Performers included Lee Edwards, Vanessa Lively, Texas songwriting legend Tim Henderson, and Marilyn Rucker.


Beaver Nelson
October 17, 2009

Beaver Nelson treated us to a plethora of songs, from philosophical to spiritual to nostalgic to narrative to comical, and also enlightened us with many of the stories behind the songs. It was a wonderfully entertaining evening, and it was a pleasure hearing and talking with Mr. Nelson. We even got to hear one of his new songs from his un-named record, which will be out “sometime.” One Red Leaf was a definite winner and fills us with anticipation for the rest of this record. Thank you to everyone who attended and to everyone who helped make it such a special night.

You can listen to some of Beaver's music online here.

Telegraph Canyon
September 19, 2009

Out of over 30 new bands I heard at SXSW, Telegraph Canyon stood out as one that brings a unique sound and vision to the Americana/Roots genre. This 7-piece band from Fort Worth is well on the way to building a large following. They have been touring larger venues this summer, such as the Bass Hall in Fort Worth, the Jewel Box Theater in Seattle, and the Knitting Factory in Los Angeles. I loved their first CD and their second CD “The Tide and the Current” is also getting great reviews. The Dallas Observer said it probably better than I can: “The new disc, produced by Centro-matic's Will Johnson in Austin, is a soul-bearing, deliberately paced, at-once epic and restrained force, beautifully arranged both in its instrumentation and in its vocal harmonies. A surefire contender for best area release of 2009, the disc more than solidifies the band's rightful place among the region's best.”

I am particularly impressed with their ability to include a wide variety of instruments to achieve very specific emotionally-charged sounds. From the bowed electric guitar to the pedal steel to the B-3 organ to the toy dog xylophone, each is used to its best effect, when and only when it is needed. While complex and varied, the songs are never overwrought and nothing sounds out of place. Rather, they make their point efficiently and then leave space for the music to breathe and for the listener to contemplate.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram agrees:

"It's hard to get your fill of Telegraph Canyon, a rustic eight-piece band from Fort Worth, currently working on the follow-up to 2006's All the Good News. Guitarist/vocalist Chris Johnson spins dark-hued tales of love, loss and life that spring to life on pedal steel runs and angelic organ fills. Timeless yet immediate, it's the sound of America, torn from the depths of an observant soul."

Telegraph Canyon played a great set that included nearly all of both of their CDs. The crowd enthusiastically enjoyed the show, and the band made some new loyal fans.


The Fourth Annual St. Andrew's Variety Show and Silent Auction
Saturday August 22, 2009

A great time was had by all, and we raised over $800 to benefit improvements to the sound system. Big thanks to everyone who helped put on the show, attended, and donated!


School's Out For Summer! with The Authors
Friday June 12, 2009, 7:00 PM

In honor of their completing another year of school, and in thanks for their assistance with Peace Camp, Open Ears Concerts presented the Schools Out for Summer party for the youth in our community. Local indie rockers The Authors headlined the show for an enthusiastic and appreciative crowd. The Authors have a new self-titled EP available at Waterloo Records and on CD Baby.


Jennings and Keller
June 6, 2009

Based out of Miami, Florida, Jennings and Keller bring a wealth of experience to their collaboration, from the Broadway musicals of New York to the honky tonks of West Texas. Their music is called "Fusion Folk Americana” - a blend of many different elements that comes from their vast and wide-ranging musical backgrounds. With the release of their debut CD, Susan's House, Jennings and Keller are quickly gaining recognition throughout the country. In 2007 they were finalists in five songwriting contests. Jennings & Keller have completed their new CD As the Universe Unfolds, available for purchase in May 2009. (www.jenningsandkeller.com) Suggested donation: $10:00


David Roth
March 6, 2009

A powerful new singer-songwriter has reached our hearts. With voices like David’s still singing, there’s a certainty that the candle will remain lit, the hope reasserted, and the dream still sung — Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul & Mary)

For over two decades, David Roth has been writing, singing, and teaching music, reaching and inspiring a multitude of people.

Landslide top vote-getter at the Falcon Ridge (New York) Folk Festival’s Most-Wanted competition (1996) and NAIRD Indie nominee (singer-songwriter album of the year; 1994) for Digging Through My Closet, David Roth has gained national attention for his unique songs, moving stories, and powerful singing and subject matter.


The Therapy Sisters and Las Gabachachas
February 21, 2009

A portion of this concert's proceeds were donated to Latinitas, a nonprofit organization focused on informing, entertaining, and inspiring young Latinas to grow into healthy, confident, and successful adults.

To learn more about, book, or schedule interviews with these artists, contact Maurine McLean at 512-HI-SISSY (512-447-4779).


Carrie Elkin and Danny Schmidt
January 10, 2009

Austin is chock-full of talented folk singer-songwriters, but this show brings two of the city’s finest to St. Andrew’s:

Listen to song samples of Carrie and Danny on MySpace.

A portion of the proceeds benefited the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians.


Cady Finlayson and band (Celtic)
November 15, 2008

Spirited Irish fiddle with a global twist, Cady Finlayson and her band presented their high-energy show blending traditional Irish fiddle tunes with American folk melodies and world music percussion.

Cady’s international band includes Dublin-born singer Marina Meyler, French guitarist Vita Tanga, and Irish percussionist Shane O’Sullivan. Doc Grauzer, harper and storyteller of the Irish tradition, opened the show.

A portion of the proceeds benefited the Cancer Research Foundation.


Austin Civic Wind Ensemble
October 25, 2008

Now celebrating 33 years of performing free concerts in Austin, the Austin Civic Wind Ensemble includes both amateur and professional musicians. The mission of the ACWE is twofold:

In its “Best of Austin 2006” issue, the Austin Chronicle named the ACWE Austin’s “Best Excuse to Be a Band Geek Again.”


Bruce Jones & the Monotones
October 13, 2007

With Special Guest: Marilyn Rucker!

Bruce Jones is a Texas songwriter who spent 16 years playing bass with Austin icon and legend Omar Dykes (Omar and the Howlers).

During the time he was in Omar and the Howlers, the band had a CBS recording contract, produced a number of albums, and toured all over the United States, Canada, and Europe, appearing with such acts as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Bonnie Raitt, Johnny Winter, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, and many more.

In 2004, Jones released Flashpoint Sessions, his first album of all original material, including his song “Fight Like a Girl,” which was a winner in the Austin Songwriter’s Group 2004 Songwriting Contest.



Instruments for Peace, International
February 24, 2007

Featuring and hosted by Richard Bowden, Barbara Kooyman with very special guests from Atash

A mix of Americana, Persian, and Arabic Music. Free and family-friendly show.


Ana Egge
September 9, 2006

Opened by Southpaw Jones.

Proceeds benefited Foundation for the Homeless IHN.


Nels Andrews
August 12, 2006

Jeffrey Richards (banjo).

Opened by Mo Pair, Texas songwriter.

Proceeds benefited Grace Coggins and Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy


Marilyn Rucker
June 24, 2006

CD release party for Everybody’s Somebody Else’s Weirdo — with loads of special guests.

Marilyn Rucker has played with The Therapy Sisters, Maryann Price, The Big Band Sound of Austin, Emily Kaitz and Mary Reynolds, and a score of other groups over the years.

She’s won regional, national, and international songwriting awards in several different genres, including jazz, singer-songwriter, and cabaret.

Marilyn’s masterful playing and singing reflect a playful mix of influences from Diana Krall, Tom Lehrer, Norah Jones, Blossom Dearie, Dave Frishberg, and Mose Allison.


AJ Roach and the Three Percent Mandate
February 11, 2006

Featuring AJ Roach with W. Alisa Rose on fiddle and Adam Roszkiewicz on mandolin and guitar.

Opened by Mo Pair, Texas songwriter, and the spirited Irish fiddle of Cady Finlayson.

Proceeds benefited the David Lewis Memorial Education Fund, a trust fund set up for David’s three young daughters. (David was a Sago miner and lost his life in the disaster in January 2006.)


Hurricane Katrina Benefit Concert
October 9, 2005

Featuring:

Proceeds benefited Foundation for the Homeless, Interfaith Hospitality Network, Katrina.


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Links to
Coming Events:


Church-Wide
Garage Sale
Sat., Feb. 4,
8am - 1pm

Souper Bowl Sunday
Lunch, February 5th
Open Ears Concert
The Flyin A's
opening:
Danny Britt
Friday, Feb. 10th
Doors 6:30pm
Show 7:30pm
$10 suggested
donation
Gumbo Cook-Off
February 18th
6-8:30pm

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For Children:
Spiritual Formation

Activities
For Youth