house concerts and 21st century touring

All Wood and Stones has been of the most talked about records at the music conferences I’ve attended in the past few years.

John Batdorf and James Lee Stanley are excellent (and busy!) performers in their own right, so it would be an achievement for this recording to be just as good as the sum of its parts. But gather up a few house concert hosts at a conference, and listen to the superlatives fly.

Can you imagine what the Rolling Stones songs would have sounded like if Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were California boys with acoustic guitars? Would Satisfaction, Ruby Tuesday, or Last Time have been as powerful if they had been played on acoustic guitars and filled with vocal harmonies?

Curious?

So were James Lee Stanley and John Batdorf, purveyors of acoustic rock music for decades. They took 11 Rolling Stones classics and turned them into something totally unheard of. You don’t have to live in California or play acoustic guitar to be enchanted by “All Wood and Stones” … an amazing collection of Rolling Stones tunes played on acoustic guitars and brimming with joyous vocal harmonies.

Have a listen, grab a copy, and email these gentlemen to inquire about their touring schedules. I think it would be easy to get your friends to come over to listen to a set of this material. Make sure I get an invite.

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I received 50 recommendations in the first 24 hours! You guys are terrific, and I know that everyone who uses the site will benefit from it. It will take a while to get them all in the database, but thank you… and keep them coming!

http://www.concertsinyourhome.com/recommendations.html

Here are some of my favorites so far…

Joe Crookston did an outstanding job.  Really connected with the audience.  Had them singing at lot (which is something - considering we were mostly Presbyterians).  Several people nearly rolled out of their chairs laughing.

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James Hurley has played for us several times to very enthusiastic audience response.  
Great musician, for all ages, great humor.  We’ve had folks ask us to bring him back time and again.

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John Wort Hannam is so amazing that when we couldn’t fit him nto our regular schedule, we went out-of-pocket to give him to our friends as a Christmas present at our annual “thank you” party for our audience. JOhn’s great song about Halifax Pier 21 (Canada’s version of Ellis Island), where his parents immigrated, is just the beginning of the Canadian historical connection in his songs.  

Based out for Fort McLeod, Alberta, he writes equally poignantly about the east and west coasts as well as his beloved prairies. Think comparisons to Ian Tyson, but a little less countrified (no cowboy hats here!)  John calls his music “blue collar”, and definitely connects with the stories of working mena and women, from farms, to mines, to factories…. to the world’s oldest profession!  Singing along is encouraged and made easy by great tags. My absolute favourite concert experience in a long list of wonderful evenings.

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Jack Williams is an exceptional performer, mixing incredible guitar work, excellent original lyrics, and  masterful narrative to weave a delightful, thought-provoking, and  witty delivery that very few musicians can match. He never fails to draw a crowd of appreciative listeners. Highly recommended!

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Joe Jencks - This guy is great! He is a trained singer with a powerful and wonderful voice, a great guitar player and a talented songwriter/storyteller.

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Marc Gunn connects with his audience and is able to tailor the music - straight Celtic, or folk/filk, etc. to what folks want to hear.  he is also highly personable and just a nice person!

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Richard Gilewitz - A perfect house concert!  The sets were just the right length, the music was beautiful and the stories were of so entertaining.  I can’t wait to have him back again.

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Stevie Coyle and Roy Schneider (2 separate shows) were simply awesome…great original music as well as warm, funny and personable. I’d welcome them both back any time.

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Beth Wood put on an absolutely outstanding show. Her vocal range and incredible talent on the guitar wowed our audience. You will never go wrong booking Beth Wood for a House Concert.

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We’ve booked Hans York again for October and have gone to see him play at other venues.  
His guitar playing is outstanding, great songs, stories, humored high energy performer.
Any time Hans can play our venue, we welcome him!

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Gove Scrivener was very personable with everyone.  Blew everyone away with vocals, guitar and autoharp.  The best possible show.  I would do that again for sure.

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Siobhan Quinn & Michael Bowers are a very talented duet. Siobhan has a beautiful voice and is a great performer. Very warm and talented pair.

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and thanks for this one!
Fran Snyder really connected with our audience and put on a great show. PLUS, he helped us make our series even better with lots of hints and tips. What he does as an artist as well as a House Concert promoter is invaluable. Thanks for coming to Nebraska, Fran!

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I did this pretty quickly, and didn’t include the author’s names. Those names do appear in the actual recommendations in artist profiles. What are you waiting for? Check out some artists!

Best,

Franman

Find out more or send in your recommendations (check qualifications).

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Ouch.
Slain by a song again today.

Serenity Road got paved today
One willow with two carved hearts got in the way.

Serenity Road, from the new CD, “My Blue Garden,” by any Annie and Rod Capps.

Annie and Rod Capps are familiar names (OK, friends) for anyone who attends Folk Alliance conferences. Super-genial, understated musicians that will rip your heart out with a song if you put your guard down. You’ve been warned… and you’ll be charmed.

For: fans of song, especially those who prefer traditional-ish delivery that belies the clean, world-class production.

Check out and pick up their CD.
Book them for a house concert.
You’ll be delighted on both counts.

Fran

PS - We have so many talented artists at CIYH - I would love to have more reviews to print on this blog. If you’ve got a little spare time, writing skill, and genuine love of the traveling troubadour (ones you don’t work with) - call or write me.
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