Event Detail
Karter Jaymes with Molly Hagen and Alyson Greenfield
Thursday, June 28, 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM · Add to Calendar
Ebenezers Coffeehouse
WHO IS KARTER JAYMES?...A MOST VERSATILE ACOUSTIC SINGER/ SONGWRITER…HE WAS THE DRUMMER (KNOWN AS JAMES S.CARTER)FOR MANY YEARS WITH THE LATE, LEGENDARY TEDDY PENDERGRASS. KARTER’S SONGS CAN’T BE DEFINED BY ANY ONE CATEGORY. WRITING STYLES RANGE FROM SOUL, BLUES, FOLK AND ALTERNATIVE SOUNDS. A BLEND OF SEASONED, SOULFUL VOCAL TONES TAKE LYRICAL FLIGHT INTO THE VERSATILITY OF TODAY. KARTER JAYMES IS NOW A GRAMMY NOMINATED ARTIST FOR THE ALBUM, “JOY”, RECORDED BY TEDDY PENDERGRASS, WHICH COUNTED GOLD AND PLATINUM WORLDWIDE. HIS HISTORY AND INFLUENCE IS A WIDE STRETCH, AS HIS SONGS HAVE BEEN RECORDED AND SAMPLED BY THE INDUSTRY’S FINEST, SOUL SINGER JAHEIM’S “AIN’T LEAVIN’ WITHOUT YOU”, TEDDY PENDERGRASS, “LOVE 4-2”, THE WHATNAUTS, “HELP IS ON THE WAY”, NEW YORK’S HIP-HOP LEGENDS DE LA SOUL’S, “RING,RING,RING”. MUSIC ALSO SAMPLED BY KAY-GEE, PETE ROCK AND JEREMY DUPREE. ALSO FEATURED ON MARTIN LAWRENCE’S “THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE&HATE;” MOVIE SOUNDTRACK. KARTER HAS SHARED THE STAGE WITH SINGER/SONGWRITERS JEFFREY GAINES, ANTHONY DAVID, ROY AYERS, EDWIN MCCAIN, JOSH HOGE, SPENCER DAY AND MANY OTHERS. KARTER HAS HIS OWN COMFORTABLE PRESENCE AND PERSONALITY ON STAGE AND EXPRESSES HIS LOVE AND PASSION THROUGH MUSIC…IN THE IMAGE OF SOUL…KARTER JAYMES
Cost: $10
For more information, visit http://www.karterjaymesmusic.com/
with Molly Hagen
Website: http://www.mollyhagen.com/
Molly Hagen has played bass for a heavy metal band and has sung coloratura soprano arias. She wrote a boy-band song when she was in 5th grade, realized she could sing while belting Mariah Carey songs to torture her brother, and got her first taste of rejection when she auditioned for 9th grade chorus with Steve Miller Band’s, “The Joker.” But by the time she graduated from college in 2008, Molly moved back to her hometown of Washington, DC feeling comfortable in her role as a singer/songwriter. She has been a prominent face on the area’s music scene ever since.
Molly has performed at local DC-area venues such as the 930 Club, Rock and Roll Hotel, Jammin’ Java, and Iota Club and Cafe. She has toured cities on the east coast and has made frequent stops in New York, playing venues such as the Bitter End and Angels and Kings. In addition to writing and performing, Molly hosts a monthly open mic for young artists as a member of the Board of Directors of the Songwriter’s Association of Washington. Molly plays solo or with a full band, and has shared the stage with many local artists, as well as nationally-known artists such as Bruce Hornsby, Martin Sexton and Basia Bulat. She credits her musical influences of Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, and Norah Jones (to name a few…) for spawning her blues-country-pop sound.
and Alyson Greenfield
Website: http://alysongreenfield.com/
ALYSON GREENFIELD experiments with synthesizers, glockenspiels, chord organs, drums, autoharps, and beatboxers to create her “eclectic sound” (AM New York), chock-full of “satiating and seductive songs” (LA Examiner). As well as having shared the stage with indie-folk favorites Jenny Owen Youngs and Holly Miranda, Greenfield is no stranger to the electro and hip-hop scenes. Future Rock’s remix of her song “Understand the Sky” was released on the Chicago-based electronica trio’s most recent album, and the original version of the song currently appears in Josh Stolberg’s (Good Luck Chuck, Pirhana 3D) newest feature film Conception. Greenfield’s most recent release, Rock Out With Your Glockenspiel Out, an album of hip-hop covers which was named the #2 Covers EP of 2011 by Cover Me has gained media attention, especially for her “re-inventions” (Cover Me) of Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” on a glockenspiel and L.L. Cool J’s “Mama Said Knock You Out” on a baby grand piano, which have led to feature performances at both the 2010 and 2011 American Beatboxing Championships, alongside Rahzel, Raaka (Dialted Peoples), and DJ Johnny Juice (Public Enemy). Greenfield was named “One of the 5 CMJ 2011 Acts You Should Have Seen” by The Faster Times, an “Upcoming NYC Artist” by NYC’s The Deli, and was one of the first 5 artists chosen to record at Converse’s Rubber Tracks studio in Brooklyn. Greenfield’s engaging and charismatic live performances where “the stage becomes her playroom” (Venus Zine), have been called “amazing…funny, spontaneous” (Thy Daily Noise) and “mesmerizing to watch” (Music Crush Girl). In addition to being a songwriter and performer, Greenfield is also the Founder/Director of the Tinderbox Music Festival, an annual Brooklyn-based event showcasing emerging female musicians, and giving back to NYC non-profits empowering young women through the arts. The festival has grown quickly since its formation in 2010, garnering press from The New York Times, Time Out New York, Billboard, Brooklyn Vegan, and more.
Bee’s Kneez, Rod Picott, Matt Cranstoun, and Rebekah Jean
Thursday, June 21, 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM · Add to Calendar
Ebenezers Coffeehouse
Singer-Songwriter Night:
Bee’s Kneez:
http://www.wix.com/beeskneez/new-bees-kneez
Rod Picott:
http://www.myspace.com/rodpicott
Matt Cranstoun:
http://www.mattcranstoun.com/
Rebekah Jean:
http://www.rebekahjean.org/
Cost: $8
Liz Longley with Lisa-Marie Fischer and Jayme Salivati
Friday, July 27, 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM · Add to Calendar
Ebenezers Coffeehouse
In the short time since her graduation from Boston’s renowned Berklee College of Music, singer-songwriter Liz Longley has assembled quite an impressive resume. While best known for her stop-you-in-your-tracks voice, Liz has quickly built a reputation as an accomplished songwriter, crafting intimately personal portraits through her music. Liz’s ever expanding fan base is not the only group to acknowledge her talent. In 2010 alone, Liz took home top prizes at some of the most prestigious songwriting competitions in the country; the BMI John Lennon Songwriting Scholarship Competition, the International Acoustic Music Awards and the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest.
While she has frequently opened shows for established artists such as Mindy Smith, Nanci Griffith, Paula Cole, Livingston Taylor, Amos Lee, Shawn Colvin, Colin Hay and America, it is becoming clear that Liz is coming into her own as a performer. The Washington Post declared that she is “destined for a bigger audience,” Dig Boston called her “a rising acoustic sensation” and even John Mayer is a fan, calling her music “gorgeous, just gorgeous.” Most recently, executives at Sirius XM caught wind of Liz’s cover of Van Morrison’s hit “Moondance” and added it into regular rotation, along with her award-winning original song, “When You’ve Got Trouble.” They even invited her to perform live in their studios - not too shabby for a recent college grad. Liz may blush at the mention of her many accomplishments, but, if the last year is any indication, the momentum won’t be slowing anytime soon. Liz is currently touring the country in support of her latest album, Hot Loose Wire, and preparing for a move to Nashville, TN where she hopes to write and record with some of the best in the business.
Cost: $10
For more information, visit http://www.lizlongley.com/
with Lisa-Marie Fischer
Website: http://www.lisamariefischer.com/fr_home.cfm
Lisa-Marie Fischer has been around music for most of her young, 19-year old life, and it shows through with her first full-length self-titled release. Weaving in stories of love, observations about life, and wisdom beyond her years, Lisa has put together a pop-friendly album full of color, depth, and charm.
“The Redemption Song” starts out the album with a story about a barfly who can’t get beyond the life he’s living to where he wants to be. Although the sentiment and idea is solid, there are a few rough lines and the song falters a little. For example, “You play all your beautiful songs/with your beautiful, whisky voice.” Overall, though, the song flows nicely, with two guitar tracks strumming through the dark lyrics that have Lisa telling the story of a broken man who talks about redemption but remains stuck in a lifestyle going nowhere.
The album kicks into full swing with a wonderful, well-written ballad “From the Heart.” Fiddles swing in and out of the catchy, upbeat tune and bittersweet lyrics. “Everything I did, I did from the heart/from the bottom of my heart/for what I love and what I’m afraid of/now this empty feeling just won’t stop.” Lisa shows some amazing songwriting skills on this track, and listeners will be sure to rank it among the album’s best. “Come Here” is a sweet, nostalgic story of love, with a simple guitar-and-harmonica instrumental and heart-tugging lyrics like, “Cause the world spins on like every sad song on the radio in some Cadillac.” Lisa knows how to turn on the charm, and does it well on this one. “Keep The Memory” slows the album down with another country ballad talking about the value of a love remembered. Again and again in this album, Lisa uses word pictures and well-arranged musical landscapes to pull the listener into a beautiful place of longing and affection.
“Valentine’s Day” is a tongue-in-cheek observation about being single on Valentine’s Day, and has several laugh-out-loud lines. “When I go outside, I just see lovers holding hands/But who wants to see lovers holding hands?” There is a tangible wit and sauciness here, and Lisa treats it well, diving into the spirit of the song with great vocals, pop-friendly harmonies, and a wonderful violin solo towards the end. One of the highlights on the album is the song “Two Hearts,” which starts out with a wonderful guitar sparkle and some very powerful songwriting among the ranks of Taylor Swift’s better work. Every listener will find something to love in this track, from the emotionally resonant lyrics to the beautiful guitar hooks. “Two Hearts” is a story well told, and a song worthy of much radio play. It is easily the best track on the album.
Other memorable tracks include “Key West,” another well-written love and heartbreak story with charming, vulnerable lines and an acoustic, honest feel, and “On the Road,” which ends the album with a waltz about life, growing up, getting your heart broken, and lessons learned along the way.
While some tracks are more memorable than others, every track is charming, well produced, and features some amazing vocals by Lisa. The album tells a complete story and is worth listening to all the way through, which is one of the best compliments you can give an artist. Lisa-Marie Fischer proves herself as a talented artist, an accomplished songwriter, and a musical gem with her new album. Every listener who buys it will be quick to agree.
and Jayme Salivati
Website: http://jaymesalviati.com/
Jayme Salviati is a singer/songwriter who captures life through music. With original songs that can quiet a crowded room, she will immediately draw you in with her voice, and keep you there with the simplicity and genuineness of her lyrics.
For ten years now, her music has taken her all over the East coast for shows ranging from intimate coffee shop and house show settings, to classic NYC venues, to festivals and songwriter showcases.
Her light voice has a soulful edge that captures an audience, and her passion for creating songs from real life experiences is revealed in the honesty of her songwriting.
Jason Myles Goss (CD Release) with Dietrich Strause
Saturday, June 23, 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM · Add to Calendar
Ebenezers Coffeehouse
A Hopedale, MA native, Jason has been writing and recording since 2003 when he released his first full length album “Long Way Down.” Since then, he’s spent his time touring and releasing subsequent albums before settling down long enough to make “Radio Dial,” in which he enlisted the help of friends Austin Nevins (guitars) and Sam Kassirer (keys), both members of Josh Ritter’s Royal City Band, as well as David Dawda (bass) and Joel Arnow (drums).
Self-produced at Vanity Sound in Brooklyn, NY, Jason and engineer Myles Turney began by recording live to analog tape, giving the foundation of the album a scrappy, raw quality, evocative of roots-based albums like Lucinda Williams’ “Car Wheels On A Gravel Road,” or, the more modern day, Wilco’s “Sky Blue Sky.” Yet, the songs also contained big, melody-driven, pop ambitions in the vein of records like Counting Crows’ “August and Everything After,” or The Wallflowers’ “Bringing Down The Horse”— song-centric 90’s rock records that occupied Jason’s world when he was a teenager growing up in a small mill town. However, rather than grapple with these two divergent influences, Jason strove at the outset to make a record where they both could sit side by side at the same musical table. It was in that spirit that “Radio Dial,” Jason’s fourth album, was born.
Points of Interest:
2011 Northeast Regional Finalist in the Mountain Stage New Song Contest
2009 Northeast Regional Finalist in the Mountain Stage New Song Contest
2007—“Irish Eyes” voted Top 10 Acoustic songs of 2007 by OurStage.com
2006 Finalist in the Music Makers Northeast Songwriters’ Contest
2003 Finalist in Newport Folk Festival National Songwriters’ Contest
Cost: $10
For more information, visit http://www.jasonmylesgoss.com/index.php
with Dietrich Strause
Website: http://dietrichstrause.com/
A young songwriter emerging out of Boston, Dietrich Strause has been drawing in and silencing the chatter of audiences with the literate poetry that is at the core of his folk roots writing. He began in high school by playing trumpet in an R&B band that catered to the finest of the central Pennsylvania biker bars and pig roasts. It was at these establishments where he developed an appreciation for the popular song and began to write his own. Dietrich picked up the guitar and continued to play in bands throughout high school and started to dedicate himself to the craft of songwriting during his time at Oberlin College. After graduating in 2008 he moved to Boston, started to play open mics, and immersed himself in New England’s rich heritage of folk, americana, and roots music by going to hear live music every night of the week. He paid the bills through dog-walking, being a subject in medical research studies, and other odd jobs and managed to self release two albums in his firt two years in Boston.
Dietrich just released his second album Laborsongs & Barkingdogs, which is set against the backdrop of his home state of Pennsylvania. His music and live performance have struck a chord, as he has now become one of Boston’s most buzzed about artists. He writes carefully crafted lyrics with intricate stories and images, many with literary allusions; his song “Jean Louise” echoes the story of To Kill A Mockingbird. Outfitted with a band of some of the Boston area’s finest musicians, who have toured and recorded with artists such as Patty Griffin, Jesse Dee, Session Americana and Martin Sexton, his stories and lyrics come to life with flowing finger picking guitar, a mellifluously woven viola, and the pulse of a roots heartbeat. He has shared the stage with artists such as Gregory Alan Isakov, Mia Dyson, Elephant Revival, the Ryan Montbleau Band, Joy Kills Sorrow, and Session Americana. Dietrich’s commitment to musicianship and thoughtful lyricism creates a narrative that cultivates its own following.
Sarah Blacker (CD Release) with Jenee Halstead and Sara Davenport
Friday, June 15, 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM · Add to Calendar
Ebenezers Coffeehouse
Sarah Blacker’s music is a unique blend of acoustic rock, folk, and jazz with stand-out vocals and quirky yet catchy songwriting, that set her apart from other female singer/songwriters in her genre.
Sarah Blacker is a part-time Music Therapist and full-time touring singer/songwriter. She has just released a brand new EP, ‘Perfectly Imperfect’ available for download HERE. She recently won the title of 2011 My Rural Radio ‘Artist of the Year’ and has also been nominated by Limelight Magazine as singer/songwriter of the year, and as a nominee for female performer of the year in the New England Music Awards.
Blacker is currently touring primarily as a duo with Eran Shaysh on percussion and vocals, and their magnetic stage-presence and energetic live shows leave people with blurry eyes, warmed hearts, and a head-full of melodies that resound. Blacker has shared the stage with the likes of Sara Bareilles, Jason Isbell, the Wood Brothers, Carbon Leaf, Anais Mitchell, Lucy Kaplansky and more. Her unique voice, intelligent lyrics, pop-sensibility and quirkiness have perked the ears of many listeners both nationally and internationally – as she just recently toured Germany performing at sold out festivals throughout the country. She is also heading to SXSW 2012, and frequently performs at festivals and frequents the house concert scene.
She accompanies herself on the guitar, ukulele and mandolin, and reminds listeners of Feist, Regina Spektor, and Joni Mitchell. She has independently released 2 CDs, to rave reviews both online and on-air.
Cost: $10
For more information, visit http://www.sarahblacker.com/news-3/
with Jenee Halstead
Website: http://www.jeneehalstead.com/
Heading into the studio to record her third release, Jenee Halstead arrived at an awkward conclusion: She needed to throw away all of her songs.
“I had been thinking a lot about the wild—about instinct and intuition”, Halstead says. “I knew that I wanted to capture these ideas on this album but I just wasn’t sure how it would happen. Once I got to the studio and played through the songs, the answer seemed obvious.”
Halstead decided to scrap all but two songs (“Building you an Altar”, co-written with David Wax, and “Heart Song”). Ditching her trademark character sketches she started over, writing in first person and swapping her guitar for piano and ukulele. In ten days, she and Evan Brubaker (producer of Halstead’s debut album, The River Grace) wrote and tracked nine new tunes, including “Rodeo of Sadness” and “Never Another”, inspired by Elliot Smith’s last moments. The result is Raised By Wolves—Halstead’s most personal and ambitious recording thus far.
“I am still surprised by it,” Halstead says. “We just followed our instincts, just like I had hoped to. Even the songs like ‘River of Doubt’, that I would’ve normally considered ‘dark’ don’t seem to feel that way because there is so much energy behind them.”
With abandon, Raised By Wolves slams an old beat box into surf guitars, banjo, and ukulele; mixing a chorus of tenor guitars, handclaps, and synth bass. Drawing on influences like PJ Harvey and Kate Bush, multi-instrumentalist/producer Brubaker (Rachel Harrington & The Knockouts, Edie Carey) empties the musical space, giving all the attention to Halstead’s extraordinary voice. The twisted banjo of Danny Barnes, sly drumming of Joel Litwin, and nearly unrecognizable Dobro of Colby Sander help Raised By Wolves create a re-invigorated Dark Pop/Americana that surrounds Halstead’s vocals with a variety of surprises.
Halstead grew up in the high desert of Spokane, Washington, the daughter of hippie parents who let her find her own direction. She spent her childhood exploring her mother’s garden and singing along to records with her Dad. In middle school, she transformed into the rarest of birds; an athletic choir geek who sang medieval choral works, but loved Led Zeppelin and Dolly Parton. She wrote quietly on her own for years, moving from place to place – Spokane to Seattle to nowhere Alaska, before moving to Boston in 2007. She collected all of her songs into what would become The River Grace. Raised By Wolves reclaims the careless freedom of her childhood with a sense of wonder that is unique and fiercely engaging..
and Sara Davenport
Website: http://www.3mtsmusic.com
Like an Edward Hopper canvas, Sara Davenport’s songs speak of loneliness and separation, but her voice delivers the promise of a brighter day. Sara draws inspiration from singer-songwriters such as Sara Bareilles and Michelle Branch, and colors it with her own life experience.
Sara has been writing and performing music for more than a decade. She has performed at the Virginia State Fair, the Carytown Watermelon Festival, and The Hamilton in Washington D.C. She performs with a wide range of instruments from guitar to keyboards to bass to percussion (she can play a mean egg shaker). She is working on her first EP, which is scheduled to be released in the fall of 2012.
Sara was a vocal major at Virginia Commonwealth University and is currently an elementary music teacher in Northern Virginia. She collaborates with other local musicians, and performs with The 3MTs, a trio of music teachers from Fairfax County.
Patrick Donovan Mulroy (Grain Thief), Matt Ralph, Alex Pelzer, and Jukebox Serenade
Thursday, May 24, 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM · Add to Calendar
Ebenezers Coffeehouse
Singer-Songwriter Night:
Patrick Donovan Mulroy (Grain Thief):
http://grainthief.com/
Matt Ralph:
http://mattralph.com/
Alex Pelzer:
http://www.alexpelzer.com/
Jukebox Serenade:
http://www.jukeboxserenade.com/main.html
Cost: $10
Anna Dagmar with Margot MacDonald and Gideon Grove
Friday, June 1, 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM · Add to Calendar
Ebenezers Coffeehouse
Her love of words was born at a tiny desk, in a tiny room, just north of London. The St. Albans’ Cathedral choir, her father’s classical radio, and her mother’s lullabies echoed all around. And at age seven, she perched on the steps of a new home in Massachusetts, on lookout, for the piano delivery truck.
While many young students turn their noses up at classical music, as they would at Brussels sprouts, Dagmar devoured Chopin, Beethoven and Debussy like chocolate cake. It was the surprises in the music that fascinated her. At fourteen, she discovered the tender, mystical poetry of Joni Mitchell alongside the breathtaking improvisations of Keith Jarrett and Bill Evans, who transformed the piano into a choir of tiny voices. By the end of her training at The Eastman School of Music, Dagmar had found a way to weave her passions and influences together into surprising songs of her own. Dagmar’s colorful piano accompaniments and original string arrangements paint little worlds, inviting the listener into each song. Her playing is effortlessly virtuosic, allowing her voice to soar freely and lyrically. The melodies are married to the words, resonating like newborn standards.
Now based in NYC, Anna Dagmar has released three albums and a printed songbook. Her 2009 album, Let the Waves Come in Threes, was produced by Ben Wittman (Patty Larkin, Jonatha Brooke), charted #6 on the National Roots Music Report, and received a Gold Prize in the 2011 Mid-Atlantic Songwriting Contest. The title track spills out with a cascading piano riff, and tells the vivid story of a girl whose treasured diary is swept to sea. As she looks out across the ocean for meaning and direction, a mysterious voice rises up from the waves. Another standout track, “Can We Be Old Friends?” takes place at the end of a battle. Perhaps evoking the period of the Civil War, perhaps timeless, a gentle drone emerges through the dust rising across the field. Only two enemy soldiers are left facing each other; one sings a brave and hopeful lament. The album has also been recognized in the Unisong International Songwriting Contest, the ASCAP Listening Expo, Collected Sounds Magazine, the Williamsburg Songwriting Contest, and HPPR A-list Artist Series. WVIA DJ George Graham credited it as “one of the best singer-songwriter albums of the year, in a crowded field.
Dagmar has performed and recorded with Joe Crookston, Ellis Paul, Nadine Goellner, Natalia Zukerman, and The Lascivious Biddies, and has performed at City Winery, BAM, The Minstrel, Me & Thee Coffeehouse, Garden Stage and Club Passim. She has been selected for a NERFA Tricentric Showcase, WFUV’s “On Your Radar” series, Composer-in-Residence at The Nightingale-Bamford School and the prestigious BMI Musical Theatre Writing Workshop. She is currently recording her 4th album, Satellite, propelled by fans who doubled her fundraising goal on Kickstarter.com. The CD is being produced by Ben Wittman, and features guitarist Marc Shulman (Suzanne Vega), bassist Richard Hammond (Dar Williams) and Dagmar’s arrangements for string quartet and woodwind trio. Satellite will be released in May 2012 followed by a national tour.
Cost: $10
For more information, visit http://annadagmar.com/
with Margot MacDonald
Website: http://margotmacdonald.com/
Margot MacDonald is a bewitching vocal powerhouse—she is Robert Plant’s raw strength swept across four octaves and smoldering with a little Feist. Margot is a textbook case of “classically-trained-soprano-hijacked-by-Led Zeppelin.” She started her singing career with the Washington National Opera at age 10, and by 15 she was rocking a Strat, releasing a second album, and packing regional venues. Since then she has put out a third and fourth CD, opened for national acts, and played venues like DC’s legendary 9:30 Club, Kennedy Center, Wolftrap, Birchmere, BlackRock, Ram’s Head Live, and The Bitter End in NYC. She was also a recent Artist-in-Residence at the Music Center at Strathmore, where she still regularly performs. Margot is the current recipient of the “Artist of the Year” Washington Area Music Award, her 9th Wammie win. In her spare time, the 19-yr-old supports nonprofits such as Musicians On Call and More Than Me, and regularly performs at charity events. Margot hosts the BMI showcase series in DC, serves on the board of directors of the Songwriters’ Association of Washington, and has led GRAMMY U and other songwriting workshops. She is in the midst of mastering the loop pedal and discovering the musical genius of half-filled glass bottles.
and Gideon Grove
Website: http://www.facebook.com/GideonGrove
Gideon Grove grew up in a musical family and was classically trained on the viola since since the age of 9. While in college, he taught himself the guitar and soon after, started writing songs. Instantly, he was hooked and what followed was a full-on pursuit of writing and peforming these songs. Gideon Grove’s songs are equal parts haunting and beautiful, yet subtly catchy. With his throaty vocals, Gideon Grove distinguishes himself and brings simplicity to the music. Writing from a place of honesty, Gideon Grove hopes to grab listeners at the bottom-most parts of their souls. Currently in the studio, Gideon is slated to release his solo EP in early April 2012. You can follow him on Twitter @gideongrove.
Crys Matthews with M'Balia and Stephanie Nilles
Friday, May 18, 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM · Add to Calendar
Ebenezers Coffeehouse
A prolific lyricist and composer, Crys Matthews has penned three full-length albums and has already began working on a fourth. Backroads and Driveways is her debut album and first studio release. Having found her voice in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and her inspiration for most of the album in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Backroads and Driveways is about a journey. From “Traveling”—which was literally written on an airplane—to the title track, these songs play like journal entries along the road to love and happiness.
The album was engineered and produced by recording legend, Karen Kane (who engineered Tracy Chapman’s first demo), and it is available on iTunes, Amazon, CDBaby, and at various retailers. It is in rotation on Pandora; and it is being played on various broadcasts from Harrisonburg, VA (WMRA’s Acoustic Cafe) to Portland, OR (KBOO Radio).
Crys Matthews will be heading back into the studio after returning from Folk Alliance International to record her sophomore album, A Lesson Learned, as well as an EP, which will be released simultaneously.
Cost: $10
For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Crys-Matthews/46915136776
with M'Balia
Website: http://mbalia.bandcamp.com/album/the-hard-sell
M’Balia is a Philly-bred singer/songwriter trying to make some music and have a good time. Her songwriting is faithful to the 80’s radio she was raised on: a little bit of rock, a lot of pop, and way too much soul. She is the 2010 runner up in The World Cafe Live’s Beta Hi-Fi Festival for emerging talent, and she was lucky enough to do the backing vocals for John Legend’s Grammy-nominated single, “Stay With You.”
and Stephanie Nilles
Website: http://www.stephanienilles.com/
Chicago-born jazz/punk/barrelhouse musician Stephanie Nilles has been doin’ Kesey proud one bar at a time since 2008, hustling around the United States, Europe, and Canada (except from 2009-2010 for legal reasons), averaging 150 gigs a year, and captivating unsuspecting listeners with a voice that would make Jelly Roll Morton look orthodox and Ma Rainey look sober.
Having studied piano and cello since the age of six, she was a finalist at the Young Concert Artists’ International Competition, a gold medalist at the Fischoff Competition, and had performed on NPR on three separate occasions by the age of seventeen. At twenty-two, she had graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Music with a degree in classical piano performance and temporarily relocated to New York City, where she began writing songs and performed regularly on the east village anti-folk scene.
She has since sung with Bobby McFerrin in Carnegie Hall, directed the musical program of a Brooklyn burlesque series, covered Busta Rhymes’s “Break Ya Neck” in the skeletal remains of a bombed-out cathedral in Nuremberg, been invited to perform official showcases at SXSW and International Folk Alliance, and self-released 3 full-length albums, the most recent of which was picked up by German roots/blues label Tradition und Moderne (Taj Mahal, John Fahey).
Kurtis Parks and the Anthem with Michael Knox and Chris Douglas
Friday, May 25, 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM · Add to Calendar
Ebenezers Coffeehouse
Kurtis Parks’ approach to life, is the same as his approach to music -“If you always do what you’ve always done…you’ll always be what you’ve always been.”
Based in Washington DC, Kurtis just finished recording his 2nd worship EP with acclaimed Nashville producer and friend, Akil Thompson. The album features some of Parks’ most heartfelt worship songs that he’s written since he started leading worship in churches, at age 14. After spending the last 3 years on the road with his band, The Season, Kurtis has emerged with a fresh sound all his own and is beginning to be known as a true voice of worship in today’s ever-changing world. Since June of 2009, Parks has been on the road solo, leading worship at camps, conferences, and camps all over the country. He now joins National Community Church, in our nation’s capital, serving as a worship leader on staff, alongside pastor and best-selling author Mark Batterson.
While still in college, he honed his songwriting skills, writing albums for people by word of mouth to pay his way through school. He was a finalist in VH1’s Song of the Year competition for his inspirational tune “Everything that You Are.” Kurtis also gained national exposure through American Idol’s fourth season, where he climbed to the top 50 finalists. After Idol, he joined forces with longtime friend and guitarist Josh Kim to form “the Season”. The Season has been featured nationally on CNN, NBC, and the Fox Morning show, with Kurtis’ song “Forever Changed”, written for the Virginia Tech families that were affected by tragedy of April 16, 2007. The song was one of the first ever to reach 1 on a top 40 radio format from an independent artist, and was the most requested song of the year on Roanoke, VA’s popular K92 Radio.
Having written over 1200 songs in every genre since the age of 13, this young talent is a diamond in the rough among songwriters and is quickly becoming a fan favorite with Indie pop/rock listeners. Kurtis has penned songs with some amazing chart-topping lyricists, including Calvin Nowell, Keith Dudley, Scott Davis, and Aaron Rice. His songs have won the “Track of the Week” and numerous “track of the day” awards on Garageband.com and he’s been nominated twice for Artist of the Month out of over 10,000 bands on Stereofame.com. On Ourstage.com, Kurtis’ songs have held the #1 slot for 3 months, as well as 7 “top 10”s. His band, the Season reached #16 worldwide on Myspace Unsigned Pop Artists. Kurtis has shared the stage with many well known artists, both Christian and Secular, including John Mayer, Sanctus Real, Rachel Lampa, Reliant K, B. Reith, Ben Folds, Cowboy Mouth, and The White Tie Affair. He’s also appeared on BET’s Bobby Jones Gospel Hour, been featured in Worship Leader Magazine, and has written songs for several major label artists.
Although Kurtis has experienced success, his priority has always been to write songs that inspire others to live for a higher purpose. His new release “Light Will Shine” is not your traditional worship record, and it’s met with much anticipation. His first indie worship EP, “I Believe” sold more than 1,000 copies independently, in less than a year! With the new album, Parks and producer Akil Thompson have thrown tradition and normalcy out the window. “We’re using sounds that have never been used before, and our hope with this collection is to set the trend, instead of following it.”
Cost: $10 advance / $12 door
For more information, visit http://kurtisparks.com/
with Michael Knox
Website: http://www.michaelknoxmusic.com/
Michael Knox is a singer/songwriter based out of Northern Virginia.
He recently finished recording his debut album with acclaimed musician/producer Kurtis Parks.
His music can be described as upbeat acoustic pop/rock with thoughtful lyrics and an engaging stage presence. An honest writer and performer, he looks forward to playing his album live and sharing his love for music with others.
and Chris Douglas
Website: http://chrisdouglasmusic.com/
Chris has been leading worship since the age of 14. His love for music led him to Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA where he received a BFA in Musical Theatre. Graduating in May of 2010, Chris left the theatre stage and came on staff as a worship leader at Truro Church. During his time at Truro, Chris fell in love with the Alpha course, through which he saw so many people come to know Jesus and be filled with His Holy Spirit. He was privileged to travel to London, UK and Kiev, Ukraine with Alpha, and was also able to be a speaker at the DC Region Holy Spirit Retreats. After a year and a half of ministry at Truro Church, Chris joined the staff of National Community Church led by pastor and author Mark Batterson. Chris is so excited to be a part of this team and the incredible work that the Spirit is doing in and through this community.
Harmonic Blue, Rhianna LaRocque, Micah, and Sarah Castille
Thursday, May 17, 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM · Add to Calendar
Ebenezers Coffeehouse
Singer-Songwriter Night
Harmonic Blue:
http://www.facebook.com/HarmonicBlue
Rhianna LaRocque:
http://rhiannalarocque.com/
Micah:
http://www.facebook.com/micahmusic
Sarah Castille:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sarah-Castille/152442954828284
Cost: $8
The Energy with Crooked Crow and Kerri Leigh
Friday, June 29, 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM · Add to Calendar
Ebenezers Coffeehouse
Even for a group that has clocked thousands of miles and performed at hundreds of venues across the country, it’s amazing that discovering a sound still proves to be the most significant challenge in a band’s journey. So if there’s anything that the Brooklyn based rock band The Energy has learned during the recording of their 4th album, Streets of In-Between (Produced by Scott Riebling: Fall Out Boy, We the Kings, The Academy Is), it’s that at times the most succinct statement can be the most powerful. The message of the album is clear: when you take the road less traveled, your life becomes richer and more fulfilled.
Love is a predominant theme on Streets of In-Between. From the conflicted and even paradoxical strains of the up-tempo single “Go To Girl,” (“When we fight/That’s when I see her smile”), to the hard rocking “Nothing That You Need,” (“She’s everything you want/And nothing that you need”),the album explores the many forms romance can take. And for the fans who dug the social awareness so present on the band’s previous recordings, take heart: “Better Way” beckons the listener to shrug off the drudgery of the day-to-day in search of a higher cause. The song has already had an opportunity to shine during a politically-charged sequence on MTV’s “Real World: Washington, DC”, as well as underscoring a segment of MTV’s “Cutthroat Challenge.”
Selling out many of New York City’s and Boston’s premier venues over the past two years, the band currently ranks among the top grossing indie acts in the Northeast. And yet despite touring with artists such as 3 Doors Down, Vertical Horizon, Ryan Cabrera and Eve 6, and having had music featured numerous times on both MTV and ESPN, the band chooses to keep ambitious. The Energy recently appeared on Voice of America (VOA) “Border Crossings” program for some 100 million listeners, and shortly thereafter helped to host an episode of ESPN’s “Inside the Big East.”
Cost: $8 advance / $10 day of
For more information, visit http://www.theenergy-music.com/
with Crooked Crow
Website: http://www.crookedcrow.com/
Crooked Crow formed in 2001, upon the ashes of their previous incarnation, Acoustic Reign. Building themselves a strong following in the Washington DC area as a band with a large repertoire of cover hits—plus a strong pool of original songs—Crooked Crow became a familiar name around town for parties and a rockin’ good time.
During the cover years, the band continued writing original songs and releasing CDs. In 2007, Crooked Crow began to focus primarily on playing their own music at “proper” live music venues.
Their original music is best described as high energy, straight-up rock and roll, featuring obvious classic and Southern rock influences coupled with modern lyric and rhythm stylings. The band’s sound has been compared to bands like R.E.M., Tonic, and Vertical Horizon.
As a popular headlining act at smaller venues around the Washington DC metro area, Crooked Crow is now playing support at DC’s larger venues, including the State Theatre and the 9:30 Club. Building a following throughout the Northeast Corridor, the band plays often in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York City and Boston. Crooked Crow is also turning their attention to the south, with shows in Richmond, VA and Raleigh, NC in the works.
Crooked Crow has opened for and supported many regional and national headliners, including Cowboy Mouth, Sponge, Authority Zero, and Zebrahead.
and Kerri Leigh
Website: http://www.kerrileigh.com/
Multi award winning Kerri Leigh has made a big impression and wowed audiences all over the North West and beyond, with her fantastic range, powerful vocals, sexy looks and bubbly personality.
Judge Smith with Eric Scott and Justine Miller
Thursday, June 14, 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM · Add to Calendar
Ebenezers Coffeehouse
Judge Smith, originally formed in June 2003, now features Ed Smith on vocals and guitar; Pete Eisler on lead guitar; John David Coppola on bass; Joe Wells on drums; and Michelle on lead vocals. The group is available from any combination from a duo to a 7 piece band - with the addition of tubanist/percussionist Hank Rueter and master harmonica player Randy Lilleston. The band released its debut CD “Feel It,” recorded at Cue Studios in Falls Church, Virginia, in November 2003.
The Judge Smith acoustic duo covers the gamut of rock music - from classics to indie progressive - with arrangements featuring distinctive vocal and instrumental harmonies. The duo features Edward Smith on vocals and guitar and John David Coppola on bass guitar and vocals. Judge Smith plays regularly in venues throughout DC, Maryland and Virginia. Judge Smith has released the acoustic duo CD, Visions, which features arrangements of songs by the Beatles, the Grateful Dead, Paul Simon and Jimmy Cliff.
Released October 2005, Judge Smith’s 2nd CD, “Visions” features John on acoustic bass and Ed on acoustic guitar. This duo album showcases another original, “Visions,” and other popular selections from The Beatles, Paul Simon, Lucinda Williams, and more.
Judge Smith is currently recording a full length CD, produced by Scott Harlan of Golden Sound Studio. The CD, American Vista, is comprised of original compositions by Ed Smith, and includes several well respected musicians, including Josh Howell (Tom Prinicipato Band), Joe Chiocca, and Seth Kibel. American Vista features Ed on most of the lead vocals and rhythym guitar, Michelle Grasso (vocals), Peter Eisler (lead and rhythym guitar), John David Coppola (bass guitar) and Joe Wells (drums).
Cost: $10
For more information, visit http://www.johndc.com/judgesmith/music.html
with Eric Scott
Website: http://www.ericscottmusic.com/
Washington, D.C. area musician Eric Scott has to date enjoyed a varied and interesting musical journey. As a touring bassist and vocalist, Scott has performed on numerous stages throughout Europe, Canada, the Caribbean Islands, and the entire United States. This journey has led to sharing the stage with artist’s as diverse as James Brown, B.B. King, and Ray Charles to Little Feat, Kansas, The Neville Brothers, Jimmy Buffett, and Keb’ Mo’.
During his long history as a sideman, songwriter and session musician, Scott has also released two solo records, DIVINE STATIC (1999), and LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE FOOLS (2002), to critical acclaim. About “Let’s Hear It For The Fools,” the Washington Post says “Whip smart…hard to resist…clearly the work of a pop artist talented and resourceful enough to stand on his own.”
The journey continues today with Scott’s third release RED (Fall 2007), easily his most powerful and focused release to date. Of RED, Scott says “this is the record I’ve always hoped to make…it just took me awhile to get there. I feel like I’ve arrived at a place musically that feels like home to me.”
With influences blurring the lines of neo-soul, pop, funk, rock, and even gospel, Scott has arrived at a sound that is uniquely his own. RED profoundly showcases his continued maturation and growth as a songwriter, artist, and performer…with 13 original American soul/pop stories all keenly observant of today’s world.
Call it acoustic/soul/pop/singer/songwriter/funk/blues/gospel/groove music. “Something like that,” he says. “I’ll let others figure out where it fits.”
Scott grew up listening to everything from Black Sabbath, Rush, AC/DC, and Motorhead to Marvin Gaye, Nat King Cole, The Temptations, ELO, Elton John, Hall and Oates, Joe Jackson, to Les McCann, Wes Montgomery, and Dave Brubeck.
“My mom’s record collection was fierce. I consumed everything. But I’ve always been fascinated by concise songs with depth that allow the listener to paint a very clear picture in their mind.” Says Scott, “I think my love of old school soul and lyrical storytelling really guided me on this record.”
and Justine Miller
Website: http://www.justinemiller.com/
Justine Miller is a versatile and dynamic entertainer with more than 15 years of experience as a musician, vocalist and award winning songwriter. Her powerful vocals and magnetic presence have contributed to high-energy performances worldwide, incorporating a variety of musical styles. She is currently lead trumpet for the D.C. area based Afro-funk big band – Chopteeth! Justine is an 8-year veteran of Rehoboth Jazz Festival recently fronting for the Bay Jazz Project on vocals and brass. Justine has captivated audiences in Japan, Europe and all over the U.S. Local venues and events have included the Black Cat, ArtScape, Strathmore Hall and Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center. No matter the style, Justine has brought scores of people to their feet – always leaving them wanting more.
