Bear River Concerts

johnsmith on November 28th

DM — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:55:23 +0000

johnsmith will be the final performer for the 2009 Bear River concert series on Saturday November 28th in the Sill barn at Camp Courageous. Doors open @ 6:15, concert starts @ 7.

Here are some of the things others have to say about John:

Quotes

“. . . one of the most consistent writers of quality songs that I know.”

Lydia Hutchinson, Editor, Performing Songwriter Magazine

“… what you should know about JohnSmith, is that he is the real deal. A singer/songwriter who has found his voice and his place and will take you there through his music. I think it speaks for itself, directly from his heart to yours. I promise you will be moved.”

Randy Brown, Mineola TX

“Unity of Chicago thoroughly enjoyed Johnsmith at our Sunday services. In addition to well crafted songs, John has a personal warmth that connects with his audience. He got standing ovations both songs, both services. Come back and see us real soon, John.”

Ed Tossing, Music Director at Unity Chicago

” Not only does he spell his name as one word, he doesn’t always capitalize it. Actually he could call himself wordsmith or songsmith just as easily, because he certainly can smith a song.”

Joe Henry of Acoustic Sounds cafe, Little Rock, AR.

“When I first heard John Smith my attention was captured by his sweet, earthy voice and fine craftsmanship, but what drew me in was his heart. It’s clear that he’s lived the pain in his songs and that his optimism is hope born of wisdom. That’s a rare thing and a gift to all who hear him.”

Tom Kimmel

“Since winning the New Folk competition, John’s songwriting and performing skills have become finely honed.. Audiences find his originality and genuineness totally engaging and refreshing.”

Rod Kennedy of the Kerrville Folk Festival

“I feel like every time one of your songs gets heard a little healing happens to the world. And we need all of that we can get, that’s for sure.”

Buddy Mondlock

You can check out his website here:

http://johnsmithmusic.com/

October 31st with Joe Jencks

DM — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:19:32 +0000

October 31st the 2009 Bear River Concert series welcomes Joe Jencks to the Sill Barn on the property of Camp Courageous of Iowa

Door open @ 6:15

Concert starts at 7

There is a suggested $10.00 per person donation @ the door.

If you have any questions or need more information please call:

319-465-4069

Biography
Joe Jencks is an international touring performer and award-winning songwriter. His career is based as much in ministering to the human spirit as it is in the performance of music. “A Joe Jencks concert is definitely not a visit to the inner world of some guy with a guitar who would like us all to sit still and listen politely. It’s an occasion for singing, a contagious rising up of voices, an act of joy and defiance! …Tapping into the latent, nearly mystical beauty that a roomful of people can unleash by singing together.” – Seattle Folklore Society

Joe has earned wide recognition for his songs about working people, and for his unique merging of musical beauty, social consciousness, and spiritual exploration. Joe weaves a diverse web of stories with brilliant musical skill, ensnaring even the most rigid of hearts, inviting them to open. Whether performing at a union conference or folk festival, or at an intimate club or house concert, Joe manages to make any audience feel welcomed, valued, and part of a community.

Joe’s life-long interest in folk music led him to undergraduate and graduate studies in Vocal Music Performance, Choral Conducting, and Music Education. Like any good craftsman Joe applies the skills of this well-rounded training, using his lush and lyrical voice to enchant, heal, and inspire to action. Joe has won numerous songwriting awards for his original work, and has an ability to connect genuinely and intimately with audiences of diverse ages and backgrounds. “He has a remarkable tenor voice that’s capable of great strength and sweetness in the same moment, much as was Phil Ochs’ voice. His guitar is always a dead-on accompaniment to his songs’ intentions.” –Bill Fischer, Victory Music Review

Joe is a dual US/Irish citizen living in the US, and merges traditions from both countries in his eclectic and vibrant musical presentation. Joe has had the unique pleasure of sharing the stage with numerous folk artists including Pete Seeger, Utah Phillips, Holly Near, John McCutcheon, Pat Humphries, and Bill Staines.

“In these times, we need the singers who will do the homework and tell the stories! Joe Jencks is among the fine next generation singers who are ready to carry on the tradition as well as look into the future” –Holly Near

“The key to the future is people joining in. The music of Joe Jencks captures this essential spirit. Joe is a fantastic singer who carries on the traditions.” -Pete Seeger

“Rise As One is a very impressive ‘document’ covering as it does both historic and contemporary songs about workers and organizers. I found it an unusual and significant selection of songs.” ~ Faith Petric, The Folknik, San Francisco

“Listen to Joe! A clear tenor voice; a heart that’s in the right place, close to the skin; a sense of justice tempered by a sense of humor; and a CD that captures it all in rich tasty arrangements. How can you go wrong?”
-Charlie King, Songwriter and Performer, Shelburne Falls, MA

“The next time someone says that folk music has lost its conscience, lacks great protest songs, or has lost its connection with its causes, I will sit them down and play Joe Jencks’ CD, I Hear Your Voice. Jencks sings with a superb tenor voice, and picks flashy guitar… that doesn’t obscure the beauty of his voice or the words of his well-crafted songs.” -Sing Out! Magazine, Rich Warren –Host of ‘The Midnight Special’ WFMT –FM Chicago, IL

“Joe Jencks is the type of musician that will cause you to drop that morning newspaper or pull your car to the side of the road when you hear his songs. He is the type of artist that will turn heads in his direction when he walks onto a stage. His voice will instantly draw you into his passionate songs. He is the type of musician whose music will become part of you. His craft and artistry will remind you of the best efforts of Phil Ochs, Stan Rogers, and Woody Guthrie. The troubadour tradition is alive and well in the 21st century with the music of Joe Jencks.”
class=”hiddenSpellError” pre=”">-Ron Olesko, WFDU –FM Teaneck, NJ

“What a warrior…” -Bob Franke, Songwriter and Performer, Peabody, MA

“I find that Joe embodies the spirit of Pete Seeger. In much the same way, Joe has his finger on the pulse of our grassroots social conscience, and passes it on for us to scrutinize. Every generation needs a voice for social justice and Joe Jencks is one of those very important voices.” -Judy Matzen, Off the Square Concerts, Woodstock, IL

“Joe Jencks is one of the Northwest’s best-not-kept secrets; a singer-songwriter with a warm, smooth, powerful voice, and memorable finely crafted songs that have something to say. He moves freely between the worlds of contemporary acoustic pop and traditional folk, alternating and combining them into a rich and satisfying musical mosaic!” –Richard Middleton, Victory Music Review, Seattle WA

Instrumentation
Joe Jencks: Voice and guitar

Discography
Links In A Chain – 2009
The Candle And The Flame – 2007
Rise As One – 2006
I Hear Your Voice – 2002
What Kind of Brother – 2000
The Wonder Deep Within – 2003
The Phoenix – 1995

Links

http://www.joejencks.com

Gayla Drake Paul July 18th 2009

DM — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:08:41 +0000

July 18th 2009 Gayla Drake Paul takes the stage @ the 2009 Bear River Concert series in the Sill barn @ Camp Courageous. Doors open @ 6:15- concert starts @ 7 There is a $10.00 suggested donation @ the door.

Here is what other people are saying about her:

Reviews and Endorsements of Gayla Drake Paul

Russell Letson - Acoustic Guitar Magazine:
“…snapped bass strings, bluesy bends and cool chord changes…a compendium of advanced picking techniques.”

Richard Leo Johnson – Metro Blue recording artist:
“Gayla is a combination of passion, skill and grace – a rarity by any standard.”

John O’Regan – Rock’n'Reel:
“fleet of finger and capable of raising a fretboard storm, Gayla Drake Paul is one hell of a guitarist.”

John Sirkis – Acoustic Musician Magazine:
“Gayla Drake Paul has added to the ranks of top flight independent music with the release of her self-titled debut.”

Singout1:
“…surprisingly forceful, stunningly beautiful..”

James Jensen – Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine:
“Gayla Drake Paul’s self-titled release absolutely
floored me!”

Gregg Porter – producer, Sandy Bradley’s Potluck:
“a new standard in acoustic music.”

Brad Harvey – Oil Magazine:
“some of the most aggressive acoustic this side of Pete Townsend.”

Mister Guitar News:
“if this is what songwriting has come to in the ’90’s then there is a ray of hope for the artform.”

Jim Musser – The Icon:
“GDP is one of the finest fingerstyle guitarists on the planet…non-stop beautiful string-tickling.”

Micah Solomon – President, Oasis Duplication:
“her stuff just keeps getting better and better.”

Eric Stone – River Cities’ Reader:
“lush soundscapes that seem incapable of coming from just one guitar…”

June 27th with the Small Potatoes

DM — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:21:52 +0000

June 27th Small Potatoes will be coming to the Sill Barn on Camp Courageous property. This is the second concert in the 2009 Bear River Concert series. Doors open at 6:15, concert starts at 7 PM. There is a $10.00 per person suggested donation cover at the door. Here is some additional information about this energetic duo:

These folks are wonderful; fun, energetic, and great musicians.
They’re two of my favorite performers.”
Bill Staines, Singer/songwriter“100% of your recommended daily allowance of infectious musicality and non-stop energy.
I love the Smalls.”
Susan Werner, Singer/songwriter

Small Potatoes is Jacquie Manning and Rich Prezioso. This Chicago-based duo has been touring on the folk circuit since 1993 and in that time they’ve become sought-after regulars at many clubs, coffeehouses across the U.S. They have made repeat appearances at major folk festivals, including the Kerrville Folk Festival, the Walnut Valley Folk Festival, and Philadelphia Folk Festival. They were one of the “most requested” acts at the 1999 Falcon Ridge New Artist Showcase. Jacquie is also a past winner of the Kerrville New Folk Songwriting Contest.

They call themselves eclecto-maniacs. They describe their music as “Celtic to Cowboy” and say in has taken them “years of careful indecision” to come up with a mix of music that ranges from country, blues, and swing to Irish, with songwriting that touches on all of those styles and more. Their four recordings, “Alive!”, “Waltz of the Wallflowers”, “Time Flies”, and “Raw” cover all these styles. They both sing, they both play guitars and an array of other instruments. They even yodel. Dirty Linen Magazine called them “one of the most polished, inventive, and entertaining shows on the circuit.” Sing Out Magazine called them “wonderfully eclectic” and said “Small Potatoes might well be leading mainstays on the folk scene for years to come.”

“Make ‘em Laugh, Make ‘em Cry…”

“Jacquie Manning and Rich Prezioso combine cleverly witty with powerfully poignant songs, along with well chosen covers to present an unusually entertaining and involving repertoire engagingly delivered. Prezioso’s song “1000 Candles, 1000 Cranes” is one of the most outstanding songs of the past 50 years.”
Rich Warren
The Midnight Special – WFMT Radio, Chicago, IL

When you see Small Potatoes perform, you hear two great voices, some fine guitar playing, and a touch of tin whistle, flute, mandolin, bodhran, and other percussion toys. Together they present a truly rare blend of vocal and instrumental abilities, award-winning songwriting, and arranging talents. They have the unique ability to adapt to the style of music they happen to be playing. They seem comfortably at home whether playing an upbeat cowboy swing tune or a tender, traditional ballad–though there are no rules here either, sometimes the traditional sounds contemporary, sometimes the contemporary sounds traditional. And they also pay attention to the little things, the warmth, the humor and a rapport with the audience that makes for a memorable performance. A listen to a few tracks on “Waltz of the Wallflowers”, Jacquie’s theatrical, one-of-a kind 1998 Kerrville New Folk winning title track, Rich’s powerful “1000 Candles, 1000 Cranes”, or their Celtic-flavored rendition of the Jefferson Airplane classic, “Lather” provides a more than ample illustration. Their new live CD, “Small Potatoes Alive!” also showcases their story-telling abilities and their easy manner with their audiences.

“Specificity Leads to Extinction?”

“I’m a kind of an old-fashioned folksinger…you guys are new fashioned folksingers. You share something with me, in that you sing whatever songs you feel are right for you, instead of limiting yourself to your own compositions, or to one particular genre. Good way to make magic.”
Phil Shapiro
Bound for Glory, WVBR-FM, Ithaca, NY

These words mean a lot to us. They make us think we’re doing something right. Phil has been running this coffeehouse/radio show for a long time–he hears a ton of music–we didn’t even ask him to write us a quote. We joke about “specificity leading to extinction”–for us, at least, we believe it really would. There are many great performers who do one thing and do it extremely well–that’s what makes them special. Not us. Actually the eclecto-maniac business began as an accident. We are absolutely no good at decision making, if someone told us we could only do one thing we’d probably implode. So we began by playing some of our favorite songs, and we do like a lot of different kinds of music. It’s become a kind of mission now, our audiences love it, no one (except for a few people in the music industry) has ever told us we bounce around too much. We figure “focus” is an overused word anyway. We still play our favorite songs. We try to write songs in all kinds of styles, but it doesn’t matter if we wrote the song or not, or if it’s an old song or a new song, or if it’s a folk song or not. There’s a lot of good music out there.

“They don’t sound like anybody else. I like that. They lay out a blanket and every song is a picnic.”
Warren Nelson
Big Top Chautauqua/Tent Show Radio–Wisconsin Public Radio, Bayfield, WI

Selected Appearances

Philadelphia Folk Festival, Schwenksville, PA
Walnut Valley Folk Festival, Winfield, KS
Summerfolk, Owen Sound, Ontario   Kerrville Folk Festival, Kerrville, TX
Musikfest, Bethlehem, PA Kentucky Music Weekend, Louisville, KY
South Florida Folk Festival, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Santa Cruz, CA
The Fret House, Covina CA Swallow Hill Music Assoc., Denver, CO
Front Porch Music, Valparaiso, IN   FitzGerald’s, Berwyn, IL   The Ark, Ann Arbor, MI
The Ten Pound Fiddle, E. Lansing, MI Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis, MN
Fiddle and Bow, Winston-Salem, NC   Club Passim, Cambridge, MA
The Nickelodeon Folk Club, Calgary, Alberta
Twelve Corners Coffeehouse, Rochester, NY Kirkland Arts Center, Clinton, NY
Pistol River Concert Assoc., Pistol River, OR Corvallis Folklore Society, Corvallis, OR
Godfrey Daniel’s, Bethlehem, PA Caliope House Concerts, Pittsburgh, PA
The Bluebird Cafe, Nashville, TN Uncle Calvin’s Coffeehouse, Dallas, TX
Rouse House Concerts, Austin, TX   Acoustic Concerts, St. George, UT
Seattle Folklore Society, Seattle, WA   Big Top Chautauqua, Bayfield, WI

Some People We’ve Opened for or Shared Stages with:

Tom Paxton, Greg Brown, John McCutcheon, Utah Phillips, Cheryl Wheeler, Robin & Linda Williams, David Wilcox, Bryan Bowers, Peter Rowan, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Bill Staines, Trout Fishing in America, Austin Lounge Lizards, Susan Werner, Willie Porter, the Bobs, David Massengill, Steve Gillette & Cindy Mangsen, James Keelaghan, Cliff Eberhardt, John Stewart

They say the nicest things…

“Small Potatoes might well be leading mainstays of the folk scene for many years to come.”
Mike Regenstreif
Sing Out Magazine

“[Waltz of the Wallflowers] is smart, funny, wistful, hip — crosses many msical boundaries (traditional, Celtic, jazz, even American theater) –is beautifully and simply produced. The first song on this album is so amazing…you won’t find anything better than this – it’s up there with the best Rodgers & Hammerstein songs you’ve ever heard.”
Christine Lavin
Singer/Songwriter

“They’ll never open for me again!”
Cliff Eberhardt
Singer/Songwriter

“There aren’t many groups, folk or otherwise, with a broader range than these tater tots, but Small Potatoes can turn heads with more than just its range. The duo brings an impressive mastery of detail to each genre…Small Potatoes is obviously steeped in the tradition of the entire folk spectrum.”
Rick Reger
Chicago Tribune

“I’ve never been so fascinated by a singing duo. They’re original, funny, energetic, profound, always respectful of the music but always daring to try new things. When they get their hands on music, rhythmically and harmonically, it just takes off. The audience here loves them. It’s a stand-up-and-shout kind of love.”
Phee Sherline
San Diego Folk Heritage Society, San Diego, CA

“Small Potatoes did one of the best shows we have ever had at the Rouse House Concerts. Many of our regulars believe it was THE best show they have seen – bar none! They are great.”
Bruce Rouse
Rouse House Concerts, Austin, TX

“Take a bunch of styles of acoustic, folk, western, blues and swing, add very hot guitar work, and vocals so tight you need WD-40 to get them apart, and you have what Rich and Jacquie dazzle audiences with. They perform wonderful covers, and award winning originals (98 Kerrville Songwriting winners), and are wonderful people to boot! ”
Tom Otte
Fondy Acoustic Music Alliance, Fond du Lac, WI

“SPUDS rule!”
Meredith Carson
Swallow Hill Music Assoc., Denver, CO

May 30th Concert photos

DM — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:29:52 +0000

Summary of the first concert

The Sill barn on the Camp Courageous property came alive this past Saturday night- (Think Austin City Limits comes to Monticello Iowa). More than seventy Five people enjoyed an evening of great music in a rustic barn nestled back in the pines. The Dalziels and Beth Wood can each hold their own with the best of them- put them on stage together and you know you’re in for a treat.

”The acoustics in the barn are so good, you might not even need a sound system.” Scott Dalziel told Douglas Monk.

Judy Frazee (who attended the event with her husband Jamie) said one of the things she loved about Saturday night was she could understand the words, it wasn’t just a bunch of noise.

It’s hard to describe how magic the night really was. If you’re not doing anything June 27th another evening is in the works. A group called the Small Potatoes is coming to Monticello Iowa. Most (not all) of these artists coming for the concert series are hand picked by Michelle Dalziel herself. July 18th Gayla Drake Paul is coming, she’s on a list of the top 100 acoustic guitarists in the world.- in the world! This is in your back yard. Call 465-4069 if you’d like to know more.

Here’s Scott and Michelle Dalziel, Beth Wood and the Monks after the concert

Picture of some of the 75 people in attendance

Jay and Kathy at the check in table

Scott and Michelle Dalziel and Beth Wood

Here’s Scott Dalziel talking with a few people @ the break

2009 Bear River Concert series-The Story of how it began

DM — Sun, 17 May 2009 10:22:17 +0000

Local Orchardist and General Contractor to Partner w/ Camp for

2009 Bear River Concert Series

Monticello orchardist and general contractor, Douglas Monk, is partnering with Camp Courageous, The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, and the Grant Wood Country Foundation for the Arts, to co-host the “2009 Bear River Concert Series.”

The seven concerts, from May through November, will be held in the rustic Sill Barn on the Camp Courageous property, with the exception of the September concert, “Applejam,” which will be at the Monk’s property. Each concert brings nationally recognized talent to Monticello, Iowa.

The music series began as a dream for Douglas Monk and his wife, Micaela, when they planted their apple orchard in April of 2002.

“Can’t you just picture trees laden with red and yellow apples, families coming out for a day in the country, and live music in the orchard?” Douglas would say to his wife.

But Monk didn’t want to wait five years before the trees bore fruit, so they hosted their first music festival the following September, calling it “Applejam.”

In 2003, due to the weather, they hosted the event in their 100-year-old post-and-beam barn. The venue started with an open mike, followed by a large pot luck, and finished with a professional musician.

Every year, Applejam got a little bigger, a little more polished. Musicians began getting wind of Applejam from as far away as Nashville, Tennessee and England.

In December of 2008, Monk’s wife, Micaela, spotted a notice in the Monticello Express regarding the Jones County Endowment Fund, which stated a grant was available to be used for such things as “recreation, tourism, improving the quality of life and enhancing the economic well-being of Jones County residents.”

Doug and Micaela met with Scott and Michelle Dalziel, two singer-songwriters who had previously performed at Applejam, to discuss applying for the grant. Michelle suggested that rather than envision just one event, why not do a whole series of concerts and name it after the Maquoketa River which flows through this part of the state.

“Did you know the Native Americans called the river ‘the Bear River’ (Maquoketa River) after all the black bear in the area?” she said.

Melissa Stelhorn, a family friend, also at the discussion, suggested it might be mutually advantageous to partner with Camp Courageous on the project, gearing a portion of the proceeds toward the camp.

In January, Doug, Micaela, and Melissa sat down with Charlie Becker Camp Director, to share their idea. Out of this came the “2009 Bear River Concert Series.”

While reservations are not required, they are strongly recommended. Phone: (319) 465-4069. Following are the concert dates and musicians:

May 30th Sill Barn 7:00 PM

Scott and Michelle Dalziel http://www.myspace.com/scottmichelledalziel

Beth Wood http://www.myspace.com/bethwoodmusiccom

June 27th Sill Barn 7:00PM

Small Potatoes http://www.smallpotatoesmusic.com/

July 18th Sill Barn 7:00 PM

Gayla Drake Paul http://www.skep.com/gdpaul/

http://www.myspace.com/gayladrakepaul

August 29th Sill Barn 7:00 PM

GDP3

Sept 12 Monk’s Barn- Applejam

Start @ 4:30-7 Various local artists

7 PM: Fran Snyder http://fransnyder.com

October 31 Sill Barn 7:00 PM

Joe Jenks http://www.joejencks.com/

November 28^th Sill Barn 7:00 PM

John Smith http://www.johnsmithmusic.com/