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Acoustic Sounds Cafe Second
Presbyterian Church 600
Pleasant Valley Drive Tel:
501-227-0000
October 1, 2007 Hello friends, This quarter will complete 14 years of Acoustic Sounds Café-"serving music in Little Rock since 1994." As I think of it, I am most impressed that it has been and still is all about community. First and probably most obviously there is the audience. Sometimes I see a person come alone, but usually I see couples, families, companions, friends…sometimes groups of 15-20 or so, like the church group from Sherwood. Some folks come once or even a few times, then more-or-less disappear; others come from occasionally to fairly often; and then there's that little band of people who at every show are standing in line before the doors open, "talking amongst themselves"…getting to know one another …missing one another when one of the "regulars" is…well, missing. There are the volunteers…over the years literally hundreds of people from seemingly all stations and seasons of life who for a time have given freely of themselves to make it happen. These days, to wit, to put on every show there are approximately 20 volunteers involved. There are the artists, of course, and folks in the arts community. We have presented hundreds of local, regional, national, and international artists-story tellers and dancers as well as musicians. We've connected and been networked with scores of artist reps, media people, and presenters from other venues. We have found a radio audience community through "Live at Acoustic Sounds Café," a radio show produced from recordings of our live shows and broadcast weekly on KUAR FM89 since July of 2001. We've been able to funnel some $40,000 over the years to local helping communities such as, in recent years, Women & Children First, Ferncliff Camp, and P.A.R.K. (Positive Atmosphere Reaches Kids). And finally, people from the local business community have supported us-most notably Ken McClellan of Arkansas Display Systems in earlier years as well as a succession of motels; River City Coffee, Tea, & Candy and John King of S&D Coffee over the long haul; and Ferncliff Camp in recent years. It has been an incredibly enriching venture…quite a ride! Acoustic Sounds Café has operated as an all-volunteer, self-sustaining, non-profit outreach/service project of Second Presbyterian Church in Little Rock. I have managed the project since 1994. For everything there is a season and a time, and last fall I communicated to the church staff that I would retire from managing ASC at the end of the 2007 season. I have felt this coming on for a couple of years. Now the time has come. Therefore, about a year ago a task force was assembled to consider the contributions and challenges of Acoustic Sounds Café; to evaluate the business and operational models of Acoustic Sounds Café; to identify requirements for continuing into 2008 and beyond; and presumably to transition to a new and improved Acoustic Sounds Café. There is a lot to be considered. By late summer it was agreed that perhaps the best course would be for Acoustic Sounds Café to "take a sabbatical" in 2008. I am reminded of Bill Isles' song, "A Hole in Our Town." I know there will be an Acoustic Sounds Café shaped hole in my life, as there may be in yours. The feedback I get is that what Acoustic Sounds Café has become over the years is highly valued by the church and by the various communities and that there would seem to be strong interest in seeing Acoustic Sounds Café continue. It is my hope that the sabbatical will be a time when new/fresh/energetic leadership will emerge, where the project will be evaluated from A-to-Z and revamped/reorganized/recharged as needed. That, I believe, is the intent. I encourage you to send me your thoughts in writing for the benefit of the task force that will be considering the future of Acoustic Sounds Café. The usual stuff…what you most liked, what wasn't so great, what could be done to make it better for all…maybe some of your favorite artists… maybe what you would willing to contribute. Would you want to remain on the mailing list, pending resumption (resurrection?) of Acoustic Sounds Café? Would you want to be on an initial contact mailing list, pending other developments…such as a house concert series, for example? Other possibilities? Thus, we are down to our last four shows-for a while anyway. Each show will be especially precious. As in previous years, we won't do a 4th Friday show after Christmas, and this year we won't do a 4th Friday show after Thanksgiving. Check 'em out. Mark your calendars. Bring ten of your best friends!
Oct 12. Part of the point of listing all the high profile artists with whom Craig Carothers has "shared the stage" is the wide diversity of people and styles with whom/which he fits and feels comfortable and "natural." His hallmarks as I see them, however, are his sense of humor, his ability to "read" and connect with an audience, and his spontaneity. When first reviewing his CDs, I found his songs funny, enjoyable, and generally good listening, so I booked him to open for Harvey Reid in 2005. It probably wouldn't be fair to say that he stole the show from Harvey-that's not supposed to happen anyway-but it certainly would be fair to say that everyone was in a great mood when Harvey did take the stage. It was clear that you would enjoy having him back as a feature. As it turned out, the booking muses led to bringing him back within just 6 months to open for Kate Campbell. Now which of those times was it that he played a Craig Carothers song, creatively "arranged for the 5-string guitar"? He broke a string and never missed a beat, turning it into just another opportunity to entertain. In fact, as an entertainer he is a master of the art, and I suspect you would judge him to be among the best we've had. Finally, we'll get him back as a feature. To open, we're introducing Greg Klyma, who started in Buffalo (NY) by fronting an Americana rock troupe, spent some time under the influence of the Austin music scene, and now is again based in NY. CDs: New Clothes, In the Meantime, Not a Complicated Guy, Driver. Oct 26. There have been just a few times in all the years when I just blanked on a good opening act for a given featured artist. Such was the case here. Knowing my opportunities were ebbing, I wanted to make sure we got David Roth back here one more time. We agreed on this date months ago, but the booking muses were persistently and strangely quiet about an opening act. Finally, it dawned on me that really you just can't get too much of this guy…or even near enough. I suspect that many of us could make out his set lists ourselves and still not have time in a full evening to get in all our favorites. To quote someone with a little authority…as Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul, & Mary) put it, "David has reached our hearts. With voices like his still singing, there's a certainty that the candle will remain lit, the hope reasserted and the dream still sung…." And of David's song, "Nine Gold Medals," Tom Paxton said it's "one of the best songs I've heard in the last 20 years." Perhaps Ron Sowell, artistic director for the "Mountain Stage" radio show, said it best: "…as high as my expectations were, he surpassed them in every way. David is a consummate performer, singer, songwriter, and musician. My highest recommendation." What else can I say/do? This will be very special! Don't miss it. Nov 09. I've been aware of Scott & Michell Dalziel only in the last year or so. To be honest, they first came to mind as a "dream program" opening act, should I be successful in one last try to bring back a certain very fast rising, big-voiced African-American female blues/gospel/folk singer-which I had tried unsuccessfully to do not fewer than a half dozen times since she was last here in 2001. I had dared to dream big and think that it could happen. In the end, it didn't happen like I hoped-apparently we just couldn't compete with the deeper pockets of festivals and perhaps larger venues. But you know what-in the process I listened to the Dalziel's brand new Chris Rosser produced CD so much that I finally realized, "Hey! I love their music!! Duh…that's why I keep listening…over and over." Talk about your great, soulful singing…wow! I'm reminded of a story Stephanie Corby told me about how once after her performance in a blues venue a black woman asked her, "Girl…where is your pigment!?" (Steph is white but has a big voice and sings the blues with the best.) I checked www.dalziel.net, found that Scott & Michelle would be on their way home to IA from a tour stop in AL, and invited them for this date. You've not heard them yet and they are the only new-to-us featured act in this quarter, but I think you'll be thrilled and delighted. To open this show, I am very pleased to finally present another of AR's great guitarists, Batesville's Danny Dozier. Another highly recommended show…can't wait! Dec 14. As you likely noticed, we have declared this "free cake" night. After all, it'll be our last show before the sabbatical, and we want to do a little celebrating…finish up with an especially "good taste" in our mouth, so to speak. To headline this memorable program, classical guitarist Muriel Anderson will return for her sixth performance here. Clearly another venue favorite, Muriel continues to amaze me not only with her world-class musical abilities but also with her charming, winsome, and accessible, down-to-earth personal nature as well as her apparently unlimited sense of musical adventure. It struck me that it would bring lots of energy and would be great fun to ask The Tom Cox Jazz Quartet to open the show. These guys-Tom Cox, Barry McVinney, Joe Vick, and Brian Brown-are highly respected and pretty amazing themselves. To add to the fun, I proposed that Muriel and the quartet find a way to do something together. If Muriel can tour with a bluegrass band-in fact, imitate a bluegrass band, including the banjo-I have supreme confidence and eagerly anticipate seeing what they come up with. I know it's a busy time of year, but I urge you to put this on your calendar-NOW! Last words. See www.AcousticSoundsCafe.org for artist links, radio program schedules, and further developments. Hear "Live at Acoustic Sounds Café" Saturdays at 8-9 p.m. on KUAR FM89. Keep the faith. Be gentle with yourselves. And, as always, hold hands when you cross the street! God bless. Sincerely,
Acoustic Sounds Café
(501) 220-5635 (W) 600 Pleasant |
