Tag Archives: Birds of Chicago

Artist Updates

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The Birds012-012-DSC_8252+-+Version+2 of Chicago will release their highly anticipated album “Real Midnight” February 19, 2016.  The Wall Street Journal (entertainment section “speakeasy”) wrote a review of “Dim Star of the Palisades” from the album. Visit their website to see the review and listen to “Dim Star”.

 

 

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You may have seen television ads for The Good Dinosaur around Thanksgiving, and Disney selected a song by Laney Jones to promote the movie. Run Wild is from Laney’s new CD to be released in 2016. Congrats Laney!

 

The final show at Chestnut House Concerts in 2015 will be Sunday, December 27th.Nick DiSebastian (recently of Town Mountain) and Charlie Muench (of The Stray Birds) are re-connecting for a show of acoustic eclecticism.

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Nick and Charlie have stood side by side on stage in myriad of settings including the school orchestra, high school rock band, college Latin jazz band, and a nationally touring bluegrass band.Old friends reunite on stage for an evening of music. Bluegrass, Old Time, swing, rock and roll, and original music will be played featuring Nick on guitar, mandolin, and vocals along with Charlie Muench on bass, banjo, and vocals. Special guest for the second set!

Reserve your seat through Tim at tlehman9@gmail.com or by sending a text to 7179 409311.  Potluck at 6, music at 7.

 

 

 

 

House Concert Magic

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Allison Russell with her daughter Ida.

“Whether it’s 30,000 people at a festival or 30 people at a house concert, each venue has its own magic” ~ Allison Russell from Birds of Chicago

Birds of Chicago return to Chestnut House Concerts on Sunday, March 22 at 7:00 p.m. The usual potluck will take place at 6:00 p.m. before the show.

If you’re unfamiliar with BOC and their sound, the video below provides a sampling of their songs and a little bit about the band.  If you’d like to experience some of the magic on March 22, RSVP with Tim at tlehman9@gmail.com or call/text 717940-9311.

Something for Everyone: 3 upcoming shows include soul, folk, roots, old-time and world music.

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Mando Planet (Jack Dywer and Tim Connell) played at Chestnut House Concerts in March 2014 and we’re excited to have them return on April 10, 2015 to play the world’s music on sixteen strings. Their set typically includes music from Ireland, Brazil, the Appalachians, Africa and the African Diaspora, Greece, The Jewish Diaspora, and the Balkans.

The Corn Potato String Band plays traditional American music and all three members are multi-instrumentalists. In addition to being champion fiddlers they play banjo, guitar, bass and mandolin and deftly handle many different antiquated styles including ballads, “ho-downs,” country “rags” and southern gospel, specializing in twin fiddling and double banjo tunes. The Corn Potatoes will be at Chestnut House Concerts on Saturday, March 28, 2015.

Birds of Chicago won the hearts of the Chestnut House Concert audience in September 2013 and they will return on Sunday, March 22, 2015 for another evening of music.  The Birds of Chicago just finished recording a new album Real Midnight with producer Joe Henry and they will share some of their new songs with us.

For all three shows the evening will start with a potluck at 6:00 p.m. followed by music at 7:00 p.m.  To save a seat contact Tim at tlehman9@gmail.com or call/text 717.940.9311.  Suggested donation of $15/20 per person.

Artist Updates

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The Stray Birds the_stray_birds_-_best_medicine_sm_2

The Stray Birds’ new release “Best Medicine” is a 12 song CD recorded at Stonebridge Studios in Leesburg, VA and produced by the band and Stuart Martin. 10 of the tunes are originals with the same intelligent lyrics and tight harmonies that we learned to love from their first album, The Stray Birds.  The two traditional tunes included are ‘Who’s Gonna Shoe’ and ‘Pallet’; the latter being my favorite because I love the spirit that Charlie brings to the lead vocals.

Banjo BabesLindsay

If you’re looking for a 2015 wall calendar, you might want to consider Banjo Babes.  It features two artists that were at Chestnut House Concerts this fall, Lindsay Lou and Evie Ladin.

We’ll have to wait for 2016 and hope the other banjo babes that have been at Chestnut House Concerts like Laney Jones, Allison Russell (Birds of Chicago), Laurel Premo (Red Tail Ring),  Rachel Baiman (10 String Symphony) and Greta Bondesson (Baskery) will be featured in the next calendar.

The proceeds from the calendar are used to promote banjo music.

Billy Strings & Don Julin

Billy and Don

You know a band has got talent when they are booked to open for two of the greatest musicians in the history of bluegrass – Del McCoury and David Grisman.  Five shows in November starting tomorrow (11/11/14) at City Winery in New York, NY.

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The Barefoot Movement

Congratulations to The Barefoot Movement for winning the “Band of the Year Momentum Award” from the International Bluegrass Music Association in October, 2014.  This band will make a return appearance at Chestnut House Concerts on Sunday, December 7, 2014.  Show at 7:00.

 

 

The next concert will be guitarist and singer/songwriter David Jacobs-Strain. David will be playing with Bob Beach (vocals, harmonica) on Sunday, November 23, 2014.  Potluck at 6 pm, Show at 7 pm.  Email Tim at tlehman9@gmail.com to reserve a seat, or find us on Facebook.

One Year Later

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In September 2013 Chestnut House Concerts Ida9Monthsstarted the fall series with Birds of Chicago.  At that time Allison was nearing her final trimester of pregnancy.  She gave birth to Ida Mauve the last week of December, 2013.

Hopefully the next time her parents visit Chestnut House Concerts for a show we can meet her in person.

Tomorrow night (October 1, 2014) we’re hosting Evie Ladin & Keith Terry.  There is room for more guests so contact us during the day if you’d like to come to the show.  717-940-9311 or tlehman9@gmail.com, potluck at 6, show at 7.

Maritime

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photo by Tim Lehman

Tim and I were able to take a whirlwind trip to the Pacific Northwest during the last two weeks of August.  Tim lived in Portland for many years and we had the opportunity to visit friends and relatives in Oregon, Washington and Victoria BC.

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photo by Tim Lehman

 

Dave McGraw and Mandy Fer performed at Chestnut House Concerts in November, 2013 and they reside in the San Juan Islands in Northwest Washington. We knew that we would not be able to visit them on this trip as they were busy touring, but it was a sweet surprise to find their Kickstarter announcement of Maritime in my Facebook feed during our trip.

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photo by Tim Lehman

 

While Tim drove from Tacoma to Port Angeles so we could take the ferry to Victoria, I played Dave and Mandy’s announcement of their Kickstarter project for Maritime.  Producer Zach Goheen, drummer Andrew Lauher, and bassist Christopher Merrill (Birds of Chicago) joined Dave and Mandy in a cabin in the San Juan Islands to record Maritime.

Check out their Kickstarter campaign and hear some clips of their new music.  We hope to have them back at Chestnut House Concerts in the spring of 2015 so you can hear the new tunes directly from them.

Tonight, September 7, 2014 we host a sold out show with Lindsay Lou and the Flatbellys.  September 27, 2014 is a house concert with guitarist Billy Strings and mandolin player Don Julin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Artist Updates

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A few times a year I like to provide some highlights of artists that have previously played at Chestnut House Concerts.

Tattletale Saints

Cy Winstanley and Vanessa McGowan (Tattletale Saints) were guests on NPR’s Mountain Stage on June 20, 2014.  You can hear the entire performance below. 

http://www.npr.org/2014/06/18/323190634/tattletale-saints-on-mountain-stage?autoplay=true

Birds of Chicago 10425493_1506172676282630_3635648870989989909_nIda Mauve celebrates a 6 month birthday.  The Birds of Chicago are as busy as ever touring from coast to coast in North America this summer and fall.

The Barefoot Movement

This 4-piece bluegrass band was asked to visit the United States Embassy in Burkina Faso, Africa as part of cultural exchange effort.  The trip took place the first week of July 2014.  10492557_10152329743134132_6498086861373983910_n

Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys  

The New Roots Exchange, Vol.1 was released in April 2014.

STORE_1394750593Side A contains 2 traditional tunes played by a Red Tail Ring (appearing at Chestnut House Concerts in October 2014) and Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys . On side B each group plays alone covering a song written by the other group.  Red Tail Ring covers My Side of the Mountain and Lindsay Lou covers Body Like a Bell. 

The Earthwork Music 2014 Summer Sampler is free and contains over 20 songs including The Wind & Rain from Side A of New Roots Exchange.  It also includes another song by Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys as well as a track by Flatbelly dobro player Mark Lavengood.  You can order your copy by clicking the link below.

https://earthworkmusic.com/store-ind?i=171

Next up at Chestnut House Concerts:  Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys.  September 7; potluck at 6:00 pm, show at 7:00.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Artist Updates

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It’s time for another artist update; bringing you news from artists that have played at Chestnut House Concerts.

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Adrien Reju recently signed with Big Hassle Management in Philadelphia and her tour schedule going in to 2014 is full including 4 April shows in Florida opening for Amos Lee.

The Kruger Brothers released Spirit of the Rockies which was recorded at The Banff Centre, in Banff, Alberta Canada.  All 1526532_579930078759330_1174989997_nmusic was written and scored by Jens Kruger and the story line – following a man’s journey of young love through a life time – was written by both Jens and Uwe Kruger.  Jens on banjo, Uwe on guitar, Joel Lansberg on bass, Josh Day on percussion and they are joined by the Banff Centre Chamber Orchestra.

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Della Mae at the 2014 Grammys. Shelby Means is on the far left.

Shelby Means played at Chestnut House Concerts on December 27, 2013 with the Tanasi Ramblers.  She is the bass player for Della Mae whose album This World Oft Can Be was nominated for Best Bluegrass Album of the Year in the 2014 Grammys.

 

 

Baby girl  Ida Maeve Robertson Lindsay joined The Birds of Chicago family on December 30, 2013.  Here’s a photo of Ida on the way to get her passport for the upcoming February tour in Europe, and one of her just being her cute self.

Ida Maeve

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Laney Jones and the Lively Spirits will be at Chestnut House Concerts on Friday, February 21, 2014.  Potluck at 6, show at 7.  We hope you can attend.  Check the About section for more information on how to reserve seats.

Artist Updates

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Social media makes it easy to follow the artists that have performed at Chestnut House Concerts and there are some great things happening to these fine musicians.

Several of the performers from last year’s line up attended the annual convention of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) this past week in Raleigh, NC including The Barefoot Movement, The Stray Birds, and  Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys.  The Raleigh News & Observer featured The Barefoot Movement in their entertainment section on the write up of the IBMA event.

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The Kruger Brothers’ show on April 7, 2013 was a favorite of our regular Chestnut House Concert audience members.  It was no surprise to anyone that Jens won the 2013 Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass.  What fun to see them on the David Letterman show Friday night (September 27, 2013).

 

2013-2014 got off to a great start with Birds of Chicago in September, and Chestnut House Concerts welcomes Adrien Reju and Brad Hinton on Friday, October 18th, potluck at 6:00 pm, show at 7:00 pm.  All seats must be reserved; text 717-940-9311 or email tlehman9@gmail.com.

Don’t Judge a Song by Its Title

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In planning for the house concert on Wednesday night I’ve listened to the Birds of Chicago’s CD as well as songs by both JT and Allison’s earlier work (JT and the Clouds / Po’ Girl).    

I found myself skipping  “The Moonglow / Tapeworm”  on their album – simply because of the tapeworm reference.  Shallow, I know – but how good could a tapeworm song really be?  

It’s good.  It’s so good I might even request it.  Maybe.  

We have a few seats available for Wednesday night.  Potluck at 6:00, show at 7:00.  Email tlehman9@gmail.com or text/call 717-940-9311.