Tag Archives: Matthew Tonner

Artist Updates

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Laney Jones has a new band! Bass player Tré Hester and percussionist Brian Dowd join founding member Matthew Tonner (guitarist). If you want to hear Laney Jones and the Spirits they will be in Pennsylvania on September 26, 2015 in Schyulkill Haven. In the meantime we’ll be looking for ways to schedule them at Chestnut House Concerts.

Congratulations to Roochie Toochie and the Ragtime Shepherd Kings as they took home 1st Place for Neo Traditional Band at Clifftop 2015. No one who witnessed their July 28, 2015 performance at Chestnut House Concerts should be surprised with this news.

Soon after their summer 2015 US tour that included a983792_10153531839914803_8988931035366921402_n visit to Lancaster, PA, I Draw Slow completed their first tour in Canada. The International Bluegrass Music Association announced two nominations for I Draw Slow – The momentum awards for Band Performance, and Vocalist Performance (Louise). Awards are presented Wednesday, September 30, 2015. You’ve got our vote for both categories – best wishes!

The next show at Chestnut House Concerts is The Blackberry Bushes Stringband from Seattle. This five piece Americana Bluegrass band will be performing at 7:00 pm on Friday, September 25, 2015. There will be a potluck at 6:00 pm and the suggested donation is $15/20 per person.  To reserve seats contact Tim at tlehman9@gmail.com or by phone/text to 717-940-9311.

In Good Company

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1001230_10151785871362497_51346885_nChestnut House Concerts welcomes Laney Jones and the Lively Spirits on Friday, February 21st.  Laney and two of the Lively Spirits are students at Berklee College of Music in Boston.  Laney is studying voice, songwriting and American Roots Music. Most of the music she performs are original tunes and she accompanies herself on banjo or ukulele. Joining her on stage will be Lars Thorson on fiddle, Jacy Anderson on guitar (also students at Berklee) along with bass player Matthew Tonner.

Founded in 1945, the mission of Berklee College of Music is to educate, train, and develop students to excel in music as a career. Student population is just over 4,400 and about 30% if these students are female.  28% of the student population is international, representing 98 countries.

Some names of Berklee alumni that may be familiar to you?   Levon Helm, John Mayer, Branford Marsalis, Bruce Hornsby, Paula Cole, Melissa Etheridge, Roy Hargrove, Gillian Welch, Esperanza Spalding, and Diana Krall.

Laney’s video “Black Coffee” seems appropriate in a post about college life.  We have a few seats available for Friday night’s performance.  Text or call 717-940-9311 to rsvp.  Potluck at 6 pm, Show at 7 pm.  Donations at the door of $15/20.

One thing I know…

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I’ve never been good with trivia questions.  I can remember my birthday, the first boy I kissed, how many quarts are in a gallon and that the notes on the bass clef between the lines from low to high are a|c|e|g because, indeed, all cows eat grass.

I have friends though, with an amazing propensity for recalling details, and on the occasion that I’ve accompanied them to trivia competitions, I’ve been duly impressed.  Even though I’m not a trivia junkie I’d have been living under a rock during the 90s in Lancaster to not know of the king of trivia, Curtis Earth.

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Laney sings “I Wish I Was a Zombie” on The Curtis Earth Show, WPRK 91.5 FM

I was surprised to see a post on Facebook by our next house concert guest, Laney Jones regarding a radio spot she did with Curtis Earth in January while home in Orlando from her studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston.  Below is a video clip of Laney singing “Devil Down” on the Curtis Earth Show, 91.5 FM.  

Curtis moved to Orlando, Florida in 2002 to host trivia shows for WTKS 104.1 FM and for Disney cruise lines. In addition to Florida and the Atlantic Ocean, Earth Trivia continues today in Lancaster as well as the DC area via associates in these regions. Curtis also hosts the Curtis Earth Show on WPRK, 91.5 FM, Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida.

I do know now that if asked this trivia question: “Who’s one of the top emerging artists in folk/Americana music?” – you’d want me on your team.

To hear Laney Jones, Matthew Tonner (bass), Jacy Anderson (guitar) and Lars Thorson (fiddle) in Lancaster, plan to attend Chestnut House Concerts on Friday, February 21, 2014.Potluck at 6 pm, show at 7:00 pm.  See the ‘about’ page for information to RSVP.

Laney Jones & the Lively Spirits

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Tim and I were able to attend Grey Fox for the first time in 2013.  While we appreciated the High Meadow Stage with big names like Tim O’Brien, the Del McCoury Band and the Carolina Chocolate Drops, where we spent most of our time was at the Creekside Stage.  Creekside scheduled a few bands each day in their Emerging Artist Showcase sponsored by the Philadelphia Folk Festival and WFDU.

Laney Jones and her band played at the Creekside Stage on Friday and although the temperature was in the 90s with high humidity, we all forgot our discomfort as Laney built an immediate rapport with the audience. Laney has an infectious smile and obvious delight in sharing the music she’s written through her banjo, harmonica and vocals. There’s an ease she has on stage that comes from her years of performing musical theater.  Laney is currently studying songwriting, voice and American Roots Music at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Ma.

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Laney Jones at Grey Fox Music Festival – July 2013

We welcome Laney Jones & the Lively Spirits (Matthew Tonner, bass; Jacy Anderson, guitar; and Lars Thorson, fiddle) to Chestnut House Concerts on Friday, February 21, 2014.  Potluck at 6 pm, Show at 7 pm.  Suggested donations of $15-20 per person.  To RSVP, call/text 717-940-9311 or email Tim at tlehman9@gmail.com.