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House Concert Series
What is a house concert?
What is a house concert?
A house concert is a live musical performance given in someone's home. In comparison with a musical performance in a concert hall, a house concert is a much more intimate experience. You can speak with the musician before and after the performance, and sit close enough to really see and hear how they play. In comparison to a performance in a bar, you can focus completely on the music, without all the distractions of people ordering food, talking, smoking, etc. There are always nice people to talk with during the intermission, and the hosts usually have drinks and light snacks for the guests. Musicians appreciate having an attentive audience and they often spend the night in the home of their hosts, as part of a musical tour through an area. At some house concerts, guests are expected to make reservations and pay a fixed price for their seat. Other house concerts are more informal. In any case, everyone wins: musicians have an audience and some income in a comfortable setting, guests have a chance to hear high-quality live music up close, and the hosts get to enjoy it all without even leaving home.
Why house concerts at Inner Fire Works?
Just because. It is fun. We love live music. We don't like bars. And because we think it is fantastic to support the whole process -- musicians doing what they love to do, and sharing it with the rest of us. That is energy healing in action, and all of us gain some extra "inner fire."
Logistics
We don't have a fixed list of "regulars" (yet) so we encourage you to bring any friends or family who are interested, no reservations necessary. When the concerts start spilling out the front door then maybe we'll start a reservation and ticketing system. (But if you want to call and tell us you're coming, that is also nice.) * We will "pass the hat" for donations in the middle of the show, and just ask that everyone give what they can. * If anyone feels like bringing a snack or something to drink, to share with the other guests, that is always lovely (but please don't everyone bring alcohol because that can spoil the atmosphere…) But it is also perfectly fine not to bring anything, because Paulus and I like hosting and we'll be busy in the kitchen all morning. * In the future, we'll try to have all information in Dutch and English, but probably we'll continue to attract mostly English-speaking performers. In any case, please feel welcome even if English isn't your first language!
What is on the agenda? Nothing at the moment... but below are some events from the past....
House Concert by Sharon Bousquet American Singer-songwriter, Acoustic Pop
Thursday March 8, 2007, 20:00 to 21:30
suggested donation: 10 to 15 Euro
Sharon is a singer and acoustic guitar player from America (where she has to explain that her name is pronounced "boo-skay" -- that made me smile, when I got her press release.) She sent a copy of her recent CD "Temple" and I have to agree with the reviewers that her voice is impressive.
Here is what one reviewer said: "Sharon Bousquet does everything with sultry grace... She has considerable prowess on the acounstic guitar, yet she puts her instrument down occasionally to belt out an elecrifying a cappella number like the gospel-tinged "Temple." Bousquet has the substance to rise to the top."
For more information (and music samples) visit her website at www.sharonbousquet.com
The Singing Body Workshop by Sharon Bousquet
Saturday March 10, 2007, 13:00 to 18:00
reservations required, limit 12 participants
Suggested donation: 50 to 75 Euro
Sharon has agreed to offer a special singing workshop for up to 12 people. Paulus and I will definitely be 2 of those 12, because it sounds fantastic. Here is how Sharon describes it:
This holistic singing seminar is a movement-based workshop using yoga, breathwork, singing exercises and brain-balancing physical movements in a fun routine that frees the singing voice. We consider the entire mind-body-spirit to be the instrument. This work has a profoundly relaxing, connecting, opening result in the body, allowing one's natural voice to emerge effortlessly. At the end of the workshop, participants will have a home routine which they can incorporate into their lives, bringing more fluidity on stage for those who sing regularly, and more ease and joy for those who find the idea of singing with others less than comfortable. And it's fun!
If you are interested in attending, please contact me as soon as possible, as I'll need to arrange mats, snacks, photocopies of Sharon's routine for people to take home, etc. I'll also need to tell you how to dress and what to bring. If there is interest, we can also arrange for a "potluck" dinner in our living room after the workshop.
House Concert by Robert Bekkers classical guitarist, Utrecht
Sunday April 15, 15:00 (doors open at 14:30)
Suggested donation: 10 to 15 Euro
Robert is a friend of ours and an outstanding guitar player. He showed up at our first house concert last year (with Randall and Claudia) bringing along his own guitar "just in case." He and Randall and Claudia ended up jamming and improvising long after the house concert was officially over. He can play all styles of music, and he loves to do it, and his enthusiasm is really infectious. For this concert, he is preparing a selection of classical guitar music - his wife Anne sent me a list, for those people who are educated in this field (it doesn't make any difference to me, I like to listen to whatever he is playing):
Chaconne, Johann Sebastian Bach
Adios Nonino, Astor Piazzolla
Cappricco Diabolico, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco
Decameron Noire, Leo Brouwer
2nd movement 1st Sonata, Angelo Gilardino
---, Heitor Villa-Lobos
Fandanguillo, Federico Moreno-Torroba
For more information, you can visit Robert and Anne's website at www.pianoguitar.com
House Concert by Claudia San Soucie and Karyn Oliver, singer/songwriters from Baltimore, USA
Sunday May 6, 15:00 (doors open at 14:30)
Suggested donation: 10 to 15 Euro
Claudia performed at our first house concert a year ago with an old friend of mine, Randall. She immediately became a dear friend as well (along with her Dutch partner John, and not just because he brought some amazing wine to share during and after the show.) She has a fantastic voice and writes beautiful songs and is a very warm and sweet person all around. She's back in Holland, where she lives about half of the year, and is bringing her friend Karyn from Baltimore, whom I've never met. But I trust that she is also a wonderful person. Judging by Karyn's website, I'd say she is more on the rock side of folk-rock - maybe we'll have to make some space back in the kitchen for dancing!
The websites to visit are www.claudiasansoucie.com and www.karynoliver.com. I'm sure they will bring CD's to sell, as well.
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