Looking to hear something new at a local concert? Some of the most unique performances take place in intimate, comfortably lively settings – the living rooms of dedicated music-lovers. This weekend, you can cozy up in couches and folding chairs to hear performances by folk collective Floyds Row (September 27th) and singer-songwriter Vance Gilbert (September 28th)!
This Saturday, UK-based folk group Floyds Row will be in Newton to kick off their seven-city East Coast tour. Blending early classical, folk, newgrass, and world traditions, this ensemble will perform historical works by John Playford (1623–1686), John Eccles (1668–1735), and Jeremiah Ingalls (1764–1838), along with its members’ original compositions and arrangements. To purchase tickets, use this link; location details are provided after a purchase is made.
Just one day later, on September 28th, interested attendees can see multi-talented folk musician Vance Gilbert perform in a similarly relaxed setting. Gilbert began his career as a jazz singer, then later shifted to folk music with a love for the genre’s emphasis on storytelling and sincerity. Since then, he has released 16 albums and toured on the open-mic circuit with notable names such as Shawn Colvin. If interested in attending, contact [email protected] for more information.
How to host a house concert
Laughter and music-making abound in Newton’s many house concert venues, but how – logistically – do hosts make these events happen? Finding the place to host these concerts certainly isn’t the issue, but organizers sometimes have difficulty making connections with both performers and audience members. Due to the requirements of umbrella organizations managing events like these, the hosts are not allowed to publicly disclose their names, phone numbers, or locations. As a result, attendees are often told about these concerts by word of mouth or through shared music-related connections with hosts. One frequent host describes connecting with both attendees and performers through an annual folk retreat, forming valuable relationships and filling the seats of house concerts with devoted listeners.
How to find house concerts
Attendees learn of these concerts through the use of sites like listeningroomnetwork.com, groupmuse.com, and undiscoveredmusic.net, which help hosts with promotion and logistics. Once informed, attendees can then stay informed. Attendees are invited, via mailing lists, to hosts’ future house concerts. The size of these mailing lists only seems to grow: from starting with a few dozen email addresses to hundreds of interested contacts, hosts are grateful for the ever-increasing number of eager concert-goers.
With every concert they attend, audiences become more and more enthusiastic about what’s next. A jazz trio, a baroque ensemble, a bluegrass soloist? Attendees can’t predict future performances, but one thing’s for certain: they’ll be eagerly waiting for the next e-invite to a completely new, exciting event.
Chloe Carrano is a Fig City News student reporter and a sophomore at Newton South High School.
