In the House

Performers and homeowners alike are discovering that house concerts are a practical way to hear live music in an intimate environment.

By: Amy Brummer

"Christina
Christina Ward, co-founder of Musicians Organization of Bucks, is working to create a network to help performers find outlets for their music. To that end, she’s participating in a house concert hosted by Doylestown resident John Everett.


   The ethereal notes of a silver flute float above mellow syncopated drumbeats. Accents of tambourine move in and out. A voice, clear and light, percolates with an Irish lilt.
   These are the sounds of Urban Celtic, a duo whose music fuses traditional Irish instruments with a mix of songs ranging form the traditional Celtic to English folk and American spirituals. Their sound is fresh and jazzy, rooted by the clear pitch of vocalist Mary Kay Mann and the sophisticated arrangements of Stephen DiJoseph.
   Between songs, they lighten the mood with humor and stories. Any room could be warmed by their rich, layered ballads that conjure images of love, loss and mischief. For the audience, it is the kind of music that lends itself to closer listening. The pair, who have been playing together for four years, have appeared in venues such as Patchworks Coffee House in Perkasie, Pa., and the Folk Factory in Philadelphia, and on WXPN radio 88.5. They have also found another way to reach their audience — house concerts.
   For decades, house concerts have been an alternative to smoky bars and clubs, providing an intimate, casual atmosphere for performers and music lovers alike. On Jan. 25, Doylestown, Pa., resident John Everett will host a concert in his home, featuring Urban Celtic, whose self-titled CD won second place in the Best Celtic CD category of the Just Plain Folks National Music Awards.
   The opening act is a trio of singer-songwriters from Doylestown, Christina Ward, Matt Taylor and Chris Blasucci, who take turns accompanying each other. The concert is open to the public, with a $12 suggested donation that goes directly to the performers. Coffee, tea and desserts will be available, and guests are welcome to bring refreshments or snacks. After the main acts, the floor will open up for anyone who wants to perform or jam.
   "You get this really nice social aspect to it," says Mr. Everett. "You can meet people who have a common interest, and there are plenty of spaces within the night for people to talk and exchange information and buy CDs."
   It is a labor of love for Mr. Everett, an avid folk music fan. He attends house concerts throughout the region, getting information from a listserve that posts information about artists and concerts in the greater Philadelphia region. At a show on the Main Line, Mr. Everett met singer-songwriter Les Sampou, who was in town from Boston, and asked if she would be interested in doing a house concert in Doylestown.
   For an out-of-town performer, house concerts are a good way to supplement a tour schedule as well as make local connections. Many hosts also will put up an artist for the night, lightening their expenses and taking some of the loneliness out of being on the road.
   Mr. Everett has hosted three shows with Ms. Sampou and is eager to showcase other artists he has encountered on the folk scene, as well as performers who are just launching their careers.
   "It is amazing to me how many people are out there that have talent," he says. "A lot of the people I see are a little more established, so I want to get some younger people like the three that are opening. I want to find some younger folkies and give them an audience. It is incredible how much good music is out there that really doesn’t get a voice or has a small venue."
   This is a fact that Christina Ward also has been working to address. As a young performer looking to promote her music, she recognizes how important it is to find as many outlets as possible. Ms. Ward, co-founder of Musicians Organization of Bucks, a non-profit that links performers and artists with charitable causes and benefits, returned from her West Coast travels to her native Bucks County to devote time to writing music. Her soulful songs combine lush instrumentals with country-tinged harmonies that showcase her powerful voice.
   In conjunction with Matt Taylor and Chris Blasucci, both of whom write and perform their own jazz-influenced acoustic folk rock, Ms. Ward produces music through their label, Kozy Kitchen records, based in Doylestown.
   "There are so many talented musicians in Doylestown, playing the open-mike scene," she says. "Just in Bucks County it’s amazing. I think people are taking it in a more serious direction, playing out more. I feel that I have grown with a lot of musicians from around here, just starting out and not really knowing what to do, learning what things to do to promote your music and taking it more seriously."
   Gearing up for a Northeastern tour this summer, Ms. Ward is aware of all of the hard work that it takes to get established in the music business and find venues for performing that jibe with the musician’s mood. This is what makes house concerts especially rewarding for performers, because the audience is there specifically to hear the performances.
   "Playing in people’s homes to friends and families in a non-smoking, sometimes non-drinking environment is cool," she says. "People are much more attentive."
   For performers whose music has strong lyrics and rich instrumentals, the intimate environment allows it to be savored. Overall, the house concert provides an atmosphere that is well suited to the acoustic folk scene, bringing people together for the love of the music.
John Everett’s House Concert featuring Urban Celtic and Christina Ward, Matt Taylor and Chris Blasucci takes place at 2111 Turk Road, Doylestown, Pa., Jan. 25. The show begins at 7:30 p.m., and doors open at 7. A $12 donation is requested. For reservations and directions, call (215) 348-7935 or e-mail [email protected]. For more information about house concerts in the greater Philadelphia area, go to www.fortissimo.org/phillyfolk