Riverfolk Friends and Fans

We had a great time performing Friday evening at the Winter Bluegrass

Weekend and jamming in rooms and hallways the rest of the weekend. Although

we are in no way a bluegrass band, we were well received and made many new

friends. Thank you MBOTMA.

Next up is a series of house concerts beginning with one in Minneapolis on

Mar 25th. Then on to Milwaukee on April 1st and Kalamazoo on April 8th. We

love doing house concerts. It is such a fine way to share an evening of

music in an intimate, informal, comfortable and well," homey" atmosphere.

Never been to a house concert? Here's what you get:

Hospitality: People open their home to a performance. But since it is their

home, it is also a social gathering, an event, and more or less a party.

There are as many different styles as there are hosts. I've seen house

concerts where there is a spread of snacks laid out, others that prepare a

full buffet style dinner offering, and others that do a pot luck. I know of

one house concert series, hosted buy a home brewer, where part of the

evening is a sampling of his latest creations.

Music: As audience, you get to interact with performers before, during and

after the show in a way not possible in other settings. We always have fun

with our audience wherever we play, but the connection we can make in the

warmth of someone's home is special and unmatched in any coffee house, bar

or formal concert setting. (And no Cappuccino steamer roaring in the

background!)

A few notes on protocols:

House rules vary. They are usually sited in the promotional description

provided by the host.

Contact the host. They need to plan for the number of people to expect in

their home. Space varies from house to house. I've been to house concerts

with a dozen or so seats available to one were there were 45. We played a

house concert last year where the hosts had never had more than 25 or so

guests. Over 50 showed up. It was a grand time, but I fear our hosts were

more than a bit overwhelmed.

There is a suggested donation. This isn't a commercial venture. These events

are put on by people who open their homes to let you experience music in you

might not otherwise hear, in a way that you would certainly not otherwise

encounter. Your donation goes to the musicians to cover their time and

travel. The hospitality stems from the generosity and support of your hosts.

We thank them all.

I'll be posting details for Milwaukee and Kalamazoo soon.

Once again, It is good to be back.

Thanks for listening,

Chas

Here is the info provided by our hosts for the house concert this weekend:

(As I mentioned, "House rules vary.")

Saturday March 25th 2006

Harriet Manor

2456 Harriet Ave S.

Mpls. MN 55405

Doors open at 6:00pm

Show starts at 7:00pm

Suggested Donation $10

Contact info:

612-724-2514

Misslaurajean@att.net

Please feel free to bring wine and or Tapas to share

An invitation only music circle will happen afterwards probably starting

between 9:00pm and 10:00pm everyone is welcome to stay and hang out and eat

and drink and make merry. There are movies upstairs and games downstairs

and something to make everybuddy happy at least for a time.

If you arrive after 6:50pm please enter through the back door or the secret

door on the north side of the house but don't tell anyone about it shhh!

'Cause it's a secret

No shoes are ever allowed to be worn inside the manor in efforts regarding

historic preservation. You may chose to bring a soft soled indoor only

slipper for each foot.

Smoking is allowed in the gardens out back (okay someday there will be

gardens out back for now settle for snow hiding crab grass and weeds)

No guns are ever allowed inside the manor those breaking this rule may be

taken out back and shot! (With what we will shoot you remains to be

determined)

Guest rooms are available at no cost but are on a first come first serve

basis, please call our reservations desk at 612-724-2514

RSVP cause it's ubber polite and can earn you brownie points redeemable for

actual brownies and other delectable desserts like pie, strange favors

including but not limited to law breaking.