April 12, 2008 at 7:00pm

It's often a good idea to look behind those who inspire us to see who inspired them.

It's no secret that we're big Lyle Lovett fans, but the simple truth is that Lyle's too busy these days to drop by the Church House. So it was with a jolt of excitement that we jumped at the chance to bring Eric Taylor here to perform.

Eric has been one of the Texas-bred songwriters who have helped set the standard of skill and quality that Lyle is perhaps one of the most-visible proponents of. What we weren't aware of is the level of artistic achievement Eric has sustained over the years. Digging deeper than Eric's contribution to Lyle's collection of songs by Texas writers ("Step Inside This House," 1998) we found a deep well of engrossing, enigmatic work spanning over thirty years. Collaborations with Lyle, Guy Clark, Robert Earl Keen, Townes Van Zandt and Nanci Griffith (to whom he was married) speak to the kind of musical neighborhood Eric calls home.

With crystalline guitar playing and a voice as rough and strong as the bridges over the long roads his songs tell of, Eric's performance here will take you to a place of magic, mystery and reverie.

For a sample surf Eric's website.

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Heedlessly impolitic ramblings on Hats, and Texas...

May 9, 2008 at 7:00pm

It has been far too long since we've welcomed Jack Williams back to the Church House.

Jack was one of the very first performers to grace our stage, and among the first to send shivers up our spines with the quality of his playing. But don't listen to us, read this:

"Even more exciting than seeing Bob Dylan, though, was the reaction that Jack Williams got. I was really looking forward to seeing him for the first time and I wasn't disappointed. He practically blew the top off the tent! Man, oh man, can that guy play guitar! He completely overshadowed more well-known performers. They were wonderful, but Jack Williams was playing in an entirely different league. I was astounded by how good he is."
Audience member Mark Cashman, upon hearing Jack for the first time at the Newport Folk Festival.

We couldn't have said it any better ourselves.

For more about Jack, surf his website.

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June 14, 2008 at 7:00pm

Singer-songwriter Gretchen Witt uses threads of folk, country, and pop to weave a sound ripe with femininity and edge.

With both piano and guitar in her arsenal, and singing that is at once sweet and assertive, Gretchen brings variety to her musical palette. Lyrics that add humor and perspective add another level of enjoyment, and audiences nationwide have noticed. Selected as a Finalist in the Kerrville Folk Festival's New Folk Competition, as a Top 5 Finalist in the Telluride Bluegrass Festival's Troubadour Competition, Gretchen has also received multiple honors from the Mid Atlantic Song Contest in both 2006 and 2007.

"Whatever she does, she should keep on doing it. This is acoustic rock magic...is there anything this woman can't do musically? I doubt it. "
DiscoveringArtists.com

For more about Gretchen, surf her website.

As a guitar-based multi-instrumentalist, composer and songwriter, Ann Klein has a lengthy list of diverse credits.

She has toured Europe repeatedly and composed music for three documentaries on French television. As a guitarist, she has played with Kate Pierson of the B-52s, Joan Osborne, PM Dawn, Toshi Reagon, Randall Woolf and Maurice Sendak (for a ballet of "Where the Wild Things Are"), Keri Noble (lap steel and guitar), Sara Lee, Natalie Imbruglia, Mary Lee's Corvette, Jon King, the American Composers Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, Kismet Lyles, and was a featured soloist with Ani DiFranco several times.
Ann will be backing Gretchen, then bringing up her own band for a full electric set.

"Somebody call the Bonnaroo bookers: This gal's as steamy as a hot July afternoon."
Fred Mills, HARP

For more about Ann, surf her website.

To reserve your seats at this event, RSVP now!