Concert Line: 512-219-9008

Live Oak UU Church

Fall 2005 Series

Concerts are listed with the most recent at the top. Follow the links to visit the web sites of the performers or the organizations their concerts supported.

Friday, December 9
Austin Lounge Lizards
opener, Therapy Sisters, South Austin, Texas
benefiting Caritas of Austin

This show will just be jam packed with talent! Getting to see both the Lounge Lizards and the Therapy Sisters in one night will be the highlight of anyone's holiday season!

They're our kinda guys, and a special treat for coffeehouse fans! The Austin Lounge Lizards have delighted audiences from Texas to California, from Canada to the U.K., with their inventive style of satirical folk, country and bluegrass. Based in Austin, Texas, since they formed in 1980, the Lizards have honed their music into a knife-sharp art form. Trademarks of a Lizards song are highly literate, sharply pointed lyrics that poke fun at politics, love, religion and the culture in general. The music of the Austin Lounge Lizards is played on bluegrass and Americana-themed radio shows as well as some of the more "in the know" independent radio stations. The band has appeared at festivals and in concert across the U.S., in Canada, and in the U.K. They have been featured in NPR's Morning Edition, and on the radio programs Mountain Stage and E-Town.

The Therapy Sisters have graced our stage many times, and we are always happy to have them back. We'll be especially happy to welcome Lisa Rogers with her new and improved head, and we hope that she'll show off her scar. Maurine and Lisa are sure to entertain all with their witty and touching songs and sparkling personalities.  There's always something topical and something tender up their sleeves!

Friday, November 11, Welcome UU District Fall Conference Participants
Still on the Hill
opener, Southpaw Jones
benefiting UUA Gulf Coast Relief Fund

Seemingly oblivious to the limitations of what two musicians can create, Still on the Hill has set new boundaries of originality. This duo uses traditional instruments from their home in the Ozarks (banjo, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, harmonica, autoharp) as well as other exotic offerings (Moon guitar from Japan, African finger piano, upright octave violin, and the Mandotar) to push the envelope further. The result is a yet-to-be-named hybrid music that simply compels people to stop and listen, to pause in their hectic lives and pay attention to something they've never heard before. It's magic, and there's simply not enough magic in the world today. Visually, Still on the Hill is full of color and motion; instrumentally, they command their instruments with power and grace, producing a sound that is both fresh and ancient at the same time; lyrically, their original material is packed with new ideas, social awareness and a level of intellect and consciousness that's seldom found in contemporary tunes.

Southpaw Jones treads lightly on the thin ice of irreverent honesty. Being left-handed, he naturally turns his guitar upside-down to play more comfortably. Being a creative little brother, he naturally turns the world upside-down to make his audience uncomfortable. Southpaw has resided in Houston, Nashville, and Los Angeles, and he now calls Austin home, performing each Wednesday at Café Mundi and reaching out to find those open-minded folks who thirst for singable melodies and one-of-a- kind lyrics.

Friday, October 14
Michael McNevin (California) and Robin Greenstein (New York)
benefiting Red Cross

A tireless traveler and troubadour, Singer Songwriter Michael McNevin plays clubs and festivals across the U.S., penning numerous and poignant tales of the people and towns he comes across, hightlighting a seasoned voice, unique guitar work, and a vivid brand of storytelling. With 4 CDs to his credit, he's been a main stager at the Kerrville, Philadelphia, and Strawberry Music Festivals, and has been billed in the concert halls with Johnny Cash, Shawn Colvin, Donovan, Richie Havens, and many others. He is a winner of the Kerrville, Napa Valley, and Columbia River New-Folk Competitions, won the NARAS/NCSA "Unplugged Unsigned" competition, and is a 4-time winner of the NCSA "Song of the Year" award. He's been included in The Performing Songwriter Magazine's "Top-12 DIY's" of the Year, and is a past nominee for "Artist of the Year" by the National Academy of Songwriters. In addition to his music, McNevin has carved himself a niche in the art world as well, doing impossible drawings on the Etch A Sketch (not kidding - check out the CD Cover art to "Sketch"). He is also a published author - segments he calls "Napkin Literature - Stories From The Road" appear regularly in the Harbinger Magazine - episodes ranging from his being caught in the Nashville Tornado, to chasing down a robber in Carbondale Illinois.

Robin Greenstein may be the best kept secret in contemporary acoustic music today. She is a singer-songwriter from NYC whose music fuses folk, pop, blues and country elements into a blend she calls "Acousticness" which is also the title of her second CD. Her debut album "SLOW BURN" received rave reviews when released. Her songs have been recorded on Fast Folk and Atlantic Records. She was a finalist at the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival (1989) in Texas, the premier songwriting festival in the country. Robin plays both guitar and banjo. She straddles the musical worlds of contemporary singer-songwriter pop-folk as well as traditional Anglo-American folk, Afro-American and ethnic Jewish music.

Friday, September 9
Stephen Taylor (Austin) and Beth Wood (Dallas)
Benefiting Spirit Reins

Playing concert stages at festivals, folk clubs and house concerts, singer/songwriter Stephen Taylor has been charming audiences world wide for more than three decades. Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan and raised in a suburb of Philadelphia as the son of a classical singer (his mother) in the 60’s, Stephen has been singing as long as he can remember. Besides music, traveling has always lured him to new places, like Colorado, California, Hawaii, North Carolina, and finally to Austin, Texas, where so many great musicians wind up. A typical performance with Stephen will include everything from thoughtful original compositions to rollicking blues. With his dazzling guitar style, strong vocals and vibrant story-telling, it's easy to see why he's become a favorite with audiences across the country.

Beth Wood has been recognized for her work in national college touring as she was named Campus Activities Magazine 2000 Coffeehouse Entertainer of the Year, 1999 Club Performer of the Year, and 2000, 2001, and 2002 Contemporary Music Artist of the Year Finalist. Recently, Beth was recognized for her songwriting as she was chosen a winner of the Wildflower Festival 2004 Songwriting Contest and a finalist in the 2005 Kerrville New Folk Competition.

Friday, August 26
Eddie Collins CD release
Sarah Jarosz, opener
benefiting the National Scoliosis Foundation

This concert will be a  CD release party for Live Oak’s own Eddie Collins, for his new CD, Golden Wings. Normally, the concerts are on the second Friday of the month, but Eddie’s concert will be on Friday, August 26, to allow for everyone to return from their summer travels.

 Performing alongside Eddie will be several legendary Austin musicians, including Mike Montgomery on fiddle, Mark Rubin on bass, and Paul Sweeney on mandolin. 14-year-old prodigy mandolinist/singer Sarah Jarosz, who recently performed at the CMA awards show with Earl Scruggs and Ricky Skaggs, will open the show.

Collins was the founder of 5-String Quarterly and has authored instruction books for both banjo and guitar. His career was highlighted as the cover story in the May 2002 issue of Banjo NewsLetter. Previously, his performing career was documented on the syndicated TV show, Texas Music Cafe. As a recording artist, Rise & Shine represents Eddie's fourth work--two with his band, the High Stakes Rollers and another solo project of honky-tonk country music, Guitar Slingers & Texas Music.

Sarah Jarosz (pronounced juh-ROSE) shares her talent and love for music through her powerful, soulful voice and skillful mandolin picking. She is 13 years old and has been playing mandolin since the winter of 2001.

Sarah has been fortunate to participate in many great music events and to have the opportunity to learn with some of the music world’s most talented musicians. Some of the artists Sarah has been invited to perform with include: The David Grisman Quintet; Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder; Tim O’Brien; Blue Highway ; Chris Thile; Phillips, Grier, & Flinner; Mike Compton & David Long; Billy Bright; and The Greencards. Sarah performs around the Central Texas area and enjoys sitting in as a guest of other artists. She is a member of the Austin Mandolin Orchestra, where she had the opportunity to perform with mando greats Paul Glasse and Radim Zenkl. Sarah gets great joy from participating in a weekly jam at Charlie’s restaurant in her hometown of Wimberley, TX.

Copyright ©2007, Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church Coffeehouse Committee.
Last edited Wednesday, March 28, 2007 01:23 PM by sak@mallorn.com. Contact akessler@austin.rr.com for Coffeehouse questions and comments. Thanks to Jeffrye Glenn Tveraas and Ryan Osborne for their work on our logo.