House concerts put the talent of musical performers front and center

I love music and everything about it. In my dream life, I am a singer-songwriter who can play an outrageous number of instruments. My voice is a combination of Pat Benatar and Annie Lennox. My lyrics grab hearts and stir the mind.

That will remain a dream. 

I couldn’t have been much more than 7 or 8 when my dad informed me that I couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket. Those words did not, however, dampen my enthusiasm. Next time you are stopped at a red light, look at the car next to you. You just might see me singing along to a song on the radio with the same gusto as if I were on stage. I’m sure it’s quite a hilarious sight.

I am not on stage, but watching others perform is one of my favorite things to do. From large arena shows to small bars, from international superstars to unknowns, I’ve enjoyed them all. So it surprises even me that I had never heard of house concerts until about seven years ago. Marshall and I had just moved to Austin, TX for his work. I grabbed a local magazine to get to know my new home. In the glossy pages was a mention of an upcoming house concert at the River House. 

House concert? River House? The magazine I was reading was more than a month old, so I had already missed the concert. But I reached out to the email listed to get all the details. This wonderful couple, Gary and Janet, open their home on the Pedernales River to intimate concerts. I immediately put Marshall and me on the mailing list to be alerted to the next concert.

Throughout our time in Texas, we went to many house concerts at the River House. Talented solo artists, duos, and trios would play from the makeshift stage in the dining room while about 60 attendees would fill their great room and loft balcony. The concerts were BYOB and most folks brought a snack to share with others. Admission was typically $20-$30 per person with 100% going to the artist. Seats were reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

There was plenty of chatting and laughing before the music began, but once the artist took the stage, all conversation halted. In house concerts, the performer has everyone’s full attention. They are not relegated to background noise. The whole experience reminded me of the old show “VH1 Storytellers.”

Shortly before we moved to North Carolina last year, a new venue opened where we lived in New Braunfels, TX. The Redbird Listening Room was similar to the house concert concept. A local singer-songwriter and his family opened the venue. The listening room was similar to the house concert concept. The spotlight was on the music.

As you might have guessed, finding a listening room or house concert venue was high on my priority list when we came to Morganton. My research was turning up zilch.

Then I met Mary Ervin.

You may remember her from the story about JAM (Junior Appalachian Musicians) in the May 6 edition of The Paper. She teaches fiddle in the program. She also performs in the band Butterbeans. But perhaps what made my heart truly skip a beat was when I learned she and her husband, Jimmy, open their open four to six times per year for house concerts. And one was right around the corner.

It took me all of about 1 second to tell her that two Copelands would attend. On Sunday, May 14, my house concert withdrawal symptoms finally subsided. 

I watched as couples, families, and friends gathered on the Ervin front porch to enjoy the bluegrass of The Slocan Ramblers. Before the music started, some people sat at tables in the front yard, enjoying crackers and wine. A trio gently swayed back and forth on a porch swing. Others meandered into the house where the snack table was filled with potluck goodies. 

The Slocan Ramblers played two sets. I chatted with the band’s guitarist during the intermission. That’s the vibe of house concerts. You can chat with the artists. He had been with the band since the beginning, about a dozen years. He was a jazz guitarist but fell in love with bluegrass when he heard the style of music at a festival - in Canada. Yes, this bluegrass band is Canadian. Toronto to be exact. 

As we talked, he repeatedly wiped his brow with a white cloth. I am guessing Morganton is a little hotter and more humid than Toronto. 

In addition to guitarist/vocalist Darryl Poulsen, the other members include Frank Evans on clawhammer banjo/vocals, Adrian Gross on Mandolin, and Charles James on upright bass/vocals.

During that intermission, we also bought their latest vinyl. They all signed its jacket. We really should buy a record player. 

The day after the house concert, the band visited with fourth graders to perform and talk about the importance of music in North Carolina’s history and culture. They also performed free with local youth bluegrass players at CoMMA after their time in the elementary schools.  

The next house concert is scheduled for July. I’m sure I’ll be there. If you are interested in learning more about house concerts, reach out to Mary Ervin at maryervin9@gmail.com.

Angela Kuper Copeland covers arts and entertainment for The Paper. She may be reached at angela@thepaper.media or 828-445-8595, ext. 2003.