Spencer House Concert Series

In the News

The May 5, 2007, issue of Discover! magazine featured an article by Alyssa Jackson on the Spencer House Concert Series in general and Eric Taylor’s May 15 house concert in particular.

We also made the front page of the Spencer Daily Reporter on May 16, 2007:
http://www.spencerdailyreporter.com/story/1211971.html

We made the Spencer Daily Reporter again on April 1, 2008, with Chad Elliott’s CD release/farewell to Spencer house concert of March 29:
http://www.spencerdailyreporter.com/story/1322015.html

The March 1, 2008, issue of Discover! features an article about Fran Snyder, who maintains the “Concerts In Your Home” Web site and performed in this series on March 7.

The Spencer Daily Reporter’s 2008 Progress Edition (April 3, 2008) included a story about the house concert series on page 3 of the “Crowd Pleasers” Section.

The April 7, 2008, Sioux City Journal included a story and picture on page A6 (and another picture, from Chad Elliott’s March 29 concert, on the first page of the online edition):
http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2008/04/07/news/top/FB34E1683A4E9A6886257424000522BD.txt

Spencer House Concert Series Presents

Justin Roth

Sunday, April 13, 2008
7:00 p.m.
(doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
at the home of Martin Arthur,
323 East Fourth Street
Spencer, Iowa

Suggested Donation: $10 – $15
(All proceeds go to the artist!)

Coffee and snacks will be provided.
But please feel free to bring a beverage of your choice and a snack to share.

To reserve a seat, phone
712-262-4500
or e-mail
mfa12@mchsi.com

We are pleased to welcome back Justin Roth for his third appearance in the Spencer House Concert Series, which was launched with his first performance on May 12, 2006. Because we did not know what kind of audience a house concert would attract in Spencer—it was a new concept, and Justin was a relatively unknown singer/songwriter—Chad Elliott opened for him. We knew that people would come to hear Chad. Justin joined Chad and other local singer/songwriters the next night at Arts on Grand, and won new fans who had not been to the house concert—not just for himself, but for the concept of house concerts. He made a triumphant return in October of that year after many people expressed disappointment at having missed his first house concert, and he and Chad Elliott performed several duets together. This time, Justin will have the “stage” to himself.

As a self-taught fingerstyle guitarist, Justin’s inventive technique leaves people asking themselves “how’d he do that?” as he expresses a new voice of the guitar. Many of his songs use a style of playing known as tapping. This voice is what creates his unique and engaging sound. His songwriting style is an artful mix ranging from insightful metaphors, to clever stories with a twisted sense of humor (perhaps no better demonstrated than in his memorable song, “Dead Horse Trampoline”), to the familiar imagery of the world around us.

Be prepared to help Justin write a song. He is well known for involving his audiences by having them write their own song during his set. After having the audience pick subjects to write the song about, a piece of paper is passed around the room for each person to write a line to the song. When the lyrics are completed, the audience votes between two guitar parts made up on the spot and then the lyrics and music are improvised into a full song at the end of the show!

Check out Justin’s music on his Web site:

www.justinroth.com

Future Concerts

Cosy Sheridan on May 11
Gabrielle Louise on June 15

Archive of Past House Concerts
(beginning with the 2007–2008 season):

Acoustic Eidolon (September 6, 2007)
Denice Franke (October 5, 2007)
Boulder Acoustic Society (October 23, 2007)
Mike Dowling (November 10, 2007)
Michael Young (December 8, 2007)
Barb Ryman (February 7, 2008)
Fran Snyder (March 7, 2008)
Chad Elliott (March 29, 2008)

Coming soon: A portfolio of photos from past house concerts!

House concerts are a great way to hear live music in the intimate setting of a living room. Not only do you sit just feet away from the performers, but you have a chance to visit with them before and after the concert, to buy CDs, to socialize with old friends, and to make new ones.