On Saturday November 12, 2011, 7-9 pm, Harmony House Concerts will feature the dynamic music of singer-songwriter Caroline Aiken of Athens, GA. What a conclusion to another year of the "best in independent singer-songwriters" from the USA and Canada! There could not be a better perfomer to offer this finale for 2011. Read about Caroline below or visit her website, www.carolineaiken.com, if you want to find out more about her musical career and hear song clips.
Make reservations by calling 903/583-2661. Leave your name, contact information, number of seats desired, and whether you will need directions on how to get to Harmony House. We are located "down a country road and in a meadow" in our homestead called Wildscape Acres, www.WildscapeAcres.com. Wildscape Acres is 10 miles north of Bonham, TX, and about 65 miles NE of Dallas metroplex. Primitive camping sites are available to any who might wish to stay overnight, but we would like to know this in advance. Attire is casual and the atmosphere is warm and inviting at Harmony House.
The suggested donation for this evening with Caroline Aiken — playing her 12-string guitar and piano, plus singing her original vocals — is $15 per person. To prepay, please make out your check to “Caroline Aiken” and send to Faye Wedell; P.O. Box 812; Bonham, TX 75418, to be received by Wednesday November 9th. If you cancel by the 9th, your money will be refunded. If you do not prepay, you will need to pay at the reservation check-in station located in the dining room of our vintage home.
Caroline will perform two 45-minute sets with a 30-minute intermission. Refreshments will be provided by hosts, Faye and Scott. There will be bottomless cups of coffee, tea, and punch available, as well as snacks. A basket will be on the breakfast room table for an optional $1 cash donation to defray costs.
Since this promises to be a "super" evening with a "super" female entertainer, there will be an optional "Souper Potluck Buffet" at 6 :15 prior to the performance. Those wishing to attend this can let Faye know and she will attempt to coordinate a varied menu to select from — soups, salads, breads, desserts (or you can enjoy a dessert provided at the intermission)!
For those wishing to stay after the concert for jammin' or just listenin', there will be a Song Circle available. If you play an instrument, be sure to bring it with you. (Voices are instruments, too, and require no extra space). We love "sing-alongs" that allow others to participate, as well as inviting other players to share their original tunes.
From Caroline Aiken's Bio:
Caroline’s performances, direct and sincere, are known for emanating a high level of infectious energy, and those who have heard her perform live leave wanting more. Her genre spans many styles — from rock/blues/folk/country to piano ballads to finger style guitar picking — all accompanied by her rich and soulful voice. Caroline is an accomplished and diverse musician, being at home on both guitar and piano. Victory Music in Seattle raved about Caroline’s “sensual voice, expert guitar, [and] masterful songwriting.” Atlanta Magazine calls Caroline the "Best Acoustic Artist" (June 2003 GA Music pictorial feature) and includes her full page picture next to Curtis Mayfield, Gladys Knight, The Black Crowes, the Indigo Girls, India Arie, and many more.
Independent to the bone with seven CDs, and with a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Folk CD in 2006, Caroline has performed numerous times to benefit thousands of causes, and has played thousands of shows in her 40-plus years of touring at home and abroad. Writing, producing shows, festivals, theaters, and series, Caroline has also served 12 years as Entertainment Director for the Atlanta Dogwood Festival. She has headlined at the Kerrville, Texas Music Festival (Main Stage since '95), Seattle's Bumbershoot (since '96), Folk Life Festival (since '76), NY's Falcon Ridge, and Northern California's High Sierra Music Festival. Caroline's finger picking style won an invitation to the Stuttgart Germany Guitar Seminar in May 2006 and 2007.
Since 1986, Caroline’s base has been Atlanta, where she has received numerous accolades. She has caught the ears and hearts of everyone who hears her, including Bonnie Raitt. She opened shows for Bonnie in 1985, and Bonnie performed on Caroline's first recording in 1988, Line Of Vision. In 2002/2003 Bonnie introduced Caroline to the Austin and San Antonio scenes.
Caroline has recorded with and shared stages with The Indigo Girls, Bonnie Raitt, Arlo Guthrie, Randy Newman, Jerry Jeff Walker, and many others. She heard the Indigo Girls in 1980 in an alley behind Good Old Days in Atlanta, practicing a CSNY song. When she put a third part harmony on it, they became friends. Caroline invited them on to her stage when the Indigo Girls were 16 to 17 years old, and sang on their first recording (Finlandia), touring with them nationally in 1992, 1994, and 1997. In '95, Caroline played four separate roles in Jesus Christ Superstar, starring the Indigo Girls.
Caroline is also a talented and gifted teacher and has taught her courses 'Zen And The Art Of Performance'; 'Songwriting In Your Sleep' and 'Guerilla Guitar Works' at many venues, colleges, music stores, festivals, and one on one. She has taught at Summer Songs in California, Swannanoa Gathering in North Carolina, the South Florida Folk Festival, Lamb's Songwriters' Retreat in Michigan, at the Schorndorf Guitar Festival, and most recently at the Pepperland Farm Kids Rock Camp in Murphy, NC.
Blue Suede News says; "Caroline tears her 12 string a whole new consciousness." Caroline's performances have been described as "riveting" by fans.
See www.carolineaiken.com for booking info, tour listing and CD releases.