News and Photos from 2007

2006 Concerts, 2005 Concerts, 2004 Concerts

Songwriters night presented in conjunction with the Folk Alliance - Oct. 17

Bruce Cockburn - June 14

It was just 8:10 p.m. as boisterous cheers and raucous applause spread across the audience in the Coffee House. You might have thought someone like the Stones had just finished a show as the crowd jumped to their feet - but no, it was Bruce Cockburn entering the room! Clearly delighted by the reception , he bounded up to the stage with a huge grin on his face and we knew we were in for something special. The devoted Bruce-fans who had come to this show from as far away as Nevada, Maryland, even Winnipeg, were pumped up with an enthusiasm that quickly spread to the rest of the audience. 

And Bruce delivered. Words can't describe the electricity in the room as he went through favorite after favorite, like "Lovers In A Dangerous Time," "If I Had A Rocket Launcher," "When A Tree Falls," and "Wonderin' Where The Lions Are."  Near the end of the first set he launched into an instrumental, "End Of All Rivers," from his Speechless album that astounded many. "Who else is playing with him?"  "How is he doing that all by himself?"  "He's baaaaaad."  ....all were comments that echoed throughout the packed-to-the-rafters room. Some may refer to another Bruce as "The Boss."  Without a doubt though, this is a Bruce who has earned the title hands down. Forget Asbury Park - this Boss is from Ottawa!

Chris Smither - April 22

Chris Smither paid a return visit to the Coffee House following his July, 2004 debut, and a fine visit it was!Smither fans flocked to the Coffee House from Mobile, Little Rock, Dallas, Atlanta and from right here in the Memphis area, as well. Told of the folks in the audience from so many different places, Chris said he was humbled, adding that he feels that if people are willing to go to that much trouble and expense for one of his performances, then he needs to be very, very good. The audience certainly wasn't disappointed because Chris was very, very good - not to mention very funny, witty, engaging, charming and self-deprecating, too.

Did we mention the musical performance was flat-out awesome? Back on the road after a week off following a month-long Australian tour, Chris was "on fire" as he described it. He said he played hard in Australia, which he equated to practicing really, really hard.  He said this performance, following the week off, gave him the chance for all that practice to pay off.  Great new songs, great old songs and some of the most gifted guitar-playing ever to grace our stage. Ever the gentleman, as he was leaving, almost bashfully, he said again how much he enjoyed playing here and how much he'd love to come back if we wanted him to. No problem, Chris - no problem at all!

The Tennessee Boltsmokers & Diana Jones - March 4

Sunday night, March 4, proved one thing if nothing else:  you don't need a huge superstar on stage to enjoy a some of the finest music you'll hear this side of Heaven!  The Tennessee Boltsmokers have grown since their last appearance at the Coffee House - becoming an even more polished group of pickers, fiddlers and singers. Louis Meyers, Tommy Burroughs and David Pierce joined old-timers Mark McKinney (pictured at right) , Eric Lewis and Lonesome Craig Yarbrough for a set that just wouldn't quit!  Over an  hour of Mark's soulful harmonies alternated with lightnin' fast picking from David on mandolin, Louis on banjo, Eric on the resonator and acoustic guitars, Tommy Burrough's fine fiddlin' and Brother Craig holding it all together on the stand-up bass. They're back, and better than ever. 

Diana Jones made her first public appearance in Memphis and quickly won over the audience with her warm, friendly nature.  Her set had the audience pinned in their seats from the beginning, mesmerized by her tunes and stories of family in the hills of eastern Tennessee - of love and women and guns, of death and burial and the cold, gray ground!  Then she gave a quick lesson in how to properly burn a CD (you had to be there to understand that one!).  If anyone ever asks you to define a "haunting melody" or "haunting music" tell them to listen to the last lines of Diana's song "Pony"  -  it sent chills up the collective spine of this audience.  Diana was an absolute delight to watch and listen to, and it will be our pleasure to invite her back sometime soon!

Lucy Kaplansky with Special Guest Blair Combest  - January 28

One of Memphis' finest up-and-coming singer-songwriters proved to be a most pleasant surprise for the audience as the Coffee House Concerts Series began it's fourth season. Blair Combest opened the evening with a 20-minute set of original songs combined with his own brand of humor thrown in for good measure.   Comparisons to Bob Dylan flowed throughout the evening, and it would be hard to believe that anyone walked away unimpressed with Blair....  for his musical abilities and his jokes!   Comfortable on stage and in his element when playing and singing, this is surely one to watch and say, "I saw him at the Coffee House way back in 2007 when his star was just beginning to rise....."

No stranger to the Coffee House stage, Lucy Kaplansky returned for her welcome and anticipated second appearance in the series.  After playing Tupelo the night before and visiting Graceland the morning of her Coffee House gig, it was no surprise that she worked her version of "Love Me Tender" into the first set, and did a beautiful job!  Longtime Coffee House fans will remember that Lucy is something of a closet country music singer.  She reminded us of that with her versions of Johnny Cash hits "Walk The Line" and "Ring Of Fire." 

The rest of the evening was classic Lucy, with songs from her earlier CDs, including "If You Could See", "God Will (But I Won't)", and "This Is Home", among many more favorites.  After the show, Lucy paid the Coffee House a huge compliment, saying "This is such a great gig.  All of you (Coffee House volunteers) really have your act together, everything always goes so smoothly, the audience is just unbelievable in how quiet and attentive they are....  it's just the perfect gig, and I love playing here!"   Right back atcha, Loos.