Cozy Cabin Concerts

It's a Wrap!

12/16/2019

Photo of Eric Lee's microphone, January 1, 2019 by Jamie Jankiewcz

She said she saw me in the record stores
And that I must be doing well
I said the audience was heavenly
But the traveling was Hell
– Dan Fogelberg, Same Old Lang Syne

I heard this old favorite song as I drove the length of Route 287 this past weekend. The lyrics resonated with me, as many of our artists have remarked how much they love performing at the Cozy Cabin, i.e., “the audience was heavenly, but the traveling was hell.” In 2019 we shared 21 shows, including two double shows in one afternoon, and we contributed $10,500 to a total of 48 performers, an average of $500/show! Nearly every show had at least one first-time guest, and our Cozy Cabin Facebook page currently has over 1,360 likes! And we did it together.

Which show was your favorite? Was it our New Year’s Day show with Eric Lee, Sophie Buskin, J. R. Garcia, Kirsten Maxwell and Katherine Rondeau? Jeffrey Gaines? The incredible afternoon with Terry Reid, George and Ed? Jimmy Vivino and Bob Margolin? Robinson Treacher and Cassidy Catanzaro? Jesse Terry’s holiday show? How many artists did you discover right here?

Artists love the Cozy Cabin because our audience is serious about music, has high expectations, and supports the artists not only with their donations, but purchase CDs and other merchandise. One of our regular guests has often told me that Cozy Cabin is very different from other venues, and I finally believe them.

At last week’s concert Jesse Terry remarked that Ken once told him he didn’t know what he would do without our concert series; I second that. The 2020 schedule is set, 15 shows with an even mix of first time and returning artists. I’d like to see us reach our ten year anniversary in 2021, but, as with venues throughout the area, it’s a challenge to get people to come out to hear live music. Please make one of your New Year’s resolutions “Support live music more often.” We have an embarrassment of musical riches in the tri-state area--from coffee houses to listening rooms to performing arts centers--with programming for every musical taste. Artists have told me many times, without us, there’s no them.

Cheers to another year of music discovery!

Musically yours,
Linda

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100 Shows and Counting

7/23/2018

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I’m still basking in the warmth of yesterday’s 100th show with Robinson Treacher and Grace Morrison. Many of you know the story. We never thought of becoming house concert hosts, surely our one bedroom Adirondack-style cottage was much too small. But while attending a particularly terrible house concert several years ago, I turned to my husband and said, "You know we can do better than this." And so we did.

We started our series with indie/emerging artists we befriended at New York’s Rockwood Musical Hall and joined a group dedicated to supporting touring musicians with house concert gigs, Concertsinyourhome.com. But after three years and show 14, we were ready to throw in the towel, as we just didn't have the audience numbers to sustain our series, and a sold out show was just 25 guests. Then, show 14, December 29, 2014, we hosted Rupert Wates for the first time. We woke up to the most miserable weather--cold drizzle, steel gray skies. We said "We're screwed. No one will come out in this." Our music family brother Ken, whom we met at the late, great Sanctuary Concerts series in Chatham, offered to use our house concert as his Meet Up group event, and we ended up with one of our most memorable shows--so many people a couple had to sit on the floor. And it’s been that way for most of our 86 shows since then.

We’re not joiners or networkers, so our social groups were small. Ken suddenly became a social butterfly and would hand out our cards wherever we went—the couple seated next to us at a restaurant, a family party, another live music venue. As we grew, so did our gourmet audience and caliber of talent. Investing in a PA system helped us attract the “next tier” talent level; we were a “real” venue! Artists’ friends would see photos from their Cozy Cabin performances and they’d want in. People would just stumble across us via our Facebook page, or their friend saw shows here and they, too, wanted to experience live music up close and personal. Like many other house concert and listening room presenters, we had a two year wait list for artists wanting to play here. I’d keep telling them, “You realize a sold out show is 25 guests, right?” One of Philadelphia’s favorite local artists, Ben Arnold, contacted us earlier this year to play Cozy Cabin; I was floored! I told him what I told everyone else, and he said “Better 25 attentive, engaged guests than 250 talkers any day.”

We built this together. Our gourmet audience has continued to support us through thick and thin, and while life has gotten in the way of some of our original family members with grandchildren, caring for aging family members, health issues, retirement, moves to other locales, new family members have continually filled their seats. For the past two years, almost every performance has had at least one first-time guest. Yesterday’s performance had two of those audience members from show 14. We still don’t have a magic formula for making every show a sold out show, but we must be doing something right.

I asked Ken, our Cozy Cabin parking lot attendant/roadie/ sound engineer/chef/all around gofer, how he felt having our 100th show behind us. He said he was totally surprised and happy how far we’ve come, but we still have a long way to go. He couldn’t believe all of the people we’ve met—artists and gourmet audience members alike. He remarked, "I certainly enjoy it. Every show brings a new surprise, new connections.” Some of my most memorable recent moments: Garland Jeffreys asking if he could take home the Chicken Cacciatore leftovers. Eric Andersen hanging out until after midnight, talking about bossa nova. Sarah Lee Guthrie, Johnny Irion, sister Cathy and their daughter and niece performing for 2-1/2 hours after their annual Thanksgiving performance at Carnegie Hall to a crammed room of 30 people. Ari Hest & Chrissi Poland performing three shows for our gourmet audience. Our now annual New Year’s Days shows. Simply the fact that our savvy, adventurous audience members trust us to bring them quality music and show up even if they never heard of the artist.

Longevity isn’t in my DNA. My longest length of employment at one job is five years, I’ve managed to stay married 37 years; if you know me, then you know how monumental that milestone is. So presenting 100 shows and helping to support the livelihoods of so many insanely talented artists is a pretty big deal for me. Friends have said “Here’s to the next 100.” I’ll settle for the next 25.

Thank you, everyone. Together we’ve made something very, very special.

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Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

12/11/2017

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What an interesting year 2017 has been. I think we can all agree there’s rarely been a dull moment, a year where we needed one another more than ever. Yesterday I told a friend that Saturday’s first snowfall of the year was the best day of the year for me, it was all about simple pleasures. The cabin was at its coziest as I enjoyed a closed road, softly falling snow, rattled pots and pans in the kitchen and enjoyed my favorite holiday movie, Prancer.

As I look back on the past year, I’m thankful for our music family for helping me sustain sanity in this insane world. You supported 18 performances with favorites like Ari Hest and Chrissi Poland, Jesse Terry, Denise Reis and Craig Bickhardt; and you heard Johnny Irion—he and Sarah Lee Guthrie will be back! Your generosity contributed to the livelihoods of 33 artists. Your faith in my curating skills allowed me to introduce you to new artists--Sofia Talvik, Shawna Caspi, Jeremy Aaron, Matt Bednarsky, Ryanhood, Teddy Kumpel. Jim and Sam began a new tradition with their delightful New Year’s Day concert. Every show this year had a least one first-time guest, our Facebook page grew by almost 100 likes this year, and we’re closing in on 1,000 likes! 2018 promises more of the same—a mix of favorites, a couple of “names,” and several emerging artists I’m excited to introduce to our gourmet audience.

May this holiday season fills you with joy…you can find it in the simplest of ways and sometimes in the most unlikely places. Keep your heart and mind open, smile at strangers, give plenty of hugs, and we’ll let music sustain us through 2018.

"Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, 'It will be happier.'" - Alfred Lord Tennyson

Musically yours,
Linda

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We're a 2016 Host of the Year!

3/8/2017

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DRUMROLL, PLEASE! Cozy Cabin Concerts is pleased to announce they have been chosen as one of ten 2016 Concerts in Your Home Hosts of the Year by CIYH artists!

According to the CIYH criteria, we've been recognized because

-We love music so much that we've made it a hobby.
-We love artists so much that we're taking them into our home and making them feel like family.
-We care about our friends and community so much that we work to connect them with inspiring independent music.
As we've said many times, it's an honor and privilege to work with so many insanely talented artists who make the sounds, and we're fortunate and thankful to have the greatest gourmet audience to share our passion for music. I guess we'll just keep on doing what we apparently do well. Thanks, everyone! xx

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Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.*

12/29/2016

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Ken and I were reminiscing earlier this evening about the last twelve months: 17 shows, 150 new Facebook page likes (over 850!) over 300 guests, all in our cozy cabin. Which show was your favorite? Were you here when Rushad Eggleston played the cello while perched on the fence, or when Mieka Pauley sang while her twin babies listened? Perhaps you enjoyed Christine Spero's Laura Nyro tribute show. Who was your favorite musical discovery? We certainly had plenty to choose from!

We also remarked, as we often do, that we never imagined we'd be presenting concerts in our living room. Robinson Treacher, who was here with Brad Cole in August, said it wasn't too small at all, "Think of the three bears' chairs!" he exclaimed. "It's just right."

You, our gourmet audience, contributed to the livelihoods of 36 artists through your donations and merchandise purchases. We love introducing you to talented artists whose favorite part of their job is performing for intimate audiences throughout the US and abroad. They've told me many times, without us (an audience to perform for), there's no them. As always, thank you for your support of live music and the artists who make the sounds; they truly appreciate our gourmet audience! We look forward to sharing another eclectic year of music discovery with you. 2017 is certain to be interesting and challenging, and, as you know, music therapy is a wonderful panacea. Wishing you a 2017 that brings far more joy than sorrow, success however you define it, much good health, and peace of mind.

Musically yours,
Linda.

*Quote by Oprah Winfrey
Photo by Alan Goren

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Reflections on our Fifth Anniversary

8/14/2016

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Yesterday I learned that Music at the Mission, a North Jersey acoustic venue, had closed its doors after thirteen years, in part, due to the embarrassment of musical riches in and around New Jersey. MATM has hosted familiar artists like Janis Ian, Chris Smither and Roger McGuinn, but competing for an audience with at least a half dozen other Garden State venues on a Saturday night took its toll; their retooled program of local artists and open mic nights wouldn’t keep the lights on.

At the same time I learned of the closing, facebook reminded me that Caleb Hawley performed in our living room, our first Cozy Cabin Concert, August 13, 2011. James Maddock was going to perform a house concert in November as part of my birthday celebration, and we thought Caleb would make a great crash test dummy. Our friend Ernie flew in from California, we filled the room with everyone we knew, and their friends. Caleb left with more money than he came with, our friends had fun, and we know we could pull off our show with James.

But we didn’t know this would be the spark to light the flame of my middle-aged passion. By now we were regularly attending local house concerts in addition to our regular church and rented hall venues. At one particularly off show—the lighting, the inadequate room size, the temperature—I turned to Ken and said, “You know we can do better than this.” And Cozy Cabin Concerts was born.

Since our first concert with Caleb we’ve hosted 62 shows, with seven remaining in 2016, and the 2017 schedule is set. We’ve introduced our audience to incredible indie talent, I’ve acquired many honorary “kids,” and friendships have been forged at our shows. A few artists have returned several times, others would love to play here again, but a show, sometimes two a month, is enough for our modest audience and Ken. Together we’ve helped artists earn a living and follow their dreams, and we’ve created a community. I have CDs scattered on the console and front and back seats of my car. I was in my friend’s car today and she has a similar CD infestation. I checked out the titles, and every CD was an artist she discovered at the Cozy Cabin.

Another friend just called me to say they attended a show with one of our “kids,” who exclaimed, “I love playing there!” An artist friend has encouraged me to go big, perhaps collaborate with another presenter in a larger space to attract a larger audience, but I told him if I did that, it wouldn’t be Cozy Cabin. To paraphrase a favorite line from the film Bridget Jones’s Diary, I like it just as it is.

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19 Shows, 24 Artists, Over 300 Guests = One Heck of a Year of Live Music!

1/3/2016

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I’ve said it many times—we have the best audience of live music lovers. Together we’ve contributed to the livelihoods of 24 musicians by attending their shows, purchasing their CDs, and spreading the word about our favorite discoveries. In 2015 we hosted local NJ singer-songwriters as well as artists from Philadelphia and its environs, the New York area, New Orleans, Oregon, Santa Fe, Brazil, Japan and the UK!

Nearly each of our 2015 shows had at least one “newbie” who discovered the joys of intimate house concerts. I love the community we’ve created in our living room, the friendships made, and the music we’ve discovered together. Our Facebook page now has over 700 “likes!” AND we reached a significant milestone at year-end--51 shows since our first show with our friend Bob Kasper opening for Caleb Hawley in August 2011!

Thanks to your support, we’ll continue through 2016 with another eclectic year of music from neo-soul to Americana to blues to folk rock. Nearly all of our 13 performers are making their Cozy Cabin debut, most from the tri-state area, others from upstate New York, still another from Seattle, and I’m very excited to introduce them all to you.

Whether you’re a super fan or joining us for the first time, THANK YOU for your support of live music and the people who make the sounds, and thank you for helping to make Cozy Cabin a must stop for many touring musicians. Without you, there simply would be no Cozy Cabin.

Musically yours,
Linda

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Preaching to the Choir - Again

7/7/2015

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Two weeks ago I had two back-to-back club nights in New York. In addition to the show ticket (which ranges from $10 to $25 depending on performer), there are drink minimums. One venue had a $10 minimum per show, the other had a two-item minimum. My friend and I joked that one glass of wine cost as much as two bottles, but that's the price of doing business. This was nothing compared to other friends, who spend HUNDREDS running up a drink tab if the night is going extremely well.

While it doesn't come anywhere near a night out in New York City, we still feel guilty requesting a $20/$25 person donation and a pot luck dish to share, even though we provide wine, beer, and soft drinks, which some of my fellow house concert hosts refuse to offer because they don't want to deal with potential liability issues and spilled red wine on the carpet (I told those hosts if I worried about stuff like that, I wouldn't be hosting house concerts. And I'm the only person spilling anything at shows, and there are no carpets, just hardwood floors that warm the sounds musicians make).

So why is it so difficult to get people to get off their sofas and out of their recliners to come out and hear an intimate live music performance? I'm not the only host with this problem; it's the number one fear of many a house concert/live music venue presenter. I know of two shows that were canceled this spring because of lack of interest. While one venue shutters, it seems two more open--coffee houses turn into listening rooms in the evenings, and I know of at least six house concert venues within an hour's drive from my house., but it's still a challenge to fill seats.

A friend and Cozy Cabin semi-regular brought a guest to one show and they seemed to have a blast. But when the friend asked the guest why they haven't returned, they said $20 PLUS bringing food is expensive. Gotta tell you, dear reader, I was stunned. Fellow house concert promoters bringing nationally recognized names to their living rooms are charging $25 , $30 or more for the pleasure of hearing the artist in an intimate (up to 75 guests)., up close and personal space, and it's BYOB plus a dish to share. Venues like City Winery in New York have gotten clever and have created VIP tickets for artist meet and greets, adding $25 or more to a ticket.

Here at Cozy Cabin and other house concert venues, the artist will happily pose for a picture, sign your CD, and talk to you in my kitchen for as long as you like. $20 gets you two sets/90 minutes of music, great stories, libations and sustenance (it's pot luck, sometimes we enjoy a dozen desserts, sometimes it suffices as dinner) without tolls, parking fees, and unruly patrons. Please, dear reader, If you know of a better deal, please share it with us, as we'll gladly support the venue. And if you have ideas on how we can make your Cozy Cabin experience more enjoyable, we'll happily let you have your say. Thanks for letting me have mine. ~ L

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A Great Way to Grow Old

4/19/2015

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Last night's show with Fife & Drom (Abby Ahmad and Mark Marshall) was our 40th! I am always the one doing the talking, so I asked Ken how he felt about the milestone:

“The excitement hasn’t stopped. The connections between people—our artists and audience--never cease to amaze me. Last night Michael [who’s now attended two Cozy Cabin shows] was telling me that his 22-year old son hates going to bars because he can’t hear the music. He told him about us and he was interested. The musicians all know one another, or at least have heard of one another. Little things like seeing Emily Elbert at the Living Room, and her suggestion that we come early to hear Silvina Moreno, and then Silvina performed at Cozy Cabin. We went to see Avi (Wisnia) play with Denise (Reis) at Rockwood, and then she played in our living room. We really have become a music family. It’s a great way to grow old, and I hope we have at least 40 more.”

I shared the story last evening of how my childhood neighbor Michael, now a Cozy Cabin regular, lives in north Jersey, a good 45 minutes from here…he’s run into friends from his area twice at Cozy Cabin. At our August 2014 Vinx show, two first-time guests who were next door neighbors 30 years ago were shocked to run into one another. People who’ve met here have become friends, a wonderful bonus. We’ve had people travel from Long Island, New York City, the Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia and from all points of New Jersey to attend our shows, just as music lovers do for other house concert venues throughout the state, from Bergen to Monmouth counties, New York City/Long Island and the Philadelphia area.

I always say while we may be meeting for the first time (and so far this year every show has had a least one first-timer), we all have music in common. Argentinean Silvina Moreno's songs were primarily in Spanish during her 2014 Cozy Cabin performance, and no one cared because the songs were beautiful in any language. When Denise Reis performed here in March, most of her songs were in her native Portuguese, but no one minded; music is a universal language. Our Cozy Cabin alum Jesse Terry just completed his first tour of Italy; while his lack of Italian was an obstacle at times, he connected with his audiences through the universal language of music.

I’m often asked if we find artists, or if artists find us. My answer has been “both,” but lately it’s been artists finding us. Artists love performing house concerts, period. They love the energy and interaction from an intimate audience; they can perform in ways that just aren’t possible when they’re doing a timed set in a club. Rupert Wates, who returns to the Cozy Cabin for the third time on December 27, says, “The prime consideration for any real musician is that in most clubs you can't hear yourself think, let alone play; whereas at any house concert the audience will give you their full attention for the duration of your performance."

Vinx, who performed at Cozy Cabin in August 2014, called Cozy Cabin music lovers a “gourmet audience.” Last night, Mark Marshall used the phrase “artisinal audience.” I’ve said many times, without you, our audience of live music lovers, there’s no us. Here’s to the next 40 shows.

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Aaaand It's a Wrap!

12/31/2014

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2014 ends on a very high note at the Cabin. Rupert Wates performed two--two! sold out shows on December 28 to 50 guests and gave us the highest praise in by saying "the audience here is one of the most attentive I've ever played for. This is a gig to which every serious musician wants to return again and again."

We hosted 18 performances for 350 guests, Our facebook page received seven "likes" in the past week, bringing us over the 500 mark. Our mailing list keeps growing, and artist inquiries continue to come in at an average of two a week. Friendships have been forged in our living room and on our summer stage (the deck), and more and more people are preferring intimate venues over the bar scene or arena shows.

Apparently we're doing everything right, and plan to bring our gourmet audience more of the same in already-booked 2015. Most of the artists will be performing at Cozy Cabin for the first time, and every show will be a unique musical adventure. While we set the scene and light the lights, it's you, our audience of fellow music lovers, who are the reason for our success. I'll sign off with this rendition of a song Rupert and the audience sang in memory of Joe Cocker. Co-host Ken has always said Rupert so reminds him of Kenny. Here's to a kind and gentle 2015. We'll all get by with a little help from our friends.

Love , light and musically yours,
Linda

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1drhbQwFQI8

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