Join us for exceptional music, coffee, and dessert in an intimate setting at one of our Friday night Green Wood Coffee Houses.
Doors open one half hour before each performance. Performances begin at 8:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Seating is unassigned.
At this time, tickets cannot be purchased online, so reservations are highly recommended! Call 734-665-8558 and leave a message with your name, number of tickets desired, and performance. Then (if there is time between your call and the performance date) send a check for the total (payable to "FUMC Green Wood") to: FUMC Green Wood, 1001 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105. Include name, address, and phone number. Tickets will be waiting at the door. Reservations made without payment may not be honored for sold-out performances.
Tickets are also available at the door. Kids 10 and under are 2-for-1.
Group discounts available — call 734-665-8558 for details.
Fall 2010 Schedule ... Incomplete - Please check back for updates.
Friday, September 17 - Jeremy Horn ($15)
Jeremy Horn grew up in Memphis -- "Home of the Blues" and "Birthplace of Rock and Roll" -- but his music sounds more like the Beatles than B.B. King or Elvis. He writes songs for the church and songs for the radio, yet his songs are more complex than either has traditionally allowed. He lives in a city that is known as much for its racial unrest and inner-city violence as it is for being the place Elvis called home, yet he leads worship at one of the largest multicultural churches in the South, where half the congregation is African-American. When you meet Jeremy, he looks and sounds just like the "guy next door" -- if the guy next door has a traditional southern drawl. Making music has preoccupied Jeremy Horn ever since he received his first guitar at age fifteen. Growing up on the sounds of James Taylor and the Beatles, Jeremy spent most of his early years emulating the sounds and songwriting styles of the popular culture. "I used to write songs about social injustices in the world," says Horn. After a few years and conversations with a wise, older friend, Jeremy realized he could also write songs that aspired to give people hope, and not just write what everybody else was writing. Says Horn, "That progressed into writing songs for Jesus, and that was the process that unexpectedly led me to become a worship leader." That progression started Jeremy Horn on the path of continued discovery --listening to artists both Christian and not -- to figure out how to express feelings and concepts that came from within, rather than from the evening news. Jeremy's music is a fixture on Michigan's 17 Smile-FM Contemporary Christian music stations; his "I Will See Angels 'Round Your Throne" is one of his popular recent hits. This is a rare opportunity to see Jeremy Horn in a small venue setting. Bring a friend!
www.jeremyhornmusic.com
Friday, September 24, 2010 - Laurie McClain ($12)
Singer/songwriter Laurie McClain's music is predominantly folk/alternative country with a touch of the blues woven through. She brings passion and humor to the stage, performing original songs as well as unique covers of other excellent songwriters' gems. Her song, "My Heaven" is a clear favorite of the listeners of Matt Watroba's "Folks Like Us" radio program. In 2003 Laurie released The Trumpet Vine: A Tribute To Kate Wolf, a collection of her loving interpretations of the late songstress's works. Her latest CD is Ascend.
“Laurie turns each venue into her own living room, and each listener into a new friend with her disarming humor and passionate performance. Laurie's songs explore the themes of identity, growth, friendship and love in a way that always honors the fundamental mysteries of the human journey."
-JM KEARNS
www.lauriemcclain.com
Friday, October 15, 2010 - Andrew Calhoun ($12)
Andrew Calhoun writes with a paradoxical combination of incandescent intellect and unstudied magic. He is both a lightning rod for "the unconscious rightness of intuitive connection" and a perpetual student of songcraft with a deep respect for both tradition and innovation. In the thirty-odd years that he has been writing and performing he has created an impressive body of work. Onstage he is disarmingly unpretentious, spontaneous and darkly witty, weaving a tapestry that includes not only his own songs but Scottish ballads that he's translated from dialect and poems and songs by exceptional writers such as Dave Carter, Mary Oliver and Robert Frost. At age seven Andrew memorized W. B. Yeats' "Song of Wandering Aengus," thus earning a nickel from his mother. He got his first guitar at age ten and began writing songs at twelve. By the late seventies he was a fixture in the Chicago folk scene. He presents workshops on many topics: Creative Songwriting, Song Appreciation, Scottish Folk Ballads, and Music Theory for Guitarists. In 1992 Calhoun founded Waterbug Records, an artists' cooperative folk label which has grown to 70 titles, bringing some of the brightest singer-songwriters and folk musicians to an international audience. Waterbug was the first to distribute music by Chuck Brodsky, Cosy Sheridan, Dar Williams, Lui Collins, Sons of the Never Wrong, Erin McKeown and many others. His own recordings have been released on Hogeye, Flying Fish and Waterbug Records. "Andrew Calhoun tells the truth. To my knowledge, there is no better songwriter alive." - Dave Carter
www.waterbug.com
Friday, October 22, 2010 - Don Henry ($12)
Grammy Award winner Don Henry's songs have been recorded by legends such as Ray Charles, Patti Page and Conway Twitty; by country crooners including Gene Watson, John Conlee and B.J. Thomas; and by today's hitmakers such as Blake Shelton, Lonestar and Kathy Mattea...and the list goes on. But his songs shine most when heard by the very artist who wrote them, in the concerts he performs across the country. Don Henry is a 30 year veteran in the music business. He has shared the stage with Joey Ramone, Al Gore, Pete Seeger, Steve Earle, Michael Johnson, Marshall Chapman, Ray Price, Janis Ian and Emmylou Harris...just to name a few. Wit and wisdom grace Don's songs, whether campfire favorites, the poignant tribute to Martin Luther King, "Beautiful Fool," or of course the Grammy Award-winning country classic, "Where've You Been." In addition to the Grammy, Kathy Mattea's version of "Where've You Been" took Song of the Year honors from the Academy of Country Music, The Country Music Association and Nashville Songwriter's Association International - the first song ever to be awarded all four honors in the same year. Don's latest CD is Flowers & Rockets. Expect an exceptionally entertaining evening of music and humor!
www.donhenry.com
Friday, October 29, 2010 - Kitty Donohoe ($12)
Songwriter and Michigan Emmy recipient Kitty Donohoe is not an Irish or Celtic singer, but musically she clearly draws from that part of her heritage, as well as from her American roots. A writer of tunes as well as songs, her originals are rich with her natural sense as a storyteller, her love for language and her ear for a melody. Her music is luminous, earthy and compelling, and all of her songwriter CDs integrate the textures and feel of accordions, whistles, pipes and bodhran alongside the more standard guitar, bass or piano. Some of her originals sound like they were written 100 years ago and others are clearly contemporary, but one thing is certain: with or without a band behind her, Kitty’s striking voice carries it all, delivering each song with power and emotion.
Friday, November 12, 2010 - Chuck Brodsky ($15)
There is no better storyteller than Chuck Brodsky. Ranging from poignant to hilarious, his songs are about the little things in the lives of everyday people. Chuck's soulful and compassionate voice brings his characters to life, and is the perfect instrument for infusing his lyrics with heartfelt humanity or biting wit. His spoken introductions to his songs can be as spellbinding as his colorful lyrics, which he brings to life with a well-travelled voice and a delivery that's natural and conversational. His groove-oriented strumming and fingerpicking draw on influences from the mountains of western North Carolina where he now lives, and from lots of different good old traditional folk stuff of all kinds. Chuck is widely known for his many wonderful songs about the heroes -- and zeroes -- of baseball. Chuck's latest release is a double live album, Two Sets.
www.chuckbrodsky.com
Friday, November 19, 2010 - Peter Mayer ($17)
Peter Mayer writes songs for a small planet—songs about interconnectedness and the human journey; about the beauty and the mystery of the world. Whimsical, humorous, and profound, his music breaks the boundaries of "folk", and transcends to a realm beyond the everyday love song, to a place of wonder at the very fact of life itself.
Peter Mayer's songs are fresh and unique, earthy and intimate. His welcoming voice and inventive guitar work provide the perfect vehicle for his down-home wisdom and a sweep of themes that includes Buddha, Jesus, Columbus, Isaac Newton and...Harley Davidson.
Peter began playing the guitar and writing songs when he was in high school. He studied Theology and music in college, then spent two years in seminary. After deciding that the priesthood wasn't for him, he took a part-time job as a church music director for 8 years, while performing at clubs and colleges and writing and recording his music. In 1995 he quit his job and started touring full-time. Since then, Peter has gradually gained a dedicated, word-of-mouth following, selling out shows from Minnesota to Texas, New England to California. He has 8 CDs to his credit and has sold over 50,000 of them independently. His latest is Heaven Below.
Peter's annual visits to Green Wood attract large audiences, often selling out. Get your tickets early!
"There are at least a dozen Peter Mayer songs that I would love to learn, myself, but I could never play them as well as he does," -- David Wilcox
www.petermayer.net
Friday, December 3, 2010 - Don White ($17)
Back by popular demand after his last sold-out Green Wood Coffee House show! Don White combines heartfelt, serious lyrics with side-splitting laughs to provide an evening not to be forgotten. This Massachusetts comedian/singer/songwriter/author is best-known in these parts for his radio gems, "Rascal," "Psycho Mom and Dad" and "I Know What Love Is." Don's latest release is Christine Lavin and Don White Live At The Ark -- The Father's Day Concert, two hours of hysterical songs and stories recorded in June of 2009 from these two veteran performers with guest appearances by Matt Watroba and Katie Geddes. This recording is available only as an MP3 download here: http://www.cdfreedom.com/artists/donwhite. A Don White show promises to delight new audiences and devoted "repeat offender" fans, alike.
www.donwhite.net
Friday, December 10, 2010 - Katie Geddes and Friends, featuring All About Eve, Matt Watroba, and Don White - ($15)
Katie Geddes sings traditional and contemporary folk, country-folk, and folk-pop tunes. A deft interpreter of beloved songs, her captivating voice and velvety-smooth delivery bring new life to the compositions of writers such as John Prine, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Michael Nesmith and Lennon and McCartney. Katie's 2010 CD release, We Are Each Other's Angels, features an inspired roster of guest artists including Michael Johnson, Mary McCaslin, Don Henry and Small Potatoes, and is receiving extensive airplay around the country and around the world. When not doing her own gigs, Katie has been known to "moonlight" singing harmony for folk-rock legend Melanie and local favorite Matt Watroba. Katie is also part of the up-and-coming female vocal trio All About Eve. www.katiegeddes.com
Matt Watroba brings a very special set of talents to the stage whenever he appears as a folk musician. His excellent guitar playing, mellow voice, friendship with his audience, and knowledge of his presentations is impressive. Add to that Matt’s own special brand of humor and you are in for a most entertaining and enlightening evening. You will feel his obvious love of folk music, both traditional and contemporary--the writers and performers, the heroes and villains. Matt sings songs of compassion, inner strength, humor, and every day living. Over the years, Matt and Katie's duets have become an integral and popular part of Matt Watroba concert appearances. Matt's latest CD release, a collection of original songs, is Shine Right Through The Dark. www.mattwatroba.com
Don White: please see December 3 bio.
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Some Spring 2011 dates we have booked...
Friday, January 21 - Michael Johnathon ($15)
Friday, February 25 - Danny Schmidt ($15)
Friday, May 6 - James Gordon ($12)
Friday, May 20 - Nora Jane Struthers ($15)
