Robert and George Cruikshank, “MIDNIGHT. Tom & Jerry at a Coffee Shop near the Olympic,” Life in London; or, the Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn, Esq., and his Elegant Friend Corinthian Tom, Accompanied by Bob Logic, the Oxonian, in their Rambles and Sprees through the Metropolis (London, 1820-21). Courtesy of The Ohio State University Rare Books and Manuscripts Library. via David A. Brewer
Admit it. You saw the words “coffee house concert” and thought mellow, warm, non-taxing music. You know, the kind they play in a coffee house, especially on a rainy drecky day like this.* A Kenny G-esque muzak version of “My Heart Will Go On (and on and on and on….),” anyone?
Well, think again. For that is not what our fearless leader, Jennifer Rodgers Beach has in mind. Nuh-uh. Here’s a sneak peek from the concert program, in her words:
For centuries, the coffeehouse has been …. the kitchen table of our communities – where folks gather from all over, stop to drink something warm and start to chat. It’s a hotbed of connection, instigation, inspiration, politics, and matters of the heart. And music is indispensible! In fact, music has often been at the center of grassroots gatherings and served as the messenger for ideas and opinions that were better sung than spoken. …. Tonight’s program features iconic numbers from every decade in the last half of the 20th century – tunes that most everyone could hum and have infectious rhythms and lyrics.
Did we mention we’ll also be featuring local singer, Mark Corfman? Now ya know.
So. Are you going to come and help us rabble rouse a bit? Please join us! Tickets are online now. And if you jump on them, you can get season tickets!
* Pouring hard buckets in the DC-metro region this morning. All. Blessed. Morning.