Roots Music Masters: An Intimate Concert Series at the Historic Silver City Schoolhouse
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Thu, 08/29/2024 - 12:25pm
Event Date:
September 7, 2024 - 7:00pm Throughout the fall and winter, the Silver City Schoolhouse will be hosting the Roots Music Masters concert series in Silver City.
Proceeds from door donations go to the artists and sound crew. Proceeds from bar, tips, bake sale go to the Silver City Preservation Society.
The series is carefully curated to present the finest songwriters and musicians. They are decorated, lauded and distinguished but you might only rarely, if ever, get a chance to see them at another venue in Northern Nevada. The series offers the audience a unique and intimate listening experience in a beautiful, and historic venue. It is designed to elevate songwriting and bring world class artists to Northern Nevada’s small Comstock communities and invite people from all over the region to experience the magic.
Roots Music Masters begins September 7 with a round of three songwriters. Amber Cross is a former back country hunting guide whose quiet way veils the brilliance and fierceness of her singing and songwriting. Blackie Farrell is the author of some of roots music’s greatest songs like Sonora’s Death Row, Momma Hated Diesels and Rockabilly Funeral. His songs have been recorded by Commander Cody, Asleep at the Wheel, Dave Alvin, Robert Earle Keen and more. Blackie is one of the finest living American songwriters. Randall Lamb is a rough gem that needs no polishing. He is a real-deal folksinger as acknowledged by guys like Ramblin’ Jack Elliott and Blackie Farrell. He is a bonafide California treasure.
On October 11, Mike Beck, a beloved songwriter and genius guitar player, a master horseman and former cowboy on Nevada’s Spanish Ranch. The Western Horseman magazine recently picked "The 13 Best Cowboy Songs," and included two compositions by Mike, putting him along side other writers such as Ian Tyson, Tom Russell, Lucinda Williams, and Gene Autry. Mike is a mainstay act at Elko’s National Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering and he tours internationally playing music and hosting horse clinics.
November 15 brings song and groove man Ray Bonneville with his unique bluesy guitar style and weathered voice, foot percussion and hornlike harmonica. Ray is an acclaimed and decorated songwriter who was born in French Canada and lives in Texas. His songs have been recorded by Ronnie Hawkins, Jennifer Warnes and Slaid Cleaves. He is the winner of the International Blues Challenge in the solo category and a Juno Award. He has shared the stage with heavyweights like Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Dr. John, J.J. Cale, and Robert Cray. He is joined on keys and accordion by Richie Lawrence.
And finally on December 21 Rita Hosking and Sean Feder grace the stage. In a wavy world where we often struggle to swim, singer-songwriter Rita Hosking paddles up and canoes us through black holes, sinks of dirty dishes, demo-derbies, and wildfires until we’re safe at shore. With award-winning music spanning 9 albums and 20 years of touring, this country-folk troubadour is a heavy hitter in the Northern California songwriting scene.
Attendees will be greeted and warmly welcomed by volunteers. If they come a little early, they can peruse the historic photographs and artwork on the walls of the Silver City Schoolhouse while sipping a glass of wine or beer and nibbling on a baked treat, made by one of the infamous Comstock bakers.
The Silver City Schoolhouse is a historic one-room schoolhouse. It functioned as a school from 1868-1958. It opened during the Gold Rush when several thousand people lived in Silver City. After it closed in 1958 it became the firehouse and community center. The building burned in 2004 and was rebuilt over the next several years, using as much original material as could be salvaged from the fire. The Silver City Volunteer Fire Department got their own firehouse building and today the Schoolhouse functions once again as a community center, next to the beautiful Silver City Park. The building is used for community meetings, town events, parties, art shows, classes, community art projects, coffee houses, lectures, book readings and signings and much more. It also boasts a small but beautiful library.
The Silver City Preservation Society (SCPS), a 501c3 nonprofit was recently formed to manage the Schoolhouse building and develop community programs and art and culture programming. Proceeds from the bar and bake sale benefit the SCPS.
Silver City Arts is a committee of local residents who help produce arts and culture programming in Silver City. Silver City Arts volunteers graciously help with set up, clean up, run the bar and door and contribute magnificent baked goods. We could not do the series without them and are deeply grateful for their support.
Evangeline Presents and Yellow Truck Productions produce the series. They are father and daughter team, Evangeline Elston and Robert Elston. Evangeline was raised in Silver City and is a live music promoter and producer and a booking agent with Black Oak Artists for nationally touring acts. Robert Elston is an esteemed archeologist, songwriter and musician who came to Silver City in the mid 1960s with his wife Cashion and never left.
Information
What: Roots Music Masters – An Intimate Concert Series at the Historic Silver City Schoolhouse
When: Sept 7, Oct 11, Nov 15 & Dec 21
All shows start at 7 PM, doors at 6 PM
Where: Silver City Schoolhouse, 385 High Street, Silver City, NV
How much? $25 suggested donation – no one will be turned away
RSVP: email evangeline@evangelinepresents.com
Please let us know you are coming!
Facebook link to the September 7 Show: https://www.facebook.com/events/1204369707545942
