Pretty much we go for the movers and the shakers in the folk music world -- and folk music is a small world, a small pond with a lot of big fishes in it," says Nancy Paddock, presenter of the Eureka House Concerts.
A lot of those big fishes like to play the small venues known as house concerts, and the Eureka Springs series, in existence since 2004, is a popular destination. The spring season, which starts Sunday, will feature Texas singer/songwriter Sam Baker with opening act Dana Louise; Harpeth Rising on March 8; and Rebecca Loebe on April 5.
FAQ
Eureka House Concert:
Sam Baker
WHEN — 6 p.m. Sunday with a preshow potluck at 5 p.m.
WHERE — Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 17 Elk St. in Eureka Springs
COST — $15 single show or $30 for three shows at the door
INFO — 244-0123, [email protected] or eurekahouseconcerts…
"Sam is an exceptional songwriter and an exceptional person," Paddock says. "He paints musical portraits of everyday people with simple words and soul-touching melodies. Funny, unassuming and charismatic, Sam has been our most requested performer the last few years.
"Opening for Sam will be Dana Louise," Paddock adds, "a wonderful young folk singer [from Fayetteville] who is making waves with her finely sculpted songs, beautiful voice and pure heart.
"We like the people who have a lot of word craftsmanship, a lot of content," Paddock says. And her audiences like it up close and personal. The Eureka Springs Unitarian Universalist Fellowship seats about 40 comfortably, she says, and every concert is preceded by a potluck and a chance to visit with the artist before the show.
Paddock says she's managed to squeeze in 60 when a show was in greater demand, but Jim Dudley, one of the founders of the series, says it didn't start out that way.
"One of the first concerts (if not the first) was Kim and Jim Lansford," he says. "I think it was 2003. We drew about six people -- mostly family members! We soon found out that having to depend on selling tickets at the door was too nerve-racking. So the second year, we got John Babbs involved and decided we weren't going to do it unless we sold season tickets.
"This community supports the arts and music tremendously, so selling season tickets went well with plenty of sponsors. The rest is history. We had several successful, fun-filled years with so many outstanding performers. But we lost steam and were so glad [Nancy] was there to step in to take over."
-- Becca Martin-Brown
NAN What's Up on 02/27/2015