Tag Archives: Joe Craven

Holiday Hootenanny (12/18) is 1 Week Out! Also Things You Might Not Know

11 Dec

Tickets: Gen Adm $35 ADV / $45 Door, Reserved $45 ADV / $55 Door. Available online through Variety Playhouse and at their Box Office (M-F Noon-6 PM and on show nights)

Date: Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Where: Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

When: Showtime 7PM, Doors @ 6PM

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Things you should know about the 9th Annual Holiday Hootenanny

1. Every Holiday Hootenanny is different yet offers that same insane musical energy that has defined many of us here in the ATL. We continue to embody the spirit of the late Col. Bruce Hampton, who inspired so many of us to “let it ride, let it roll, let it flow!” I find it impossible not to live life with that as a premise at the top of the list. The Bruce banner will be hung!

2. The Johnny Knapp Tribute will be a two-part segment. The first will feature jazz the way that Johnny played it. This is going to be an incredibly special time. That portion will lead into the second half of the set featuring music that Col. Bruce and Johnny loved playing together. Those two gentlemen meant so much to each other and anyone around them or felt the magic created by these two masters of Zambi.

3. Expect the unexpected. For any of y’all who have been to all of the Holiday Hoots, a handful, or if last year was your first one, you know that is trademark. The final jam is going to be one for the books! I’ll leave it at that.

4. Jim Lauderdale will be performing a full set broken down into solo acoustic > bluegrass > full electric with horns. All of the songs featured he co-wrote with the late Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter. This will truly be a remarkable experience to witness.

5. Jeff Sipe and the State Birds featuring Ike Stubblefield, Bryan Lopes, Neal Fountain, Mike Seal, and special guests is about as amazing a way to get the show going. Jeff is one of the finest drummers in the world, and we’re fortunate to have him on board fairly regularly with the Holiday Hootenanny! Check out this fine video of the State Birds minus Ike in an intimate setting. They have a vast knowledge of music so who knows (except for them) what they’re going to do! Soooo much talent.

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Holiday Hootenanny Schedule (subject to change)

6 PM: Doors open

7-7:55 PM: Jeff Sipe & The State Birds feat. Ike Stubblefield, Bryan Lopes, Neal Fountain & Mike Seal and some friends

8:10-9:25 PM: Jim Lauderdale (acoustic, bluegrass & electric), feat. the Zambi Horns and performing music co-written with the late Robert Hunter

9:55-10:55 PM: A Tribute to Johnny Knapp by Jez Graham + quite a few special guests

11:15 PM-12:30 AM: THE JAM feat. Drew Emmitt, Vince Herman, Larry Keel, Steve ‘Big Daddy’ McMurry, Rev. Jeff Mosier, Jason Carter, Jeff Sipe & more!

Holiday Hootenanny Update!

15 Nov

Date: Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Where: Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

When: Showtime 7PM, Doors @ 6PM

Tickets: Gen Adm $35 ADV / $45 Door, Reserved $45 ADV / $55 Door. Available online through Variety Playhouse and at their Box Office (M-F Noon-6 PM and on show nights)

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We are thrilled to announce that two more sponsors have jumped on board with the Holiday Hootenanny movement! THANK YOU to McGriff, Seibels & Williams and Tito’s Vodka in addition to Creature Comforts Brewing Co. for their support this year. We are grateful for the enthusiasm and support that has come our way this year for this amazing annual concert benefitting Atlanta Habitat for Humanity!

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Lineup Addition

Please welcome the incomparable Joe Craven as the final piece to a magnificent puzzle of a lineup! Joe was a member of the David Grisman Quintet for 16 years, performed on the legendary Garcia/Grisman recordings, including the most legendary of them all – The Pizza Tapes – that also featured the great Tony Rice. Joe participated as an emcee in several HarvestFests back in the day, and we’ve been fortunate to have him available around the holiday season for quite a few years now and are thrilled to have him on board for this roots music extravaganza! He is truly one of the most talented musicians I have ever known, capable of playing more types of instruments than imaginable.

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Holiday Hootenanny Schedule

6 PM: Doors open

7-7:50 PM: Jeff Sipe & The State Birds feat. Ike Stubblefield, Brian Lopes, Neal Fountain & Mike Seal and some friends

8:10-9:25 PM: Jim Lauderdale (bluegrass & electric), feat. the Zambi Horns

9:55-11 PM: A Tribute to Johnny Knapp by Jez Graham + quite a few special guests

11:15 PM-12:30 AM: THE JAM feat. Drew Emmitt, Vince Herman, Larry Keel, Steve ‘Big Daddy’ McMurry, Rev. Jeff Mosier, Jason Carter, Jeff Sipe, Jared Womack, Neal Fountain & more!

(schedule is subject to change)

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I know that I’ve posted this video before but it is so damn good it’s worth another viewing! A one of a kind performance that featured 18 musicians on stage for the finale, and it never let up from the get go. Col. Bruce Hampton with the Anywhere But Here Horns featuring Joe Gransden and the late Johnny Knapp (whom we will pay tribute to this year) really let it rip. You won’t be disappointed! Let’s just say that the Holiday Hootenanny brings this level of energy every year, and we are forever grateful to the Colonel for what he gave to us. Zambi!

The Hamilton Hoopla Around the Corner!

8 Dec

“Everything Joe touches turns to music,” says mandolinist David Grisman, with whom Joe played for almost 17 years as a member of the David Grisman Quintet.

We are only one week out from The Hamilton Hoopla (Wed Dec 14, Oakhurst Baptist Church, 222 East Lake Dr., Decatur, GA 30030), an absolutely incredible evening of music in a perfect acoustic environment and featuring a potpourri of musicians representing styles such as jazz, jamgrass, old-time, gypsy jazz, and Joe Craven!  Hosted by and featuring the great Joe Craven (David Grisman Quintet, Garcia Grisman recordings, Alison Brown Quartet), we are excited to celebrate the Grand Opening of the Frank Hamilton School and its commitment to bring music and music education into the Decatur and Atlanta communities as we enter our second year!  It is an exciting time for us for certain and invite YOU to be a part!

Please get your advance tickets to help the cause and we absolutely can’t wait to see you on Wednesday, December 14 at Oakhurst Baptist Church!  Share this with your family and friends!

Frank Hamilton poster final .pages

The full lineup is as follows: Joe CravenFrank HamiltonCharles Williams & Dan Coy (The Bonaventure Quartet), Mick KinneyBob BakertMusicians/teachers from The Old Town School of Folk MusicJason KoornickJared Womack

 ABOUT JOE CRAVEN
Joe Craven is not just an entertaining musician with a penchant for the mischievous, he is a teacher and student all at once and he will draw you into his performance by including you as thou gh you’re part of the show itself. His gift of gab is unprecedented and his musical knowledge impressive. Joe’s openness and expression of gratitude for the gifts he’s acquired make it all the more fun for him to share them with his audience.
Creativity educator, former museum curator, visual artist, actor/storyteller, event emcee and recipient of the 2009 Folk Alliance Far-West Performer of the Year, Joe has made music with many folks – notably violinist Stephane Grappelli and Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia – to multi-whirled string guy David Lindley, harmonica wizard Howard Levy and seven years recording and touring with banjo fusionist Alison Brown.
Joe is a musical madman with anything that has strings attached; violin, mandolin, tin can, bedpan, cookie tin, tenor guitar/banjo, mouth bow, canjoe, cuatro, CBG, berimbau, balalaika, boot ‘n lace and double-necked whatever.

Upcoming Events Presented by The Frank Hamilton School!

30 Nov

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Advance Tickets $10/$15 Door

Thursday, December 1 will be a very exciting and enjoyable performance by two bands that bring the sounds of the 1920’s ragtime jazz sound, performing classics from the era as well as traditionals and originals!  Tray Dahl & The Jugtime Ragband and The Clams featuring Frank Hamilton, L.A. Tuten & Bill Rutan are a perfect blend of the music, and trust me when I say you won’t go home disappointed!  This show will mark the final 2016 perfomance at the Red Light Cafe as part of the Frank Hamilton School Concert Series, which will pick back up on Saturday, January 7 and feature a strong Americana co-bill with Dusty Roads and C.J. Jones & The Spirit Bones.

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Only eight spaces remain for this one-of-a-kind workshop with the extraordinary Joe Craven!

Frank Hamilton workshop  copy

Joe Craven teaches musical improvisation more from a theater model rather than the requisite model of jazz. Therefore, this is not an ability-based class. If you’re an advanced player seeking a ‘theory & technique’-oriented foray into improvisation from a jazz architecture, this class is not that, yet may be still an enlightening experience for you. Joe connects improvisation to what you already do and moves you forward from there. We’ll focus on ways to think about sound, embrace fearlessness, and address the connection between spoken-word language and the language of music.

Showing up empty-handed, embracing mistakes and learning the value of losing control are some of what we’ll explore. Lots of exercises, with & without instruments in your hands to engage, and free yourself to play with others in new ways. The class will stretch you and may well change some of your perceptions of what music is. It’s a fun and enlightening romp!

Joe is first and foremost a creative force of nature and, as a workshop leader or motivational speaker for the arts, he is without peer.
— Jim Magill, Director – The Swannanoa Gathering Folk Workshops / Black Mountain, NC

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Get your Advance Tickets for this amazing night of music now!  $10 ADV/$15 Door

Frank Hamilton poster final .pages

Hamilton Hoopla, Joe Craven Workshop, Jugtime Ragband All in December!

8 Nov

fhs_frankchompOn the heels of a fantastic day at Chomp & Stomp where Frank performed “This Land Is Your Land” to several thousand folks supported by Smokey’s Farmland Band and The Georgia Mountain String Band (scroll to bottom for a clip of the performance!), the Frank Hamilton School is thrilled to bring you some wonderfully unique offerings for the month of December!  Beginning with our special holiday 1/2 term commencing at the end of November, followed shortly by our final FHS Concert Series Concert featuring Tray Dahl & The Jugtime Ragband plus a rare appearance by Frank and his ragtime jazz band called The Clams (Bill Rutan, LA Tuten, Matt Phillips & Frank), an improvisation workshop with Joe Craven, and culminating with our first ever Hamilton Hoopla also featuring Joe Craven, we are entering a great period of time as we celebrate our our recently obtained non-profit status and the Grand Opening of the Frank Hamilton School at Oakhurst Baptist Church!

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Please click here for complete information!

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Doors @ 7 PM ~ Advance Tickets only $10/$12 Door!

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Music Improvisation with Joe Craven

 How to be In the Moment & Without a Net
 Tuesday, December 13, 2016

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Limited enrollment!  Click Here for complete information how you can be a part!

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Summer Concerts Presented by Frank Hamilton School!

28 Jun

July and August bring some great shows your way courtesy of the Frank Hamilton School!  Please plan on coming out for FHS_JulyRegisany or all of these shows, as you really can’t go wrong.  Please remember that a portion of the proceeds from each of these concerts go towards the continuing development of FHS.  We continue moving forward as we settle into the Oakhurst neighborhood of Decatur, and Frank Hamilton & Friends will be out performing at a few public engagements beginning in August and continuing into the fall.  Stay tuned for those details as they become confirmed.

Also, online registration is open for the next term of classes that begins Tuesday, July 26!  Please visit the website for complete information and sign up for guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, ukulele and vocals!

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 Thursday, July 7 ~ $10 Adv/$13 Door ~ Advance Tickets

FHS_JDMSP

Formed in early 2014, The Josh Daniel/Mark Schimick Project is a fiery string band blending bluegrass, soul, reggae and rock n’ roll into a style uniquely their own. Respecting their Appalachian roots, these passionate multi-instrumentalists have a way of blending their harmonies and intricate string work in to something that appeals to a wide variety of listeners.   “A little of everything finds its way into their sound.” – Jim Lauderdale

In February, the band was asked to celebrate the grand opening of The Earl Scruggs Museum in Shelby, NC, playing alongside Sam Bush and The Steep Canyon Rangers. By Spring, the band had made even more notable appearances, invited to the stage by Al Schnier of moe. to play a few songs as well as a surprise appearance at Merlefest where they brought the crowd to their feet with a tribute to Doc Watson.  

We are thrilled to have the mastery of Atlanta’s own Jeff Mosier opening the evening for what promises to be a night full of fireworks on stage!  Click Here to watch videos by both acts performing.  If you’re a fan of progressive acoustic music and bluegrass of the Sam Bush vein, you’ll love this show!

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Wednesday, July 13 ~ $12 Adv/$16 Door ~ Advance Tickets

~ Featuring Casey Cook, Michael Smith & Keith Morris from The Dappled Grays and two-time Georgia State Champion Fiddler Andy Carlson.

FHS_Grisman Tribute
The Frank Hamilton School is excited to present an amazing lineup of musicians paying tribute to one of the most influential musicians of the last several generations and the creator of his own style called Dawg Music, David Grisman. For nearly half a century, mandolinist/composer/producer Grisman has been at the forefront of the always evolving world of acoustic music, weaving in and out of many genres, tradition and styles. He is a true pioneer and living legend who has paved the way for countless numbers of musicians who have become musical pioneers in their own right, including Tony Rice, Mike Marshall, Darol Anger and Joe Craven.

Bluegrass, Jazz & Latin are just a few of the styles that will be represented throughout this performance, so sit back, relax, and take in the musical notes of Grisman as seen through this A-list of musicians who will be bringing you the music this evening.

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Thursday, August 4 ~ $10 Adv/$13 Door ~ Advance Tickets

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Smokey’s Farmland Band blends musical influences ranging from bluegrass to gypsy jazz to Cajun, creating a progressive sound they like to call “Goodtime Eclectic Bluegrass”. While they enjoy venturing outside the realm of the traditional, they still respect the roots of bluegrass, and retain the energy and twang of mountain music. A typical set features original tunes, good ol’ pickin numbers, and some unexpected covers too. It all comes together in an exciting genre-bending style that keeps listeners on their toes, and on the dance floor!

Among many accomplishments, SFB has opened for Willie Nelson at a sold out House Of Blues New Orleans, Sam Bush at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta, and shared the bill for Del Yeah! with The Del McCoury Band and others. They have also opened for the Emmitt-Nershi Band and The Freight Hoppers, and shared the stage with numerous Atlanta and touring bluegrass bands. The band has traveled to Colorado, DC, NYC, and even St. Croix for performances, winning new fans at stops along the way.

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Tuesday, August 30, 8 PM ~ $17 Adv/$20 Door ~ Advance Tickets available soon!

geoff_RLCThe Frank Hamilton School is excited to present Australian blues guitar virtuoso Geoff Achison in an acoustic performance accompanied by pedal steel guru Bill Fleming. A highly regarded instrumentalist and singer/songwriter, Geoff treats his guitar like an orchestra laying down a mix of earthy blues, heartfelt soul and irresistibly funky grooves. As a self taught musician, Geoff has created his own sound while winning a number of awards along the way. Whether he is with his Souldiggers group or simply solo with an acoustic guitar, Geoff’s infectious and inventive style has earned him fans around the world. Geoff’s roots in the South are firmly established, having lived in Decatur for a two-year period while taking the not only the Southeast but the country by storm. He has collaborated with the likes of Randall Bramblett, Delbert McClinton, Jorma Kaukonen, legendary bassist George Porter Jr., the Allman Brothers Band, and the late great Les Paul. While he resides in Australia, we are fortunate that Geoff returns stateside once or twice a year and shares his gift with us!

This concert features a unique pairing of musicians that will make your experience extra special.

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Frank Hamilton doing what he does best!

Please share this posting!  We at the Frank Hamilton School are thrilled about what lies ahead for us as we further develop both the school and our footprint in the community!  There are many like-minded groups and individuals that believe in the mission of FHS, founded on the principles of the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago and featuring the energy of our fearless leader and co-founder of the OTS in 1957.

Frank Hamilton School Concert Series Kicks Off 2/18!

15 Feb

Frank Hamilton Folk School Concert Series Kickoff Party Featuring The Georgia Crackers &Rev. Jeff MosierFeb 18th at 8_30Red Light Café

We are very excited about the beginning of something special, and that is the concert side of the Frank Hamilton School!  Thursday, February 18, is just the start of a process that will continue to bring quality roots music of all sorts to the Atlanta area.  A portion of the proceeds from each show will go directly into operation costs for FHS, so please come out and support!  A special side note here ~ there will be a couple of TDawg specials on the menu that night.  Both my deeelicious red beans’n’rice and my extremely popular spinach queso dip will be available for order that night.  Please let me know what you think!

hoot_OTSAt this point in time, shows are booked for one Thursday each month through the end of the year, and they are all stellar performances by some of our favorite local musicians as well as some highly touted regional and even national performers!  You can click here to see the full schedule through December!  Stay tuned for a few additional dates to be added the second half of the year.

It is going to be really fun watching the Frank Hamilton School integrate into the metro Atlanta area through concerts and community gatherings.  As we move into spring look for announcements about participating in some prominent spring-time arts festivals and traditional hootenannies!  While TDawg’s Back Porch Hootenanny gracefully retires to pasture (with a bang!), the word “Hootenanny” will be put to the true definition, providing a great reason to gather, jam, and enjoy each other’s company!

I found this great video the other day from an attic concert I produced in December 2010 at my good friends MollyO’s house.  It was a packed attic for a memorable night of music by Rev. Jeff Mosier & Joe Craven.  I hope you enjoy watching this as much as I did!  Cheers, y’all, and we at the Frank Hamilton School hope you can make it out!

 

Holiday Hoot Low Down & Silent Auction!

19 Dec

Scramble_ARU   Delbert Cruise

We are just a few days out from a freakin’ incredible musical experience!  For those of you who attended Warren Haynes’ 25th Annual Christmas Jam last weekend in Asheville, well, this should be a solid capper for you!  Musicians are communicating amongst themselves, the auction is falling into place, and I hope that we can have a packed house at Terminal West in our first year working with Atlanta Habitat for Humanity!

Here is a general flow to the concert, music starting at 7pm.

Silent Auction 5pm, Doors to venue 6pm, SHOWTIME 7PM.

SET I ~ 7:00pm-8:00pm

Featured Musians: Jeff Sipe Trio, Lefty Williams, Donna Hopkins, Ralph Roddenbery & Diane Durrett.

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SET II ~ 8:30pm-9:45pm

Featured Musicians:  John Cowan, Tommy Talton, Rev. Jeff Mosier, Jason Kenney & Leah Calvert

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SET III ~ 10:15pm-MIDNIGHT

Featured Musicians: Randall Bramblett, Grant Green Jr., Col. Bruce Hampton, Women of Rock feat. Caroline Aiken, Diane Durrett & Donna Hopkins

Core Musicians: Jeff Sipe, Joe Craven, John Cowan, Ted Pecchio, Kevin Scott, Count M’Butu, Gaurav Malhotra, Yonrico Scott, Leah Calvert, Bobby Miller, Tony Giordano, Donna Hopkins, Lefty Williams, Diane Durrett, Jeff Autry.

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Get your advance tickets now and know you’re doing your part for a great cause!

Come at 5pm and enjoy an incredible silent auction with live music from Sans Abri.  Below are samples of some of the items up for auction!

Sandy Beaches Cruise (Delbert McClinton, Marcia Ball and much more!)  Sixthman
Artwork – ARU 2001 Variety Playhouse (4 prints)  Scramble Campbell
Artwork – 3D String Cheese Incident – Conscious Alliance 2010  Scramble Campbell
Artwork – Yonder Mountain String Band – Bonnaroo 2003  Scramble Campbell
Artwork – Woodstock 30th Anniversary  Scramble Campbell
Artwork – Drumhead Artwork  Yonrico Scott
Artwork – Guitart  Tommy Talton
Autographed WSP Tour Poster  John Griffin
Bhojanic for 10 ($150 value)  Bhojanic
Calloway Garden getaway package  Callaway Gardens
Stadium Gibson SG Guitar Replica signed by Los Lobos  Scott Kendrick

A little music history at the Holiday Hootenanny

13 Dec

The first two editions of Atlanta’s Holiday Hootenanny have featured southern music luminaries, and this year’s is no different.  I am very excited to be able to present three music visionaries that date back to the 70’s with their respective music repertoires.

Randall Bramblett, Tommy Talton & John Cowan helped to define an era of music discovery that ranged from the classic Capricorn Records in Macon and acts like The Allman Brothers Band, Cowboy, Marshall Tucker Band, and Sea Level to the progressive “new grass” sound created by the likes of the late John Hartford and New Grass Revival in the early 70’s, which originally featured Sam Bush, Cowan, Dr. Dobro Curtis Burch, and the late Courtney Johnson in the 70’s and Bela Fleck and Pat Flynn in the 80’s (replaced Burch & Johnson).  These two styles have merged many times over the years for what turns out to be a match made in musical heaven, and the 3rd Annual Atlanta’s Holiday Hootenanny is going to certainly showcase those two styles.

Randall with his current band from Music City Roots earlier this year.

And you here you have some vintage John Cowan with a great prelude by Sam Bush talking about John.

Here’s a clip of Tommy Talton Band performing last March in NYC at the Hittin’ the Note party.

Get your advance tickets now, and know that you’ll be supporting a wonderful cause and witnessing a piece of music history!

Silent Auction 5pm, Doors 6pm, Showtime 7pm!

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