“This is either the most sophisticated simple music or the simplest sophisticated music I’ve ever heard.”

That comment, heard after a Jeni & Billy performance, sums up the appeal of the duo’s “New Old Music.” With exquisitely spare accompaniment and performances that are never rushed, Jeni & Billy’s harmonies harken to a lost time and reverberate with a rare honesty, as they inhabit the lives of miners, preachers, ramblers, lovers, and plain-living folks.  Their music is quiet enough to be heard and just loud enough to be unforgettable.

Sharing the duties of songwriting, arranging, and performing, Jeni & Billy bring to the work very distinct musical backgrounds that both draw from the deep well of Appalachian roots music.

In recent years it’s been practically considered a given that the writing of coal-mining songs is a thing of the past, but lo and behold, along comes an album of new songs related to, or inspired by, the coal-mining lifestyle. Jeni Hankins is the granddaughter of coal miners, so she is well steeped in the tradition. Her mournful vocals compare favorably with other Appalachian old-time folks singers . . . the accompaniment is always very spare, and the performances are never rushed . . . Jewell Ridge Coal is a very worthy addition to a genre that may not be so antiquated after all. – Paul-Emile Comeau – Dirty Linen

Jeni and Billy call their music “New Old Music” on their facebook page and that is just what it is. Jeni and Billy write their own songs, but in the style of traditional country, Appalachian, old-time, country blues, bluegrass and folk music. Jeni was born in the coalfields of Southwest Virginia and traces her vocal style to Virginia Lowe, the blind music minister of the Friendly Chapel Church on Smith Ridge, VA. Billy grew up in Baltimore but spent his weekend nights high atop a hill in the nearby community of Oella — the home of Appalachian migrants who came to the city looking for work in the mills. There, among people much like Jeni’s grandparents, he fell in love with country music.

Steeped in roots of traditional music, Jeni and Billy perform their songs and tell their stories with heartfelt grace and genuine warmth that will reach anyone who hears them.

I first discovered Jeni and Billy online and then got to hear them in person at Folk Alliance, both in Memphis and at FAR-West, the Western Regional Folk Alliance conference. Regular attendees of house concerts know the close connection between musicians and audience members in general. Jeni and Billy exemplify that warmth. When I first met them in person, it felt like we had been friends for a long, long time, instead of just online correspondents.

Please join us for an evening of wonderful, unique music and warm friendship and camaraderie. You’ll be glad you came.

Listen to Monica Gomez’ October 2, 2010 interview with Jeni on her “State of the Arts” show on KTEP-FM.

http://www.myspace.com/jenihankinsbillykemp
http://www.jeniandbilly.com

Suggested artist donation $15

Music starts at 7:00 p.m. Socializing from 6:00 p.m.

Light refreshments provided, BYO wine and/or potluck refreshments to share are welcome.

For more information, please contact Lee at 575-522-5197 or by e-mail at lasalturashouseconcerts (at) gmail.com.

http://www.annabelle.org/

http://www.myspace.com/annabellechvostek

Suggested artist donation $15

Music starts at 7:00 p.m. Socializing from 6:00 p.m.

Light refreshments provided, BYO wine and/or potluck refreshments to share are welcome.

For more information and an invitation, please contact Lee at 575-522-5197 or by e-mail at lasalturashouseconcerts (at) gmail.com.

Steve is a virtuoso on mandolin, guitar and banjo and a fine singer and songwriter, internationally known as a performer and teacher. Chris is a singer and songwriter and guitarist and teacher, but that doesn’t convey the beauty of her soaring voice. Anne Luna is one of my favorite bass players, as well as a singer and songwriter. Her playing (on a full size acoustic bass several times bigger than she is) adds a rich, full sound to the trio, always tastefully supporting the music.

Steve, Chris and Anne are each fine musicians on their own. As a trio, they are even more than the sum of the parts. Regular touring over the last couple years has tightened up their playing. Beautiful harmonies, tight ensemble playing and blistering instrumental solos make for an exciting show.

We are looking forward to a great evening to kick off the last few shows at Las Alturas House Concerts. Please come share in the music and company. RSVP via email or phone and we will see you soon!

http://www.desertnight.com/steve-smith-and-chris-sanders.html
http://www.reverbnation.com/stevesmithandhardroad

Details:

Saturday, January 21, 7:00 p.m.

Music starts at 7:00 p.m. Socializing from 6:00 p.m.

Light refreshments provided, BYO wine and/or potluck refreshments to
share are welcome.

Please RSVP to Lee at lasalturashouseconcerts@gmail.com
or by phone: 575-522-5197.

Suggested artist donation $20

Backed by her own guitar, fiddle, and harmonica, Kate MacLeod sings of life with both deceptive subtlety and uncompromising power.
“Kate MacLeod would take the breath away from any audience. She appeals to fans of bluegrass, Celtic and traditional American folk music,
with elements of each being revealed in her performance. Listeners are engaged by the richness and maturity of her original material.
While challenging enough for seasoned folk aficionados, her music remains accessible to less experienced ears. Count on a magical show.
I couldn’t have expected anything better.” -Bill Beneke, Princeton Coffeehouse, Princeton, IL

I can personally attest to all of these comments. When I first got to hear Kate perform at a Folk Alliance Showcase, I knew I wanted
to book her. I caught her in the hall outside the showcase room and we decided to book a show. It took a couple years, but now I can
share Kate’s amazing talents with you.

http://www.katemacleod.com/
http://www.sonicbids.com/epk/epk.aspx?epk_id=88743
http://www.youtube.com/user/macleodkate

Details:
Saturday, December 3, 7:00 p.m.
Music starts at 7:00 p.m. Socializing from 6:00 p.m.
Light refreshments provided, BYO wine and/or potluck refreshments to share are welcome.<br /
Please RSVP to Lee at lasalturashouseconcerts@gmail.com
or by phone: 575-522-5197.
Suggested artist donation $15

Renowned for her warm, engaging stage presence, Sarah McQuaid is a versatile and beguiling performer.
In addition to her own elegantly crafted originals, she interprets traditional Irish and Appalachian folk songs,
Elizabethan ballads, 1930s jazz numbers, surprise covers and lively guitar instrumentals with panache and poignance.

Her deliciously earthy voice delivers a powerful emotional punch that’s matched by her distinctive, eloquent guitar style.
Add this to wonderful storytelling and a genuinely heartfelt rapport with her audience, and you have all the ingredients of a great night out.

http://www.sarahmcquaid.com/
https://www.facebook.com/sarahmcquaidmusic
http://www.reverbnation.com/sarahmcquaid
http://sarahmcquaid.bandcamp.com
http://www.youtube.com/sarahmcquaid

Details:
Saturday, August 20, 2011, 7:00 p.m.
Music starts at 7:00 p.m. Socializing from 6:00 p.m.
Please bring potluck food and wine to share.
Please RSVP to Lee at lasalturashouseconcerts@gmail.com
or by phone: 575-522-5197
Suggested artist donation $15

Stephanie Bettman is a triple threat. An accomplished writer, she infuses her music with wit and wisdom, exploring the many facets of the human heart. Stephanie’s songs are sometimes sad, sometimes sassy, but always stunning. As a vocalist, she moves effortlessly from her up-tempo bluegrass originals (featuring her fiery fiddling), to a soothing honey-sweet ballad, to a rousing passionate anthem. While her first-rate fiddling combines elements of bluegrass and jazz, in her essence there is tribute to such masters as Stephane Grappelli, Byron Berline, and Johnny Gimble. One thing’s for sure, if Stephanie Bettman is on the bill, you are in for an unforgettable performance that will have you hooked from the first fiddle line to the last sweet harmony.

Touring with Stephanie is multi-instrumentalist Luke Halpin, who is equally adept on mandolin, fiddle and guitar. Inspired by the likes of Sam Bush, Tony Rice, and Mark O’Conner, Luke’s perfectly blended harmonies and his instrumental expertise together with Stephanie’s artistry and performance make for a dynamic experience audiences are discovering from coast to coast.

If you heard them on one of their earlier visits to Las Cruces, you already know all of this. So mark your calendar and come join us. If you haven’t heard Stephanie and Luke, you are in for a remarkable treat.

http://stephaniebettman.com

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1079164746

https://twitter.com/#!/stephaniebettma

https://www.facebook.com/lukehalpinmusic

https://twitter.com/#!/lukehalpin

Suggested artist donation $15

Music starts at 7:00 p.m. Socializing from 6:00 p.m.

Please bring potluck food and wine to share.

For more information, please contact Lee at lasalturashouseconcerts@gmail.com or by phone: 575-522-5197

Jan Seides (pronounced Sigh-deez) has won major awards in regional to national songwriting competitions. Her songs combine down-home honesty with up-town sophistication, and have been described as Nanci Griffith meets Broadway.  Jan holds a Music degree from University of Texas. Her unique musical background includes a degree from University of Texas, School of Music. There she studied piano and composition, exploring folk, classical, jazz, pop, rock and country. She is a spellbinding storyteller in both word and song.

http://www.janseides.com/

Details:
Saturday, August 20, 2011, 7:00 p.m.
Music starts at 7:00 p.m. Socializing from 6:00 p.m.
Please bring potluck food and wine to share.
Please RSVP to Lee at lasalturashouseconcerts@gmail.com
or by phone: 575-522-5197
Suggested artist donation $15

Daniel Boling is a folksinger/songwriter with a storyteller’s eye for detail. His songs are inhabited by interesting characters drawn from Daniel’s life, family and friends: the vagabond running off with a tiny circus to tour the West; an aging Viet Nam veteran looking back with surprise at his departed youth; a young rancher inheriting his grandfather’s now worn out rangeland and hoping he can hold on and live up to the family legacy; a passenger on Flight 93 calling his wife to say goodbye and some with humor, like winners of the Darwin award. His finger-picked guitar and banjitar support a good, clear tenor voice that evokes his characters’ emotions perfectly. 

http://www.danielboling.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/C-Daniel-Boling/185188350724

http://www.sonicbids.com/CDanielBoling

http://www.youtube.com/user/PerfectlyStableMusic

Suggested artist donation $15

Music starts at 7:00 p.m. Socializing from 6:00 p.m.

Light refreshments provided, guests are welcome to bring wine or refreshments to share.

Attendance is by invitation only. For more information and an invitation, please contact Lee at 575-522-5197 or by e-mail at lasalturashouseconcerts (at) gmail.com.