What we're about
If you build it they will come…a South Bay network of house concert and small live music venues, and all us fans who love the up close and personal music experience. This site is for music lovers of all genres to check out what's happening on the San Francisco peninsula down to San Jose. The artist talent pool is amazing. Let's build the audience!
Never been to a house concert? You're in for a treat! Defined as "true listening environments", they are typically small gatherings in the privacy of a home or small stage. Usually 30-50 people. Occasionally, like if someone has a super cool back yard, it's easy to fit in more. Every host runs things a bit different. Typically, seating is provided. But you may be asked to bring a chair or a blanket. Typically it's BYOWhatever. But, there might be social time and/or a potluck.
Guests are asked to be very respectful of the house. Stick to the concert area, be clean and no smoking.
The artist reflects the flavor of the host, from classical to singer songwriter. Don't' worry if there are just a couple rsvp's. Most experienced hosts have cultivated a mailing list. This site is an adjunct to that and to help new house concert providers get started by establishing a shared pool of fans. The more house concert venues, the more fans, the more artists who get to share their amazing talents.
Want to become a host? It really is easy. But please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. Here are a couple resources: http://www.americansongwriter.com/2014/02/songwriter-u-make-real-money-donation-based-house-concerts/ http://www.concertsinyourhome.com/CIYH_HouseConcertGuidex.pdf
PLEASE NOTE!!!! Seating is limited. You are not allowed to rsvp yes and then not show. No shows are a big deal. Attendance is taken. The reputation of this meet up will be one of dependability, as if you paid for your ticket in advance.
Upcoming events (3)
Address provided with yes rsvp
Brother's Reed will be our last show until spring 2022. With a heavy sigh, due to current pandemic issues, we will not be hosting concerts inside.
Brother's Reed has two shows available through our meetup on Halloween weekend. Our community is large and diverse geographically. Let's make both shows successful.
With their comedic brotherly banter, impeccable harmonic expression, and widely varying influences, a Brothers Reed performance will have you reflecting on lost lives and lovers, laughing hysterically and leaving completely entertained.
The duo incorporates harmonica, percussion, into their live performances, soothing your soul with songs that are familiar yet original. Whether they are finger picking their way through a lamentable ballad or bringing you around full-speed with a barn-burning bluegrass number, The Brothers Reed are masters of their craft.
Despite their brotherhood, Aaron and Phil Reed didn’t start playing music together until five years ago after Phil left their hometown of St. Charles, Missouri to join Aaron in the unsullied mountains of the American Northwest. The brothers family blend of folk encapsulates the grit and humor of Midwest life with the swagger and serenity of the west coast. Their style evokes finger picking folk singers of the 60’s and 70’s with a contemporary and boundless edge. Cultivated from years of performing in bands ranging from heavy metal to reggae and rock, to punk, country, and funk, their musical dichotomy is at the root of their diverse yet seamless folk-brand.
Details:
A $20 suggested donation is collected at the door. All funds go to the artist. Pay more if you can. It's been a tough year. If funds are tight, let me know. I want music to be accessible to all.
Address and further details provided one week before the event.This show will be outdoors. We have two heaters but do dress warm.
Proof of vaccination required at check in. Mask required anytime inside the house. Chairs in the yard will be appropriately spaced out.
- Tami M.
- Chris K.
- Janet
- 60 attendees
Harker's Back Forty in San Mateo, CA
Harker's Back Forty is proud to present The Brothers Reed. With their comedic brotherly banter, impeccable harmonic expression, and widely varying influences, a Brothers Reed performance will have you reflecting on lost lives and lovers, laughing hysterically and leaving completely entertained.
The Back Forty has plenty of seating and plenty of off-street parking nearby. Bring something to share. Bring something to drink. Music from 2-4pm. Stay for the evening.
Suggested donation of $20 collected at the door. Give what you can to help support quality artists & performers.
The Brothers Reed incorporate harmonica, percussion, into their live performances, soothing your soul with songs that are familiar yet original. Whether they are finger picking their way through a lamentable ballad or bringing you around full-speed with a barn-burning bluegrass number, The Brothers Reed are masters of their craft.
Find tour dates, music, merchandise, and videos, at www.thebrothersreed.com.
A theme of this summer's Back Forty events will be "I've been vaxed 2021" so I will not be wearing a mask. Free to wear masks if you want but I won't. If you have not been fully vaxed, please wait for my next event.
Why a no mask required policy? We require vaccinations for children going to school. Why not require them in our adult life? To be honest, with vaccines widely available, anyone getting COVID this summer because they did not vax gets no pity from me. They made a choice.
News Flash! CDC now says you don't have to wear a mask at outside events if you have been fully vaxed.
You may ask "Back Forty of what?"
Not sure but I'll tell you when I find out.
- Robert H.
- Stuart
- Bettina
- 59 attendees
Harker's Back Forty in San Mateo, CA
And now for something completely different. The Back Forty is proud to present local Bay Area favorites Dirty Cello. Take a bluegrass band, mix with a healthy dose of rockabilly. Replace the lead guitar with a cello played like a fiddle. You have Dirty Cello. A fast paced romp through many of your favorite songs along with their originals. Music you can dance to. Check out their YouTube videos.
The Dirty Cello band comes from a very unique place. Instead of the world of garage bands and open mic nights, the musicians of Dirty Cello got their start in symphony halls and music theory classes. Led by Rebecca Roudman, a renowned classical cellist from the Oakland Symphony and the Santa Rosa Symphony, Dirty Cello is an ensemble of musicians who got their start in the classical world, but felt constrained and limited. Beginning 10 years ago with a bizarre and fateful stint on America's Got Talent, the Dirty Cello band has taken the virtuosic skills of the musicians in the band and crafted a unique sound where the skills come from the classical world, but the sound and heart of the group are pure rock and roll.
The sound of the group begins with ditching the lead guitar in favor of a cello that gets worked, bowed, and mildly tortured to produce the bluesy wails of BB King, the fiery fiddlin' of Charlie Daniels, and the powerful rock of Jimi Hendrix. The Dirty Cello band was called by Oakland Magazine, "Dirty Cello’s music is all over the map: funky, carnival, romantic, sexy, tangled, electric, fiercely rhythmic, and textured, and only occasionally classical." During the show, the band careens from bluegrass to blues to rock and beyond.
“When lead guitar is replaced by the sound of hot licks on a cello,
blues, rock and bluegrass rise to a new dimension. Dirty Cello makes its style of string music to inspire audiences to swing, sway and dance.”
- Ashland Daily Tidings
Dirty Cello videos:
Devil on my Shoulder: https://youtu.be/OXAmt9-2pR4
Johnny B Goode: https://youtu.be/Zm0xzayE-hM
The Deep River: https://youtu.be/cIwqLFYwodQ
Social media:
https://dirtycello.com
https://Youtube.com/rebeccaroudman
https://Facebook.com/dirtycellomusic
https://Instagram.com/dirtycello
The Back Forty has plenty of seating and plenty of off-street parking nearby. Bring something to drink. Bring something to eat. Bring something to share. Music from 8-10pm. Hang out afterwards and chat.
A suggested donation of $20 per person is collected at the door. All money goes the musicians. Give more if you can to help support quality artists & performers. This year has been a hard year for most performers.
Be aware of The Back Forty's new no-show bump list policy. If a future show gets a waiting list started, you may be bumped if you have been a no-show in the past. So if your plans change, please change your RSVP to no.
A theme of this summer's Back Forty events will be "I've been vaxed 2021" so I will not be wearing a mask. Free to wear masks if you want but I won't. If you have not been fully vaxed, please sit this one out.
Why a no mask required policy? We require vaccinations for children going to school. Why not require them in our adult life? To be honest, with vaccines widely available, anyone getting COVID this summer because they did not vax gets no pity from me. They made a choice.
You may ask "Back Forty of what?"
Not sure but I'll tell you when I find out.
- Robert H.
- Michele M.
- Armando
- 30 attendees
Past events (450)
Harker's Back Forty in San Mateo, CA
- Robert H.
- Bettina
- Diana L
- 32 attendees
