House Concerts? Essentially gigs in private houses, they’ve become popular over the years in North America and more recently in the UK. They provide a great opportunity for artists to perform to a small, attentive crowd of 20-40 odd people. One of the most important features is that all of the entrance money gets shared between the artists……. The main attraction for us in setting up this concert s
eries was to properly recognise and nurture some of the exceptional musical talent around Oxford. Earning a living as a popular musician is incredibly difficult and we want to support these creative spirits that live amongst us. We also think that music lovers in the city deserve a different experience…. Like what? Our musical breeding ground has been the open mic scene in Oxford. For an audience, the surprise element of an open mic is part of the beauty. You don’t know what you’re going to get from one performer to the next. But how often have you heard a particular performer and thought, “I want to hear more of them!” or “I wish I could hear her better over the noise in the bar”? House concerts give you the chance to listen closely to a handful of artists in one evening, each performing around 30-45 minute sets. You’ll also get a chance to hear performers discuss their work and get a chance to engage with them during the concert. How do I get a place? A House Concert is a private gig for which you are sent a personal invite. Once you have reserved your place we will email out your private invite(s), together with full details & directions before the gig. It sounds convoluted but we do it this way to ensure that the performers get a minimum return and to avoid empty seats or turning people away at the door. Can I host one of these? Absolutely, yes! One of the main drivers behind the house concert model is bringing together musicians and people who want to support the local music scene in a unique way. If you have a room within the ring road, which is accessible for people with mobility issues and has capacity for around 30 people then please get in touch. Anything else? We’re trying something a bit different to the usual house concert model by focussing our first few gigs on local musicians and doing themed evenings (no, not dress up…although you are welcome to if you wish!). Our first concert is going to showcase finger-style folk guitar and we have two fine proponents of that art, Tom Blackburn and Lewis Newcombe-Jones. And finally, you are welcome to bring your own drinks! TO FIND OUT MORE AND RESERVE YOUR PLACE CHECK OUT OUR SITE:
https://oxfordhouseconcerts.wordpress.com/
