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Songmaker Series

The Songmaker Series is an acoustic concert series featuring primarily nationally touring songwriters And 2024 promises more great shows!

After many years of hosting acoustic concerts in Charlottesville, Virginia, and seeing many of the available venues in our area close, we decided to embark on The Songmaker Series. Our desire is to provide not only a listening room, but also a sense of community for music lovers. We started with two fall shows in 2016 and our 2017 schedule included nine concert dates (spring and fall). We continue

d with seven concerts and two Songwriting Workshops in 2018, nine concerts and three Songwriting Workshops in 2019, and then only one concert in 2020. We all know what happened in 2020, and for several years after that. We want to thank C'ville Coffee for providing an excellent home for our concerts, as well as Bahlmann Abbot, Emily Gary, and Unity Of Charlottesville for hosting our Songwriting Workshops!! In addition, we are grateful for our dear friends, The Camp Albemarle Songwriters, who have often donated the proceeds from their annual Community Concert to our Series. Now, beginning in the fall of 2022, we're back presenting concerts once again. We had a concert in November of 2022, in cooperation with Unity Of Charlottesville (at Unity), and we're doing our 2023 shows cooperatively with FocusMusic, and Unity. We've already presented one concert in the spring of 2023, and we will present several more in the fall of the year as well. Here are the shows we've hosted so far:

-Pierce Pettis w/ Scuffletown Opening--10/7/16
-Tom Prasada-Rao--11/18/16

-The Songmaker Series Benefit Concert--1/27/17
-Kate Campbell w/ Mary Gordon Hall Opening--3/3/17
-James Keelaghan w/ Jon Nafziger Opening--4/7/17
-Kate MacLeod w/ Raven Hunter Opening--5/5/17
-The Camp Albemarle Songwriters Concert--5/25/17
At Camp Albemarle (To Benefit The Songmaker Series)
-Bahlmann Abbot & Mary Gordon Hall--7/28/17
-Tret Fure w/ Genna Matthew Opening--9/8/2017
-Cindy Kallet & Grey Larsen--10/6/17
-David Massengill--11/10/17

-Buddy Mondlock--1/26/18 + A 1-Day Songwriting Workshop On 1/27/18
-Christopher Williams--2/24/18
-Pierce Pettis--3/24/18
-Rod MacDonald--6/22/18
-Chris Rosser--9/8/18
-Brooks Williams--10/12/18
-Kate Campbell w/ Chris James--11/9/18 + A 1-Day Songwriting Workshop on 11/10/18

-The Promise Is Hope--2/15/19
-Siobhan O'Brien--3/16/19
-Anne Hills--4/13/19
-Cindy Kallet & Grey Larsen--5/4/19 + Songwriting Workshops by both Cindy & Grey
-A Tribute To Guy Clark w/ Bahlmann Abbot, Marianna Bell, Sam Bush, Rusty Spiedel, & John Hill--5/11/19
-Pat Alger + A Songwriting Workshop--9/21/19
-James Keelaghan--10/11/19
-Maia Sharp--11/8/19
-Chris Van Cleave w/ Muskrat Reames--12/6/19

-Sloan Wainwright w/ Mary Gordon Hall--2/22/20

Presented At Unity Of Charlottesville

-Kate Campbell--11/12/22
-James Keelaghan w/ David Woodhead--3/11/23
-Anne Hills w/ Mary Gordon Hall & The LaDaDas Opening--9/30/23
-David Roth--11/11/23
-Joe Jencks--3/23/24
-Joe Crookston--9/7/24
-Kate MacLeod's Mind The Gap--11/16/24
-Pat Wictor & Scuffletown (Double Bill)--3/1/25
-Anne Hills--5/3/25

Upcoming Shows:

-Reggie Harris & John Flynn (Double Bill)--10/4/25
-Muriel Anderson--11/1/25
-James Keelaghan w/ Jillian Mutundan opening--12/6/25
-Joe Crookston--4/11/26
-Pierce Pettis-9/26/26
-SONIA--11/7/26

05/15/2026

On Saturday May 23rd @ 7 pm, The Songmaker Series, Focus Music Charlottesville, and Unity of Charlottesville, will present Joe Crookston in concert. Joe has played our Series before, to an enthusiastic audience. Please come join us for his return engagement! Advance tickets are on sale for $20 at: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/ #/10622552 Tickets at the door on show night will be $25.

Joe is an amazing multi-instrumentalist and a fine songwriter. He will leave you spellbound as he weaves his magic. On stage, Joe is a force of nature. He’s in his power AND communes with his audience. From touring with Gordon Lightfoot, headlining major US festivals, receiving Folk Alliance International's “Album of the Year,” for “ Able, Baker, Charlie, & Dog (2009), releasing NINE BECOMES ONE (2023), to being named Folk Alliance International Artist-in-Resident, Joe is on fire. He’s played with Suzanne Vega, Dar Williams, John McCutcheon, Shawn Colvin, Mary Gauthier, John Gorka, Judy Collins and 100’s more, in many iconic music venues, such as Club Passim, Godfrey Daniels, and The Guthrie Center. His songs are also being made into award winning films, such as “Brooklyn In July”. When you see him live, he’ll surprise you. He awakens the cynics. His rhythm is infectious. In concert, he is funny as hell one moment and transcendent the next.

Some Joe Crookston YouTube Songs:
Able, Baker, Charlie, & Dog-- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQpx1kRlXfU
Good Luck John-- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSS6i7G78Zw
Blue Tattoo-- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmFJ1jC0oWM
John Jones-- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAuOdoxoQCg
Fall Down As The Rain-- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw-D5qjxxSQ
The Nazarene-- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qB8UBZklVF0

The show will be held at the Unity Church of Charlottesville—2825 Hydraulic Circle on Saturday 5/23, starting at 7:00 PM. The doors open at 6:30. We hope to see you there!

Remaining 2026 Shows:

September 26—Pierce Pettis
November 7—SONiA disappear fear

05/05/2026

Coming up on Saturday May 23rd @ 7 pm, The Songmaker Series, Focus Music Charlottesville, and Unity of Charlottesville, will present Joe Crookston in concert. Joe has played our Series before, to an excellent turnout and an enthusiastic audience. Please come join us for his return engagement! Advance tickets are on sale for $20 at: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/ #/10622552 Tickets at the door on show night will be $25.

Joe is an amazing multi-instrumentalist and a fine songwriter. He will leave you spellbound as he weaves his magic. On stage, Joe is a force of nature. He’s in his power AND communes with his audience. From touring with Gordon Lightfoot, headlining major US festivals, receiving Folk Alliance International's “Album of the Year,” for “ Able, Baker, Charlie, & Dog (2009), releasing NINE BECOMES ONE (2023), to being named Folk Alliance International Artist-in-Resident, Joe is on fire. He’s played with Suzanne Vega, Dar Williams, John McCutcheon, Shawn Colvin, Mary Gauthier, John Gorka, Judy Collins and 100’s more, in many iconic music venues, such as Club Passim, Godfrey Daniels, The Guthrie Center, and The Columbus Performing Arts Center. His songs are also being made into award winning films, such as “Brooklyn In July”. He’ll surprise you. He awakens the cynics. His rhythm is infectious. In concert, he is funny as hell one moment and transcendent the next.

Some Joe Crookston YouTube Songs:
Able, Baker, Charlie, & Dog-- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQpx1kRlXfU
Good Luck John-- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSS6i7G78Zw
Blue Tattoo-- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmFJ1jC0oWM
John Jones-- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAuOdoxoQCg
Fall Down As The Rain-- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw-D5qjxxSQ
The Nazarene-- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qB8UBZklVF0

The show will be held at the Unity Church of Charlottesville—2825 Hydraulic Circle on Saturday 5/23, starting at 7:00 PM. The doors open at 6:30. We hope to see you there!

Remaining 2026 Shows:

September 26—Pierce Pettis
November 7—SONiA disappear fear

03/14/2026

Tonight, The Songmaker Series, FocusMusic Charlottesville, and Unity of Charlottesville, are bringing Canadian Juno winner James Keelaghan to perform. James forges his songs with brilliantly defined craftsmanship, making him one of the most distinctive and readily identifiable voices of not only the Canadian Folk scene, where he is a legend, but also as a member of the international singer-songwriter community. Please help us welcome James back to our stage!

The concert is at 7 pm, at Unity. $20 Advanced/$25 at the door. Advanced tickets are available until this afternoon, at: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/ #/10377464

Don’t miss this chance to hear an incredible musician. We hope to see you there!!

Here are some great songs by James. Give a listen:

“Boom Gone To Bust”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cL_qY1vMOWo&list=RDcL_qY1vMOWo&start_radio=1&pp=ygUiSmFtZXMgS2VlbGFnaGFuICBib29tIGdvbmUgdG8gYnVzdKAHAQ%3D%3D

“Hillcrest Mine”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CL7M3LJXElI&list=RDCL7M3LJXElI&start_radio=1&pp=ygUeSmFtZXMgS2VlbGFnaGFuIGhpbGxjcmVzdCBtaW5loAcB0gcJCa4KAYcqIYzv

“Cold Missouri Waters”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qomNoN7MCYg&list=RDqomNoN7MCYg&start_radio=1&pp=ygUkamFtZXMga2VlbGFnaGFuIGNvbGQgbWlzc291cmkgd2F0ZXJzoAcB

“Rebecca’s Lament”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r2wnEqHewEU&list=RDr2wnEqHewEU&start_radio=1&pp=ygUgSmFtZXMgS2VlbGFnaGFuIHJlYmVjY2EncyBsYW1lbnSgBwE%3D

“My Skies”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LkADi8tAYFA&list=RDLkADi8tAYFA&start_radio=1&pp=ygUYamFtZXMga2VlbGFnaGFuIG15IHNraWVzoAcB

“Kiri’s Piano”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nL6EY4cgqY4&list=RDnL6EY4cgqY4&start_radio=1&pp=ygUcamFtZXMga2VlbGFnaGFuIGtpcmkncyBwaWFub6AHAQ%3D%3D

03/11/2026

This Sat. March 14th, The Songmaker Series, FocusMusic Charlottesville, and Unity of Charlottesville, are bringing Canadian Juno winner James Keelaghan to town. James forges his songs with brilliantly defined craftsmanship, making him one of the most distinctive and readily identifiable voices of not only the Canadian Folk scene, where he is a legend, but also as a member of the international singer-songwriter community. Help us welcome James back to our stage!

The concert is at 7 pm, at Unity. Advanced tickets are available at: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/ #/10377464

Don’t miss this one! We hope to see you there!!

Here are some great songs by James. Give a listen:

“Boom Gone To Bust”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cL_qY1vMOWo&list=RDcL_qY1vMOWo&start_radio=1&pp=ygUiSmFtZXMgS2VlbGFnaGFuICBib29tIGdvbmUgdG8gYnVzdKAHAQ%3D%3D

“Hillcrest Mine”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CL7M3LJXElI&list=RDCL7M3LJXElI&start_radio=1&pp=ygUeSmFtZXMgS2VlbGFnaGFuIGhpbGxjcmVzdCBtaW5loAcB0gcJCa4KAYcqIYzv

“Cold Missouri Waters”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qomNoN7MCYg&list=RDqomNoN7MCYg&start_radio=1&pp=ygUkamFtZXMga2VlbGFnaGFuIGNvbGQgbWlzc291cmkgd2F0ZXJzoAcB

“Rebecca’s Lament”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r2wnEqHewEU&list=RDr2wnEqHewEU&start_radio=1&pp=ygUgSmFtZXMgS2VlbGFnaGFuIHJlYmVjY2EncyBsYW1lbnSgBwE%3D

“My Skies”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LkADi8tAYFA&list=RDLkADi8tAYFA&start_radio=1&pp=ygUYamFtZXMga2VlbGFnaGFuIG15IHNraWVzoAcB

“Kiri’s Piano”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nL6EY4cgqY4&list=RDnL6EY4cgqY4&start_radio=1&pp=ygUcamFtZXMga2VlbGFnaGFuIGtpcmkncyBwaWFub6AHAQ%3D%3D

On Sat. March 14th, The Songmaker Series, FocusMusic Charlottesville, and Unity of Charlottesville, are bringing Canadia...

03/07/2026

Hi...my name is John Hill, and I have 17 years of experience programming & hosting Acoustic Music shows of all genres, on both Public & Commercial Radio. All my experience is in the Charlottesville, Virginia area, and I have been quite successful on the air. My concept in the mid 1990's of a multi g...

03/05/2026

On Sat. March 14th, The Songmaker Series, FocusMusic Charlottesville, and Unity of Charlottesville, are bringing Canadian Juno winner James Keelaghan to town. James forges his songs with brilliantly defined craftsmanship, making him one of the most distinctive and readily identifiable voices of not only the Canadian Folk scene, where he is a legend, but also as a member of the international singer-songwriter community. Help us welcome James back to our stage!

The concert is at 7 pm, at Unity. Advanced tickets are available at: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/ #/10377464

Don’t miss this one! We hope to see you there!!

Here are some great songs by James. Give a listen:

“Boom Gone To Bust”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cL_qY1vMOWo&list=RDcL_qY1vMOWo&start_radio=1&pp=ygUiSmFtZXMgS2VlbGFnaGFuICBib29tIGdvbmUgdG8gYnVzdKAHAQ%3D%3D

“Hillcrest Mine”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CL7M3LJXElI&list=RDCL7M3LJXElI&start_radio=1&pp=ygUeSmFtZXMgS2VlbGFnaGFuIGhpbGxjcmVzdCBtaW5loAcB0gcJCa4KAYcqIYzv

“Cold Missouri Waters”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qomNoN7MCYg&list=RDqomNoN7MCYg&start_radio=1&pp=ygUkamFtZXMga2VlbGFnaGFuIGNvbGQgbWlzc291cmkgd2F0ZXJzoAcB

“Rebecca’s Lament”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r2wnEqHewEU&list=RDr2wnEqHewEU&start_radio=1&pp=ygUgSmFtZXMgS2VlbGFnaGFuIHJlYmVjY2EncyBsYW1lbnSgBwE%3D

“My Skies”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LkADi8tAYFA&list=RDLkADi8tAYFA&start_radio=1&pp=ygUYamFtZXMga2VlbGFnaGFuIG15IHNraWVzoAcB

“Kiri’s Piano”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nL6EY4cgqY4&list=RDnL6EY4cgqY4&start_radio=1&pp=ygUcamFtZXMga2VlbGFnaGFuIGtpcmkncyBwaWFub6AHAQ%3D%3D

03/01/2026

02/28/2026

Hey…some great music coming up tonight here in Charlottesville. Come on out!

FocusMusic Charlottesville, The Songmaker Series, and the Unity Church of Charlottesville present Danny Schmidt and the LaDaDas in Concert Saturday February 28, 2026 at Unity Church, at 7:00 PM

Location: Unity Church of Charlottesville / 2825 Hydraulic Circle / Charlottesville, VA 22901

Tickets are $20 in advance at: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/ #/10622545 $25 the day of the show.

Danny Schmidt has amassed a cult following for his poetic, poignant lyrics. With a craftsmanship and emotional depth drawing comparisons to Leonard Cohen and Townes Van Zandt, Schmidt is considered a preeminent writer. This show is a Homecoming for Danny, without the football: Danny’s career started in Charlottesville.

Listen to a few tunes from Danny:

“Company Of Friends”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JJwclZpsIt4&list=OLAK5uy_nlZ3rLGajhNQzTT-heOLZUHIwyfrug3_Q&index=11&pp=8AUB

“Drunk At The Biltmore Again”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bwIxP_krt9o&list=OLAK5uy_nX-zb_W5qA79dXj-WvP3nGun2hEUOBbhQ&index=7&pp=8AUB0gcJCU0KAYcqIYzv

“Buckets Of Rain”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jxK8WLZUOco&list=OLAK5uy_k1SrXQz96TpiycpgdxnDtL5J3TtdlEzO8&index=4&pp=8AUB

The LaDaDas are three women, with hard earned time on their hands, who come together to create gorgeous 3-part harmonies. Blair Jones, Mary Gordon Hall and Betty Jo Taylor just released their first recording, “Weaving A Chord”.

Here are the LaDaDas:

“Cradle The Heart”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WkdYF0KQPIo&list=RDWkdYF0KQPIo&start_radio=1&pp=ygULVGhlIExhRGFEYXOgBwHSBwkJTQoBhyohjO8%3D

“Sad Old Bird”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rllNZ2m03zs&list=RDrllNZ2m03zs&start_radio=1&pp=ygULVGhlIExhRGFEYXOgBwE%3D

This is an evening wih friends. Danny & I go back to the ‘90s, and the LaDaDas also echo very old and dear friendhips. I am very glad we are hosting this show. It will be special in so so many ways. Come join us in celebrating great friendships and great music!!

The Rest of our 2026 shows:

March 14, 2026 James Keelaghan—-Advance Tickets: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/ #/10377464

April 11, 2026 Joe Crookston—-Advance Tickets: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/ #/10622552

September 26, 2026 Pierce Pettis—-Advanced Tickets: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/ #/10622560

November 7, 2026 SONiA disappear fear—-Advanced Tickets: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/ #/10622568

If you’d like to purchase a Season Ticket for all the shows, at a 20% discount, you can do it at: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/ #/10696784

See you there!

02/23/2026

On Sat. March 14th, The Songmaker Series, FocusMusic Charlottesville, and Unity of Charlottesville, are bringing Canadian legend James Keelaghan to town. James forges his songs with brilliantly defined craftsmanship, making him one of the most distinctive and readily identifiable voices of not only the Canadian Folk scene, but as a member of the international singer-songwriter community. Help us welcome James back to our stage!

The concert is at 7 pm, at Unity. Advanced tickets are available at: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/ #/10377464

Don’t miss this one! We hope to see you there!!

This is “Kiri’s Piano”…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nL6EY4cgqY4&list=RDnL6EY4cgqY4&start_radio=1&pp=ygUcamFtZXMga2VlbGFnaGFuIGtpcmkncyBwaWFub6AHAdIHCQmiCgGHKiGM7w%3D%3D

02/04/2026

FocusMusic Charlottesville, The Songmaker Series, and the Unity Church of Charlottesville present Danny Schmidt and the LaDaDas in Concert Saturday February 28, 2026 at Unity Church, at 7:00 PM

Location: Unity Church of Charlottesville / 2825 Hydraulic Circle / Charlottesville, VA 22901

Tickets are $20 in advance at: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/ #/10622545 $25 the day of the show.

Danny Schmidt has amassed a cult following for his poetic, poignant lyrics. With a craftsmanship and emotional depth drawing comparisons to Leonard Cohen and Townes Van Zandt, Schmidt is considered a preeminent writer. This show is a Homecoming for Danny, without the football: Danny’s career started in Charlottesville.

Listen to a few tunes from Danny:

“Company Of Friends”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JJwclZpsIt4&list=OLAK5uy_nlZ3rLGajhNQzTT-heOLZUHIwyfrug3_Q&index=11&pp=8AUB

“Drunk At The Biltmore Again”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bwIxP_krt9o&list=OLAK5uy_nX-zb_W5qA79dXj-WvP3nGun2hEUOBbhQ&index=7&pp=8AUB0gcJCU0KAYcqIYzv

“Buckets Of Rain”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jxK8WLZUOco&list=OLAK5uy_k1SrXQz96TpiycpgdxnDtL5J3TtdlEzO8&index=4&pp=8AUB

The LaDaDas are three women, with hard earned time on their hands, who come together to create gorgeous 3-part harmonies. Blair Jones, Mary Gordon Hall and Betty Jo Taylor just released their first recording, “Weaving a Chord”.

Here are the LaDaDas:

“Cradle The Heart”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WkdYF0KQPIo&list=RDWkdYF0KQPIo&start_radio=1&pp=ygULVGhlIExhRGFEYXOgBwHSBwkJTQoBhyohjO8%3D

“Sad Old Bird”— https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rllNZ2m03zs&list=RDrllNZ2m03zs&start_radio=1&pp=ygULVGhlIExhRGFEYXOgBwE%3D

This is an evening wih friends. Danny & I go back to the ‘90s, and the LaDaDas also echo very old and dear friendhips. I am very glad we are hosting this show. It will be special in so so many ways. Come join us in celebrating great friendships and great music!!

The Rest of our 2026 shows:

March 14, 2026 James Keelaghan—-Advance Tickets: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/ #/10377464

April 11, 2026 Joe Crookston—-Advance Tickets: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/ #/10622552

September 26, 2026 Pierce Pettis—-Advanced Tickets: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/ #/10622560

November 7, 2026 SONiA disappear fear—-Advanced Tickets: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/ #/10622568

If you’d like to purchase a Season Ticket for all the shows, at a 20% discount, you can do it at: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/ #/10696784

See you there!

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