Open Ears Concerts

03/30/2024

03/04/2024

If I were to write a book titled "Poets and Prophets I've Known" there would certainly be a chapter titled "Danny Schmidt." I've been aware of this new release of his for several days now, but I've resisted listening because I knew that this song was likely to use well-conceived and deeply considered metaphors and imagery to drill a hole from my head to my heart and open up feelings I've been resisting. And I was right.

For the last few weeks, my feeling space has focused on grief and loss. The passing of a dear Aunt resurrected all the ghosts of my past and foreshadowed all those I’ll mourn in the future. Then, last week, the daily readings from the Center for Action and Contemplation took a deep look at anger and how it is actually born from Love and how with awareness can be responded to with Love and used as a tool to increase the Love in the world. But sadly, we live in a world where the default response to anger is not Love but hatred and violence. To me, this song addresses that with grace and wisdom – enabling compassion without condoning misguided actions. Thank you, Danny, for continuing to make great art.

track by Danny Schmidt

09/29/2023

Home page of Southwest Regional Folk Alliance

04/30/2022

Tonight at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church - Austin, Texas, celebrate 70 years with us. We’ll have a free concert from the Austin Lounge Lizards, free childcare during the show, and cake!

Doors at 6:30, the program starts at 7. See you there!

04/26/2022

Hey y’all. Come join us for art, music, inspiration, and cake!

We're busy preparing for the Vision & Voice events this weekend, starting with an art show on Friday. You won't want to miss out on any of it! Please consider sharing our events with your friends and family.

04/25/2022

Celebrate with St. Andrew's April 29 – May 1!

Please join us as we celebrate 70 years of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 40 years of Jim Rigby's service, completion of our building expansion, and our return to in-person services.

On Friday April 29 at 7 PM, we’ll have an Art Show Opening with artists in attendance, the premiere of our new history video, music by Angelic Strings, cake, and punch.

On Saturday April 30 at 7 PM, we’ll have an Open Ears Concert featuring the Austin Lounge Lizards. We’ll also provide child care, cake, coffee, water, and soft drinks.

On Sunday May 1 at Noon, we’ll have a light lunch and then a series of speakers helping us to celebrate and dedicate, plus snacks and refreshments. Scheduled orators include James Talarico, Lloyd Doggett, Celia Israel, Laurie Wirth Palmer, and Ireland Griffin.

At all three events, you can tour the new building expansion, help us document the occasion at our selfie station, and purchase commemorative t-shirts, coffee mugs, and stickers.

Invite everyone you know! All of these events are FREE, but if you’re inspired to donate, you can do so at https://www.staopen.org (please enter "Vision & Voice" in the notes field).

Thank you from the bottoms of our hearts.

The Vision & Voice Team

Featured Content

03/09/2022

11/03/2020

Hi all.
This is the last email you'll receive from the Open Ears Concerts list on ReverbNation. You should have a received a message in August from [email protected]. If you didn't and want to keep up with us, just send an email to [email protected].
We are planning to resume the concert series, but we're just not yet sure when we will be able to resume in-person gatherings. So please stay tuned and as stated above, reach out to us at [email protected] if you have questions.
Thanks for helping keep the music alive.
Matt

03/07/2020

Hi all. Our next Open Ears Concerts planning meeting will be March 30, 2020, 7 PM, at St. Andrew's Presbyterian church. If you'd like to help revive this series, feel free to come by.

02/13/2020

Hi all. We had a good planning meeting on February 3, 2020.
We could still use some more volunteers. Our next meeting will be Monday March 2, 2020, 7 PM at St. Andrew's.
We are tentatively targeting a show for Saturday September 19, 2020, 7 PM at St. Andrew's.
Stay tuned!
Matt

02/03/2020

REMINDER: MEETING TONIGHT

We are looking for anyone and everyone who might be interested in helping with the Open Ears Concerts series, the St. Andrew's art shows, or the Searching for Humanity speaker series.

In particular, we cannot re-start the Open Ears Concerts series without some committed and passionate volunteers.

Please join us on Monday February 3 at 7 PM to discuss planned events and volunteer jobs that we need to fill.

You don't need to commit to any individual event at this time. We are looking for a list of people who can be available some of the time for one or more role(s).

You can join us in person at St. Andrew's in the Welcome Room, or you can join by Google Hangouts:
https://hangouts.google.com/hangouts/_/calendar/b3BlbmVhcnNjb25jZXJ0c0BnbWFpbC5jb20.2iaaidk49ooo9c0rhihrn3ktf0?authuser=0.

For those joining in person, we'll have some light snacks and beverages available.

Please let us know whether you can make it and whether you'll join in person or on the Hangout, so we'll know how many snacks to provide. For more information, you can contact Matt Hiland ([email protected]).

01/21/2020

Calling all artists, patrons, and supporters!

We are looking for anyone and everyone who might be interested in helping with the Open Ears Concerts series, the St. Andrew's art shows, or the Searching for Humanity speaker series.

In particular, we cannot re-start the Open Ears Concerts series without some committed and passionate volunteers.

Please join us on Monday February 3 at 7 PM to discuss planned events and volunteer jobs that we need to fill.

You don't need to commit to any individual event at this time. We are looking for a list of people who can be available some of the time for one or more role(s).

You can join us in person at St. Andrew's in the Welcome Room, or you can join by Google Hangouts:
https://hangouts.google.com/hangouts/_/calendar/b3BlbmVhcnNjb25jZXJ0c0BnbWFpbC5jb20.2iaaidk49ooo9c0rhihrn3ktf0?authuser=0.

For those joining in person, we'll have some light snacks and beverages available.

Please let us know whether you can make it and whether you'll join in person or on the Hangout, so we'll know how many snacks to provide. For more information, you can contact Matt Hiland ([email protected]).

09/25/2019

Hey folks! This is a friendly reminder that we need your input to decide whether and how to revamp Open Ears Concerts. We will convene tomorrow night (9/26/19) at 7 PM at St. Andrew's. Hope we'll see you there.

09/12/2019

On Thursday September 25, 2019, at 7 PM, the Worship Arts Committee will host a brainstorming and planning session on whether and how to continue a concert series at Saint Andrews. Some of the possibilities already identified include:

• Quarterly rather than monthly
• Aligned with art shows – multiple performers as part of an “opening” for each show
• Aligned with fundraising activities for St. Andrew’s partner organizations / benevolences
• Aligned with / benefitting the capital campaign
• We need a core crew of volunteers to help run the events
• We need someone who can really do a good job of promotion
• Should we put together a survey to see if the congregation would be interested and supportive?
• Or do we see this as more dependent on outreach to non-congregants?

We want to hear your opinions, so please join us! If you have questions, or have input but can’t make the meeting, please make comments here or email mhiland at live dot com.

04/13/2019

Hello my musical family. I hope this finds you doing well and that you are getting out and supporting live music and musicians.

Sadly, I must report that Open Ears Concerts is going on hiatus. Dwindling attendance has exhausted our budget and the accompanying stress has exhausted me to the point that the shows are more work than joy.

I am trying to assemble a dedicated team to evaluate whether and how to continue the shows at some point in the future. I do hope we'll be back, but it won't be until Fall 2020 at the earliest.
In the meantime, please check out these amazing opportunities for quality live music in the Austin area:

Arhaven House Concerts
Austin Acoustical Cafe
Baxter House Concerts
Black Sparrow Music Lounge (Taylor)
Brauntex Theater (New Braunfels)
Bugle Boy (LaGrange)
Cactus Cafe
House Concerts at the Arbors
Kerrville Folk Festival
Roots Bistro (Georgetown)
Southwest Regional Folk Alliance

Of course, this list is far from comprehensive. Wherever you like to go, go hear some music. It's good for your soul. Thank you for your support over these 13 years.

Peace and Love to Y'all,
Matt

04/13/2019

Posted a new photo: https://www.reverbnation.com/q/7ggxzn

03/10/2019

Can’t ask any more nicely than that!

03/10/2019

Hello all. In case there is any confusion- the Gingerbomb show is tonight at 7 pm. Doors open at 6:30. Hope to see you there!

03/09/2019

Way more than a novelty or gimmick, this all-redhead band brings chops, grooves, lyricism, and sweet harmonies to their infectious style of folk-pop. Come hear for yourself. https://www.facebook.com/events/805486016469891/

See Gingerbomb at Open Ears Concerts on March 10th

03/04/2019

Another clarification about the Gingerbomb show - Sunday March 10 - doors open at 6:30 pm and the show starts at 7.

See Gingerbomb at Open Ears Concerts on March 10th

03/03/2019

Gingerbomb is the latest project of 2011 Kerrville New Folk Winner Megan Burtt. Megan and four other extremely talented redheads (Sara Dee, Zach Berkman, Casey Sidwell, and Ryan Vaughn) have put together "Wildfire" - an album of folk pop originals that draw you in with catchy melodies, smooth harmonies, and impressive instrumentation. But a closer listen reveals excellent songcraft and deep topics such as feminism, mortality, and choosing to create our own legacy. According to Burtt, the title song and lead single from Gingerbomb's forthcoming debut record “represents female empowerment - celebrating someone who walks her own walk and is confident in who she is, and who everyone wishes they could have a little piece of.” The trio version of the band will perform at Open Ears Concerts at 7 PM on Sunday March 10, 2019. Give them a listen at www.gingerbombband.com and then come on out and hear them live. You'll be glad you did.

See Gingerbomb at Open Ears Concerts on March 10th

02/09/2019

Remember to join us tomorrow, Feb 10, at 5 PM for The Therapy Sisters. Your soul and your psyche will thank you!

See The Therapy Sisters at Open Ears Concerts on February 10th

02/07/2019

Hey y'all! We are really excited about this show. Be sure and join us and bring your family and friends. They will love it too!

01/26/2019

Please join us for an evening of music and laughter with The Therapy Sisters! February 10, 5 PM.

See The Therapy Sisters at Open Ears Concerts on February 10th

01/15/2019

Congratulations Jon! Looking forward to seeing you in April.

Beautiful news: No One Travels Alone just made NPR's Global Village 'Best Albums of 2018' list! Yeah, yeah, yeah, I just used an exclamation mark - but I needed some good news after last night's saddest Sad Monday of all time. The NPR show airs tonight at 7pm and they'll be playing something from the new album for my American brothers and sisters. Thank you Global Village, this means a lot. You are loved.

http://www.kmuw.org/post/best-18-allen-toussaint-folk-golden-age-middle-east-cool-covers

01/12/2019

Remember: Bettman & Halpin and The Flyin' A's at 5 PM on Sunday January 20. Believe me. You want to be there. It will be hugely incredible.

Coming Up:
2/10 - The Therapy Sisters
3/10 - Gingerbomb (featuring KFF New Folk Winner Megan Burtt)
4/28 - Jon Brooks

See Bettman & Halpin at Open Ears Concerts on January 20th with The Flyin' A's

01/08/2019

Wow! Less than two weeks till Bettman & Halpin and The Flyin' A's! Sunday January 20 at 5 PM. Advance reservations available at staopen.org/inspire/open-ears.

See Bettman & Halpin at Open Ears Concerts on January 20th with The Flyin' A's

12/19/2018

Save the Date: Bettman & Halpin and The Flyin' A's live in concert at Open Ears Concerts. Sunday January 20, 2019. Doors 4:30 PM, show starts at 5 PM.

See Bettman & Halpin at Open Ears Concerts on January 20th with The Flyin' A's