By MICHAEL GRANBERRY / The Dallas Morning News
For cynics who think folk music is corny or even dead, hey, you haven't
been paying attention.
For every snide reference in the Christopher Guest movie A Mighty Wind
or even Beavis and Butthead chortling about "Lesbian Seagull," there are far
more examples to indicate that folk music is alive and well, thank you.
Nan Coulter / Special to DMN
The intimate setting at Uncle Calvin's Coffeehouse makes it easy to see and hear musicians such as the Texas Flatliners.
It's happening right here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, which is, some
would say, merely one example of a trend sweeping the nation. It's
acoustic music played in coffeehouses – churches, to be precise, where
the rules are strict and unwavering: no alcohol, no smoking.
Whereas the Dallas area used to have one such place (Uncle Calvin's
Coffeehouse, which began in 1982 at NorthPark Presbyterian Church), now
there are half a dozen, with more on the way.
Robert Scarborough, coordinator for the Jefferson Freedom Cafe at a
Unitarian church in Fort Worth, has seen a big jump in his box-office
figures.
"In 2004, we had one of our best years ever," he says, with shows
averaging 140 people in the 250-seat venue. "But in 2005, we easily
averaged more than 200 a show. It's been phenomenal."
Michael Terry, the Uncle Calvin's booking agent, contends that
coffeehouses are swelling in popularity, from Boston to Little Rock to
San Juan Capistrano, because the people who crave such music "are sick
and tired of trying to hear it" in bars. They're also fearful of
secondhand smoke, which bothers performers and patrons alike.
Sounding churchlike in one respect, Mr. Terry and his kinsmen actually
get mad about inappropriate language. We won't say whose, but they've
had to rein in the tongues of two well-known warblers. Most clubs now
have contracts (and posted warnings in the dressing rooms) banning foul
language.
"We consider ourselves listening rooms," says Karen VanWinkle,
co-manager of the Open Door in Arlington. "Our crowd is quiet. They're
well-behaved. They're here to hear the music. And they're serious about
being able to hear the music."
The settings are warm and intimate, the acoustics are terrific, and so
is the gourmet coffee. Oh, and did we mention the desserts? Very good.
The only problem? The uninitiated often conclude that, if it's music in
a church, it must be Christian music.
"No!" says Mr. Terry, who goes so far as to label this perception "an
obstacle."
"We're not about religion," he says. "We're about music."
It's music that goes far beyond merely secular. In most cases, it
carries with it the social-activist bent of the folk tradition.
Coffeehouse performers have as role models everybody from Woody Guthrie
to Pete Seeger, Neil Young to Jackson Browne.
Ricky Moon / Special to DMN
Heather Gilmer and Jeff Moore perform at the Open Door at Arlington's Trinity United Methodist Church.
Austin recording artist Jimmy LaFave and Minnesota singer-songwriter
John Gorka (a legendary name on the folk circuit) have played several
area coffeehouses, including Uncle Calvin's, Town and Country
Coffeehouse in Lake Dallas, the Open Door and the Jefferson Freedom
Cafe. (The rich history of Uncle Calvin's even includes an early
appearance by the Dixie Chicks.)
Locally, the lineup is increasingly familiar: Carrie Newcomer, Albert
and Gage, Robin and Linda Williams, Tish Hinojosa, Sara Hickman, Patty
Larkin ...
And all are comfortable in churches, where volunteer operators
are cooperative, not competitive – they openly promote each other's
shows and sometimes share expenses. And while the music is
secular, most would love it if a patron actually attended church there.
Kim McKibben, coordinator of the Town and Country Coffeehouse, has
noticed "a lot of people who are real standoffish when they first come
in, because they think we're going to evangelize to them. But that's not what happens."
Charity is the primary mission.
Coffeehouses are either nonprofit corporations or charitable missions,
albeit ones with expenses. Booking artists such as Jimmy LaFave and
Janis Ian isn't free. Most receive a percentage of the gate or a
guaranteed fee, which ranges from $250 to $3,000.
The hardest thing about running a coffeehouse?
Because of their all-volunteer emphasis, "the fatigue factor is
high," says Ms. McKibben.
E-mail mgranberry@dallasnews.com
Alexander's Hideaway
Home: The basement of East Dallas Christian Church, 629 N. Peak St. 214-824-8185, ext. 24. www.alexandershideaway.org.
History: Conceived in 2001 by former associate minister Jack
Mullins as a community outreach program for the church. Evolved from
contemporary gospel music to more eclectic fare.
Prices: Most shows are free, but donations are encouraged.
Capacity: 100 to 300.
Frequency of shows: No set schedule but about once a quarter.
Key performers: Tom Kimmel, Dana Cooper, Lu Mitchell, Sara
Hickman and Tom Grounds and Buddy Shanahan.
Age of patrons: Mostly middle-age.
Upcoming shows: TBA.
Noteworthy: Broad, expansive seating area. Has the feel of a cozy
Bay Area jazz club.
Jefferson Freedom Cafe
Robert Scarborough
Chuck Pyle plays at Jefferson Freedom Cafe
History: Coordinator Robert Scarborough says the Freedom Cafe
began around 1989 in an effort aimed at community outreach and
charitable fundraising.
Prices: $15. Tickets available at the door (cash or check only) or in advance
online by using a credit card via PayPal or by mail.
Capacity: 250.
Frequency of shows: About 10 shows a year.
Key performers: Chuck Pyle, John Gorka, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Tish
Hinojosa, Sara Hickman, Terri Hendrix and Jonathan Byrd.
Age of patrons: Late 30s to mid-40s.
Upcoming shows: Chuck Pyle and Adam Carroll (Saturday), Darrell
Scott and Zoe Lewis (Feb. 18), Sara Hickman (March 18).
Noteworthy: Name acts in a cool, friendly venue with killer
desserts.
Labyrinth Walk
Home: Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff, 3839 W. Kiest
Blvd. 214-337-2429. www.labyrinthwalkcoffeehouse.com.
History: Booking manager Gene Dailey says a "core group in the
church wanted to start a coffeehouse, so we did so in 2005." Ann
Armstrong and Stephen Hughes performed the inaugural show in July.
Prices: $12 in advance; $15 donation by cash or check at the door
(although prices may vary).
Capacity: 150.
Frequency of shows: The fourth Saturday of each month.
Key performers: Beth Wood, Danny Britt, Eric Taylor, Ann
Armstrong and Stephen Hughes.
Age of patrons: 35 to 75.
Upcoming shows: Jonathan Byrd and Jenni Mansfield Peal (Jan. 28).
Noteworthy: Mr. Dailey praises the venue's acoustics and the fact
that it uses Fair Trade coffee, which is "made by individual growers,
who are seeking only a fair price. It's a social-action type thing."
Open Door
Home: Trinity United Methodist Church, 3321 W. Park Row,
Arlington. 817-429-2196. www.opendoorcoffeehouse.org.
History: Began in 1998 as "a loose exchange of people doing a
song circle," says Karen VanWinkle, who runs the coffeehouse with her
husband, Craig, and numerous volunteers. Later formed a coalition with
Uncle Calvin's and the Jefferson Freedom Cafe. "We cooperate on booking
and stay off each other's nights."
Prices: $12; $20 for select shows.
Capacity: 200 to 225.
Frequency of shows: Second Saturday of every month.
Key performers: Sara Hickman, John Gorka, Albert and Gage,
Hickory Hill, Small Potatoes, Ed Miller and John Taylor.
Age of patrons: From "8 to 80," says Ms. VanWinkle, who says it's
usually "35 to 55."
Upcoming shows: Small Potatoes and Erik Balkey (Feb. 18), Ken
Gaines, Karen Mal and Wayne Wilkerson (March 11).
Noteworthy: Great acoustics; money goes to human welfare
charities.
Town and Country
Ricky Moon / Special to DMN
The Texas Gypsies entertain the audience at the Town and Country Coffeehouse at Lake Cities United Methodist Church in Lake Dallas.
History: Coordinator Kim McKibben, who's a member of the church,
started the coffeehouse in 2002. "Our primary goal is to provide a
community service," says Ms. McKibben.
Prices: $10 to $20. Sold in advance and at the door.
Capacity: 250.
Frequency of shows: Once a month.
Key performers: Guy Clark, Jimmy LaFave, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Karen
Mal, Slade Cleaves, the Texas Gypsies and Tim O'Brien.
Age of patrons: "There's some 4- or 5-year-olds out there," says
Ms. McKibben, "but there are also some people in their 90s. A more
narrow range would be 40s and 50s, just good ol' middle-aged folks."
Upcoming shows: Claudia Nygaard (Feb. 4), Robin & Linda Williams
(March 25).
Noteworthy: A clean, fresh, warmly inviting setting and the best
acoustics of any venue anywhere, powered by veteran rock 'n' roll sound
man Barry Beard. Lights and speakers are mounted, for full effect, above
the balcony.
Uncle Calvin's
Home: NorthPark Presbyterian Church, 9555 N. Central Expressway,
Dallas. 214-363-0044. www.unclecalvins.org
History: Launched in 1982 by the Rev. Trey Hammond, a former
associate pastor, to provide a relaxing, smoke-free place to hear live
music.
Prices: $12 to $15. Tickets sold in advance and at the door.
Capacity: 200 to 250.
Frequency of shows: 40 per year.
Key performers: Janis Ian, Jimmy LaFave, John Gorka, Sara
Hickman, Carrie Newcomer, Patty Larkin and Terri Hendrix.
Age of patrons: 35 to 55, though anyone from toddlers to the
elderly can be seen at the candlelit tables.
Upcoming shows: Michael McNevin and Jonathan Byrd (tonight),
Buddy Mondlock and Carley Wolf (Jan. 27), Denise Franke and Erik Balkey
(Feb. 3), Terri Hendrix (Feb. 24), Robin & Linda Williams (March 24).
Noteworthy: The gold standard of Dallas-area coffeehouses, and
for that matter, the nation as a whole.
Published in The Dallas Morning News: 01.20.06
