Henhouse Prowlers In Concert May 5 UPDATE

Could there possibly be a more appropriate group for the Nebraska Outback Concert Series than the Henhouse Prowlers? Kind of an inside joke, but as I've blogged before, my family farm is Seifer Farms, which specializes in free-range chickens. They're not too fond of henhouse prowlers, whether two-legged, four-legged or two-winged. But I'm sure they'll welcome these guys with open arms!

With that introduction, let me announce the next concert in our ongoing house concert series:

The Henhouse Prowlers, direct from Chicago, Illinois (by way of Des Moines and Lincoln), on Tuesday May 5 at 7:30 p.m.

Chicago. A city known for its blues…and its bluegrass. In the bluegrass history books, a pivotal stop, among others, along the road to success for the Monroe Brothers and, in more current times, noteworthy as home base for the long popular Special Consensus. And now, the Windy City serves as a critical intersection in the lives of five musicians, two who hail from Illinois and the others from as far and near as North Carolina, upstate New York and Missouri.

With a PBS series soundtrack already to its credit and a sophomore recording in the works, The Henhouse Prowlers have been barnstorming on to the red hot bluegrass scene since 2004. A couple of personnel shifts later, in 2007 the roughly thirty-something quintet made the commitment to go the distance, to be a full-time touring bluegrass band. But not just another bluegrass band. The Henhouse Prowlers are adeptly positioning themselves for nothing less than success. Each member does double duty within the group, holding a business as well as musical post, making it a total collaborative effort.

Dedicated equally to tradition and innovation, The Henhouse Prowlers center their sound on that of the early, formative years of bluegrass, while they keep their pulse on today by covering contemporary topics in a largely original repertoire.

The Henhouse Prowlers wear the Bill Monroe mantel with spit and polish. They perform in suit-and-tie and work in a tightly choreographed, one-mic stage setting, which adds a dynamic dimension to their shows. Combining passion, confidence and flair with instrumental and vocal prowess, The Prowlers deliver bluegrass with an edge.

The group’s prolific songwriting provides entrée to twenty-first century topics, not typically tackled by traditional bluegrass groups. Guitarist Ben Benedict describes what they are trying to achieve. “None of us, in this band, lives in a ‘Little Cabin Home on the Hill.’ Most of our audience doesn't either. But there is a broad spectrum of life that we can all relate to, so those are the themes we try to hit on and tell stories about in our original material.”

You can also find out more about the Henhouse Prowlers on their MySpace page.

* UPDATE * UPDATE * UPDATE * UPDATE * UPDATE * UPDATE

The Henhouse Prowlers will now be playing in the Hay Loft at Cox's Vineyard, 130 N. West County Road in Sutherland. All other details are the same:

Details about the Concert Series

1. Our concerts are no-smoking and low-alcohol. Feel free to bring your favorite beverage.
2. Finger food will be provided. Also feel free to bring your favorite snacks to share.
3. Childcare will be provided. The younger kids will enjoy movies in the family room. Those who enjoy music are welcome to stay and listen.
4. A free-will donation will be accepted, with 100% of the proceeds going to the artists. The recommended amount is $10.00 to $15.00 per person.
5. Because House Concerts are technically "private events", the concert is by invitation only. This keeps us from getting in trouble with BMI and ASCAP, and from looking like a business. But e-mail me and I'll make sure you get an invitation!
6. If you plan to come, please RSVP so we know how many to plan for.

All of the housekeeping details aside, you'll enjoy a great evening of fun and friends at a House Concert - live music as it was meant to be, up close and personal. To give you a hint of what you've been missing, here is Beth Wood singing her heart out for us at the March 28 concert.

She had the audience mesmerized. Do you see what I mean by "up close and personal"? Live music doesn't get any better than this.

And one of the perks about being a House Concert host is that the artists are staying in your home, which can make for late nights, but also lots of fun at the "after party".

Want to find out more about House Concerts? Visit Concerts In Your Home.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see you at the concert. The coffee is always on.