talent meets enthusiasm meets eclectic beauty. What else do you want in a house concert artist?
when i introduced myself to idgy (in case you are wondering, it’s a childhood nickname) at the mucky duck last year, she responded with widened eyes and a girlish little hop up and down. she was that excited about playing for you all. our evening started out a little bumpy, idgy was late after a long trek around college station searching for a new amp in the midst of aggie football traffic. but starting half an hour late just seemed to set the tone for a serendipitous evening of stories, lots of stories, songs that caught us up, in spite of morose themes about killing a boyfriend, replacing another with a redbone hound, and 12 little girls dying in a fire. yep that’s americana music for you. we even had a yodeling lesson.
i can’t describe what we heard better than NPR did when they featured her on Song of the Day last summer:
As she steps to the microphone in her sundress, holding her jumbo-sized guitar, Idgy Vaughn looks out of time somehow, like a classic country singer from the ’50s. Even her story resembles an old country song come to life: A single mom moves from Illinois to Austin, Texas, and works as a truck-stop waitress until one day, one of her coffee-sipping regulars wins the lottery and loans her the money she needs to chase her dream as a singer-songwriter.
That’s actually how Vaughn’s debut CD, Origin Story, came about. A winner of the prestigious Kerrville New Folk Competition in 2004, Vaughn has already established her gifts as a songwriter. Now, with a delicate voice reminiscent of Nanci Griffith’s and a support crew featuring an impressive assortment of Austin-based musical talent, Vaughn straddles the line between contemporary folk-pop and traditional country, offering 10 subtly hued yet largely autobiographical stories.
One of the most affecting is “Good Enough,” a song about a daughter losing her mother’s love — and that, sadly, was inspired by a nightmarish child-custody battle with her own disapproving parents. Vaughn’s debut may or may not make a big splash, but it resonates with a rare authenticity.
— David Brown, National Public Radio’s Song of the Day (Aug 11, 2006)
www.idgyvaughn.com
click here to sample idgy’s music
two of folk music’s finest!!
Diana Jones, 2006 Kerrville New Folk winner
Jay Sims, 2006 Kerrville Regional New Folk Finalist
the RPHC Birthday Bash is always a special night, and this one was, oh, so fine…!
Jay wins “the prairie favorite” award. not only does he have a talent as big as texas, but he has become one of my dearest friends and one of my biggest heroes on the planet. it is my honor and joy to host jay every chance i get.
Diana Jones was a feast for the ears. winner of the 2006 Kerrville New Folk contest, Diana’s unique and engaging voice has a quality that was made for old time bluegrass, but she possesses a modern day talent equal to emmylou or alison kraus. critics can’t help but go on glow about Diana! for example:
“Jones is on the verge of a critical breakthrough. Increasingly compared to the likes of Iris DeMent and Gillian Welch, Jones just might be the best American songwriter most people have never heard of.” — Chrissie Dickinson, Chicago Tribune
“When Diana Jones went in search of her birth family, she not only found them in East Tennessee, she also found her voice - as a writer and a singer. ” — John Platt, WFUV “City Folk Sunday”
“Her songs are as threadbare and timeless as a Carter Family classic, yet as personal and carefully crafted as a John Prine or Guy Clark tune.” — Michael McCall, Nashville Scene
“…new music with a very old soul.” — Steve James, Roots and Blues Finger style Guitar Guru
“My Remembrance haunts with its tales… of the human spirit. Her voice … It’s old-time, perhaps even out-of-time, and it draws you in with its musky, dusky tone and emotional nuances that glow like dying coals.” — Holly Gleason, No Depression
www.dianajonesmusic.com
click here to sample diana’s music
www.jaysims.com
click here to sample jay’s music
following years as solo artists and sidemen, about a year ago, Ed Jurdi, Gordy Quist, Colin Brooks, and Seth Whitney started performing together on Wednesday nights at Momo’s in Austin. they quickly found their rhythm, and plenty of attention, as evidenced by their earning of the coveted “Best New Band” award at this year’s Austin’s Music Awards, along with second place showings in five other categories, including the three most prestigious: Band of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year.
on a beautiful spring night, the award-winning heathens took the RPHC Wavy Stage for our first yard concert in a year. but there were no tuxes or red carpets on the prairie. it was “come as you are” for what you’ve come to expect from the prairie: good friends and great music. thought provoking lyrics, heavenly harmonies, a silver Dobro. they even used the Wavy Stage as percussion, a first for them and us. what a magic night!
www.bandofheathens.com
about a year ago, Adam Carroll and Michael O’Connor entertained us on our first try at an “all music weekend,” in which we hosted concerts on both friday and saturday nights. what a time we had!
every time i’ve seen Adam since, he’s asked me when he can come back. they say there’s just somethin’ about those rphc audiences…! so Adam kicked off the 2007 season with a return engagement. we loved his easy manner that borders on shy, his uncomplicated lyrics that speak from a simple heart and of course, like all RPHC entertainers, his ability to tell a tale.
earlier in the day, Adam made a live appearance on KEOS 89.1FM on the “Random Routes” show hosted that week by John Roths. a few of us showed up to enjoy a preview of what Adam did for us that night on the Prairie, and a good time was had by all. tune in to KEOS at 89.1 on your FM radio dial — among the many genres of music they play, you’ll hear lots of great folk, blues, americana, country and all that good stuff we love on the prairie! thanks to KEOS for years of great support to our community and to RPHC in particular!