Arts
Barn
Music
House Concerts and Home Music Studio
About us
What is a House Concert?
If you have never been to a House Concert, you are missing out on a great musical experience! It is a chance to meet and hear performers up close and personal in a warm, intimate space. A House Concert is an invitation-only music performance in someone’s home, attended by the host’s friends and neighbors, and on occasion, fans of the artist(s) performing. It is NOT a business, and hosts do not profit from the event. Traditionally, artists are paid by a suggested donation requested of each guest.
I host house concerts because I love music, especially acoustic guitar music, and I want to share that joy of music with others. It gives me great pleasure to see a room full of folks captivated by music and enjoying themselves and each other’s company. This is also a very important way to help support independent artists and to give them another avenue to introduce new music and to make new fans.
FAQs:
Q. How do I find out about upcoming concerts?
A. Click here to see upcoming events!
Come back here often to check out what is coming up. I also provide an emailing list. If you would like to be on that list, please click here.
Q. Are these concerts free?
A. Yes, they are technically free and you do not have to pay anything to attend, but a suggested donation (usually 25.00 per guest) is requested. You are welcome to contribute what you can. 100% of the money collected goes directly to the artist(s) in support of their work.
Q. Is this a public event?
A. No. This is a private event by invitation only. You must request a reservation to attend. Click here to make a reservation.
Q. Where are you located?
A. We are located in the historic district in the Town of Herndon, VA. Directions will be provided in your reservation confirmation.
Q. How long is the House Concert?
A. Most House Concerts generally consist of two 45 minute sets with an intermission.
Q. Is there food and/or drink available?
A. I do provide a complimentary selection of beers, wine and bottled water. I also provide some lite snacks. Guests are welcome to bring their own beverages and are encouraged to bring a dish of something savory or sweet to share during the break.
Q. Is the House Concert handicap accessible?
A. Unfortunately it is not. The House Concerts are held on the second floor of the barn and you must be able to climb stairs for access.
Q. Where do I park?
A. Parking is available on Center St., a half block from the barn and the municipal parking lot on Station St., a block and a half from the barn.
***Unlike going to a bar or a party, this is a “listening event” and guests are requested to silence their phones and refrain from talking with their seatmates during the performance. You are welcome to come early and stay after the concert to mix and mingle and there will be an intermission between sets.
***This is a smoke-free environment. Please respect my request not to smoke or vape inside OR outside the barn!
Sat, Nov 14, 7:00 PM
Jon Shain and FJ Ventra
Durham, NC’s Jon Shain is the 2019 International Blues Challenge winner in the solo duo category. Shain had the good fortune to learn directly from a number of NC’s older blues players, and became a member of Big Boy Henry’s backing band. He got his start playing his own music with NC roots rockers Flyin’ Mice. Jon was a finalist (along with FJ) in the 2009 International Blues Challenge in Memphis and the 2008 and 2018 winner of the Triangle Blues Society’s Blues Challenge and 2006 winner of NC’s Indy award for Best Folk Act. He has shared stages with the likes of Keb’ Mo’, John Hiatt, and Jackson Browne.
FJ Ventre and Jon began playing music together in 1982 when they met in high school. FJ went on to University of Massachusetts-Lowell, earning a B.A. in Music Performance and Sound Recording. He remained in the Boston area, performing in the city’s vibrant music scene. Since relocating to Chapel Hill, NC in 2000, Ventre has performed with his own group The Swang Brothers, as well as most of the Triangle’s roots acts. In addition to performing as a sought-after sideman, he spends his time behind the mixing board, engineering at his own Good Luck Studio. With Jon, they have become sought-after producers in the folk/Americana genre, producing several charting Folk albums in the last few years.
FJ Ventre and Jon began playing music together in 1982 when they met in high school. FJ went on to University of Massachusetts-Lowell, earning a B.A. in Music Performance and Sound Recording. He remained in the Boston area, performing in the city’s vibrant music scene. Since relocating to Chapel Hill, NC in 2000, Ventre has performed with his own group The Swang Brothers, as well as most of the Triangle’s roots acts. In addition to performing as a sought-after sideman, he spends his time behind the mixing board, engineering at his own Good Luck Studio. With Jon, they have become sought-after producers in the folk/Americana genre, producing several charting Folk albums in the last few years.
Fri, dec 18, 7:00 PM
Steven Gellman Trio Christmas Concert
Award-winning songwriter Steven Gellman is a quintessential Americana/Folk singer with “insightful original songs and homespun stories [that] provide a soul-warming folk rock respite in a busy, chilly world.” (Donn B. Murphy, The National Theater) His songs tell stories of everyday life wrapped in notes that will have you humming along in a style that Billboard Magazine has described as “intensely sensitive and impressively intelligent at the same time.” A lifelong storyteller, Gellman now brings that same lyrical sensibility to the page—his debut novel Somewhere in Nowhere will be published by NineStar Press in 2026. He has performed at acclaimed venues such as the Birchmere and Club Passim and has opened for the likes of Al Stewart, Richie Havens, Dar Williams, and Cheryl Wheeler among others.
Steven will be performing with Seth Kibel and Margaret Wolfe
Sat, Jan 16, 2027 7:00PM
Jae Jin
Jae Jin is an independent singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He has self-released 4 full-length albums of original music {Kairos (2015), Baltimore Boulevard (2017), Letters and Drinks (2018), and The Seasons In Between (2022)} and will be releasing his 5th full-length album in 2026. Over the past few weeks, he has released the first two singles (‘Through The Waves‘ & ‘Crayons‘) along with their respective Music Videos. Crayons has also been playing on radio stations across the country over the past week!
His songs across all albums have received GRAMMY consideration, numerous accolades, and songwriting awards (including the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Award and 1st place in the International Songwriting Competition).
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