Here is what happening this week @ the Focal Point!
We have three fine evenings of entertainment planned for you this week at The Focal Point located at 2720 Sutton Avenue in Maplewood, Missouri. So come on down to our intimate listening room to hear some great music and have some good clean fun with your friends and your Focal Point family. (Check us out: http://www.thefocalpoint.org )
Acoustic Jam
Thursday December, 13th @ 7:15 p.m.
The Thursday night jams at Focal Point have been a St. Louis Institution for more than 25 years. The format is simple: Put about 15 chairs in a circle and let each person start a song. A typical night will bring out at least one song in every genre -- bluegrass, country, rock, blues, old timey, even some show tunes and occasionally jazz (on purpose, sometimes!).
We think you can be "all things to all people" in music. Some pretty good musicians are likely to show up, but a rule around here is that everyone is welcome, including learners. A very typical player is someone who played electric guitar in the younger day and after a decade or two is finding his or her licks again acoustically. (One rule: you can't plug it in.")
The Jam starts around 7:15; it ends when it ends, rarely before 11, sometimes past midnight. The first time you come, it's free; if you come back it is $4. Remember, it's Thursday night to make good friends and good music.
The Ninth Annual Rough Shop Holiday Extravaganza!
Friday & Saturday, December 14th and December 15th @ 8:00 P.M.
Join Rough Shop and a whole host of special guests for the Ninth Annual Rough Shop Holiday Extravaganza. Rough Shop, currently a five-piece band, has been making music together since 2005. Those of you who have attended past extravaganzas know what to expect - original Rough Shop Christmas and holiday songs mixed in with a large selection of unexpected versions of Christmas songs. From Ella Fitzgerald to the Kinks, from Dolly Parton to the Ventures, from Paul Kelly to Willie Nelson, from Darlene Love to Low, from Charles Brown to Huey "Piano" Smith - you never know quite what to expect other than that you will hear songs that will put even the biggest Christmas and holiday music curmudgeon in the holiday spirit.
To make these two nights even more memorable, Rough Shop will have a whole host of special guests joining them for one or both nights including Steve Carosello (Love Experts), Kate Eddens (ex-Julia Sets, Briquettes), Chris Grabau (Magnolia Summer), John Horton (Bottle Rockets, Magnolia Summer, Karate Bikini), Michael Ludwig (pedal steel), Steve Scariano (Love Experts, The Jans Project), Merv Schrock (Ransom Note), and Toby Weiss (Remodels, Briquettes). And more Santa Clauses than you've ever seen in one place! It's almost too much Yuletide entertainment to pack into one evening! Ho Ho Ho! All proceeds go to benefit 88.1 KDHX and The Focal Point.
Tickets: $10
More about the artists: roughshop.com/
Advance Tickets: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/303106
Check Us Out!
This email does not cover all of the incredible things happening at the Focal Point, there is so much going on that it would be impossible to put it all into one email. If you want to find out more about what's happening at the Focal Point check out our website at http://www.thefocalpoint.org you will be surprised at what we are up to! Also, be sure to forward this on to all of your friends who are interested in experiencing great live music, in an intimate listening room atmosphere, at a cost that can't be beat.
Factoid: Did you know that the Focal Point is an all volunteer organization? All the money we take in from our concerts either goes directly to the artists or to pay our operating costs (electricity, rent, etc.). If you are interested in volunteering please reply to this email and say, "Hey, John, I would like to help bring world-class affordable music to the greater St. Louis Area". Or something like that. :-) We would appreciate any help we can get from a few hours a month to a larger commitment of time, it all good and for a good cause. Hope to hear from you all. John
About the Listening Room
We don’t call it the Focal Point Listening Room for nothing, we have acoustically tuned the room to provide an optimal listening experience and together with the intimate 100 seat venue makes the Focal Point Listening Room a special place to hear a concert. We constantly have both local and internationally acclaimed musicians raving about how the Focal Point is one of their favorite venues to play because of the great acoustics and respectful audiences who come to hear and appreciate the music. Give yourself (and 2 or 3 friends) a real treat and come down to hear the difference for yourself. The Focal Point is a hidden world-class treasure right in the middle of downtown Maplewood, MO. So come enjoy yourself and be part of the evening’s entertainment as both local and internationally known musicians create music magic right there on Sutton Avenue!
