Events Archive

Tom’s Place Live Music: City Express on June 11

Tom’s Place Live Music: City Express on June 11

Come share your talents and enjoy others’, the second Friday of  the month, September-June. All styles, levels and ages welcome!

Open Circle 7:30-8:40
Featured Artist 9:00-9:45
Open Stage 9:45-10:30
No admission – donations accepted

ABOUT CITY EXPRESS

Acoustic duo City Express is comprised of Brent Shallcross on guitar and vocals and Scott Cooper on piano, bass and vocals. Together, they create music from many formats and styles.

Their current varied repertoire includes popular blues, jazz, folk and pop tunes, with many original arrangements written by Brent. While leaning towards a jazzy bent with Brent’s guitar playing, they are pulled to a pop sensibility with Scott’s tenor voice. They like to say that at every show, audiences can be sure to hear something old, something new and something blue.

City Express has appeared at a wide range of venues all over eastern Pennsylvania during the past four years, including performances at the Ritz in New Holland, the Musikfest in Bethlehem, and as featured artists at the UU Coffeehouse in West Chester.

Brent Shallcross is a graduate of Berklee College of music with a BA degree in Music composition. He has performed jazz and blues music with many groups over the past 30 years. He currently has many guitar students and teaches in Lancaster county.

Scott Cooper has performed with the Long Island Philharmonic, and spent ten years as bass player and singer with the Wally King Big Band swing orchestra. He is a member of Thomas Paine Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, and is a familiar face at Tom’s Place, for his work running the sound.

City Express does not easily fall into one musical category. These talented musicians love sharing a range of music that touches people’s emotions in a myriad of ways.

Coming up:

Have a great summer! Next Season starts Sept 10, 2010.

Live Music With The Berrys

The_Berrys.jpg

Come share your talents and enjoy others’.  All styles, levels and ages welcome!

Open Circle 7:30-8:40
Featured Artist 9:00-9:45
Open Stage 9:45-10:30
No admission – donations accepted

ABOUT THE BERRYS:

Driving home songs with power and control, The Berrys sing to folk and folk rock audiences with a warm originality. Fronted by the daughter-father team of Briana and Jefferson Berry, the band is held together with the precision musicianship of Billy Hyatt on bass.

From the streets of her adopted hometown of Manhattan to the French speaking roads of West Africa, there is an adventurer’s spirit in every Briana Berry show. Closer to home, she is an unforgettable vocalist who was raised at the Philly, Kerrville and Falcon Ridge Folk festivals.

As a singer songwriter, Jefferson produced Urban Acoustic in 1999. With mandolin wizard Bud Burroughs, he started Hippies and Hillbillies and produced Drumless Americana in 2005.  Jefferson plays a wide variety of guitar styles. From the cop on the take to the drunk on the town, an interesting tale can be found in his tunes.

 It has been an exhilarating year for The Berrys. Kicking off the ’09-’10 Philadelphia Folk Song Society’s House Concert season, the band caught the attention of Xtreme Folk Scene members for a spot at their NERFA Showcase. This led to the Concerts at the Crossing to headline their New Artist Showcase and a spot at X Fest this coming June.

For a sample of the Berrys’ upcoming album, you can have a listen at www.theberrysmusic.com.

Coming up on the second Friday of each month:
May 14: Mary Kay Mann
June 11: City Express (Scott Cooper’s trio)

Come visit!

Sunday service at TPUUF

We are glad you are here! If you’re new to Thomas Paine, click around to get a feel for who we are and what we’re up to. If you are planning a visit, the important things to know:

  • Sunday service starts with a period of quiet meditation at 10:15 a.m. Announcements begin at 10:30 a.m. Service lasts about one hour. Children’s religious education classes and child care take place during that same hour.
  • Our minister, Bryant Bossler Brown, joined us on Sept. 1, 2009. We are very excited to begin this next chapter in the community’s growth!
  • We are a welcoming, noncreedal liberal religious home.
  • We were accredited in 2007 by the Unitarian Universalist Association as a Welcoming Congregation to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. We value and welcome diversity .
  • We have completed a renovation of our sanctuary. It’s an inviting space that we’d like to share with you. It is available for weddings, memorial services, parties and other occasions.

Mecklenburger at Tom’s Place

Mecklenburger at Tom’s Place

WITH his strong baritone vocals and unique guitar style, Bob Mecklenburger sings his own music and that of other folk singers and singer-songwriters spanning four decades from the 1960s to the present day.He performs Friday, Jan. 8, at Thomas Paine UU Fellowship’s Tom’s Place coffeehouse.

Bob grew up in the Chicago area, where he first sang publicly at his hometown “Twelfth of Never” coffeehouse, in his high school, and as a youth group song leader. Over the years, he has lived in seven states where he has become part of the folk scene: from Illinois and Ohio of the midwest, to New York, down to North Carolina, up to Washington DC and then Boston, along the East Coast, and ultimately to his current happy home in Princeton Junction, N.J.

Bob is an active member and past president of the Princeton Folk Music Society, and is an active participant and performer in the Philadelphia Area Songwriters Alliance (PASA). In 2007, he released his debut album of his own songs, entitled “Do It!” Look for details with photos and lyrics at his web site, www.BobMecklenburger.com. Bob has been married to his beloved wife, Judith, for 38 years and they have raised two grownup, beautiful daughters, whom he boasts are smarter than he is. As he says, “Now that’s something to sing about!”

Jeanette & Steve Perlsweig at Tom’s Place on Friday, Nov. 13

Jeanette & Steve Perlsweig at Tom’s Place on Friday, Nov. 13

JEANETTE & STEVE PERLSWEIG, a warmly wonderful married duo, make beautiful music together in a crowd-pleasing range of styles: bluesy romantic duets, ballads, American standards, plus dramatic renderings of folk songs and singer-songwriter favorites. She is a trained cabaret singer and he has long been a popular fixture on the Philadelphia area folk-rock scene, in a variety of bands and on his own.
Jeanette and Steve’s duo act would be entertainment enough, but, in fact, it’s half of what’s on tap. Steve will also perform as his alter-ego, Electric Man, an incredible self-contained “one man band” with multiple audio tracks and unique special effects heard through a mobile amplification system. He has performed at such venues as the Fringe Festival and World Cafe Live.
“Hidden within the 40 lbs. of batteries and electronic gadgetry through which magical harmonies and backing tracks surprisingly appear, Electric Man’s true brilliance surfaces through his uncanny ability to straddle the balance beam between innovative gimmickry and downright musical prowess.” – Joe Kerschin
www.electricmansteve.com

Event time: 7:30-10:30
Free admission (voluntary donations accepted)
Schedule: 7:30 pm Song circle sing-a-long (songbooks supplied)
9:00 pm Featured Artist followed by Open Mic
For more information call Christine at 484-686-8521

Tom’s Place Coffeehouse 2009-2010 Schedule
Coming up on the second Friday of each month:
Dec: Allegro Star
Jan: Bill Doorly
Feb: Ray Naylor
March: Eileen Tipping
April: Top Hat Medicine Show
May: Harpist MaryKay Mann
June: TBD

Rose and Lou Baldino at Tom’s Place Coffeehouse

Rose and Lou Baldino at Tom’s Place Coffeehouse

Hi Everybody! Tom’s Place is back for another exciting season of great acts, fun singing, musical sharing and snacks. Please join us this coming Friday for our monthly event at the Thomas Paine Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at 3424 W. Ridge Pike in Eagleville, Pa. (Montgomery County). There is no admission fee. We start the evening at 7:30 with our Open Circle sing-a-long (music books provided). Then at about 8:45 or 9 our Featured Act takes the stage for 45 minutes. We “pass the hat” for voluntary donations and 100 percent goes to our artist. Following the feature, you can sign up for our Open Mike. We welcome all forms expression (music, dance, comedy, acting, poetry). Refreshments are provided free of charge.

We’re looking for volunteers to help with snack prep and clean up and guest MCs. If you are interested or have any questions about the event, call Christine Winchester at 484-686-8521 or email winchperry@aol.com.

We’re kicking off our 2009-2010 Season this month with a very professional act: 2 members of the high-energy, Irish fiddle-based band, Burning Bridget Cleary—fresh from their recent appearance at this year’s Philadelphia Folk Festival! Lou and Rose Baldino will be bringing us an all-instrumental set of fiddle tunes. Please go to www.burningbridgetcleary.com for more info and to hear their music.

Here is some information about Lou and Rose Baldino:

Father and daughter Lou (on guitar) and Rose (on fiddle) are two-thirds of the Celtic musical trio, Burning Bridget Cleary. The pair have provided music for Civil War balls, living history events, local clubs and communiity venues throughout PA and DE. Teaming up with 3rd band member, Genna Gillespie, they have wowed packed audiences at the Scottish-Irish Fest in Green Lane, the Celtic Classic, the Mayfair Festival of the Arts, the Spring Gulch Folk Festival, the Shawnee Mountain Celtic Fest, the Philadelphia Folk Festival and the Tin Angel. The band has released two CDs, “Catharsis” and “Everything is Alright.”

Lou, an accomplished veteran in the music business, had a guitar in his hands at age 5 and began playing professionally at age 12. He has toured and recorded with a variety of bands, including 3 years traveling in the Platters’ backup band and a long stint with the Michael Carney Orchestra out of NYC.

Rose began studying classical violin when she was 8, and Celtic fiddle music when she was 13. She fell in love with Irish culture at an early age, attending traditional Irish music sessions and studying with internationally known artists at Celtic summer camps.

Tom’s Place Coffeehouse 2009-2010 Schedule
Coming up on the second Friday of each month:
Oct: Stephen DiJoseph
Nov: Steve and Jeanette Perlsweig, featuring “Electricman”
Dec: Allegro Star
Jan: TBD
Feb: Ray Naylor
March: Eileen Tipping
April: Top Hat Medicine Show
May: Harpist MaryKay Mann
June: TBD

New minister’s first service

New minister’s first service

Thomas Paine’s new minister, Bryant B. Brown, led his first service Sunday, Sept. 13. The service was the annual In-Gathering of the Waters. The service was well-attended, with many members and more than half-dozen guests, and had lots of energy. It was followed by a potluck brunch.

Morales elected UUA president

Morales elected UUA president

The Rev. Peter Morales was elected president of the Unitarian Universalist Association, succeeding the Rev. William Sinkford. The vote was held this weekend at General Assembly, in Salt Lake City. TPUUF sent its two votes for Morales. The Rev. Laurel Hallman was the other candidate.

For a news story: http://uua.org/news/newssubmissions/144235.shtml

For a message from Morales: http://www.moralesforuuapresident.org/

More on General Assembly: http://www.uua.org/events/generalassembly/2009/index.shtml

Meet the Ministerial Candidate

Meet the Ministerial Candidate

The Ministerial Search Committee is excited to present Bryant Bossler Brown as our candidate for minister of Thomas Paine UU Fellowship. Bryant received a Master of Divinity degree from Moravian Seminary in December and currently is serving as Parish Ministerial Intern at the UU Church of Annapolis, Maryland. He also attended the Starr King School for Ministry.

Bryant wants to serve a congregation that is hoping and planning to grow—that is what attracted him to TPUUF! Knowing that growth might involve change and risk, Bryant plans to be respectful of the feelings of all our members as well as being mindful of the congregation’s financial and physical realities. As a longtime UU himself (over 35 years), Bryant plans to be visible in our community and the world beyond as a courageous witness to Unitarian Universalist values, with a special emphasis on the critical difference those values can make in one’s life. He believes that if more people knew about Unitarian Universalist fellowships and congregations, more people would become UU’s.

Bryant’s theology is based on “a belief that none of us can wrap a human mind around what is truly transcendent; that each of us may have some partial idea of that which is beyond our own time-space-matter experience, and that we can learn from each other and from insights from the past.”

Bryant’s highest priorities in ministry are worship, social action, religious education, and community building. He hopes to be part of a church that is welcoming and accepting, and that actively reaches out to help people find this faith by using all the means it can imagine.

Thirty-five years ago, Bryant’s wife, Maggie, first told him that he would make a good Unitarian Universalist minister. In his life, Bryant has sought a variety of work and educational experiences to test out Maggie’s prediction. These experiences include radio news director, Rhode Island state government; school district computer coordinator, New Hampshire; civilian computer specialist, US Army, based both in the states and in Germany; founder of the UU Fellowship in Frankfurt, Germany; computer teacher at an aluminum smelter operation in Nigeria; chaplaincies at both a regional trauma hospital and a behavioral health facility; and his current position of Parish Ministerial Intern at UU Church of Annapolis. The members of the Search Committee feel strongly that Bryant’s many experiences will serve him well as minister.

Jim Scott in Concert Saturday, June 13

Jim Scott in Concert Saturday, June 13

Acclaimed acoustic guitarist Jim Scott will perform an evening of his songs of peace, and the environment on June 13, 2009 at 7:00 PM.  With insight and more than a little humor, Scott makes his case for harmony in the world with a jazz / world folk music styling and some great guitar technique in accompaniment.

Admission is $12 per person. Call 610-631-0280 to reserve your tickets today.

Known to many as the voice on the Winter Consort’s “Common Ground,” Scott’s musical output runs from lyrical songs, and instrumentals, to choral compositions. He has performed in the company of luminaries of the jazz and folk worlds. Pete Seeger said of JIm’s guitar virtuosity “(Jim is) some kind of a magician.” Paul Winter said of his long time collaborator “His music sings of the life spirit.”
His most recent project has been compiling “The Earth and Spirit Songbook,” an anthology of songs of earth and peace and he has added many of these songs to his concert repertiore. From this widely varied background, Scott considers himself a contemporary folk artist in the sense that folk music represents people with a positive and hopeful spirit. “Folk follows a long tradition of social commentary,” Scott said. “It’s the voice of the people. That’s what I like to think I’m representing.”
His musical, “The Tree and Me,” has been staged at colleges in New York and Michigan. He also performs for kids and has written songs with elementary school classes. His “Big and Little Stuff – Songs for KIds” marks his 5th recording of original songs released on CD. He’s taught at numerous colleges, including Oberlin College in Ohio, and conducted workshops throughout the country.
” My messages are of ecology and social conscience, but also of optimism,” Scott said. “I believe in the power of song and self-expression for change.”

For information about the concert, call Thomas Paine Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at 610-631-0280.

Jim Scott Photo

Jim Scott Photo

Starting out at the Univeralist Church of Norwell MA, where his father sang in the choir, Jim Scott has a long connection with UUs. He now lives in Shrewsbury MA, after a dozen years residing in Oregon. His hymn “Gather the Spirit” has become a staple for many congregations and was even used as a theme for the UUA’s annual fundraising campaign. It’s one of three he has in our new Hymnbook.

As well as beng active in the UU Musicians’ Network, Jim has been the Co-Chair of the ecological group the Seventh Principle Project and helped develop their “Green Sanctuary” program. This past year, with help from a grant from the Fund for Unitarian Universalism, he’s completed Book One of the “Earth and Spirit Songbook” an anthology of songs of earth and peace.

In his world travels he’s performed concerts or lead services at more than 300 UU churches. His hymn, “Gather the Spirit” has become a staple for many congregations, one of three he has in the new hymnbook. Formerly the Co-Chair of the Seventh Principle Project, Jim helped develop their “Green Sanctuary” program for congregations to follow to become more ecologically sound.

Jim played for years with the Paul Winter Consort and is known for his lyrical songs of nature, peace, and other positive values. In recent years, he’s concentrated more on choral music and has composed many anthems and hymns for worship settings. Pete Seeger has called Jim “…Some kind of a magician.” Paul Winter said of his long-time collaborator “His music sings of the life spirit.”

For more information about Jim Scott see http://jimscottmusic.com

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