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Help keep the dream alive after Fiddler's Dream was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic by making a donation via PayPal:
We need your help... Fidd's is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, and our coffeehouse engine needs volunteers to keep it running. Please consider helping out - greeting guests with a smile, making and pouring coffee and drinks, taking admission and even being an emcee. And you will get free admission for the night! What a deal!
To find out more about being a Fiddler's Dream Volunteer, contact our volunteer coordinator by SMS-texting your contact info to 602-997-9795. If you don't have a mobile phone, call and leave a message on our VMS at that same number. It's that easy!
The Dream Big CDs have arrived! All net proceeds to benefit Fiddler’s Dream!!! A minimum $10 is requested. If you’d like to purchase one but aren’t within driving distance for one of our pickup events at Fidd's (check our Fidd's Facebook page), let us know via FB message, or text message to or call 602-997-9795, or email nia@yellowdogs.com and we can figure out mailing details.
Update: KN95 masks may be used in lieu of N95 mask, but masks remain required.
We are continuing our live and in-person events! We still observe mitigation methods and precautions, to do the best we can to minimize the chance for sharing more than beautiful music! We are doing our best to be inclusive to all who would like to attend, to include those in high risk or immune compromised status. N95 or KN95 masks are required inside the music room area (except for the performer while performing), and are available at the venue for you if needed, at no cost. Beverages will be available for enjoyment outside in the lighted courtyard area; beverages may be enjoyed inside during the performance, just move your mask, take a sip, and return your mask to regular operating position (and fasten your seat belt)! We continue to improve our ventilation and air circulation - sometimes that means a door is left open, so please dress to suit the climate! Our goal is to get back to live music, and remain open for that beautiful exchange of energy that happens in the room - and we want our indoor area to be as safe as possible for all attendees. Please check our event listings for details on individual events.
Our Open Stage night is completely acoustic, and lots of fun whether you wish to play or simply enjoy the evening as part of the audience.
We recommend arriving before 6:29pm (if you are a musician, that will get you in on the first rotation, and if you just want to enjoy the music, you'll be there from the start!).
Doors will open by 6pm (often a bit sooner), and we start playing at 6:30pm. We do a one-song rotation and a time limit of no more than 4 minutes per turn. Play your turn - please no substitutions or giving your turn to another performer. Give the performer their time: unless you are invited to play with the performer, please don’t play-along with your instrument. Join the audience and listen! And please don’t play music outside, except to tune your instrument or quietly warm up a bit. Since we are all acoustic, sound does carry inside! Thank you for having fun with us as we celebrate 2023, our return to live music, and our 36th Anniversary!
Admission is $10 at the door. Cash is always appreciated, as we are not always able to take cards at this time.
We are opening to live events while keeping the safety of our audience and our performers in mind as our primary concern. The regular Fidd's room will have a capacity of 32, and masks will be required while in the room, N95 or KN95 (except for the performer while performing), and are available at the venue for you if needed, at no cost. Each performer may choose to remove their mask while on stage for their turn. We'll have hot coffee, hot water, cold water, and pop available for purchase for attendees to enjoy outside, with limited beverages inside - talk with the kitchen volunteer if any questions! Dress for the evening climate, as we have been leaving at least one of the south doors open to improve ventilation and fresh air flow!
Dana Cooper is a poetic songwriter, an insightful storyteller, and a rousing musician whose performances engage and inspire audiences around the world. In 2022, Dana did 102 shows in 29 states, and we are so happy to have him back at Fiddler's Dream as he continues making and sharing his music in 2023 as his "I Can Face The Truth" CD release tour continues. That CD was voted #22 in American Highways 2022 Reader's Poll, and has received critical acclaim and radio play.
Dana's lifelong passion and devotion to music began in Kansas City at the age of 2. One of his earliest memories is going to the Calico Cat with his father, and singing along to Ernest Tubb and Hank Williams on the jukebox! At thirteen, he had begun writing his own songs, and by the time he turned sixteen he was regularly performing at the Vanguard Coffeehouse and Sign Coffeehouse in Kansas City. His awards include the 2014 Heritage Musician award from the Pilgrim Center for the Arts in Kansas City, MO and Folk Alliance International's 2015 Spirit of Folk award. He has performed on Austin City Limits, Mountain Stage and at the Kerrville Folk Festival. Coopers songs have been recorded by a long list of artists that include Trout Fishing in America, Rex Foster, Claire Lynch, Maura O'Connell, Pierce Pettis, and Susan Werner. Fellow singer-songwriter Buzz Holland has said Cooper is a person who can sing like an angel and play like the devil.
Limited seating and masking is required inside the room (except for the performer while performing), N95 or KN95, and are available at the venue for you if needed, at no cost.
Advance tickets are $15 at Brown Paper Tickets. Tickets at the door, if seating is available, will be $20. Doors open at 7:30pm.
Don't miss this special solo performance!
Merrill Miller is a Native American songwriter from Milwaukee, WI, whose journeys will have him in Mesa to cut a record, and so we are fortunate to be able to book a songwriter's night with Jacob Tonka Merrill. They will be doing a writer's round format, taking turns playing 3 or so songs, sharing the stories behind them, then handing it over to the other.
MERRILL MILLER:
Taking inspiration from greats like Johnny Cash, Merrill believes MUSIC CHANGES LIVES. We agree. A fan of all things music raised in the Mississippi Delta, Merrill Miller has been enchanting Midwestern audiences with his unique blend of classic country, punk, and blues for years. Merrill’s introspective songs about love, loss, addiction, and life on the open road provide listeners with refreshing vulnerability delivered through upbeat riffs, Merrill’s smoky voice, and his matter-of-fact humor. Fans say Merrill Miller is like discovering “a thirst you didn’t know you had until it’s been quenched.”
Merrill walked out of a job in January of 2021 and his car died on the way home, leaving him with some time to contemplate what he wanted to do with life. After some deep reflection, Merrill realized that music had been the only constant over the last 15+ years, and so he made the decision to pursue it full-time. Pulling from various inspirations such as Chris Stapleton, Kaleo, Johnny Cash, and Tyler Childers, Merrill’s writing encapsulates life as we know it – the struggles of relationships, the ruts of depression and anxiety, the highs of love, and the simple joy of enjoying a late summer sunset. His style is influenced by artists like Hank Williams, Bruce Springsteen, and American Aquarium.
JACOB TONKA MERRILL:
Did we say BANJO?!? Jacob is a clawhammer pickin' Arizona based lover and player of many fabulous banjos, and he will be doing some recording with Merrill too.
$10 at door, shared with the artists and venue. Cash is always appreciated, and we are able to take cards too. Doors open at 7:30pm.
We are presenting live events while keeping the safety of the audience,, volunteers, and performers as our primary concern. The room has a capacity of 36, and N95/KN95 masks are required to be worn properly while in the room.
We'll have hot coffee, hot water, cold water, and pop available for attendees to enjoy. Limited beverages inside the room, just move your mask for a sip and then back into place, please. Talk with the kitchen volunteer if any questions!
We are doing our best to be inclusive to all who would like to attend, to include those in high risk or immune compromised status. We appreciate your support as we continue to enjoy our 36th year of showcasing local and touring musicians in an intimate, listening room setting.
Courtney Odom and Douglas Berry have been sharing their life and love of music since 2006. They’ve been developing their musical duo, playing acoustic instruments including Douglas’ handmade banjo, and singing classic country and folk favorites.
Long-time collaborators Grace Mumby and Jacob Mauer draw from their backgrounds in jazz, country, and folk music to write original contemporary songs inspired by the roots rock 'n roll music of the 1970's. With stripped-down vocals and incisive lyrics, the duo deliver emotion and authenticity.
Doors open at 7:30pm and music begins at 8pm.
Admission is $10 and N95/KN95 masks are required to be worn properly inside the venue.
Two fabulous sets this Saturday night - Danni Nicholls and Deb & Jai! $15 admission at door tonight.
8pm: Hailing from Bedfordshire, England, growing up on the American roots music of her Anglo-Indian grandmother’s record collection, singer/songwriter Danni Nicholls has been paving her way in UK Americana for over a decade, building a loyal fan base and much critical praise. With the wind still in her sails from three consecutive Americana Music Association UK award nominations (Album, Artist and Song of the year in 2017, 2018 & 2020 respectively) plus extensive tours and opening slots with the likes of The Secret Sisters, Shakin' Stevens and Lucinda Williams, Danni, her powerful, arresting voice and her dynamically poetic original songs are ever-gaining presence and reach.
Danni’s latest musical offering, new stand-alone single Little Fictions, was released in April 2022. Self produced and recorded in Nashville and Bedford, UK, the song is a big & bold, cinematic ballad which truly showcases Danni’s powerful vocals. Sweeping strings intertwine with folky guitar and Memphis R & B style drums and the whole thing climbs to an emotional climax. Written in February 2020 with co-writer Rebekah Powell (Zooey Deschanel, Ward Thomas, Sarah Darling) shortly before the world would be unimaginably changed, Little Fictions was born from a persistent, niggling feeling of doubt. Doubt of the self, of life’s path, of certain relationships. An acknowledgement of the anxiety inducing voices in our heads which try to take us down, to block our potential…the little fictions we tell ourselves that drown out our intuition and make it hard to trust the journey. The song is also an attempt to stand up to them.
As a child, Danni dreamed of travelling to Nashville, her ‘spiritual home’ as she describes it. After a chance meeting of musician and producer Chris Donohue who was in the UK performing with Emmylou Harris at the time, Danni’s dream came true and she was invited to make a record with Chris and the cream of Nashville’s crop in East Nashville which resulted in 2012’s A Little Redemption. The pair went on to make Mockingbird Lane together in 2015. Both albums garnered rave reviews and feature some of Danni’s musical heroes including Al Perkins (Dolly Parton, The Rolling Stones) Will Kimbrough (Emmylou Harris) and Steve Fishell (Albert Lee, Wille Nelson).
Having been invited to perform all over the world at prestigious events and festivals such as Cambridge Folk (UK), Tønder (Denmark) and Americanafest (USA), Danni is no stranger to the big stages which she loves to fill with her strong voice both literally and metaphorically. Writing songs with messages of hope and healing plus citing the likes of Brandi Carlile and KT Tunstall as important personal and musical influences, she is proud to be counted amongst the increasing list of LGBTQIA+ identifying artists and recognises the importance of representation.
With comparisons to artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Brandi Carlile and Roseanne Cash, Danni’s vibrant, captivating performances are all but guaranteed to melt your heart into the soles of your boots. Her passionate delivery, captivating voice, mesmerising guitar skills and charmingly engaging between-song banter compel you to fall under her spell. Since she picked up her first guitar inherited from great uncle Heathcliffe aged 15 (a 1964 Burns London Jazz guitar rumoured to have once belonged to Billy Fury no less!) Danni Nicholls has been in love with the practice of songwriting, honing her craft, finding and sharing her voice. The connection to other humans she finds through music feels powerful, important and intoxicating which is why, no matter the challenges she may come up against, she’s committed to choosing a life in music over and over again.
9:05pm: Deb and Jai!
$15 at door, shared with the artists and venue. Cash is always appreciated, and we can take cards at this time. Doors open at 7:30pm.
We are opening to live events while keeping the safety of our volunteers, audience and performers as our primary concern. The room has a capacity of 36, and masks are required to be worn properly while in the room (N95/KN95). We'll have hot coffee, hot water, cold water, and pop available for attendees to enjoy outside, and with limited beverages inside - talk with the kitchen volunteer if any questions!
UPDATE 9/14/2023: Sara has indeed had to cancel her planned tour out west. We are so sorry to not be able to host her music this year. Please support your local music venues as you are able, and support the artists who give their lives to making ours better. And we will look forward to perhaps a future tour!
PLEASE NOTE: Sara has notified us that the Western portion of her tour is now on hold and may be cancelled due to venue availability along the way and concerns over the ability to have a financially viable tour. Right now we are pausing sales in hopes that more venues can confirm and she can make the tour through the Southwest and West happen. Please support your local venues and artists so that they can continue to share their music! We will update if ticket sales resume.
ON HOLD - TICKET SALES PAUSED AS OF 5/31/2023
***CANCELLED****
***This is what we are missing***
SPECIAL MONDAY EVENING CONCERT with Sara Grey! Once you have heard Sara Grey you will never forget her. She has a certain quality of voice that compels you to give her your undivided attention. Her voice is both powerful and sweet with a distinctive and lovely tremolo. It is a voice well suited to ballads and song that have travelled across the Atlantic to North America.
One of the best things about her singing is that it reflects her great knowledge of and feeling for traditional singing. She just seems to know what is right in the interpretation of a traditional song. She is a singer of great strength with a fine understanding of the importance of understatement in the art of ballad singing. The breadth of her repertoire of songs is enormous.
It is not Sara's lovely voice alone that makes her one of the most popular singers on the folk scene, on many of her songs Sara accompanies herself by frailing a five string banjo and, when playing tunes, it is obvious why she is regarded as one of the foremost exponents of the old-time style. As well as singing and playing superbly Sara is a fine story teller specialising in stories from northern New England where she grew up and learned many of her stories from her dad.
Sara grew up in New Hampshire but has lived in Scotland and England for 46 years. As a youngster in North Carolina she first heard a lot of mountain music and her love for the old time banjo music and songs developed from this experience. She has carried this interest into her adult life studying folklore and collecting and performing music from the various areas in which she has lived. Before she moved to Scotland, Sara was part of "The Golden Ring" with people like Ed Trickett and Gordon Bok. They were a well-known group of singers interested in traditional song.
Now, after many years of singing and playing her banjo in public, Sara's repertoire is as fresh and relevant as ever. She has been concentrating for the last several years on tracing the migration for songs from the British Isles to North America. Sara lives for her music and works at her trade with the result that her music is not only technically excellent but also filled with her warmth and spirit.
Admission is $10 advance and $15 at the door. Doors open at 6:30pm, and the music begins at 7pm. The artist receives 70% of the door; the remaining door proceeds from this event support Fidd's.
Masks are required while in the room, N95 or KN95 (except for the performer while performing), and are available at the venue for you if needed, at no cost. Limited beverages inside the room, just move your mask for a sip and then back into place - we are doing our best to be inclusive to all who would like to attend, to include those in high risk or immune compromised status. Thank you for your support and having fun with us as we celebrate 2023, our return to live events, and our 36th Anniversary year!
***CANCELLED***
Check our social media sites for updates to Friday's schedule: Facebook, Twitter , Instagram, and Meetup.
8pm: Kimberly Atwood is an American singer and songwriter based in Nashville, Tennessee. Raised in the Ozarks, Kimberly Atwood’s core is rooted in her small-town, close-knit family upbringing. With a blue collar heritage and unshakable dream, Atwood relocated to Nashville determined to add dimension to her distinctive Classic Country sound. Kimberly Atwood’s songwriting tells stories of depression, loneliness, and heartbreak.
‘I wear sweaters and write sad songs’
From George Strait to Jimmy Buffett - numerous iconic influences have finely tuned Kimberly Atwood’s artistic voice, empowering her to write and sing about the blue corners of the soul.
9:05pm: Lisa Dilk is a singer-songwriter whose songs have been recorded by Texas songsmith Guy Clark (with whom she has also co-written) and country singer Lacy J. Dalton. Her visual songs are slices of life performed in an engaging folk rock blend with a touch of swing and blues. Lisa loved going to libraries as a child, and her mom would drop her off to spend all day at the public library on weekends. Time spent in libraries fostered her love for reading and writing, which shaped her as a songwriter. Lisa is from San Diego, and keeps busy touring, sharing her songs like "Melancholy Shoes" and "Cold Beer In July." She is also a Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Finalist.
Doors open at 7:30pm. $10 admission, shared with the performers and the venue. We serve seriously strong brewed coffee as well as Boxed Water, teas, and sodas.
Fiddler's Dream has COVID protocols in place to protect volunteers, patrons, presenters, and musicians. N95/KN95 or better masks are required to be worn properly while inside the venue, and are available at the venue.
Check our social media sites for updates to Friday's schedule: Facebook, Twitter , Instagram, and Meetup.
8pm: B3lla Donna is an indie-rock singer and songwriter here in the Valley, and is releasing six original songs this month of October, and she will be playing them as well as some covers for us tonight!
"Just Bella" shared the stage with alt-rockers Everclear on April 15, 2023 at the sixth annual Mesa Music Festival, a free three-day event designed to promote emerging artists.
9:05pm: Tia Penny is an Arizona-based singer/ songwriter/ musician with an exceptional range of talent. She recorded her first two singles in New York City at A Diamond Heart Production, producing a catchy blend of her acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and vocal harmonies. Shortly after, Tia was offered to sign with record label A Diamond Heart Production, and she released her first single 'Joyride' on May 5, 2023. Tia is also skilled with the classical guitar and piano, and employs all of these instruments to perform dozens of original musical compositions and covers.
At the age of 15, Tia Penny has generated a wealth of national, regional, and local experiences. The Arizona State Fair has placed her on the main stage multiple times over the years, and she has been invited to sing twice in the summer of 2023 for the San Diego County Fair - her fearlessness when it comes to live performances is one of her greatest strengths. In addition to frequent local TV spots, she has performed nationally live at Old Woodsongs Radio Hour in Lexington, KY, and was broadcast to 180 countries worldwide on multiple radio and TV programs. She was first discovered and cast in NBC's Little Big Shots in Hollywood, CA, with Steve Harvey at the age of nine, and has challenged herself musically ever since.
Tia has not taken the usual path of a musician. While busking in downtown Phoenix at a First Friday event, several university students stopped and listened to her entire set, and then invited Tia to audition for Grand Canyon University's official TEDx as a performer/ speaker. She ultimately delivered a fifteen minute TEDx presentation with two originals and two covers in front of an audience of 400+ attendees in Phoenix, AZ. Tia even challenged herself to sing the first verse of one of her cover songs in Spanish. Another notable experience for Tia was her part in multiple performances of the Arizona Opera’s rendition of La Boheme, where she sang in Italian. Her vocals were also key to landing a lead in a theatrical performance as Liesl in The Sound of Music at the Del E Webb Center for the Performing Arts in Wickenburg, AZ, and after hearing her impromptu jam session at the National Association of Musical Merchants (NAMM) in Pasadena, CA, master luthier of Master Craftsman Guitars gifted Tia a beautiful electric guitar. These varied adventures have molded her into the diverse performer she is today.
Tia continually hones her skill set by performing at music festivals, art walks, bars, coffee shops, and various cultural events throughout the Southwest and Southern California. Tia also provides musical support for numerous non-profit organizations, including the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, The Arizona Chapter of the National Kidney Foundation, Rock the District, Something So Worth It, UBU Project Hope, and Alice Cooper's Solid Rock Teen Center. Tia is driven by the thrill she gets when performing, observing the reactions of her audiences, and inspiring others with her compassionate lyrics.
We are open for live events while keeping the safety of our audience and our performers in mind, and doing our best to be inclusive to all who would like to attend, to include those in high risk or immune compromised status. We appreciate your support as we continue to enjoy our 36th year of showcasing local and touring musicians in an intimate, listening room setting.
Admission is $10 at the door. Cash is always appreciated, and we also take debit and credit cards.
The room has a capacity of 36, and N95/KN95 masks are required to be worn properly while in the room. Masks are available at the door. We'll have hot coffee, hot water, cold water, and pop to enjoy, with limited beverages inside- just take a sip, then put your mask back on and keep enjoying the music! Talk with the kitchen volunteer if any questions! Dress for the desert evening climate, as we have been leaving at least one of the south doors open to improve ventilation and fresh air flow!
Tim Gaulden is from New Mexico, an instrumentalist on guitar, making the journey to share his music, along with his friend and master harpist, Jocelyn Obermeyer! Tim's music is upbeat and well played, about music and "Always the things that bring us together instead of the things that pull us apart."
We are open for live events while keeping the safety of our audience and our performers in mind, and doing our best to be inclusive to all who would like to attend, to include those in high risk or immune compromised status. We appreciate your support as we continue to enjoy our 36th year of showcasing local and touring musicians in an intimate, listening room setting.
Admission is $10 at the door. Cash is always appreciated, and we also take debit and credit cards.
The room has a capacity of 36, and N95/KN95 masks are required to be worn properly while in the room. Masks are available at the door. Each performer may choose to remove their mask while on stage. We'll have hot coffee, hot water, cold water, and pop to enjoy, with limited beverages inside- just take a sip, then put your mask back on and keep enjoying the music! Talk with the kitchen volunteer if any questions! Dress for the desert evening climate, as we have been leaving at least one of the south doors open to improve ventilation and fresh air flow!
We start off this Saturday evening with Goodmorning Valentine (solo) at 8pm, and Elliott Lee Friesen at 8:55pm.
8pm: Goodmorning Valentine is currently doing a national tour as a solo artist. He is a singer and songwriter of topical songs and life, on the road and at home. Joseph Allen Beltram is the principal songwriter for the band, "Goodmorning Valentine." A national touring musician and recording artist who has been playing shows and releasing records for the last 20 years, his non-genre specific appreciation for all things song writing has led to many adventures in the craft, and hundreds of songs. From the more esoteric musings of the indie world, both new and old, to the classic sounds of the 60s and 70s, Joseph's attentiveness to craft and his deep love for it shows especially in his live performances.
A short break at 8:55pm, then Elliott Lee Friesen, an indie-folk musician from Brattleboro, VT. One of his albums is titled 'Houseguest' which he describes as "...a collection of stories, dreams, and meditations about identity, relationships, and finding a home in the turbulence of our ever-shifting lives." Elliott notes that "every day I pick up my silly little guitar and play my silly little songs for my cat and my ghost and my own reflection." Tonight we have the pleasure of having him play for us, as well! You can find his music at elliottfriesen.bandcamp.com
$10 at door, shared with the artists and venue. Cash is always appreciated, and we are able to take cards too. Doors open at 7:30pm.
We are presenting live events while keeping the safety of the audience,, volunteers, and performers as our primary concern. The room has a capacity of 36, and N95/KN95 masks are required to be worn properly while in the room.
We'll have hot coffee, hot water, cold water, and pop available for attendees to enjoy. Limited beverages inside the room, just move your mask for a sip and then back into place, please. Talk with the kitchen volunteer if any questions!
We are doing our best to be inclusive to all who would like to attend, to include those in high risk or immune compromised status. We appreciate your support as we continue to enjoy our 36th year of showcasing local and touring musicians in an intimate, listening room setting.
8pm: The late great Leonard Cohen once said that “being a songwriter is like being a nun: you're married to a mystery.” James Houlahan has been deeply engaged with that mystery for all of his creative life. Over the course of six albums, he has sought to explore and reveal this mystery through his craft, rooted in a wide spectrum of folk and Americana sounds. Influenced by writers such as Cohen, Bob Dylan, and Tom Waits, Houlahan’s music is a vast net cast in a sea of musical possibility. Bringing to the surface sonic treasures from the depths of an old yet vital collective American spirit. An odyssey of exploration, bent on unlocking the transformative powers of music. One song at a time.
Based in Los Angeles, Houlahan has been active on the local music scene since arriving from his native Boston in 2012. His music has found its way into commercials, television, and movies such as 2017’s “Little Pink House,” starring Catherine Keener. Until the pandemic broke in 2020, he was busy touring, playing stages throughout much of the American West and Europe. Having released two new albums over the past couple of years, he returns to touring with a slew of new songs. New desires for expression, humbled yet longing for the light of day and the open road.
Beyond the Borders, the sixth full-length album from singer/songwriter James Houlahan, was released on November 18, 2022. Recorded in Los Angeles at Stairway Studios with producer Fernando Perdomo, the album features 12 original songs and a version of Neil Young’s “Powderfinger.” Houlahan and Perdomo were joined in the studio by drummer Danny Frankel (Lou Reed, k.d. lang, Fiona Apple) and Scarlet Rivera (Bob Dylan) on violin. The songs span both the personal and the universal, combining themes of perseverance and new beginnings while exploring connections between people and the natural world. Houlahan says, “The last few years have brought all of us so much loss. It’s really wreaked a toll on everyone. And it seems like every day the headlines bring more calamity, more uncertainty. The songs on this album were meant to help propel a way forward through all of this, to find some light in all this darkness. They were songs that I needed to write, and I hope they prove useful to others.”
9:05pm: The Brothers Wayfare are a duo and trio consisting of Tenor Banjo, Accordion, fiddle and mandolin, based out of Wimberley TX. They play Traditional Texas/Borderland Fiddle tunes, Dance music from Eastern and Western Europe, turn of the century Classical Ragtime and a wide variety of original material.
Doors open at 7:30pm. $10 admission, shared with the performers and the venue. We serve seriously strong brewed coffee and some snacks, as well as water, teas, and sodas.
Fiddler's Dream has COVID protocols in place to protect volunteers, patrons, presenters, and musicians. N95 or KN95 masks are available at the venue for you if needed, at no cost.
8pm: Nick Justice is all about the blues, folk, rock & country, telling the "tales of lost souls, broken" - Nick hails from the Bronx, NY. He came out west in 1980 and fronted a few bands (Guns for Hire, Nick Justice Band, Chords of Fame) in the emerging cow punk era in southern California. Playing on bills with the Blasters, X, The Plimsouls, The Go Go’s, The Beat Farmers and The Bangles who were all going somewhere while he was going nowhere. Justice fled to the Northwest living in Seattle for most of the 90’s, playing throughout the Northwest as a traveling troubadour for a decade, mostly playing coffee houses, house concerts and juke joints. Justice came back to LA in 2000 and quit the music business but never stopped writing. In 2015 he called up a few old friends like Greg Leisz, Bobby Cochrane and put out an EP “The Cry of the Street Prophet”. Four records quickly followed in succession, including 2019’s critically acclaimed “The Road Not Taken” with Richard Bredice (Jules Shear, Fallout Boy, Missiles of October, David Lindley) at the helm producing all 4 records. Justice’s newest release “Rope the Wind” charted at #1 on the Roots Music Report Top 50 Folk Rock Album Chart in April 2021.
A short break, then -
9:05pm: A string of license plates from the likes of Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma, Connecticut, Colorado, Arizona and California hang above the guitars in Doug Schmude’s recording studio. A firm believer in the principle that life is as much about what happens as where you’re standing when it does, Doug’s music reflects the perspective that living in 8 different states imparts upon a person. His songs contain vividly drawn characters from all walks of life and stories from ever changing viewpoints. His latest of 6 records he has released, One Shy of a Six Pack, was released independently on his own label (Lost Hubcap) and was self-produced. The songs mix bits of country, folk, rock and blues and the result is a modern Roots Americana sound that would appeal to fans of Jason Isbell, Ryan Bingham, John Mellencamp and Steve Earle. Doug plays the majority of the acoustic & electric guitars, bass, mandolin, lap steel guitar and Dobro.
Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Doug Schmude (Pronounced as to rhyme with moody) spent most of his formative years in Oklahoma and Texas. He honed his songwriting in the late 1990's while performing in and around Boulder, Colorado. In 2000, he relocated to Nashville to further develop his craft. While in Tennessee, he was nominated for several awards through his work with the acoustic blues duo Hot Foot Delta. Currently based out of Southern California, his music is littered with souvenirs of the places he has lived and seen. His debut CD, A New Century, was nominated for an Orange County Music Award. His live performances include journeys into Delta Blues, which are backed by percussive resonator guitar playing, often pounding on the guitar for rhythmic accent. Although he predominately writes and performs on acoustic guitar and resonator slide guitar, he also plays harmonica, mandolin and banjo. In addition to songwriting, recording and performing, Doug lends his talents as a session guitarist, recording engineer and producer.
$10 at door, shared with the artists and venue. Cash is always appreciated, and we are able to take cards. Doors open at 7:30pm.
We are doing our best to be inclusive to all who would like to attend, to include those in high risk or immune compromised status. We are presenting live events while keeping the safety of the audience, volunteers, and performers as our primary concern. The room has a capacity of 36, and N95/KN95 masks are required to be worn properly while in the room.
We'll have hot coffee, hot water, cold water, and pop available for attendees to enjoy. Limited beverages inside the room, just move your mask for a sip and then back into place, please. Talk with the kitchen volunteer if any questions!
Fiddler's Dream truly appreciates your support as we continue to enjoy our 36th year of showcasing local and touring musicians in an intimate, listening room setting.
Singer-songwriter-parking lot attendant Jamie Anderson has played her unique original songs in hundreds of venues in four countries including forty-seven US states. Proficient on guitar, ukulele, and mandolin, this musician with an expressive soprano is folk without the Birkenstocks, country without the big hair, and jazz without the weird chords. Her twelve recordings include the 2020 release Songs from Home. Jamie loves being a musician, so she doesn’t really park cars, but her mama said she should have something to fall back on.
Most of Songs from Home was written during the pandemic. When a musician loses months of gigs and is stuck at home, it seems the logical thing to do. She initially went into James Stephen’s Quebec studio (Ian Tamblyn, Lynn Miles) to record one song, “Six Feet Away,” and ended up recording six. Because it wasn’t safe for a whole band in the studio, James and Jamie played all of the instruments: guitar, ukulele, mandolin, banjo, bass, fiddle, tenor guitar, drums, and shaker. Jamie sang all the lead and backing vocals. In addition to the first song Jamie recorded “Marry Me,” a love song to Rachel Maddow (she’s married but if you’re going to dream, dream big), “Scene from a Café”, about running into an ex, and “Remember Me,” one long merry complaint about being a ukulele player where Jamie plays part of “Smoke on the Water” and yes, “Tiptoe Through the Tulips.” “Listen to Your Heart” covers more serious fare, homophobia and racism.
Laughter is a big part of Jamie’s live performance. Her offbeat song intros and stories help keep the performance fun, but don’t be surprised when she delves into more serious issues. She’s emceed at many events and she can hula hoop while playing the ukulele. When Jamie isn’t touring, she teaches music. Her popular YouTube channel has thousands of subscribers. One of her guitar instructional videos has gone viral, with 1.5 million views.
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Deidre McCalla doesn’t merely take the stage - she owns it. Her songs embody hope and celebration, struggle, loss, and longing - sometimes all in one song! Deidre McCalla learned at an early age that life begins with an acoustic guitar. Her first album, Fur Coats and Blue Jeans, was released on Roulette Records when Deidre was 19 and a student at Vassar College. Deidre later studied jazz guitar at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee, and released three albums with the pioneering women's music label Olivia Records.
A much beloved performer in folk and women's music circles, Deidre McCalla has shared the stage with a long list of notables that includes Suzanne Vega, Tracy Chapman, Holly Near, Odetta, Cris Williamson, and Sweet Honey in the Rock. She has taught Performance at Warren Wilson College's Swannanoa Gathering, and songwriting at Common Ground on the Hill. Deidre's work has been published in Home Girls: A Black Feminist Anthology, The Original Coming Out Stories, and Chrysalis: A Feminist Quarterly, and she is featured in The Power of Words: A Transformative Language Arts Reader. Deidre is a proud member of AFM Local 1000 and the North American Folk Alliance.
A Black woman, mother, lesbian, feminist, Deidre McCalla has long been in the forefront of Black musicians redefining the understanding of how Black folk do folk. Deidre is riding high on her current release Endless Grace which dominated the June 2022 Folk Radio Charts as the #1 Album with the #1 Song - Shoulder To The Wheel and the #3 Song - I Do Not Walk This Path Alone, and finished for the year as the #13 Top Album. PopMatters, Rhythms Magazine, and the Folk Alley Listener Favorites Poll ranked Endless Grace among the Ten Best Folk albums for 2022. In 2023 Deidre’s song Shoulder To The Wheel won the 19th Annual International Acoustic Music Award for Best Folk/Americana/Roots song.
Deidre McCalla’s songwriting reveals an unyieldingly honest perspective expressed with a lyric touch that relentlessly celebrates the power and diversity of the human spirit.
Sing Out! praises Deidre as one of our generation’s most important singer-songwriters and the Austin-American Statesmen describes her as a highly distinctive voice in a crowded field of contemporary folk music. With five independent albums to her credit, Deidre McCalla has touched audiences from Maui to Maine, church basements and college coffeehouses to Carnegie Hall.
In 2021 Deidre received a SERFA Award from the Southeast Regional Folk Alliance for distinguished service and exceptional contributions to folk music in the Southeast region of Folk Alliance International. Deidre McCalla's first Olivia Records album Don’t Doubt It is included in the LGBT Collection at the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of American History and listed by Ms Magazine as one of 25 Classic Women’s Music Albums.
Admission details coming soon, doors will open at 7:30pm. N95 or KN95 masks are required inside the music room (except for the performer while performing), and are available at the venue for you if needed, at no cost.
Thank you for your attendance, and having fun times with us as we celebrate 2023, our return to live music, and our 36th Anniversary year! Thanks especially for supporting the music, and the musicians who create such beauty and share with us!
Check our social media sites for updates to our schedule: Facebook, Twitter , Instagram, and Meetup.
Fiddler's Dream is located one block north of Glendale Avenue on 17th Street, on the Southeast corner of 17th Street and Cactus Wren. Use the newly opened Sprouts grocery at 16th Street and Glendale as a landmark - we are one block further East on Glendale Ave, and when you reach 17th Street, turn North and go one block to Cactus Wren, turn right (East), and the next right takes you into the parking lot. We are on the grounds of the Phoenix Friends Meeting (Quakers).
1702 East Glendale Ave, Phoenix, AZ, 85020 is the street address to plug into your map app.
