FolkHouse at the Castle!
The Castle & Cathedral District (C&CD) are excited to announce a new live music series hosted at the Joslyn Castle! FolkHouse Concerts at the Castle features the best in local grassroots, folk, and Americana bands in an intimate venue: the Castle's historic Carriage House.
C&CD has partnered with FolkHouse, the passion project of Jerome Brich and Mary Montag. Since 2000, they have offered music lovers an opportunity to experience live intimate concerts by top-notch professional touring musicians in a comfortable and friendly environment. No clanking bar glasses, noisy espresso machines or other distractions; just a comfortable smoke-free setting where the guests can focus on the music! And maybe best of all, there are plenty of opportunities to socialize with the performers and other music fans at FolkHouse. FolkHouse started in their home, and we're thrilled to welcome them into OUR home.
November 22: Cher and Gene Klosner
Some siblings fight, some siblings compete, and then some siblings, like Cher & Gene Klosner, come together as Acoustic Rock Singer/Songwriters, wowing audiences at the Grand Ole Opry, World Youth Day and the Dolby Theatre, and creating catchy, groovin', from-the-heart, gets-stuck-in-your-head songs with a guitar, a piano, and sibling harmonies that have been described as "audible chocolate."
Omaha residents Cher & Gene Klosner wrote their first songs together as kids, and their love of music and bringing people together shines through in everything they do, from performing concerts, singing at festivals and live-streaming shows, to writing songs for film, TV, ads, recording award-winning albums, and guest speaking at schools and music events. Having grown up on Motown, Ella Fitzgerald, '70s singer/songwriters, Broadway musicals and the Monkees, Cher & Gene Klosner write and perform in genres ranging from indie-pop to the blues, tying them all together seamlessly.
Cher and Gene grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and after college, moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where they spent several years honing their songwriting skills, learning the ins and outs of the ever-changing music industry, and performing at Opryland USA, which led to a recording contract, performances at the Grand Ole Opry, the Bluebird Cafe, and many arts festivals. It's also where Cher met her future husband, Animator and Story Artist, Ben Lane.
Cher, Gene and Ben relocated to Los Angeles, where Cher and Gene began writing for the Film/TV industry and directing a teen and contemporary choir in Paramount, California, while Ben was animating for “The Simpsons.” The Klosners were soon commissioned by The United in Memory Foundation to compose their song, “Tower of Love,” for the unveiling of the United in Memory 9/11 Memorial Quilt, which was performed in L.A. and New York, and has since been used in many 9/11 memorial tributes. Together, Cher and Gene have formed their own record label, released four albums, sold over 25,000 CDs, several thousand downloads, and have over 600,000 streams.
Cher & Gene Klosner are back in Omaha, where they have recently been accepted into the prestigious Nebraska Arts Council's Nebraska Touring Artists Program, continue to perform concerts, live-stream shows, record and compose for many projects. Their music, together and individually, has landed music placements in ads and for shows on NBC, Netflix, Cartoon Network, El Rey Network, National Geographic, Disney+, Atom Films, for animated and film shorts, and for Disney. Cher & Gene Klosner are currently working on their fifth album, Live at the Jewell, coming out soon!
Past Concerts
October 30: Jim & Susie Malcolm
Where: Carriage House on the Joslyn Castle & Garden Grounds (3902 Davenport Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68131)
When: Wednesday, October 30, from 7:30 to 9:00 (Doors open at 7pm)
What: 21+ event. Tickets are $20
Jim Malcolm is the ultimate Scots troubadour. Travelling the world with his guitar, harmonicas, and engaging wit, he sings the traditional songs of Scotland and his own masterfully crafted songs in a style which is modern and accessible, yet utterly authentic. He is highly regarded as an interpreter of the songs of Robert Burns, and has been described as “one of the finest singers in Scotland in any style”.
October 12: Cold Leather Seats
Where: Carriage House on the Joslyn Castle & Garden Grounds (3902 Davenport Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68131)
When: Saturday, October 12 from 7:30 to 9:00 (Doors open at 7pm)
What: 21+ event. Tickets are $20
An Americana band from western Michigan, the Cold Leather Seats’ sound can be described as, “if the Zac Brown Band recorded a folk album.” Composed of frontman and lead singer- Alex Svoboda, bassist- Issac Frisbie, vocalist- Elizabeth Ostoin, and violinist- Bella Worthing, the band has found success through their evocative story telling and genre bending performances.
In 2020, the band joined the label, White Elephant Records, and released their debut single, Roots. Since that time, their success has shown no signs of slowing. In 2022, Cold Leather Seats’ music video, Where We Are, was nominated for a Michigan Music Video Award. In 2023, the band was nominated for, “Artist of the Year,” at the WYCE Jammies. They have opened for renowned acts such as, Full Cord- winner of the 2022 Telluride Bluegrass Festival; Drew Hale- recently named ‘Best New Act in Country Music’; Rachael Davis, Michigan Rattlers, and more.
Ever committed to their values and their craft, the band is working relentlessly to bring authentic song-writing and spectacular performances to life.
September 14: Scott Cook and Pamela Mae
We're thrilled to welcome our next performers to the Carriage House on September 14th! Scott Cook with Pamela Mae will lead our next installment of our folk music series.
Doors open at 7pm, concerts begin at 7:30pm. This is a 21+ event. Capacity is limited.
In 2007, Albertan songwriter Scott Cook quit his job teaching kindergarten in Taiwan and moved into a minivan. He’s made his living as a troubadour ever since, touring almost incessantly across Canada, the US, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere, averaging 150 shows and a dozen summer festivals a year, and releasing seven albums of plainspoken, keenly observant verse along the way. His latest collection Tangle of Souls comes packaged in a cloth-bound, 240-page hardcover book of road stories and ruminations, equal parts introspection and insurrection. The album spent two weeks at #1 on Alberta's province-wide community radio network CKUA, and earned Scott his third Canadian Folk Music Award nomination, for English Songwriter of the Year. Its second single "Say Can You See" was the second most-played song of 2020 on Folk Alliance International's folk radio charts, and took top honours for the folk category in both the 2020 UK Songwriting Competition and the 2020 Great American Song Contest. He’s been back on the road full-time since January of 2022, living in a campervan named Roadetta with his sweetheart Pamela Mae on upright bass and vocals, visiting 43 states and 8 Canadian provinces, and broadcasting solar-powered livestreams from the back of the van. In 2024 they're touring Australia and North America, and recording an eighth album for release in the fall.
August 16: Jon Lawton
Where: Carriage House on the Joslyn Castle & Garden Grounds (3902 Davenport Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68131)
When: Friday, August 16th from 7:30 to 9:00 (Doors open at 7pm)
What: 21+ event. Tickets are $20 and registration is encouraged, as these events tend to sell-out.
Jon Lawton writes songs saturated with feeling. Whether a finger-picked blues or a claw-hammer banjo, the song is true, insightful, and personal. With either a 12-string guitar, National steel guitar, banjo, 6-string electric or acoustic, Jon can get some excellent sounds and textures. He was born and raised in the LA area, lived for many years in Omaha, NE., moved to Santa Barbara, CA., and now up in the SF Bay area. Jon has played SO MANY gigs; all through the Midwest, the West Coast, and a bit in Europe. He has released at least 8 self-produced CDs, opened shows for some of the biggest names in blues, and written songs in the blues, country and folk genres. To name a few shows: Bob Dylan, Monterrey Blues Festival, IBC in Memphis, Luther Allison, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, and more!
May 11: The Wildwoods
The Wildwoods
Where: Carriage House on the Joslyn Castle & Garden Grounds (3902 Davenport Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68131)
When: Saturday, MAY 11 from 7:30 to 9:00 (Doors open at 7pm)
What: 21+ event. Tickets are $20 and registration is encouraged, as these events tend to sell-out.
Description:
Every note we play is a chapter in our story, a journey through the heart of American roots music. We're The Wildwoods, where each lyric is a leaf in the vast forest of our sound."
In the heart of Lincoln, Nebraska, The Wildwoods emerge as a folk/Americana trio, a musical tapestry woven by the husband-and-wife duo, Noah (guitar) and Chloe Gose (violin), accompanied by the bassist Andrew Vaggalis. Their story is a symphony of exploration and connection, a journey that has taken them from the Midwest to international stages, carving out a unique place in the folk landscape. Their presence has graced stages alongside artists such as Mighty Poplar, Sierra Ferrell, Aiofe O’ Donovan, Melissa Carper, Jamie Wyatt and Joe Nichols at concerts and festivals like Summerfest, FreshGrass and the Oyster Ridge Music Festival.
The Wildwoods have become a force in the folk scene, boasting accolades like being finalists at the FreshGrass Music Festival Band competition and Gems on VHS "Gems in the Rough" competition in 2023. Their songwriting prowess is underscored by semi-final placements in the International Songwriting competition, with tracks like "Untitled" and "Way of Train." Recognized consistently at the Omaha Arts and Entertainment Awards, they were crowned "Best Band" by the Lincoln Journal Star’s Lincoln Choice Awards in 2022.
April 27: Pierce Pettis
PIERCE PETTIS
Where: Carriage House on the Joslyn Castle & Garden Grounds (3902 Davenport Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68131)
When: Saturday APRIL 27, from 7:30 to 9:00 (Doors open at 7pm)
What: 21+ event, $20.
Description:
Pettis hit the road and became a member of the “Fast Folk” movement in New York in the mid-1980’s. He released one independent solo album, Moments (1984) before signing with High Street Records, a division of Windham Hill. There, he released three albums: While the Serpent Lies Sleeping (1989), Tinseltown (1991), and Chase the Buffalo (1993). His relationship with Tinseltown producer Mark Heard transcended the album. After Heard’s untimely death in 1992, Pettis committed to including a song of Heard’s on every one of his own albums, a practice that continues to this day.
Pettis was a staff songwriter for PolyGram from 1993-2000 and when his High Street contract ended, Pettis signed to Compass Records where he has released Making Light of It (1996), Everything Matters (1998), State of Grace (2001), and Great Big World (2004). Pierce Pettis’ songs have been recorded by artists including Susan Ashton, Dar Williams, Garth Brooks and Art Garfunkel.
His album, "That Kind of Love" on Compass Records was released January 27 2009. In 2013, "New Agrarians --Songs & Stories of the Southland" was released, a co-effort by Pierce Pettis, Kate Campbell & Tom Kimmel. “Father’s Son”, Pettis’ newest solo project for Compass Records Group, was released January of 2019 to widespread critical praise in the US, UK and Europe.
March 22: Weary Ramblers
//SOLD OUT! We are at capacity and no walk ups can be accomodated!//
We welcome Iowa folk duo Chad Elliot and Kathryn Fox of Weary Ramblers. This event has been rescheduled due to the January weather to March 22nd.
Chad Elliott blends folk roots and soulful writing to deliver an original sound with over two decades of being on the road.. Elliott is lauded as “Iowa’s Renaissance man” by Culture Buzz Magazine. He has penned more than 1,500 songs in his career while also cultivating his skills as a painter, sculptor, illustrator and author. Elliott’s career demonstrates a love of folk, roots and singer-songwriter music. He has worked with and shared the stage with artists of the highest caliber, including Odetta, Tom Paxton, Loudon Wainwright III, Ruthie Foster, Greg Brown, Bo Ramsey, etc.
“That man’s music is as honest as was Woody Guthrie’s.” - Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Deemed “fiddler extraordinaire” in Cityview Magazine, Kathryn Fox is a DownBeat award winning artist. She played on the Grammy-nominated track “All My Tomorrows” with Kate McGarry. Kathryn toured internationally with fiddle troupe, Barrage 8, with shows in Europe, the U.S. and Canada. She has performed, recorded PBS specials and recorded with George Benson, The Beach Boys, The Eagles, Pharrell Williams, Natalie Cole, Gloria Estefan, Osmond Brothers, Gloria Gaynor, Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin, Kenny Loggins, Mark O’Connor, Ryan Montbleau, Seth Walker, Edgar Meyer and Joshua Bell.
Doors open at 7pm, concerts begin at 7:30pm. This is a 21+ event. Capacity is limited!
March 6: Dana Cooper
Join us Saturday, March 9th for a live concert from Dana Cooper. Come out for an evening of amazing songwriting, storytelling, and musicianship. Dana Cooper has had a vast career starting with his first release on Elektra Records with the studio band "The Section" - Leland Sklar & Russ Kunkel to his latest Release "I Can Face The Truth" which earned him critical acclaim and charted on 5 different genre radio charts as well as 2 Best of Year End Charts. He has collaborated with many established artists including Lyle Lovett, Susan Gibson, Shake Russell, Kim Richey, Hal Ketchum, Kim Carnes, Susan Werner and more. His discography measures at 30 albums and collections.
Doors open at 7pm, concerts begin at 7:30pm. This is a 21+ event. Capacity is limited.
