Heading North to the Tavern, and Beyond

Tales from the Tavern’s new six-concert season begins Wednesday night, July 23, with a doozy of a show pairing roots and country-inflected singer-songwriters Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore in an “almost acoustic” duo concert. But first there’s a special Audience Appreciation concert off-site, a mini music festival on Sunday, July 20, at a venue known as Frank’s Treehouse in Los Olivos. The event, dubbed AAFest! #1, features concert sets by Stephen Styles, a second-generation California country-rocker who writes and records out of his home studio in Santa Ynez, plus the outfit known as The Treehouse Band, and special guest Paul Thorn in a solo acoustic show. 

The latter is a nationally renowned Southern singer-songwriter with almost 15 albums to his credit over a 30-year career which followed Thorn’s stint as a professional boxer. That career culminated in a nationally televised bout with former world champion Roberto Durán. Thorn has performed previously on several TFTT series, as well as at SOhO and the Lobero early on in the late, lamented Sings Like Hell series. 

All proceeds from the outdoor music-dancing-food-and-drink event (slated for 3-7 pm, with possible adjustments to avoid overheating) go to the nonprofit Artist Advocacy Foundation, supporting musicians, events and programs in the area and connected to TFTT. Free munchies and drinks will be available, but guests are encouraged to bring their own food and beverages. 

The Alvin-Gilmore show is already sold out, but tickets often become available on the day-of or at the door. The rest of the TFTT fall series brings the return of stalwarts Eliza Gilkyson with Nina Gerber (Aug. 20), Peter Mulvey (Sept. 10), Peter Case (Oct. 1), Gretchen Peters (Oct. 15) and Jeffrey Foucault (Nov. 5) to the Maverick Saloon in Santa Ynez. 

Visit https://talesfromthetavern.com/shows