What is a Listening Room?
The idea of a listening room event is right in the name: To provide a space directly and exclusively for an audience to listen to an artist perform. Many musicians and other vocal artists find venues where they have to compete with other noise: the background chatter in a restaurant, patrons and orders in a bar, sports and even other music playing on TVs and over speakers. What a listening room provides is a space free from those distractions, and invites an audience who is present for one reason: to listen to the performance.
Listening rooms have grown in popularity for a wide range of artists, from acoustic singer-songwriters to spoken-word performances and more. They are typically held in relatively small spaces, and are often modeled to provide a more intimate experience than would be found in other settings. Refreshments may be available, but in all cases, the focus of the event is on the performance.
At the CommUnity Zone, our hope is to offer this deep listening experience for both local artists who want the chance to perform for a small, focused audience, and for the audience members who want to listen to the artist! We do plan on offering a selection of food and drinks at the events, and hope to have both curated events with established artists as well as 'open nights' when the stage might be open to anyone who wishes to perform.
The idea of a listening room event is right in the name: To provide a space directly and exclusively for an audience to listen to an artist perform. Many musicians and other vocal artists find venues where they have to compete with other noise: the background chatter in a restaurant, patrons and orders in a bar, sports and even other music playing on TVs and over speakers. What a listening room provides is a space free from those distractions, and invites an audience who is present for one reason: to listen to the performance.
Listening rooms have grown in popularity for a wide range of artists, from acoustic singer-songwriters to spoken-word performances and more. They are typically held in relatively small spaces, and are often modeled to provide a more intimate experience than would be found in other settings. Refreshments may be available, but in all cases, the focus of the event is on the performance.
At the CommUnity Zone, our hope is to offer this deep listening experience for both local artists who want the chance to perform for a small, focused audience, and for the audience members who want to listen to the artist! We do plan on offering a selection of food and drinks at the events, and hope to have both curated events with established artists as well as 'open nights' when the stage might be open to anyone who wishes to perform.
September 11th
Hannah Bingman
For over fifteen years, Hannah Bingman has been writing and performing her folk/blues compositions at venues along the east coast. Bingman has released three studio albums as well as a live album. Her most recent, Loam, is fixed in rural agricultural themes and small-town roots. In 2006, she won the Susquehanna Folk Music Society Songwriting Contest and in 2011, she was selected as a Regional Round Finalist in the Mountain Stage New Song Contest. She most recently earned the third-place spot for the Pennsylvania Heritage Songwriting Competition and was named as an Emerging Artist finalist for the 2018 and 2019 Susquehanna Folk Festivals. Bingman has grabbed opening slots for musicians such as Kaki King, Michael Glabicki, Jeffrey Gaines, the Infamous Stringdusters, Ellis, David Rovics, and Christine Lavin.
Kerry Kenny Band
Kerry Kenny on guitar and vocals
Mark Grasso on hand drums and vocals
What I love about this work is that, if I hadn’t met Kerry Kenny, I would be unsure where her music originated from. Is she from New Orleans? Nashville? Dublin? Memphis? Los Angeles? She brings musical experience from across the world to one of the best ways you can spend 55 minutes this year.
-Dave Maxwell, Dynamic Bloom LLC - Brand and Domain Management, Bloomsburg, PA
"Wielding a powerful voice equal parts honey and smoke, hope and hurt, Kenny expertly pilots her top-flight band over the wide-ranging terrain of this exciting debut. Whether crooning or crowing, she sings with compelling urgency and furious imagination. From the bittersweet ache of “Aerosol” to the Latin swing of “Zapatos” to the psychedelic hard rock of the title track, Kenny displays an impressive versatility as a songwriter that’s well-suited to her strong vocals. Pining Time is sexy. It swings. It reels and it rocks. This is the record you want playing this summer when you put the top down and step on the gas."
-Bill Loehfelm, Music Critic/Author, New Orleans, LA
October 9th
Simple Gifts
Linda Littleton and Karen Hirshon
Two women plus ten instruments equal one good time when Simple Gifts takes the stage. Drawing on an impressive variety of ethnic folk styles, this award-winning duo plays everything from lively Irish jigs and down-home. American reels to hard-driving Klezmer freilachs and haunting Gypsy melodies, spicing the mix with the distinctive rhythms of Balkan dance music, the lush sounds of Scandinavian twin fiddling, and original compositions written in a traditional style. Combining tradition with innovation, Simple Gifts creates some of the finest arrangements in folk music today: swing fiddle creeps into a Romanian dance, spoons show up in an Irish reel, and a traditional West Virginia tune is enhanced by a Turkish drum and Indian shruti box. Based in the hills of central Pennsylvania, these women play an amazing array of instruments. Linda Littleton and Karen Hirshon switch with ease among fiddle, mandolin, banjo, recorders, bowed psaltery, hammered dulcimer, baritone fiddle, guitar, and percussion. Simple Gifts is well-known for their outgoing stage presence, which is warm, personal, and accented with humor. These women deliver their music with rare intensity and contagious enthusiasm. It’s obvious that Simple Gifts loves the music they play and knows how to share their excitement with the audience. This is an act not to be missed!
Tim Latshaw and Kj Reimensnyder-Wagner
Tim Latshaw: Guitarist, Singer, Bassist
Tim Latshaw has been playing music in front of audiences for over 40 years. He was the founding member of the popular Central Pennsylvania band Liteswitch, which has been entertaining audiences in the Pennsylvania Coal Region for decades playing dance clubs, weddings, block parties, and carnivals. He has performed at DisneyWorld and Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center with the Bloomsburg University Concert Choir. More recently, Tim has worked as a session player at Double-A-Productions, Green Valley Recording Studio, and the Green Room. He has worked with various artists and bands such as Sleuth, Willie Jack and The Northern Light, House With A Yard, The Frank Wicher Band, Route 15, The Randall-Ginley Band, Tony Halchak, The Scott Douglas Trio, Antonio Andrade, Bob Randall, Allan Combs II, and The Backyard Ponies. His current projects include bassist and vocalist with AC's Soul Medicine, Kj & the FunShine Band, TL & Kj, and his fourth decade as bassist, guitarist, and vocalist with Liteswitch. Tim occasionally performs as a soloist, featuring an eclectic mix of covers and original material.
Kj Reimensnyder-Wagner: Entertainer, Singer Songwriter, Speaker and Educator
Kj’s been labeled the “Niche Performer” by many who have invited her to perform at their functions. For conferences, coffeehouses, civic club banquets, house concerts or festivals, she does seem to have a song for everyone! Kj’s written and co-written farming songs to represent the hard workers of the land, she’s written political action tunes to get certain groups inspired to go to bat for their causes. She seems to know her audiences even before she’s met them and provides an enjoyable – and seemingly personal – concert to each one who attends. “I’m amazed that she can be just as comfortable in front of an audience of a thousand at an educational conference as she is with a Lions Club reception,” said one concert promoter. “And she really lights up when the audience is right with her in singing along in echoing lines and in performing hand motion songs in unison. If she can get one cross person to even smile or smirk, she feeds off of that; she re-energizes even more, and soon becomes a positive addiction to her audiences.”
November 13th
Allan Combs II
Allan Combs II is a singer-songwriter who hails from Columbia County, Pennsylvania. Allan has been performing for audiences for most of his life, notably working as a full-time solo musician in the Mid-Atlantic region for the past 8 years. Combs’ original compositions blend rock 'n' roll, soul, funk, jazz, and country into undeniably catchy, emotional, and upbeat music. AC II can be found performing solo or with his group alongside Tanner Bingman, known as Tanjo & Crow. For more information, please visit AllanCombsIIMusic.com.
Rob Henke and Rolf Sturm
Rob and Rolf have toured North America with the Illuminati big band and have performed in the NYC area with The Walter Thompson Orchestra and the Diane Moser Big Band. They have also toured North America and Europe with various other ensembles including Tricycle and the Strike Anywhere Performance Ensemble. They’ve performed on soundtracks for both film and television and have appeared on numerous recordings together, including releases on Arista Records, Water Street Music, M-Cons East, Accurate Records, Relix Records, Cathexis Records, Knitting Factory Works, Nine Winds Records, and Which? Records. And on special occasions, they perform in this duo setting.
Hannah Bingman
For over fifteen years, Hannah Bingman has been writing and performing her folk/blues compositions at venues along the east coast. Bingman has released three studio albums as well as a live album. Her most recent, Loam, is fixed in rural agricultural themes and small-town roots. In 2006, she won the Susquehanna Folk Music Society Songwriting Contest and in 2011, she was selected as a Regional Round Finalist in the Mountain Stage New Song Contest. She most recently earned the third-place spot for the Pennsylvania Heritage Songwriting Competition and was named as an Emerging Artist finalist for the 2018 and 2019 Susquehanna Folk Festivals. Bingman has grabbed opening slots for musicians such as Kaki King, Michael Glabicki, Jeffrey Gaines, the Infamous Stringdusters, Ellis, David Rovics, and Christine Lavin.
Kerry Kenny Band
Kerry Kenny on guitar and vocals
Mark Grasso on hand drums and vocals
What I love about this work is that, if I hadn’t met Kerry Kenny, I would be unsure where her music originated from. Is she from New Orleans? Nashville? Dublin? Memphis? Los Angeles? She brings musical experience from across the world to one of the best ways you can spend 55 minutes this year.
-Dave Maxwell, Dynamic Bloom LLC - Brand and Domain Management, Bloomsburg, PA
"Wielding a powerful voice equal parts honey and smoke, hope and hurt, Kenny expertly pilots her top-flight band over the wide-ranging terrain of this exciting debut. Whether crooning or crowing, she sings with compelling urgency and furious imagination. From the bittersweet ache of “Aerosol” to the Latin swing of “Zapatos” to the psychedelic hard rock of the title track, Kenny displays an impressive versatility as a songwriter that’s well-suited to her strong vocals. Pining Time is sexy. It swings. It reels and it rocks. This is the record you want playing this summer when you put the top down and step on the gas."
-Bill Loehfelm, Music Critic/Author, New Orleans, LA
October 9th
Simple Gifts
Linda Littleton and Karen Hirshon
Two women plus ten instruments equal one good time when Simple Gifts takes the stage. Drawing on an impressive variety of ethnic folk styles, this award-winning duo plays everything from lively Irish jigs and down-home. American reels to hard-driving Klezmer freilachs and haunting Gypsy melodies, spicing the mix with the distinctive rhythms of Balkan dance music, the lush sounds of Scandinavian twin fiddling, and original compositions written in a traditional style. Combining tradition with innovation, Simple Gifts creates some of the finest arrangements in folk music today: swing fiddle creeps into a Romanian dance, spoons show up in an Irish reel, and a traditional West Virginia tune is enhanced by a Turkish drum and Indian shruti box. Based in the hills of central Pennsylvania, these women play an amazing array of instruments. Linda Littleton and Karen Hirshon switch with ease among fiddle, mandolin, banjo, recorders, bowed psaltery, hammered dulcimer, baritone fiddle, guitar, and percussion. Simple Gifts is well-known for their outgoing stage presence, which is warm, personal, and accented with humor. These women deliver their music with rare intensity and contagious enthusiasm. It’s obvious that Simple Gifts loves the music they play and knows how to share their excitement with the audience. This is an act not to be missed!
Tim Latshaw and Kj Reimensnyder-Wagner
Tim Latshaw: Guitarist, Singer, Bassist
Tim Latshaw has been playing music in front of audiences for over 40 years. He was the founding member of the popular Central Pennsylvania band Liteswitch, which has been entertaining audiences in the Pennsylvania Coal Region for decades playing dance clubs, weddings, block parties, and carnivals. He has performed at DisneyWorld and Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center with the Bloomsburg University Concert Choir. More recently, Tim has worked as a session player at Double-A-Productions, Green Valley Recording Studio, and the Green Room. He has worked with various artists and bands such as Sleuth, Willie Jack and The Northern Light, House With A Yard, The Frank Wicher Band, Route 15, The Randall-Ginley Band, Tony Halchak, The Scott Douglas Trio, Antonio Andrade, Bob Randall, Allan Combs II, and The Backyard Ponies. His current projects include bassist and vocalist with AC's Soul Medicine, Kj & the FunShine Band, TL & Kj, and his fourth decade as bassist, guitarist, and vocalist with Liteswitch. Tim occasionally performs as a soloist, featuring an eclectic mix of covers and original material.
Kj Reimensnyder-Wagner: Entertainer, Singer Songwriter, Speaker and Educator
Kj’s been labeled the “Niche Performer” by many who have invited her to perform at their functions. For conferences, coffeehouses, civic club banquets, house concerts or festivals, she does seem to have a song for everyone! Kj’s written and co-written farming songs to represent the hard workers of the land, she’s written political action tunes to get certain groups inspired to go to bat for their causes. She seems to know her audiences even before she’s met them and provides an enjoyable – and seemingly personal – concert to each one who attends. “I’m amazed that she can be just as comfortable in front of an audience of a thousand at an educational conference as she is with a Lions Club reception,” said one concert promoter. “And she really lights up when the audience is right with her in singing along in echoing lines and in performing hand motion songs in unison. If she can get one cross person to even smile or smirk, she feeds off of that; she re-energizes even more, and soon becomes a positive addiction to her audiences.”
November 13th
Allan Combs II
Allan Combs II is a singer-songwriter who hails from Columbia County, Pennsylvania. Allan has been performing for audiences for most of his life, notably working as a full-time solo musician in the Mid-Atlantic region for the past 8 years. Combs’ original compositions blend rock 'n' roll, soul, funk, jazz, and country into undeniably catchy, emotional, and upbeat music. AC II can be found performing solo or with his group alongside Tanner Bingman, known as Tanjo & Crow. For more information, please visit AllanCombsIIMusic.com.
Rob Henke and Rolf Sturm
Rob and Rolf have toured North America with the Illuminati big band and have performed in the NYC area with The Walter Thompson Orchestra and the Diane Moser Big Band. They have also toured North America and Europe with various other ensembles including Tricycle and the Strike Anywhere Performance Ensemble. They’ve performed on soundtracks for both film and television and have appeared on numerous recordings together, including releases on Arista Records, Water Street Music, M-Cons East, Accurate Records, Relix Records, Cathexis Records, Knitting Factory Works, Nine Winds Records, and Which? Records. And on special occasions, they perform in this duo setting.
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