The Coffee With Conscience Concert Series continues its TENTH SEASON by presenting Pat Wictor an Toby Walker, “the Saints and Sinners Tour,” at the First United Methodist Church, 1 East Broad Street (corner of North Avenue) in Westfield, on Saturday, January 16th. Doors will open at 7:30 PM and the concert begins at 8 PM. Admission is $19.00 on line and $23.00 at the door.

Advance purchase of tickets is highly recommended by going to www.wictorwalker.eventbrite.com or call the concert hotline 908-412-9105.

Pat Wictor has become the name that is being chatted about on the acoustic, blues, folk and Americana circuits.  Steeped in American "roots" music, Pat is a contemporary songwriter and interpreter drawing on the rural country, gospel, and blues traditions of our nation.


His performances--part fireside chat, part meditation on matters earthly and transcendent--feature his originals.  In addition to his own tunes, he is quick to offer up a newly-discovered lyric from another performer, or a fresh arrangement of a traditional song, delighting in introducing his audience to innovative material.  With flowing red hair and zen-like calm, Pat embraces his audience with the sincerity of his music and the clarity of his voice, inviting them in.

Toby Walker is an accomplished fingerstyle guitarist, who is also adept at ragtime and bottleneck. His mastery of the art was recognized in Memphis in 2002, when he won the International Blues Challenge Award. He is a skilled singer and songwriter, drawing inspiration from traditional and contemporary blues, folk, ragtime, and country. His passion for the music drove him to leave an apartment crammed full of recordings, books and instruments to wander around the Mississippi Delta, Virginia and the Carolinas tracking down some of the more obscure - but immensely talented - music makers of an earlier era. He spent time and swapped tunes with Eugene Powell, James Son Thomas, Etta Baker, and R.L Burnside. He draws on these travels to tell the humorous and heartwarming tales of learning the blues at the feet of these old time musicians. You can catch some of the flavor of these stories on his website in the Visit the South section. His fifth CD, Plays Well with Others, came out in 2006. 

The Coffee With Conscience Concert Series is a ten-show series running from September through June at the First United Methodist Church of Westfield. The Series supports the following charities: Contact We Care (Westfield), Homefirst (Plainfield), Habitat for Humanity (Plainfield), the Community Food Bank of NJ (Hilside) and the Keith Knost Special Needs Trust (Mountainside). Each beneficiary has two concerts dedicated to it during the season.

The Coffee With Conscience Concert Series is made possible in part by a generous grant from the Westfield Service League, and other private donations – which are enthusiastically encouraged.

For more information about the Coffee With Conscience Concert Series, the upcoming performance, or ways in which to get involved with the series, please visit www.coffeewithconscience.org. You can also call the Concert Hotline at 908-412-9105 or send an e-mail to ahrre@ahrre.com.

The Watchung Arts Center continues the FOURTH SEASON of its award-winning concert series called ‘Powerful Women of Song’ by presenting Florida’s Sweetheart, Mindy Simmons, in concert on Saturday, January 9th, at the Watchung Arts Center at 18 Stirling Road in Watchung. Doors will open at 7:30 PM and the concert begins at 8 PM. Admission is $19.00 on line and $23.00 at the door.

Tickets can be purchased on line by going to mindysimmons.eventbrite.com

Mindy Simmons guides her audiences down the bumpy road of her life smiling all the way. She combines quick wit and charm with a gutsy voice to create a memorable performance that feels like an evening with your best friend.

Based in Sarasota, Florida, Mindy has toured nationwide since 1980. Her repertoire is a soulful combination of originals and standards that has helped her become a successful artist who has sold thousands of her myriad CD's to her growing loyal fan base. A festival favorite since 1995, Mindy continues to be a mainstay performer at the Florida Folk Festival, the South Florida Folk Festival and the Will McLean Festival. For more info about Mindy Simmons please visit www.mindysimmons.eventbrite.com 

The Powerful Women of Song Series is presented by Ahrre Maros, owner of Ahrre’s Coffee Roastery in Westfield and host of the award winning Coffee With Conscience Concert Series in Westfield.

The Season will continue with the zaney Texan, Idgy Vaughn, on February 6th, the incomperable powerhouse of song,Toshi Reagon, on March 6th, the lovely Carsie Blanton & Victoria Vox on April 3rd, Baltimore-based soul sister, Lea, on May 1st and the legendary Catie Curtis on June 5th.

For more information about the Watchung Arts Center, the Powerful Women of Song Series, or the upcoming performance, please visit www.watchungarts.org. You can also call the Concert Hotline at 908-412-9105 or send an e-mail to ahrre@ahrre.com

The Coffee With Conscience Concert Series continues its TENTH SEASON by presenting the powerful Melissa Ferrick, in concert at the First United Methodist Church, 1 East Broad Street (corner of North Avenue) in Westfield, on Saturday, November 21st. Doors will open at 7:30 PM and the concert begins at 8 PM. Admission is $18.00 on line and $23.00 at the door.

This concert will benefit the Plainfield Chapter of Habitat for Humanity.  Advance purchase of tickets is highly recommended by going to melissaferrick2.eventbrite.com

A veteran of the acoustic narrative tradition, Ferrick's musical journey actually started in a different vein - as a brass musician. After studying horn music at the renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass., Ferrick set out on her own. But her instrument focus had changed. Rather than pursue a career as a flugelhorn musician, she turned to the acoustic guitar.

In 1991, she landed a last-second addition as a support act for Morrissey. This first big break not only led to more dates with the popular British rock crooner, but also laid the foundation for Ferrick's reputation as a dynamic live act. A recording contract with Atlantic Records followed in 1993, as did her debut album, "Massive Blur." The album garnered glowing reviews, as did her sophomore effort two years later, "Willing to Wait." Although she enjoyed success with Atlantic, Ferrick elected to go in another direction in the wake of "Willing to Wait." She released five studio albums and four live albums as an Indie artist over the next 12 years. Her second live album during this period, "Live at the B.P.C." (2000), marked the first release on her personal label, Right On Records.

For more info about this concert and the featured artist, please visit melissaferrick2.eventbrite.com

The Coffee With Conscience Concert Series is a ten-show series running from September through June at the First United Methodist Church of Westfield. The Series supports the following charities: Contact We Care (Westfield), Homefirst (Plainfield), Habitat for Humanity (Plainfield), the Community Food Bank of NJ (Hilside) and the Keith Knost Special Needs Trust (Mountainside). Each beneficiary has two concerts dedicated to it during the season.

The Coffee With Conscience Concert Series is made possible in part by a generous grant from the Westfield Service League, and other private donations – which are enthusiastically encouraged.

For more information about the Coffee With Conscience Concert Series, the upcoming performance, or ways in which to get involved with the series, please visit www.coffeewithconscience.org. You can also call the Concert Hotline at 908-412-9105 or send an e-mail to ahrre@ahrre.com. Volunteers are always appreciated!

ARTIST: Anne Heaton

CONCERT SERIES: Powerful Women of Song Series At the Watchung Arts Center

VENUE NAME & ADDRESS: Watchung Arts Center 18 Stirling Road (on the Watchung Circle) Watchung, NJ 07069

DATE: October 3rd, 2009

TIME: 8 PM (Doors open at 7:30)

PHONE #: 908-412-9105 (concert hotline)

PRICE: $20.00 on Line, $23.00 at the door

PRESENTER'S CONTACT INFORMATION: Ahrre Maros - 908-531-1494 (cell)

The Watchung Arts Center kicks off the FOURTH SEASON of its award-winning concert series called ?Powerful Women of Song? by presenting New York City based singer/songwriter, Anne Heaton, on Saturday, October 3rd, at the Watchung Arts Center at 18 Stirling Road in Watchung. Doors will open at 7:30 PM and the concert begins at 8 PM. Admission is $20.00 on line and $23.00 at the door.

Tickets can be purchased on line by going to anneheaton2.eventbrite.com

Anne Heaton is an American jazz & pop -influenced folk singer/songwriter and pianist from New York City. She grew up in the Chicago suburb of Wilmette, majored in liberal studies at the University of Notre Dame, and currently lives in New York City.

Anne Heaton is known for the infectious joy she exhibits singing and playing piano live. She has performed with major label recording artist Jewel and independent artists such as Melissa Ferrick, HEM, Jill Sobule and Jonatha Brooke.

Her musical influences are varied: Peter Gabriel, Indigo Girls, Sinead O'Connor, 10,000 Maniacs, and the Rolling Stones to name only a few. Her songs have been described as "alternately lush, sweet, funny and sorrowful with soaring melodies."

For more info about Anne Heaton, please visit anneheaton2.eventbrite.com