Jon Eric Music

Interested in listening to some FREE music?
“Right MEOW!” is now available!
Here is your secret link (if you like the tune)  to care, share, and be AWARE:

http://soundcloud.com/jonericmusic/right-meow/s-msyfq

This is the LEAST I can do for all the love and support each and every one of you have shown me.
You are welcome to share this link above with family or friends until New Years Day!
Why am I doing this? Because personally I feel that while “the media” (who made BILLIONS in
dividing us during the Presidential race)   is hounding you to SPEND
VERY few know that LOVE can not be BOUGHT or SOLD. And I truly believe that the
best things in life are in fact FREE!
Mostly in understanding that YOU spread the word, come to shows & taking a moment
to share your life with me- WE are down in the trenches together…
Through it all, I am deeply grateful to each and every one of you!

Whatever you “believe in” – Have a Happy & SAFE Holiday Season filled with music and celebration!

Lift your voice – spread your wings to take flight & march to the beat of your OWN drum
And those going against the grain of being “politically correct” ….

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Seeds have been planted my whole life to bring the music up to a point where GROWTH can thrive.  My “Flower of LIFE” has finally BLOOMED!

In explaining where my roots come from- using the symbols of earth,
my “Bluegrass roots” come from the Red Virginia CLAY of the Fredericksburg, VA area. After uprooting and transplanting to Iowa City where the farmers grow crops of corn in BLACK EARTH (or dirt) here in Iowa. This makes for growing good things in life. One has to understand the elements of the seasons though.
Extreme as they may be, we are called to plant good seeds if we wish a good fruit.

Many years in my life I was doing just the opposite. Planting bad seeds and reaping bad fruit. In changing my perspective and learning the “hard way”, I discovered that good seeds CAN be planted by random acts of kindness and seeking a different way of doing things. Is this right or wrong? Not really sure. All I do know (truly know nothing)   is that so far- this has worked in those we connect with.   We are ALL connected in one way or another. From the air we breath to the water we drink. Even to the soil we are all eventually buried back into- we ALL cherish LOVE when it is true. And seek an earned respect for being.

No matter what you may believe understand that you ARE loved. period

I wish to thank Kelsey Fried who has agreed to paint 12 banjo heads to be displayed one a month for 12 months. December 15th 2013 we will be giving a weekend concert/ art auction where ALL of these heads will be displayed.
Auction proceeds will benefit a charity of her choice.

When reflecting back on what this coming Thursday (THANKGIVING) means to me,
I am most thankful for LOVE, friends, and adopted family that has been there through
every step of my journey- unconditionally.

* Am also grateful my hands still work to serve musically or otherwise.

* Am thankful my most important tool can be once again used.
(spot repair to the banjo scroll down)

The next line up of shows can be found on my event page HERE

Thank YOU for being a part of my life!

To explain with a kind cool heart of the events may take some doing

so PLEASE read carefully.

Being that this was the anniversary of my father’s passing (USMC-ret. November 8, 2006) so there was almost giddy anticipation in seeing friends and fans I have not caught up with since July. Really looking forward to playing back up in Minneapolis, MN at a wonderful venue called the Whiskey Junction. Being all set up and ready to go I was approached by friends letting me know there was to be a warm up band. So I moved all the gear to the back of the stage so it was safely out of the way of the band doing music before my set. After their sound check they went upstairs to rehearse a few tunes. I went up got he stage, grabbed the banjo and climbed the stairs only to discover that the bridge had collapsed. Wondering instantly, “OK it dropped???”

Then I saw the break- 1st in the banjo then in my heart. See I had bought the banjo used out of my Mother’s memory after she had passed on as well. So doing music for a VERY modest living was about the ONLY way I found healing and loving energy in giving- Both in time & playing for ANYONE willing to listen.

The point to all this is that eventually I will be trying to obtain a NEW neck for it as it is being temporarily SPOT repaired so that the acoustic can make it through the rest of my tour. These necks are expensive and it unfortunately was uninsured do to most of the $ going into gas, “paying dues” & bills.

IF you wish to help in donating, The button is below.
Feel free to share this blog entry with friends if you wish.
Until it gets fixed my tour and show WILL go on- but just be “modified”…

HUGE thank you to all the people coming together after Hurricane Sally.
My heart, and prayers go out to all of you on the east coast during these challenging times. If you can- PLEASE donate where needed.

Here is a video just uploaded to You Tube last night. “TOP LEFT”
Feel free to share and enjoy!

Also the UPDATED show schedule for NOVEMBER.

Hope to see all of you out and about before it really starts getting cold.

After an amazing set of shows 9/19/2012 in Grinnell (played from 9:30ish until 3pm) at Saints Rest Coffee House
Then shot over to Grinnell College and KDIC radio- also played in front of the Student Union  for a few tunes while they passed out FREE cds. Then played at Bob’s Underground Cafe from 8pm on. Such a great time was had and I wish to come back SOON!

After that on 9/20/2012 I rode out to Omaha, NE for Tribal Equinox which was also one of the last festivals of the year outdoors in the mid-west. We started seeing the weather get a bit colder- there were also celebrations of seeing old friends and making new ones too. The bands there were amazing and the line-up was adventurous. Everything from Jam Bands to Bluegrass! HUGE thanks to all the volunteers and to BLUE MARTIAN TRIBE for hosting/planning such a fun 4 days on 4 stages!

There IS Video from my set and sitting in with several bands there
So stay tuned for videos to hit my you tube site soon!

As for the updated gig schedule, it keeps evolving as our daily lives do- here is the updated game plan.

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The Red Stone Room (River Music Experience)
September 26, 2012
Davenport, Iowa
OPENING slot for The Blackberry Bushes & Tall Grass
My set starts at 8pm SHARP
http://www.rivermusicexperience.org/Upcoming-Events/Calendar-of-Events/The-Blackberry-Bushes-Stringband.aspx
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RESERVED- 6:30 AM
Washington, IA
September 27th, 2012
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HOUSE PARTY (invite only)
With Roster MaCabe Acoustic/Chris Freir + Greg Glenn
September30, 2012
Des Moines, IA
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KRUI University of Iowa Radio Interview for Local Tunes
September 25th, 2012
Iowa City, IA
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Iowa City Yacht Club
October 4th, 2012 (8PM-11PM)
ALL AGES * SOLO SHOW
Iowa City, IA
http://www.facebook.com/events/405448092847327
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Private Birthday party
October 13th, 2012
Moline, IL
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RESERVED for PRIVATE party (Wedding)
Friday October 19th, 2012
Iowa City, IA
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RESERVED for SURPRISE show TBA
Sunday Oct 21, 2012
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Reserved
Saturday Oct 27th
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BETTENDORF PUBLIC LIBRARY
Water Lore (variety program)
November 5th, 2012
6:30 pm-8:30 pm
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The Whiskey Junction
With Smokin’ Joe Scarpellino (of Dead Larry)
November 9th, 2012
9pm-???

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IOWA CITY YACHT CLUB
November 15, 2012
SOLO show
Iowa City, IA
http://www.iowacityyachtclub.org/
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Bucktown Revue
November 16th, 2012
Davenport, IA
http://www.bucktownrevue.com/
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BARNYARD BEER
November 23rd, 2012 8pm (CST)
Lawrence, KS
Jon Eric & Tyler Gregory
http://www.facebook.com/events/430701283633326/
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Feel free to SHARE this URL link where ever you wish… TYTY!

Tomorrow’s game plan in Grinnell, IA Wednesday 9/19
Lunchtime: Jon Eric at Saints Rest Coffee House

5:30 PM: Interview/On Air in Studio
(KDIC | Grinnell College Radio)
6:00 PM: Home-style meal with student musicians
7:00 PM: Set up at Bob’s Underground Cafe (Grinnell College)
8:00 PM: Jon Eric performs SOLO at Bob’s Underground Cafe

****Bring your French Presses & Favorite COFFEE CUPS

Go ahead and leave the homework at home OR you can tell the professors that the Banjo Player ATE it!

Then from Thursday 9/20 – Sunday 9/23 I will be at TRIBAL EQUINOX
in Omaha, Nebraska at Riverwest Park

Spread the word- Much ♥!

After just getting back from an AMAZING weekend in Kentucky at Terrapin Hill Farm/Music Venue.
The people were SO much fun and the UNLIMITED pickin’ opportunities were part of what makes people come together in a positive place. So this makes 2 weekends in a row that it rained. NO chance of it dampening spirits-
We all learn pretty quick in the festival seasons to plan ahead for ANY type of weather Mother Nature would send
our way.  It makes for a better festival to be quite honest. Being able to help or give is what these things are about.
Someone may need a sweatshirt, water, a bite to eat, or help with set up/load out. Learning this we all take it back into our communities and find creative ways to GIVE. Those that do “take” get immediate gratification, but those who give, this lasts a lifetime! Like a pebble in a pond it only takes the memory of skipping rocks as a child. The ripple effect may show up years down the line.

Then it was off on Monday 9/10 to the Bettendorf Public Library to play some banjo for Pie Chef Beth Howard’s “Making Piece” presentation- the turnout was tremendous and Pies made at HyVee before the event were donated to charity. Thank you Beth Howard for being such an inspiration and sharing what a yummy way of making a difference in this world one Piece of Pie at a time!

Yesterday (9/13/2012) I went back into the studio with Luke Tweedy of Flat Black Studios right here in Iowa City! Those that remember I recorded my last cd “That Was Then-This Is NOW” with all the instruments and all vocals for this last project & wanted to create some brand new textures and vocals for the new project. Luke is just downright amazing and easy to work with. We got 3 more tunes tracked out and will be doing many more down the line very soon. THIS project I am going to be doing more of the VOCALS that few in the midwest have heard (yet).

Next up is Tribal Equinox in Omaha Nebraska. Sept. 20-23, 2012
But will be stopping by Saints Rest Coffee House on 9//19 (mid-morning)
Then after dinner- I will be doing a show at Grinnell College (8pm-???)
Bring your french press or favorite coffee cup! This also will be a FREE -ALL AGES show for the students!

OCTOBER 4th 2012 update- For the Iowa City Yacht Club 
The ICYC will be allowing me to do an ALL AGES  SHOW starting at 8pm SHARP till 11PM!
Spread the word Iowa City- this is a RARE show. With all the traveling and touring, it feels so good to play for a hometown crowd!

For those that have not heard the sound yet (and there are MANY that are surprised to know I live in Iowa)
Feel free to google Jon Eric, Banjo, Iowa and see what comes up. This is grass-roots midwest word of mouth at it’s finest and the music would not be where it is without YOU!

After getting a phone call from my old friends in Des Moines, IA
I ventured out this weekend for a sold out event called:
POTOSI BREW FEST

What an amazing celebration of Good friends, food, Wisconsin Cheese, & Wine.

Got to sit in with Mr Baber’s Neighbors – The Solar String Band on 5 string banjo.
Such fun playing with those guys in a hugh energy full tilt traditional bluegrass show!
Thanks a bunch fellas.

Also note that the next ITEMS will get you through the next 2 weeks on the schedule (see post below)
And they are:

Really looking forward to seeing you out and about at the upcoming shows.

LOVE and Live WELL
This does NOT require money or can  be bought.
It is a state of mind without limits
And my wish for all of you.
Are you ready?
Then it’s time…

WAKE UP 

With all the bookings coming in for Jon Eric’s the fall season, here are the current updates.
Here’s to seeing you out and about at the shows below. There are some AMAZING line up acts at the festivals, so feel free to browse the links provided for all the information you need.

The Washington
(in support of Catfish Keith)
306 Washington
Burlington, IA
August 17^th, 2012 (8:30pm)
Facebook Link to show and MORE details are HERE

Bettendorf Public Library
Bettendorf, Iowa
August 18^th, 2012 (9am)
This is an ALL AGES event for kids and kids at heart!
More details are HERE

Green Mountian Eco Fest 2012
11564 Kinfolk Road, Eldridge, MO 65463
August 31 – Sept 3^rd 2012
http://www.greenmountainecofest.com/

Club Carbon
314 W Main St
Danville, KY 40422
Sept 5th, 2012
Facebook Link to show is HERE 

Terrapin Hill Harvest Festival
Harrodsburg, KY
Sept 6^th – 9^th 2012
http://www.terrapinhillfarm.com/festival/

Sept 10^th for a ½ hour at Bettendorf Library
after reception for PIE with Beth Howard
Info can be found HERE

Tribal Equinox
River West Park
Omaha, NE
September 20^th-23^rd 2012
http://www.tribalequinox.com/

House Party (invite only)
With Roster MaCabe Acoustic/Chris Freir + Greg Glenn
Des Moines, IA
September30, 2012

Iowa City Yacht Club
(in support of The Haunted Windchimes)
Iowa City, IA
October 4^th, 2012

 RESERVED for PRIVATE party
Iowa City, IA
Friday October 19th, 2012

RESERVED for SURPRISE show TBA
Moline, IL
October 25, 2012

Iowa City Yacht Club
SOLO show
Iowa City, IA
November 15, 2012
http://www.iowacityyachtclub.org/

HERE is a little video shot at  Vaudeville Mews on 8/9/2012
With Nathen Maxwell and the Original Bunny Gang.
FUN TIMES!