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!

The ’88 Stelling Bellflower Arch-top is now back in my lap
(I think “she” missed me a little)
The “spot repair” of the break was completed and repaired by Tom Nechville of Nechville Banjos
AND shipped back within a record breaking time (in my eyes) of only 4 days!
HUGE THANKS to Al Price (part of the West Coast branch of the Nechville team) for the encouragement of taking it to the shop- which was only 20 min away from the house hosting me for the evening!
Will still be saving up my pennies for a replacement neck down the road. Also VERY grateful to all the well wishes and donations that have come in so far & for those friends who shared my blog! ♥ u!

P/S Tonight I will be thrilled to play the Opening slot for Pert Near Sandstone
@ The Iowa City Yacht Club (9pm) 11/15/2012

Tomorrow November 16th, 2012 I am back at the BUCKTOWN REVUE  (click link for info)

See you there!

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 doing so many shows this fall, it’s nice to get balance and advise from my musical friends and family as to the direction the music journey flows to.

This week is exiting with an interview on KRUI-FM this Tuesday evening
on LOCAL TUNES with Jason Larson! Jason was actually the one who coined
the phrase “BANJO NINJA” and with the solid, clean, playing accuracy &
sitting in with several bands throughout the U.S. on festivals – it stuck!

THIS Thursday October 4th, 2012
Iowa City Yacht Club
from 8pm-11pm (all ages)
5.00 cover

Those wearing a Banjo Ninja or Peace Love Banjo shirt get in FREE!
Feel free to share or bring friends to this RARE solo Iowa City show.

Other Press on this show includes the URL links below:

FACEBOOK event page:
http://www.facebook.com/events/405448092847327/

KCRG / Cedar Rapids Gazette – Hoopla section
http://events.hooplanow.com/event_recurrences/38436-banjo-ninja-jon-eric-solo-show-yacht-club-iowa-city

The Iowa City Press Citizen
http://search.press-citizen.com/localevents/event//26175-Jon-Eric

Had an absolute blast at the Fiddler’s Picnic at the Iowa City Fairgrounds.
seeing old friends and making new ones- it seemed a perfect day for it.
So many times in the past it had been challenging weather with rain or cold-
This year hundreds attended for workshops and jamming http://www.fiddlerspicnic.org/ sponsored by:
Friends of Old Time Music in Iowa City. Their site can be found HERE

Many asked why I did not hit the main stage this year and by the time I arrived
at 1:45pm from working, the list was already filled to overflowing with the great Iowa acts wishing to be seen.

This “teacher” regrouped and became a STUDENT yesterday. Viewing from a different perspective.
And learning “how to” hear with different ears. Or the ears that have been REALLY listening this past 3 years!

Overall I had a BLAST. And shot video of the stage so I could do what I love best- and that’s PICKIN’ with friends.

Favorite Question of the day:      ”How did you get so LOUD on that banjo?”

My response:                                         “Lot’s of practice turning it UP @ 11:11!”

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!