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!

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!

Trillium Connect in Highbridge Hills, Wisconsin was such a FUN time- with heat wind and Sunday rain washing away the dust coated cars and tents. Everyone Jon Eric chatted with was geared up for the summer festival season which is now upon us. HUGE thank you’s sent out to Useful Jenkins (Mankato, MN) — Dead Larry (Minneapolis, MN) & Smokin Joe Scarpellino (of Dead Larry) for having the “Banjo Ninja” sit in, along with doing his own solo set. Such a giving time to friends who attend when notes can be shared with others.

THIS weekend holds exiting and brand new places Jon Eric has not played yet— LAWRENCE, KANSAS!
Jon Eric will be giving a FREE show to those who wish to attend at Barnyard Beer 
Also there is a press write up HERE 
Doors @9pm  on 5/25/2012

There will be fun times for those seeing 1st hand how these tunes are constructed and built from the ground up.
Texturing one instrument or voice into another until the end result being an all out “SONIC BLISS”.

Spring, being right around the corner, has teased with warmer weather.

The gig schedules have picked up and taken shape for those bands or festivals needing something a little “different” on 5 string banjo! These include DEAD LARRY with their 2nd release, “As The Radio”!  Their tour has been quite bittersweet with the passing of Alyssa Baye (For those that have seen the colorful banjo head “presented” back in September, SHE painted it.) Her memory lives on in those she has touched and I am quite thankful to have known her even for a brief time.

From the MidWest branching out one fan at a time, Jon Eric has been working hard to bring the music he loves to play and/or sing to YOU!

There are a few you tube videos out that you may or may not have seen yet, below are a few.

Halloween- Wookiefoot playing “Activate” with Special Guest Jon Eric on Banjo

Wookiefoot \”Activate\” Halloween- with Special Guest Jon Eric

Duluth, MN #1 Wookiefoot with Jon Eric shredding on 5 string banjo

Wookiefoot with Special Guest Jon Eric on 5 string banjo!

Wookiefoot featuring Smokin’ Joe Scarpellino (bassist of Dead Larry)

Smokin\’ Joe Scarpellino, Wookiefoot, and Jon Eric play GOIN\’ UP!

Also for those wishing to add search for Jon Eric Music on Face Book click HERE

For Electronic Press Kit (EPK) visit Jon Eric’s Reverb Nation site HERE. This site has all the current videos, press, photos, dates, and updates.

GO & share with friends or those you think may enjoy!