Jon Eric Music

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”…

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!

Thank you all so much for those that came out to the SLOW DOWN & SAVOR WASHINGTON event!
Jon Eric’s “formal” set at JP’s 207 from 7-9pm on 6.9.2011 was fun, but then he continued the after-party for those who worked so hard to bring you this event. After about 6 hours of playing and all the cds of “That Was Then- This Is NOW”
gone for those that wanted them- much fun was had by all who attended.

POSTED and Video recording by: Shave Hargas
I got the chance to hang with the banjo ninja a while back at a show in Chicago, and shot this groovy lil jam outside the venue during setbreak. Great times, great show, great people! Nuthin’ but love! — with Jon Eric at Reggie’s Rock Club, Chicago, IL.

See video below:
Dragonfly by Jon Eric

HERE is the online article

Photography by Jennifer Rockwell

Jon Eric wants each and every one of you had a wonderful and SAFE summer!
There are many surprises right around the corner with live performances and BRAND NEW instruments brought into the mix of his live sound. This banjo work he has been up to for the past few years is just the taste of icing on the musical cake!
So gear up, spread the word, and as the circles shrink and cross- YOU will be ready for it!

He also wants to thank SYSTEMS Unlimited and the Iowa City Free Lunch Program for allowing him to play for the good folks there. He urges, “If you can afford to give (especially by donating your TIME), lives CAN be changed!”

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!

While surroundings, friends, or situations outside ourselves change from year to year-

we evolve into the people we wish to be.

As there is just as much to be TRULY Thankful for, many of us loose sight of those who don’t have as much.

So here is your challenge everyone. Take a moment everyday and DO for someone. Could be as little as a smile or a sincere gift of your TIME. The best things in life can NOT be bought or require any kind of price. Try your best to bring out the positive in people. There are many in need in your own community. You walk by them and see them in your daily lives. Believe me the most important lessons learned this past 2 years for me is how much is in me to GIVE MORE.

Wishing you only LOVE, LIGHT, and MUCH RESPECT                                                                                                            (anything else can only be built on those 3 truths)

Banjoistically yours,                                                                                                                                                                                          Jon Eric

With many challenges through out the summer festival season, Jon Eric has been on it! Very thankful for the FULL time employment of music, has has taken the instruments of choice to many different levels.

So busy in fact that he “hired me” to write this blog to update everyone on his travels. Already booking into 2011 for shows and festivals he is reminded how much responsibility and time it takes to pursue his dream of musically serving those with need. While understanding the humbling nature of opportunities pouring forth, he is truly grateful for those who stuck by him through thick (and thin) UNCONDITIONALLY. Jon has learned more about how to give back this gift than to take. As he told me years ago, “The competition was taken out of the picture many years ago- there is no ego, only we-go.”

States hit in 2010 include: Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Virgina, Maryland, Kentucky, Tennessee, New York, and Pennsylvania

Bands or Artists he has performed on stage with in 2010 include:

Vince Herman and the Great American Taxi, Wookiefoot, Useful Jenkins, Dead Larry, Smokin’ Joe & Friends, Jaik Willis, The Justin Torres Project, The Johnson Family Band, Mountain Standard Time, Head for the Hills, Bucky Walters, 5 in a Hand, Ryan Persinger Project, Master Shake,         Cirrus Minor, Mr. Baber’s Neighbors- The Solar String Band, The Nada’s, Dustin Thomas, SlewGrass, Scott Cochran & Flannel, Thankful Dirt, Hannah’s Field, Milltown, Jamie Grimm, Chris Miller, David “The Hut” Huttner, Brock’s Bluegrass Bunch, Blue Storm, Carl Townes, Gentleman Jim Chatfield, Peter Nye & The Chicago Bluegrass Band, Workshy, Omega Dog, and The Gypsy Lumberjacks

Pictures off all these fantastic bands will be posted in an update to this blog when I receive them from Jon Eric.

Some are up and can be found HERE!

Sent to Jon Eric by Kevin Wick:

Check out this recording from a super jam at the Full Moon Hoopla with members of Natural Babbit (Jacob & Victoria), The Major Domo Band (Lief, Robert, & Kevin), Useful Jenkins (Lucas Volz), and Jon Eric

Click below to hear:

Head For The Hills Live at Iowa City Yacht Club on 2010-10-07 (October 7, 2010)

Special guest Jon Eric comes up for tunes 17-20 at the Iowa City Yacht Club show.

Head For The Hills Live at The Redstone Room on 2010-10-12 (October 12, 2010)

Special Guest Jon Eric sits in on cuts 11-13 then 21-23.

Full Moon Hoopla at the Sanctuary – Franklin, MN 9/17/10 – Natural Babbitt & Friends (w/Kevin Wick – Synth Mandolin, Leif Rasmussen – Drums, Robert Hubanks – Bass, Jon Eric – Banjo, and Lucas Volz – Mandolin)

Thank you for supporting his music and see you down the road!

**LOVE LIGHT AND MUCH RESPECT!