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Community Corner

World traveling musicians Bet Williams and John Hodian return to the U.S. with their "Family Circus Tour" stopping at Camphill Village Kimberton Hills

Camphill Village Kimberton Hills will host musicians Bet Williams and Jack and John Hodian as part of their upcoming Family Circus Tour throughout the United States. The concert will be held Saturday, April 12, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. in Rose Hall.  Advance tickets are available for $15.00. 

From ancient monasteries in Armenia to music festivals in France, Germany & Switzerland, Bet Williams and John Hodian have been creating and performing music together for over 20 years. With both the world music ensemble “Epiphany Project” and the alt-rock-pop-blues based “Bet Williams Band” the music these two artists create is a vast quilt of influences and inspirations.

With their growing success overseas, the duo (originally from New York) settled in Berlin five years ago where they have built a strong cult following throughout Europe. Now Bet and John will be bringing music from both their bands to venues (and living rooms) all across America for a series of intimate concerts. This American tour is particularly special as they will be performing with their 10-year-old son, Jack, on drums and percussion.

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With influences ranging from Qawwali devotional songs to Appalachian Folk, acoustic blues and Tuvan throat singing, singer/songwriter Bet Williams uses her voice in an endless number of unusual ways. John Hodian’s piano playing features haunting melodies, intricate rhythms, and a soulful intensity that reflect his Armenian roots as well as his formal composition training and affinity for improvisation.

Epiphany Project has been described by the Washington Post as “a unique hybrid of world music, art song, Americana and avant-garde folk; utterly uncategorizable but always transcendently beautiful.”  Their music is a blend of ancient and modern cultures and musical styles, but the earthy, trance-like rhythms and chant melodies make it seem strangely familiar.

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Bet Williams is a fearless vocalist and dynamic performer whose music combines intelligent lyrics and infectious hooks. She has been lauded by National Public Radio as, “a blues-roots, new folk, tone poet with a highly charismatic stage presence and an astonishing four-octave range voice.” With a gift for storytelling and spontaneous humor, her stage performances can go from the profound and poetic to wild and spontaneous, at times bordering on performance art.

The upcoming performance at Rose Hall is a chance to hear music from both Bet Williams Band and Epiphany Project, along with an excerpt from John’s magnum opus “Nagash” based on texts by a 14th century Armenian mystic poet and priest.

Rose Hall, part of Camphill Village Kimberton Hills, was voted the "Best Live Music Venue" in Chester County by readers of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Its excellent acoustics and intimate feeling make it an amazing place to experience live music. 

The Camphill Café, adjacent to Rose Hall, will also be open for dinner prior to the concert and during intermission.  Seating for the BYOB dinner at the Camphill Café will begin at 6 p.m. with the concert following at 8 p.m.  Cost is $30 per person for both dinner and the concert.  Reservations are required for dinner and can be made online or by calling 610-935-8660.  The menu includes an entree from the sandwiches/salad menu or vegetarian quiche with salad, small soup, a drink and dessert.

Concert-only tickets will be available online and at Rose Hall for $15.  Visit www.camphillkimberton.org/FamilyCircus for more information and reservations. 

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Camphill Village Kimberton Hills – home to Rose Hall and the Camphill Café - is located at 1601 Pughtown Road, Kimberton, Pa.  Many GPS systems have trouble finding the location; please use Google maps for directions.

For more information on the community, visit www.camphillkimberton.org.

To find out more about Bet Williams Band, visit http://epiphanyrecords.com/bet-williams

For more information about Epiphany Project, visit: http://www.epiphany-project.com

 

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