People have asked us about house concerts:

House Concerts
We know that a lot of folks who buy our records can't easily come out to our live shows. Late show times, and long, late night drives home are both valid reasons for not supporting live music. The fact is that we, the artists, depend on both live shows as well as CD sales to survive. What if you could have your favorite artist come to your house instead? What if you could have your own private concert in your living room or on your deck? Why not? We folkies have been doing it for years...it's called a “house concert.”

You'd be surprised at how many people do this on a regular basis and have had an amazing array of brilliant artists perform at their homes over the years. Many people have become well known venues in their communities.

How does it work?
You contact the artist and set a date...it can be, and often is, on a week night. The week ends are our prime working nights in clubs, festivals and concert halls. Let's say that we are traveling through your area while touring around the country and have a open date on our calendar. Typically week nights are less likely to book up since not many venues book acts on nights early in the week, but sometimes there are just holes in calendars. It would be mutually beneficial to both the artist and you to arrange a show on less-bookable night, but - hey-- ask! We're usually nice, approachable people. Most of us have Web pages with contact information.

Now how do you afford to pay musicians to have them perform for you?
Easy! Invite your circle of friends, neighbors, associates at work! Think of about twenty or thirty friends -- think of it as 10 - 15 couples if that's easier -- who either already like our music (you do play our music for all your friends, don't you?) Or who might enjoy what we do and send out a flier. Something like: “In order to have a personal concert and sit within twenty feet of the artist in an intimate, smoke free environment we are suggesting a $10-$15 donation.” Some local governments may have tax rules about selling actual tickets, but ‘donations’ are always okay.

It’s just like any party really, it takes a little planning to make it a success. Start a couple of weeks or months in advance and follow up with your guests. Some folks like to make it a potluck meal with a concert after. Or just share some beverages, put out some chips and take up the donations. Twenty-five people at $12 each is $300. That works.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Make certain that your friends realize the difference between a house concert and a party with music. The only time we’ve ever seen problems with the house concert format is when guests arrive expecting a typical party and discover that instead of lots of talking and laughing with friends while ‘party music’ goes on in the background -- they are asked to sit and listen to music. As long as people are aware that they are coming to be a member of an audience attending a concert -- everything should be fine.

”How can I get twenty-five people in my living room?”
Again, it takes a little planning. Move the coffee table into a bedroom...borrow some folding chairs, use the kitchen chairs, put pillows on the floor or suggest people bring their own chairs or pillows. Give the artist a corner. Sometimes the performer can be set up in a spot where he can be seen from two rooms at once...set up two separate seating areas. Make sure to inform folks to arrive promptly at say 7:30. Get everyone into their seats by 8:00. Now, thank everyone for coming, introduce your favorite performer and sit back and enjoy the most satisfying concert of your life. The artist plays for an hour and a half or so...sells a few CDs....and your guests are home by 10:00. You, of course, are having the artist in your guest room or on your couch...so you get to wind down and share a bit of pleasant conversion. Up in the morning...a quick cup of coffee and everyone is on their way. We usually travel in a camper which suits us fine for sleeping arrangements -- an extension cord and a flat place to park and we’re all set.

If this way of enjoying a Pint & Dale concert sounds like something you might want to do...we'll be more than happy to help you pull it off. You can call 360-440-0654 and we will get you started, or you can e-mail us at PINTnDALE@pintndale.com.

Think about it! Hope to see you soon!

UK Magazine, The Living Tradition
Review of  Midnight On The Sea
Click here

New Pint & Dale Recording -- Midnight On The Seas

We’re so very excited about this CD that we just had to share the news with all the folks who have listened, sung along and supported our musical endeavors over the years.

Midnight On The Seas ranges from a traditional shanties and ballads to contemporary songs from some great writers who contribute to the world of nautical music. Song arrangements vary from simple acoustic duets to more complex pieces with marvelous backup musicians. The emotions run from heartfelt to downright silly.

*CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE “MIDNIGHT ON THE SEAS”

Here’s what’s on the new CD:

Willy Taylor is a traditional ballad chock full of classic themes — true love, betrayal, revenge, cross dressing. Our version is a mixture of several others we have heard over the years including The Voice Squad of Ireland and Rika Ruebsaat of British Columbia.

Most traditional sea shanties had simple melodies — easy to pick up and remember, easy to sing while engaged in the various jobs encountered aboard sailing ships. Shiny -Oh is an exception to the rule. Its jazzy melodic structure stands out in the crowd. We pair it with a hornpipe, The King of the Fairies because of the reference to ferry boats in the lyrics. Ha.

We heard Valparaíso sung at a folk club in the UK many years ago. One day it popped into William’s mind and led to this version. The image of the grizzled old sailor in a pub, quietly singing to himself of Cape Horn and days gone by is a powerful one.

Molly St George is a tune attributed to Thomas Connellan, a 17th century Irish harper and composer. We first heard it from the playing of Randal Bays.

Ms St. George must have been quite memorable to inspire such a gorgeous melody. We use this as a lead in to Her Bright Smile Haunts Me Still figuring that the unnamed, but, unforgettable woman of the song must have been a kindred spirit to Molly. We learned the song from Jeff Warner, whose song collecting parents, Frank and Anne Warner, made a field recording of a version sung by a pair of elderly sisters back in 1951.

The lyrics to Row On, Row On were found in the 1864 journal kept by a crew member on the New Bedford whaler The Three Brothers and published in Gale Huntington’s classic book, Songs the Whalemen Sang. UK musician Tim Laycock added a hymn like melody. We messed with the setting quite a bit to make our own version.

During a long stay in the Washington DC area, we had the opportunity to spend time with the lovely Jennifer Cutting, who wrote Steady as You Go for our friend Paul DiBlasi’s ailing father. Sadly, Paul himself passed away shortly after and this song became a source of support for his family and many friends.

Fire Maringo was a song used for pressing cotton into the holds of ships — a ‘cotton screwing’ shanty. Beyond that is all conjecture. There are varying theories as to the meaning of the chorus, the lyrics.

We used it to tie together a hurdy-gurdy tune and several musical bits of our own.

The story of Isaac Lewis seemed too bad to be true, but, amazingly enough it is based on a true occurrence from 1859 when the Royal Charter, returning from Australia, wrecked in a storm only 30 feet from shore. There were 450 casualties including Isaak, whose body washed up within sight of his own father’s house. The melody from the classic sea ballad, The Flying Cloud, worked with Tom Russell’s original lyrics so well that we couldn’t resist mixing the two.

Cyril Tawny wrote many nautical songs that became mainstays of maritime songbooks. Sally Free and Easy describes, in a few brief lines, the pain of a sailor’s romance gone bad.

It’s a rare for us to perform anywhere without a request for Nasty Nell. Janie Meneely wrote this cautionary tale of a Chesapeake Bay waterman’s encounter with a feisty mermaid. Free advice: Always be courteous to mythological characters!

New Stuff?

We are taking baby steps toward normalcy -- playing some local concerts and events, but continuing Live Streams to keep in touch with our farther flung listeners. Stay tuned!