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FAQ
We get lots of questions here about all manner of things, so we hope this is helpful. If you have questions you can't find answers to, please feel free to contact us
- Are all of the show's listed on the calendar open to the public?
- How do I purchase CDs or downloads?
- I enjoy Andrew's music and would like to help - what can I do?
- What is a house concert? Can I go?
- How can I host a house concert?
- Andrew performs a lot at churches - are these religious services or performances open to the public?
- Who is Beyond Borders? Isn't that the name of his 4th CD? Did that band play on it?
- How do I book Andrew for a concert, festival or other appropriate (even if unusual) event?
- I hear Andrew does a variety of workshops and programs for schools, libraries, non-profits, corporate events and more. Where do I see the available offerings?
- I need downloadable high-resolution press photos
- I need Andrew's press kit
- I need Andrew's technical requirements and other performance info
- How can I contact Andrew directly?
- What is Falling Mountain Music?
- Who/what is/are/were Dang Varmints!?
If you can't find what you're looking for here or in the menu, please email us.
Q: Are all of the show's listed on the calendar open to the public?
A: Yes! House concerts usually require reservations be made in advance in order to get directions and other info, but they are certainly open to you if they are listed here.
Q: What is a house concert? Can I attend?
A: Pretty much just like it sounds; a concert in the intimacy of someone's living room or porch, but generally open to the public by reservation. Usually unplugged, always up close and personal, and one of the best ways to experience an acoustic music performance. If you've not attended a house concert previously, we strongly encourage you to take the opportunity! Andrew does somewhere between 30 and 50 each year in different parts of North America. They are clearly identified on the Concert Calendar. To find existing house concerts in your area, please visit www.houseconcerts.com.
Q: Andrew performs a lot at churches - are these religious services or performances open to the public?
A: Many churches, particularly Unitarian Universalist (U.U.) and Unity churches, host folk music concerts and coffeehouses independent of any religious mission. It is primarily serving as a venue for hosting a concert and maybe raising some money for the church community. These concerts listed on Andrew's website are open to the public and no different than a typical listening room or theater concert.
Andrew also often does Special Music Services on Sunday mornings for some of the UU and Unity congregations.
Q: Who is Beyond Borders? Isn't that the name of his 4th CD? Did that band play on it?
A: Beyond Borders is Andrew's current quartet with founding Nitty Gritty Dirt Band member Les Thompson, Stephanie Thompson, and Lisa Taylor. They joined forces at the Kennedy Center in March 2008 for the CD release concerts for his 5th CD Something Worth Standing For, and had such fun they decided to make a regular thing of it. They continue to play festivals, theaters and other concerts around the mid-Atlantic region - visit the band's site here. While each of the members has recorded with Andrew as long ago as 1998, the band was formed well after Beyond Borders was released in 2005.
Q: What is Falling Mountain Music?
A: From their home nestled in northwestern Virginia's Appalachian Mountains, Falling Mountain Music is an independent record label committed to bringing the finest contemporary and traditional Acoustic Music to discerning listeners around the world through online sales, radio airplay, and committed customer service one listener at a time. All of Andrew's CDs have been released on Falling Mountain.
Other label artists include singer/songwriters like fellow Virginian and Americana singer/songwriter Randy Barrett, folksinger Debra Cowan, contemporary and traditional folk duos wild carrot and Keith & Joan Pitzer, traditional Celtic groups The Unfortunate Rakes, The Bog Wanderers and Wolf Creek Session, and label founder, guitarist and composer Michael DeLalla.
Q: Who/what are Dang Varmints!?
A: Dang Varmints! were an exciting original acoustic Appalachian roots music trio consisting of Andrew on guitar and vocals, John Rickard on harmonica, guitar and vocals, and Jeff Arey on harmony vocals, mandolin, mandola and banjo. It was not Andrew's band, but rather a collaborative effort. Each of the members writes songs (very differently!), and their concerts featured all of their original material as well as some traditional tunes. During their time Dang Varmints! performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the US Capitol, the WMZQ Main Stage at the Fairfax Fall Festival, and the Smithsonian's Winter Holiday Celebration as well as a variety of festivals and summer concert series.
And the name? Depends on who you ask! Webster defines a varmint (with an "n") as "undesirable vermin", band spouses and loved ones say "truth in packaging", band members say any scraggly mammal that fits in a stew pot :) Truth is, the name comes from the old Bugs Bunny cartoons and the old western salt Yosemite Sam, who after realizing he'd been connived yet again by one of Bugs' plots, would fire his six-shooters every which way while hollering out, "OOOOOHHHH, I'll get you, you Dang Varmint!"
