ming in every direction. Bova as you might expect is everywhere at once, playing her bass or guitar, singing and encouraging everyone to participate.

“It’s an itch or a chromosome disorder. I need to do this. It’s part of who I am,” she said.

“When the Cabin Concerts stopped, so many people missed it, especially me. Now that we’ve started up again, the response has been overwhelming. It’s a magical moment.”

Many times the word magic came up when discussing the reason for the success of the music series. Magic is a very open-ended word that means many things to many people; yet it somehow describes this feeling that seems indescribable or at least undeterminable. What is this thing that people feel when entranced by music and words, this feeling of euphoria mixed with elation and rapture that is so hard to explain but so wonderful to feel? “One of the key factors is the intimacy of the setting. That’s where the magic comes in,” said Bova. “I’m not willing to compromise on that. It’s why it works, because of the music in the setting creating this overall magical, musical experience.”

Locating a suitable spot where Bova could work her magic is the main reason it took so long to book another show under the Cabin Concert name. She bases much of her decision making on personal inspiration, and designs her venue with a keen sense of aesthetics, resulting in a mix of spirituality and practicality that allows a show to feel good, look great, and exude enchantment while running smoothly, on time and without a hitch in service, sound quality or space usage. It’s a gift that serves the audience well and suits the schedule of a few high-quality shows per year, rather than the more frequent bookings most venues require to stay in business.

But along with that choice of doing shows when she chooses came the handicap of finding a location. Without a home that doubles as an occasional venue, Bova searched for a place that suited her tastes in setting and that was available on an as-needed basis. When she discovered Gerry O’Beirne was touring the Midwest around the St. Patrick’s Day holiday, it seemed the Cabin Concerts were destined to live again, if only she could find the right spot. “I had to find a room with an intimate feel. That’s why it took two years to start again,” she said. “I can’t do it in a theater. We need a listening-room environment.”

She found it at a place that has gone through a few different names and proprietors in the last several years. Now called Upstairs at Charles and Limey’s in Phil’s Lounge, most recently before that it was the Loft, and is likely best known to the community as the really neat place above where Baur’s Restaurant used to be. The upstairs room seats about 120 patrons comfortably with bare brick walls, rounded windows and wooden beams giving the room a warm and natural feel and sound.

“One of the key factors is the intimacy of the setting. That’s where the magic comes in.”


There’s a nice-sized stage in the corner opposite from the entrance (not so common as one might think in music venues), various heights of tables and chairs to allow for good sight lines, and a staff willing to work with Bova’s idea of what a venue needs to be and do for a Cabin Concert experience.

“We’re no longer a house concert. It’s now a listening-room setting,” she said. “We can host the music, but we don’t have to move the furniture anymore.”

That’s not quite true because she’ll likely be scooting tables around and exchanging bar stools with lower seated chairs to improve someone’s view and make the room more appealing and accessible.

Overall there are many differences between hosting a concert in the home versus taking it to a public place. But then again, many basics remain the same. “Being able to bring great artists into an intimate setting where you aren’t tiers away in a balcony means so much to me,” said Bova. “Performers like it. They feed off it and the audience feeds off that. Barriers are down. It’s about connecting.”

Many other good things happen as well. The audience can visit with performers before and after the show and during breaks, buy merchandise directly from the artist, ensuring all the money earned goes straight to the source, and continue the longtime tradition of sharing live music within an intimate atmosphere.

Now that the New Cabin Concerts are rolling along, Bova is in contact with musician friends and well into booking the rest of 2009 in earnest. An updated Web site is in the works at www.thecabinconcerts.com and there is talk of producing a CD sampler of songs from previous concert performers. The shows almost always sell out and all seats are sold in advance, so get in on the act early if you want to attend. In fact the upcoming O’Beirne show is already full. Future artists on the very-likelyto-come-true wish list of top-shelf artists from the diverse, acoustic music world include the likes of Tim O’Brien, Robinella, Missy Raines, Jack Williams and others that tickle the fancy and strike a chord with the enterprising and spirited Bova. “This only works if it inspires me. It’s a labor of love,” she said. “Songwriters and musicians are here to pass on the stories and songs, and we need to hear them. It’s an essential part of being human.”

Contact Tom Irwin at [email protected]

Print | Back