February 18 - Brother Sun (Greg Greenway, Joe Jencks and Pat Wictor)

Pat Wictor, Greg Greenway, and Joe Jencks have formed the dynamic new male trio Brother Sun. Their harmonies, as much as their lyrics, tell what they are about: warm as a campfire, stirring as a gospel church, rousing as a call to arms. Calling upon contemporary songwriting, and informed by the deep roots of gospel, blues, and folk, the trio weaves a tapestry of harmony that is brilliantly fresh and yet familiar.

Greg Greenway is a rare combination of instrumental expertise, a soulful and moving singer, powerful poet, and sparkling entertainer. Put simply, he is one of the finest entertainers you'll ever see. Joe Jencks is an international touring performer, songwriter, entertainer, and educator, based in Chicago, IL. He is noted for his unique merging of musical beauty, social consciousness, and spiritual exploration which he weaves a diverse web of stories with brilliant musical skill. Pat Wictor first burst on the folk and acoustic scene as an innovative slide guitarist known for doing fresh and memorable versions of traditional and contemporary songs. He's become a well-regarded singer and songwriter, writing material grounded in the rural country, gospel, and blues traditions of our nation.

Sharon Tse & John Finan will open the show.  Sharon combines the influences of folk, pop and jazz into her own unforgettable sound, to create songs that stay with you.  John's music is a mix of contemporary folk and rock with strong melodies, intelligent lyrics, and a sense of humor.

Please note:  The cost for this show will be $15 general admission and $13 for seniors and students.

March 17 - Claudia Schmidt

Almost four decades as a touring professional have found Michigan native Claudia Schmidt traversing North America, as well as Europe, in intimate venues, theaters and festival stages.  She has recorded fourteen albums of mostly original songs, exploring folk, blues, and jazz idioms featuring her acclaimed 12-string guitar and mountain dulcimer playing. Songs that range from lying on sandy beaches under an endless barrage of northern lights to the expected anguish and frustration of spinning tires on cars stuck deep in snow, Claudia interweaves music, poetry, story, laughter. drama, and celebrating the moment into every performance.

"Claudia Schmidt is a true artist-she has talent AND the fire of genius." - The Boston Globe

Luti Erbeznik will open. Raised in the multiethnic milieu of the former Yugoslavia, Luti grew up immersed in diverse European folk music. This influence, combined with exposure to melodic rock and classical music, helped forge Luti's eclectic music style filled with harmonious vocals, intricate guitar work and sophisticated percussion.

Save these Dates for Upcoming MAMA's Shows!

• April 21 - Dick Siegel and The Brandos headline with Fred Ball opening
• May 19 - Jill Jack with Mark Iannance headline with with MAMA's own Dennis Kingsbury opening

General Information

• MAMA's Coffeehouse is held at Birmingham Unitarian Church. Click here for directions.
• General admission is $12 unless otherwise indicated. Seniors (62 and over), and those under 18, are $10. Children 12 and under are free.
• Shows begin at 8:00pm unless otherwise specified. Doors open at 7:00pm with open mic beginning 15 minutes later.
• Open mic starts at 7:30pm with 2 reserved spots available. Please e-mail Jim Bizer at jb@jimbizer.com if you wish to reserve a spot. Walk-ins can sometimes be accommodated.
• Volunteers receive free admission! Please e-mail MamasCoffeeHouse@ameritech.net if you are interested.
• To be added to the MAMA's e-mail list or mailing list, send an e-mail message to MamasCoffeeHouse@ameritech.net.  Be sure to indicate which list(s) to add your information.