All The News That’s Fit To Sing
Info on upcoming barn shows, Over the Rhine spring tour dates, songwriting workshops & European dates in the letter below.
Greetings from a small farm in Ohio. The weather has been capricious, sometimes swinging wildly from balmy to freezing in a single day, or bringing high sustained winds, or fitful nights of storms and rain. But also, so many lovely days. Sometimes we look around with an uneasy giddiness/disbelief at what we are seeing.
Spring is arriving early. There is a canopy of birdsong in the mornings: bluebirds, redwing blackbirds with throats full of rusty hinges always, cardinals, song sparrows, Carolina wrens, mourning doves, house finches, robins (some of which are already sitting on their nests come what may). The peepers in the frog pond take over after dark (and sometimes all day long).
Together, like a recurring invitation, they seem to remind us that no matter what a new day brings, we do well to make room for a song.
In that spirit, it feels like it’s time. Open the calendar. Let’s get together and make some music.
GOOD DOG BAD DOG BARN LOFT CONCERTS at Nowhere Else
Friday, March 31, Gates open at 6pm, music starts at 7:30pm
Saturday, April 1, Gates open at 5pm, music starts at 7pm
We (Karin and I) will perform all the songs on Good Dog Bad Dog, one of Over the Rhine’s most beloved records, an album that one Belfast writer referred to as “Over the Rhine’s New Testament…” With just the grand piano and a few acoustic instruments in the barn loft, we’ll reopen this song cycle, and lean into the lines:
What a beautiful piece of heartache, this has all turned out to be…
Pack a picnic, we’ll have tables set up in the barn and plenty of festive beverages available. Weather permitting, we’ll light a bonfire after the music subsides, and lift a glass together to all the good dogs and more.
Saturday night’s concert will be filmed and recorded, and there is a streaming option available. Again, check out
overtherhine.com for more details.
Many more barn concerts to come in 2023, but this feels like a great way to get things rolling. Join us on the farm for some memorable nights.
As warmer weather arrives this spring, how could we resist the urge to ease out on the open road, pack our suitcases full of songs. Just a few shows at some lovely venues and listening rooms… Join us!
OVER THE RHINE SPRING TOUR DATES
April 27 Kalamazoo, MI ~ Bell’s Eccentric Cafe
April 28 Evanston, IL ~ SPACE
April 29 Stoughton, WI ~ Stoughton Opera House (Near Madison)
April 30 Minneapolis, MN ~ Dakota Jazz Club
June 8 Norfolk, VA ~ Virginia Arts Festival
June 9 Annapolis, MD ~ Rams Head Onstage
June 10 NYC, NY ~ City Winery
We are happy to announce our next round of NOWHERE ELSE SONGWRITING WORKSHOPS. These gatherings are always surprising and nourishing and seem to attract a wealth of kindred spirits from near and far. Rarely have we seen friendships and community form so quickly as we all gather to take a deep dive into the mystery called songwriting.
July 14-17 — Songwriting Workshop/Intensive PART 2: This workshop is open to anyone who has previously attended a songwriting workshop with Karin and Linford, either here on the farm or in Santa Fe. For the last decade (and more) we have been working on what the next steps forward might be for all of us who have already spent time together in a workshop setting. We are ready and excited to convene our first group of workshop alumni to compare notes, dig into lots of writing exercises together and lean into some fresh musical terrain. Email us at overtherhineofficial@gmail.com for more info.
September 22-25 — Fall Songwriting Workshop/Intensive: anyone is welcome at this workshop held during one of the most beautiful times of year here on our farm in Ohio. We’ll share some of the most important and useful things we’ve learned in the last 30+ years. You’ll be invited (but not obligated) to offer your songs, and we’ll do some collaborating as well. Please help us spread the word to those you know who may be interested.
The workshop experience is all about taking a few steps forward in your songwriting life, regardless of whether you are just starting out, or have been writing and recording for years. We’ve been told the workshop is helpful to writers of any persuasion, not just songwriters. (If you don’t consider yourself a songwriter but love music and records, hopefully this workshop will deepen your ability to listen. We need good listeners too. And you will still have the opportunity to collaborate. You might be surprised.) Email overtherhineofficial@gmail.com for more info. Very limited availability.
NOWHERE ELSE FESTIVAL EARLY BIRD TICKETS — Last Call: Our early bird ticket sale will be ending in a few weeks. Make plans now to join us on the farm for our annual extended musical family reunion, Labor Day Wknd, September 1-3. A weekend overflowing with music, conversation, wild edges, unfurling skies and green grass for days. Visit
nowhereelsefestival.com for more details.
NORTHERN IRELAND RETREAT, October 2-10, SOLD OUT. Our October retreat in Ireland filled up to the brim with a long waiting list. We’re working on a new set of dates for a second retreat in 2024. Stay tuned for more details hopefully soon.
We’re also thrilled to announce four CONCERTS IN THE NETHERLANDS in October, all in beautiful venues. We can’t wait to return to one of our favorite European countries and reconnect with those of you who have given our songs such a good life over the last few decades. Grateful.
October 11 Utrecht ~ TivoliVredenburg
October 12 Wageningen ~ Junushoff
October 13 Rotterdam ~ LantarenVester
October 14 Groningen ~ Spot Grongingen
There’s plenty more in the works, including more concerts/events that we’ll be announcing soon, upcoming recording sessions (still chasing some lost albums, plus there are new songs arriving) but we’ll leave it here for now. We’re looking forward to another musical year.