Musical Lairs House Concerts

Craig Bickhardt

April 1, 2023

When Craig Bickhardt steps onto a concert stage, he comes equipped with his trusty acoustic guitar. A side musician or two will frequently join him. He's also accompanied by something invisible, yet ever-present: the stories of a lifetime, vividly translated into words and melody. From the boisterous club scene of Philadelphia to the country-rock milieu of Los Angeles to the picking parlors of Nashville, Craig has immersed himself in the sights and sounds of American music.

Craig is a singer/songwriter of the old school - you can hear echoes of such artists as Tom Rush, Gordon Lightfoot and Eric Andersen in his work. Added to this is the melodic sophistication of a Jimmy Webb or a Paul Simon. Also crucial to Craig's art is his virtuosic guitar work, interweaving folk, blues, country and ragtime influences into a unique whole: "The guitar isn't just an accompanying instrument for me - sometimes it’s the front man and my voice is the accompanist."

Craig secured an assignment to write and sing songs for Tender Mercies, a country music- themed film starring Robert Duvall. This led to a lengthy residency in Nashville, where he saw his songs recorded by such legends as Ray Charles, B.B. King, Johnny Cash, the Judds, Tony Rice and Alison Krauss. All the while, Craig continued playing his music live at the Bluebird Café and other clubs in the Nashville area. The call to the stage grew stronger after he released his first solo album, Easy Fires, in 2001. In 2006 he returned to his Pennsylvania roots and fully came into his own as a solo performer.

His decades in music have given his performances the depth of experience - his love songs seem sweeter and more poignant, his story-song narratives more true-to-life than they could have in the past. "I think people come to my shows to be reminded there's something profound in the small stuff we experience every day." "My goal is to get an audience to look deeper at the things we all take for granted."

COVID-19 Protocols

Until further notice we will observe the following safety protocols:

• There will be no communal food. The dining room will be closed. Bottled water will be provided. Attendees are welcome to bring snacks for themselves, but not for sharing.
• EVERY attendee must show proof of full vaccination (i.e. two weeks post final vaccine). NO EXCEPTIONS.
• At this time, masks are optional for attendees.

Fans and air purifiers will be in use throughout the evening and weather permitting, outside air will circulate. People will be encouraged to stay in family or group pods and the sun porch will be used to provide more space.

ALL OF THIS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. At the time of this writing (11/2021), booster shots are now available, children are getting vaccinated, and the numbers on the Main Line continue to trend in a hopeful direction. Should that trend change, shows will be postponed or cancelled. Thank you for your cooperation during this difficult time.