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Valley music lovers will soon have a new space for enjoying live acoustic music. The Listening Room Phoenix, an intimate live video recording studio and performance space will open its doors in Midtown Phoenix on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 6 p.m., with a special performance, Melanie – An Intimate Evening of Song and Conversation. This exclusive night will provide guests unprecedented, up-close-and-personal access to the songs and stories by Woodstock legend, Melanie, along with her son, guitar master Beau, and daughter, singer-songwriter, Jeordie.
Adam Smith and Jim Colletti. Courtesy of The Listening Room.
The brainchild of music industry veterans, Jim Colletti and Adam Smith, The Listening Room Phoenix was designed first-and-foremost with the performer in mind. Smith, an accomplished singer-songwriter and his manager, Colletti, dreamed of a space where everyone could enjoy pure, acoustic music that is free from the distractions of outside noise, clinking dishes, chatter, and other unwelcome sounds that often lessen the experience. With sound provided by Bose, The Listening Room is acoustically balanced and technically sound, offering the perfect space for acoustic performance artists and the people who appreciate them. Unlike any music space in the Valley, the 50-seat audience actually becomes part of the experience. Each show is recorded before a studio audience, enabling musicians to have a professional demo of their work in a distraction-free, live performance setting.
According to Colletti, “We truly believe if the performer has everything needed to present their best possible performance, the audience will surely have the best possible experience.”
Melanie. Photo by Mark Mawston.
On Sunday, Nov. 20 at 6 p.m., Woodstock legend, Melanie, will be the first performer to grace the stage of The Listening Room. In this intimate evening of song and conversation, Melanie will be accompanied by her son, Beau Jarred Schekeryk on guitar and other instruments, as well as joined by her daughter, Jeordie. Guests will have the chance to interact with the musicians during a post-show meet-and-greet.
Melanie first shot to stardom in 1969 with her unforgettable appearance at the Woodstock Festival. The performance prompted the now common phenomenon of signaling an artist for an encore by holding up some form of light. In her hit song, Lay Down (Candles in the Rain), Melanie shared her experience of when the audience lifted up their candles in the rain during her set at Woodstock. Melanie’s singles Brand New Key (Roller Skate Song), Lay Down (Candles in the Rain), Peace Will Come, Look What They’ve Done To My Song, Ma and Ruby Tuesday have all achieved chart success, with Brand New Key reaching number one and remaining in the charts for 18 weeks in 1971.
Tickets to Melanie – An Intimate Evening of Song and Conversation are $50 (+service fee) and can be purchased by visiting www.thelisteningroomphoenix.com. The Listening Room Phoenix is located near Seventh Street and Camelback Road at 4614 N. 7th St., Phoenix, Ariz., 85014.
