More is a heck of a good time

Koffeehouse’s indie singer-songwriter fest outgrows the backyard

BY BILL BERRY

I’ve got to admit, Koffeehouse Music Productions founder Jeremy Koff drives me a little nutty. He always wants more: more stages, more speakers, more performers, more vender tables. More, more, more. As Event Services Manager for the LA County Arts Commission at the Ford Theatres, I help producers plan their front of house logistics. My usual line is: less IS more.

“Concentrate on the stage and the rest will take care of itself,” I say. “We’re a moderate sized venue,” I say. Jeremy counters with “What? The Ford is huge! And one of the greatest venues in Southern California!”  Through sheer force of will and a little nudging, Jeremy Koff and the staff at Koffeehouse have shown me that not only can more be better, but more is a heck of a good time.

Jeremy and I recently chatted under the trees on the Ford’s Edison Plaza and shared some laughs and stories about the road Koffeehouse Music has taken over the past few years. On August 7 Koffeehouse will present "An Evening of Independence: A Celebration of Singers, Songwriters and Music.  Their fourth such concert at the Ford will feature world-class artists including Katharine McPhee, Sixpence None the Richer and Jon McLaughlin.

The roots of Koffeehouse can be traced back to Jeremy’s musical family - his father and uncle founded the famed Juilliard String Quartet. As a young adult, the Koff Family Trio performed house concerts featuring his father on violin, his mother on piano and Jeremy on cello. “The concerts were an excuse to bring together good friends in an intimate setting to listen to great music,” he said.

After the Koff Family stopped performing as a group, Jeremy was hoping to replace this void in his life. He was introduced to a fellow music lover who had a passion for live home concerts with singer-songwriters. Together they teamed up to give home concerts. That was seven years ago.

Koffeehouse Music Productions founder Jeremy Koff

“I started hosting backyard house concerts at my home for selfish reasons, really,” he said. “I missed the house concerts that we’d give as a family. The experience is so much more rewarding than going out to listen to music, where too often there were musicians I didn't like, a sound system that was not optimal and an environment that wasn't appealing to me.”

 The idea grew. After a number of sold out house concerts (“I’d always invite the whole neighborhood, so no one called the police”), word of Koffeehouse concerts being a premier showcase for up and coming Los Angeles based singer-songwriters and bands grew. “I’d get 100 RSVPs in a few hours and was forced to close off the guest list,” he said.  "I knew I was offering something special and we started to look for larger spaces where we could still preserve the original experience."

 The next step was suggested by Jeremy’s neighbor, a Grammy nominated music director, who said, “Take your backyard to the Ford Amphitheatre.” “I laughed at him,” said Jeremy. “But after sleeping on it, I thought, why not? We produced our first concert here six weeks later.”

That’s where I came in. Jeremy and his production team (including the excellent Matt Davis, Mouse Bridwell and David Harbaugh) came to their first event production meeting with guns blazing. I mean they wanted to use every available space in the venue for their first show ever.  They had little over a month to put it together. I doubted their illusions of grandeur as first time Ford producers. “We want the audience to experience music from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave,” Jeremy told me. They were enthusiastic; kid-in-a-candy store enthusiastic. I was skeptical at best.

They wanted more. They brought ideas ranging from musicians serenading patrons in the parking lot to having separate concerts going on simultaneously at the box office, the picnic areas and the smoking section. We finally were able to come to an agreement. What convinced me was their passion and the concept of wall-to-wall music. We agreed the best alternative was to offer the audience a more intimate early concert on the Ford’s outdoor Edison Plaza before the main stage show. Thanks to the cooperation of the very capable and detail-oriented Koffeehouse and Ford staffs, the presentation of literally two separate and unique concerts was a challenge, but a resounding success. In the years since, the show has grown artistically and has become one of the highlights of the Ford’s Summer Season. More is indeed better.

In addition to the Ford, Koffeehouse produces over 40 events per year and is always interested in presenting more undiscovered talent. To be considered, please send your information and live music links to info@koffeehouse.com.

Koffeehouse is also into giving more. This year the beneficiary of all net proceeds is the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences MusiCares Foundation, Inc. MusiCares’ primary purpose is to focus the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues which directly impact the health and welfare of the music community. There will also be a silent auction during the event where all the proceeds will benefit MusiCares. “We are proud to be a small part of the MusiCares family,” said Jeremy.

Come and enjoy an evening of intimate performances at the Ford. Bring food and lots of friends. The more, the merrier.

Bill Berry, Event Services Manager for the Los Angeles County Arts Commission/Ford Theatres, is an award- winning radio producer as well as a lyricist and composer for theatre,  film and television.

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