Arts Humboldt鈥檚 coffee house series opened at the Humboldt Gallery on Feb. 4 with Humboldt staples Katie and Greg performing to a packed house.
The first coffee house ever was last year, but it was a one-off for 2014. This is essentially the first of the series that will include a host of other Humboldt talent.
鈥淭he gallery is perfect for cafes,鈥� said Arts Humboldt president, Tanya Schuler. 鈥淚t has a nice warm intimate setting and I think it makes the artists feel welcome, just like they鈥檙e in somebody鈥檚 house.鈥�
Performers Katie Nichol and Greg Marquis agreed, saying they would perform at the venue again if they were asked.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice. It sounds good in here,鈥� Nichol said.
The two began performing a few years ago when Marquis was recording an album and thought it could use a keyboard player. Nichol is a friend of his daughters, so he approached her and she agreed to play on the album.
鈥淓ver since then we sort of went, 鈥楾his works,鈥欌�� Marquis said.
The first few songs of the set featured Marquis and Nichol duetting with Marquis鈥檚 guitar providing the accompaniment. Marquis no doubt echoed some audience members鈥� thoughts by joking, 鈥淪he鈥檚 not just going to sit there. She knows how to play that thing.鈥�
Nichol went solo for a few songs, playing the keyboard to back up her pretty vocals.
The purpose of the coffee houses is twofold: the first is simple 鈥� Arts Humboldt is trying to promote the arts in Humboldt.
鈥淲e just felt there was a need in Humboldt to get something like this going. Get people out, make people aware of the arts, their local talent, getting people out and expressing themselves,鈥� Schuler said.
The other is simple: to give local talent a leg up in getting noticed.
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to be in the music business,鈥� Schuler said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really hard to break into; it鈥檚 hard to get your name out there, so if you can start it at a local level through word of mouth, that鈥檚 what it is, that鈥檚 what Arts Humboldt tries to do.鈥�
The next coffee house is at the Humboldt Gallery on March 25.
