Launched in 2009, Live from the Artists Den is an Emmy-nominated television concert series featuring “extraordinary artists in extraordinary settings.” The series travels the country hosting free, invite-only concerts with music’s biggest talents in unlikely historic settings such as libraries, temples, cathedrals, sailing vessels, ranches, and more.
Past episodes include Ringo Starr at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, Robert Plant at Nashville’s War Memorial Auditorium, Ani DeFranco at Philadelphia’s Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Ingrid Michaelson at Cape Cod’s Cape Cinema, Booker T. Jones at New Orleans’ Ogden Museum of Southern Art, Dierks Bentley at Chicago’s Ravenswood Billboard Factory and so on.
In November 2010, I heard whispers of a “secret show” featuring Ray LaMontange and the Pariah Dogs. I tracked down the information and, soon after, received an email that I was invited to the show at the historic Don Strange Ranch in Boerne, Texas. It was an incredible experience…400 music fans on a ranch in, essentially, the middle of nowhere. We drove through the ranch’s gate and down a long dirt path surrounded by cows and other livestock. When we arrived we were greeted by an open bar and buffet in a pavilion surrounded by covered wagons (!) and fire pits.
The actual performance took place in a beautifully decorated barn, full of wooden chairs, paper lanterns, and globe lighting. Ray Lamontagne, along with his Pariah Dogs and The Secret Sisters, played an incredible set of songs from God Willin’ and the Creek Don’t Rise combined with hits like “Trouble.” It was the perfect setting for Ray and, definitely, one of the best concerts I’ve been to. And it’s on video:
The show’s fourth season premiered last Friday and continues this Friday, February 10th on Public Television. The season features performances from Adele, The Fray, Death Cab for Cutie, Kid Rock, Iron & Wine, and Amos Lee. Not a bad mix of artists…
Full concerts and episode highlights are available on Hulu and live CDs/DVDs are available from Artists Den Records. Want to be privy to the next secret taping? Sign up for the mailing list!
– Submitted by Jessica Reed, Social Media