SCENE SCRIBE
By Michael Swanger scenescribe@mchsi.com
Anchor Coffee House launches ninth, most ambitious concert series
Joel Kinser isn’t looking to reinvent the folk music wheel in Greater Des Moines, he just wants to keep it rolling.
Now in his ninth year as volunteer organizer of the Anchor Coffee House at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Des Moines, a secular concert series that he helped create nine years ago, Kinser is a steward of folk music in central Iowa. Though he doesn’t get paid for his efforts, he does it for the love of music.
“We just want to bring good music to town; that’s the reason we started all this,” said Kinser on his 49th birthday last week while packing his bags for a solo tour of his own out West. “We’ve even approached other churches to do the same thing because I can’t book all the people I want to book.”
Promoting secular concerts at a church is nothing new in Des Moines. Pat Oswald made it popular two decades ago when he booked concerts in the basement of the Basilica of St. John in Des Moines. Then Scott Stilwell followed with the Lighthouse Coffeehouse at West Des Moines Christian Church. Both series, however, ran their course, leaving Kinser to carry on the tradition.
“We looked at what Scott did and thought it was pretty cool,” Kinser said. “Before that, if you wanted to see a folk show you had to go to a bar. At the time, I didn’t want to go to a smoky bar and stay up until 1 a.m.”
To help cater to like-minded music fans and people of all ages, Kinser and a group of volunteers decided to make Anchor Coffee House a family friendly experience. Shows start at 7 p.m., free childcare is provided and fans can enjoy non-alcohol refreshments. But the focus is the music.
“People don’t come to get drunk or hook up,” Kinser said. “They come to listen.”
Though the environment might be conducive to listening, Kinser said he battles the same misperceptions that Oswald and Stilwell did by hosting concerts at a church.
“This is secular music, not sacred music,” he said. “We want people to know this is a cool place, and we don’t push any religious messages at all.”
Kinser, however, is promoting the Anchor Coffee House more than ever. There’s a lot riding on this year’s lineup, which includes a Dec. 11 show by renowned folk singer-songwriter John Gorka, arguably the biggest artist to play the series in its nine years.
“Getting him was a big step up for us. We live and die by ticket sales at the door, and this one has the potential to be a money maker or breaker,” Kinser said.
The 2010-2011 season includes six shows by Iowa, regional and national artists. Season tickets cost $60, though individual concert tickets are also available at Westminster (274-1534) and UpTempo Music in Beaverdale.
“I think our season ticket is the best deal in town for the level of entertainment we offer,” Kinser said. “We’re not doing it to make money. We love this kind of music, and that’s why we do it.” CV
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Anchor Coffee House 2010-11 season
Sept. 11 — Truckstop Souvenir — Iowa Americana duo of Dennis James and Lauryn Shapter. $10 advance, $12 door.
Oct. 23 — Big Joe & Jen — Anchor Coffee House’s Joel Kinser teams up with Jen Hughes to create “rural sophisticate” music. $10 advance, $12 door.
Dec. 11 — John Gorka — Described by Rolling Stone magazine as “the preeminent male singer-songwriter of the new folk movement.” $18 advance, $20 door.
Jan. 29 — Dennis Warner — Minnesota musician and author of the children’s book “Beads on One String.” $12 advance, $15 door.
March 19 — Mary McAdams — Des Moines singer-songwriter who won second place in the Songwriters Showcase at the Snowbird Mountain Music Festival in May and was a semi-finalist in the Lilith Fair Local Talent Search.
May 7 — Steve Seskin — Singer-songwriter who has written seven No. 1 songs, including Grammy-nominated “Grown Men Don’t Cry” and “Don’t Laugh at Me.”
Caption: John Gorka is one of six acts to play during Anchor Coffee House’s 2010-11 season.
Caption: Organizer Joel Kinser
