From 2001 to 2007 the Lighthouse Coffeehouse Series at West Des Moines Christian Church brought dozens of concerts to the Des Moines area, including acts like John Gorka, the Alison Brown Quartet and Susan Werner.
The concert series always operated in the black for the church, but it also was a volunteer-run operation and booking shows got increasingly time consuming for Scott Stilwell, the founder of the series. After a four-year absence, the series has been revamped as Lighthouse Concerts, with Stilwell again running the series, now as the church's director of music and fine arts.Lighthouse Concerts will feature a monthly performance, with the schedule announced through 2012. Blues actMatt Woods & the Thunderbolts kicks things off this week.
Since Lighthouse ended in 2007, the church has added a new sanctuary. That larger space means Lighthouse shows will be spread across three locations: the church's courtyard, the sanctuary and the fellowship hall, where the series got its start.
Shows will include performances by local acts like Matt Woods andBig Joe & Jen to nationally known artists like Ronny Cox and Tom Kimmel.The most any Lighthouse show will cost is $10, with many going for $5.
"It can be hard to find a show where you can bring a family of four for $20," Stilwell said. "We're trying to present live music in a whole different environment."
The concert series always operated in the black for the church, but it also was a volunteer-run operation and booking shows got increasingly time consuming for Scott Stilwell, the founder of the series. After a four-year absence, the series has been revamped as Lighthouse Concerts, with Stilwell again running the series, now as the church's director of music and fine arts.Lighthouse Concerts will feature a monthly performance, with the schedule announced through 2012. Blues actMatt Woods & the Thunderbolts kicks things off this week.
Since Lighthouse ended in 2007, the church has added a new sanctuary. That larger space means Lighthouse shows will be spread across three locations: the church's courtyard, the sanctuary and the fellowship hall, where the series got its start.
Shows will include performances by local acts like Matt Woods andBig Joe & Jen to nationally known artists like Ronny Cox and Tom Kimmel.The most any Lighthouse show will cost is $10, with many going for $5.
"It can be hard to find a show where you can bring a family of four for $20," Stilwell said. "We're trying to present live music in a whole different environment."
-Josef Lawler
From The Des Moines Register Datebook
June 9, 2011
Blues trio Matt Woods andLocal The Thunderbolts plays the first show of The Lighthouse Concert Series at West Des Moines Christian Church on Friday, June 10 from 7 to 9 p.m. Admission is $5. Scott Stilwell, who founded the Lighthouse Coffeehouse from 2000 to 2007 at the church, is organizing the new series of folk, country, reggae and rock concerts in which ticket prices will not exceed $10. Other artists slated to perform include Max Jury (July 15), Dennis Warner (Aug. 12), Roots Rock Society (Sept. 11), Kim Richey (Oct. 21) and Tom Kimmel (Nov. 11). "The goal is to provide quality, inexpensive entertainment for everyone," Stilwell said. "The church had a good reputation for hosting concerts so it seemed like a natural thing for us to host shows again while keeping fans' budgets in mind."
-Michael Swanger
From CItyview,
Des Moines' Independent Weekly
June 8, 2011
June 8, 2011
From CItyview,
Des Moines' Independent Weekly
July 14, 2011
As a musician, concert promoter and music director, Scott Stilwell has a good understanding of the music business from both sides of the stage. He also understands that during tough economic times, discretionary funds for entertainment are among the first things to get cut from a family's budget. So when he founded The Lighthouse Concert Series at the West Des Moines Christian Church, which launched last month, he wanted to provide music fans of all ages the opportunity to see acclaimed artists at an affordable price, vowing to keep admission prices at $5 or $10.
"We want to make it affordable for everyone to experience live music. A family of four can see a Lighthouse show for what it would cost one person to see a show at most places," Stilwell said.
The monthly concert series, co-sponsored Grounds For Celebration, features a mix of national and Iowa folk, blues, alt-country, reggae and pop acts that Stilwell hopes will appeal to a variety of music fans. In addition to Dave Moore's ($10) performance there on Friday, July 15 at 7 p.m. in the church's outdoor courtyard, Stilwell has booked shows by award-winning national acts like Dennis Warner (Aug. 12), Roots Rock Society (Sept. 11), Kim Richey (Oct. 21) and Tom Kimmel (Nov. 11).
"We're already booked through 2012. It's amazing how many people wanted to come back and play at the church," Stilwell said.
Stilwell, who serves as director of music and fine arts at West Des Moines Christian Church, operated a similar concert series there from 2000 to 2007 that was known as The Lighthouse Coffeehouse. Over the years, it hosted performances by secular artists like John Gorka, Guy Davis and Patty Larkin.
"The Lighthouse Concert Series is a retooled version of The Lighthouse Coffeehouse. The church had a good reputation for hosting concerts so it seemed like a natural thing for us to host shows again," Stilwell said. "We know it might take some time to build it up again, but we know we have a good thing and that we're providing music fans another option."
The new series boasts three performance spaces including an outdoor courtyard, a coffeehouse (fellowship hall) and 500-seat sanctuary. All shows feature general admission seating, and tickets will be sold only at the door.
"We're trying to make this more about the music than the venue," Stilwell said. "We're not creating a party atmosphere with drink specials; we're presenting a listening environment with some of the finest music in the area that you can bring your family to."
This weekend's show marks the return of a renowned Iowa artist who performed at the church's previous concert series.
"It doesn't get a whole lot better than Dave Moore," said Stilwell. "His musical style is such that he doesn't have to pretend to be something or somebody else, whether he's working on a house or playing guitar. He's one of the most genuine artists I've ever known."
-Michael Swanger
Des Moines' Independent Weekly
July 14, 2011
As a musician, concert promoter and music director, Scott Stilwell has a good understanding of the music business from both sides of the stage. He also understands that during tough economic times, discretionary funds for entertainment are among the first things to get cut from a family's budget. So when he founded The Lighthouse Concert Series at the West Des Moines Christian Church, which launched last month, he wanted to provide music fans of all ages the opportunity to see acclaimed artists at an affordable price, vowing to keep admission prices at $5 or $10.
"We want to make it affordable for everyone to experience live music. A family of four can see a Lighthouse show for what it would cost one person to see a show at most places," Stilwell said.
The monthly concert series, co-sponsored Grounds For Celebration, features a mix of national and Iowa folk, blues, alt-country, reggae and pop acts that Stilwell hopes will appeal to a variety of music fans. In addition to Dave Moore's ($10) performance there on Friday, July 15 at 7 p.m. in the church's outdoor courtyard, Stilwell has booked shows by award-winning national acts like Dennis Warner (Aug. 12), Roots Rock Society (Sept. 11), Kim Richey (Oct. 21) and Tom Kimmel (Nov. 11).
"We're already booked through 2012. It's amazing how many people wanted to come back and play at the church," Stilwell said.
Stilwell, who serves as director of music and fine arts at West Des Moines Christian Church, operated a similar concert series there from 2000 to 2007 that was known as The Lighthouse Coffeehouse. Over the years, it hosted performances by secular artists like John Gorka, Guy Davis and Patty Larkin.
"The Lighthouse Concert Series is a retooled version of The Lighthouse Coffeehouse. The church had a good reputation for hosting concerts so it seemed like a natural thing for us to host shows again," Stilwell said. "We know it might take some time to build it up again, but we know we have a good thing and that we're providing music fans another option."
The new series boasts three performance spaces including an outdoor courtyard, a coffeehouse (fellowship hall) and 500-seat sanctuary. All shows feature general admission seating, and tickets will be sold only at the door.
"We're trying to make this more about the music than the venue," Stilwell said. "We're not creating a party atmosphere with drink specials; we're presenting a listening environment with some of the finest music in the area that you can bring your family to."
This weekend's show marks the return of a renowned Iowa artist who performed at the church's previous concert series.
"It doesn't get a whole lot better than Dave Moore," said Stilwell. "His musical style is such that he doesn't have to pretend to be something or somebody else, whether he's working on a house or playing guitar. He's one of the most genuine artists I've ever known."
-Michael Swanger
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