Updated: 13 February 2010

Acoustic Eidolon invites two other musical couples in a very special Valentine’s weekend concert, 'Couples In Love & Music: A Night of Pure Musical Passion, Humor & Love'. The concert features Acoustic Eidolon, Grammy Award winning Al Pettaway & Amy White, and Joe Ebel & Annie Lalley. Share an intimate evening with 3 couples who have dedicated their lives to making music together and sharing their stories.

Acoustic Eidolon

Fate has a magical way of bringing people together. Take the case of Joe and Hannah, aka Acoustic Eidolon. In 1995, Hannah, a studio cellist, received a call to play on a Boulder ensemble’s record. Hannah listened in amazement as directions to the recording studio told her to turn on a small road near her home, and then turn down her own street past her house! Little did Hannah know that across the street and three houses away lived Joe, the greatest double-neck guitjo player in the world (OK, the only double-neck guitjo player in the world).

A few years after they met, Joe and Hannah both found themselves between full-time musical engagements. Joe called Hannah, saying he’d always wanted to hear the cello and the guitjo together. He had a feeling the harp-like sound of the guitjo, combined with the warmth of Hannah’s cello would be beautiful together. So on a snowy day in February 1998, they got together to play for the first time. What happened next was magic. Captivated by the music they created together, Joe and Hannah to start rehearsing full-time, and form what would become Acoustic Eidolon.

What started as a musical/business partnership and friendship blossomed into their marriage on October 14, 2001. Hannah and Joe (and sons Zach and Alex) became a family. Joe and Hannah joke that this was a marriage of convenience since they were already together all the time anyway! But, anyone watching them perform can feel the love that draws them together. Their love for one another, and their passion for life, speaks through their music.

Al & Amy

Al & Amy first began performing and recording together as a duo in early 1995.  Since then, they have performed at some of the finest venues in the U.S.  Their sound is an exciting blend of original, traditional, contemporary Celtic and Appalachian-influenced music.  They offer a repertoire that includes extensive instrumental work as well as a fine touch of vocals and features acoustic guitars, mandolin, Celtic harp, banjo, Irish bouzouki, piano and world percussion. They are among the most respected and well-loved acts in the acoustic music scene. 

Al and Amy were Artists in Residence at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage and Warren Wilson College.  Their signature sound is heard often on NPR, satellite, internet and independent radio stations.  Their music has also been used in soundtracks for independent films including Ken Burns' documentaries on "Mark Twain" and more recently, "The National Parks - America's Greatest Idea."  While living in the Washington, D.C. area, Al & Amy won a grand total of 50 WAMMIES from the Washington Area Music Association in the Folk, Celtic and New Age categories as well as 5 separate grants from the Maryland State Arts Council. In 2001, Al & Amy received a coveted INDIE Award in the acoustic instrumental category from the Association for Independent Music for their album Gratitude.

Their multi-media show, "Land of the Sky” combines live music with projections of Al & Amy's nature photography of the Southern Appalachians.  Since Al worked at the National Geographic Society for eighteen years, Al & Amy’s photographs are part of the archives of the National Geographic and their work is represented world-wide by the National Geographic Image Collection.   The “Land of the Sky” multi-media show debuted on "Earth Day" at the National Geographic’s Grosvenor Auditorium in the spring of 2005 and continues to be a very popular presentation.

Annie Lalley & Joe Ebel

For singer-songwriter Annie Lalley, making things beautiful is as natural as breathing. Whether it is the soulful rock-path flower garden behind her Asheville, North Carolina home or the flowing songs she spins from the threads of her experiences, Annie Lalley does life from the heart. And then there's ‘The Voice.’ Accomplished to the point of being able to perform anything from classical to Broadway, jazz to contemporary folk, Lalley's "spine tingling" vocal style for her original songs ranges from naked tenderness to sultry pop. She has a unique history which comes out in her song writing, a process she describes as "a way for me to try to know myself and how I'm reacting to the life around me." It's often a painful path to walk, but Lalley covers her emotional ground with courage, insight and maturity. She is joined in concert by her husband, Joe Ebel, a masterful musician in his own right, who plays five-string violin and guitar and joins Annie on vocals.

Lalley's current release, Jungle Heart, produced by the award winning singer-songwriter, Chris Rosser, and co-produced by Annie Lalley and Walter Parks, serves up a diverse mix of stunning vocals and arrangements with folk, pop and world influences. U.S. Fingerstyle Champion and Windham Hill artist, Bill Mize is a frequent side-man and performed on both her debut and Jungle Heart.

Joe Ebel lends his violin skills on several tracks as well. He has three albums to his credit, the first two with guitarist Ken Bonfield. His current solo release, Primebel, is a collection of songs for acoustic guitar and five-string violin. It has garnered placement on three “Best of 2003” lists. Joe has an extensive history of touring and playing live. He has performed concerts and festivals all across the United States in venues from Seattle to New York. Joe Ebel has been playing music his entire life. Oh, and he once rode a boxcar from Wisconsin to Seattle.

Forget the cliché flowers & chocolates. Treat your sweetie to a unique evening of music.

Sam Broyles