I’m so lucky and grateful to be in the band for the Family Folk Machine, a community folk choir based in Iowa City. The Family Folk Machine was founded by and continues to be directed by my friend Jean Littlejohn. Jean is an incredibly talented musician as well as a very warm and kind person and she is… Read More Blooming Where You’re Planted
artwork by my talented father-in-law Jon Dutcher Many chances to enjoy traditional Irish music over the next several weeks! Here are just the ones that involve me: Monday, March 9, there will be a gathering of musicians playing Irish tunes at Micky’s Irish Pub in Iowa City beginning at 7 pm. Saturday, March 14, my… Read More The Season is Upon Us!
Jeff and I are looking forward to seeing you on Saturday, February 7 at the Lincoln Winebar in Mount Vernon, Iowa! We’ll start rolling at 7:30 pm. Jeffrey C. Capps (guitar/vocals) and Tara McGovern (fiddle/vocals) will make their Lincoln Winebar debut on February 7, 2015. The pair’s warm, understated harmonies and instrumentation find a perfect home in their… Read More Capps McGovern
We’ve lived in the greater Iowa City area for nearly twenty years and to say that we are smitten with our adopted hometown would be a grievous understatement. Of all the treasures here, and there are many, there is none so valuable as the Riverside Theatre, which has been providing full professional theatre seasons for over three… Read More A Christmas Carol
Before I had a marriage and sons and a mortgage and a band or three and a music studio and a hearty case of sleep deprivation, I was an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer assigned to the Extend the Dream Foundation. My specific task was coordinating art and music experiences at Uptown Bill’s when it was first opening… Read More This is why we CAN have nice things
Most of the time that we have a babysitter booked, we’re working. It might look like a night out on the town but it’s really a night out for everyone else. We’re on the job playing music. I mean, it’s really fun, sure. And yes, Joe and I are in the same band so we have… Read More Date Night
You came! And wasn’t it fun?! The 2014 Farmers Market tour starts strong! All right, Cedar Rapids, let’s see if you can compete…
I’ve played in just about every venue you can imagine and I unashamedly have my favorites. There’s a magical place in between the cavernous pubs and the concert halls where my heart sings along with my fiddle. It’s a place where kids climb trees over your shoulder and dogs bark their replies. It’s a distracting place, what with all… Read More Iowa City Farmers Market
Many thanks to the good folks at Marc Gunn’s Irish and Celtic Music Podcast for giving our song “Reynardine” (from our second album “Newry Town“) some airtime last month. A link to the complete podcast can be found here.
We have a new tradition among my grade 7 and up musicians to have our annual performance at Uptown Bill’s instead of the concert hall. This concert took place on Saturday, March 29, 2014. All photos are by the multi-talented Brandi Janssen. Annie and I playing Christopher Twigg‘s ‘The Forgotten Chateau’ arranged by Kevin Burke… Read More McGovern Music Studio at Uptown Bill’s
Tara McGovern 