JOHN NEILSON Starlight Eyes John Neilson $0.99 JOHN NEILSON AUSTIN TX SINGER/SONGWRITER BIO STORE SHOWS CONTACT US HOUSE CONCERTS BIO John Neilson is truly an artist’s artist. He writes songs that are brutally honest, pure, and from the heart. He gained the attention of music supervisors while living in LA and secured licensing deals with Sony, and Viacom, and has had 14 of his songs placed on TV & Films. While in LA, he penned songs with platinum recording artists Sophie B. Hawkins & LA Guns. He also wrote songs with the Electro Dance act Oh Snap!!, who was signed to Sony/Onelove in Australia. Platinum Producer Jim Wirt heard some of Neilson’s demos and quickly got him into the studio to record. The two have recorded two records together, Wirt even played bass in Neilson’s live band while he was living in LA, playing venues like The Hotel Café, The Troubadour and House of Blues to name a few. Neilson also toured with Oh Snap!! in between singer songwriter tours. The two played Creamfield’s Festival in Australia to over 15,000 people. John Neilson now resides in Austin, TX, and has quickly become a mainstay at Strange Brew Lounge Side, the winner of Austin’s “Best Live Venue” at the 2014 Austin Music Awards. Strange Brew Lounge Side started an Independent Label in 2014, Lounge Side Records, and signed John to the label. His new record, “Tomorrow Comes the Spring”, is due out Feb 6th 2015. Jim Wirt produced the new record, which features the single “Lights of Los Angeles”. John has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with the likes of Jason Isbell, Patterson Hood, Joshua Radin, Bob Schneider, Brett Dennen, American Aquarium, Paul Thorn, William Fitzsimmons, Jon Dee Graham, Calexico, Augustana, One Republic, Katy Perry, Sophie B. Hawkins, Beth Orton, Sara Bareilles, Ian Moore, Kinky Friedman, Joe Pug, Matt the Electrician, Shelley King, Kevin Devine, LA GUNS, Oh Snap!!, Lil Jon, LMFAO and The Bloody Beetroots to name a few. What is a House Concert? A house concert is a concert in a living room. It's an intimate, casual, one-of-a-kind event that connects musicians and music-lovers. They're happening more and more frequently as artists find that 25 to 40 people can fit into a living room quite comfortably! Hosts have the opportunity to introduce their favorite artists to friends and create a unique musical moment for everyone involved. Musicians and songwriters get attentive audiences, new friends, and new fans. For these kinds of shows, I travel with my small PA. I usually play one 60 minute set, or two 45-minute sets of original music with a break in between. The host and I usually decide together on a "suggested donation" between $10 and $20. I also sell CDs, T-shirts, and other Merch. Often, hosts offer accommodation for the night. Hosts may choose to do potluck and BYOB,or something more simple like coffee and snacks. Every house concert I play is unique in it's own way, and it's part of what makes them so much fun. House concerts have emerged as a viable way for acoustic singer/songwriters to tour and build a fan base without relying on the typical clubs or venues. That said, making a house concert financially viable is essential. I prefer to work with the host on a show-by-show basis to come up with the best way to make a show work. Sometimes we go with a higher "suggested donation" for a smaller crowd, for example. I have found that people are generous when they feel that they've seen and heard something really special, so making sure the show is a great experience is always my priority. There are plenty of great resources for learning more about hosting a house concert (one of the best is www.concertsinyourhome.com), or I can talk you through it if it's your first time! The most important factor is that the show is advertised as a "sit down concert" - audience expectation will be the difference between having a party with background music and having a true concert. These are great shows for me to play as an acoustic performer. Would you like to host a House Concert? Contact me at johnneilsonmusic@gmail.com if you'd like to host a house concert. Powered by Bandzoogle