When John McGettigan first moved to Moab from Pennsylvania, he wanted to open a rock and roll bed and breakfast. When buying a bed and breakfast proved out of his reach, McGettigan looked for another way to host music and came up with the idea of house concerts.
“I wanted to have a rock and roll bed and breakfast, and unfortunately the cost of buying a bed and breakfast was insane,” McGettigan said. “I didn’t have a million bucks, you know. So, I came up with the idea of ‘why not have house concerts with rock and roll?’”
John and Mary McGettigan will host the first Moab Coffee House Concert with artists Amanda Mora and Mollie Rose on Friday, May 23 at their home, 667 Byrd Avenue. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the concert will start at 7 p.m.
Amanda Mora was born in the Texas Hill country surrounded by musical heritage. Her mother, Jill Jones, was a national champion yodeler and her father, Doc Jones, was a Texas musician. In 2009, Mora self-produced and engineered her debut album, “The Ribbon.” She just recently released her second album, “Awaiting the Sound,” which she also self-produced and recorded. Mora was also nominated for Female Vocal Performance of the Year and Producer of the Year at the 2014 Texas Music Awards.
Joining Mora will be Mollie Rose. Rose is a classically trained cellist who started touring with Mora in 2013. With Mora on lead vocals and acoustic guitar and Rose on the cello and ukulele, the duo performs a fresh and unique twist on bluegrass and jazz.
“We play original music with an Americana/Folk backbone with flares of 20-40’s jazz and swing,” Mora said.
Mora and Rose, who McGettigan first met last year when they performed at the Peace Tree, are the only the beginning of the Moab Coffee House Concert series. McGettigan is also working to bring future concerts to Moab, both at his home and other venues such as the Peace Tree and Club Rio.
“There are future concerts coming from us, but they will be here and also at different venues,” he said. “On a bigger scale, I am looking at bringing big name acts to the Spanish Trail Arena, such as Rick Derringer and Edgar Winter and possibly Johnny Winter. It’s been a slow process, but things have been building steam.”
Opening for Mora and Rose will be Gigi Love. There will be light refreshments served, but anyone is able to bring a dish to share as well. Seating will be limited so McGettigan asks that people bring their own folding chairs. There is no entrance fee, but a donation of $10 is suggested.
Bluegrass and jazz of Amanda Mora and Mollie Rose to be played at Coffee House Concert
“I wanted to have a rock and roll bed and breakfast, and unfortunately the cost of buying a bed and breakfast was insane. I didn’t have a million bucks, you know. So, I came up with the idea of ‘why not have house concerts with rock and roll?’”
What: Moab Coffee House concert
Who: Amanda Mora and Mollie Rose
When: Friday, May 23, 7 p.m.
Where: McGettigan residence, 667 Byrd Ave.
Cost: Free/Suggested $10 Donation
