MARC COHN
The Outpost in the Burbs will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a double bill of Marc Cohn and Valerie June, plus “special guest” Ellis Paul, Oct. 20 at Montclair’s First Congregational Church. Tickets will go on sale at 11 a.m. this morning; visit outpostintheburbs.org.
Here are the seven shows currently in the Outpost’s Fall season.
Sept. 16: Anthony D’Amato, part of the Outpost’s “New Voices” series
Oct. 14: Nick Lowe
Oct. 20: Marc Cohn, Valerie June, Ellis Paul
Nov. 4: Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Dave Alvin
Nov. 17: Ian Hunter and the Rant Band
Dec. 1: John Gorka
Dec. 16: Laura Cantrell (not yet on sale)
In its 30 years, the Outpost has presented more than 500 concerts. Outpost volunteers have also contributed to projects benefiting organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Toys for Tots, the Human Needs Food Pantry of Montclair and the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.
Yesterday, on its Facebook page, the Outpost asked people to say what their first Outpost show was. Responses included …
“Can’t remember my first but I did seen Richard Thompson, Richie Havens and Richard Shindell with Lucy Kaplansky. Those were all awhile back.”
“Vienna Teng”
“Jayhawks”
“Jayhawks – it won’t be the last!”
“Raul Malo!”
“Joseph Arthur in December 2013. One of the best shows I’ve ever seen!”
“Nanci Griffith — but my favorite was the Jayhawks this year.”
“Aztec Two-step”
“Lets say – marty balin”
“Richard Shindell, I think 1997”
“Raul Malo!!”
“Elliott Murphy January 9, 1993”
“Richard Shindell. The best was David Bromberg and Angel Band. Hate to say I lived in town for over 10 years before discovering it.”
“Luka Bloom.”
“Richie Havens”
“Steve Forbert”
“So long ago I can’t remember”
“Willie Nile”
“Elaine Silver soon after Outpost started in the basement of the FCC.”
What was my first? I’m not sure, though it was probably someone like John Gorka or Christine Lavin, back in the late ’80s.
I’ve seen many other memorable shows there over the years, too. Richard Thompson’s “1000 Years of Popular Music” was perhaps my favorite, though it’s hard to say.
I worked in Montclair from 1986 to 1989, and have lived there since 2000, so for many of the Outpost’s 30 years, I’ve considered it a kind of musical home base. I saw Dar Williams for the first time there, back when she was just starting to make a national name for herself. So many other Outpost shows, too, including: Judy Collins and Nanci Griffith; Roger McGuinn; the annual Light of Day concerts; last year’s Concert for Haiti with Jen Chapin, Aztec Two-Step and others; the David Bowie tribute organized by Richard Barone; Maggie and Suzzy Roche; John Doe and Warren Zanes; Joan Osborne; Stacey Earle; Maura O’Connell; The Kennedys; David Bromberg …
