By Joel Frady

Coffee houses have been favorite places for musicians to jam out and enjoy a Cup of Joe for a long time.

Whether the musicians come solo or in large groups, the coffee house stage became popular for the informal setting that allows musicians and friends to enjoy different types of music and good conversation.

The Ashe County Arts Council will look to replicate that atmosphere when they hold their first Coffee House Talent Night of the 2009 season on Saturday, Feb. 28, at West Jefferson United Methodist Church. The event will begin at 7:30 and feature four regional acts.

"It's a great way to showcase local and regional talent," said Jane Lonon, executive director of the Ashe County Arts Council. "It's a variety show format, like The Ed Sullivan Show, so if you don't like the storyteller, wait 10 minutes and the bluegrass band will be on. If you don't like bluegrass, wait 10 minutes and the classical flute player will be there."

The arts council typically holds four to five Coffee House Talent Nights each year, and Lonon said, "we construct each show to show a real diverse array of the many kinds of performance talent that we have here. In any given evening" the audience will see traditional music, classical music, theater or blues.

"It's very informal, very casual," said Lonon. She later added that "it's a great way for newcomers to the area to meet new people. It's a great mixer. It's also a great way to get a good overview of local talent, and there's a never-ending list of folks to be able to present and showcase."

The February event will feature Sharon Kasel as the emcee. She will be introducing the other acts and performing bits between acts with the help of pianist Tammy Parunak and singer Becky Marsten.

Kasel will be joined by three musical acts: the guitar and fiddle duo of Wayne Henderson and Helen White, the King Bees Duo from Todd and the Forget-Me-Nots from Watauga County.

Rob Baskerville, who will be performing in the King Bees Duo with Penny Zamagni, said the coffee house atmosphere will give them "a chance to play what we're best at, which is the traditional blues.

"The thing that is interesting is that the audience will get the best out of you that way because you will put your best stuff out there," he said of the format. He noted that he looks forward "to playing for an attentive audience that is there just to hear music."

Henderson and White will bring their style to the event. Lonon said that "the combination of the two of them virtually needs no explanation." The two have been playing together for 14 years, but have also excelled individually: Henderson received the National Heritage Award from the White House in 1995 and played at the 1997 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Ga., while White is a champion fiddler who is also the founder and executive director of the Junior Appalachian Musicians program.

The Forget-Me-Nots will be returning to the event after a well-received performance in March of 2008. The student group is comprised of Ledah Finck, Willa Finck and Maura Shawn Scanlin, who have been performing their Celtic fiddling show since 2002 and have released an album, Fiddlers Three. The band originally formed in 1999 when all the members were in pre-school.

"They begin performing at the age of three and now, 10 years later, they're quite accomplished musicians," said Lonon. She noted that the group "just blew away the audience" last March.

Admission to the Coffee House Talent Night is $10 for adults and $5 for students. Lonon said that desserts will be offered along with coffee, tea, soft drinks and lemonade.

To find out more, call the Ashe County Arts Council at (336) 846-2787 or click to www.ashecountyarts.org.