When Global TV checked in with me a few weeks back, to say they were planning a news spot on House Concerts, I knew which show would be perfect for them to highlight the phenomenon – our upcoming show with the Hupman Brothers…
The Hupmans…the “Hups” as their closer friends may call them… Scott and Ryan…could well be the next name to put Nova Scotia on the map as a hotbed of cool guitar picking, smooth songwriting, and all-round great fun-ness. Although youthful in appearance, these Annapolis Valley residing guys (hailing from Shelburne, originally) are steeped in dozens of pub gigs, five Deep Roots Festivals, years of co-writing and trading/blending tunes on guitar and a few road trips as well – one with Matt Anderson took them afar earlier this year.
Their live show, completely engaging from start to finish, is peppered with great stories, a sincere sense of camaraderie (between brothers – and with an attentive audience) and more insightful tunes than should be legal for guys of this vintage. Up-tempo and with infectious rhythms and choruses, their songs are deftly written – taking you to many a place and through many an experience without feeling too burdened with the personal side of things that some artists lay on their audiences. Maybe it’s just because the Hupmans are basically happy and well-adjusted, but they seem to inject lightness and humour into most of their songs and introduce them with just the right amount of information. Let’s not forget the guitar skills that they’ve obviously been honing for many years – each of them shines at least once in every song, and each is ready to stand back and let that happen for the other.
Of course the evening ended too soon – but it was an eventful night that saw the arrival of Global TV after the guys had soundchecked – ready to interview them about their careers and their house concert experiences….through my own interview, the feeling of panic when no one seemed to be showing up (the house filled all at once at 7:25) and then the two great sets of songs – many from their newer CD “Counting Quarters.” During the break we all engaged in some serious eating – there was more food than the audience could handle, and when some friends of the Hupmans arrived late after a long drive from the Valley, they helped make short work of some of the still generous plates of munchies. Global shot more footage than you can shake a stick at – I’m sure they have enough to do a half-hour special 
but we will see it edited down to a 2-minute news spot sometime this week, I hope! Not keen on seeing myself on TV but when you’ve been at this house concert network thing for three or four years and have hosted and/or attended 40 or more shows you have to step up sooner or later, I guess. I love what acousticroof.ca is doing and we just want to keep the house concerts going – here in our own home, and throughout our network.
If you would like to host a house concert, we can tell you how!
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