Deeds: Sapphire Room blossoms with Americana series

Singer Michael Martin Murpheys idea for a concert series at The Riverside Hotels Sapphire Room didnt quite begin as a wildfire. It was more like a spark.

Two weeks earlier, Murphey had never heard of the place. He was just stopping in Boise to see his friend, country singer-songwriter Andy Byron, while passing through to visit his mother in Oregon. But Byron was excited. He talked Murphey into performing, then hastily arranged two shows at the intimate Sapphire Room. To the mens surprise, both sold out.

He was knocked out by it, Byron says. Over lunch Downtown the next day, ideas slowly began galloping like that mystical horse Murphey rode to the top of the charts back in 1975.

He looked across the table at me, Byron recalls, and he says, You need to start a music series over at that place. You need to call it Andy Byrons Americana Music Series. You need to bring in acts like me its a perfect room for that type of thing.

And he says, Theres going to be tons of acts like me that need to fill dates. Its a perfect thing to do on the weeknights. And it would be a great venue for them.

Aside from working with Murphey, Byron had never promoted a concert. But hes taking the leap. The series is a welcome addition to Boises concert scene, particularly for fans who crave an intimate room dedicated to the dying art of appreciating live performance. Here are the initial acts (with tickets available at americanamusicseries.net):

Country singer Suzy Bogguss, Feb. 26 and 27 (Someday Soon, Outbound Plane, Drive South).

Country singer and soft-rocker Michael Johnson, March 12 (Bluer Than Blue, This Night Wont Last Forever).

Country-tinged Irish-American group Solas, April 1 and 2 (who broke out in the mid-1990s with help from NPRs A Prairie Home Companion).

Singer-songwriter Karla Bonoff, April 9 and 10 (who wrote Bonnie Raitts Home and Linda Ronstadts Someone to Lay Down Beside Me, as well as landing her own hit in 1982 with Personally).

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Deeds: Sapphire Room blossoms with Americana series