Stoll Vaughan at Mandolin Cafe in Loveland, Colorado on February 11, 2010. Photo by H.M. Kerr-Schlaefer

I recently discovered Mandolin Cafe at 210 East 4th Street in Loveland, Colorado.  This relatively new addition to downtown, is a funky coffee shop with a musical soul.

Last Thursday evening, Stoll Vaughan, a singer/songwriter and stellar guitarist played a free show at Mandolin Cafe. Vaughan had approached owner Alex Zoll about playing at the coffee shop after Vaughan opened for The Elders at The Rialto Theater in Loveland, back in January.

Vaughan, equipped with a mic, speaker, harmonica and a couple guitars, played songs off his “Love Like a Mule” and “The Weatherman” CDs, as well as a few other tunes.  He also spent time chatting with the audience.

Mandolin Cafe is a great venue for true music lovers because it’s an intimate setting - the audience really feels the music and the musician is able to interact with the audience.

The cafe also has a wide variety of coffee, smoothies and shakes, as well as breakfast items, sandwiches, salads and even a kids menu. Our table ordered the Chicken Pesto Panini ($5.99) and Italian Panini ($5.99). Both were delicious.

We will definitely be back to Mandolin Cafe – for the music and the food.

See Mandolin Cafe’s entire musical line up at www.mandolincafeloveland.com or find them on Facebook.

Listen to Stoll Vaughan at www.StollVaughan.com.

Follow me on Twitter @HeidiTown.com

Troubadour Music Center & Instrument Repair, 521 2nd Street, Corvallis, Oregon. Photo from www.troubadourmusiccenter.com.

So far, 2010 has proven to be a good year for music.  The Mayor is currently in Corvallis, Oregon, and last night I attended a music event at Troubadour Music Center in downtown. Three Pickin’ Chicks took the stage – Mary Flower, Cyd Smith and Jamie Stillway - three of the most amazing guitarists on the West Coast.  The ladies play a mix of acoustic blues, jazz, and original material.

This was only the Three Pickin’ Chicks fourth show together. Each is an accomplished artists in her own right, but together I think they’ve undercovered a magical musical connection. 

“Acoustic Guitar” wrote of Flower, “With her immaculate guitar playing and warm contralto, Mary Flower finds the sweet spot between modern and rootsy in 12 tunes bred of back porches, parlors, street corners, juke joints, and country churches…” Flower has roots in Denver, Colorado, where she spent thirty years raising a family and making music. She now lives in Portland, Oregon. Find out more at www.maryflower.com.

Cyd Smith (Cindy Smith) was a well-known musician during Corvallis, Oregon’s seventies folk music scene, where she played with Highwater String Band. She now lives in Southern Oregon, but continues to contribute to Oregon’s musical soul. Visit her at www.myspace.com/cydsmith.

Jamie Stillway’s classically influenced style literally moved me to tears. The Minnesota native lived in Denver where she worked a Swallow Hill before moving to Portland, Oregon. The young guitarist has been compared to Bill Frisell and Leo Kotke, but she has discovered her own Stillway style. Her Web site is www.jamiestillway.com.