25 Years of History
Community Church Concerts was born on June 3, 2000, when founders Trish and Tony Galfano opened the doors of Community Church of Chapel Hill to something they thought they could pull off - a true listening room right in their church, where acoustic artists and an attentive audience could share something singular.
What began as the Community Church Coffeehouse - paper tickets, $15 at the door, and a faith that people would show up, grew steadily into something people planned their seasons around. Trish and Tony ran it for over a decade. Terry Baker carried it forward for another twelve years, keeping artists like the Kruger Brothers coming back season after season, and turning first-time bookings into long relationships. The series has always been a kind of open house - the community gathering for music in the church, and the proceeds going right back into it.
Twenty-five years later, the room is still full.
Concert director Terry Baker introduces the Kruger Brothers - December 2018.
The Kruger Brothers were there on opening night, June 3, 2000 - when founder Tony Galfano joined them on stage for 'Good Old Mountain Dew.' They've been back every year since, and they're back again for the 25th anniversary season.
Thanks to a fan with a recorder, you can hear exactly what that first night sounded like. We aren't even making this up: it includes the world premiere of 'Shower,' debuted that night for the first time in front of any audience. 'We saved this one for Chapel Hill,' Uwe told the room. 'We still don't have a name for it.'
Listen to the live recording → https://archive.org/
Concert director Terry Baker introduces the Kruger Brothers - December 2018.
The Kruger Brothers were there on opening night, June 3, 2000 - when founder Tony Galfano joined them on stage for 'Good Old Mountain Dew.' They've been back every year since, and they're back again for the 25th anniversary season.
Thanks to a fan with a recorder, you can hear exactly what that first night sounded like. We aren't even making this up: it includes the world premiere of 'Shower,' debuted that night for the first time in front of any audience. 'We saved this one for Chapel Hill,' Uwe told the room. 'We still don't have a name for it.'
Listen to the live recording → https://archive.org/
April 5, 2002 — Multiple Grammy and IBMA winner Tim O'Brien with Darrell Scott.
Two of the most restless, boundary-pushing voices in American roots music -and one of the early nights that showed what this series could become.
April 5, 2002 — Multiple Grammy and IBMA winner Tim O'Brien with Darrell Scott.
Two of the most restless, boundary-pushing voices in American roots music -and one of the early nights that showed what this series could become.
October 26, 2002 — Mandolin master Mike Marshall and fifiddle visionary Darol Anger.
Pioneers of the New Acoustic Music movement and alumni of the David Grisman Quintet. Coming back for the 25th anniversary season.
Thanks to a fan with a recorder, you can hear exactly what that October night sounded like.
Download the live recording (flac, free) → https://bluegrassarchive.com/
"A sanctuary for live acoustic music and a place where musicianship is treated with reverence.”
Founders era, circa 2002 — Tony Galfano (left) with Danny Gotham and Tim O'Brien.
March 16, 2003 - Seven-time Grammy winner Edgar Meyer with Mike Marshall.
One of the most original bassists in any genre. Back for the 25th anniversary season.
Listen to a live recording - one month later at the San Francisco Jazz Festival.
Listen → www.archive.org
September 13, 2003 — The Tony Rice Unit at Community Church Coffeehouse.
One of the most infuential acoustic guitarists in American music. Tony returned to this stage six times between 2003 and 2012.
Thanks to a fan with a recorder, you can hear exactly what that night in 2003 sounded like.
Listen to the live recording → www.archive.org
February 7, 2004 — Vassar Clements (Old & In The Way, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Earl Scruggs Revue) performs at CCC with The Carter Brothers.
"That's the last time they saw us play. So it was an
extra-special night for us." — Tim Carter
December 7, 2008 — Richie Havens, who famously opened Woodstock in 1969, performs at CCC.
He spoke with NPR's Weekend Edition that same week.
Listen → Weekend Edition on NPR
November 8, 2009 - Two-time Grammy winner and Hall of Fame inductee Janis Ian performs at CCC.
“We need more like you." — Janis Ian
February 11, 2012 — Solas, hailed by the Boston Globe as 'the finest Celtic ensemble this country has ever produced,' brings their Irish sound to the CCC stage.
They're coming back for the 25th anniversary season.
Listen to their 2012 live performance on Mountain Stage → Solas On Mountain Stage : NPR
February 9, 2019 — Concert director Terry Baker introduces the Seldom Scene, IBMA Hall of Fame band and one of the founding voices of progressive bluegrass.
February 21, 2020 — Becky Buller at Community Church Concerts.
The ten-time IBMA award winner, songwriter, and bandleader joins some of the great fiddle voices in American music to have played this stage — Jay Ungar, Alasdair Fraser, and Bruce Molsky among them.
2025-26 Season - Five shows. Five sellouts.
For the first time in series history, season passes sold out before a single show had played. Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra, the Kruger Brothers, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Dom Flemons, and - by popular demand - a 5th night added for the Travelin' McCourys. The series made its largest-ever donation to the Community Church of Chapel Hill. Twenty-five years of people showing up for music, and it's still giving back to the place where it started.
Get your 25th Anniversary Season pass today
The bands that built this series are coming home.
