Web posted
Friday, May 15, 2009
Piper Leigh performs at Caffe Acoustic
By COURTNEY LEVY
Traveler Correspondent
Delicately strung paper
lights overhead and a cool, rainy breeze from the open door contributed
to the easygoing mood at Brown's Thursday evening as the final Caffe
Acoustic performance of the season played out.
This time, Piper Leigh, an Ark City
native and professional singer/songwriter, treated an admiring audience
of friends, family and curious strangers to both original and
well-known songs.
Leigh graduated Cowley College in 1999,
afterwards moving to Oklahoma City, Dallas and finally Wichita. She has
been making a living with her music for 10 years now, and this year was
her fifth performing at Brown's. In past years, she's performed there
with her husband, Mark Bowling, and friend, Tim Durham, as well.
Although her husband could not make it
this year, her young son Jess was present, and the audience was treated
to a performance by mother and son singing "You Are My Sunshine," which
was met with spirited applause. Many of Leigh's pieces focused on
motherhood, love and the hard to bear - but harder to admit - feelings
that can sometimes accompany each.
"I love playing here," said Leigh after
the show. "It's intimate and interactive. The atmosphere just kind of
puts you at ease. It's nice."
The Caffe Acoustic concerts are
sponsored each year by Cowley College, which funds the program and
books the performers; other sponsors included the Home National, Corner
and Union State banks. Admittance was free.
Cowley also provided audience members
with free drinks, and photography students at the college contributed
some of their best works to grace the walls of the cafe, some of which
were for sale.
CDs of Leigh's music were made available
for $10, featuring original songs such as "1,000 Miles from Sunday" and
"Just Like You," accompanied by favorites like "Somewhere Over the
Rainbow."
Audience members were also offered the
chance to sign up for a mailing list about future performances and
"house concerts" at Leigh's home. More information about Leigh's music
can be found at piperleigh.com.
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