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Adult Programs

Family Programs

Spiritual Programs

Arts In Education

Symphonic Pops

House Concerts

Multifaith

Adult Programs

MUSIC FOR ADULTS/GENERAL AUDIENCES

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Exquisite harmonies, rollicking rhythms, soul-spelunking songs .... An expansive journey across vast landscapes of the heart, and rich wildernesses of imagination, where hope meets possibility.

From soothing ballads to powerfully polyrhythmic tunes; from laughter to soul stirring inspiration. With daring harmonies, and a mix of homemade "re-percussion" and conventional instruments (guitar, bass, marimba), all are invited to a realm of expanding boundaries, wonder, and life-affirming embrace. Click on the Look+Listen tab above for audio and video.

Concerts:
shows occur at festivals, theaters, clubs, universities, schools, synagogues, churches, conferences and retreat centers.
Workshops: master classes in our particular brand of style-blending, genre-bending funky folk music, and multi-voice harmony, as well as creating and playing non-traditional percussion. For more detailed information please contact Loyd Artists booking agency (Susan@LoydArtists.com, 518-647-5916).

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Family Programs

MUSIC FOR FAMILIES / KIDS

"Our musical mission: to honor and empower the creativity,
inherent intelligence, and desire to learn in young folks, as well as their elders;
to inspire them, apart and together, to question and play --
and to see these two things as inseparable pathways to joy."
- Billy

Sophisticated fun for all ages....

Throw out the rules when the Billy Jonas Band takes the stage! It's a musical conversation, a sonic celebration, a splendiferous gathering of old and young, because the ensemble is ... EVERYONE. From beginning to end, participation is the name of the game.
"...irresistible.... my face hurts from smiling." - Alison Krauss
"...witty, smart, raw." - New York Times
Across North America and beyond, with multi-part vocal harmonies, guitar, industrial re-percussion, bass, marimba, and audience-engaging choreography. Featuring Billy, Ashley Jo Farmer, Sherman Hoover, and Juan Holladay. The Billy Jonas Band was honored with a 2010 concert at the White House!

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Spiritual Programs

Spiritual Programs

Billy Jonas has been part of the Sacred Music Team and a cantorial soloist at Congregation Beth Ha Tephila in Asheville, NC since 2012. Through this work Billy has had the opportunity to combine and grow two important aspects of his life: Judaism and his love for music. He has been performing worldwide in both secular and faith-oriented contexts.

For more detailed information please contact Loyd Artists booking agency (Susan@LoydArtists.com, 518-647-5916).

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Arts In Education

SCHOOL PROGRAMS - Elementary to College

Billy and the Billy Jonas Band believe that creating a bright future starts with kids. Using homemade and recyclable "re-percussion" instruments, songs that celebrate community, as well as personal and planetary ecology, their think-outside-the-box educational performances occur at schools, colleges, universities and libraries around the country. The goal: to plant musical seeds, that will help grow creative, open-minded, engaged and open-hearted citizens of the world.

Elementary Schools (K-5)

Concert: "Who's Gonna Make our Music?!" Participation is the name of the game. Concerts include sing-alongs, bang-alongs, and an improvised song with audience suggestions. Instruments include voice, guitar, and recycled "re-percussion." This show proves to each and every participant that they are indeed a musician. Themes include ecological awareness, community connection, personal responsibility, and various curriculum-related songs.
Workshop: "Music From Anything: Recyclable Object Instruments," "Bangin' & Sangin' 101," "Songwriting/Songmaking."
For more detailed information please contact Loyd Artists booking agency (Susan@LoydArtists.com, 518.647.5916).

Middle School / High School
Concert: “The Troubadour Tradition." A concert, presented in lecture-demo style, the role of the singer / songwriter throughout history. Billy’s original songs and improvisation will help students gain an understanding of the role of the “musical historian / storyteller / news bearer” in various cultures throughout history, and to realize their own potential, and responsibility, to share their truth.
Workshops: “Performance Tools and Techniques,” “Songwriting/Songmaking”, “Bangin’ & Sangin’ 101”
For more detailed information please contact Loyd Artists booking agency (Susan@LoydArtists.com, 518.647.5916).


Colleges / Universities
Concert:
"Heart Beat, Soul Beat, Drum Beat." Voice and percussion-based explorations of life and love, through a singer-songwriter lense. An engaging, sometimes participatory, often heart-warming, and always thought provoking collection of songs and stories that Dirty Linen Magazine has called "wild-winded word magic." As always, these performances feature a combination of experimental and homemade instruments, as well as adventurous use of voices, guitar, bass, and multicultural percussion.
Workshops: "Songwriting Master Class," "Performance Master Class," "Foraged, Found, and Freaky: Crafting Homemade Instruments." Participants in daytime workshops and residencies are invited to join the evening performance.
For more detailed information please contact Loyd Artists booking agency (Susan@LoydArtists.com, 518.647.5916).

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Symphonic Pops

BILLY JONAS BAND WITH ORCHESTRA

Step outside of the box, and into a glorious galaxy of polyphonic possibility....
A magical melodious melding of audience and orchestra,
a sonic celebration of community and creativity.....

Billy Jonas, with the Billy Jonas Band, brings his energetic and engaging brand of participatory folk music to a new level of sonic sophistication in his symphony collaborations. Augmenting Jonas’ multi-textured homemade "re-percussion," the orchestra, paired with Jonas’ songs and stories, gives a performance that is exciting both visually and aurally.

Jonas is known for his ability to bring the audience fully into the performance through his accessible songs and leadership from the stage, creating an artistically adventurous atmosphere enjoyed by all ages.

"Having worked with pop stars George Benson, Linda Ronstadt and Judy Collins, I can honestly say that Billy Jonas is a first class performer. His music is compelling, humorous, beautiful and brilliant! Our orchestral fusion concert with him was the highlight of our season."
- Ron Clearfield, Conductor and Music Director, Blue Ridge Orchestra, Asheville, NC

With 22 symphonic scores to choose from, Billy Jonas’ orchestral programs explore exciting new arrangements of Billy's songs, as well as bring new life to altered arrangements of Bach's "Jesu Joy" and Ravel's "Bolero," each performed with new, original lyrics composed and performed by Billy. Throughout all of the shows, audience members will be asked to variously sing-along, percuss-along, move-along (with choreographed hand-motions), and for the finale, kazoo-along with the Billy Jonas Band and the orchestra. Concerts offer plenty of room to personalize the show with antics, unique homemade instruments, added voices and dance.

"Billy Jonas' concert with the orchestra was exceptional, and drew the largest
audience they have had in our theatre. He's a wonderfully talented musician who
quickly establishes a rapport across all ages. An extreme pleasure to have him!"

- John Ellis, Managing Director, Diana Wortham Theatre, Asheville, NC

If you want to reach out to new audience, find unique collaborations, and present performances offering something new and totally different, Billy Jonas and the Billy Jonas Band have three offerings to shake it up! (some of the pieces can occur in more than one program):

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House Concerts

HOST ONE IN YOUR HOME

In addition to traditional venues, Billy Jonas & the BJB occasionally present concerts in people's homes. For some, it's the chance of a lifetime -- up close and personal with your favorite musicians and music. The intimate, relaxed and interactive experience of such a gathering is one that will never be forgotten!


How does a 'House Concert' work?
House Concerts are focused, seated, listening events -- very different than a party with live music. They usually occur in a large living room, or nearby private space such as a recreation room/commons of an apartment complex, studio, social hall, comfy barn, or private backyard. House Concerts are mostly (though not always) acoustic, and typically have 30 to 80 people depending on the space. Often they involve a potluck. Sometimes they are public, sometimes by invite only. People expect to pay to attend (unless the host has covered it), and to sit and listen. House concerts are a wonderful way to spend time with the artists, as well as to meet neighbors and folks with like-minded interests. There are as many variations on the theme as there are people hosting them!

For more info, or for booking, contact Susan@LoydArtists.com, 518.647.5916.

For general info about the idea of House Concerts visit: www.concertsinyourhome.com

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Multifaith

CELEBRATING DIFFERENT TRADITIONS

Billy and the Billy Jonas Band LOVE working with different faith communities, especially when it involves more than one religiion at the same time. Their songs are born out of a deep reverence for all expressions of spirituality. They seek to enhance whatever gathering or worship context has invited them, and their programs are tailored to the specific needs and demographics of those present. At the core of each and every event: an acknowledgement of the beauty and wisdom in each separate path, and a celebration of the Oneness connecting them all.

ABRAHAM JAM

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Photo by: Sara Blandin
Left to Right: Billy Jonas, Dawud Wharnsby and David Lamotte

"A Muslim, a Christian and a Jew walk into a concert hall...." For real! Abraham Jam is the brainchild of singer/songwriter and peace activist David LaMotte. Since 2015 Billy has been a member, dedicated to fostering dialogue, understanding, and celebration among folks from the three "Abrahamic" faiths. Each concert and/or workshop features a trio consisting of professional musicians from each tradition. Instead of alternating in the sharing of their songs, they participate in making music together, embodying their respect and affection for each other, rather than just talking about it. Members of Abraham Jam have included Dawud Wharnsby, Dan Nichols, David LaMotte, and Billy. Check out the Abraham Jam website at: http://abrahamjam.com. For more detailed information contact susan@loydartists.com.

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Camp Bangin’ & Sangin’