Variety Of Music In A Beautiful Venue

The First Church of Winsted’s Steam Vent Coffee House concert series will host its final event of the season on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 6 p.m.

The series, which runs from March through November, is celebrating its ninth season. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. Meals are made by church volunteers and cost $10 each.

All money raised goes toward the church’s mission, as well as charities in the Northwest Corner.

In the past, the church used these funds for its mission to help a village in Oaxaca, Mexico.

This year and next year, the church is using the funds to volunteer at a school for children with multiple physical and emotional disabilities, Sol y Luna, located on the Yucatán peninsula in the city of Mérida.

At the latest concert on Oct. 14, church members served burritos, salads and homemade desserts.

Musicians who performed included Eric Paradine, Juan DeGuzman, Melanie Michaud, Corey Michael Rieman and Adelaide Punkin Datzuk.

John Eggering, who has been the soundman and emcee for all Steam Vent events, said that many acts from all over the East Coast have performed, and that some artists got their start at the concert series.

“We’ve had people who have never played on stage before come here for an open mic and start their musical career here,” Eggering said. “One of the people who started here went on to host his own public access television show featuring musicians.”

Eggering said that the youngest musician who has ever played at Steam Vent was 2 years old.

“We have such a great time here because we have a great group of people,” he said. “We all love music and we all love to raise money for the church.”

“Why is this series so popular? It’s the room,” said Debbie Storrs, who is the primary organizer of the concert series.

The church was built in 1900 and includes a stage with a “Velvet Elvis” portrait on the side.

“People were standoffish at first about the concert series because it is held in a church,” Storrs said. “They thought they were going to be inundated with church music. That’s not what we do here. People sometimes do sing whatever moves them, but its not all church music.”

Over the years a variety of music has been played by musicians including rock, metal, blues, rap, hip hop, folk, jazz and country.

West Hartford musician Eric Paradine has been playing at Steam Vent from the very beginning.

“This is a beautiful place,” Paradine said. “There is not a stage anywhere like this one, and I’ve played everywhere in Connecticut. This is a beautiful sounding room.”

The Steam Vent Coffee House concert series is held at the First Church of Winsted at 95 North Main St. in Winsted. For information, go to www.facebook.com/groups/steamin.