In partnership with BeNt Shadows House Concerts & Cindy McClellan, we are hosting a house concert at Espressions: Coffee & Community featuring the ever-talented Jeremy Facknitz.

The show begins at 7:00 p.m. - the entire shop beverage and meal menu will be open to order from! There is a suggested donation of $20.00. All funds collected at the door will go to the artist.

Our menu has plenty of plant-based and gluten-free options available for those who need or prefer them. So, if you are so inclined, please come enjoy a meal along with the beautiful musical stylings of Jeremy Facknitz.

At intermission, we'll offer a selection of tasty baked goods (including a few gluten-free ones) and coffee or tea for all to enjoy.

Now, more about Jeremy Facknitz:

"This is all far above the ordinary. The 6-member band is the chef in a musical kitchen – each recipe conjured tastefully... A good time is guaranteed for all." - John Apice, Americana Highways

"Jeremy Facknitz is indeed a major talent. Packed with tunes that manage to sound both familiar and refreshingly new, Smilin’ at the Future is an excellent album – and, I can guarantee, like nothing you’ll have ever heard before." - John Barliss, At The Barrier

Jeremy Facknitz has been entertaining audiences with his lovingly crafted music and high-energy performances for over a quarter-century. Since the 2002 breakup of his Detroit-based band "The Ottomans" (they earned a 2001 Detroit Music Award for Best New Alternative Band, beating out "The White Stripes"), Jeremy has performed primarily as a solo act, marrying folk-rock and jazz stylings to showcase his intimate stories of life, love, and self-discovery.

But from 2003 to 2017, those stories seemed to fall on deaf ears. Facknitz carved out a living performing at bars, coffee shops, and corporate events while teaching lessons on the side. "I was happy to be making a living performing music, but my original music wasn't being heard - and as the years passed, I found myself more and more frustrated playing to little more than the din of drunken conversation." Things came to a head on July 17th, 2017, when Jeremy was diagnosed with viral meningitis. "I came face to face with my mortality, and I realized it was time for a change. I quit performing at bars and spent the next year making the leap to house concerts, touring, and performing solely for listening audiences."

The leap has paid off. Jeremy was named a top 24 finalist from over 800 entries in the 2020 and 2022 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Songwriting Competitions at Kerrville Folk Festival. His song "Smilin' At The Future" made him an Empower Music Award (formerly known as Posi Award) Finalist in 2023. His songs "Ballet of an Unhatched Chick" and "Michigan (Something In The Water)" were awarded semi-finalist distinction at songoftheyear.com, also in 2020 and 2022.

While occasionally performing with his 6-piece band in Colorado, Jeremy continues to tour solo - performing at house concerts and listening rooms in the United States, Canada, and Europe. His 6th solo album "Smilin' At The Future" was released on March 31st, 2023.

TIDBITS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Finalist for the 2020 and 2022 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Songwriting Competitions at the Kerrville Folk Festival... Finalist for the 2023 Empower Music Awards (formerly known as the Posi Awards)... Awarded semi-finalist distinction at SongOfTheYear.com, 2020 A.C. category ("Ballet of an Unhatched Chick")... Awarded semi-finalist distinction at SongOftheYear.com, 2022 ("Michigan (Something In the Water)")... Awarded 2nd place in the 2022 Indie International Songwriting Competition ("Unsung")... Runner-up in the Renaissance Artists and Writers Association "Songs For Social Change Competition," 2020 ("Land Fills")... Member of "The Ottomans" from 1997 through 2002 (2001 Detroit Music Award Winner, "Best New Alternative Group")... Member of "Standing Room Only" with brother Jarod Facknitz from 2001 through 2003... 2009 Pikes Peak Arts Council nominee for "Best Solo Performer of the Pikes Peak Region"... has opened as a solo act for/performed with Tim Reynolds (Dave Matthews Band), Pat Donahue (Prairie Home Companion), Edie Carey, Charlie Milo, Lindsay Weidmann... graduated from the Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts in 1997 and was a radio DJ for 4 years (gospel and adult contemporary)... passed the series 7 test for a license to sell securities in 2013 and one year later quit working in finance... loves baseball and is an avid fan of the Detroit Tigers baseball club... is married to singer-songwriter Lindsay Weidmann and together they have two children... lives in Colorado.

Again, the suggested donation at the door for Jeremy Facknitz is $20.00. All funds collected will go to the artist.