Tuesday Concert Series
Lawrence Old Guard Productions
in partnership with the Lawrence Arts Center
7:00 sharp-8:30 FREE (tip jar)
Get your free Juggling Jester sticker at a Tuesday Concert show. Original art by Sandy Griffin, www.sandraugriffin.com
Tal (Larry) Carter, Producer & Host
Aside from introducing the evening's featured artist, I start each concert with a One Song Opening Act, either solo or as the Jeannie & Tal Duo. Please be aware that we start promptly at 7:00 and that seating is sometimes limited.
About the Tip Jar
Although a free concert, please remember that these excellent musicians are working just for tips. Thanks to their dedication to their craft, Lawrence is gaining quit a reputation for the quality and variety of it's acoustic music scene. If you enjoy their performance and want to encourage them to continue making music, I hope you will reward them with whatever gift feels appropriate.
About the Mission Statement "None of us succeeds alone, and there’s room enough for all of us out there. You don’t have to love each other’s music. But if you respect each other’s hard work and dedication to the craft, lend a hand and support one another... Come together and help one another succeed!” Anonymous
About the Tuesday Concert Series
This is NOT an official Lawrence Arts Center event. Rather, they have generously allowed me to use their lobb0y as a guest production. As Lawrence Old Guard Productions I created the Tuesday Concert Series in 2004 to provide a classy, low-pressure venue for local acoustic musicians. My goal was to encourage original music in particular by creating a concert venue where audience members listened intently without distractions from talking, drinking, eating, watching basketball, playing foosball, etc. The series was originally held at Signs of Life Bookstore in downtown Lawrence until moving to the Lawrence Arts Center in the fall of 2010. In appreciation to the LAC for supporting local musicians, we do a fundraiser concert every year. Past fundraiser concerts included Bob Dylan Night, John Prine Night, and Ukulele Night. The current annual fundraiser is Woman Songwriter Night where woman-led bands perform their favorite songs written by a famous woman songwriter, plus one of their own original songs.
About Lawrence's acoustic music scene In a word, it is extraordinary. Lawrence's reputation for the breadth, depth and originality of our acoustic music is getting noticed throughout the Midwest and beyond. I am proud of the role this series has played in promoting quality acoustic concerts over the last 20 years and am excited to consider how Lawrence's reputation will undoubtedly grow as even more appreciate our excellent acoustic music scene.
About the Host and Producer - Tal (Larry) Carter
I am a four-time champion in the Open Division of the Kansas Fiddling & Picking Contest between 1989 and 2010, playing a 10-string Cittern-Guitar that I designed. I just released my newest album, English Fiddle Tunes for Piano. In addition to solo performances on piano, I play banjo and guitar in the duo "Jeannie & Tal" and in our 4-piece "Jeannie & Tal Band." As Lawrence Old Guard Productions, I have produced a wide variety of events since the mid-1980s, including Lawrence Scottish Fest (9 years), Lawrence Bhakti Fest (7 years), the Chanting by Lamplight series (2 years), the local music stage at Lawrence Busker Fest (3 years), Carter Performers (my 6-person theater troupe sponsored by the Kansas Arts Commission, 3 years) and, of course, this Tuesday Concert Series (20 years). I've started going by my longtime nickname Tal (rhymes with pal), but "Larry" is fine also.
In addition to the Lawrence Arts Center, please say THANK YOU to our other sponsors for covering my expenses so that the tip jar can go straight to the performers. No, seriously. If you get a chance, please thank them.
BeatifulMusicViolinShop.com MassStreetMusic.com MandolinCafe.com SupersonicMusic.Com
Click "SCHEDULE" at the top for a list of musicians who have performed in this series since 2022.
Tuesday Concert Turns 20!
Friends - Yep, the Tuesday Concert Series is now the BIG TWENTY. I started this series at Signs of Life Bookstore in 2004 (two years off due to the pandemic) and moved it to the Lawrence Arts Center in 2010. The 2026 season will be one of the best yet, including free Tuesday Concert "Juggling Jester" stickers to go along with an incredible lineup of music.
Best viewed on laptop
Lawrence Acoustic Musicians
Would you or your band like to be considered for this concert series? I only get about a dozen slots per year, so be aware that there is competition. If you are basically acoustic, are willing to work for tips, have at least one longtime band member who lives in Douglas County, can supply your own sound system, can recruit at least 20 or so people to attend, and are ready to perform in a concert setting where people will be listening very closely, you are welcomed to contact me - cartermusic@yahoo.com
In general, I'm looking for excellent musicians who are doing something outside of the mainstream. For example, I'm most likely to book singer/songwriters doing original material, bands that have original arrangements of music, bands that are exploring alternative genres you wouldn't normally hear, bands performing on unusual instruments, and so forth. Quirky is welcomed.
The Fall 2026 season starts on September 15th with Woman Songwriters Night, a benefit for the Lawrence Arts Center. This is our way of saying "thanks" for letting me use their space for this series. Bands fronted by women, including Lila, Starsister Revival, Kristin & Lucy, Ardys Ramberg, and Jeannie & Tal, will each perform 2 songs by their favorite well-known woman songwriter plus one of their own originals that was written or co-written by a woman in their band.
Sept 15 - Woman Songwriters Night
(Benefit for Lawrence Arts Center)
Sept 29 – Sugarfoot Detour – Folk rock
Oct 13 - Tommy Johnson Quartet - Jazz
Oct 20 – Coreopsis -Traditional, Original compositions
and Lila – Originals, New Age Americana
Oct 27 – Glo Zo & Black – Acoustic blues, Americana
and Megan Luttrell – Originals, Americana
Nov 10 – East of Abilene - Folk & Roll, Winfield Rock
Nov 17 – Ingevalds Spelmän– Scandinavian Dance