John Beacher
New Hope, PA | Established. Jan 01, 2012 | AFM
Music
Press
“Of all the young lovers there are in this world, which kind of lover are you?”- John Beacher
The answer to that question for me is “music lover.” Specifically, music that speaks the language of power, passion, and politics. John Beacher’s self-titled album demonstrates fluency in all three with a voice of raw emotion.
The album itself contains 12 tracks, providing 45 minutes of lyrical and spiritual intimacy between you, Beacher, and his guitar. Opening with Love and Please You, the familiar acoustic landscape is overtaken by Beacher’s messages of love, fear, humanity, and war.
What I particularly enjoy throughout the experience is the feeling of joy and playfulness that exists amidst the richness and depth of Beacher’s music. He displays a talent for spontaneous scat, spoken word, and role-playing dialogue in songs like Stop the Bleeding, Dance With Me, Head on My Neck, and Betty Lee.
And even after laughing along and goofing off with him, there is the opportunity to be swept away into the haunted lyrics of Bald Lenny. “God I’m here, please don’t let me fall asleep. I am so afraid of giving into fear, losing all my faith, forgetting why I’m here.”
As a lover of words and meaningful songwriting, I appreciate Beacher’s range of intellectual questioning, political commentary, and spiritual longing. The song Action tells a story of control, personal empowerment, and institutional imprisonment in which Beacher encourages fighting with paintbrush, pen, education, and music, followed by a rallying cry of “we got soil, we got seed, action is the thing we need!”
Beacher’s voice has a somewhat rough and unrefined texture, injected with a soulful influence that blends into a folky, smoky, fireside sound. I can simultaneously hear the voice and style of John Legend, John Mayer, Chris Martin, Bob Dylan, Citizen Cope, and Jason Mraz—though all are masked by John Beacher’s unique vocal execution.
I encourage you to listen for yourself and fall in love with guitar strings attached. Check out johnbeacher.com and John Beacher on Facebook. - Tri State Indie
Listen to Helen Leicht’s Home for the Holidays special featuring Our Griffins, Ginger Coyle, John Beacher and more
WXPN midday host Helen Leicht held her fifth annual Philly Local Home for the Holidays special this year, gathering together performers Ginger Coyle, John Beacher, Lily Mae, Mutlu, Our Griffins, Birdie Busch, John Conahan and Lizanne Knott at Morning Star Studios in East Norriton with producer Glenn Barratt. The special aired on WXPN December 17th, then rebroadcast during Robert Drake’s annual The Night Before and again on Christmas Day. In case you missed it, you can now hear an archive of the entire show below. Check out a gallery of photos from the Home for the Holidays recording session here. - The Key
His energy alone can make an aspiring musician jealous.
Then consider his lyricism, sultry and smooth vocals, and refreshing rhythms.
They’re enough to make a singer-songwriter swoon.
Bucks County native and singer-songwriter John Beacher knows his music. He knows what he wants, and that’s to make the audience feel good while he feels good.
Though he delivers the occasional slow and somber tune, Beacher excels at the upbeat, inserting breaks and pauses and beats in unexpected places, and dancing girls typically follow.
Tomorrow night, Beacher and his backing crew, the Common Ground, take the stage at Triumph Brewing Co. in New Hope, Pa.
It’s the perfect venue for getting up and moving, but also for hanging back and listening.
If you’re familiar with the music scene in the area, you’ve likely seen Beacher in his element before this gig. Every Thursday, he performs at Karla’s, right down the street from Triumph, and follows up his act with a “community open stage.”
It’s like an open mic for musical veterans.
He’s also been the featured artist on Gene Shay’s national show, WXPN’s “Live at Lunch” with Helen Leicht, and is slowly mixing into WXPN’s rotation.
He’s shared the stage with greats such as Rusted Root, Marshall Tucker and Leon Russell, all the while holding his own.
You can download his songs off Spotify or check him out at johnbeacher.com.
For more information on Triumph or on upcoming shows, log onto triumphbrewing.com. - NJ.com
UPPER MERION — The 30th annual Concerts Under the Stars will be held on Sunday nights at 7 p.m., at 175 West Valley Forge Road, Upper Merion.
WXPN welcomes John Gorka with special guest Lily Mae on June 22.
A “Comedy Under the Stars” show will feature Chris Coccia (a regular on the John DeBella Show on WMGK),
Skip Denenberg (from the WIP Morning Show), Marc Kaye and Mary Radzinski on June 29.
Cheryl Wheeler with special guest JOHN BEACHER on July 6.
Liz Longley with special guest Kevin Killen on July 13.
WXPN welcomes Trout Fishing in America with special guest Caveman Dave on July 20.
Sweet Loretta Fat - A Tribute to the Beatles - with special guest Dan Rooney on July 27.
The concerts have free admission and parking is available on the premises. All concerts are held outdoors. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. Visit us on the web at www.umtownship.org or find Upper Merion Township Parks & Recreation on Facebook for updates. For more information call 610-265-1071 or recsec@umtownship.org.
The concerts are presented by Upper Merion Township & Point Entertainment. The concert series is currently in its 30th year and lauded both regionally and awarded nationally. - The Times Herald
Today the XPN Local 12 Days of Christmas continue with a new single from Bucks County singer-songwriter John Beacher. “Nothing for Christmas ‘Cept My Baby” is a jangling honky-tonk number reminiscent of “Folsom Prison Blues”; download it below, and hear Beacher tonight on Helen Leicht’s Home for the Holidays special on the XPN Philly Local Show at 8 p.m. - The Key
PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This summer, PECO proudly sponsors XPN’s Local Music Wednesdays at the Porch at 30th Street Station (2955 Market St., Philadelphia). This free concert series features live music from Philadelphia’s rising stars on the first Wednesday of the month from noon to 1 p.m.
The free concerts include:
June 4 – John Francis. John Francis has released two critically acclaimed full-length records and one EP. He has toured with Loretta Lynn, Wilco, Amos Lee and others, and he is known for his impassioned live shows and poetic songwriting.
July 2 – HighKick. Hailing from West Philadelphia, HighKick continues to evolve and challenge itself as a band. They present fans with high-energy shows, including improvisational jams, layered indie sagas and bluegrass sing-alongs.
August 6 – John Beacher. Singer songwriter John Beach has traveled the world with a guitar strapped to his back. Touted as a modern-day Bob Dylan, he has shared the stage with Rusted Root, Leon Russell, Marshall Tucker and more.
September 3 – The Vulcans. The Vulcans are a three-piece Americana/folk-rock band from Mechanicsburg, Pa. In search of a more understated and traditional style of music, they emphasize unique harmonies, sincere lyrics and tight musicality, reminding audiences of a time and place they once knew.
PECO Smart Ideas representatives also will be at the concerts with giveaways and energy-saving tips to help customers save energy and money. For more information, visit www.peco.com/smartideas.
PECO proudly supports events that make the arts more accessible to the community. To learn more about how PECO celebrates the arts, visit www.peco.com/community.
Based in Philadelphia, PECO is an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC). PECO serves 1.6 million electric and more than 500,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania and employs about 2,400 people in the region. PECO delivered 85.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 37.8 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2013. Founded in 1881, PECO is one of the Greater Philadelphia Region's most active corporate citizens, providing leadership, volunteer and financial support to numerous arts and culture, education, environmental, economic development and community programs and organizations. For more information visit PECO.com, and connect with the company on Facebook and Twitter.
Contacts
PECO
Debra Yemenijian
215-841-5091 or 215-841-5555
debra.yemenijian@exeloncorp.com - Reurters.com
John Beacher’s Community Stage and open mic at Karla’s Restaurant in New Hope provides a splash of light, laughter and music at the corner of West Mechanic and South Main streets every Thursday night at 9 p.m.
An accomplished musician in his own right, Beacher hosts a varied crew of amplified acoustic singer/songwriters, and the ferny-Frenchy, warmly-lit interior adds a coffee house feel that’s a tribute to the block’s past as New Hope’s ‘Latin Quarter’.
The music this week was first rate, with top-notch performances by the likes of popular local Gregg Cagno and the sultry Carol Brooks.
Great stuff! Karla’s Restaurant is located at 5 W. Mechanic St. - New Hope Free Press
By Charlie Sahner; Correspondent
John Beacher, the New Hope-based singer, songwriter and producer, seems to be everywhere one turns these days.
With one album under his belt and another on the way, Beacher, 30, is known for the sheer variety and originality of his vocal improvisations, ranging from basic scat to jazzy, funky, rap-like treatments. His acoustic guitar style is intensely percussive and rhythmic, and early influences included the Motown sound and Paul Simon. His single "Dance with Me" is getting attention, and the production quality is top-notch.
Beacher is active close to home, too, having started a hit Thursday night community jam session at the nearby Stockton Inn that seems to draw larger audiences with each passing week.
Says Beacher, "I want to be an ambassador for what connects us all."
His latest adventure? Beacher may be headed for a performance at the Bonnaroo Music Festival June 7-10 in Manchester, Tennessee, if he can get enough fans to vote for him online (he's currently in the number 31 position, and needs to break into the top 10 to qualify). You can vote here if you want to help this local boy make good.
Longer term, it's probably too early to tell if Beacher will go national. But I wouldn't bet against him; the sound seems right and he's on the move. - Bucks Local News
Jen then introduced singer-songwriter John Beacher, who launched the rally with his tune “Elephant Call,” which “came to him on Wednesday” and is about more than elephants and ivory. “It’s about social justice,” he said...... - National Geographic
John Beacher’s Community Stage and open mic at Karla’s Restaurant in New Hope provides a splash of light, laughter and music at the corner of West Mechanic and South Main streets every Thursday night at 9 p.m.
An accomplished musician in his own right, Beacher hosts a varied crew of amplified acoustic singer/songwriters, and the ferny-Frenchy, warmly-lit interior adds a coffee house feel that’s a tribute to the block’s past as New Hope’s ‘Latin Quarter’.
The music this week was first rate, with top-notch performances by the likes of popular local Gregg Cagno and the sultry Carol Brooks.
Great stuff! Karla’s Restaurant is located at 5 W. Mechanic St. - New Hope Free Press
Photos
Bio
A dynamic songwriter, natural performer and “hope enthusiast,” John Beacher has built his decade-long career not only with talent but a genuine spirit and kind heart. John’s music is a homecoming for the soul, timeless and sincere, and taps into a source that runs far deeper than the songwriter himself. Rooted in rhythm and blues yet unbound by genre, each song is a musical tapestry woven with soulful threads. Whether he’s singing songs of social justice, belting out blues or funk, or serenading the audience with a love ballad, there is no doubt that John is completely one with the music. Equipped with an acoustic guitar, a few effect pedals, and a loop station, Beacher creates music that seems impossible for one person. His ability to connect with his audience, as well as improvise on guitar and voice makes each performance an entirely unique and interactive reflection of the his surroundings.
Since receiving his first guitar at age 11, writing, singing and playing became John’s all-consuming passion, and by age 17 he was performing his own compositions professionally. Throughout his 20s, John’s love for people and music led him to travel the US and abroad, collecting stories, writing songs and building friendships until he finally settled in Boulder, Colorado. There he spent several years honing his craft, playing in various music projects and performing in venues all over the Boulder/Denver area.
In 2011 John journeyed from Colorado, back to his hometown of New Hope, Pennsylvania where he resides today. His goal was to take a leap of faith and give 100% of his attention to his music career. Since then he has become a full-time singer-songwriter, a community keystone in Bucks County, and a regular name on WXPN 88.5 FM Philadelphia. His weekly “Community Stage at Karla’s” in New Hope has become a staple in the local music scene, drawing talent from all over the Philadelphia area for more than five years. During that time, John released a live self-titled solo acoustic album, collaborated on multiple music video projects with his friend Louis Sparre of Tweed Video, and developed a sustainable career as what he calls a “blue collar musician.” In 2015 Beacher wrote and produced the Album "Rise Up" at Sweet Creek Studio in Ottsville PA. This included performances of 13 different accomplished musicians and was engineered and mixed by John Fachett. Currently Beacher has been collaborating with singer/guitarist Matt Kresge and the two are poised to release a series of new music set to come out over the course of 2020.
John has organized concerts; played countless venues, weddings, private events and fundraisers, and has inspired and ecouraged countless other musicians to persue their own musical calling. He has shared the stage with accomplished national acts such as Leon Russell, Rusted Root, Cheryl Wheeler, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Dean Ween Group and Elephant Revival, to name a few. He has had the honor of performing at such venues and festivals as the Philadelphia Folk Festival in Schwenksville PA, Musikfest in Bethlehem PA, World Café Live in Philadelphia PA, Steelstacks in Bethlehem PA, and The Fox Theatre in Colorado to name a few . In addition to being a live performer, John has also composed music for film and has created music on projects for clients such as The American Lung Association, NBC,Comcast, and Mural Arts Philadelphia as well a few independent films.John has organized concerts; played countless venues, weddings, private events and fundraisers, and has inspired and ecouraged countless other musicians to persue their own musical calling. He has shared the stage with accomplished national acts such as Leon Russell, Rusted Root, Cheryl Wheeler, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Dean Ween Group and Elephant Revival, to name a few. He has had the honor of performing at such venues and festivals as the Philadelphia Folk Festival in Schwenksville PA, Musikfest in Bethlehem PA, World Café Live in Philadelphia PA, Steelstacks in Bethlehem PA, and The Fox Theatre in Colorado to name a few . In addition to being a live performer, John has also composed music for film and has created music on projects for clients such as The American Lung Association, NBC,Comcast, and Mural Arts Philadelphia as well a few independent films set to release in 2019.
Band Members
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