Mixtape: Songwriter Showcase with Clare Elich and Eva Rose King

This is an intimate live show in downtown Longmont, Colorado presented by The Soundpost Sessions at The Times Collaborative featuring two songwriters and host Monica Marie LaBonte all on stage swapping songs and stories in-the-round. Music is from 7-9:15, doors at 6:30. Join us for this very special ongoing musical series once a month!

$18 Advance (reserved seating)

$20 Day of Show

This event is sponsored by:

Longmont Creates

https://www.downtownlongmont.com/creative-district/longmont-creates

Longmont Creates is the non-profit arm of the Longmont Creative District. They support activities in the Longmont Creative District and the creatives throughout Longmont. Mixtape was the first recipient of their new Pop-Up Grant and we are so thankful!

The Artists:

Clare Elich https://www.clareelichmusic.com/

From her roots in the mountains of Colorado to her formative years in the American South, Clare’s disposition for new exploration and old charm has deeply influenced her music. And so comes the Clare Elich Trio; a playful, welcoming and thought provoking space for returning home through the familiar sounds of the old time, new acoustic and folk genres. At the forefront of the trio are Elich’s strong, buttery vocals, clawhammer banjo and quirky, unpredictable stage banter held down by thoughtful arrangements from Summers Baker (guitar) and Joe D’Esposito (fiddle, cello). The project’s first EP: Louder than this Room, released in February 2023, features Elich’s solo narrative at the forefront, rounded out by Baker and D’Esposito’s supporting vocal harmonies in a full, yet nuanced acoustic setting that leaves the listener intrigued as much as it lays the point right out on the table. The idea is to create a space where listeners feel like they’re invited into their favorite aunt’s kitchen. The floor is swept, the tea is made and you never know where the conversation will go.

Eva Rose King https://www.evaroseking.com/

Eva Rose King grew up in Orange County, California, but has since lived everywhere from Vermont to Australia, chasing jobs, dreams, and people.

In her upcoming album, After Tale, she explores the consequences of this wayward journey — lost friends, weakened ties to home, and biting loneliness. “After tale” refers to a post-script or, in this case, things said too late.

After Tale was produced by Courtney Hartman and recorded during a cold, rainy week in Eau Claire, Wisconsin at Hive Studio. The tracks were largely recorded live, and this fresh energy and organicness is clear throughout the album.

After Tale will be Eva’s second studio album. She released On the Other Side in 2021, which was recorded at Tank Studio in Burlington, Vermont and touches on themes of dreams and perception, resilience, and pining.

Eva also released Complex Feelings (EP) in 2023, which was produced by Corey Wright in Fort Collins, CO. This EP consists of playful, pop-jazz-R&B songs and features a more soulful side of Eva’s voice.

Eva’s first instrument was the viola, which defined much of her childhood. You will often hear the viola in Eva’s songs, which she performs herself.

Apart from being a musician, Eva also works as an environmental scientist, where she studies land cover change, agriculture, and environmental justice.

Monica Marie LaBonte monicamariemusic.com

From a wide-eyed tike delicately pressing the keys of her mother’s upright piano to a seasoned artist taking various stages across the country, Monica Marie LaBonte has always been guided by song.
With the sharp ability to craft tracks that speak to the fragility and wonder of life, the crystalline vocalist continues to attract listeners with her stirring blend of folk and country. At times, her lyrics come across as wise whisperings from a dear friend. At others, they hold all the vulnerability and transparency of raw confessions. A keen observer, LaBonte bears witness to life’s magic and heartache and artfully weaves the intricacies of the human condition into tunes that possess undeniable intimacy, grace and grit.
In her over 10-year career, the Colorado native has played hundreds of venues, including the historic Gold Hill Inn and Planet Bluegrass. Whether belting out ballads in a small listening room or playing to tens of thousands at an open-air venue, she brings a palpable authenticity to each gig.
Known for her stint in mystic-Americana band Monocle, her stellar musicianship and gift for commanding a stage shines just as bright in her solo work.
Armed with an acoustic and her truth, it’s clear LaBonte is pursuing her art for all the right reasons. Although her creative pursuits are guided by pure passion, LaBonte hasn’t escaped critical praise and success. A finalist In the 2018 Songwriter Showcase, at Rocky Mountain Folks Fest in Lyons, Colo., she continues to impress with her art.
A natural-born wordsmith — in the vein of Joni Mitchell and Alison Krauss — it’s easy to see why the songstress has packed coffeehouses, held her own on the lineup at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and been hailed as having “a voice I trust” by fellow musician Daniel Rodriguez (founding member of Elephant Revival).
Powerful, yet understated — poetic, yet real — LaBonte remains one to watch.

Host or Publisher Soundpost Acoustics