about

The brainchild of Lucio Menegon, the Ivy Room Hootenanny started, we believe, in the summer of 2008 as a musicians hangout and, for fans of the less than ordinary, a wet dream. Crazy music, shifting sounds, living room ambiance. The tiniest slice of Berlin right in the San Francisco east bay.

Every third Monday featured one featured act and three curated sets with five minute overlaps creating a seamless night of improvised outside music and spontaneous collaboration. Visual experimentation was encouraged, and circuits were routinely blown. The mantra:

comfy couches • delicious beverages • NEVER a cover • many musicians • total surprises

The Monday scene took root through the creative energy of Aram Shelton, Gene Baker, Andrew Conklin and CansaFis Foote supported by the free-thinking Ivy Room bartenders Ken McCown and Eric Leppo.  The series moved to Third Wednesdays the series features the best of outside music in a civilized setting, with occasional contemplation from the local press.

In May 2011, the Hoot ended its series at the Ivy.

Thanks to the Hootenanny Family for its creative contributions. Among the roster:
Ralph Carney, David Slusser, Dale Sophiea, Bruce Anderson, Ross Hammond, Scott Amendola, Phillip Greenleif, Lisa Mezzacappa, John Shiurba, Myles Boisen, John Hanes, Mark Growden, Chris Grady, Seth Ford-Young, Michaela Peterson, Weasel Walter, Laurie Amat, Amy X. Neuburg, Peter Conheim, Scrote, Motoko Honda, Emily Hay, Rent Romus, Lucio Menegon, Morgan Guberman, Pat Spurgeon, Jonathan Segel, Allen Whitman, Suki O’Kane, Lords of Outland, O-Type, Pluto, Dub, etc, etc