After a short hiatus while its new venue was being completed, One World Coffeehouse is scheduled to reopen its doors on June 18 with a concert by The Crawdaddies, a Cajun/Zydeco band.
"We have a much bigger space," said Lauren Haywood, who started the coffeehouse concerts in 1999. "We just did a $4 million renovation."
An outreach of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia, One World Coffeehouse hosts a variety of musical acts from blues and jazz to folk artists, throughout the year in the congregation's sanctuary – a multi-purpose room Unitarian Universalist has at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center. After six years of planning, the congregation celebrated the opening of its new sanctuary at Owen Brown this May. Funded and designed by Unitarian Universalist, the new sanctuary more than doubles the size of the previous room and includes a state-of-the art sound system and excellent acoustics.
Now, it is excited to celebrate its first coffeehouse in the new room.
"If we needed, we could set up 400 chairs," Haywood said, a big difference from the 100 seats previously available. While she likes the possibility of filling a room, she is keeping the coffeehouse format of round tables with chairs, and will set up a few rows of seats, too. As in the past, people are allowed to bring food and drinks - wine or beer, no hard liquor - to the show, Soda and snacks will be available for sale.
"We usually get a good crowd," Haywood said, of past coffeehouses. "We are a nice comfortable venue. People who don't like to travel to D.C. can have a drink with friends, hear live music and get home in a reasonable hour."
Jay Paul, tech director and booking agent for the Coffeehouse, is thankful to finally offer musical acts a secure stage.
"In the old venue, we would set up rickety risers to get them above the floor," Paul laughed."Now we have a ...stage and a concert venue with fantastic acoustics."
The Coffeehouse is wide-open to the public, Paul said, and ticket prices are reasonable.
"It doesn't cost anything to park and tickets are inexpensive I think at $20 to $25," Paul said. "We want to encourage people to come in and see the artists we have."
Traditionally, coffeehouses feature folk artists, Haywood said. From the start, Haywood has liked to "mix it up a bit."
"I'm interested in lots of different kinds of music," Haywood said. "It's really pretty eclectic. We always encourage our youth group and some of them have performed."
The next show on July 16 will feature Joy Ike, a pop/folk singer, and on Aug. 20, Sara Beck, an Ellicott City native, is scheduled to perform.
"When she comes to town, word gets out and we're always packed," Haywood said, of Beck, who is now based in Nashville.
To have the Coffeehouse open its doors in the facility is a dream come true for many.
"We're thrilled. Absolutely thrilled," Paul said. "It is hard to believe we are finally at this point. We are excited to share our new space with the community."
The Crawdaddies will perform on June 18, at 7 p.m., at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. Tickets are $20. 410-381-0097.