We wrapped up another successful Express-O Cafe event at Studio You last Friday. I’m always amazed at the turnout and overall good vibe and creative synergy happening all around between friends and perfect strangers. It seems everywhere I turned that night, I had short 5 minute conversations with people who were willing to cut to the chase and talk about heart matters almost instantly. I don’t know… sometimes you sit down with someone and the conversation takes around a 1/2 hour before getting good, productive, or to get past the facades. Express-O events seem to draw people who feel like it’s a place they can share their dreams with others… it’s a place of trust between the unchurched and those in the Body– a place we can all find community within a creative environment flooded with God’s love. 
It was great to also see some people who just spectated even last month, grab ahold and want to participate in some of the improvisational music. There’s a real sese of comradery and sense of belonging happening. Check out our new website at express-ocafe.net if you’d like to read more or check out a video from a couple of our events.
Shawn and Camie Easton of the Family Band shared their music, kind of folk, roots rock, and soulful vocals. It was great to see people engaging and singing along with them during their set. It’s not often you run into people who are the “real deal” who have pure hearts and love to share their art with others. The upcoming release of this group should be amazing… watch for it, (yes, I’ve heard some of the tracks), and gaging by the crowd response, I think you guys are going to love it.
Another featured band from that night was “Summer Fell For Winter”, a local alt. rock group headed up by Doc’s friend Prototype from the early days when they were cutting their teeth on rap. With a nice tight vocals and an intense stage show, they blasted through their thunderous set. For more info on these guys, you can check their MySpace.
FYI, we will be taking the moth of July off for Express-O to take the time for more planning and have booked the next 2 Express-O events already for August and September. See the website listed above or check out our MySpace.com/expressocafe to hear music from past bands or get in contact with some of the artists featured at Express-O events.
We are very thankful for the support we’ve received from our local fellowship, NewSong Church, as well as the generosity of an individual who bought us 2 very nice espresso machines so we can actually have GOOD coffee at these events. Would you pray for us, as we endeavor to engage the University Heights community using creativity as our language to share the hope of Christ? And if you get a chance, we’d love for you to come out to an event and express your heart, your faith, your contageous joy.
