Italy Part 1: Florence: The City of Passion for Life and Harp Guitars

I’ve been taking you on a journal tour of European Tour 2013. So far we’ve revisited our arrival and adventures in Paris, played with fast cars and harp guitars in Le Mans, and exploring more of the french countryside with castles, toys, and of course more harp guitars. After having our fun in France entertaining all with story and song, we moved on to impress and be impressed with Italy.

1.John Doan Train Italy

Once in Venice we took a Ferrari looking high speed train to Florence. The city is simply eye popping and a photographer’s paradise.


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John Doan Tour in France Part III: An Ancient Castle, A Toy Museum, and Harp Guitars

So far in this journal of my European Tour 2013, we’ve revisited our adventures in Paris and played with fast cars and harp guitars in Le Mans. Now we’re visiting an ancient castle, toy museum, and more playing with harp guitars.

36.The Château de Saint-Ulrich Ribeauvillé

The next leg of the tour brought me to the northeast of France into the Alsace region on the border or Germany and Switzerland. This is a lush green expanse of mountains and rivers littered with scores of small rustic villages. It is here where Yaouen lives with his family in the shadow of ancient castles and winding rivers.

Village of Ribeauvillé

He invited me to the small village of Ribeauvillé where some of the people still dress as they did one thousand years ago.
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John Doan’s Living Room Concert Saturday July 6, 2013

John Doan - living room concert - the chair awaits in his home.

For those of you within driving distance of Salem, Oregon or who are visiting the area I will be giving an intimate house concert (8pm) in my own living room July 6th with a potluck (6:30pm) and you are invited. Tickets are available for this rare and exciting evening. Once you have secured your admission I will send you a confirmation with my address and directions to the event. RSVP if you will be coming to the potluck.

John Doan plays in a home concert with the harpolyre guitar.

John Will play a variety of instruments that he ordinarily could not bring on tour. Past living room concerts have drawn people from as far away as California, Washington and Pennsylvania!

Potluck outdoors at John Doan home summer concert.

John Doan Living Room Concert in Your Own Living Room

If you have any concert venue suggestions, contacts, or would like to have me in your own living room for a house concert, please Contact me.

John Doan living room concert in his home.

John Doan Shares Music and Stories at Lend an Ear, Come and Hear 2013

Join John Doan and writers from the Pacific Northwest at the annual “Lend an Ear, Come and Hear” poetry and prose reading event. John will be playing harp guitar and sharing stories with the family-friendly audience as we laze in the sun at the Plum Hill Winery.

Plum Hill Winery - rows of grapes in the field of this country winery in Gaston, Oregon.Produced by Writers in the Grove, a local writer’s group offering writing workshops and events monthly in the Forest Grove, Oregon, area. “Lend an Ear, Come and Hear” is an annual event featuring local authors, writers, and poets sharing their work with a public audience.

The event is free and open to all ages. It begins Saturday, July 13, 2013, at 1:30PM and runs until approximate 3:00PM, or whenever John Doan stops sharing his music and stories with the audience picnicking at the beautiful Plum Hill Winery in Gaston, Oregon.

Winners of the Lend an Ear writer’s competition will share their poetry and prose among the lovely grounds of the winery. Snacks and wine tasting will be available for a small fee.

For more information on the Writers in the Grove special event “Lend an Ear,” check out their site.

For directions to the winery, check out their site, Plum Hill Winery.

Please join John and the Writers in the Grove for a special summer event.

John Doan Tour in France Part Two: Paris – Le Mans – Fast Cars and Harp Guitars

After Paris we drove to Le Mans, a city known for car racing, ancient buildings and doors, obscure building regulations, and now for hosting the first International Festival for the Harp Guitar.

I was honored to be among such great international players.


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John Doan Tour in France Part One: Paris – From Bidet Guitar to Harp Guitar

I recently went with my wife Deirdra on a six-week concert tour in Europe.  We began with a transcontinental fight to Paris numbing the boredom with nine hours of non-stop movies.

1.John Doan Air travel to Paris

2.Deirdra Doan PhotosDeirdra can’t wait to try out her new camera. I believe she spent more time with her camera than with me on the trip!

As Gorilla travellers we like to travel in style, or at least in comfort, so we bring with us on the plane an inflatable back rest called “First Class Sleeper.”  It makes your economy seat feel like first class (as long as you don’t mind looking like you are going river rafting upon arrival).

Once in Paris we headed to the Eiffel Tower (Deirdra appears to be balancing it on her nose).

3.Paris Statue Pigeon 4.John Doan with Deirdra Debussy
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John Doan Concert at the Chapel Arts Center, Bath, England

Press Release

John Doan at Celtic Cottage.(Bath, UK). — Emmy nominee and master harp guitarist John Doan with family roots to Bath and Burton, will perform at the Chapel Arts Centre, St James’s Memorial Hall as part of his European Tour 2013. Chapel Arts Centre is located at Lower Borough Walls, Bath, BA1 1QR. The show is scheduled for 8pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013. Tickets are advance: £8.00, Door: £10.00. For more information, call the Chapel Arts Centre at 01225 461700.

A “Celtic Pilgrimage with John Doan” features music from John’s award winning recording “Eire – Isle of the Saints” (Winner of “Best Celtic Album of the Year”) and Wayfarer (also nominated for the same title).

Concert Description

john doan playing harp guitar in England.Master harp guitarist and storyteller John Doan is a Bard for the 21st Century bringing back soulful and provocative musical sketches from a pilgrimage to the most sacred sites of the British Isles. “Thin Places,” as they were once called, were believed to be where the space between heaven and earth, and past and future, were thinly divided. John shares what he found there inspired by breathtaking landscapes, historic ruins, and dynamic stories underlying the faith and vision of a people who shaped the world we have come to call our own. He now leads his audiences back down ancient paths to locations made famous by St. Patrick and the “Twelve Apostles of Ireland” along winding roads to secluded sanctuaries and by boat to remote island retreats. Adventurous, thoughtful, and renewing, this is a journey memorable for its achingly beautiful moments and encouraging spirit. Continue reading

Harp Guitar Workshop, May 26, 2013, Scotland

John Doan will be presenting a one hour seminar on the Harp Guitar, exploring the various styles and techniques associated with this historical string instrument at the Edinburgh Guitar and Music Festival. This is a premiere international event in Scotland bringing together a diverse group of musicians, artists, and music professionals to educate and entertain.

The seminar will be Sunday, May 26, 2013, and is a rare opportunity to see and study with the master of the harp guitar and other stringed instruments.

John Doan Harp Guitar Moscow Lecture.

For more information, see the announcement of John Doan seminar at the Edinburgh Guitar And Music Festival and book your tickets immediately as this seminar is expected to fill fast.

More information on John’s upcoming European tour coming soon.

For more information on educational offerings, see John Doan’s workshops and classes and considering bringing one or more to your special event, festival, or group.

Sixth Annual Harp Guitar Retreat July 5th-7th – Experience the Magic

Independence.fireworks

Fireworks will be flying for The Sixth Annual Harp Guitar Retreat to be held at the home of John and Deirdra Doan atop Prospect Ridge overlooking the verdant Willamette Valley of Oregon.

1. John Doan Harp Guitar Retreat Morning Class

It is an intimate stress-free environment with all levels of playing/performing encouraged and accepted for an educational seminar limited to five to seven participants.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive by the early evening of July 4th to get settled and then to be taken down to the Victorian town of Independence, Oregon to take part in “Western Days” an old fashioned 4th of July fireworks celebration over the reflective waters of the Willamette River.

john doan harp guitar retreat john holds guitar over head of student threateningly

John has a unique teaching style where students never know what he is going to do or say but the results always seem to inspire and transform the player.
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