FRESH GROUND Coffee House is your place in Willow Grove to meet and enjoy our fantastic coffee [we are the winner of "Best Coffee Spot" in Willow Grove from the Patch!], baked goods and hear LIVE music and relish in fantastic art by our featured fine artists.
Craig Allen is our featured performer: "Pivotal life events simply cannot be underestimated. In much the same way various water paths shaped (and continue to shape) the Earth’s topography over time, these significant life experiences forge us into the people we are. For singer Craig Allen, it must have felt like he was drowning in a sea of pain when a deadly disease struck his immediate family, and at a time when he was still quite young. “I started to write songs and get into music seriously at age 13 when my Mom was diagnosed with leukemia,” he recalls. While music is one of mankind’s greatest creative outlets, it’s also a significant form of personal therapy. “She survived,” he continues, “but it was a battle and music was an escape and an emotional refuge. Writing songs was how I expressed my thoughts and emotions, as well as dealt with the pain and questions.” Allen’s EP, Ready to Fall, is the sound of one talented artist dealing with the pain and various deep questions of life. The song "Let It Go" is a perfect example of Allen’s approach to turning personal pain into emotional gain. On it, he sings: “Sometimes pain is just a word that can’t explain/How it feels to lose someone you love.” Born in North Wales, PA, Allen now calls the Philadelphia suburb of Lansdale home. The musical skills Allen has mastered have helped him develop his own personal style, which can be compared to a few other equally unique singer/songwriters, like Jon Foreman and John Mayer. Allen is a thoughtful, sensitive and introspective young man, and these personal attributes clearly come through in his original music. As with every truly honest songwriter, Allen wants to share his story with anyone who will listen. He also hopes his music will lead directly to positive social change. That is why he supports Poverty Resolutions, a non-profit organization that helps fight poverty in Haiti. The group primarily focuses on micro loans and education. Another attribute Allen shares with most other musicians is his relentless desire to continue writing and playing music. “Truth is meant to be discovered and applied inherently,” says Allen. Clearly, the emotional pull of great music is one of the best ways to discover truth."
Our featured artist is Rich Godshall! Pennsylvania impressionist, R.A.Godshall spent 25 years in the graphic arts field as an illustrator, designer and art director before opening up Off The Wall Custom Framing & Gallery in 2002. Since then, in addition to overseeing his gallery located in Skippack, PA, he has devoted more time to painting in watercolor and acrylic. One can see in Godshall's paintings the influence of the New Hope impressionist painters of years gone by. His subject matter is the landscapes of beautiful Bucks and Montgomery counties and also the New Jersey shore. Godshall, who is a member of the Greater Norristown Art League and the New Hope Art League, has had his work featured in Bucks County Town And Country magazine as well as Montgomery County Town and Country magazine. He also teaches painting classes at Abington Adult Evening School. His paintings are on display at Off The Wall and also at Accent Gallery in Ocean City, NJ. Godshall's works are included in many collections throughout the Northeast and have garnered several awards in juried shows.
