< blog | Songs, Stories, and the Soul of a Small Town

Songs, Stories, and the Soul of a Small Town

Inside Tales from the Tavern’s 24-Year Love Affair with Live Music

Step inside the Maverick Saloon on a Tales from the Tavern night, and you’ll feel it before you even find your seat—that buzz in the air that says something real is about to happen. The chatter softens, the lights dip low, and the room hums with a kind of reverent anticipation that’s rare these days. This is Tales from the Tavern, the long-running concert series that’s become a heartbeat in the Santa Ynez Valley—a space where songs and stories meet over whiskey, wood, and wonderful small town soul.

For nearly twenty-four years, the brother-and-sister team of Ron and Carole Ann Colone have turned this local listening room into a cultural landmark—a sanctuary for troubadours and truth-tellers, for the audience that still believes music is best experienced up close and unfiltered. Here, the applause comes from the heart, and the night leaves a trace of something you can’t quite name—connection. SYV Buzz caught up with Ron and Carole Ann to talk about what it’s like to curate programs that capture that heart-worn Americana vibe.

SYV Buzz: When people arrive at TFTT for the first time, what feeling or memory do you hope they walk away with—even if they can’t fully name it?

TFTT: We hope they go, “Whoa! This is cool! Check out all these people! There’s something happening here.” We want to rouse their curiosity; we want them to feel welcome, to enjoy themselves, and to notice and appreciate—the great sound, the friendly greeting, the stage, the hanging metal TTFN sign, the program book, the quiet listening room, and the enthusiastic response. We want them to feel connected—with other people in the audience, and with the performer. We want them to feel the power of, and feel a part of, a community. We want them to walk away feeling that that was a quality experience, and we want them to want to return.

SYV Buzz: Over the years, what moment or change made you rethink what TFTT should be—maybe shifting something in your curatorial approach or audience experience?

TFTT: It hasn’t shifted that much, really. We knew what we wanted to present, and what we hoped the experience would be, and we stay pretty true to our vision, while at the same time continuing to expand.

We both had a background of being on the road, which gave us the understanding, from a touring musician’s perspective, of what makes for a good gig and a “not-good” gig. We understood the circular relationship between the audience and the performer, and given the name of the series, we knew we wanted it to be songs and stories from “lifers,” people who have put in the years and the miles to gain the experiences and authenticity that comes with being a touring troubadour.

The one shift along the way is when we started opening our stage up to full-on electric bands. We started out as an acoustic music series, primarily presenting solo performers, duos or at most trios, and while that’s still mostly what we do at Tales from the Tavern, sometimes we feel the need to rock out and raise the roof!

SYV Buzz: I’m curious! How did Tales first get involved with Maverick Saloon (love that place), and what drew you to collaborate with that particular space? And what makes Maverick Saloon unique compared to other venues you’ve worked with?

TFTT: We began our series at Mattei’s Tavern (thus the name) when it was owned by the Firestone family. In year two, they asked us to shift it over to the Firestone Walker Brewery, which had yet to open. We worked very closely with David Walker there, to create a performance environment. They built a stage to our specs and put in lighting and sound reinforcement. We stayed there for three years, until their growing restaurant operations became at odds with our desire to maintain a quiet listening environment with no food service during the performances, at which point, our friends, Mark and Travis Burnett, who owned the Maverick Saloon, asked if we would be interested in bringing the series to the Maverick. That was in 2006-2007, and we’ve been there ever since. Jimmy Loizdes is the owner now, and he has taken things to another level, as far as the venue goes.

We love the Maverick. It’s a great room. There is soul in the old wood dance floor, and the high ceilings give that soul a chance to reverberate. Most of the performers that come through our series first cut their teeth in these types of environments.

In addition to the Maverick, we partner with Trattoria Grappolo. They feed all of our artists and give us access to their banquet room/wine cellar to use as a dressing room and as a place to conduct our interviews, which is a huge part of Tales from the Tavern! We film and record every performance, along with an interview with each artist.

SYV Buzz: If you could take Tales from the Tavern to any other venue—anywhere in the world—what kind of space would you choose, and what do you imagine the experience would feel like there?

TFTT: This venue suits us, and the kind of experience we are hoping to offer. If we got much bigger than this, it would lose the intimacy. This is very much the kind of environment we envisioned when we began.

SYV Buzz: Ron, and Carol Ann, you two work side-by-side curating these shows. How do you resolve creative disagreements or differing visions when planning a season or setting the tone for an evening?
 And can you share an example where compromise led to something unexpectedly wonderful?

TFTT: We grew up in an Italian family, in a household that was loud and people with different opinions and ideas, and although many times there were arguments and disagreements among us, we learned to sit down together and have dinner when it was all said and done. We respect each other’s opinions, and we listen and try to yield. The two of us differ somewhat in our musical tastes and while we certainly have a big core in common, we listen and respond to music differently, and we hang out with different people. So, we try to be inclusive and to satisfy all those things in ourselves and in others.

For us, this series is based on songwriters. When thinking about booking someone, we imagine ourselves sitting in the audience for that particular artist. We want to feel proud of the artists we present. Sometimes, we have creative differences, and that’s OK, because we trust each other. For something to go on as long and be as successful as TFTT, there will inevitably be compromises. For instance, we compromised when Paul Thorn asked us to add an opening act to his show, someone we never would have hired otherwise, however, that person announced from the stage that all the drinks that night were on him, and he paid for everyone in the club, so that was alright!

SYV Buzz: There’s an invisible thread between artist and listener in a tavern setting. What do you believe is the most important responsibility you hold to protect or nurture that thread?

TFTT: It’s our responsibility to communicate to the audience the expectations for the experience, such as no talking, silence your phones, etc. to make it a respectful listening environment.

Our responsibility is also to make sure our team and sponsors and ticket-holders know how important and valued they are in creating and presenting a community concert series. One of the things that makes TFTT so special is that our staff and crew treat it special. They care.

We also have a responsibility to the venue, which means if they are going to open up that room to this event and close it off to the general public then we have to make sure people show up, to make it a positive experience for everyone…artist, audience, and venue. So, when people walk in, they go WOW!, this is happening.

As far as our communication with the artists goes, we make a point of letting them know that they aren’t responsible for bar sales and such, we just ask them to come in and be present and express themselves from the heart.

SYV Buzz: If Tales had a “guest book” of unseen acknowledgments, what behind‑the-scenes people, instruments, or silent energies would you honor—things people never see but deeply feel? And are there traditions or rituals you practice before or during a show that help cultivate this energy?

TFTT: The acknowledgments of those operating behind the scenes include our spouses, Kelly Elm and Frank Blundo, and our families, and definitely our team. Our sound engineer, Bear Erickson, who makes sure that the listening experience is enjoyable for everyone. Our audio and video recording crew, Terry Albrecht, Henry Diltz, Ian Palmer, Gary Strobl, Arthur Osha and Jose Navarro. Our setup and breakdown crew, who show up at noon and are always looking for how to improve things from their end, Doug MacLean, Jen Van Schmus, Jim Sobell, Tony DiMase, Jeffrey Chernov, Gerry Wasserman, Jeff and Carey McKinnon. Our front door staff, led by Fran Bowen, and her team of greeters and ushers that welcome people into the room, Brittany Mullenary, Debbie Evans, Pam Libera and Phyliss Moore. We think it’s funny - whereas most places have big guys as their door men, we have an all-female staff! Our photographer, Barry Sigman. Our sponsor coordinators Suzi Trubitz and Jill Goldworn—Suzi is also responsible for the cool metal stage sign that hangs from the curtain. Our graphic designer, Jeremy Ball. Our archivist, Arthur, who organizes all the audio visual files and data storage. Kelly, for selling the merchandise at the shows. Frank, for handling our legal affairs. The venue and the bartenders who thankfully respect the need for silence. And definitely, the sponsors and season-ticketholders—the TFTT community that takes pride in knowing they are part of, and partly responsible for, this community concert series.

As far as rituals, we have been known to sage the room now and then, but mostly, we like to gather with our team and have a shot of tequila before the show, and offer it up to the gods of the night.

SYV Buzz: In an age when digital streaming and large concert venues dominate, what unique value or role do you believe small listening rooms like yours play—both artistically and culturally? And have you noticed how audiences react differently here compared to other venues?

TFTT: People crave connection and intimacy. In a small environment like this, it’s very apparent that people matter. It matters that they show up, that they listen, and respond. From day one, one of our main intentions was to be a community-building program. That’s what a small venue affords. From an artistic standpoint, it dissolves the separation between artist and audience. It’s not that the performer is “up there on a stage,” or on a pedestal, separate from the listener; we’re all participants together in the experience.

Yes, we believe our audience has been educated to listen and to respond. It’s a listening environment, and there’s an energy, a feeling of connection between artist and audience, and both are aware of it and take responsibility for it. We are as proud of the audience we present to the artists as we are the artists we present to the audience.

SYV Buzz: Every performer brings their own vibe to the stage. How do you sense which stories or songs will resonate most with your audience before the night even begins?

TFTT: We don’t know. We don’t know what songs and/or stories they’re going to perform that night. We trust that the artists will give it their best to deliver a quality performance, and that the audience will go along for the ride, realizing they’re going to resonate with some things more than others, but as long as everyone stays in the present, and comes from the heart, then it’ll probably be a good thing.

SYV Buzz: Tales is as much about community as it is music. Have there been moments where audience interactions or shared experiences surprised you in a way that changed the show?

TFTT: Probably the most obvious time is when a fight broke out in one of the front rows during a Dave Alvin concert, back when we were at Firestone Walker. Dave was raging from the stage, swinging his electric guitar, and the perpetrator was dragged out of the room, on his back on the floor, by people from the audience. Here, we pride ourselves on being this ultra warm-hearted loving event, and a fight broke out! It’s the only time that ever happened. So yeah, that changed the show.

SYV Buzz: Small spaces can reveal subtle beauty. What’s one detail—maybe a gesture, a glance, or a musical nuance—that you’ve witnessed on stage that still makes you smile thinking about it?

TFTT: Peter Yarrow - when he noticed a woman in the front row crying, and said, “Look at you, you precious thing, you’re crying....” and from there he proceeded to preach on the power of music, he proclaimed our continued collective commitment of caring for each other, and trying to make the world a better place, and he pleaded…for peace, love, compassion, humanity, truth. That was powerful. There are a lot of those kinds of moments.

SYV Buzz: The creative process can be unpredictable. Have you ever hosted a performance that didn’t go as planned but ended up being magical in its own unexpected way?

TFTT: The first time Ramblin’ Jack Elliott was here, we were at Mattei’s Tavern, under the big tent, and it was pouring down rain, and the tent was leaking like crazy. We were rushing around before everyone got there, putting duct tape on the ceiling to try and stop the leaks, trying to keep the P.A. equipment dry. It was stressful, but it turned out to be a magical, unforgettable night.

Our first Carlene Carter concert didn’t go as planned either, and some people held that against her, but when she returned a second time, a couple years later, with her five-piece band, she delivered big time!

And again, when Peter Yarrow was here—after he was already done with sound check and he was going back to the dressing room, he met Carole Ann, and he invited her to play with him. That wasn’t expected! And then, when Paul Stookey walked onto the stage, and we witnessed Peter, Paul and Carole, it was surreal!

SYV Buzz: How has your own relationship with music changed since you started the series? Are there songs, performers, or moods you used to lean into that now feel different to you? And has your personal taste or perspective shifted because of the artists who’ve performed here?

TFTT: We don’t really think our relationship with music has changed. Our relationships with musicians have changed. We have been introduced to some amazing artists we probably would not have known about, or had such a close relationship with and deep appreciation for like, Gretchen Peters, Malcolm Holcomb, Dave Alvin, Chris Smither, Paul Thorn, Chuck Prophet, Janis Ian, Birds of Chicago, John Dee Graham, Steve Poltz, Kenny White, Peter Mulvey, and Jesse DeNatale, just to name a few.

SYV Buzz: If you could invite any artist—living or passed—to perform at TFTT just once, who would you pick, and how would you imagine the night unfolding?
 And what would make it a quintessential Tales from the Tavern performance?

Carole Ann: Bob Dylan

Ron: Not me. He’s my favorite artist of all time, but I’m not sure he’d be into the storytelling aspect of it. I think, for Tales, I’d prefer to have John Prine, Woody Guthrie, or Hank Williams.

Carole Ann: We want Rickie Lee Jones!

Ron: Yeah, Rickie Lee!

SYV Buzz: Imagine you’re 5 or 10 years into the future. What are the new stories, formats, or surprises you hope Tales from the Tavern might explore or offer?
 And are there any experiences or artists you haven’t yet brought into the fold but dream of featuring?

TFTT: We’re heading into our 24th year. We’ve been filming and recording every show and interviews with every artist. Almost every show is sold out, and so people often say – you need to get a bigger venue, however, the way we would like to expand our audience is by having some sort of broadcast series, that blends the songs and stories and performances from the stage along with the backstage interviews. We’re starting to imagine our 25th anniversary and what that might look like.

SYV Buzz: If you could write a letter to every first-time visitor of the Tavern series, what would you want them to carry in their heart long after the show ends?

TFTT: Just to know that we care, that we’re passionate about the experience, that we believe in the value and power of music, of songs and stories, and community. That we strive to bring in performers that are compelling, who have honed their skills, and who, we feel, have something to say, something worth sharing. That the audience is there to receive, but also to give. That they matter, and mostly, to know that we appreciate them.

---

In a world of oversized arenas and endless digital noise, Tales from the Tavern remains gloriously human—a gathering where the song still matters, and silence carries weight. Ron and Carole Ann aren’t just curating concerts; they cultivate communion, turning every show into a shared story between artist and audience.

As they near their twenty-fifth year, they’re dreaming bigger—a broadcast series, perhaps—but without losing that magic that only happens when a room full of people hold their breath for the same note.

So the next time you wander into the Maverick and see that metal TTFN sign glinting under the stage lights, settle in. You’re not just at a show—you’re part of a living story, still being written one song at a time.

Catch the next TFTT show: Jeffrey Foucault takes stage on Wednesday, November 5, at the Maverick Saloon in Santa Ynez. Follow both SYV Buzz and Tales from the Tavern for upcoming shows, announcements, and more—because when this kind of small town magic is live, you’ll want to be in the room.

---

See our complete list of upcoming music and wine events in the Santa Ynez Valley.