Call Ann Arbor native Katie Geddes a musical multi-tasker, as she stays busy with both her own singing career and as the concert booker for the First United Methodist Church Green Wood Coffee House series. With two albums of her own on the way and a busy roster of fall acts she has slated for Green Wood, we thought it high time to check in on the ultra-friendly, music-intensive Geddes to get the details on all her ongoing activities.

Q: How did you first start booking acts for the Green Wood concert series, and who was the first person you booked? A: I started by booking Melanie (Safka, folk singer best known for her 1971 hit "Brand New Key") back in 1999. We had been doing local acts only before that time, and I was so new and green I didn’t know any better than to call my favorite singer to see if she would come — and she did! The church had asked me a couple of times before to run the series but I didn’t think I had any skills for it. I had been a performer in the series before trying to book it. My own performances had brought in a full house, and they thought if I booked shows myself I could also bring in a full house.

Q: When did you first start out as musician and how many albums have you released to date? A: My first performance ever was around ‘96 or ’97. I’d been in choirs all my life, sang on open stage night at The Ark and found out I liked it. I just have one live album out right now; it’s 10 years old and was recorded at a Green Wood. I’m currently working on two projects; one is a solo album with special guests, the other is with my vocal trio All About Eve, with includes Debra Goodell, Deb Wood and me. We do a lot of folk, rock and gospel tunes with '70s pop harmonies, including The Beatles’ “Let It Be.”

Q: How did you meet the other members of All About Eve? A: We met attending church at Green Wood four or five years ago. Our pastor asked us if we would work up the Simon & Garfunkel song “Blessed” to sing at one of the services, so we gave it a shot and liked how we sounded together. Now we sing at churches all over the state, and sometimes even doing the whole service. We also sing at benefits and fundraisers and have performed at several memorial services.

Q: Can you give some details about your solo album? A: I’m hoping to have it done by December 11, when I’ll be singing that night at Green Wood. On the album I do a duet with Michael Johnson of the old Frank and Nancy Sinatra song “Something Stupid,” one with Don Henry of the 1978 hit “Falling” by LeBlanc and Carr, and one of “Hello Stranger” with Mary McCaslin. The trio CD will take a little longer to finish.

Q: Who are some of the acts you have been most proud of booking into the Green Wood Coffee House? A: Ellen McIlwaine is one of many favorites, including Marshall Chapman, Don Henry, Mary McCaslin and Michael Johnson. It took me two or three years to get Ellen here; I was e-mailing and calling her but she was too busy or thought we were too small a venue for her. But I finally got her here about five or six years ago for the first time. I would call her a unique talent; she’s a wickedly sharp slide guitarist and I don’t anyone else who plays like she does. The first time she came she brought several guitars, but now she just brings one acoustic and she can make it sound like Jimi Hendrix with her slide. Her vocals are also amazingly powerful.

Q: What sets Green Wood apart from the many other concert venues in and around Ann Arbor? A: The capacity is only around 150, so it is an intimate atmosphere. We struggle for visibility as there are so many things going on in town during any given day, but are really fortunate in that we have a lot of regular patrons who come, people who arrive and ask “who’s playing,” knowing that whoever is here is going to be good. We also have many people coming solo to the shows; people are comfortable doing that here. And if you can’t pay admission, just say you’re on the guest list and we’ll let you in.

The Coffee House is a community outreach program of the First United Methodist Church and is a very comfortable, welcoming place to see a show. Everybody’s also invited to the church’s 5pm Saturday service. It’s come as you are, we have a wonderful Pastor — Doug Paterson — and we feature mostly music. Christine Lavin, Melanie and Suzzy and Maggie Roche of The Roches have all provided music in church. One time two summers ago Chris Ayotte, an Elvis Presley tribute artist, did gospel tunes in full Elvis regalia. The theme of the sermon was changed to ‘will the real King please stand up.’”

"We Are Each Other's Angels" - Katie Geddes

Martin Bandyke is the 6-10am morning drive host on Ann Arbor’s 107one. Follow him on Twitter @martinbandyke and at his web site.

More information on the concert series is on its web site and in a recent AnnArbor.com story (which also includes a jukebox of the featured artists).