House Concerts
Designed to connect our community, especially Our Sustainers, House Concerts are intimate evenings celebrating world-renowned music in uniquely Hillsborough homes!
House Concerts are a chance to get up close with the artists, connect, and enjoy an afternoon together, all while supporting the free arts programming that HAC offers our community year-round!
As a thank-you for your ongoing support, HAC Sustainers receive an exclusive discount on House Concert tickets. We hope you’ll join us!
A special thank you to...
OUR HOSTS:
The Whitmore Family
House Concerts, nostalgically known as the Hillsborough Arts Council's Parlor/Garden Concerts, return in February to where they first began: the parlor of the Whitmore home.
Over the years, Bill & Diff Whitmore have hosted a number of these occasions in their home. This program exists because of the generosity, vision, and long-standing commitment of the Whitmores, whose support has helped shape the Hillsborough Arts community for many years.
We are deeply honored to bring this experience back to its roots, celebrating the Hillsborough that Bill describes best: “The people, the people… a really cool mix of artists and regular people and entrepreneurs and people you can engage with easily." Learn more about our Parlor/Garden Concert Chair emeritus, Bill Whitmore, in this delightful article by The News of Orange!
NEXT UP: Sunday, February 15th, 2026
Viv & Riley
Viv & Riley's sound is old-soul roots music to its core, elegantly combining a traditional backbone with the fresh iconic melodies of future-leaning indie-folk, and the tightly wound vocal harmonies of the old-time and classic country music they came from. Although they grew up on opposite sides of the country, Riley in Seattle, Washington, and Vivian in Lexington, Virginia, the two had an instant musical connection upon meeting in 2018. The pair has been collaborating since then, honing their sound playing hundreds of shows across the US, UK, and Canada. Since 2018, they’ve recorded and released multiple albums to critical acclaim from the likes of NPR Music, Rolling Stone, and No Depression, and have garnered nearly six million streams on Spotify.
A bittersweet nostalgia lies at the heart of Imaginary People, the new album from Viv & Riley, released September 15, 2023 on Free Dirt Records. Over ten tracks, the pair applies an indie roots sheen to newly composed pop gems. Rooted originally in the folk tradition, the pair reframe the production into experimental territory, crafting songs that speak to finding a path forward into adulthood in an uncertain world.
The album brings a reflectiveness to summertime jams that speak of uninhibited joy and creative camaraderie. Based out of Durham, North Carolina, they’ve tapped into the area’s eclectic and collaborative music scene, recruiting Alex Bingham of Hiss Golden Messenger to produce the album. Bingham brings a sunny, lush sound to Viv & Riley’s music, moving beyond their earlier country roots and toward a layered sound and sonic experimentation. The songwriting has evolved as well, from the world-weary, stripped-down country songs they’re known for to indie songwriting at turns sweetly sad and gently sardonic.
Ultimately, Imaginary People is about carrying and honoring our pasts, about letting that inform our new steps forward. This balancing act is familiar territory for Viv & Riley, who also play in The Onlies, an award winning old time stringband that Riley co-founded in Seattle at age 7. In that role, they serve as co-artistic directors of The Festival of American Fiddle Tunes. In both preserving traditional music and bringing their own original folk music to new territories and audiences, it is clear that Viv & Riley have much to do with the present and future of roots music.
WHEN: Doors open at 1:30 PM.
WHERE: Private residence.
Location & parking details will be shared with ticket holders by email the week of the event.
GENERAL ADMISSION: $65 / $45 for HAC Sustainers!
Hillsborough Arts Council Sustainers and Sponsors can receive up to two discounted tickets of $45 each. Tickets are limited to ensure an intimate setting. Refreshments provided.
Become a Hillsborough Arts Sustainer:
If you would like to become a HAC Sustainer and enjoy discounted tickets for this event, future House Concerts, and other sustainer benefits, you can find more information here: HAC Donor Information
Please pledge your support before purchasing tickets to receive your discount code: HAC Donor Registration
Please note: GiveButter transaction fees will apply. There will also be an option to tip GiveButter at checkout. If you'd prefer to opt out of tipping this donor platform, please manually set the tip amount to 0%.
If you're already a HAC Sustainer, you should have already received a discount code via email. If you have any trouble redeeming your Sustainer discount, please let us know at director@hillsboroughartscouncil.org.
PRESENTED BY: HILLSBOROUGH ARTS COUNCIL
A BIG THANK YOU TO THE SPONSORS OF THIS EVENT!
House Concerts are supported in part by PHE, Inc. Beer is provided courtesy of Eno River Brewing, LLC. Wine courtesy of Hillsborough Wine Company. Florals courtesy of TBA.
The Hillsborough Arts Council is supported in part by the generosity of local Business Sponsors and Individual Sustainers who help fulfill our mission of enriching our community through the arts.
Program History
HAC is thrilled to bring back our beloved community house concerts (formerly known as the Parlor/Garden Concerts) with a fresh new feel.
For fundraising to help relaunch this program as an ongoing series, the first House Concert was held on Sunday, May 4, 2025, and featured an incredible lineup of internationally celebrated musicians Jennifer Curtis and Diali Cissokho, joined by HAC Board Member, our first House Concert host, and internationally acclaimed light lyric soprano, Arisa Sullivan.
We are thrilled to continue this tradition with you. Join us in Hillsborough homes for world-class music!
