It’s uncommon to see many cafes opened past 6 p.m. on any given night, but after 9:30 p.m. Saturday Sept. 16, Bucer’s Coffeehouse Pub is filled with the sounds of a crowd softly singing along to local guitarist Eric E.’s cover of “Hey There Delilah.”
Even without the live music, Bucer’s would be an obvious art hub with its stuffed bookshelves and brick walls hung with local paintings and photos. The front of the cafe is packed with students enjoying a late dinner, playing a board game with friends or hitting the books with a cup of coffee. It’s a casual, friendly environment, and as the evening wears on listeners begin calling out song requests for the musician.
Bucer’s has a long-standing tradition of supporting local musicians. For the past 18 years, since they opened, Bucer’s has hosted concerts every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening. Thursday nights are jazz night at Bucer’s, a tradition instated by the cafe’s owner Pat Greenfield.
“I love jazz,” Greenfield said. “We do keep jazz to one night a week though, because not everyone does.”
Thanks to the popular Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and the strong music programs at both the University of Idaho and Washington State University, the jazz scene in the Moscow area is quite strong and Greenfield is not the only fan in the audience each Thursday night.
But Bucer’s caters to non-jazz lovers as well. Each week brings a new set of musicians playing blues, reggae, country, bluegrass, vintage covers and more, not to mention Greenfield’s beloved jazz. For the most part, the concerts are local musicians who Greenfield has welcomed back to play over and over again.
“UI and WSU both have music majors,” Greenfield said. “You get a lot of kids who are super talented and classically trained, but [classical music] isn’t what they’re playing for fun.”
Greenfield has booked both students and professors to play over the years, and said he enjoys seeing the different crowds that each bring in.
Some groups pack the house, but playing at Bucer’s is considered an accomplishment in itself. Booking a real, paying gig can be a big step for younger musicians or just a fun way to spend a Saturday night for hobbyist groups. The coffeehouse’s partnership with the music community is something which many local artists are grateful for.
“A lot of (cafe owners) don’t want to bother to book live music,” Greenfield said.
For her, booking musicians is something she said she loves doing and it is never a task. Over the years, Bucer’s has established itself as a staple in the Moscow music scene, and now the coffeehouse features musicians traveling through the area who stop and ask to play for the Bucer’s crowd about once or twice a month.
Bucer’s is currently booked up, ensuring the weekly concerts will continue to provide an oasis for local musicians. Whether you’re looking for a fun place to study or a night out with friends, Bucer’s is a great option. The coffeehouse pub is open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and can be contacted at 208-596-0887 or on their Facebook page @bucerscoffeehousepub.
Beth Hoots can be reached at [email protected]