Acoustic Eidolon is one of the most popular artists that RiverHouse has presented, and producer Cheryl Mansley is very happy to bring them back!  

Joe Scott and Hannah Alkire, of Acoustic Eidolon, have combined their musical talents to create an exciting new acoustic sound. Joe plays the one-of-a-kind, double-neck guitjo - a custom acoustic guitar with two necks, built exclusively for him.  The guitjo, with its incredible range and tonal qualities, can sound like a piano or a beautiful harp. That, combined with Hannah's stunning tone and impeccable cello-playing, gives you the unique and enchanting sound of Acoustic Eidolon.  But, you can’t stop there.  Add to that a little singing, some humor, Celtic, contemporary, bluegrass and Latin influences, and the endearing personalities of the duo, and you’ve got an evening that can’t be beat.

Eidolon was founded in April 1998, when fate brought Joe and Hannah, aka Acoustic Eidolon, together. It all started in 1995, when Hannah, a studio cellist, received a call to play on a Boulder ensemble's record. As Hannah followed the directions to the recording studio, she grew more incredulous as she realized the directions brought her up the small road near her home and down her street!  Little did she know that across the street and three houses away lived the greatest double-neck guitjo player in the world (ok, the only double-neck guitjo player in the world). It was thus that their paths first crossed.

Fast forward to 1998, when Joe and Hannah each found themselves between full-time musical engagements. Joe called Hannah, saying he'd always wanted to hear their two instruments together. So on a snowy day in February, they got together to play for the first time. There was such a magical timbre to their combined sounds that they agreed then and there to clear out their schedules, start rehearsing together, and form what would become Acoustic Eidolon.

On October 14, 2001, what had started as a musical/business partnership and friendship blossomed into marriage. Acoustic Eidolon was off and running, and Hannah, Joe, and Zach and Alex, Hannah’s children, were now a family. Joe and Hannah like to joke that this was a marriage of convenience, since they were already together all the time anyway, but anyone who watches them perform can feel the love that draws them together and speaks through their music.

Acoustic Eidolon's recordings have been featured on NPR's "All Things Considered," John Diliberto's "Echoes," PAX Television, Woodsong's "Olde Time Radio Hour," and numerous other stations across the country.