Lisbon Speaker Series - February 2025

At Balzac Bar 

Located at Rua de Arroios 156, 1150-056 Lisbon. Balzac is close to the Arroios metro station on the Green line. From 16h00 - 16h30, participants will be able to order drinks, including cocktails, and small plates such as spinach dip with truffle oil, duck or shrimp bruschetta and ceviche. The Speaker will present from 16h30 - 18h00. Limited to 25 participants.

Two Old Guys Making Music in Lisbon: The Real Phil Gold and David The White Haired Man and their sonic adventures in Lisbon

Have you ever thought about writing a song? Well, David never had either until he met Phil, who had been writing and performing and recording his own songs for decades. When Phil played a new instrumental song he was working on, David said, “I hear a title for this one. Phil said, “Go ahead and write the lyrics!” And the rest, as they say . . . . . They will share how they come up with ideas and compose and collaborate and record and develop their album art and covers, and more!

David Hassler has enjoyed music all his life, from listening to Wagner as a kid with his dad on 78rpm records to singing folk songs and playing guitar in high school and through college, and professionally singing several different operatic character roles with the Kentucky Opera Association in the 70’s. He and Sarah moved to Lisbon four years ago after living in India for three years, and he met Phil when they discovered their love of music as subscribers to the Gulbenkian Symphony. 

Phil Gold has also always had music in his life. He picked up the guitar pretty early, was in numerous bands during the 70s and 80s, and he hasn't stopped playing yet. He set up his first home studio in 2002, and has spent a couple of decades recording and self producing "albums" of original tunes. He and his wife Kristie moved to Porto in 2020 during the depths of COVID, and migrated to Lisbon in 2021 just in time to meet David and Sarah.

Contact the Captain - Wendy Shapiro