Traveling troubadour John Troast, who is in the dog days of his ‘100 shows in 100 days’ trek, has no qualms about sleeping on the couch. In fact he prefers it.

Many of his shows are private house concerts in which the host provides the lodging as well. Most hosts are strangers until he knocks on the door.

“I usually have no idea who it is or how old they are which makes it a surprise. Sometimes I’m playing for 50-year-olds and other times for college students,” said Troast, who hails from Lake Geneva, Wis. “Sometimes I’m on the floor, sometimes they have a guest house. I’m happy on the couch, though.”

Troast said he often wakes up to a dog licking his face and once stayed with a dentist who gave him a cleaning and x-ray as part of the deal.

For his public show here, Troast will bring his music out of the living room and into the Oak Hill Presbyterian Church on the South Side. With his acoustic guitar, Troast channels James Taylor and Cat Stevens and has been featured on Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion.”

Jon Troast

7 pm, Thursday at Oak Hill Presbyterian Church, 4111 Connecticut St.

The concert is a fund raiser for brostl.org, a group that collects toys for families in need.

More info: dcook@brostl.org, 314-664-5525