President’s Letter
Folknotes 04/03/25
Hello Everyone,
Here is the latest QCB news.
Leo Coffeehouse, Sunday, Sunday, April 6, 2025
Looking Ahead: Leo Coffeehouse, Sunday, April 13, 2025
Reference Information For New Subscribers (Below my sign off)
Leo Coffeehouse
Sunday, April 6, 2025
3:00 PM: 1st Sunday Rise Up Singing
Tell all your friends and bring the kids! Everyone picks songs from Rise Up Singing and Rise Again song books which are available to purchase or to use in the circle. The incredible Al Wauligman will lead us on the piano.
4:15 PM: Back to Basics Workshop
For anyone who wants to refine their technique, and share their experience with others. Newcomers are encouraged to come. Easy chords and transitions…. plus easy tempo and strumming are the focus of this group.
5:15 PM: Patriots and Protesters led by John Fonner
Let’s unite and heal our communities through song! Protest songs point to injustice and challenge us to make things better. Patriotic songs celebrate the best in our communities and draw us together. We’ll create a list of 10-15 songs to practice together so that any of us can lead a group of others.
5:15 PM: Open Jam
Anyone can bring songs to lead in the circle while others provide backup and harmony.
6:40-9:00 PM: Performances
1st Set: Chris Lee
Now an acoustic guitar player, early influences were Ozzy, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple/Rainbow and Queen. Tito Jackson, Keith Partridge and Ace Frehley of Kiss were the first musicians who influenced Chris to play the guitar. “Growing up, heavy metal was my favorite to play... But now… I can find enjoyment in playing any genre of music. I am thoroughly a fan of playing the guitar.”
2nd Set: Never2Late
George Cooley and Victor Lloyd have been singing together for probably 30 years. Known for their harmonies, NeverTooLate was a trio that performed at Summer Fair, Harmony night at the Leo, Edensong and various venues in Mt Adams and Oakley. The duo reunited for performances in early 2024.
3rd Set: Jill And Bobby Band
Jill Denton and Bobby Fisher first joined forces in the progressive bluegrass band, the Smyth Brothers, followed by the much loved country rock band, Coyote. Theirs’ is a chemistry that creates a unique energy in their music and a confidence that only comes from years of playing together. Jill’s powerful and beautiful voice along with Bobby’s dynamic guitar skills and vocal harmonies.
Looking Ahead: Leo Coffeehouse
Sunday, April 13, 2025
4:30 PM: Kith And Kin Story Gathering Project
Trained story gatherers from the Urban Appalachian Community Coalition will be on hand to record your story of what family means to you. It is quick and easy! Bring a photo or object that says family to you, and offer your story to join others on their website.
Contact Pauletta Hansel with questions.
5:15 PM: Songwriters Collaborative
Come and share your songs with other songwriters for encouragement and friendly critiques.
5:15 PM: Open Jam
Anyone can bring songs to lead in the circle while others provide backup and harmony.
6:40-9:00 PM: Performances
1st Set: Dave Johnson And The Woodshed Band
Come listen to Leo regular David Johnson’s special brand of folk music with David on guitar and vocals, Cynthia McCarthy on ukulele and vocals, Dick Males on upright bass and Neil Harrell on round neck Dobro, mandolin, 6 string banjo, harmonica, and vocals. They have worked up a variety of new songs that we hope you will enjoy including a few singalongs. Please bring a kazoo to join in on "San Francisco Bay Blues".
2nd Set: The Pine Ridge Partners
Leo favorites Warren and Judy Waldron play all kinds of traditional Appalachian music, from dance tunes to country duets and everything in between, including doing hoedown square dances.
3rd Set: The Farmer And The Crow
With more than a decade of performances, the legendary Ma Crow plays bluegrass, Americana and Old-time Mountain music along with Dale Farmer, creator of the film The Mountain Minor, and longtime band member with the Back Porch Hounds and Jerichho Old-time Band. Together, The Farmer and the Crow perform both originals and creative interpretations of forgotten gems.
That’s all for this Folknotes, I hope to see you soon.
Neil Harrell
President, Queen City Balladeers/Leo Coffeehouse
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QCB/Leo Coffeehouse Membership
We are keeping our standard annual QCB membership dues at $20.00 for a family, or for a single person plus a guest. Last year, knowing that the pandemic cut into our contingency funds, as we continued to pay overhead expenses with no income, some members donated larger amounts to QCB. We very much appreciate the support of all QCB members at all levels.
We are exploring setting up our website to allow the payment of different levels of dues support. For now, if you’d like to pay the standard dues, you can pay them online here or by a check at Leo. (We’ve discontinued our P.O. Box, I will have a mailing address in the next newsletter for those who wish to mail their membership dues.)
If you would like to donate more than the $20.00 standard dues, you can do so by check, or through our website. When you get to the page with the box to relay instructions, just note that you are paying a larger amount for your dues.
For visitors who prefer not to become a member, a donation of $5.00 (cash) per person helps us pay the rent for our non-profit organization. Donations can be slipped in the box at the welcome table outside our performance room, Founders Hall. If you can’t afford that, pay what you can afford or nothing at all. We will welcome you to join us either way.