09/06/23

Hello Everyone,

Here’s the current QCB news:

We are starting 15 minutes earlier this season to give us more flexibility with time slots for the performance sets. So we will be opening Zion at 5:15 PM on Leo Sundays.

This Sunday: Leo Coffeehouse, September 10, 2023

5:15 PM: Songwriters Collaborative led by Michael Johnathon

Come and share your songs with other songwriters for encouragement and friendly critiques.

5:15 PM: Open Jam

Musicians bring songs to lead in the circle while others provide backup and harmony. This jam continues upstairs during the concert.

Performances

1st Set: Kabir Bakie

A familiar face at the Leo, Kabir likes to perform folk, pop and country songs. He particularly enjoys playing the music of artists such as Gordon Lightfoot, John Prine, and Johnny Cash.

2nd Set: Ellen Mershon

Ellen is a local singer songwriter with deep roots in the Cincinnati music scene.  Her passion for American Roots music shines through her folky, soulful and eclectic style.

3rd Set: Michael Johnathon

Folksinger Michael Johnathon has a long-standing career in the arts as a concert performer, songwriter, playwright, composer of the opera, “Woody: For the People,” and as the host of the live audience broadcast of the WoodSongs Old Time Radio Hour.

Looking Ahead: Leo Coffeehouse, September 17, 2023

3:30 PM: 3rd Sunday SingAlong

Tell your friends and bring the kids! Everyone picks a song from Rise Up Singing and Rise Again song books which are available to purchase or to use in the circle. Pick any song and be prepared to lead if people don’t know it.

5:15 PM: Special Workshop 

Performing a Cajun song by Steve and Donna Bing

For all musicians, all instruments, and singers. Steve and Donna will give a short history of Cajun music, tell us what Cajun rhythms are all about and how to get that "elusive" Cajun sound out of their instrument. This is for everyone who may want to add a Cajun song or two to their repertoire.

5:15 PM: Open Jam

Musicians bring songs to lead in the circle while others provide backup and harmony. This jam continues upstairs during the concert.

5:15 PM: Guitar RoundTable Workshop

A forum for players of any skill level to exchange ideas so we can all make better music together. Bring a question, share a tip. Learn a new lick or chord. Gain a new perspective, share your own with us. Enrich your guitar experience.

Performances:
6:45 PM: All Evening Open Mic

Our open mic night is very popular. Sign up at 6:30 PM to perform 2 songs. We are starting it a little early this month to accommodate more players.  Our sound system will be set up.

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.

Neil Harrell
President, Queen City Balladeers/Leo Coffeehouse

President’s Letter