President’s Letter
2/14/24
Happy Valentine’s Day Everyone:
Here’s the latest QCB/Leo Coffeehouse news:
Report on our first Community Happens Here Song Circle/Jam
Report on last week’s open mic.
Report on the Return of Coffee to Leo Coffeehouse
Leo Coffeehouse, February 18, 2024
Looking Ahead: Leo Coffeehouse, February 25, 2024
Reference Information (Below my sign off)
Report on: Folk Music Jam at
Community Happens Here
Our first song circle/jam at Community Happens Here was a great success. In fact, QCB members filled the upstairs room at CHH. It was a lot of fun seeing, and playing with, a bunch of QCB friends on a Saturday afternoon. Thanks to Ruth Anne Wolfe, Amy Halbrook, Kelli Domke, and all the QCB members who attended, for getting the QCB/CHH alliance started.
We have jointly agreed to continue holding song circles at CHH from 12:30-2:30 PM on the 2nd Saturday of each month. You can find them listed on CHH’s calendar on their website under “Connect”.
Report on: Last Week’s Open Mic
Last Sunday night a lot of QCB regulars must have stayed home to watch Taylor Swift, uh, I mean the Super Bowl. I heard it was an exciting game, and that Taylor’s boyfriend’s team won.
We had a good time at our mic-less open mic, me so much so, that I only remembered to snap a few photos, which I shared on the QCB Members Group Facebook page. I actually sat in the front row for most of the night, which was quite nice for a change. In all, I think we had 13 performers.
Our new rules allowed those who hadn’t played at the last open mic to sign up first. This time, with 18 open slots, everyone who wanted to play, got to play; some of us even played an extra song or two. It was a nice relaxing night with a lot of great acoustic music.
Report on: The Return of Coffee
to Leo Coffeehouse
Last Sunday, Dick Males got the coffee/tea/hot chocolate table up and running. All seemed to go well, although I was mostly paying attention to the music. We did learn that it is not a good idea to offer small bags of chips on a mic-less open mic night. (Those little bags are noisy!)
Here’s how Dick is running things:
Bring your own mug (If you use one of our mugs, be prepared to help collect and wash the mugs at the end of the night.)
Hot water, instant coffee, tea, and hot chocolate will be provided.
Clean up after yourself.
Drop a dollar in the jar please.
Again, this is an experiment, we will continue if it is successful
Leo Coffeehouse
February 18, 2024
3:30 PM: 3rd Sunday Singalong
Tell your friends and bring the kids! Everyone will pick songs from the Rise Up Singing books.
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
Forum for players of any skill to exchange ideas so we can all make better music. Bring a question, share a tip. Learn a new lick or chord. Gain a new perspective, share your own. Enrich your guitar experience.
Performances 6:40 - 9:00 PM
1st Set: Ceron Bros
Three brothers from Milford who have been studying classical music since they were 2, 4 and 5 years old. Rhys (16) plays the piano, Beckett (14) plays classical guitar and Tennyson (13) plays piano and classical guitar. They have played in a variety of venues in OH, MI, IL, CT and NY including the Nature Center, Caffe Vivace, Longway Planetarium ( MI), One World Observatory (NYC) and Carnegie Hall.
2nd Set: Michael G Ronstadt
A wide range of musical styles from singer-songwriter, folk, classical, and Americana to new age on cello and guitar in complement to thought-provoking lyrics, as well as instrumental work. In addition to his solo and group recordings with Trotta, Aaron Nathans and Serenity Fisher & The Cardboard Hearts, he is a much sought-after studio musician, who has appeared on more than 200 albums in the last 20 years. Michael holds a Master in Cello Performance from CCM.
3rd Set: No Sugar Added
A mix of Americana, folk and bluegrass with rich harmonies and acoustic instruments. Bob Littman, Stormin’ Norman Heck, and Richard Goering.
Looking Ahead:
Leo Coffeehouse
February 25, 2024
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: 4th Sunday Old Time Country Jam
Join us playing early roots country and related music such as Jimmy Rogers, Bob WIlls, Patsy Cline, Delmore Brothers and The Carter Family. We’ll include songs from the early 1900s through the Folk Revival.
Performances 6:40-9:00 PM
1st Set: Dave Sanders
Dave Sanders plays guitar with a unique finger and capo style. Dave’s songs range from the 1930s to the 1970s with a couple pieces from the 1600s; each performed with his own unique treatment.
2nd Set: Whistlestop
Kelli Domke and Dean Kotchka, who perform as WhistleStop, along with guest upright bassist, Dick Males, will bring a mix of songs, styles, and artists steeped in Appalachian, folk, and classic country music. Blending acoustic guitar with vocal harmonies, WhistleStop offers a style rooted in Americana tradition, updated with modern sensibilities.
3rd Set: Raison DâEtre
Violet Rae Webster, Vickie Ellis, and Roberta Schultz are three women who live to sing together. According to Mike Breen of Cincinnati CityBeat, the folk trio offers "some of the finest three-part harmony singing you'll likely ever hear." You can expect traditional folk songs, a capella swing tunes, and cowboy anthems, all delivered in their pure Kentucky blend. https://raison3.com/
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.
That’s it, I hope to see you soon at Leo Coffeehouse.
Neil Harrell
President, Queen City Balladeers/Leo Coffeehouse
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