President’s Letter
5/09/24
Hello Everyone,
We are down to our final two performance Sundays at Leo before our year end potluck/mic-less open mic on May 26, 2024. Join us. Like the rest of the year, we’ve got a lot of great performers lined up.
Here is the latest QCB news:
Community Happens Here/QCB Jam, May 11, 2024
Leo Coffeehouse, May 12, 2024
Looking Ahead: Leo Coffeehouse, May 19, 2024
Reference Information (Below my sign off)
Community Happens Here/QCB Jam
May 11, 2024
From Kelli Domke:
“When you mention the jam at Community Happens Here in your next Folknotes, will you mention that this time CHH will also be hosting Pleasant Ridge Montessori Day from 11:00 AM-1:00 PM. This will make it an especially great day to come play, meet more community members, and maybe grab some popcorn or a snow cone before the jam.”
It’s happening again this Saturday, from 12:30-2:30 PM, at Community Happens Here at 6238 Montgomery Rd. in Pleasant Ridge, It’s also on the QCB calendar on our website: the second Saturday of each month. Join us to share in the fun and music.
Parking is available on Montgomery Rd., on Grand Vista Ave. and at the public parking lot behind Walgreens on Woodmont Ave.
Leo Coffeehouse
May 12, 2024
5:15 PM: The Troubadour Experience led by Mark Dvorak:
There is no right way or wrong way to perform music. No single set of instructions could ever prepare you for the many circumstances a performer will encounter. Since 1981, Mark Dvorak has given almost ten-thousand performances. Join him for an illuminating discussion and workshop aimed at helping you to sharpen your performance.
Many of you will probably attend Mark’s workshop, but these two events are also scheduled this Sunday at 5:15 PM:
5:15 PM: Songwriters Collaborative
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: 6:40 - 9:00 PM:
1st Set: Three Voices and Strings
Three Queen City Balladeer singer-songwriters, have collaborated to bring you songs they love. Cheryl McKinney, Alana Johnson and Chris Bieri are the voices. Guitars, 6 string banjo and bass ukulele are the strings.
2nd Set: Ed & Sharon Riegler (Riegler Soundways)
They invite you to enjoy Ed’s original songs, some of which have been written since his second album “Good To Be Here”. Sharon was involved with editing, and helping with vocals, melodica and bass. They will also perform some familiar covers from a multi-decade palette of standards. Ed and Sharon will appreciate your listening support.
3rd Set: Mark Dvorak
Chicago’s “official troubadour,” Mark has performed in Finland, Canada, Ireland and almost all of the US. He has also won awards for children’s music, journalism, and was honored with the FARM Lantern Bearer Award from Folk Alliance International. You won’t want to miss his performance at Leo.
Looking Ahead:
Leo Coffeehouse, May 19, 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: Workshop by the Rix: Rik Palieri and Rick Nestler
The Rix will talk about how to lead sing alongs like Pete Seeger, and possibly, about hobos and trains.
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.
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: 6:40 - 9:00 PM:
SongFarmers Night
Many of you have heard about the WoodSongs Front Porch Association and the SongFarmers of America, which are the WSFPA local chapters made up of like minded musicians who “bring their communities together through music.” Of course the Queen City Balladeers have been doing this for 60 years and when the SongFarmers program started, QCB joined as The SongFarmers of Cincinnati.
The 8th Annual National Gathering of SongFarmers is returning to the Kentucky Music Hall Of Fame at Renfro Valley, KY on May 17 and 18, 2024. Some of the performers at this gathering will make the journey to Cincinnati to perform for us at Leo on May 19th.
Two of the performers will be the Rix: Rik Palieri and Rick Nestler.
Rick Nestler and his old buddy Rik Palieri, take the stage as a duo with songs, both old and new, familiar and obscure, and from poignant to inspiring! Playing individually and together in various combinations on guitars, banjos, Native American flute, Ozark Mouth bow and autoharp, there will be plenty of chances for singing a long, foot tapping, knee slapping, and belly laughing!
With personal mentors like Pete Seeger and Utah Phillips, the RIX create an atmosphere of fun while providing a rare glimpse of a part of American folklore that is slowly disappearing. Among the many programs they have presented, they have developed one of interest in particular: performing a sing a long tribute to Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, featuring old folk songs, sea shanties, sod buster ballads, labor and contemporary songs that are all a pure joy to both listen to and sing along with. These travelers have both recorded and performed with Pete Seeger and learned from the masters, they are from the true vine. Catch them while you can!
Visit this link for more on The Rix.
Due to recent cancellations, additional SongFarmer performers will be announced in the next Folknotes.
QCB/Leo Coffeehouse Membership
We are keeping our standard annual QCB embership 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 all for this Folknotes, I hope to see you soon at Leo Coffeehouse.
Neil Harrell
President, Queen City Balladeers/Leo Coffeehouse
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