Hot Times at Old Town

Appearing below are selections from the hard copy Hot Times. The objective is to highlight activities at the School and in the larger community, especially those featuring or of special interest to teachers and staff. Your suggestions are welcome. Enter a comment (under any item); it will come to me rather than automatically appearing.

Dvorak, Holstein, and Craig — Oh my! Sun. January 11th!

These three folk troubadors will come together for a wonderful show — celebrating Ed Holstein’s first-ever CD.

Ed Holstein, brother of the late Fred Holstein, is himself a Chicago legend. As the major domo, promoter, and presiding presence at Holstein’s on Lincoln Avenue, he was a central figure in the Chicago folk scene. Now as a member of the faculty at the Old Town School, Ed’s music, stories, and humor have made him a popular, engaging guitar teacher.

Joining Ed will be Mark Dvorak, one of the Midwest’s most loved and respected folk singers, and Jim Craig — the folk performer with the unforgettable, deep bass voice (and proprietor of Hogeye Music in Evanston). Adding to these long-time performers will be the Pickin Bubs and other guests.

The show will be at 4 pm, Sunday, January 11th, right here at The Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln. www.oldtownschool.org. Tickets: (773) 728-6000.

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | December 24, 2008 | Comments (0)

Almost First Friday Open House - Jan. 9th, 5:30-11 pm

Join us on our initial First Friday gathering of the new year!

What is First Friday? This is the evening each month that we open wide the doors! The building fills up with teachers, students, friends, visitors — lovers of music, who want to listen, play, sing, or just hang out. You drop $4 at the door and enjoy an evening of music and fun.

This Friday will be the ffifth month of the Gather-All, a revival of an early tradition at the school. This is an all-ages jam (students at all skill levels welcome!) beginning at 5:30. Then, about 6:30 (as always) begins a range of activities: a song circle, open string jam, songwriters’ exchange, Fandango jam, open ensemble jam, creativity jam, squaredance, student ensemble performances, and a dance workshop. Skip’s Back Porch Jam this month will feature Mark Dvorak, midwestern troubador. Bring your instrument: students at all levels are welcome. But come early (at 6:30) to get a seat!

The Cafe will be open with beverages. Activities run to the 9 p.m. community sing. Then comes the featured performer in the Concert Hall — this month, Steve Levitt with the Beatles Ensemble. The evening winds up about 11 pm. For full details each month, including the featured performer, checkout the new First Friday full page; http://www.oldtownschool.org/classes/firstfriday/

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | November 26, 2008 | Comments (0)

Highlighted Teachers’ gigs, 12-26 update

Highlights (only!) for your calendar:

Tuesday, January 6th - Jonas Friddle and the Barehand Jug Band, Red Line Tap (opening for the Henhouse Prowlers), 7006 N. Glenwood, time tba.

Saturday, January 10th - Chris Kastle, Second Saturday Coffeehouse, Skokie, 8 pm

Sunday, January 11th - Ed Holstein, Mark Dvorak, and Jim Craig – CD release party for Eddie’s first-ever CD. Old Town School, 4544 N. Lincoln, 4 pm. Tickets: (773) 728-6000.

(Items shown here also appear in the more complete list of teacher gigs, click the column to the right or just scroll down).

Filed under: Interesting outside the Old Town School by Skip | September 17, 2008 | Comments (0)

Playing by Ear: More Fun Than You Thought Possible

The idea is subversive: eliminating the middleman, playing music without the notes or chords! But think about it. This is the way most of your teachers play. Yet they weren’t born with this skill; they learned it. If you can “carry a tune,” you can learn to play by ear. For guitar/banjo/mandolin/uke etc. an easy way to begin is with songs that have three chords; songs you already sing, with chords you already know. Bill Brickey’s tip: start by remembering the beginning chord, then try singing and playing without tab. When the chord sounds wrong, try one of the other two.

For playing melody, Here’s a site primarily focused on playing melodies on other instruments: www.treelight.com/music/playByEar.html.

Need song suggestions? For a searchable index of the Old Town School Songbook – for example, songs that use only D and A7 – sign up free for oldtownfolks.org (a wonderful student/teacher resource!)

Filed under: Practice tips by Skip | September 6, 2008 | Comments (0)

Develop your storytelling

Passing along on our stories to future generations involves practicing an age-old, sustainable skill. If you’re a story-teller or interested in story-telling, think about getting involved in the North Park Nature Center North Shore Storytelling Guild. They meet the third Wednesday of the month at the Nature Center of North Park Village, 5801 N. Pulaski.

The evening begins by getting-acquainted at 7:30, with stories from 8 to 10 pm. Meetings are open to all, with no experience necessary, i.e., you can come to tell a story of just to listen. (It’s a down home gathering , not a performance). Stories include adult-themed material). Info: Mark Kater, 847-673-5786.

The Nature Center is in the midst of a wonderful, natural area of Peterson Park — a place to enjoy the passing seasons, far away from the invisible city surrounding it. Any opportunity for a visit is worth the time, and what better excuse for a visit than to enjoy this ancient art?

Filed under: Interesting elsewhere by Skip | September 5, 2008 | Comments (0)

New, old, wonderful Mark Dvorak Album

Neat idea!

What a Wonderful World: A Family Folk Sampler brings together some of Mark’s best tracks, plus four new ones. In one place you’ll find eleven songs from Mark’s 1995 award-winning CD Old Songs & New People, three from the 1996 Just Something My Grandma Used to Sing, three more from 2000’s Weavermania! LIVE and one track from Use It Up, Wear It Out released in 1992 — plus four new tracks recorded with The Sons of the Never Wrong. Other musicians on the tracks include Michael Smith, Tom Dundee and Barbara Barrow, Rick Sherry from Devil in a Woodpile, old-time fiddle master Steve Rosen and John Williams on whistle and accordion.

In July, Mark was recognized for his broad, long-term contribution to the local and national folk community with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Woodstock Folk Festival. « Read more »

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | August 27, 2008 | Comments (0)

Azul de Noches

If you missed the Latin Fest, here’s a taste of what you would have seen on the Jackson Stage — Azul de Noches, a band including percussion teacher Raul Fernandez and harp student David Kachalon. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEJWZTOFfN0

Hot stuff!

Filed under: Interesting elsewhere, Teacher gigs by Skip | August 15, 2008 | Comments (0)

Mandragora Tango

This great concert began the Pena series for the fall. The Mandragora Tango quartet was featured in the 2008 International Chicago Tango Fest in a program that will include include the fest’s top tango couples.

The Pena Wednesday gatherings are our unique free-but-ticketed events: exciting Latin music to get your heart pumping and your spirit soaring. Why have tickets? The shows are so popular that we often fill up the 450 seat concert hall — having a ticket ensures that you won’t come and be turned away at the door. (Full schedule elsewhere on this oldtownschool.org site).

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | August 14, 2008 | Comments (0)

Like playing tunes? Stop by for the Wednesday Noon Jam

We’re continuing through the break, meeting on both August 20th and 27th, and continuing in the fall term. « Read more »

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | August 14, 2008 | Comments (0)

Go fishing…courtesy of the Chicago Public Library?

« Read more »

Filed under: Interesting elsewhere by Skip | August 14, 2008 | Comments (0)


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