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.

Friday 3/7 - When the school’s communities get together!

You like coming to the school, enjoy the folks you meet, and love your classes — right? But you haven’t been to a First Friday? Jeeze Louise! You’ve missed out! First Friday is when everything happens: when the School’s communities come together to have fun. Things jump off at 6:30, at our 4544 N. Lincoln building. A $4 donation is requested.

Festivities begin at 6:30. Guitar teacher Cathy Norden leads the SONG CIRCLE. You don’t need to bring an instrument, don’t need to bring a song, you don’t even need to know a song — just stop by and join in. Fiddle teacher Walter Hojka or Danny Miller hosts the STRING JAM and beginners are welcome! Fiddle, banjo, guitar are standard but bring what you have! Steve Joyner convenes the SONGWRITERS’ CRITIQUE & EXCHANGE. « Read more »

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | January 29, 2008 | Comments (0)

Get the local scoop!

We all have a natural interest in our neighborhoods. Accordingly, a website focused on local news has perked up some interest.
It’s EveryBlock.com. « Read more »

Filed under: Interesting outside the Old Town School by Skip | January 29, 2008 | Comments (0)

Lead Belly’s Birthday Party, Tues. January 29th, 10 pm

Note: Folks who were there said this was wonderful. Sue Strom read from the radio feature text while Mark played Huddie’s songs; people sang along on the popular ones.

Huddie Ledbetter, known as Lead Belly, left us a rich legacy of song, but few remember who he was. Mark Dvorak will remedy that on Tuesday, when he sponsors Huddie’s first ever birthday party at the Grafton. There will be a reading by Sue Strom, then she’ll join him in singing Lead Belly’s best known songs. The party is at 10 pm, just down the block from the School.

For Mark’s email about his trip down south to learn more about Lead Belly’s roots, click « Read more »

Filed under: Interesting elsewhere by Skip | January 23, 2008 | Comments (0)

Trad Fest Weekend, January 25-26th

Jimmy get your fiddle down and rosin up the bow
Johnny take your banjo down we’re gonna have a show
Pass around the jug to corporal McCoy
We’re gonna play a tune called Soldiers Joy

Trad Fest is our annual “come on down!” weekend for lovers of old-time barndance music. The weekend centers around a Saturday night concert by three knock-out groups: The Foghorn String Band, Gary Harrison and the New Mules, and the Carolina Chocolate Drops. (Recognize that last name? They did a dynamite concert at the School a couple months back).

But this isn’t a normal concert weekend. Bring a dish to the $5 Friday night open house/pot luck supper – it includes the Saturday performers. Beyond that, these folks will be back for an afternoon of jamming on Saturday. Now, what happens on such occasions? It’s jam city, not just the pros playing. Whatever your skill level, you’ll find a place with your comfort zone: bring your instrument! The open house pot-luck is at 6:30, Friday, January 25th at Lincoln. For Saturday afternoon/evening information and tickets, check oldtownschool.org. A community event, y’all come!

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | January 20, 2008 | Comments (0)

The Trad Fest fringe — Sunday’s Gravestone Concert!

Arlo Leach, leader of the Hump Night Thumpers, has assembled an amazing lineup of musicians for this concert, both international and local. harmonica blues legend Charlie Musselwhite tops the bill, followed by the Carolina Chocolate Drops (see above!), Devil in a Woodpile, Joe Filisko, the Northside Southpaws, the Jake Leg Stompers, and (of course) the Hump Night Thumpers.

Harmonica player and guitarist Will Shade founded the Memphis Jug Band in 1927. He worked with musicians like Memphis Minnie and Furry Lewis, writing original songs like “Stealin’ Stealin’” and “On the Road Again,” becoming the most important figure in a genre that remained popular through the end of the Great Depression. Even so, he died penniless and was buried in and unmarked grave. Arlo has located his burial site, and has worked with other to organize this concert.

The program will be a tribute to Will Shade’s achievements and will raise money to purchase a gravestone. Tickets are $20 ($18 for members, $16 for kids and seniors).

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | January 20, 2008 | Comments (0)

More traditional music fun!

Do you enjoy traditional and folk-roots music? Check out the University of Chicago Folk Festival, February 8th -10th. Held on the university campus, the weekend includes many afternoon mini-concerts (billed as “workshops”) and lots of jamming (usually old-time and bluegrass but start your own jam!) on Saturday and Sunday afternoon (Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 E. 59th St.) Afternoons are free! www.uofcfolk.org.

What about barndancing? Chicago and Chicago area barndances (squares and contras) are held regularly on Mondays and periodically other days. You don’t dance? No problem: dances are walked through and experienced dancers will help. www.ChicagoBarnDance.com.

Folk music concerts? Get the monthly Aural Tradition newsletter for almost nothing. Mail only. (773) 493-8672.

Filed under: Interesting outside the Old Town School by Skip | January 20, 2008 | Comments (0)

The equivalent of great musicianship….in paper art

What are the elements of great musicianship? A vision of the music, an intimate knowledge/love of the instrument, and technical skills? That’s a try, but as always, words and concepts are inadquate pointers. Those are my thoughts when I think about creativity while looking at the work of Peter Callesen. http://petercallesen.com/index/index2.html

Filed under: Interesting elsewhere by Skip | January 20, 2008 | Comments (0)

Typhanie Monique — “Chicago’s next major jazz artist”

That’s the description of Typhanie Monique by the Trib’s Howard Reich.

Typanie is a member of the School’s vocal teaching staff. You may have read about her when she and Chris Walz taught workshops in Moscow for three weeks last July.

JazzTimes magazine described Typhanie’s sound as a modern-day Sarah Vaughan with iridescent traces of Lena Horne.
Another critic wrote: “Toss her a subject or a groove and hang on tight. She’ll shake it, knead it, pummel it, wring it until it drips with the essence of her signature soul style. The harder you listen the more you’re repaid with a sound so pure that you ache when it stops. Her second CD, The Room, has had rave reviews.

You can hear Typhanie on Saturdays through February at Andy’s Jazz Club, 11 E. Hubbard St, between 5 and 8:30 pm. (312) 467-9394. www.andysjazzclub.com. $10. She has a voice to remember, and this is a great jazz venue.

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | January 7, 2008 | Comments (0)

40 years of Chicago

Popular music as history? Now there’s a great idea! For the 40th anniversary of the band Chicago, the Chicago History Museum has come up with a commemorative installation at the museum entrance. The display includes objects and materials from their remarkable history from the band’s archive. Wow. Who would have expected this?

The installation will be on display through Sunday, March 30, 2008. Bravo CHM!

Filed under: Interesting outside the Old Town School by Skip | January 6, 2008 | Comments (0)