In their sixteen years, the Sones de México Ensemble has been the local standard bearer for Mexican "son" and how the music varies by region. Their mission has also allowed them to incorporate as a 501(c)3 educational non-profit, allowing them to take their music and traditions to schools, communities, and other organizations across the country, and further research the history of one of Mexico's best-known musical styles. more ›

--The Midwest Independent Film Festival starts a new season on Tuesday with the world premiere of Osso Bucco, which was produced in Chicago. The comedy revolves around disparate types stuck in an Italian restaurant during a massive snowstorm. Doesn't sound like such a terrible situation. The movie stars Illeana Douglas, who we've had a sort of crush on ever since Grace of My Heart. Several other cast members as well as the filmmakers will be at the show: 7:30 at the Landmark Century. more ›

This Sunday, Old Town School of Folk Music is hosting a hootenanny! Kids are invited to come in their pajamas and tote along their favorite plushie for this twee pre-bedtime show featuring Wiggleworms teachers Lindsay Weinberg, Rob Newhouse, Elaine Moore and others. Chicago Children's Theater promises to bring their own, life-sized Teddy Bear to join in the festivities. Show starts at 5 p.m. at Old Town's Lincoln Square location, and tickets are $11 for members and $12 for everyone else. more ›

The clock to '08 is ticking. What are you doing to ring in the new year? If the answer to that question is a desperate, collar-loosening, sweat-inducing "I don't know!" then here are a few last-minute suggestions. Everything listed here will cost you less than $40 and was not sold out at the time of posting. more ›

For many, going out New Year's Eve can be like going to junior prom over and over again; it's lots of fussy build-up with little payoff, leaving you with nasty hangovers, tacky swag, and, possibly, an awkward goodbye come morning. If swanky soirées aren't your thing, head to The Old Town School of Folk Music for The Punch Brothers for a refreshing alternative. more ›

Of all the egregious things the city can do to property owners, from jacking property taxes to the current favorite, the misuse of TIFs, none seems more unfair and ripe for abuse as eminent domain. For the uninitiated, eminent domain allows the city government to seize ownership of private property, paying the owner whatever the city deems as "market value". It's supposed to be used for the "greater public good", such as the expansion... more ›

Is it just us, or has this week sucked ass? It seems like everyone we've talked to has wanted to stab the whole world in the neck this week. At least we have a bunch of things to do that are awesome..... The Old Town School of Folk Music has its annual craft fair tonight, plus their monthly First Friday series. Tomorrow, bust out your wallet at Renegade Craft Fair's holiday bonanza. We've noticed... more ›

We know you head to Beat Kitchen to enjoy the likes of artists like Plane, New Duncan Imperials and Deadstring Brothers. Be prepared for your toddler to start dragging you back out when they hear about the “Concerts for Kids” shows on Sunday afternoons … at the same Beat Kitchen where you were rockin’ the night before. Once a month, Beat Kitchen opens up its concert space for local talent that caters to the younger... more ›

Something’s buzzing in Millennium Park this summer, and it isn’t the type of bug you’re thinking of. The Old Town School of Folk Music’s Wiggleworms program heads outside this summer for free daily morning concerts; it’s the hippest place to see and be seen for the toddler set. The concerts follow same format as traditional Wiggleworms classes: interactive folksy kids’ songs, a chance to play along with simple instruments passed out to the crowd, and... more ›

One million dollars doesn’t seem like a lot when Dr. Evil is extorting the world, but a million can go a long way towards the Old Town School of Folk Music’s new education center. Stepping in with the school’s largest gift in its half century existence are Gary and Laura Maurer. The new building that this donation is designated for will be across from the Lincoln Square location where we’re used to seeing the Robbie... more ›

No witty introduction this week. Our fault for trying to impress the new staffers with barleywine ale and Dalmore. Thank God for French-pressed coffee. The buffet is now open. A Good German to the End: The closing of Delicatessen Meyer should have been a story we weighed in on earlier in the week and not relegated to the Buffet. To that end, Chicagoist extends a sincere mea culpa. Anyhoo, for those who haven't heard, the... more ›

Another Friday, another snowstorm, another installment of Empty Out Your Wallet. This week we’re not so inclined to whip out the credit card as we have been in past weeks, but here we go. We honestly didn’t know these guys were still around writing songs for the Adult Contemporary crowd. Apparently, they are still popular enough to fill up the Vic. Five for Fighting is best known for "Superman (It's Not Easy)," which was the... more ›

EOYW is a day late this week, and your forgiveness is begged. Luckily, most of the shows below are not yet sold out, so our laziness will not be to your detriment. For whatever reason, some of the most talented musicians don’t become well-known until after they contract some life-threatening disease that warrants a tribute album. Alejandro Escovedo managed to recover from his bout with Hepatitis C to release The Boxing Mirror earlier this year.... more ›

Last week had us blind with excitement, but this week’s slate – aside from some sure things - has us cautiously optimistic. After emptying out our wallet this weekend, we’re grateful for tonight’s free Mixel Pixel show at Empty Bottle. We’re still on the fence about the band’s album Music For Plants, which swirls industrial dance grooves around shoegazer-y vocals and Nintendo-inspired keyboards. But it’s the kind of music that gives white kids permission to... more ›

Cancer isn't pretty, no matter how you slice it. And when a young woman is struck with a genetic form of cancer, it's hard to find any silver lining to that cloud. But when your friends and family band together to form an ongoing fundraiser on your behalf, that little cancer cloud hanging over your head may seem a bit smaller. Rebecca Babcock was diagnosed with a genetic form of colorectal cancer called FAP, which... more ›

Now that the weather is turning cool, it’s time to start catching up on your reading and taking a few self-improvement classes. For some of us, that means finally learning to play a musical instrument. We’ve had a ukulele gathering dust in the corner for a while, so we’re finally going to head to Old Town School of Folk Music and hit up some of their classes. But this season, we’re also planning on checking... more ›

Bloodshot Records has been up to some fun stuff as of late. First, they dropped an advance copy of the Old Town School of Folk Music Songbook Vol. 1 in the Chicagoist mailbox and it's full of gems. We usually like more rock in our folk but damn if we aren't suckers for any version of "I Know You Rider." Linda Smith turns in a fine turn here as does Robbie Fulks on the following... more ›

At the Old Town School of Folk Music on Friday, Chicagoist saw Bobby Bare, Jr. & Sr. perform on the same stage. From the moment that Bobby Bare, Jr. entered the stage, kicked his shoes off, and started tuning the guitar we knew that we were in for some fun on Friday night. Bobby Bare, Jr. played solo for one song among a stage littered with instruments and then the band entered for a quick... more ›

Don’t forget: we’re giving away two sets of tickets for one of the Bobby Bare Jr. and Bobby Bare Sr. shows at the Old Town School of Folk Music. The father-and-son duo will appear on both Friday and Saturday, and we’d like to send you and a friend to the Friday show. Click here to enter the giveaway. Winners will be notified via e-mail tomorrow. For more on the Bares, check out this profile from... more ›

Who wants to see Bobby Bare Sr. and Bobby Bare Jr. for free? You do? Then we’ve got a giveaway for you, hoss. The father and son duo will be appearing at the Old Town School of Folk Music this Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Chicagoist has two pairs of tickets to give away to Friday night’s show, and we’re making it easy for you to get your hands on ‘em. No essay this... more ›

Three recordings by artists with strong Chicago ties were added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry this year: Nat "King" Cole for his recording of "Straighten Up and Fly Right"), Mahalia Jackson’s "Move On Up a Little Higher" and an interview with James Baldwin conducted by Studs Terkel in 1962. Sadly, neither “Veronica Hates Me” or “Cindy’s On Methadone” by Screeching Weasel were included this year. more ›

Nominations for the 48th Annual Grammy Awards were announced today and thank God Kanye West was nominated several times or we would never hear the end of it. As expected, West’s “Gold Digger” picked up nods for Record of the Year and Best Rap Solo Performance while Late Registration was tapped for Album of the Year and Best Rap Album (“Diamonds In Sierra Leone” pulled a songwriting nod for Best Rap Song). Common, another member... more ›

Elia Einhorn, Co-Founder, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir more ›

UPDATE: Scott Plagenhoef, Managing Editor of Pitchfork, wrote us with the following: "Here is the info on the water situation: The Chicago Park District is providing extra water stations throughout the site. If people wish to purchase water, it will be available at a cost of $1/half-liter." When asked about restrictions on water at this weekend’s Intonation Festival during WXRT’s Sound Opinions radio program, Intonation Music Festival organizer and Pitchfork Media head honcho Ryan Schreiber... more ›

It’s no secret July is going to be a huge month for live music in Chicago with Intonation Fest next weekend and Lollapalooza the week after that. Yet the whole idea of fests like these is to get exposed to music you’ve never heard before. So anyone who’s REALLY into music would be a fool to miss this weekend’s Eight Annual Folk and Roots Festival sponsored by the Old Town School of Folk Music. If... more ›

The mythology of The Day The Music Died hangs heavy over the world of rock music; it immediately evokes the tragedy of missed opportunity and loss. Few artists who have died in the midst of still relevant careers are able to escape its grip as commentators note that the artist was “turning their life around” or “on the verge of stardom.” True or not, it’s a generally accepted precept that we not speak ill of... more ›

Chicagoist could fill up posts every week with all the great programs being put on by the Old Town School of Folk Music. There are always good shows playing over there and they offer so many classes that Chicagoist can finally justify buying that $20 ukulele at Costco over the summer (and there’s no experience necessary! Woo!) But one of the best things about Old Town is their commitment to youth outreach and making music... more ›

will allow you to spend your last twenty dollars before tomorrow’s payday on the finer things in life. more ›

Since it's the dog days of August ("dog days" now officially connotes 50-degree temperatures) and none of us have anything better to do with our time, get ready to go festival crazy. Not only does the Chicago Underground Film Festival begin this week, but Wednesday also marks the start of the Interchange Festival 2004. Their website describes it thusly: A collective of Chicago musicians, promoters and the city's top clubs and record stores have... more ›

Chicagoist wishes we could play the guitar. Phase one of actualizing that dream would be the purchase of a guitar, preferably on the cheap because we'll probably give it up after we realize sucking at guitar isn't sexy at all. At all. But now's our chance to snatch up folky instruments at a folky price: the Old Town School of Folk Music is having its annual garage sale. Off-rental guitars, banjos, djembes, congas and other... more ›