Results tagged “oldtownschooloffolkmusic”

The Old Town School of Folk Music presents its twelfth annual installment of the Chicago Folk and Roots Festival this weekend in Lincoln Square. The Festival, spread across Welles Park, brings a steady stream of activities to a usually friendly, laid-back crowd: performances by Old Town staff, open jam sessions by the gazebo, dance lessons with live music, and a tent for kids, although we should point out that that's an area with entertainment for children, not a place to store them.

If you're not familiar with the marimba, check out the eight marimbists, bassist, and percussionist of Marimba Nacional de Concierto perform folk, popular, and contemporary music at the Cultural Center tonight and the Old Town School of Folk Music on Wednesday.

If today's weather gives you the urge to belt out a tune, bust out of your cubicle and head to Lincoln Square tonight for the family-friendly First Friday, the Old Town School of Folk Music's monthly open house.

Still looking for something to do tonight? The outstanding combo of Mavis Staples and Booker T & the MG's play the Harris Theater tonight for the Old Town School of Folk Music's annual benefit. Staples is also supporting her upcoming Live: Hope at the Hideout, a recording made this June at, well, the Hideout, that's out this Tuesday. FYI - the liner notes for the disc are by Time Out Chicago's (and former Chicagoist contributor) Scott Smith. As of post time, good tickets were still available.

Harris Theater for Music and Dance celebrated the opening night of their fifth anniversary season to great fanfare last week, hosting a gala on Thursday night in Millennium Park to kick off their week-long engagement with the San Francisco Ballet while raising nearly $1.4 million to benefit the theater.

It's been a season of milestones for the city-sponsored music festivals. Today marks the 10th anniversary of the World Music Festival. What started out as a small festival centered in Chicago's notable places for international music has evolved into a city-wide event, with artists performing throughout the city limits. WMF highlights Chicago's reputation as a city of neighborhoods. In incorporating most of the major club venues, WMF also does more to shine a positive spotlight on our vibrant music club scene in one week than venue owners often do themselves. Only the ongoing resistance to the promoters ordinance can unite club owners as well.

We know you're getting all geared up for Lollapalooza, but it's time to start preparing for Life After Lolla. The Old Town School of Folk Music boasts an impressive lineup of fall shows, all of which go on sale tomorrow morning (Friday, August 1) at 9 a.m. Here are some of our picks. (Note: Unless otherwise noted, all shows are at the Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall, 4544 N Lincoln Ave.)

"‘Transnormal skiperoo' is a name I invented to describe a strange new feeling I've been experiencing after years of feeling lost and alone and cursed," writes Southern Americana balladeer Jim White in his bio. "Now, when everything around me begins to shine, when I find myself dancing around in my back yard for no particular reason other than it feels good to be alive, when I get this deep sense of gratitude that I don't need drugs or God or doomed romance to fuel myself through the gauntlet of a normal day, I call that feeling 'transnormal skiperoo.’"

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.