Oak Park Farmer's Market Opening Day Kid's Video

A nice family from Oak Park made a lovely video of the opening day that features several moments of the Farmer's Market musicians performing. Take a look.

Front Row Fanatic Sweepstakes

The Henderson Crooked Road Series guitar was meticulously handcrafted and includes stunning mother of pearl details. Route 58, the route of The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, as well as depictions of guitars and mandolins are inlaid on the fretboard. Expect to find “Henderson” inlaid in the headstock and in the purfling on the back. Henderson guitars are typically made of Appalachian spruce, rosewood, mahogany, and ebony. Enter now for your chance to win this rare instrument!

Front Row Fanatic Sweepstakes

This sweepstakes is posted by Virginia Is For Lovers (the tourism bureau) and the top two prizes are hand-made guitars, plus a vacation package. I'd say there'd be a better chance of winning for a promotion like this because it's not universally publicized. Sure, you need to give up some private info. But you ought to look at these guitars!

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Mighty Fine Video from Opening Day 2008

Ain't we got fun?!

OPENING DAY AT THE FARMER'S MARKET 2008 was MIGHTY FINE INDEED!

JACK AND BOB AT SKRINE CHOPS
Swain and Lopardo, that is. They're performing this coming Tuesday night at Skrine Chops on Madison Street in Forest Park (west of Harlem, east of Circle). Sets begin at 8:30 pm. Come early for the amazing chops, steaks and sides.

Mighty Fine Concert at Old Town School

Event Detail Concerts & Events

The Sparrow Quartet features world renowned banjoist, composer Bela Fleck, Grammy-nominated fiddler Casey Driessen, roots/classical cellist Ben Sollee, and the inimitable, unstoppable Abigail Washburn from Uncle Earl. The group became the first artists to tour Tibet and China on a US government sponsored cultural mission. With one foot rooted in the fiery sounds of Appalachia and the other in the Szechuan province, The Sparrow Quartet makes music for the global citizen.

Saturday, June 07, 2008
7:00 PM & 10:00 PM
Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall :: 4544 N Lincoln Ave.

Abigail Washburn & The Sparrow Quartet featuring Bela Fleck, Casey Driessen and Ben Sollee

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

Mighty Fine Boston Band - Crooked Still

Crooked Still
Meet Crooked Still, the hot young alternative bluegrass group on a mission to bend the boundaries of traditional music. The unlikely combination of banjo, cello, and double-bass drives this low lonesome band, whose captivating vocals and high-wire solos have enraptured audiences all over North America and Ireland since 2001.

--

Hey I just stumbled upon this Boston band while shopping for tunes on eMusic. Their debut album "Shaken by a Low Sound" is filled with traditional American old-time/bluegrass tunes, but the performances are wonderful -- especially the vocals. You know, I've come to the point in my life at which the vocals are everything. And this album is lovely. Comparisons to the neo-roots band Ollabelle and its blend of male-and-female harmonies are unavoidable. Crooked Still brings its own unique instrumentation (including cello) and a Celtic edge.

Hear them on MySpace -- http://myspace.com/crookedstill

The Replays at Ave Ale House

the Replays


Saturday, May 24, 2008
Avenue Ale House
825 S. Oak Park Ave.
Oak Park
First set at 9:30 PM

Cheaper than the Stones and slightly younger…

BSM Plays the Appalachian Jaw Harp

LIMITED OPENING - MAY 24TH
Surprisingly, the Oak Park Farmer's Market is opening early this year. The first weekend will be Sat., May 24th. Save the date.

Guitarist - The iPhone Guitar

Toss that ol' pre-war Martin ... you don't need it anymore! Just pick up your iPhone and get pickin' that good ol' Mountain Dew!

Guitarist - The iPhone Guitar

Blogged with the Flock Browser

A Songwriter Writes About Songwriting

We Are Emotional Spies - Measure for Measure - Opinion - New York Times Blog

While I was finding my way as a songwriter, a colleague of mine, Ed Sanford, told me something I’ve since found to be very true. Songwriters, he said, are “emotional spies” — little creative crazies creeping around, sneaking in and out of our own emotions, watching, listening and remembering every bit of conversation with friends, family and every stranger we meet.

(Read the rest of the article by clicking the headline link above.)

OPEN MIC MOLLY MALONE'S - IRISH PUB
The long-lost Open Mic at Molly's has quietly restarted. It begins at 9:00 pm every Sunday Night. And it's hosted by Laura Lopardo and her partner, Jamie.

Officially, it's listed as follows on the Molly Malone's MySpace page:
Open Mic w/ Jamie and Jim
7652 W. Madison Ave., NO COVER

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Doc Watson Black Mountain Rag

Black Mountain Rag on YouTube

Blogged with the Flock Browser

UNBELIEVABLE SHOW OF THE NEW CENTURY !!!

Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 8 pm
Charlie Louvin of the Louvin Brothers
Heartland Cafe CHICAGO, Illinois - www.myspace.com/heartofrogerspark

Blogged with the Flock Browser

My Good Friend Ben's Music Video

Ben Arnold is a singer-songwriter on Ropeadope Records. This music video was filmed in Rittenhouse Square in Center City Philadelphia. My middle school was on the southwestern corner of the park. Ben and I attended high school together at Creative & Performing Arts at Broad & Spruce Streets.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

The American Beauty Project

Saturday, April 19 - 7:30 pm
Tickets $43 / $33
Dominican University Performing Arts Center
Box Office 708-488-5000 or www.dom.edu/pac
Lund Auditorium, 7900 W Division, River Forest
Hear streaming audio on their Web site.