At the annual ‘Songs of Good Cheer,’ Christmas carols never go out of style
Chicago Tribune / by Doug George / December 2, 2024 It may not draw crowds like “The Nutcracker,” but as an annual Chicago holiday tradition it has no less devoted an audience. “Songs of Good Cheer,” on stage next week in a short series of concerts at the Old Town School of Folk Music, is a show with Christmas carols and other holiday music led by Mary Schmich and Eric Zorn, both former columnists for the Tribune. There’s a backing house band of professional folk, country and jazz musicians, and audience
2024 Chicago Holiday Events Guide
WTTW / by Erica Demarest and Eunice Alpasan / November 11, 2024 From light shows to theater, themed bars and dance spectacles, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this holiday season. We’ve rounded up some of the season’s highlights in Chicago and the suburbs. See More Here.
What’s That Building? Old Town School of Folk Music
WBEZ Chicago / by Dennis Rodkin and Haley Bloomquist / September 3, 2024 In the 1990s, a Chicago public library building that had sat unused for a decade got a second life. Or maybe, because of the traditions at the Old Town School of Folk Music, which took over the Art Deco building, it’s more accurate to say it got a Second Half. The building is now a fine place to watch live music — or make some. In the main auditorium, 450-seat Maurer Hall, nobody’s more than 45 feet from the stage, and over that
Chicago is celebrating the 100th birthday of Ella Jenkins, musician and architect of a social moveme
WBEZChicago / by Mark Guarino / August 1, 2024 For most people, the image of a rock star involves leather, steel and a background of smoke, strobe lights and pyrotechnics. In the world of children’s music, however, the genre’s preeminent rock star is Ella Jenkins, a soft-spoken but wonderfully charming performer and educator who turns 100 next Tuesday. Across her 67-year career, Jenkins firmly established the genre of children’s music as a serious endeavor — not just for artists to pursue but also for the
Square Roots Festival brings the party back to Lincoln Square
by ABC7 Chicago Digital Team / ABC-Chicago / July 6, 2024 Held by theLincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce andOld Town School of Folk Music, Square Roots brings together the best that Lincoln Square has to offer--all things craft beer, live music, local restaurants and family fun. The annual street fest has three outdoor stages, an indoor stage, interactive workshops with Old Town School of Folk Music, kids activities and local vendors for three days of summer fun with over 40,000 people in
Square Roots Fest Announces Headliners X, The New Pornographers And Big Star Quintet
Block Club Chicago / by Leen Yassine / June 4, 2024 LINCOLN SQUARE — The craft beer and music showcase Square Roots Festival is coming back to Lincoln Square this summer, and organizers announced this year’s headliners Tuesday. Held by the Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce and the Old Town School of Folk Music, the popular three-day street festival kicks off 5 p.m. July 12 and runs through July 14, with live music, family fun, local restaurants, vendors and a craft beer showcase. This year’s
From The Grafton To The Getaway: New Bar Opening In Former Irish Pub This Month
by Alex V. Hernandez / Block Club Chicago / April 3, 2024 The bar’s new owners also operate aliveOne, Estelle’s and The Owl. No food is on the menu, but the tradition of welcoming Old Town School of Folk Music students and staff will remain. LINCOLN SQUARE — A new neighborhood bar is coming to the former home of the Grafton from the team behind a number of popular North Side taverns. The Getaway will open later this month at 4530 N. Lincoln Ave. in the space left vacant after the Grafton closed in
Learn The Rich History Of Black Folk Music At Free Old Town School Event
by Alex V. Hernandez / Block Club Chicago / February 21, 2024The Black History, Folk Futures program will feature interactive jam sessions as well as discussions about Black history and folk music traditions. LINCOLN SQUARE — The Old Town School of Folk Music will celebrate Black musical heritage and its influence on contemporary folk music during a weekend symposium. Black History, Folk Futures is 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday at the school, 4545 N. Lincoln Ave. Some of Saturday’s sessions will include
Neighbors applaud plans for bike-ped upgrades at open house for plaza and streetscape upgrades near Western Brown Line stop
by Cameron Bolton / Streetsblog Chicago / January 25, 2024 Last week the Chicago Department of Transportation and the 47th Ward held a community open house for the Lincoln Square Brown Line Area Streetscape and Plaza Improvements project. Held at Szold Hall at the Old Town School of Folk Music, the event provided a rundown of what's happened with the project so far and allowed attendees to leave suggestions on improvements for the Western Brown Line station area. Construction is slated to begin this
Lincoln Square Brown Line Plaza Should Match Area’s Old World Charm, Neighbors Say
by Alex V. Hernandez / Block Club Chicago / January 24, 2024 The to-be-redesigned plaza at the Western Avenue Brown Line stop is outdated, unsightly and needs an overhaul, neighbors previously said. LINCOLN SQUARE — Neighbors want the soon-to-be-renovated plaza at the Western Avenue Brown Line stop in Lincoln Square to match the neighborhood’s architecture near Giddings Plaza. The Brown Line plaza on the southeast corner of Western and Leland avenues is one of the areas of improvement highlighted in
