Folknotes 9/9/26

Hello Everyone,

Our 2026/27 Leo Coffeehouse Season begins on Sunday, September 13 and we have an full lineup of activities/workshops along with an incredible lineup of musicians to start our 64th season.

Here’s the QCB news this week:

• Leo Coffeehouse Opening Sunday, 2026/27 Season, 4:15-9:00 PM, Sunday, September 13, 2026

• Looking Ahead: Leo Coffeehouse, 4:15-9:00 PM, Sunday, September 13, 2026

• OLLI class: Singing Together for Fun, Starts September 23

• Reference Information/QCB Membership (Below my sign off)

Leo Coffeehouse Opening Sunday
2025/26 Season
3:00-9:00 PM
Sunday, September 13, 2026

4:15 PM: Back to Basics Workshop
Not just for beginners, this is a song circle for learning and discussing one or two easy songs. Basic information is centered on beginner friendly chord shapes, strums and tempo, some ultra light music theory and a guitar hack or two. Newcomers and experienced players, or anyone who wants to refine technique (and maybe give advice) are welcome. Alana Johnson and Bob Schrock will be the moderators. We will meet in the “Green Room” (conference room) on the first floor. This is gonna be fun y’all! 

5:00 PM: Songwriters Collaborative
Due to it’s popularity in the past, we have kept this group on our schedule. Our Leo songwriter participants have made it a good place to share original songs for encouragement and friendly critiques. 

Hopefully interest will rebuild and it will continue on our schedule. However, we are still looking for a songwriter to lead, and promote, this monthly workshop. If you might be interested in leading, please talk to Neil. Upstairs.

5:00 PM:  Song Circle
Anyone can bring songs to lead in the circle while others provide backup and harmony. Downstairs.

6:40-9:00 PM: Performances:

1st Set: T. Lipscomb
Over the last 20 years he’s written songs and performed for the KY Struts, the Tammy Whynots, Graceless Minds and solo. From festivals to dive bars and in-between, he’s developed a voice that meanders about the country, indie-folk genre. He’s closer to the sound of Bill Callahan than Tom Petty these days, exploring mid-life and all the transformative themes that brings.

2nd Set: Joe Macheret
Bandleader of Joe’s Truck Stop, organizer of area Honky Tonk dances and former member of Cincinnati string bands The Tillers and the Northern Kentucky Bluegrass Band. Joe has also lent his skills to Paul James, Matt Heckler, JD Wilkes and the Legendary Shack Shakers, the Urban Pioneers, Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle, Bill Kirchen, Redd Volkaet, Justin Wells, Chelsea Ford and The Trouble, Maria Carrelli, Kenny Lashley and many others. More info here.

3rd Set: Jake Speed And The Freddies
Cincinnati’s long-running folk/Americana band, host a night rooted in toe-tappin’, foot-stompin’ original tunes that muse on Cincinnati’s unique past & present. Known as the Woody Guthrie of Cincinnati, Jake Speed uses a traditional folksy delivery to compose timely and timeless songs that tell great stories with a bit of a lyrical edge. Jake is joined by Kentucky Graham, Chris Gibson, Justin Todhunter and Chris Werner. More info here. 

Looking Ahead:
Leo Coffeehouse 5:00-9:00 PM
Sunday, September 20, 2026

5:00 PM: Song Circle downstairs
Anyone can bring well known, jam-friendly songs to lead while others provide backup and harmony.

5:15 PM: Guitar Roundtable Workshop led by Mike Helm
This forum is for players of any skill level to exchange ideas so we can all make better music together. Bring a question, share a tip. Learn a new lick or chord. Gain a new perspective, share your own with us. Enrich your guitar experience.

6:00 PM: Sign Up For Open Mic
Priority is given in order to: those who are new to performing at a Leo open mic, followed by those who have not performed at our previous two open mics, followed by anyone else who wishes to play, subject to availability of slots.

6:30 PM: All Evening Open Mic
Open mic evenings offer an opportunity for performers of all levels to perform in front of an audience. Usually, there is a full sound system. We typically have 15 slots of 8 minutes each (two songs maximum). Acts are typically one to three performers with vocals and instruments.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute class:
Singing Together for Fun

Janice Alvarado and Ray Rechenberg lead an OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) class which begins Wednesday, September 23 at 12:45 PM. If you're already registered for the fall OLLI term, it only costs an additional $5. If you have not yet registered, the 10 week term costs $90 for all the classes you wish to take, not just one.
2109 Singing Together for Fun, Victory Parkway campus in the Lecture Hall. Register here.

That’s all for this Folknotes, I hope to see you soon.

Neil Harrell
President, Queen City Balladeers/Leo Coffeehouse

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