Folknotes 7/21/26

Hello Everyone,

Here’s the latest Leo summer news:

• Home Shores: A Creative Writing Workshop, Saturday, July 25

• Leo Summer Schedule, Sunday, July 26th: Song Circles

• Music Gear Trade, Swap, Sale, Giveaway, August 9, 2026

• Songwriters Cooperative (2026/27 Season)

• Hosting Out of Town Leo Performers (2026/27 Season)

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

Home Shores: A Creative Writing Workshop 

(From Janice Alvarado)
Join two proud urban Appalachians—Sherry Cook Stanforth, Artist-in-Residence at the Carnegie Center of Columbia Tusculum, and Richard Hague, Cincinnati's current Poet Laureate—for Home Shores: an inspiring afternoon of creative writing, storytelling and community.

Whether you're an experienced writer or simply curious about putting your thoughts on paper, this workshop offers a welcoming space to create, connect and be inspired.

Saturday, July 25, 1:00–3:00 PM, 

Carnegie Center of Columbia Tusculum, 3738 Eastern Ave., Cincinnati,

$25 (includes refreshments and take-home prompts; discounted rate available for younger adults). To register, email here.

Leo Summer Schedule

We plan to open Leo Coffeehouse at Zion United Church of Christ every  Sunday this summer: June, July, and August, from 3:00-9:00 PM on 1st Sundays, and from 5:00-9:00 PM on all other Sundays.

Double check the schedule on the QCB website and the QCB Members Facebook page in case, for some reason, we can’t open. The schedule will always be updated as soon as changes are decided. I will also send out a Folknotes with any changes to the schedule.

Rise Up Singings: June 7, July 5, August 2
On 1st Sundays, the Leo will open early at 3:00 PM for Rise Up Singing.

Song Circles: June 7, 14, 28, July 5, 12, 26, August 2, 9, 23, 30
Except for 3rd Sunday open mics, we will have song circles downstairs and up.

Summer Open Mics: June 21, July 19, August 16
On the 3rd Sundays we will have a song circle and an open mic, very likely with the sound system set up.  With all the summer activities, it’s possible we will not have the sound system set up. I’ll let you know if that happens.

The sign up sheet will go out at 6:00 PM and performers will start playing at 6:30 PM.

As normal, upstairs rooms will be available for those who would like to sing in a song circle.

Music Gear Trade, Swap,
Sale, Giveaway
August 9, 2026

From Alana Johnson:

Trade, Swap, Sell, Giveaway your musical instruments. Sunday August 9th from 6 to 8:30pm. Upstairs room. Get some new gear…get rid of stuff that you don’t use. Sellers are responsible for their equipment and for their own transactions.

Sheryl Pockrose asked if she could advertise the guitar she’s planning on bringing to this event on our QCB Members Group Facebook page. In fact, members of our group page can advertise music gear for sale anytime.

So, if you plan to bring music gear to this event, you can indeed advertise your gear with photos on the QCB Members Group page.

Songwriters Cooperative
(2026/27 Season)

In recent years, attendance has dropped off at our monthly songwriters workshop, Songwriters Cooperative. The people who have led it in the past have not been able to attend Leo like they used to. If you are interested in songwriting and would like to lead/facilitate this workshop please contact me (Neil). I’ll fill you in on the details. 

Hosting Out of Town Leo Performers
(2026/27 Season)

From Janice Alvarado:
It's so nice getting to know out of town performers when hosting them overnight. Let me know if you'd like to host a player after their performance at the Leo. Right now, we need volunteers for Breanne Stone on October 11 and Rooster Blackspur on November 8. Please email me.

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

Neil Harrell
President, Queen City Balladeers/Leo Coffeehouse

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