President’s Letter

Folknotes 09/18/25

Hello Everyone,

In this Folknotes:

  • Earlier Start Time for Most Sundays, 5:00 PM

  • Leo Coffeehouse, 5:00-9:00 PM, Sunday, September 21, 2025

  • QCB/Leo Coffeehouse Membership

  • Looking Ahead: Leo Coffeehouse, 5:00-9:00 PM, Sunday, September 28, 2025

  • Reference Information/Links/Annual Dues (Below my sign off)

Earlier Start Time for Most Sundays, 5:00 PM

We are making a slight change to the start time of Leo Coffeehouse for most Sundays from 5:15 PM to 5:00 PM. This will give guest musicians who run workshops and the open jammers/song circlers fifteen more minutes to share knowledge and songs.

Note that the Guitar Roundtable Workshop will continue to start at 5:15 PM (this Sunday-see below). Also, Rise Up Singing and Back to Basics on the 1st Sunday will start at the same time as in the past (Rise Up Singing 3:00 PM, Back to Basics 4:15 PM). If there are any changes I will let you know

Leo Coffeehouse
5:00-9:00 PM
Sunday, September 21, 2025

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

5:15 PM: Guitar Roundtable Workshop 
Mike Helm leads this forum 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: All Evening Open Mic
Sign up at 5:30 PM to perform 1 -2 songs. 8 minute limit.
Sound system will be set up.

QCB/Leo Coffeehouse Membership

It’s that time of year again. The start of a new Leo season. Annual QCB membership dues continue to be $20.00 for a family, or for a single person plus a guest. Membership gets you into every Leo Coffeehouse performance for a year. Where else can you get that kind of musical entertainment and camaraderie for that amount of money? 

It really helps us out if you pay through the QCB website.

The easiest way to pay your dues for the 2025/26 season is via PayPal right here.

If you prefer to pay by check, click on the link above and print the membership form. Then mail the form and your check to Treasurer: John Mann, 6514 Meis Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45224.

To donate more than the $20.00 standard dues, you can do so by check, or through our website. When you get to the page with the box to relay instructions, just note that you are paying a larger amount for your dues.

For visitors who prefer not to become a member, a donation of $5.00 (cash) per person helps us pay the rent for our non-profit organization.  Donations can be slipped in the box at the welcome table outside our performance room, Founders Hall.  If you can’t afford that, pay what you can afford or nothing at all.  We will welcome you to join us either way.

Looking Ahead: Leo Coffeehouse
5:00-9:00 PM
Sunday, September 28, 2025 

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

5:00 PM: Music of the ’60s Song Circle Jam
Let's play the music of this fabulous decade—lots of different musical styles to choose from: folk, pop, folk rock, protest, rock including the Stones and the Beatles

Performances: 6:40 - 9:00 PM     

1st Set: Sarah Gorak
A multi-instrumentalist (violin, cello, ukulele, guitar) who enjoys providing soothing and encouraging covers and originals. Her biggest passion is reconnecting to her Hawaiian culture by providing authentic traditional Hawaiian music. She also loves performing and engaging with children at family friendly venues and farmer’s markets.

2nd Set: Two Blue
Jan Hunter and Ron Sachs are an acoustic duo who have been performing since the 1970’s featuring guitars and strong vocal harmonies.  The material ranges from Gershwin to the Beatles to U2 and others, as well as originals.

3rd Set: Haunted Like Human
Mythology evokes images of gods, titans, demons, and beasts of every kind. Yet, it’s the spark of humanity that keeps us telling and retelling myths. It’s these stories that Nashville-based folk duo Haunted Like Human rekindle on their third album American Mythology. With a background in poetry and prose, Dale Chapman's focus on language is simpatico with Cody Clark’s background in classical guitar. Whatever the topic, the songs shine with restrained arrangements and entwined harmonies. Haunted Like Human lets the humanity shine through.

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

Neil Harrell
President, Queen City Balladeers/Leo Coffeehouse

Reference Information/Links

Facebook:

Main page

QCB SongFarmers page

QCB Members Group page

QCB/Leo Coffeehouse Membership

We are keeping our standard annual QCB membership dues at $20.00 for a family, or for a single person plus a guest. Last year, knowing that the pandemic cut into our contingency funds, as we continued to pay overhead expenses with no income, some members donated larger amounts to QCB. We very much appreciate the support of all QCB members at all levels.

We are exploring setting up our website to allow the payment of different levels of dues support.  For now, if you’d like to pay the standard dues, you can pay them online here or by a check at Leo. (We’ve discontinued our P.O. Box, I will have a mailing address in the next newsletter for those who wish to mail their membership dues.)

If you would like to donate more than the $20.00 standard dues, you can do so by check, or through our website. When you get to the page with the box to relay instructions, just note that you are paying a larger amount for your dues.

For visitors who prefer not to become a member, a donation of $5.00 (cash) per person helps us pay the rent for our non-profit organization.  Donations can be slipped in the box at the welcome table outside our performance room, Founders Hall.  If you can’t afford that, pay what you can afford or nothing at all.  We will welcome you to join us either way.