President’s Letter
Folknotes 1/29/26
Hello Everyone,
Okay. So the snowy weather knocked us out last Sunday, but this Sunday we are back at it with our regular schedule. Come on out and join us if you can. There’s always something new and exciting happening at Leo Coffeehouse.
Zion Food Pantry
Leo Coffeehouse, 3:00-9:00 PM, Sunday, February 1, 2026
Looking Ahead: Leo Coffeehouse, 5:00-9:00 PM, Sunday, February 8, 2026
Reference Information/QCB Membership (Below my sign off)
Zion Food Pantry
From Janice Alvarado: The food pantry at Zion United Church of Christ can use our support. If you are able, please bring in a non-perishable food item to help those in need. Clients especially like proteins like canned chicken or tuna, beans, or Chef Boyardee, Amy's Kitchen, etc "meals in a can". You can place them in the yellow bin near the welcome table as you enter. Thank you for your generosity.
Leo Coffeehouse 5:00-9:00 PM
Sunday, February 1, 2026
3:00 PM 1st Sunday Rise Up Singing
Tell all your friends and bring the kids! Everyone picks songs from Rise Up Singing and Rise Again song books which are available to purchase or to use in the circle. The incredible Al Wauligman will lead us on the piano.
4:15 PM Back to Basics workshop
Not just for beginners, this is a song circle on training wheels. Learn how to lead a song and play breaks. Basic information is centered on beginner friendly chord shapes and learning how to “read hands”. Newcomers, or anyone who wants to refine technique (and maybe give advice) are welcome by Alana Johnson, Bob Schrock, and Isaiah Tam.
5:00 PM: Song Circle/Jam-Downstairs
Anyone can bring songs to lead while others provide backup and harmony.
Performances 6:40 - 9:00 PM:
1st Set: Cigar Box Scott
Cigar Box Scott's unique take on roots music fuses traditional folk music with rock and blues inspired rhythms. He creates original interpretations of old songs, performing new arrangements on cigar box guitar and his homemade stompbox. From Troy, OH, he plays throughout Ohio, Indiana and beyond.
2nd Set: Dave Gilligan
Dave Gilligan was once described by a colleague as, "The guy my mother warned me about.” Why? Perhaps his annual solo set will provide an answer; perhaps not.
3rd Set: Laurelview Ramblers
Quartet of old-time musicians including Jeff Gushin, fiddle, mandolin, and vocals, Mike Boerschig, guitar and vocals, Jeff Custis, banjo, fiddle and vocals, and Rob Kranz on bass. They perform an assortment of traditional American music from the Civil War era up through the “golden” string band era of the 1920s. Throw in some contemporary folk, ragtime and jug band music and you have the Laurelview Ramblers.
Looking Ahead: Leo Coffeehouse
5:00-9:00 PM
Sunday, February 8, 2026
5:00 PM: Songwriters Collaborative
Come and share your songs with other songwriters for encouragement and friendly critiques.
5:00 PM: Song Circle/Jam
Anyone can bring songs to lead while others provide backup and harmony.
6:30 PM: Superbowl 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 here on 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.
That’s all for this Folknotes, I hope to see you soon.
Neil Harrell
President, Queen City Balladeers/Leo Coffeehouse
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Reference Information/Links
Facebook:
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.