President’s Letter
Folknotes 10/02/25
Hello Everyone,
In this Folknotes:
Leo Coffeehouse, 3:00-9:00 PM, Sunday, October 5, 2025
Looking Ahead: Leo Coffeehouse, 5:00-9:00 PM, Sunday, October 12, 2025
QCB/Leo Coffeehouse Membership
Reference Information/Links (Below my sign off)
Leo Coffeehouse
5:00-9:00 PM
Sunday, October 5, 2025
3:00 PM: 1st SUNDAY RISE UP SINGING
Tell 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. Very 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 Workshop led by Steve and Donna Bing
Texas sing-a-long including Western Swing and Cowboy songs.
5:00 PM Song Circle Jam
Anyone can bring songs to lead in the circle while others provide backup and harmony.
Performances: 6:40 - 9:00 PM
1st Set: Riley School Ad Hocs
Riley School instructors/friends. Ad Hocs include Amy Bogard on flute, uilleann pipes and whistle, Tim Clarke on button accordion and Anglo concertina, Doug Mast on banjo, piano accordion and mandolin, Kate Riker on fiddle, and Kathy Schneider on bodhrán, vocals and whistle.
2nd Set: Yard Cars
The Yard Cars: Nora Denning, Greg Longeway, Stu Toraason, and Michelle Gillinger, play an acoustic blend of blues, bluegrass and everything in between. With one foot rooted in the Appalachian foothills and the other in the Mississippi delta, they play Ohio River Valley roots music they describe as a barn burning bluegrass eclectic collective.
3rd Set: Steve and Donna Bing
The "Bings" are based out of Houston Texas with a second home in Cincinnati. Steve plays fiddle, Cajun accordion, banjo, and is an old time square dance caller. Donna plays guitar and fiddle. Their son Scott plays percussion and washtub bass. With rich vocal harmonies they present real foot stomping music including Appalachian old time, Louisiana Cajun, and Texas Swing music. More info here.
Looking Ahead: Leo Coffeehouse
5:00-9:00 PM, Sunday, October 12, 2025
5:00 PM Songwriters Collaborative led by Jim Duff
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 in the circle while others provide backup and harmony.
Performances: 6:40-9:00 PM
1st Set: Dwight Smith
Dwight started writing songs during his college days a few years (decades) ago, and learned three chords on a borrowed guitar. He is still working on learning the "truth", as Harlan Howard discussed. His songs may be introspective, and/or outrospective, observations on whatever he happens to think about. "I sing my own stuff, cover some golden oldies I think are great songs, and try not to take myself too seriously."
2nd Set: Jim Duff
Growing up in Kentucky (currently based in Cincinnati), Jim drew inspiration from traditional country and folk music. Mickey Newbury, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Guy Clark, Bob Dylan, John Prine, and Townes Van Zandt have profoundly shaped his craft and continue to influence his heartfelt storytelling. Jim has toured extensively across the United States. Along the way, he has graced the stages of festivals and iconic venues including the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, the Bluebird Café in Nashville, the Old Quarter Café in Galveston and the Cactus Café in Austin.
3rd Set: Cawood & Kutzu Kin
Cheryl Cawood returns from Texas to reunite with longtime collaborators Dave Gilligan and J. Scarr. This jangly folk rock ensemble blends rootsy storytelling with rich musical textures, creating a sound that’s both familiar and fresh. Cheryl’s songwriting spans her Appalachian heritage, personal resilience, and heartfelt tributes to folks in the addiction community. Dave Gilligan, a beloved local legend, adds his signature blend of blues, folk, rock, and Celtic influences. With harmonica in hand and a twinkle in his eye, Dave’s witty banter and poignant lyrics make every performance feel like a conversation with an old friend. J. Scarr rounds out the sound with rhythmic depth and melodic finesse. Come for the harmonies, stay for the stories. More info at the website.
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.
That’s all for this Folknotes, I hope to see you soon.
Neil Harrell
President, Queen City Balladeers/Leo Coffeehouse
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.