Folknotes 10/1/26

Hello Everyone,

It’s a long one so I’ll get right to it. Here’s the QCB news this week.

• Leo Coffeehouse, 3:00-9:00 PM, Sunday, October 4, 2026

• Recycling Items for the Recycle and Reuse Hub, October 4, 2026

• Looking Ahead: Leo Coffeehouse, 5:00-9:00 PM, Sunday, October 11, 2026

• Upcoming Area Concerts, New-House Concert at Mike Boerschig’s, 3:00 PM, Saturday, October 3, 2026

• CPR/AED Training

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

Leo Coffeehouse
3:00-9:00 PM
Sunday October 4, 2026

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. Ray Rechenberg leads with the incredible Al Wauligman accompanying on the piano.

5:00 PM: Back To Basics Workshop-(Note Time and Room Change)
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 upstairs at the far end of the hallway through the double doors. This is gonna be fun y’all!

5:00 PM:  Cajun Music Workshop Led By Steve And Donna Bing
Cajun music is a traditional genre of music from Louisiana. An emblematic music of Louisiana played by the Cajuns, it is rooted in the ballads of the French-speaking Acadians of Canada. Although they are two separate genres, Cajun music is often mentioned in tandem with the Creole-based zydeco music. Both are from southwest Louisiana and share French and African origins. (Wikipedia)

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

Performances: 6:40-9:00 PM

1st Set: Riley School Adult Ensemble
The Adult Ensemble, composed of students, as well as some faculty members, represents a core group that has been together since our days at Columbia Baptist, well before COVID turned the world upside down. We bend some of the Irish traditions with some arrangements and accompanied singing. We hope that you will join us on some of those songs.

2nd Set: All Those Who Wander Trio
They weave influences from their backgrounds in American, Celtic, Irish, and Cornish folk music into every performance. Out of Dayton, the band's transatlantic sound connects the American Midwest with Ireland, Scotland, and Cornwall, a Celtic community in southwest Britain. Heartfelt tradition, fresh originals, and energetic re-inventions are all part of the sounds and the stories. Singer, guitarist, and penny whistle player Dr. Nick Booker leads the group with Linda McDonald on flute and Ali Taliani on concertina.They invite you to clap, sing along, dance, and participate in any way you can! More info here.

3rd Set: Laughin’ Lizards
Steve and Donna Bing 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 while Donna plays guitar and fiddle. Their son Scott plays drums, and Steve Stoneback plays lead guitar. With rich vocal harmonies they present real foot stomping music including Appalachian old time, Louisiana Cajun, and Texas Swing music. More info here.

Recycling Items for the
Recycle and Reuse Hub
October 4, 2026

Roberto and I are taking another van load of recycling to the Recycle and Reuse Hub on Thursday, October 8 and we'd like help filling our van. Our tan van will be unlocked during this Sunday's Leo, October 4. It would be nice if you can sort the items but we'll settle for just clean and dry. You all have been very good about sorting and cleaning but there were some items the last time that were greasy.

This link explains acceptable items.

We will have a box for number 1 plastics, another for number 5. Please do not include anything that Rumpke recycle accepts. Thanks for recycling!

Janice

Looking Ahead: Leo Coffeehouse
5:00-9:00 PM, Sunday, October 11, 2026

5:00 PM  Songwriters Collaborative led by Breanne Stone
Come and share your songs with other songwriters for encouragement and friendly critiques.

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

Performances: 6:40-9:00 PM 

1st Set: Kaitlin Morrison
An off and on Leo regular, she enjoys the Guitar Roundtable. Her beautiful, soft voice, and guitar playing, will light up the room!

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. More info.

3rd Set: Liz Bowater
After a hiatus from public performing, singer/songwriter Liz Bowater returns to the Leo. A Chicago native, Bowater moved to Cincinnati 20 years ago and spent her first few years here playing as part of the collaborative Blue Jordan Records. Once dubbed “brave new folk,” her songs are earnest, self-reflective, centering on love, loss, faith, and hope. Tony Moore will join her on bass, and Matt Frazer with percussion. Facebook: @Lizbowatermusic

Upcoming Area Concerts

The best place to share information with QCB members about upcoming area concerts is on our QCB Members Group Facebook page.

Here’s a couple concerts that QCB members might like to know about:

House Concert | Potluck | Jam at Mike Boerschig’s, 3:00 PM, Saturday, October 3, 2026, 1638A Twelve Mile Rd, New Richmond, OH

James Combs & April Combs Mann w/Michael Mann.

Carefully crafted-songwriting and lively harmony. James, April, and Michael have been performing together for almost 40 years. 

Come after 3PM. Concert will start around 4PM with Special Guests we all know and love. Potluck and Jam to follow. Bring a dish to share and your instrument.

From Mike Boerschig: 
I am so looking forward to having James and April here for a house concert. In the evening after the potluck I'm hoping there will be lots of different types of jams (old time fiddle music, singer- songwriter stuff, etc.) And there are plenty of places to play (the shelter, the screened in room off the house, etc.). I'm also planning on making a big bonfire out in the field reserved for singalong type songs. We'll go around the circle taking turns leading songs (of course you can also pass when it comes to you if you like). So think of songs that are easy for folks to sing along with and we'll all raise our hearts and voices in song. 

For more shared area events see the QCB Members Group page.

Jake Speed & The Freddies
25th Anniversary Concert and Album Release
to Benefit Cincinnati Public Radio
Sat, November 07, 2026, 8:00 PM, Memorial Hall OTR.

Get info here.

Or here.

CPR/AED Training

As I have written before, Zion UCC has purchased a AED (automated external defibrillator) that is stored on the wall next to their framed wall quilt in our performance room, Founder’s Hall. Janice Alvarado was instrumental in getting this accomplished.

For QCB members who might be interested in CPR and AED training, there are two relatively affordable places to learn:

Recommended by Zion UCC: Blue Ash Fire Department, North Station, 10647 Kenwood Road. Class fee: $25.00. In person training the second Saturday of each month from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Remaining classes this year are on October 10, November 14, and December 12. For more information go to their website.

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

Neil Harrell
President, Queen City Balladeers/Leo Coffeehouse

President’s Letter