President’s Letter
Folknotes 10/30/25
Hello Everyone,
In this Folknotes:
Leo Coffeehouse, 3:00-9:00 PM, Sunday, November 2, 2025
Looking Ahead: Leo Coffeehouse, 5:00-9:00 PM, Sunday, November 9, 2025
QCB/Leo Coffeehouse Membership
Reference Information/Links (Below my sign off)
Leo Coffeehouse 5:00-9:00 PM
Sunday, November 2, 2025
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. Hosted by Alana Johnson, Bob Schrock, and Isaiah Tam.
5:00 PM: Open Circle Jam
Anyone can bring songs to lead in the circle while others provide backup and harmony.
6:40 - 9:00 PM: Performances
1st Set: Mark & Nancy (Newton & Frizzell)
Mark and Nancy have been singing together since they met in New Hampshire 45 years ago. Their music is inspired by their lives together, and they perform both covers of songs that mean a lot to them and original songs. They are best known for the effortless blend of their voices and their harmonies.
2nd Set: Matthew Check
Matthew Check is a nationally recognized American roots singer, pianist, banjo player, guitarist, and half of the duo Matt & Joanie Leads who won the 2021 Grammy for best children's album. Matt's music has been featured in such outlets as Billboard, PopMatters, Wide Open Country and more. His career encompasses everything from Emmy-nominated bluegrass bands to critically-acclaimed solo albums. matthewcheckmusic.com
3rd Set: Chad Wonsik
Chad Wonsik’s intricate fingerstyle guitar and distinctive chord voicings convey heartfelt expression that consistently captivates audiences. Drawn to the guitar at an early age, Chad continually finds inspiration from composers Michael Hedges, Will Ackerman, and Alex DeGrassi, and has been compared to songwriters Jeff Buckley, Dave Matthews, and Glen Phillips. You’ll feel love, loss, joy, compassion, and determination in his music.
Looking Ahead: Leo Coffeehouse
5:00-9:00 PM
Sunday, November 9, 2025
5:00 PM Songwriters Collaborative
Come and share your songs with other songwriters for encouragement and friendly critiques.
5:00 PM: Open Circle Jam
Anyone can bring songs to lead in the circle while others provide backup and harmony.
6:40 - 9:00 PM: Performances
1st Set: Chanterelle Mandolin Ensemble
Hillary and Rick Wagner, Mike Tappan, and John Lavarnway were part of Hillary's large group, the Centerville Mandolin Ensemble. When choosing a name, they kept the excellent logo made by artist Tammy Rigsby! They play a wide variety of music and particularly like the way Renaissance music fits our sound!
2nd Set: Dave Sanders
Dave is a folk singer who plays guitar with a unique finger and capo style. His songs range from 1930 to the 1970s with a couple pieces from the 1600s, each performed with his own unique treatment.
3rd Set: Dale Farmer & Susan Pepper
Dale Farmer is a songwriter, filmmaker, and the creative force behind acclaimed film The Mountain Minor, whose work preserves and celebrates Appalachian culture through both music and story. Susan Pepper is a performer, songwriter and teaching artist who offers classes in traditional song, folklore and music. She delights in helping others with their own musicality and voice through songs that have been handed through generations.
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
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.