President’s Letter
Folknotes 3/26/26
Hello Everyone,
This Sunday we have another great lineup at Leo Coffeehouse: with a songwriting workshop, our regular song circle, and three fantastic solo musicians.
Don’t miss the fun. If you can, join us this Sunday. You’ll be happy you did.
Here's what's going on:
Folk Music and Politics
Leo Coffeehouse, 5:00-9:00 PM, Sunday, March 29, 2026
Looking Ahead: Leo Coffeehouse, 5:00-9:00 PM, Sunday, April 5, 2026
Reference Information/QCB Membership (Below my sign off)
Folk Music and Politics
I think it is safe to say that folk music, the definition of which, these days, we expand to include all the types of music that we hear at Leo Coffeehouse, has long been used to protest the corrupt politics of the rich and powerful used against the vulnerable.
For reasons that everyone reading this should know, we are living in turbulent, dangerous times in this country and around the world. That said, musicians at Leo Coffeehouse will continue to play songs of protest on stage and in song circles.
We aren’t going to censure songs on stage or in song circles. The Patriots and Protesters song circle will continue. People will continue to talk politics amongst themselves at Leo.
However, we want all our friends, and patrons, to feel comfortable at Leo, and to enjoy the music from all the great musicians who grace our stage. So, we will endeavor to keep politics off the MC mic and concentrate on talking about the musicians playing that night, upcoming Leo events, and Leo Coffeehouse/QCB in general.
As always, all are welcome. Come join us.
Leo Coffeehouse, 5:00-9:00 PM
Sunday, March 29, 2026
5:00 PM Workshop: Metaphor in Song led by Megan Bee
Metaphors give us pictures; love is a battlefield, love is a rose, you're a firework, etc. Pictures help bring our songs to life. We’ll briefly explore examples of metaphor in songs then use a 3-step process to write our own metaphors and create images to fill our songs with juicy details.
5:00 PM: Song Circle/Jam-Downstairs
Anyone can bring songs to lead while others provide backup and harmony.
6:40 - 9:00 PM: Performances
1st Set: Jamonn Zeiler
Jamonn is celebrating nearly 60 years performing in public and he still cannot get enough of the music he loves.
Facebook: Jamonn Zeiler
2nd Set: Megan Bee
Award-winning singer-songwriter Megan Bee writes with a deep love for the land. Her 4th studio album Cottonwood has been called "as real as it gets–a raw and real telling of engaging, relatable stories." Based in Athens, OH and frequently roaming the country, her music is influenced by the collision of Appalachian folk and modern songwriting.
https://MeganBeeMusic.com
3rd Set: David Singley
David Singley is a singer-songwriter-guitarist from Saint Paul, MN, whose music is born of the street, the country, and the academy. A veteran of backing world-class artists and performers, he has recently joined the Great Resignation and set his sights on his own artistic pursuits. His last album, The Long, Slow Fuse of Night, charted on Americana radio for several months. His influences include all the great singer-songwriters of the 1970s. https://DavidSingley.com
Looking Ahead:
Leo Coffeehouse 5:00-9:00 PM
Sunday, April 5, 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 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 meet in the “Green Room” (conference room) on the first floor. This is gonna be fun y’all!
5:00 PM: Song Circle/Jam-Downstairs
Anyone can bring songs to lead while others provide backup and harmony.
6:00 PM:Sign Up For Easter Sunday Open Mic
Priority given in order to those who are new to performing at a Leo open mic, followed by those who have not performed at our previous two open mics, followed by anyone else who wishes to play, subject to availability of slots.
6:30 PM:Easter Sunday Open Mic
Open mic evenings offer opportunities for both experienced performers and those new to playing in front of an audience. Usually, there is a full sound system. We typically have 15 slots of 8 minutes each (two songs maximum). Acts are typically one to three performers with vocals and instruments.
That’s all for this Folknotes, I hope to see you soon.
Neil Harrell
President, Queen City Balladeers/Leo Coffeehouse
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.
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.