Folknotes 8/5/26

Hello Everyone,

As you can see below, there’s lots of stuff to share this week.

• Music Gear Trade, Swap, Sale, Giveaway, August 9, 2026

• Leo Summer Schedule, Sunday, August 9: Song Circles

• Headstone Ceremony for Phil Schwartz

• Share the Journey Benefit Concert, September 19, 2026, 3:00-6:00 PM

• Jake Speed & The Freddies 25th Anniversary Concert/Album Release to Benefit Cincinnati Public Radio. November 7, 2026, 8:00 PM

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

Music Gear Trade,
Swap, Sale, Giveaway
August 9, 2026

From Alana Johnson:

Trade, Swap, Sell, Giveaway your musical instruments. Sunday August 9th from 6 to 8:30pm. Upstairs room. Get some new gear…get rid of stuff that you don’t use. Sellers are responsible for their equipment and for their own transactions.

Sheryl Pockrose asked if she could advertise the guitar she’s planning on bringing to this event on our QCB Members Group Facebook page. In fact, members of our group page can advertise music gear for sale anytime.

So, if you plan to bring music gear to this event, you can indeed advertise your gear with photos on the QCB Members Group page.

Leo Summer Schedule

As has become a tradition, we’ve been opening Leo Coffeehouse at Zion United Church of Christ every Sunday this summer. We’ve got four Sundays left on our summer schedule.

Song Circles: August 9, 23, 30, 5:00-9:00 PM

Open Mic: August 16, 5:00-9:00 PM
Starts with a song circle and ends with open mic. We plan to set up our normal sound system.

The sign up sheet will go out at 6:00 PM and performers will start playing at 6:30 PM. 

Headstone Ceremony for Phil Schwartz

From Janice Alvarado:

There will be a ceremony for Phil Schwartz's headstone at the Clifton United Jewish Cemetery, 730 Ludlow Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45220 on Sunday, August 16 at 11:00 AM.

Share the Journey Concert for Compassion

In 2018, our friend Bobby Fisher and a group of fellow musicians, many of whom are also friends of QCB, came together to put on the first Share The Journey—A Concert for Compassion, to raise funds for organizations working with refugees and immigrants at our borders, and in our communities.

Since then, this concert has been held annually. Their team is 100% volunteer, with all proceeds going directly to charities. The need is even greater today. Each contribution makes a real difference.

This year’s concert will be held on September 19, 2026 , from 3:00–6:00 PM, at The House of Joy, 3220 Central Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45225

More information and the great lineup of volunteer musicians here.

Jake Speed & The Freddies
25th Anniversary Concert/Album Release
to Benefit Cincinnati Public Radio

Jake Speed & the Freddies, host a night rooted in toe-tappin’, foot-stompin’ original tunes that muse on Cincinnati’s unique past & present. This special Queen City-centric concert celebrates 25 years of music-making, storytelling, and deep ties to the region, featuring cameo appearances by Mike Oberst of The Tillers, Ed Cunningham of The Comet Bluegrass Allstars, and Chris Cusentino of The Turkeys. 

The concert also marks the release of the band’s sixth studio album with 12 new songs, some of which pay tribute to Cincinnati musical icons Katie Laur, The Comet Bluegrass Allstars, dancing with daffodils at Washington Park, and their roots in Ohio. More than a performance, this 25th Anniversary concert is a celebration of Cincinnati’s music, stories, and community. 

Proceeds benefit Cincinnati Public Radio, helping sustain the local voices and institutions that preserve the past, enrich the present, and guide the journey ahead.

More information here.‍ ‍

Or here.

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

Neil Harrell
President, Queen City Balladeers/Leo Coffeehouse

President’s Letter