Schedule of Events

Looking Ahead:

MARCH 22, 2026

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PERFORMANCES  6:40 - 9:00 PM

TANGLED ROOTS          originaryartsinitiative@gmail.com

Mike Boershig, Jody Knoop, and Sherry Cook Stanforth share a lively mix of American folk and heritage music weaving in original songs and historically rich singalongs with generational spirit. The trio blends rich vocal harmonies with guitar, mandolin, flute, tin whistle, and harmonica.  Songs tell stories of land and family, paths and rivers, love and loss, changed ways of living and working.Their Tangled Roots name reflects a belief that the ever-growing realms of nature and story entwine to bind all people together.

MA CROW & CO       www.macrowmusic.net       Facebook: Ma Crow & Co

The legendary Ma Crow & Company is a 7-time Entertainment Award nominee featuring bluegrass, americana and old-time mountain music. Ma won a CAMMY in 1999, and was a featured guest with MUSE Choir. Performances include WoodSongs Old Time Radio Hour, Song the the Mountain, Ohio State Fair, Tall Stacks, Appalachian Festival, Queen City Balladeers EdenSong, Taste of Cincinnati, Richwood Bluegrass Festival and River Roots Festival not to mention part of the cast of The Mountain Minor. Ma is joined by Vicki Abbot, Mike Thompson, John Vennemeyer and Steve Johnston.

BACK PORCH HOUNDS

BPH, plays a roots music mix of country blues, old style jazz, Celtic, old-time and bluegrass. It’s mostly old obscure music with a modern edge, plus some originals. If they look like a bluegrass band from a distance, it’s because they love tapping into the many roots, and instrumentation, of traditional music. The hounds include: Frank Fitch, Dennis Henderson, Fred Hautau, and Dale Farmer. 

BEFORE THE LEO

5:00 PM EXPRESSIVE RHYTHM GUITAR workshop led by DALE FARMER

Rhythm guitar can be so much more than a steady beat and chord background. It can create interesting foundations and vibes to pull your audience in and out with tension and release. When rhythmic energy is woven with that of voices and other instruments, the dynamic can be magical. This workshop will get you thinking about how your own rhythmic style can be further developed on not only guitar but other strum based instruments.

Song Circle Jams–Anyone can bring songs to lead while others join in with backup and harmony.

       5:00 PM: Any well known, jam-friendly songs.

  5:00 PM: 60’s jam led by John Mann

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MARCH 29, 2026

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PERFORMANCES  6:40 - 9:00 PM

JAMONN ZEILER  Facebook: Jamonn Zeiler

Jamon is celebrating nearly 60 years performing in public and he still cannot get enough of the music he loves.

MEGAN BEE    https://MeganBeeMusic.com

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.

DAVID SINGLEY  https://DavidSingley.com

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.

BEFORE THE LEO

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.

Circle Jams–Anyone can lead songs while others join in with backup and harmony.

                     5:00 PM Any well known, jam-friendly songs downstairs.

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APRIL 5, 2026

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6:00 PM SIGN UP FOR ALL EVENING 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 ALL EVENING 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. Due to limited space we do not usually see more than four people on stage.

BEFORE THE LEO

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.

4:00 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 give advice) are welcome by Alana Johnson, Bob Schrock, and Isaiah Tam.

5:00 PM Song Circle Jams–Anyone can bring songs to lead while others join in with backup and harmony.

      Downstairs: Any well known, jam-friendly songs.

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APRIL 12, 2026

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PERFORMANCES  6:40 - 9:00 PM

JILL AND BOBBY BAND

Jill Denton and Bobby Fisher first joined forces in the progressive bluegrass band, the Smyth Brothers, followed by the much loved country rock band, Coyote. Theirs’ is a chemistry that creates a unique energy in their music and a confidence that only comes from years of playing together. Jill’s powerful and beautiful voice along with Bobby’s dynamic guitar skills and vocal harmonies.

FARMER & THE CROW

The legendary Ma Crow & Company is a 7-time Entertainment Award nominee featuring bluegrass, americana and old-time mountain music. Ma won a CAMMY in 1999, and was a featured guest with MUSE Choir. Performances include WoodSongs Old Time Radio Hour, Song the the Mountain, Ohio State Fair, Tall Stacks, Appalachian Festival, QCB Eden Song, Taste of Cincinnati and Richwood Bluegrass and River Roots Festivals not to mention in the cast of The Mountain Minor.  Ma Crow plays bluegrass, americana and old-time mountain music along with Dale Farmer, creator of The Mountain Minor, and longtime band member with the Back Porch Hounds and Jericho Old-time Band, and Wendy Muncy. Together, they perform both originals and creative interpretations of forgotten gems.

BEFORE THE LEO

5:00 PM Circle Jams–Anyone can bring songs to lead while others provide backup and harmony.

 Upstairs: Songwriters Collaborative–Share your songs with other songwriters for encouragement and friendly critiques.

  Downstairs: Any well known, jam-friendly songs.

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APRIL 19, 2026

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PERFORMANCES  6:40 - 9:00 PM

DENNIS ALLEN

He loves traditional folk and string band music and was compelled to start writing songs during the 2016 election. He has performed at open mics, progressive political events and local festivals.

PINERIDGE PARTNERS

Leo favorites Warren and Judy Waldron play all kinds of traditional Appalachian music, from dance tunes to country duets and everything in between, including doing hoedown square dances.

GREY DOGS

Influenced by the Chicago/Brit invasion blues, traditional Irish music, classic country and American folk-rock bands like the Byrds, Bob Dylan and The Band. Lead singers Dave Gilligan, Mike Fair and Jay Sofanec cover a broad spectrum of American Music.

BEFORE THE LEO

5:15 PM: GUITAR ROUNDTABLE Workshop Mike Helm leads this forum for players of any skill level to exchange ideas so we can all make better music together. Bring a question, share a tip. Learn a new lick or chord. Gain a new perspective, share your own with us. Enrich your guitar experience.

5:00 PM: Song Circle/Jam-Downstairs

Anyone can bring songs to lead while others provide backup and harmony.