Past Performers
Friday, July 19, 2013
(7:00) Laurie and Friends - Laurie Schaefer graduated from Western Illinois University in 1996 with a bachelors in music therapy. Laurie's primary and favorite instrument to play is the flute. However, Laurie plays the guitar and sings mostly in her music therapy sessions. She loves her profession as a music therapist because she can use her passion for music to help those in need.
(7:30) Footsie is a local performer plays prewar blues, rags and sanctified music. He has played at the Fox Valley Folk Festival, the Bluegrass Festival, Taste of Westmont and the Green Earth Fest, among other venues. He also gives presentations about blues history at area libraries and civic organizations.
(8:00) MT or Matthew Tinnon, whichever you prefer... Is something fresh and new, taking multiple genres and putting a spin on them to make old songs sound likesomething new and different. Seriously how many love songs can be made, ask him, he will tell you there are a million different ways to say the same story.
At 27 he realized he needed to get back to what he loves most, music. Playing all types of music in the past, Blues and Folk are his favorite, a although sometimes a little bit of emo comes involved with strumming patterns and depressing lyrics. However he tries his best to not make people sad while playing... Combining deep, introspective lyrics based on life lessons, with romantic and passionate hooks, it is a duo that tells a story with every set he plays. Check him out, most shows are often a story he has been writing his entire life, a different page of his diary in every show, filled with messages and life-lessons with every conclusion.
Friday, June 21, 2013
(7:00) Youngest Son is Steve Slagg, who grew up playing hymns on the piano and listening to rock music on a tiny portable boombox with rainbow colored buttons. Slagg self-releases his music through a songwriting blog that includes stories and artwork with his recordings. He has a demo EP called Pigshit & Glowing and a full-length album called All Saints' Day.
(7:30) Roger Kotecki Building a base of classical piano training, Roger Kotecki expanded out into vocal and guitar music. He has been heard performing his eclectic mix of music from the 1860s to the 1970s at venues throughout the western suburbs and as a volunteer for the DuPage Forest Preserve District. He brings the depth of his life experiences to his interpretation of song and delights audiences with the melodies and lyrics of genres ranging from Golden Era standards to folk, country, and pop tunes along with some of his own creations.
(8:00) Jeff Elbel - The music of Jeff Elbel is suitable for rock and roll fans of all ages, drawing stories from everyday life with intelligence, wit and heart. Though not a novelty act, good humor is an important part of the mix. Songs by Elbel's band Ping including “Bark Along with Cody” have been featured by renowned funny music curator Doctor Demento and played on Chicago radio station WLUP. Other tunes including the soul-stirring “Miracle Rain” and freewheeling “Radio Flyer” have been featured on MTV shows Made and My Super Sweet 16.
Visual art by Tom Phelan (http://tomphelanphotography.
Visual art display made possible by People Made Visible.
Blooming Fest, Saturday May 18, 2013
Local Music Night Stage: 11:30 am - 3:00 pm
11:30 am - Mike Warfel
12:00 pm – Brian Daniel Billie
12:45 pm – TriTone Sax Trio
1:30 pm – Sleight Street
2:15 pm – Spectators
See bios and photos of these performers.
For a full schedule of events during Blooming Fest, see the festival poster here.
Friday, May 17, 2013
(7:00) Jenn Gunn is a serious musician. Serious enough to have a degree in Music Business. Serious enough to have worked on both sides of music, as a successful artist and as a successful promoter.
She developed her formidable vocal skills during her teen and college years, singing in bands that played clubs, festivals and varied events all over the U.S. These days, music is a casual, fun and still important part of her life. Performing is a rewarding experience that keeps her sharp and current with the latest musical trends.
Come and enjoy Jenn’s beautiful voice and tasteful song selection! Her backing musicians are members of the local band ‘The Spectators’, who just happen to be her sons. Looks like music is serious enough to soak into the next generation...and maybe the next...
(7:30) Sleight Street is a diverse group of singers who share a passion for creating beautiful vocal harmonies. Our repertoire includes songs from many genres and eras, but focuses primarily on jazz, swing and pop standards. We perform at a variety of venues, including private parties, public events and local community service facilities. The members of Sleight Street are all current or former singers with the Naperville Chorus, a well-established community choral group in Chicago's western suburbs. Though the ensemble is not affiliated with the chorus, it is this common experience that brought us together. We are a self-directed ensemble that enjoys collaborating on the selection of repertoire and achieving the sound we love. We are privileged to work with Dan Wagner, Director of Music at Naperville's Grace United Methodist Church, who serves as our enthusiastic and skilled performance coach. For more information, visit Sleight Street on Facebook!
Keith Aarseth, Bass
Wes Ague, Tenor
Josie Beckman, Soprano
| Carole Koch, Alto Jeremy Kropf, Bass |
Michael Schwartz, Tenor
Barb Wendel, Alto
Dan Wagner, Performance Coach
(8:00) Jonathan Roth is a guitarist-composer from the greater Chicagoland area. He began his undergraduate work in 2002 at the College of DuPage before transferring to Pepperdine University to study the guitar with Christopher Parkening. After graduating from Pepperdine in 2006, Roth continued his education at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music where he completed the M.M. and D.M.A. degrees under the instruction of Scott Tennant. Dr. Roth has served on the faculty of Pepperdine University, Indiana University South Bend, and Trinity Christian College and has recorded two albums of original compositions and hymn arrangements (Meditations, 2005; Nostalgia, 2009) as well as a joint project with Rick Foster (Faith is the Reason, 2011). Jonathan lives near Chicago with his wife Alana where he teaches, composes and performs. For more information, please visit: www.jonathanroth.com.
Visual art by Zach Mory (http://zachmory.com)
Visual art display made possible by People Made Visible.
Friday, April 19, 2013
(7:00) Rita Ruby has been a singer all her life. She began in small rural churches and around the house with family in southcentral Ohio. She has taught music and performed around Chicagoland since 1999 and enjoyed opportunities to share across the United States as well as internationally. Her blend of vintage country and southern gospel songs are delivered with a heartfelt passion that warms the heart and brings a smile. Life stories are always a part of her performances, so get ready to chuckle. Her musical mission is to bring everyone to their own joy of singing.
(7:45) Mike Felten continues his tour that began in the 1960's and 1970's. This critically acclaimed performer has traversed the country in the Woody Guthrie tradition. Storytelling and original songs collected over the last half century.www.mikefelten.com
Featured Visual Artist: Brian Reis
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(7:00) Mandy Rakow grew up in a musical family and has been singing as long as she can remember. She has played cello since age nine and guitar since age twelve. Mandy has been writing songs since she was a teenager, and has also written several songs with her husband John, who is a gifted poet. Mandy and John have a one-year-old daughter who loves to join in on the family “music making” as well. (Can she avoid it?) Mandy is on the West Chicago Cultural Arts Commission, and she started Local Music Night in October 2009 because she believes that sharing music brings people together and enriches the community.
(7:45) John Keeney is a teacher, storyteller, artist and musician living in West Chicago - a great town which he likes a lot. He considers It a privilege to be involved in the life of the community - and what better way than to play music?
Featured Visual Artist: Rachel Weaver Rivera
Friday, February 15, 2013
Husband and wife duo Colin and Emily York.
Featured Artist: Photographer Manda Gerard-Zappia
Friday, January 18, 2013
Keith Peters (7:00) - pictured at left
Featured visual artist, Buddy Plumlee
Friday, November 16, 2012
7:00 PM - Adam James Sorensen - Born in Chicago, singer/songwriter Adam James paints sonic pictures of his life in New York City, Salt Lake City, Edinburgh and Berlin from the perspective of a Midwest, suburban child-hood. Leaving the Midwest at age 19, he traversed the country and headed West. After several years in the Western desert, he then moved to New York to focus on his music career. His work took him to the U.K., Europe, and recently back to his childhood home, Chicago. James’ songs reflect his life’s journeys, as they continue to shape and define his music. His voice has a warm strength that conveys an honest fragility. He simply tells the story of his life. His new record with producer Evan Brubaker was released in the Summer of 2011.
7:30 PM - Rita Ruby has been a singer all her life. She began in small rural churches and around the house with family in southcentral Ohio. She has taught music and performed around Chicagoland since 1999 and enjoyed opportunities to share across the United States as well as internationally. Her blend of vintage country and southern gospel songs are delivered with a heartfelt passion that warms the heart and brings a smile. Life stories are always a part of her performances, so get ready to chuckle. Her musical mission is to bring everyone to their own joy of singing.
8:00 PM - Roger Kotecki - Building a base of classical piano training, Roger Kotecki expanded out into vocal and guitar music. He has been heard performing his eclectic mix of music from the 1860s to the 1970s at venues throughout the western suburbs and as a volunteer for the DuPage Forest Preserve District. He brings the depth of his life experiences to his interpretation of song and delights audiences with the melodies and lyrics of genres ranging from Golden Era standards to folk, country, and pop rock tunes along with some of his own creations.
Featured Visual Artist: Chris Grodoski
