Plank Road's Regular Events
in conjunction with 2WS
Sing-Around
1st & 3rd Sat. | 2-4 pm
Vocal instrumental jam and sing-along with songbooks and leader.
Country and Western
Sing-Around
4th Sat. | 2-4 pm
Sing along with your favorite C&W songs.
2nd Tuesday Song Circle -- BYOS!
Two Way Street Coffee House2nd Tues. | 7-9 pm
A monthly opportunity for musicians to perform songs for each other, within a song circle. Bring Your Own Song!
Plank Road String Band Practice
Summer Break - see you in September
630-620-0688
2nd Sat. | 2:00-4:00 pm
An old-time string band practice for intermediate/advanced players.
from Sept to April
Last Thursday Open Mike
Last Thurs. of every month | 7-9:30 pm
A monthly unplugged open mike for high school and college age students only.
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Come join the PRFMS String Band
Civil War Days at Blackberry Farm
Saturday, Aug. 11 - 2:30 to 4:00pm
100 S Barnes Rd, Aurora, IL 60506
Speak with Union and Confederate troops as they camp at Blackberry Farm. Ride the train and you may be stopped by Union officers searching for Confederate sympathizers. Enjoy Civil War and historical crafts throughout the grounds. Don't miss the Plank Road String Band playing some Civil War era songs and tunes from 2:30 - 4:00pm just before a live Civil War battle reenactment at 4 pm. (Included with daily admission.)
The 41st/42nd Annual
Fox Valley Folk Music
and Storytelling Festival
September 2 & 3, 2018
Washed out last year . . . but back again on Labor Day weekend!
Labor Day weekend means lots of singing, playing, listening and learning along the Fox River at the annual Fox Valley Folk Festival in Geneva. One of the largest and most popular folk festivals in Illinois, the event was cancelled last year due to extreme flooding conditions in Geneva's Island Park. This year the 42nd annual Fox Valley Folk Music & Storytelling Festival will be held Sunday and Monday, September 2-3, at the beautiful 13-acre Island Park, located in downtown Geneva, IL. Eight stages present concerts with over 30 featured acts, plus hands-on workshops, topical song and story workshops, dance, vocal and instrument classes and special events for the kids.
Here's a list of some of the performers: Scott Ainslie, Ben Bedford, Bryan Bowers, Andy Cohen, Judy Cook, Joe Crookston, Debra Cowan, February Sky, Anne Hills, Lil' Rev, Sparky & Rhonda Rucker, Michael Smith, The Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers -- and many more to be announced!
In addition, a number of PRFMS members perform on various stages throughout the park.
Join us at the Plank Road tent! While details remain to be worked out, Plank Road will be actively involved. We'll have our usual tent set up where folks can meet, socialize and participate in spontaneous jams. There will also be Plank Road t-shirts, hats, tote bags and other merchandise available.
For updates, please visit
Fall Log Cabin Party scheduled for September 16.
Plank Road's popular Fall party will be back again at the Lombard Log Cabin. It's scheduled for Sunday, September 16.
Note:This year the festivities are on a Sunday, and at an earlier hour, 2 - 6 pm.
As usual, there will be music, food and fun for everyone. We'll have our usual sing-around, with a break for pizza, salad and more!
Mid-September should be an ideal time, hopefully with mild weather. There may even be a campfire outside for those who wish to jam . . . and maybe partake of a decadent s'more or two!
In addition to your instrument(s), feel free to bring a dish, dessert or snack to share. Plank Road will provide pizza, salad, soft drinks and coffee.
Lombard Park District's Log Cabin is located in Four Seasons Park on Main St. and 16th St. in Lombard (between Roosevelt Road and 22nd street)
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Old-Time Ensemble Workshop
It was all about fiddles, banjos, mandolins and guitars at the Old-Time Ensemble Workshop on April 14. Plank Road and the Two Way Street Coffee House sponsored the event, which featured Paul Tyler and Steve Rosen. These two veteran musicians and multi-instrumentalists brought some interesting techniques and several new fiddle tunes to the large group of attendees -- including many Plank Road String Band members.
 Steve Rosen and Paul Tyler lead the old-time music workshop. Melody and rhythm instrument players worked in separate groups to learn the tunes, then came together to play as an old-time ensemble. "It was fantastic," according to Kristen Fuller, who felt the workshop was useful -- and inspiring -- for everyone. Jen Shilt hoped we could make the workshop an annual event, adding, "It feeds the band with new tunes and techniques." Later that evening special guests Paul and Steve joined the String Band at the Spring Barn Dance, capping off a great day of old-time music! |
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Get Out of Your House -- Go Hear Some Music!
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PRFMS Member Gigs
Blind Squirrel
- Downers Grove, July 20, Two Way Street Coffeehouse
- Chicago, July 23, Irish American Heritage Center
- Frankfort, September 9 - Frankfort Country Market - 10:30am until 1:30pm
Kilty Pleasure
- Frankfort, July 1 - Frankfort Country Market - 10:30am until 1:30pm
- Frankfort, September 23 - Frankfort Country Market - 10:30am until 1:30pm
Lonesome Eagle
- Frankfort, August 5 - Frankfort Country Market - 10:30am until 1:30pm
Mark Dvorak
- Schaumburg IL, July 13, 9:30 am - 11:30 am, Ye Olde Schaumburg Centre Farmer's Market, Trickster Gallery, 190 N. Roselle Road
PRFMS members, drop us a line if you will be appearing locally.
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 Two Way Street Coffee House
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 Maple Street Chapel Folk Concerts
If you are near Lombard, please visit the Maple Street Chapel Folk Concerts website to see a current listing of upcoming performers.
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If you are near Hinsdale, please visit the Acoustic Renaissance website for a list of upcoming performers.
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For those of you closer to the Wheaton area, please visit the Acorn Coffeehouse located in the Burning Bush Art Gallery at:
216 N. Main St
Wheaton
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 Tobias Music concertsEvery once in awhile, our friends at Tobias host music in their new(ish) music room
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Did you know that many of our local libraries also host occasional music events throughout the year? Harpeth Rising, Mark Dvorak, Chris Vallilo, and Lonesome Eagle all have been featured at several of our libraries in the past years.
Lisle Library's Friends of Lisle Library Concerts
are offered on a regular basis. You can check their calendar at:
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The Brashler Barn
Located at 17560 S. Gougar Road, Lockport, IL 60441
Friends and Family Venue - Not a Public Business
No smoking, no alcohol, no pets, no children under 14
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A Special Thanks to our Membership Contributors!!
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Sustaining Artists ($200 - $399)
- George Mattson Trio
Sustaining Member ($200 and higher)
Supporting Members ($50 - $199)
- Dan and Mary Anderson
- Bill and Mary Boylan
- Vicki and Rich Ingle
- Tony Janacek
- Paul Klonowshi
- Ron Kranz
- Dottie and Gerry Lee
- Marvin Lensink
- Bill and Sandhya Matthews
- Gregg and Elizabeth Morton
- Kristen Rosenwinkel
- Joe and Pam Schumacher
- Jen & James Shilt
- Carol and Fred Spanuello
- Gary Steffenson
- John Wolaver
If you would like to become a member or just need to renew, here is a link to the renewal form that you can print and mail.
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It's all about Plank Road pride!
You say you already have a Plank Road t-shirt? Not to mention a tote bag or sport bottle? But you know your collection isn't complete until you have
at least one of everything with a Plank Road logo! So here's the list. Start checking 'em off! ✔
☐ Hats $15
☐ T-Shirts $15
☐ Tote Bags $3
☐ Sport Bottles $5
☐ Guitar Case Stickers $1
Items are available at many Plank Road events, or you can contact Bill Lemos directly at lemos.bill@comcast.net.
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You've been to the Two Way Street Coffee House. Have you ever looked at the folks behind the counter and said, "I know how to make coffee! I'll betcha I could do that!"
All you have to do is contact Tim Kendall.
Timothy Kendall
Director
Two Way Street Coffee House
cell 630-699-2974
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Billboard - AMERICANA/FOLK ALBUMS
6/23/2018
- Traveller - Chris Stapleton
- Hell-On - Neko Case
- From A Room: Volume 1 - Chris Stapleton
- Good Thing - Leon Bridges
- From A Room: Volume 2 - Chris Stapleton
- Golden Hour - Kacey Musgraves
- God's Favorite Customer - Father John Misty
- Simon And Garfunkel's Greatest Hits - Simon & Garfunkel
- Cleopatra - The Lumineers
- Hozier - Hozier
- Pat Metheny Group - Have You Heard
If you have come across some new or little known artists that you think others might enjoy, please
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We get letters . . .
. . . actually they're emails. Nobody sends letters anymore.
We received a couple of comments about the QuarterNotes archives in the last issue:
"Hi Folks. I was so surprised to see that paragraph in the newsletter about Jen-Vicki days, writing, publishing... How nice! I have fond memories of those days and it sure didn't seem like 7 years. Working with Jen was a blessing and believe me, she had the harder job -- fitting in all the stuff I threw her way and then making it look cool too. Thank you! And, I am so happy to know the old newsletters from the 80s etc. will be available."
- Vicki Ingle
- Jen Shilt
Help!
Our QuarterNotes Archive collection is missing some issues. Can you help?
Several months ago we posted a collection of historical -- or should we just say "old" -- QuarterNotes newsletters, going back 33 years, to the Plank Road website. For anyone interested in the history of Plank Road, or any old-timers who have been with the organization for a long time, these vintage issues are fascinating to read.
But we're missing a few. Specifically:
2007 - Winter
2006 - Autumn
2004 - Winter; Spring
2003 - Winter
2002 - Winter
2001- Spring
2000- Winter; Autumn
1997 - Winter; Spring
1996 - Winter; Spring; Summer; Autumn
1995 - Winter; Spring; Summer; Autumn
1994 - Winter; Spring; Summer; Autumn
1993 - Winter; Spring; Summer; Autumn
1992 - Winter; Summer; Autumn
1991 - Autumn
1990 - Summer; Autumn
1987 - Spring; Summer
1986 - Winter; Spring; Autumn
If you happen to have any old copies -- or know someone who might -- we would love to borrow them long enough for Dottie Lee to scan them to add to the digital Archive. Please contact Dottie at dottiePRFMS@comcast.net, or Bob O'Hanlon at reohanlon@gmail.com. Thanks!
What's on your mind?
Do you have ideas for future articles? Things you'd like to see in the newsletter? Ways we can make it more enjoyable and relevant to Plank Road members? Here's your chance to be "note-worthy." Just send us an email with your comments about QuarterNotes. We welcome your input!
We may publish some of your comments and always appreciate ideas. (Think of it as sort of a "letters to the editor.")
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Bob O'Hanlon - President
(630) 325-7764
Bill Lemos - VP, Secretary
2018 Board Members - Dave Humphreys
- Kristen Fuller
- Jennifer Shilt
- Jim Gilroy
- Dottie Lee
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QuarterNotes Contributors
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Stephen Davis
Bob O'Hanlon
Bill Lemos
and thanks to the numerous folks who took and shared their photos!!!
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 President's Message July, 2018 They say, time flies when you're having fun, which seems true, but who are "they"? Here we are at the halfway point of 2018, and I am having fun, with musical activities being a large part of that, along with some nice family accomplishments to celebrate...four graduations!
I hope all of you are healthy and happy, as we continue our slate of events through the summer. The recent workshop was a big success, well attended and well worth doing.
Coming events include the fabulous Fox Valley Folk Music and Storytelling Festival, which was unfortunately canceled last year due to flooding on the island. Plank Road will be there in force, as usual.
Also, in September, we will host a party at the log cabin in Lombard. Our "end of summer" party will be held on a Sunday afternoon this year (September 16), rather than our usual Saturday night. We hope you can all attend.
Also, regarding this newsletter, QuarterNotes. Plank Road has published QN four times a year since our founding in 1985, and we recently added a group of early issues to our web site, but are still missing about 25 issues. Perhaps some of our long time members have saved issues from way back, and could loan them to us for scanning. (See article below for specific issues.)
Hope to see you all soon.
Bob O'Hanlon
President
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SPOTLIGHT: Greatest American Folk Songs
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What's your favorite folk song?
. . . and what do other people think?
By Bill Lemos
If someone asked, "What is your all-time favorite folk song?" what would you say? Could you even begin to come up with just one? It's doubtful anyone who loves folk music could answer that question.
Too many choices . . .
Not surprisingly, the Internet has dozens of sites purporting to proclaim the all-time greatest folk song. But here's the problem: There are so many genres, so many eras, so many composers, artists and styles. If you lean more toward traditional folk music, your favorite might be something like "This Land Is Your Land." But what about more contemporary singer/songwriters? What if you're into eclectic roots music? Maybe you're a bluegrass fan? Or hardcore blues aficionado?
Yikes! This writer loves all those genres . . . how can one choose a single favorite song? Well, fortunately we've done a little online research and found an array of favorites. Interestingly, there are certain songs that appear on almost every list. So, in a very non-scientific survey, here are some of the most influential, essential, memorable and legendary American folk songs of all time:
Blowin' In The Wind - Bob Dylan
City Of New Orleans - Steve Goodman
If I Had A Hammer - Pete Seeger
Where Have All The Flowers Gone - The Kingston Trio
Early Morning Rain - Gordon Lightfoot
Suzanne - Leonard Cohen
We Shall Overcome - Pete Seeger
Four Strong Winds - Ian and Sylvia
Last Thing On My Mind - Tom Paxton
The Water Is Wide - Traditional
Tom Dooley - The Kingston Trio
Wildwood Flower - Carter Family
Both Sides Now - Joni Mitchell
Goodnight Irene - The Weavers
Universal Soldier - Buffy St Marie
Don't Think Twice - Bob Dylan
Sounds Of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel
The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald - Gordon Lightfoot
Ramblin' Boy - Tom Paxton
Freight Train - Elizabeth Cotton
Gentle On My Mind - John Hartford
Amazing Grace - Traditional
Will The Circle Be Unbroken - Carter Family
Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound - Tom Paxton
Mr. Bojangles - Jerry Jeff Walker
Blue Moon Of Kentucky - Bill Monroe
The Times They Are A'Changing - Bob Dylan
Catch The Wind - Donovan
Midnight Special - Traditional
NOTE: Songs are in no particular order, and artists mentioned are based on the composer or most popular version of the song.
Of course, there are hundreds of other songs that fit the category of "influential, essential, memorable and legendary." But the 29 songs above seem to appear on most "Top 100" lists.
But wait, you say. There's one song that's conspicuously missing! If you're thinking "This Land Is Your Land" by Woody Guthrie -- and sung by just about everyone who ever picked up a guitar -- you are right! According to results from multiple surveys,"This Land Is Your Land" tops the list as the most popular American folk song of all time.
Personally, many of us never sing this song anymore because, well, frankly we're sick of it. But facts are facts, and the Internet is never wrong. Right?
And now, the Reader Challenge . . .
We'd love to hear what some of your favorite folk songs are. Come on, it'll be fun. Don't you want to see what your fellow Plank Roaders think? Just send an email to lemos.bill@comcast.net
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With a Little Help From our Friends!
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Acorn Coffee House
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We all know about the Two Way Street Coffee House, but there are a number of other local spots that offer concerts, open mic sessions and jam sessions. Last year we previewed Maple Street Concerts. Here's the second in a series about local folk music venues . . .
Wheaton's Acorn Coffeehouse
There's an intimate, little-known spot in downtown Wheaton called the Acorn Coffee House. It's a music and storytelling venue located in the newly renovated Burning Bush Art Gallery at 216 N Main Street, right next to the Gary United Methodist Church.
Folk music concerts
A number of popular local artists have performed at the Acorn, including Chris Walz, Small Potatoes, Eric Lambert, Joe Filisko & Eric Noden, Dave Rudolf, Mark Dvorak and many others. Concerts are usually held on the second Saturday of each month.
You can enjoy a unique, constantly-changing art exhibit and an evening of live music in a charming house built in the late 1890s. Concerts begin at 8 pm and admission is $10.
Open mics
On the third Saturday there's an open mic session featuring eclectic performances by singers, instrumentalists, storytellers and poets. Doors open at 7 pm and performances begin at 7:30 pm.
Co-Director Bill Austin, an artist, musician and story-teller, is the MC for open mic sessions.
The Burning Bush Art Gallery. The Burning Bush was started in 2008. "It's a place where we want to encourage community building and a sense of belonging," says co-director Tony Asta. Today it's a very diverse venue, sponsoring everything from displays of art by local artists, to yoga sessions, to drum circles. When folk music events take place, the gallery becomes the Acorn Coffeehouse. "Listening to folk music is participatory," says Tony. "It works like storytelling, in that it invites engagement by the audience -- which is the type of environment we want to nurture." Tony Asta, Co-Director of the Acorn Coffeehouse, and Dona Benkert of the Folk-Lore Center. The partnership between the Acorn Coffeehouse and the Gallery . . .
Dona Benkert, of the Folk-Lore Center in Naperville, explains how the partnership works. "The Acorn Coffeehouse is a series of concerts and other folk music events presented by the Folk-Lore Center and the Burning Bush Art Gallery," says Dona. "The Gallery is the perfect place to combine visual and auditory arts. What better way to enjoy an evening than to hear live music and view an art exhibit?"
The name was taken from the original Acorn Coffeehouse in Warrenville, a venue that ran concerts for well over 20 years. "Our first concert at the Burning Bush Gallery in Wheaton was September 2014," says Dona. "Mark Dvorak opened the series, and performed again last year."
Plank Road regular, Jim Scalone, performs at a recent Acorn open mic, along with story-tellers, poets and other musicians.
Upcoming concerts: 11th Annual Music In The Park -Saturday, July 14. Featured artists include: Sunnyside Up, Lee Murdock, and Campeau & Craig. This is a free concert in Memorial Park, Wheaton. Here's the schedule for 2018-2019 Sep 8 - Small Potatoes
Oct 11 - Eric Lugosch
Nov 10 - Hat Stretchers
Dec 8 - Dona & Dan Benkert
Jan 12 - Bryan Bowers
Feb 9 - TBA
Mar 9 - Cathy Barton & Dave Para
Apr 13 - Curtis & Loretta
May 11 - Shawna Caspi
Note: All activities are subject to change. Open mics may not occur during the summer months. For additional information, please check their website: http://acorncoffeehouse.com or contact the Folklore Center at 630-393-1247. In addition, you can learn about upcoming events on Meetup.com
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| A great little festival out in the country . . .
51st Annual Willow Folk Festival
There's a little-known annual gathering of folk music enthusiasts, held on the grounds of a small country church, surrounded by cornfields. And it's an easy 2-hour drive from the western suburbs. This year's event is August 11 & 12.
The Willow Folk Festival, located about 3 miles east of Stockton, IL and 6 miles south of U.S. Route 20, has been welcoming people for over 50 years. It's a great opportunity to hear local musicians performing a wide range of music styles in an outdoor open mic setting. You can hear beginners as well as seasoned professionals -- and anyone can get up on stage!
Open mic, anyone?
Performing at the festival is on a first-come-first-serve basis. Artists at all levels of proficiency are welcome and, according to their website, many good musicians have gotten their first performing experience there. If you're interesting in performing, here's how it works:
- Registration begins at 10am on Saturday and 11:30 on Sunday.
- Your name will be put on the list in the available time slots.
- There is no fee to perform but there's a $5 admission fee for the festival.
- Sound equipment is provided
Food, beverages, and a bake sale are located in the church basement both days. There's also a stand outside where you can get pop, T-shirts, and ice for coolers. Seating for spectators is "rustic" -- planks set on hay bales -- but there's plenty of room if you want to bring your own lawn chairs. Camping is available. Check it out at willowfolkfestival.com
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| The Highwaymen |
Highwaymen know how to have fun and pick songs
More than just "Michael Row the Boat Ashore ..."
By Andy Malkewicz
Around 1990, the super country group Highwaymen were sued by the folk group Highwaymen. It was settled, and the confrontation was ended when they appeared on-stage together in October 1990.
The "college-bred" folk groups . . .
The Kingston Trio developed between 1954, and 1957, with success starting in 1957 with "Sloop John B/Fast Freight," and then "Tom Dooley" in 1958. You could say as a group they were born in Hawaii, and matured on the California college campuses. Meanwhile, other groups were forming in colleges throughout the US: Chad Mitchell Trio, New Christie Minstrels, Brothers Four, Serendipity Singers, etc. And, in 1958, Connecticut's Wesleyan college spawned the Highwaymen. Originally named the Clansmen, they met and performed at a college fraternity show, and became quite popular locally. They cut a demo tape of their entire repertoire, auditioned for various record labels, but could not land a contract.
In 1959, new record label United Artists, was looking for talent, and signed them. They changed their name from Clansmen to Highwaymen on their manager's recommendation, due to a popular poem of the time by Alfred Noyes. (BTW, the country group's name came from a popular Jimmy Webb tune by that name.) Soon they had a self-titled album with Don Costa as producer. The album, and the 45 (a-"Santiano"/b-"Michael Row the Boat Ashore") were released in late 1960 and pretty much flopped.
An independent distributor started pushing the b-side, and it broke out to #1 in the summer of 1961. Their album finally charted in October 1961. Their second single was a similar success (though lesser) when b-side "Cottonfields", put the single a-side "Gypsy Rover" back on the charts.
In 1961 they had another great b-side, "Whiskey In the Jar". As a side note, "Michael," "Gypsy Rover," and "Gilgarra Mountain" (also known as "Whiskey in the Jar") are all in our Plank Road white book, as well as early songs they covered: "Pretoria," "Rambling Boy," and "All My Trials." More of their early songs are in the Rise-Up Singing song book: "Sinner Man," "Take This Hammer," and "Irish Work Song" (Pat's Song)...... maybe more. Picked them well, they did. They also did an early version of "First Time Ever," and one of my favorites, "Cindy Oh Cindy."
They, like the other college-bred hootenanny fun-time groups, were not protest singers, as were Phil Ochs, Bob Dylan, etc., and were not dedicated to a music career. Though they performed occasionally afterward, 1964 marked the end of the Highwaymen.
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Trivia Quiz:
Answers to previous Quiz:
- Scott Joplin had a German piano teacher starting at ~age 11, learning classical music. The musical atmosphere present around Texarkana (including work songs, gospel hymns, spirituals and dance music) and Joplin's natural ability have been cited as contributing significantly to the invention of a new style that blended African-American musical styles with European forms and melodies, and first became celebrated in the 1890s, when he composed the Maple Leaf Rag in 1899.
- Joe Hill of Sweden emigrated to the US at age 23, and joined in on all the radical movements of the very early 1900's. He was an active member of the "Wobblies," contributed songs to their "Little Red Book," and was executed by firing squad for murder when he refused to testify on his own behalf. He combined Baptist melodies with his experiences of the labor struggles to write many folk songs.
- Louis Armstrong forgot some verses to a song, and inserted sounds that came to mind. It became popular, and was dubbed "scat."
NEW Trivia Quiz:
Roger Miller is said to have lived the life of the songs he wrote and sang. For starters, he joined the army at age 17 to avoid jail. He wrote many famous songs: "Billy Bayou" for Jim Reeves, "In the Summertime" for Andy Williams, "Invitation to the Blues" for Ray Price, "Swiss Maid" for Del Shannon, etc. He worked with Faron Young, Minnie Pearl, George Jones, and was a member of Ray Price's Cherokee Cowboys. Several questions ensue:
- Q1. Who taught Roger Miller how to play guitar?
- Q2. Roger was an insomniac. A story goes that one middle-of-the-night Ray Price got a call from Roger. Ray said to stop bothering him and his band, or he would kill him. What song was it?
- Q3. Roger, like others, took various jobs just to eat, including cotton-picker, cowhand, fireman, bell-hop, etc. Why was Roger fired as a fireman?
- Q4. How did Roger become a drummer, and with who?
In 1966 Chicago, a club owner cut this singer/group's gig short, and refused to pay them because they were "driving away customers." Being penniless, they went to WLS and Clark Weber with their tale of woe, and had to use Clark's phone to call a friend back home in San Francisco to get airfare home. After an argument, they agreed to record several songs for their benefactor that sent the airfare.
- Q5. Who was the group/singer?
Be the 1st to send your answers to me, and get a mention in the next column.
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