This post is actually more about the venue than the show. I have a list of some of the live music venues I’d like to get to in various cities and was able to knock one off the list this past weekend when I was in Chicago for work.
The Old Town School of Folk Music is located a short cab ride (or easy ride on the brown line) from the Loop (downtown) area. The Old Town Schools main reason for existing is to, surprisingly, teach music! Their About Us section tells the story:
The Old Town School of Folk Music teaches and celebrates music and cultural expressions rooted in the traditions of diverse American and global communities.
As we finish our 51st year in 2008, enrollment in Old Town School tuition programs averages close to 6,000 students per week, 2,700 of them children. The Lincoln Square and Lincoln Park facilities hold hundreds of classes and workshops in music, dance and art for adults, children and teens seven days per week, 48 weeks per year. Early childhood and middle school music programs thrive in three suburban branches as well as in several community outreach programs throughout the city. The School presents performances by internationally known touring artists, the best of Chicago’s local artists and its staff and students virtually every weekend. Most Wednesday nights feature free concerts through AfroFolk Live and La Peña, popular and long established Community Programs. Some 85,000 come to these concerts and attend the Chicago Folk & Roots festival in nearby Welles Park annually.
Throughout our 50 year history, what has set the Old Town School of Folk Music apart from other music teaching programs has been the philosophy that music is for everyone. The founders wanted the School to be a place where, as founder Frank Hamilton said, “teacher and student would be partners in learning.” This philosophy is still in place and the Old Town School continues to be a place that gives people the tools to make their own music. Young and old, beginners and advanced players, people from various cultures and traditions come together to create music and learn from each other.
Steve Earle has had songwriter workshops at Old Town in the past. I can just hear it: “Good morrrning Mr. Earle…”
Of course, they also have a wonderful intimate auditorium for shows with table and cushioned bench seating on the main floor and a small balcony level, meaning there isn’t a bad seat in the place. I caught the second of three sold out shows by Tinariwen, a “desert blues” ensemble from Mali. Tinariwen are “touareg” people from the Sahara desert area who have been performing for years. Again, I’ll let the Old Town info tell their story:
One of the most mesmerizing live bands to ever set foot on the Old Town School stage, Tinariwen’s sound is one of raw simplicity and melodic beauty with songs ranging from the epic and universal to the intimate and personal. Trance inducing and mesmerizing, their unique music was born from the Malian desert in which they have led a rootless Touareg existence. A Tinariwen live show is visually stunning as well with band members wearing traditional Touareg robes and turbans. Both political and poetic, Tinariwen in concert is an uplifting and powerful experience.
Most of the crowd knew the songs and about the floor in front of the band was cleared of tables and full of fans dancing through the entire show. An African band playing stratocasters! Now that is cool! If you are in Chicago make sure to check out their lineup. Upcoming shows include Joe Henry, Dan Hicks, Cowboy Junkies, Patty Larkin, Carrie Newcomber & Eliza Gilkyson, Tony Rice Unit and Carrie Rodriguez.
If you’ve got a live music venue that is a shrine to you, drop me an email and let me know about it! don@americanaroots.com
