Horner Park Advisory Council

THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT and THE HORNER PARK ADVISORY COUNCIL PRESENT THE 2006 RAVENSWOOD MANOR PARK SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

The 2006 Ravenswood Manor Park Summer Concert Series continues Sunday, June 25th at 7PM with a very special performance by The Wandering Sons.

Deep thickets of high grass. Tall pines tower above a warm blue holler. It's a place that you can visit. You can lay down awhile and let the dirt sink into your bones. This is a place you can meet old friends, and hear songs that remind you of your nights in the great dance halls of Paris, or the back alley jukes of the sleepy delta. This is the song that we hope to pull from ourselves, and drape across your shoulders. The whole world will end, and we will have our place to hide. There are many truths to be tasted, and tall tales to explore. There are still places worth looking for. This is what keeps you moving. Keeps you restless, and wandering.

See The Wandering Sons perform Sunday, June 25th 7PM-9PM under the pergola in Ravenswood Manor Park.

See the whole 2006 RMP Summer Concert Series schedule.
All Regular Shows are held at Ravenswood Manor Park, located at Eastwood & Francisco near the Brown-line Stop.

The 2006 RMP Summer Concert Series Schedule
June 11th
7:00-9:00
The Mike & Amy Finders Band
Combining a singer/songwriter with a captivating lead vocalist and some world-class sidemen, the Mike and Amy Finders (say finnders) Band rambles playfully along the fences that define the bluegrass, blues, old-time country and folk music genres. Playing their own striking original music, tributes to a few contemporary songwriters, and various rippin’ takes on bluegrass and blues standards, the group brings new life to old tones. A truly "unplugged" act, including guitar, mandolin, harmonica and stand-up bass, with the occasional fiddle, banjo or Dobro, the group weaves stunning instrumental prowess with friendly crowd rapport, meaningful lyrics and sweet, memorable voices.  Amy Finders' voice has been described this way: "a rich, acrobatic instrument (a lush, "Golden Age of Country" twang imbued with the playful sass and swing of a young Maria Muldaur)." Driving the mandolin and singing harmony in addition to her lead vocal chores, Amy supports fellow singer/songwriter/guitar player and husband Mike Finders. He weaves his barstool philosophies and folkloric stories in a humble, hang-dog tenor while picking his old Martin guitar.

June 24th
5:00-6:30
Ground Up Theatre - Shakespeare’s “Tempest”
GroundUp Theatre Company is an ensemble of artists committed to producing strong theatrical pieces which create a new voice and position for women in theatre and embrace theatre as a whole art. Ground Up is dedicated to producing a theatre in which artists with multiple disciplines work together to engender a unique, living art form, which explores the human condition with both courage and empathy.

June 25th
5:00-6:30
Ground Up Theatre - Shakespeare’s “Tempest”
See June 24th

7:00-9:00
The Wandering Sons
Deep thickets of high grass. Tall pines tower above a warm blue holler. It's a place that you can visit. You can lay down awhile and let the dirt sink into your bones. This is a place you can meet old friends, and hear songs that remind you of your nights in the great dance halls of Paris, or the back alley jukes of the sleepy delta. This is the song that we hope to pull from ourselves, and drape across your shoulders. The whole world will end, and we will have our place to hide. There are many truths to be tasted, and tall tales to explore. There are still places worth looking for. This is what keeps you moving. Keeps you restless, and wandering.

July 9th
7:00-8:00
Jan Krist
Detroit born Jan Krist is a well established veteran of the acoustic music scene. Jan's musical gifts have been recognized by Billboard Magazine, Entertainment Weekly Magazine, Dirty Linen, Image Journal, and others.   Krist takes her ordinary, plain Jane demeanor and all the elements we've learned to take for granted (6 strings and common time) and lets us know, this is not your ordinary woman with a guitar, even if it is.  “When Planets Collide” Krist's newest release is a collision of musical styles and observations both humorous and heartbreaking. It is the first of what we hope will be many on her self owned label, Outpost Records.  “Planets” is a superbly crafted recording with performances by some of Detroit's best musicians and the writing of one of Detroit's most critically acclaimed writers, Jan Krist. 

8:00-9:00
NYCO
Ted Atkatz's decision to take a year-long sabbatical from his gig as the principal percussionist in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra was a bold one. Exchanging his drumsticks for a Nord keyboard and a Gibson acoustic, he began singing an altogether different tune. He wrote twelve songs, collaborated with three of Chicago's finest musicians, and NYCO was born.  Onstage, Atkatz is joined by the stellar trio of Dave Saenger, Kells Nollenberger, and Devin Staples. Saenger's lead guitar adds a unique sonic texture that perfectly compliments Atkatz's vocals. Nollenberger has played bass with the best jazz musicians in Chicago and brings a deep, versatile feel to NYCO's rhythm section.  Staples, the other half of that rhythm section, displays a raw percussive talent that has most recently been honed through his collaboration with Cassius Clay.  For anyone who has experienced the foursome live, they make it easy to understand that they were meant to rock.


July 16th
7:00-8:00
andi & i
Funked-up folk from Chicago.  Andi and Al Tauber create an unusual variety of textures with two voices, a guitar, and occasional percussion, infusing their songs with the folk elements of storytelling, human experience, faith, and humor.  andi and i’s CD, “Days Like This,” is available on Tuneshare records; another is scheduled for release this summer.  They are featured on the SOFA compilation CD, So Far, and were voted “Second Best Gas Station Band” by Fuel and Fun magazine. 

8:00-9:00
The Teflons
Country, doo-wop, swing, Hawaiian, and rare originals from three powerful-voiced females and a guy! Welcome to the Teflons.  Stir it up with Barbara Silverman's sock rhythm guitar and striking vocals, Gail Tyler's clear voice and vintage ukulele and Eugenia Elliott's rich resonance and delicious honky tonk yodel. And now with the newly added powerhouse fiddle, guitar and mandolin of well-traveled Rick Veras (who has played with the likes of Patsy Montana and Rocky Stone) they create a musical gumbo that's smooth, zingy and infectious.  Mixing in some piano, a thumping bass and a washboard solo, the Teflons deliver a unique blend of old and new selections that make them one of the most sought after good-time bands in the Midwest.

July 23rd  - Live at Horner Park
7:00-8:00
Rod Picott
Growing up in the small mill town of South Berwick, Maine, Picott was exposed to a surprising mix of musical influences. His father, a former marine had a record collection that spanned from the marches of John Philip Sousa to Ray Charles and Johnny Cash. An older brother, an avid record collector, introduced Rod to the punk poetry of Patti Smith and The Clash, finishing the groundwork of influences that Rod would draw from later in his own music.  Assembling a small crack band that included Dave Jacques [John Prine, Patty Griffin] on bass and Paul Griffith [Buddy Miller, Mindy Smith] on drums, producer/engineer David Henry [Cowboy Junkies, Guster] and Picott set out with a mission to capture the most honest and heartfelt performances they could find. Recorded live in the studio, Girl from Arkansas was made with minimal overdubs. The vocals were recorded live as the tracks were laid down with an effect of intimacy and immediacy mostly missing from today’s recordings. Without the fussiness and formality of layering the recording, something special was revealed -- the heart of the songs.


7:45-9:00
Casolando
Born in Bogota, Columbia, Carlos Ortega moved to Chicago at age four and grew up playing guitar in punk, surf, and rockabilly bands. Through stories he heard his father tell, he became intrigued with the days of the South American cafes of the 1930's and 40's - stories of a mood and place and time after the bottle was empty and the old lp's were carefully placed on the turntable. Honduran-born guitarist Charlie Baran joined after meeting Carlos in a guitar shop and accepting an invitation the band's next gig.  Carlos tells of hearing perfect harmonies to his vocals coming from the front row: Charlie, singing along to songs he was hearing for the first time! Charlie has more licks than the flashiest rock guitarist, but knows as well the value and beauty of measured restraint. Dave Hiltebrand, an accomplished jazz musician in earlier incarnations (and again since leaving the band) plays six-string and fretless basses with the skill one would expect from a man of twice his years. Percussionist Chuck Sansone appeared as a guest musician for the recording of the Iliana cd, but was engaged as a full time member for turning in a consistent beat of Latin rhythms.

August 6th - ManorBash
11:30-1:00
Ground Up Theatre’s Shakespeare’s “Tempest”
See June 24th

1:30-2:30
Kelly Pardekooper
Hailing from Iowa City, he dabbles in alt-country, twang-n-bang rock-n-roll, folk, blues, pop or whatever musical gumbo he’s cooking these days....   Kelly has released four studio albums from 1998-2005, with a handful of live bootleg recordings from Europe and U.S. tours scattered around the planet and internet. Kelly’s albums have been released and distributed by Trocadero Records in Europe and Trailer Records and Leisure Time Records in the United States. His albums are available to purchase at shows, on his website, Miles of Music, CD Baby, iTunes, and select independent record stores. He is currently at work on album number five with Teddy Morgan producing in East Nashville.  He has toured extensively in the United States, Germany, Holland, and Austria, and has performed to thousands at European festivals. He has also played to tables and chairs on the Iowa chitlin’ circuit...and every kind of gig in between.

3:00-4:00
Mighty Joe and the Regulars
Simply put, Mighty Joe is a musical powerhouse. With a strong vocal presentation, simple melodies and musicianship, and powerful lyrics, Mighty Joe is a singer with a conscience. Accompanied mostly by an acoustic guitar and a harmonica, he has been compared to Woody Guthrie, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, and Elvis Costello (just to name a few). Mighty Joe has a song for all occasions, his subject matter ranging from bigotry to alcoholism, abuse to patriotism, inner struggle to personal triumph. With an insight and understanding well beyond his years, Mighty Joe possesses the rare gift of addressing serious issues from his own point of view and speaks for so many of us at the same time. He is truly one of the voices of this generation and generations to come. His only controversy is his determination to speak his mind through song in any situation. 

4:30-5:30
JT and the Clouds
JT and the Clouds think of the music they play as soul music, although their definition of "soul" might be a little broader than most music programmers'. If you asked one of them for a good example of a great soul band, you'd be as likely to hear the Stanley Brothers mentioned as you would the Talking Heads, the Band or the Family Stone.   The Clouds have been influenced by a number of musical genres, so it's tempting to start using hyphens when describing their sound. What the Clouds have in common with the bands mentioned above, however, is that ability to take those disparate influences and imprint their own distinct personality on them, where eventually something new, or newish is created. 

 6:00-7:00
12 Minute Saints
Their direction comes from the simplest of places, old blues standard.  With this as the backbone, 12 Minute Saints take their audiences on a ride that blends the basics with a new speed that creates a blend heavy hitting soul that rocks. “Yes, faces were rocked last night, compliments of 12 Minute Saints!  Really enjoyed the set. And Gary, Mr. Sound, at Gunther Murphy's said he loved you guys after your sound check. He's got all the answers! And he's right. Great set. I really look forward to working with ya'll again. Go see this band ASAP if you haven't yet!” Say’s Jonathan at Mid-Night Standard Revue.

7:30-9:00
Kat Parsons
The one-woman indie musical dynamo known as Kat Parsons has been in non-stop motion, her blossoming career in full-scale overdrive, since releasing her recording No Will Power, on March 29.   Parsons' process of emotional recovery has given No Will Power spectacular strength of artistic conviction and popular appeal, making it easy to succumb to the title track (a possible first single), the honesty of "We Deserve More," the brilliant rendering of the standard, "Someone to Watch Over Me," while "To Return to You" is reminiscent of U2 in its epic quality.  Her fans aren't the only ones who know a great thing when they hear it. Calling to mind a modern day Carole King, her many awards of performance and songwriting recognition include the recent victory as top winner in Acoustic Live, from a field of over 600 of the most talented performers in Southern California and runner-up for "Album of the Year" at the 2005 DIY Music Festival.

August 13th
7:00-8:00
Chicago Spelmanslag
It all started with a catchy tune and a half dozen rusty musicians who felt compelled to dust off their instruments. Fifteen years later, they continue to play from the heart, and have developed a polished and exciting sound. The instruments you will likely hear are the nyckelharpa (Swedish keyed fiddle), tusselflote  (Norwegian style recorder), hardingfele (Norwegian understring fiddle), mouth harp, guitar, and the customary assortment of ordinary fiddles. They call themselves Chicago Spelmanslag, which is a Scandinavian expression meaning “gang of musicians from Chicago playing folk music from Norway and Sweden.” 

8:00-9:00
Cooper, Nelson & Early
Phil Cooper, Margaret Nelson & Kate Early specialize in traditional ballads and Celtic tunes from England, Ireland, Scotland and America, interspersed with lively instrumentals, off-the-wall jokes and outrageous puns.  Phil is a gifted player of guitar, cittern and bowed psaltery, and sings in a husky tenor.  Margaret plays autoharp, spoons, bodhran, tamoborine and dumbek, and has a clear contralto voice.  Kate Early provides lead and harmony vocals in a voice that was seemingly made for traditional music; she also adds a lively stage presence with a wicked sense of humor.  With many recordings to their credit, they are one of the Chicago area's most popular traditional folk acts. 

August 20th
7:00-8:00
Sass!
Sass! is songwriters Sandy Andina & Susan Urban from Chicago, Illinois.  Sandy and Susan are accomplished performers and songwriters, each with many years of experience entertaining audiences across the Midwest and beyond.  Although these two wise and witty women describe their music as Original Classic Folk, their influences range from folk to rock to opera and everywhere in between!  Guitar, six string banjo, mountain dulcimer, hand drum and other percussion instruments back up their expert vocal harmonies. 

8:00-9:00
Lou & Peter Berryman
Lou & Peter Berryman have been amusing, entertaining and edifying their audiences for more than 25 years. Their friendship began in 1963; their (brief) marriage ended in 1974; fortunately their friendship and musical partnership flourish to this day. Peter plays guitar and writes their lyrics--hilarious, quirky yet oddly profound, rich with wordplay and interesting images. Lou plays accordion and writes their jaunty and infectious melodies. Though they remain rooted in their native Wisconsin, they discovered a long time ago that the Midwestern human condition is not particularly different from the human condition elsewhere: their gentle, affectionate observations make us all laugh, cry and care--for ourselves and for each other. 

August 27th – Neighborhood Talent Show
7:00-9:00
Please contact the Horner Park Fieldhouse at 773-478-3499 to sign up for talent show.

Sunday, August 27th 7PM NEIGHBORHOOD TALENT SHOW
Please contact the Horner Park Fieldhouse at 773-478-3499 and sign up for talent show.