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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251025T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251025T140000
DTSTAMP:20250910T055011Z
CREATED:20250910T053138Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250910T055011Z
UID:4877-1761400800-1761400800@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Eimear Arkins and Eileen Gannon "The Belles of St. Louis" Album Release
DESCRIPTION:Fiddle and harp duet\, Eimear Arkins and Eileen Gannon are excited to release their debut duet album\, The Belles of St. Louis. Eimear and Eileen have been lighting up the music scene in St. Louis and beyond for almost a decade and have toured extensively together. This album is a celebration of musical friendship\, and a nod to the well established Irish music scene in St. Louis\, Missouri. Join them for an afternoon of tunes and songs celebrating their release.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/eimear-arkins-and-eileen-gannon-the-belles-of-st-louis-album-release/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Belles-of-St-Louis_cover-art.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251024T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251024T200000
DTSTAMP:20250910T234609Z
CREATED:20250910T050607Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250910T234609Z
UID:4871-1761336000-1761336000@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Daniel Neihoff with Ryan Biter
DESCRIPTION:Daniel Neihoff bio:\n  \n\nThat songwriters come from the western Kentucky clan of Neihoffs is a surprise to no one aware of the land and family. In number and colorfulness\, there aren’t many rivals. But few have natural storytelling and melody baked in quite as thoroughly as in Daniel Neihoff. Born in Texas and raised in Kentucky\, Daniel grew up in a family of songwriters\, with both his father and grandmother crafting melodies and lyrics. He wrote his first song at 8 years old\, surrounded by a family fit for country songs – the old kind about struggle and lonesomeness\, mistakes among enduring love. The melodies and legends were all around him in his family\, and it all seeped in. \nLiving now in Paducah\, KY\, Neihoff honed his skills while playing at church and learning from masterful guitar player Cheryl Yates. Over the years\, whether it was for paying gigs or for open mics\, Neihoff turned heads with his voice and rewarded the interest with his lyrics. The simmering burn of his talent and craft suddenly led somewhere big. At 20\, his first audition for a set at Nashville’s iconic Bluebird Cafe was successful. The Reidland kid’s smooth and soulful sound had already landed on Music City’s doorstep from the river town’s flood plains. \nThe area’s journalists took notice: WKMS’s Something From Nothing Podcast and The Spiel in Southern IL delved into his work. The world is hearing his range of storytelling and compelling melodies\, all with a soulful bend. Neihoff’s debut album reached number 32 on the iTunes singer/songwriter charts\, further solidifying his place in the music world. \nHis accolades are impressive: he won the Kerrville New Folk Competition in 2019\, was a 3-time finalist of Songwriter Serenade\, placed 3rd in the Woody Guthrie songwriter contest\, and won the Rocky Mountain Songwriters Contest in 2023. Neihoff has also been featured on PBS and received praise from Lori Walsh\, host of In The Moment on SDPB\, who said\, “Daniel Neihoff\, you are just what we need.” We are hearing the launch of a voice familiar and unique that feels as if it began quite a while ago. \n\n  \nRyan Biter bio: \n  \n\nRyan Biter is the aimless\, eccentric\, tactless kid you went to school with growing up that you always kind of wondered what happened to after high school.  With equal measures of irreverence\, sharp insight\, and vulnerability\, Biter invites audiences to be open to our profound humanness. Weird\, wonderful\, and flawed.  Think of him like a guitar slinging  Mr. Rogers for messed up adults. \nThe grit\, soul\, and raw emotion of his voice has drawn comparisons to Chris Stapleton\, Amos Lee\, and Martin Sexton.  His songwriting is incisive yet free of pretence.  Catchy but thoughtful.  Rootsy but Radio Ready. \nHis expansive  guitar playing   takes cues from players like Tommy Emmanuel\, Michael Hedges\,  and James Taylor.  Biter has been described as “A One Man Musical Force” with a singular focus. \nAwards and Such: \n4 time Dripping Springs Featured Songwriter\n2 Time Featured artist on The Blue Plate Special.\n2025 Corpus Christi Songwriters festival featured artist\n2022 Southwest Regional Folk Alliance Alternate Showcasing Artist\n2022 Kerrville New Folk Finalist\n2022 Songwriters Serenade Finalist\n2023 Red Lodge Songwriting Competition Finalist\n2023 Wildflower Festival Al Johnson Songwriting Competition Finalist\n2024 South West Regional Folk Alliance Official Showcasing Artist.\nOpened for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band\nOpened for blues legend Carvin Jones
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/daniel-neihoff-with-ryan-biter/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/neihoff-biter.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251022T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251022T193000
DTSTAMP:20250824T045454Z
CREATED:20250824T045454Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250824T045454Z
UID:4850-1761161400-1761161400@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:October Songbird Concert
DESCRIPTION:Songbird Concerts is a St. Louis-based concert series with singer-songwriters performing their material in a stripped-down\, intimate\, in-the-round performance space\, a format unique in STL. Come enjoy singer/songwriters JJ Loui\, Kip Loui\, Mattie Schell\, and Gerard Erker.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/october-songbird-concert/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251018T200000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251018T200000
DTSTAMP:20250829T222614Z
CREATED:20250829T221418Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250829T222614Z
UID:4853-1760817600-1760817600@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Tuvergen Band
DESCRIPTION:“A Mongol without a horse is like a bird without wings.” That proverb comes close to articulating the importance of horses in Mongolia\, whose people are outnumbered by its horses. Were it not for horses\, Mongolian/American folk-fusion trio Tuvergen Band (“galloping” in Mongolian) may not exist\, either. Tamir Hargana (lead vocals\, folk lutes\, morin khuur)\, Naizal Hargana (morin khuur\, vocals)\, and Brent Roman (percussion\, didgeridoo\, vocals) first met in Lexington\, where Tamir and Naizal moved in part because of the horse culture surrounding the Kentucky Derby. Years later\, the three musicians reunited in Chicago\, where they are now based\,to play what they call “modern nomadic music”—an exhilarating sound indebted to Mongolian and Tuvan traditions but inflected with bluegrass sensibilities\, blues instrumental flourishes\, hard-driving rock rhythms\, and more. \nHailing from Hulunbuir\, Inner Mongolia\, Tamir and Naizal are both virtuosos on the two-stringed\, cello-like morin khuur\, colloquially called a horse-head fiddle and one of Mongolia’s most iconic instruments. Tamir is also an internationally renowned specialist in Mongolian and Tuvan khoomii (throat singing) and plays a variety of folk lutes\, such as the three-stringed\, banjo-like Tuvan doshpuluur and West Mongolian tovshuur. An ethnomusicologist who has studied Asian percussion his entire career\, Roman augments these sounds with a custom hybrid drum kit of twenty global percussion instruments and didgeridoo\, the latter’s overtone-rich timbre paralleling khoomii. Tuvergen Band uses this rich instrumental palette to reinterpret Mongolian and Tuvan folk songs on subjects as varied as horse culture\, nature\, and everyday life in the steppes. \nSince debuting in 2020\, Tuvergen Band has become a repeat headliner at Chicago’s Lunar New Year celebrations at Navy Pier and performed under the auspices of some of the city’s premier arts presenters\, including the Chicago World Music Festival\, the Chicago Cultural Center\, and the Old Town School of Folk Music. In addition the band has been making numerous appearances at music festivals around the U.S.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/tuvergen-band/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Tuvergen-Band-by-Susie-Inverso-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251017T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251017T200000
DTSTAMP:20251001T035933Z
CREATED:20250731T042218Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251001T035933Z
UID:4801-1760731200-1760731200@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Beppe Gambetta with special guest Hayes Griffin - Terra Madre
DESCRIPTION:Beppe Gambetta is a guitarist\, composer and folk singer who is inspired by roots music from both sides of the Ocean. A virtuoso of the acoustic Flatpicking style\, he is an ambassador of art who\, for more than four decades\, continues to amaze us with the uniqueness and originality of his projects fueled by the curiosity that comes from encountering\, traveling and researching. \nIn this concert Beppe will team up with Hayes Griffin\, multi-instrumentalist and music educator from Columbus\, OH. Hayes represents the energy and enthusiasm of the younger generation and is a new talent in the American flatpicking scene\, highly respected for top placements in major guitar competitions. The concert will be a journey through the music and stories of Beppe’s multicolored world and will focus particularly on the repertoire of Beppe’s latest project Terra Madre\, which has topped the Folk DJ and Roots Music Report charts for many months. \nTerra Madre is a series of stories and dreams related to Mother Earth written\, played and sung by Beppe in different languages using the universal form of folk songs. A central concept of the new CD is to affirm the “right to dream\,” to seek consolation and refuge from a hostile reality. The “right to dream” is not intended as pure escapism\, but also represents the artist’s duty to dream of a positive future as a source of hope that helps us to survive and find the motivation to move forward through adversity.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/beppe-gambetta-3/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Beppe-and-Hayes.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251012T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251012T180000
DTSTAMP:20250917T001806Z
CREATED:20250917T001806Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250917T001806Z
UID:4908-1760292000-1760292000@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Ensemble Galilei
DESCRIPTION:October of 2025 is Ensemble Galilei’s 35th anniversary and while coral and jade are beautiful (think wedding anniversary) instead of gussying up\, we are releasing a two CD set\, playing everywhere we can\, and doubling down on our guiding principles. Play music that excites you. Put the very best people in the room. Leave it all on the field. Let boredom be the enemy and creativity be unbridled. Play with wild abandon or go home. And if that’s not enough\, when was the last time you heard the uilleann pipes with guitar\, bodhran and viola da gamba? – Isaac Alderson\, pipes and Irish flutes\, Jesse Langen\, guitar\, Jackie Moran\, bodhran and banjo\, and Carolyn Surrick\, viola da gamba with Evelyn Thom\, fiddle. Irish music\, Scottish music\, original music and yes\, a Norwegian lullaby – what’s not to love!!!
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/ensemble-galilei/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ensemble-gal-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251011T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251011T190000
DTSTAMP:20250731T041436Z
CREATED:20250731T040106Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250731T041436Z
UID:4793-1760209200-1760209200@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Andy Irvine
DESCRIPTION:Andy Irvine is one of the great Irish singers\, his voice one of a handful of truly great ones that gets to the very soul of Ireland. He has been hailed as “a tradition in himself.” Musician\, singer and songwriter\, Andy has maintained his highly individual performing skills throughout his over 55-year career. From Sweeney’s Men in the mid 60s\, to the enormous success of Planxty in the 70s\, his duo with Paul Brady in the later 70s and then from Patrick Street to Mozaik\, LAPD and Usher’s Island\, Andy has been a world music pioneer and an icon for traditional music and musicians. \nAs a soloist\, Andy fills the role of the archetypal troubadour with a show and a travelling lifestyle that reflect his lifelong influence\, Woody Guthrie. To quote The Irish Times\, “Often copied\, never equalled”\, his repertoire consists of Irish traditional songs\, dexterous Balkan dances and a compelling canon of his own self-penned songs. \nAndy Irvine first made his mark with the seminal band – “Sweeney’s Men” in 1966 but after two years he left and travelled ‘way out yonder’ by ‘the sunburnt thumb’ to Bulgaria\, Romania and Yugoslavia\, earning his living as a street musician and absorbing the musical traditions of the Balkans. \nReturning to Ireland in 1970\, Andy united with Christy Moore\, Dónal Lunny and Liam O’Flynn to form Planxty\, fanning the flames of Irish traditional music well into the next and future generations. Planxty broke up – for the first time – in late 1975 and Andy performed and recorded with Paul Brady\, making the classic album “Andy Irvine & Paul Brady” in 1976. He also worked and recorded brieefly with De Dannan before re-uniting with Planxty in 1979 until it’s second break up in 1983.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/andy-irvine/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AndyIrvine-1-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251010T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251010T200000
DTSTAMP:20250918T212911Z
CREATED:20250918T212911Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250918T212911Z
UID:4913-1760126400-1760126400@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Ethan Leinwand: Solo Piano Concert presented by Jackson Pianos
DESCRIPTION:Ethan Leinwand is a St. Louis based pianist who is recognized around the world as a leading exponent of barrelhouse blues. A student of the music and its rich history\, his one-of-a-kind repertoire stretches from ragtime to boogie-woogie\, and tells the story of blues piano.\n  \nEthan\, who moved to St. Louis in 2014\, is no stranger to The Focal Point. He has performed there with The Bottlesnakes\, Miss Jubilee\, Tom Hall\, and in many other configurations.  This concert will be a rare chance to hear him perform a solo concert. Expect foot-stomping ragtime\, low down blues\, heart-racing boogie-woogie\, and a good bit of history and story-telling go along!
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/ethan-leinwand-solo-piano-concert-presented-by-jackson-pianos/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ethan-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251003T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251003T200000
DTSTAMP:20250904T202820Z
CREATED:20250829T223423Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250904T202820Z
UID:4858-1759521600-1759521600@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:The Special Consensus
DESCRIPTION:Special Consensus\, marking its 50th anniversary in 2025\, continues to deliver a vibrant contemporary bluegrass sound deeply rooted in tradition. The band released a brand-new album\, Been All Around This World\, on the Nashville-based Compass Records label in June\, 2025. Led by founder Greg Cahill\, a recipient of the prestigious International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Distinguished Achievement Award and an inductee into the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA) Hall of Greats\, Special Consensus has been a cornerstone of the bluegrass community for five decades. The group has released 22 acclaimed recordings\, earned eight IBMA awards\, and received two Grammy nominations – a testament to their enduring artistry and innovation.\n  \nSpecial Consensus’ sound is grounded in a deep appreciation and understanding of bluegrass music\, incorporating both the drive and harmonies of the traditional sound with the more contemporary sounds and repertoire of today. With the foundation of Greg’s unique banjo playing style and the vocal prowess of the 2023 IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year Greg Blake (guitar)\, Dan Eubanks (bass) and Brian McCarty (mandolin)\, these musicians effortlessly support each other and consistently maintain their bluegrass center whether they’re playing a jazz-tinged instrumental or a song from any of their award-winning recordings. These four talented vocalists and instrumentalists follow their creative desires without straying too far from their roots.\n  \nThe band proudly records for Compass Records and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025 with the release of *Been All Around This World* in June\, 2025. The album includes very “special” appearances by band alums Rick Faris\, Ashby Frank\, Robbie Fulks\, Chris Jones\, Dallas Wayne and Josh Williams along with current band members Greg Cahill\, Dan Eubanks\, Greg Blake and Brian McCarty. This recording is truly a celebration of the music of Special Consensus over the past 50 years! Focal Point is very happy to host The Special Consensus as part of their Golden Anniversay!
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/special-consensus/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/special.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250927T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250928T150000
DTSTAMP:20250731T032716Z
CREATED:20250731T031342Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250731T032716Z
UID:4787-1759003200-1759071600@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Focal Point's 50th Anniversary Celebration featuring Scotland's own Tannahill Weavers! (Saturday Night and Sunday Matinee)
DESCRIPTION:Saturday Night\n\nSunday Matinee\n\nJoin us for a 50th anniversary to remember with the  one and only Tannahill Weavers!! \nTraditional Celtic music at its best! With fire-driven instrumentals and songs\, haunting ballads and a good dose of humour\, the Tannahill Weavers have transformed traditional Scottish material and brought it into the modern world\, vitally alive and kicking. \nMembers of the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame\, in 2021 the Tannies were joined by exciting piper and fiddle player Iain MacGillivray\, who is also Scotland’s youngest Clan leader. Iain\, a fluent Gaelic speaker\, has worked on such exciting productions as Outlander and Men in Kilts\, and has performed for a huge list of stars and dignitaries in recent years. \n“Formed from a Paisley pub session in 1968\, seminal trailblazers the Tannahill Weavers now also rank as national treasures.” -Glasgow Celtic Connections 2018 \n“The music may be pure old time Celtic\, but the drive and enthusiasm are akin to straight ahead rock and roll.” -Winnipeg Free Press \n“An especially eloquent mixture of the old and the new.” – Stephen Holden\, New York Times  \nPlease note: The Weavers may well hold the record for quickest sell out at the Focal Point\, so we’d suggest not waiting because by the time you’ve made up your mind\, the tickets could be gone!
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/focal-points-50th-anniversary-celebration-featuring-scotlands-own-tannahill-weavers-saturday-night-and-sunday-matinee/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Tannahill-Weavers.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250924T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250924T193000
DTSTAMP:20250824T044702Z
CREATED:20250824T044702Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250824T044702Z
UID:4846-1758742200-1758742200@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:September Songbird Concert
DESCRIPTION:Songbird Concerts is a St. Louis-based concert series with singer-songwriters performing their material in a stripped-down\, intimate\, in-the-round performance space\, a format unique in STL. Come enjoy singer/songwriters Maxwell Landry\, James Ibur\, Karen Choi\, and Amber Skies.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/september-songbird-concert/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/songbird-concerts-poster-Sep24.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250920T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250920T200000
DTSTAMP:20250814T212656Z
CREATED:20250814T203609Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250814T212656Z
UID:4824-1758398400-1758398400@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:3 Guys Playing Guitar! (Brian Curran\, Dave Black and John Higgins)
DESCRIPTION:Three like minded musicians; Brian Curran\, Dave Black and John Higgins\, join together once again to showcase the guitar!  Each of these fine players is unique in their own way and together they will blend their skills for a night of music to be remembered!
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/3-guys-playing-guitar-brian-curran-dave-black-and-john-higgins/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/3-Guys.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250919T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250919T200000
DTSTAMP:20250819T201759Z
CREATED:20250819T201153Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250819T201759Z
UID:4832-1758312000-1758312000@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Lil Rev with special guest Ray Cygrymus
DESCRIPTION:We’re pleased to welcome back Lil Rev and special guest Ray Cygrymus. Join Wisconsin’s Award-winning Folk Artist for an enjoyable evening of songs\, stories\, poetry and American folklore performed on ukulele\, guitar\, harmonica\, mandolin and dulcimer. Expect a joyful evening of old time\, blues\, folk\, bluegrass\, celtic\, and rev’s rooted originals. \nJoining Rev as a special guest (off and on throughout the night) on bass\, guitar and uke is Pittsburgh\, PA musician Ray Cygrymus. \n“Listen to this! Lil Rev is great! -Pete Seeger \n“Lil Rev is a harmonica and ukulele wizard.” -Elderly Instruments \n“Lil Rev is The Woody Guthrie of the Ukulele World.” -Earnest Instruments
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/lil-rev-with-special-guest-ray-cygrymus/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Rev-N-Ray-Tour-Shot-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250913T200000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250913T200000
DTSTAMP:20250710T214952Z
CREATED:20250710T214952Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250710T214952Z
UID:4774-1757793600-1757793600@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Charlie Halloran and The Tropicales featuring Mireya Ramos
DESCRIPTION:The Tropicales featuring Mireya Ramos bring a 1950’s Caribbean hotel party to life with torrid horns\, tropical rhythms and infectious grooves. With a nod to New Orleans’ history as the northernmost port of the Caribbean\, the Tropicales perform music from Trinidad\, and Jamaica\, Venezuela\, Martinique and Guadeloupe\, and other destinations along the archipelago. Scorching tropicalia\, and classic New Orleans jams. Biguines and boleros\, calypsos and cumbias. Vocal rocksteady and rootsy ska – Songs that get stuck in your head. Guaranteed to melt the ice in your drink.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/charlie-halloran-and-the-tropicales-featuring-mireya-ramos/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Tropicales-Mireya-Straight-on.-Oak-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250912T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250912T200000
DTSTAMP:20250814T204418Z
CREATED:20250814T201631Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250814T204418Z
UID:4818-1757707200-1757707200@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:John Batdorf
DESCRIPTION:John Batdorf has been performing regularly at The Focal Point for many years.  He is a singer-songwriter solo artist and one half of Las Vegas Rock and Roll Hall Of Famers folk-rock duo Batdorf & Rodney and 70’s hit band Silver whose hit song Wham Bam became a part of the Guardians Of The Galaxy ll blockbuster movie. He’s also a successful film and TV composer\, session vocalist\, and inspirational musician in the substance recovery community. \nIn his five-decade career\, he’s worked with icons such as Ahmet Ertegun\, David Geffen\, Clive Davis\, Roger Birnbaum\, Adele\, James Horner\, Jimmie Haskell\, Bill Conti\, Bob Ezrin\, Tom Werman\, Bill Halverson\, America\, Rod Stewart\, Dave Mason\, Donna Summer\, Dwight Yoakum\, David Lee Roth\, and Motley Crüe\, plus many others. In the realm of film and TV incidental music\, he’s lent his voice and compositional skills to beloved shows such as Tom and Jerry Kids\, Garfield and Friends\, Touched By An Angel\, Promised Land\, and Doctor\, Doctor\, and Book of Days. Most recently Wham Bam\, a hit by John’s band Silver in 1976 is now part of the soundtrack to Guardians Of The Galaxy ll. With legendary Utah-based singer\, composer\, and filmmaker\, Michael McLean\, under Batdorf & McLean\, he launched a unique substance abuse survival platform\, and released the CD Soundtrax2Recovery. \nBatdorf has also released new music collaboratively with his old partner Mark Rodney and James Lee Stanley. Since 2004\, he’s released nine solo albums on his own imprint\, BATMAC MUSIC. \nSince 2017\, John has released three new CDs including\, Me and My Guitar\, a 17-song rearranged and unplugged collection of songs John has recorded in his 52 year career\, Last Summer and An Extraordinary Ordinary Life\, Side ll\, I’ll Let Roy’s Song Carry Me Home\, and latest release\, I’m Not Givin’ Up\, were all written\, recorded and released during the great pandemic of 2020/2023.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/john-batdorf-2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/batdorf.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250905T200000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250905T200000
DTSTAMP:20250731T031654Z
CREATED:20250731T015503Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250731T031654Z
UID:4782-1757102400-1757102400@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Accordion Virtuoso Sergey Tsukhai
DESCRIPTION:Several years back\, during one of our multi-artist showcases celebrating the annual World Accordion Day\, a patron who had heard about the performance through the grapevine appeared with accordion in hand and requested a time slot. Though the slots were all pre-filled\, we just couldn’t say no to his enthusiasm (and alluring accent). We extended the show and made room (thankfully) at the end. We say “thankfully” because Sergey\, as it turned out\, was a classically trained professional (retired) musician! He proceeded to play at such incredible levels of expertise that no one would have wanted to follow! It was an absolutely unexpected and amazing surprise that dumbfounded all in attendance! Since then\, with lots of coaxing \,we’ve had him back one other time ! At first\, his natural modesty made him reluctant\, but thanks to our growing friendship (and a bit of special convincing from our good friend (Olga Novak) we are finally proud to have Sergey come to the center of the Focal Point stage once again. \nSergey Tsukhai was born in the mid-70s in the Soviet Union. He embarked on a musical journey that spanned continents and cultures at the age of 5\, when his parents gifted him his first accordion. Many years of continuous studies forged Sergey into a classically trained virtuoso with a master’s degree in accordion performance and a bachelor’s in orchestral conducting from the esteemed Ukrainian National Tchaikovsky Academy of Music (formerly Kiev Conservatory). Seamlessly blending classical precision with soulful expression\, Sergey’s repertoire transcends genres\, pushing the accordion’s boundaries from Bach to Broadway. In his earlier years\, Sergey toured extensively in Ukraine\, Germany\, and the USA\, performing at academic halls\, private venues\, churches\, and festivals. The vibrant sounds of his accordion resonated through many street concerts\, leaving an indelible mark on diverse audiences. In 2004\, Sergey made a life-altering decision to emigrate to the United States\, where he settled here in St.Louis. However\, the need for a steady income led him to step away from professional accordion performances\, focusing on providing for his loved ones. After nearly two decades of musical silence\, Sergey Tsukhai is making an inspiring return to the stage. This performance is more than a celebration of music; it is a testament to resilience\, determination\, and the unwavering spirit of an artist. \nPlease join us for this extraordinary evening of talent\, passion\, and the timeless allure of Sergey Tsukhai’s accordion! You’ll be glad you did!
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/accordion-virtuoso-sergey-tsukhai/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Sergei-2.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250830T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250830T200000
DTSTAMP:20250619T220816Z
CREATED:20250619T201817Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250619T220816Z
UID:4725-1756584000-1756584000@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Jack Grelle and Ryan Koenig
DESCRIPTION:We are happy to get country and folk singer Jack Grelle “out of retirement” and back on stage at the Focal Point!  Over the past few years Jack has been teaching and traveling\, but now he is ready to perform music again!  Backed by his longtime side man Ryan Koenig\, Jack will play some old original favorites as well as cover material that continues to be relevant in today’s world! \nYou don’t learn much from staying in one place\, and songwriter Jack Grelle has embodied this in both his approach to life and music. For years\, Grelle hopped trains and hitchhiked across the US\, soaking in stories and writing songs based on the people he met along his travels. His rambling spirit influenced his music which combines elements of traditional country\, folk\, and rock’n roll. “It was the traditional troubadour kind of thing\,” he recalls. “I cut my teeth as a songwriter by traveling and performing in that fashion.” With his finger on the pulse of current issues\, it’s no wonder that Rolling Stone claimed Grelle as “a progressive honky-tonk hero arriving at just the right time in Trump’s America.” \nAfter multiple tours through Europe and the United States in support of his first three albums\, Grelle explored new horizons in 2019 with an extended stay in Mexico before returning to his home in St. Louis. This sense of quiet reflection and homecoming can be felt on his new album\, “If Not Forever.” “If Not Forever” was recorded by Cooper Crain (Bitchin Bajas\, CAVE) in Chicago; mastered by Mario Viele in New York; with additional production by David Beeman in St. Louis. If his previous albums showed a modern storyteller writing about his perceptions of the world as we know it today\, with this new album\, you have that weary storyteller looking at the man he has become and the people around him. “If Not Forever” might be Grelle’s most personal and introspective album\, but his vulnerable approach to many of the songs reaches new musical heights through a sound that expands on his previous honky-tonk stylings. “Some of the record’s more about the groove\,” he says\, while noting that there’s a “more rock’n’roll” vibe to the album\, dropping the names of influences like CCR and Doug Sahm. That being said\, he still leaves the album open to interpretation. “I’ll leave it up to my friends to decide what kind of record this is.” No matter what kind of record “If Not Forever” is\, Jack will continue to be a voice for the people and embody what the future of country music can represent.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/jack-grelle-and-ryan-koenig/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/JackGrelle_web.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250829T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250829T200000
DTSTAMP:20250731T015347Z
CREATED:20250723T192007Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250731T015347Z
UID:4778-1756497600-1756497600@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:The Blue Canyon Boys - High Octane Colorado Bluegrass (Focal Point Friends of Old-Time Music)
DESCRIPTION:The Blue Canyon Boys are equal parts purists and innovators when it comes to Bluegrass: they stay true to the form’s roots while constantly reimagining their relationship to tradition. The result is a toe-tapping mix of haunting standards\, genre-bending arrangements\, and catchy original numbers—all built on the bedrock of their collective bluegrass mastery. Ever since founding members Jason Hicks and Gary Dark launched the Blue Canyon Boys in 2006\, the Blue Canyon Boys have raised the bar for bluegrass bands. They bring it all: seamless brother-duet style\, crisp and innovative instrumentation\, unvarnished lyrics and subversive humor. After winning first place 2008 Telluride Bluegrass festival band contest\, the Blue Canyon Boys went off at full tilt\, taking the bluegrass circuit by storm\, performing in illustrious venues across the country as well as internationally. Their distinctive sound\, honed from over a decade of performing together\, moves easily from instrumental wizardry to playful ribbing. Ultimately and repeatedly\, they hit a high note—the rare confluence of harmony that leaves the soul ajar. The seasoned quartet features Gary Dark on mandolin\, Jason Hicks on guitar\, Drew Garrett on bass\, and Chris Roszell on banjo. Their last album\, aptly titled “7”\, is perhaps their most polished and poignant yet. Classic bluegrass\, clean and raw\, blends effortlessly with the band’s homegrown compositions\, then peppered with a judicious cover or two\, such as the band’s riveting take on Warren Zevon’s “Carmelita”. Whether calling on their old timey musical roots or reconnoitering the future\, the band’s musical prowess never wavers. This is high lonesome sound at its best: a driving pulse that weaves through harmonies and fierce rhythms\, always with the reminder that as long as the music plays we are never quite alone.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/the-blue-canyon-boys-high-octane-colorado-bluegrass-focal-point-friends-of-old-time-music/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Blue-Canyon-Boys-1-2-scaled.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250827T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250827T193000
DTSTAMP:20250824T044147Z
CREATED:20250824T044147Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250824T044147Z
UID:4840-1756323000-1756323000@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:August Songbird Concert
DESCRIPTION:Songbird Concerts is a St. Louis-based concert series with singer-songwriters performing their material in a stripped-down\, intimate\, in-the-round performance space\, a format unique in STL. Come enjoy singer/songwriters Chris Shepherd\, Hunter Peebles\, Shanna in a Dress\, and Miki P.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/august-songbird-concert/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/songbird-concerts-poster-Aug27.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250823T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250823T200000
DTSTAMP:20250526T081127Z
CREATED:20250526T061227Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250526T081127Z
UID:4685-1755979200-1755979200@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Alan Sibley & The Magnolia Ramblers
DESCRIPTION:Alan Sibley is a multi-instrumentalist\, Bluegrass/Gospel singer and host of The Bluegrass Trail\, a nationally televised music series on RFD-TV. \nGrowing up in rural Mississippi\, music was always a part of the Sibley home. Many of Alan’s earliest memories are of listening to his mother play the piano and accordion while singing some of the same Gospel songs that Alan still sings today. As a small boy\, Alan first started trying to play music by learning to play songs on the piano and harmonica. When he was thirteen years old\, Alan began learning to play the acoustic guitar and took an interest in other stringed instruments as well. Soon after\, he discovered the wonderful sounds of Bluegrass music and decided he would learn to play all of the instruments used in Bluegrass. \nAlan began his career in Bluegrass music playing mandolin with the Legendary First Family of Bluegrass Gospel “The Sullivan Family” in 2001 at the young age of fifteen. During the first four years of his musical career\, Alan toured almost continuously and played Bluegrass Gospel music in thirty states. After leaving “The Sullivan Family” Alan worked with two of the Deep South’s more prominent Bluegrass bands\, “The Larry Wallace Band” and “Jerry & Tammy Sullivan”. \nAfter seven years of being a sideman in other groups\, Alan decided to form his own band. With musical roots deep in Bluegrass and Gospel music\, Alan Sibley & The Magnolia Ramblers have performed at music festivals\, concerts and churches across the United States since 2008. \nAlan has won multiple awards in his home state of Mississippi from the Magnolia State Bluegrass Association. He is a four time recipient of the Male Vocalist of the Year Award and eight time recipient of the Mandolin Player of the Year Award. Appearing with Alan will be Robert Montgomery and Marty Hayes. Robert Montgomery is a multi-instrumentalist and singer from Moulton\, Alabama. He is an accomplished guitar player\, and outstanding banjo picker in bluegrass and old-time styles. Marty Hayes is also an accomplished multi-instrumentalist and singer. Both Marty and Robert should be familiar to Focal Point Bluegrass music fans having spent the past several decades playing together with David Davis’s Warrior River Boys.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/alan-sibley-the-magnolia-ramblers/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Alan-Sibley-and-Magnolia-RamblersIMG_9453.jpeg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250822T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250822T200000
DTSTAMP:20250709T203334Z
CREATED:20250707T082838Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250709T203334Z
UID:4759-1755892800-1755892800@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:The Midwestern Harvesters
DESCRIPTION:The Midwestern Harvesters – Lynn “Chirps” Smith (fiddle)\, Fred Campeau (banjo\, Hawaiian guitar)\, and Jim Nelson (guitar) – have been playing together for over four decades\, beginning with their long association with the Volo Bogtrotters. During those years these guys have forged an intuitive musical bond that brings out the best of each of them in this more intimate and relaxed trio setting. They share an affinity for and play the real rough and ready\, gritty authentic old-time stuff\, learned during visits with older musicians\, or from obscure 78 RPM records found during excavations in dusty flea markets\, forgotten nooks and corners of antique stores\, the basements of funky record stores\, or the occasional old barn. When these gents get together one can count on some lively Midwestern fiddle music\, familiar and obscure folk songs\, and always a few surprises.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/the-midwestern-harvesters-2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/MidwesternHarvesters-3-scaled.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250817T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250817T190000
DTSTAMP:20250615T061340Z
CREATED:20250615T061340Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250615T061340Z
UID:4714-1755457200-1755457200@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Darren Nicholson Band
DESCRIPTION:If you’re looking to be impressed\, you will be – if you’re looking to make a friend\, you already have. Darren Nicholson\, who has played mountain music since his youth in Western North Carolina\, is a high-caliber musician with substantial contributions to such acts as Alecia Nugent and Balsam Range.\n \nYes\, he’s a punchy mandolinist with instrumentation nods to Bill Monroe and Marty Stuart\, but he’s also an introspective songwriter\, technical harmony singer\, convincing lead vocalist\, and a man on a mission. Since going solo\, Nicholson has persistently and earnestly invested in his shows\, making each one a tailored experience. They are genuine\, entertaining\, and an extended handshake to the community. He’s accomplished this all while managing to retain the fun-witted and approachable character formed in his raising.\n \nThe latest album\, Wanderer\, garnered critical acclaim and produced two #1 singles\, and he’s also co-written hit songs for other artists\, such as The Grascals’ “I Go” and “Just Let Me Know\,” but Darren’s more interested in sharing raw\, honest-to-goodness\, quality music with his audience. Music that’s good for his soul and theirs too. “That’s all I want\,” says Darren. “I want to be a positive part of other people’s lives with music\, you know? I want to be an ambassador to roots music – tip my hat to the past while looking forward at the same time.”\n \nDarren assembles a variety of all star collaborations – but no matter the lineup there’s a journey to experience in every show. You feel the adrenaline of a quick number like “Sugar Creek Gap”\, the gravity of a soul searcher like “Things Left Undone”\, and the levity of his unpredictable antics. “This music was intended to be played in a way that adds joy to the community. All I want is to restore that purpose\, not to complete a transaction.”\n \nHe may not be focused on commercial success but his accomplishments have certainly earned recognition. Darren is the recipient of 13 International Bluegrass Music Association awards\, along with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine\, the highest honor bestowed by North Carolina’s governor. He’s also a Grammy nominee. But he won’t talk your ear off about that – he barely agreed to let us put that (long) list on here.\n \nWhen you come out to a show\, whatever you do\, please come talk afterward. “I’m like Willie Nelson. ‘I don’t want fans\, I want friends.’ It’s a communal thing.”\n \nDarren Nicholson. Homegrown. Whole Hearted. Music with a purpose.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/darren-nicholson-band/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/darren-nicholson-scaled.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250816T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250816T200000
DTSTAMP:20250618T200533Z
CREATED:20250618T200533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250618T200533Z
UID:4721-1755374400-1755374400@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Stones River Reelers: Presented by Focal Point Friends of Old-Time Music
DESCRIPTION:Focal Point Friends of Old-Time Music present The Stones River Reelers for the very first time at Focal Point. \nThe Stones River Reelers are a P-E-D-I-G-R-E-E-D old-time band from down in Sunny Tennessee. Hitch up the Mules. They’ll provide that century-old music without any of the ailments. Fifteen strings\, twenty reeds\, and good cleanish humor is all but G-U-A-R-A-N-T-E-E-D. Michael Klug busts on the gum-stump fiddle so well it takes two Sundays to make amends. Aaron Stephens is a banjo acrobatist who belts out the good old songs from our dear Friend and Neighbor\, Uncle Dave Macon. Andrew Larson has more bass runs in his flattop box than springtime at a mill dam. And rounding out the sound in true Middle Tennessee fashion\, Seth Shumate wields the mouth organ masterfully while avoiding eye contact behind his homemade harp horn.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/stones-river-reelers-presented-by-focal-point-friends-of-old-time-music/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Stone-River-Reelers.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250815T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250815T200000
DTSTAMP:20250709T202010Z
CREATED:20250709T190753Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250709T202010Z
UID:4767-1755288000-1755288000@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Posey Lulu with special guest Walter Parks
DESCRIPTION:Step into a world of soul-stirring lyrics and dreamy melodies with Posey Lulu\, an emerging singer-songwriter whose music feels like a heartfelt conversation wrapped in the strum of a guitar and the echo of a harmonica. Known for her poetic storytelling and enchanting sound\, Posey creates an intimate musical experience that lingers long after the final note. \nPosey will be joined for part of the evening by Walter Parks\, acclaimed guitarist and former sideman to Richie Havens. Their collaboration bridges generations and musical styles in a set that promises both richness and spontaneity. \nWith accolades from the University of Missouri’s Creating Original Music Project—including 1st place in 2017 and multiple awards through 2022—Posey’s songwriting is as award-winning as it is emotionally resonant. You may have heard her featured on KWRH radio\, where her interviews in 2020 and 2021 gave listeners a glimpse into her creative process and passion for music. \nWhether you’re already a fan or discovering her for the first time\, this is your chance to catch Posey Lulu live—singing\, strumming\, and sharing songs straight from the heart.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/posey-lulu-with-special-guest-walter-parks/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/posey-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250808T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250808T200000
DTSTAMP:20250701T064057Z
CREATED:20250626T200502Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250701T064057Z
UID:4744-1754683200-1754683200@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:T.J. Muller's All Star Jazz Band
DESCRIPTION:Once again local band leader T.J. Muller has assembled an Avengers worthy team of internationally renowned jazz musicians to perform for one night only! The band includes leading experts in 1920’s jazz performance such as Andy Schumm (Chicago)\, Andrew Oliver (Portland)\, Colin Hancock (Austin) and Hal Smith (Searcy). \nThe evening will also include a demonstration of a 1920’s recording studio with twice GRAMMY nominated musicologist Colin Hancock. You will witness the musicians performing authentic 1920’s music into period equipment then hear the 78rpm record played back within minutes! Click HERE to see a clip of our last live demonstration!
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/t-j-mullers-all-star-jazz-band/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/TJ-Colin.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250802T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250802T200000
DTSTAMP:20250709T190442Z
CREATED:20250707T080903Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250709T190442Z
UID:4754-1754164800-1754164800@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Switchback
DESCRIPTION:There is a point in certain musicians’ careers where their music begins to be recognized for its influence on others. At that point\, they cease to be part of the crowd\, but rather\, the standard to build upon. The duo Switchback\, has become such a standard\, with critical recognition of their contribution to Celtic and Americana music\, as well as their overall success as consummate entertainers.  \nAmerican Songwriter Magazine (along with Americana icon Steve Earle) praised Switchback as one of the seminal groups to blend American roots and traditional Celtic styles. Switchback’s hybrid has an energy and joyous abandon that Matt Malloy of The Chieftains proclaimed “powerful!”  \nIn his review of their music\, Ron Pen\, professor and Director of the John Jacob Niles Center for American Music’s (division of musicology and ethnomusicology at the University of Kentucky) says Switchback is “more than Americana-it is America itself.“  \nPeggie Miller of the The Courier in Montgomery County\, Texas writes\, “Not in recent memory has the Crighton Theatre\, through the Montgomery County Performing Arts Society\, hosted so personable a duo…Their voices blended in heart-tugging harmony\, and they made more music with two guitars\, a sometimes mandolin\, and those voices than some six piece bands produce.”  \nWith three PBS specials\, music on NBC\, and appearances with the Moody Blues\, Jethro Burns\, Clifton Chenier\, John Hartford\, Leon Russell\, Dale Watson\, the Chieftains\, Liz Carol\, Martin Hayes and many others\, Switchback has earned a place among musical legends.  \nThat said\, it is perhaps the continuing mission of playing music for those who need it most\, in prisons\, special need homes\, schools\, juvenile detention centers\, and nursing facilities that set them apart from their peers. As the creator of the National Poetry Slam and author Marc Smith said\, “Switchback hits an everybody note.”
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/switchback/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/switchback.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250801T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250801T200000
DTSTAMP:20250623T195756Z
CREATED:20250623T193359Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250623T195756Z
UID:4739-1754078400-1754078400@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Mean Mary
DESCRIPTION:Gypsy Girl: \n“Mean” Mary James\, youngest of six children\, was born in Geneva\, Alabama\, though her family lived in Florida\, a couple miles below the Alabama line. Her mom (author\, Jean James) and dad (WWII veteran\, William James) lived a very nomadic lifestyle. On one occasion they packed up the family (Mary was four at the time) and moved from Florida to North Minnesota\, near the Canadian border\, to rough it in the wilds. \nThe North Country: \nFor three months they lived in a tent built from a roll of Visqueen they had brought with them. During this time while they built a log cabin using only an axe\, hand saws\, and the trees around them. They cooked their food on a campfire\, got their water from a deep hole they had dug\, and read at night by the northern lights shining through the clear walls of their plastic tent. On one occasion their tent was mauled by a large\, 7’1″ black bear that Mary’s mom\, Jean\, was forced to shoot. \nThe tent soon became unbearably cold\, and when they finally moved into their almost completed log cabin\, winter was upon them. Without electricity or running water\, and cold enough to freeze water five feet from the only source of heat (an old wood stove)\, the family spent many hours reading books by kerosene lamp and enjoying the great outdoors (cutting firewood!). \nFirst Guitar: \nMary’s oldest brother\, Jim\, who had just joined the Navy\, sent the family a guitar and a compilation tape of songs he liked. With a battery-powered tape player\, the family listened to the music of Hank Williams\, Jr. and Dolly Parton. It wasn’t long before Mary was singing the songs and vocalizing all the instrumentation. Seeing her talent\, Mom and Dad bought guitar books\, and Mom started teaching all the children how to play the guitar. Mary and her brother Frank were the two who would turn music into a career. \nMary learned to read music before she could read words and was an official singer/songwriter before she had started her first day of kindergarten. With the help of her mom\, she wrote her theme song “Mean Mary from Alabam’.” The press immediately baptized her with this handle\, and she has been Mean Mary ever since. \nGoodness\, Snakes Alive: \nThe James family eventually migrated back to Florida. Mary’s dad (who was sixty when she was born) was now retired\, and Mary’s mom searched for ways to help support the family as well as feed Mary’s musical appetite and the varied interests of their other children. She started an organic truck farm\, built and sold live-animal traps\, collected live reptiles\, amphibians\, and mammals for wholesale distributors\, and collected live venomous snakes for antivenom production. The children joined in all these undertakings and found it great sport. \nOn the Road Again: \nMary was now playing guitar\, banjo\, and fiddle. She recorded her first album at age six and spent five hours a day on instrumental and vocal practice along with her live performances. When she upped her music study time to seven hours a day\, and her road shows began to multiply\, it became impossible for her to attend school. At the end of the second grade\, she went into home study and started appearing daily on the Country Boy Eddie Show\, a regional TV program out of Birmingham\, Alabama. During this time\, she also appeared regularly in Nashville\, Tennessee at the Nashville Palace\, on the Nashville Network\, the Elvis Presley Museum\, and on Printer’s Alley. \nIn spite of her hectic schedule\, she found time for her studies and when only nine years old\, she aced a state required test at a twelfth-grade equivalency level. This wasn’t surprising to her parents who had witnessed her read the entire Gone with the Wind novel at age seven. \nHer guitarist brother\, Frank James\, who had now joined her on stage and in the home school program\, also excelled in his studies and at age fourteen taught himself trigonometry. He graduated from high school at fifteen. \nBack in Time: \nAt one point\, Mary and Frank were booked at a living history event. They immediately fell in love with folk music. They had grown weary of the commercial\, country-music scene and started a tour of historic folk and Civil War era music. It wasn’t long before they were one of the most sought after historical folk groups in the country\, being booked every weekend and having to turn down hundreds of shows a year. \nThere was only one problem with this new arena of music to Mary’s fourteen-year-old eyes: all those mounted reenactors riding around while she stood in the dust and played music. Mary had always wanted a horse\, and being a wise teenager\, she slyly told her parents that the only reason she had worked so hard on music was so she could one day afford one! When her brother\, Frank\, who was equally drawn by equestrian interests\, seconded her resolve\, Mom and Dad gave in. \nHorsing Around: \nAlways creative with new ideas to make money for her kids’ dreams\, Mom started selling fudge at their live shows. The revenues from this enterprise almost too quickly materialized into horseflesh: an Arabian mix which Frank named Rogue\, and a green-broke Thoroughbred mix\, which Mary named Apache. They promptly added “horse-back music” to their overflowing repertoire and began playing “mounted” music whenever they could book it. This led them from parades to wild-west shows and even a few bank robberies (re-enacted\, of course). \nApache was a spirited horse and constantly got into trouble. He loved to perform\, but that didn’t stop his proclivity for accidents. He once reared in a parade and fell over backwards on Mary and her guitar. Another time\, when spooked by a deer\, he bolted\, his saddle broke\, Mary fell underneath\, and was trampled by his running hooves. He also\, at times\, liked to roll down hills with Mary astride. But in spite of broken bones\, swollen limbs\, twisted legs\, and multiple bruises\, Mary never missed a show\, though she did on occasion have to prop herself against a support. \nCalifornia\, Here They Come: \nIn the meantime\, Mary and Frank were eliciting interest from a California music agency\, and Mom James had just signed a contract with a California literary agency. The other children were all grown and on their own by this time\, so Mom\, Dad\, Frank\, and Mary did the “Beverly Hillbilly” thing. They packed all their belongings into\, and onto\, their vehicles\, hooked up the horse trailer with Rogue and Apache\, and drove to LA. \nFor the next three years\, Mary and Frank were involved in almost every TV show and movie produced in the Hollywood area—whether as a background actor\, stand-in\, photo double\, stunt double\, or day player. Mary found a large\, beat-up\, slide-in camper for the back of her pickup truck that cost only two hundred dollars\, and that became her home. She parked it wherever it was convenient\, and sometimes in places not so convenient. There are\, no doubt\, still dents on low-hanging limbs all over the LA area\, thanks to Mary and her top-heavy home. And then there was the time she took the mirror off a movie executive’s car at Fox studios by trying to squeeze through an impossibly narrow area. She bought him a new mirror but never got a movie roll out of the happening! \nIt was exciting\, interesting work\, but it wasn’t furthering her music career\, and the horses didn’t like it at all. They longed for the green fields they used to roam. Eventually the James Gang migrated back to the South\, finding homes in Tennessee. \nThe Great Setback: \nThe horses were happy\, and Mary’s music career was really taking off\, when the most devastating event of her life occurred. One rainy evening in February\, she was the front-seat passenger in a small car when the driver lost control. Mary’s head broke the windshield\, and her neck cracked the hard plastic dashboard. The twisted state of her neck convinced the driver she was gone. He even called her parents and told them she was dead. However\, a high-speed ambulance ride and quick medical attention at the hospital saved her life\, if not her future. It was there she received news that\, to her\, was worse than death—her right vocal cord was paralyzed. \nShe brought her battered body home from the hospital and began her fight. Music was her life—had always been her life—and she couldn’t give it up. She purposely set herself to do the hardest of physical tasks\, demanding that her body get well. She stacked hay bales\, built fences and barns\, took winter swims\, and constantly worked her vocal cords. The rest of her body soon recovered from the trauma\, but her right vocal cord stayed paralyzed. The left side tried to compensate for it\, making it possible for her to sing a little\, but only for about ten minutes at a time\, and her voice was dead next to its former capabilities. \nA Bit of Light in the Darkness: \nOne joyous day\, six months later\, a throat specialist told her there was slight movement in her frozen vocal cord. He said it might not totally recover\, might not even improve further\, but his news was enough for Mary. That was when her real work began. She booked shows\, sang when she could\, and when she couldn’t\, she would play her instruments. \nShe started touring again\, sometimes alone\, sometimes with her brother\, and sometimes with her full band. She co-wrote books with her mom\, Jean. (Their novel\, Wherefore Art Thou\, Jane\, won first place in the Reader’s Favorite International Awards.)  She began starring in her own Nashville TV show: The Never-Ending Street\, a documentary/reality type of show depicting the trials and joys of a touring musician. And her international fan base took a giant leap in growth. This was all good news\, but the greatest thing that happened during this time was the recovery of her vocal cord. She had worked it back to life! \nOn the Never-Ending Street: \nToday she produces music\, produces videos (her YouTube videos have received close to 30 million visits)\, tours extensively in the US and overseas\, is writing a novel trilogy about the music world\, and is an endorsing artist for Deering Banjos. The Deerings have named her their Goodtime Ambassador. Mary plays 11 instruments and has recorded 18 albums\, her newest being Portrait of a Woman. There is not room here to tell the whole life story of Mean Mary\, but if you would like to hear more of it\, listen to her music—it is all there.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/mean-mary-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250726T200000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250726T200000
DTSTAMP:20250621T171919Z
CREATED:20250621T160858Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250621T171919Z
UID:4732-1753560000-1753560000@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Jim Findlay's Colin Sphinctor Band
DESCRIPTION:St.Louis’ (as well as St.Charles’) own goofballs of the midwest are doing a reunion! Expect masterful musicianship\, ridiculous parodies\, goats on wheels\, ballads of love\, love of weed\, love of truckers\, love of small brains\, love of weed\, love of women\, love of canned goods\, love of friends and most importantly love of weed! We guarantee that you will be absolutely amazed\, offended\, enthralled\, disgusted or all the above as you laugh yourself half to death to hits such as Big T\, Spare Tire Love\, If Wishes Were Horses\, High Roller\, Puff Up For Me Johnny and Nine Pound Roach Clip! Why\, might you ask\, have we chosen to bring such an obviously stellar band to our stage? Because we have many times before! And as a folk club\, we have a thing for tradition!
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/jim-findlays-colin-sphinctor-band-2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/colinsphincter.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250725T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250725T200000
DTSTAMP:20250701T062046Z
CREATED:20250701T061801Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250701T062046Z
UID:4748-1753473600-1753473600@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Hunter Peebles and the Moonlighters
DESCRIPTION:Hunter Peebles is a singer/songwriter from Southern Illinois\, currently based out of St. Louis\, MO\, that blends his heavy influences in country and roots music to produce a sound and style unique to his character. His greater influences are singers like George Jones and writers like John Prine. His most recent full band release\, Volume 1\, highlights these influences while incorporating his modern and unique stamp on the form.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/hunter-peebles-and-the-moonlighters-2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/hunter-scaled.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250719T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250719T200000
DTSTAMP:20250526T060020Z
CREATED:20250520T092714Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250526T060020Z
UID:4679-1752955200-1752955200@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:One More Dollar
DESCRIPTION:One More Dollar Band: An evening of contemporary string band music from the Ozarks\n  \nAfter more than five years as a trio\, One More Dollar has honed its craft and reputation of a rockin’ roots based folk music group traveling all over the Midwest. Coming from their home base of Springfield Missouri\, near the heart of the Ozarks region\, this unique musical blend of old and new come together in what can only be described as Americana of the Ozarks\, or as they call it\, Ozarkana.\n  \nMulti-instrumentalists\, Alisha Thomas\, Robert Adkison\, and Jeremy Myers have an instrumentation that is “something different” yet brings the culture of the Ozarks one foot stomp at a time with fiddle\, banjo\, guitar\, mandolin\, and cello having innovating arrangements of original music and new takes on Traditional favorites.\n  \nWest Plains\, Missouri native Robert Adkison offers versatility unmatched by many musicians in the Ozarks. This multi-instrumentalist brings the sounds of many instruments including Cello\, Guitar\, Mandolin\, bodhran and many more. In addition\, his understanding of American roots music coupled with traditional Irish music makes Robert a force in Ozarks roots music!\n  \nOzarks’ songstress\, Alisha Thomas\, has been performing in the region for years adding her pure delight of lead and harmony vocals to every venue that she performs. The warmness of her voice weaves the familiar sound of the Ozarks along with her fiddle or guitar to engage the audience and keep them hanging on every note.\n  \nWith his small-town Missouri roots as a compass\, singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Myers artfully navigates this wilderness\, stitching together his hopes\, dreams\, victories\, and adventures in song to weave a vibrant tapestry of a distinctly American countryside that will make you feel right at home.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/one-more-dollar/
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