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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240323T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240323T200000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20231228T200343Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231228T201833Z
UID:3803-1711224000-1711224000@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Focal Point Friends of Old-Time Music presents Lil Rev
DESCRIPTION:Lil Rev grew up in Milwaukee\, WI and was first inspired to play music when he was just a kid listening to his dad’s record collection. His first love was rock n roll (Bruce Springsteen)\, but a few years later\, when he heard Woody Guthrie\, Hank Williams\, Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan\, the deal was sealed. \nFor the past 30 years\, Lil Rev has toured the Midwest as a troubadour\, performing at coffee shops\, nursing homes\, street corners\, house concerts and community festivals both solo and with the Milwaukee group Frogwater. During this time\, he played at so many nursing homes\, assisted living centers and veterans homes that his friends jokingly called him\, The King of The Nursing Home Circuit! \nFocal Point’s good friend\, Andy Cohen has this to say: \n“Li’l Rev acquired his name when he was a young prodigy growing up in Milwaukee under the tutelage of Dave Fox and Larry Penn. He’s all growed up now\, master of Blues and Country styles of harp\, teaches Ukulele like a fiend all over the place\, still plays a mean blues\, he still tells stories and he’s still a good Union Man!”
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/focal-point-friends-of-old-time-music-presents-lil-rev/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Lil-Rev.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240322T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240322T200000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20240115T052218Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240117T213639Z
UID:3853-1711137600-1711137600@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Focal Point Friends of Old-Time Music welcomes back Corrina Rose Logston & Jeremey Stephens (aka The Stephens Brothers)
DESCRIPTION:Corrina Rose Logston and Jeremy Stephens are a duo heavily steeped in the sounds of traditional bluegrass and early country music. From heart songs and brother duets of the early Grand Ole Opry era to lively bluegrass tunes and their own original material\, their show is sure to keep you entertained. Corrina and Jeremy perform the ballads of bygone days with a haunting authenticity that belies their age\, yet they simultaneously breathe new life into the old songs. Their performance blends past and present in a compelling combination of familiar and unique. \nBoth Corrina and Jeremy have strong individual musical pedigrees. Jeremy\, an award winning banjo player from south central Virginia\, has worked with the Lilly Brothers\, played guitar and sang the legendary gospel group\, the Chuck Wagon Gang\, and played a variety of instruments on the TV show Ray Stevens’ Nashville. He is a true student of old-time\, bluegrass\, and country music and has won banjo contests all across the country. Corrina\, a champion contest fiddle player from southwestern Illinois\, has worked as fiddler and singer with a number of tradition-based bluegrass performers\, including David Peterson & 1946\, Chris Henry & the Hardcore Grass\, and Jim Lauderdale. \nDrawn together by their mutual love of brother duets\, especially the lesser known names in traditional bluegrass and hillbilly music\, Corrina and Jeremy have been likened to Reno & Smiley\, the Louvin Brothers\, and Lulu Belle & Scotty. Their vocal blend and harmony have led to them being dubbed “The Stephens Brothers\,” when in fact these only-children are only “kin” through their marriage to one another. \nWhen not touring as a duo\, the two can be found performing around the country with their critically-acclaimed bluegrass band High Fidelity. They currently reside in Nashville\, Tennessee.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/focal-point-friends-of-old-time-music-welcomes-back-corrina-rose-logston-jeremey-stephens-aka-the-stephens-brothers/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/stephens.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240317T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240317T193000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20231221T052928Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231221T052928Z
UID:3794-1710703800-1710703800@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Eimear Arkins & Eileen Gannon - St. Patrick's Day Celebration
DESCRIPTION:Join Eimear Arkins & Eileen Gannon for their annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at Focal Point. Eimear and Eileen have been lighting up the Irish music scene in St. Louis for the past several years. They have played numerous sold-out shows across the midwest and beyond. They are both tutors at St. Louis Irish Arts and have been guest artists at numerous festivals throughout the world. Together they will perform a beautiful blend of haunting harp melodies\, sean-nós songs\, and plenty toe-tapping dance tunes!
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/eimear-arkins-eileen-gannon-st-patricks-day-celebration/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/EE_2-scaled.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240316T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240316T200000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20240115T045804Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240115T045804Z
UID:3849-1710619200-1710619200@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Sofia Talvik - Americana / Folk with Swedish Roots
DESCRIPTION:Sofia Talvik is a rare artist and an avid storyteller with a voice comparable to giants like Joni Mitchell\, or as the Folk/Americana Magazine No Depression said it ”A singer/songwriter who is able to evoke the essence of Laurel Canyon circa the ‘60s as expressed in the work of Joni Mitchell\, Judy Collins\, Buffy Sainte-Marie and others who were able to paint beautiful tapestries from words and music.”. \nPrepare yourself for a unique and intimate evening\, not unlike the 70’s coffeehouses and speakeasy’s. You will be up close and personal with a world class act that has played big festivals like Lollapalooza and SxSW and opened for artists like Maria McKee and David Duchovny (X-files\, Californication). It is in this kind of setting where she can casually joke and communicate with the audience that her strength as a performer shines the most. \nHer delicate songs are performed in an intimate way\, showing off Sofia’s angelic voice enhanced only by a tasteful mix of harmonies and delays\, accompanied by the steady picking of her acoustic guitar and the rhythm section consisting of her own two feet\, bells and a stomp box. She’s an experienced international touring artist who has toured through 48 U.S states\, many of the countries in Europe and far away places like New Zealand. \nHer latest album “Center of the Universe” was released in 2023. Throughout the 10 songs on the album\, there is a broad range of topics of some of life’s most earnest moments\, ranging from the Ukraine War\, American women’s rights\, the thousands of missing children in the US and the torment of domestic violence survivors across the world. The album went straight into the top 20 on Folk Radio Charts USA in August 2023\, with the first single charting in the top 10. The album was considered for a Grammy nomination for “Best Folk album” 2023. \n”Swedish folk singer\, songwriter\, and guitarist Sofia Talvik has been making fine albums for many years now\, but this self-produced latest entry may be her best to date. Her angelic vocals\, which sound redolent of early Marianne Faithfull\, remain a major asset\, as are her original songs\, which combine lilting melodies with frequently profound lyrics. Too few artists today offer protest material\, but Talvik seems to have picked up the mantle from singer/songwriters like Joan Baez\, Buffy Sainte-Marie\, and Pete Seeger.” – Americana Highways \n“The roots music Talvik develops is of a similar tapestry to Joni Mitchell\, tapping into that same knack for soul-stirring clarity and resonance. Between\, however\, is something of a different nature. Open-air production sets the scene for an evocative and atmospheric release from the Swedish folk artist\, coming in the form of an upcoming album\, Paws of a Bear.” – PopMatters \nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_4UfgXf6II
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/sofia-talvik-americana-folk-with-swedish-roots/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/sofia.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240309T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240309T200000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20240117T212210Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240117T212210Z
UID:3857-1710014400-1710014400@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Carl Sonny Leyland presented by Focal Point Friends of Traditional Jazz\, Blues & Ragtime
DESCRIPTION:Carl Sonny Leyland is an exponent of archaic piano styles including boogie woogie\, blues\, barrelhouse\, early jazz\, and swing. Performing as a soloist at The Focal Point\, he will draw his repertoire from these various genres\, and will also vocalize on a few selections.  \nSonny started his musical journey in 1980 when he first discovered the music of Jimmy Yancey\, Clarence Lofton\, Albert Ammons\, and other greats from the golden era when boogie was king. From there he amassed an extensive knowledge of piano blues and the artists who played it\, famous to obscure. After this he ventured into the field of early jazz piano incorporating rags\, stomps\, and swing tunes into his repertoire.  \nSonny is a composer and songwriter. He is also a fluent improviser preferring spontaneity over set pieces. The program will include original pieces in addition to his interpretations of classic boogie & blues styles. 
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/carl-sonny-leyland-presented-by-focal-point-friends-of-traditional-jazz-blues-ragtime/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/carl-sonny-scaled.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240308T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240308T200000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20240125T063400Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240304T191428Z
UID:3877-1709928000-1709928000@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:CANCELLED Joe Mancuso\, Erika Johnson and Tracer
DESCRIPTION:Unfortunately\, the concert on Friday with Joe Mancuso\, Erika Johnson and Tracer has been cancelled for personal reasons.  If you have any questions\, please reach out to us via email at info@thefocalpoint.org
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/joe-mancuso-erika-johnson-and-tracer/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/tracer.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240307T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240307T200000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20240112T200348Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240112T200348Z
UID:3837-1709841600-1709841600@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:The Goldenrods' Record Release Show
DESCRIPTION:Come one come all!  The Goldenrods are having a record release party for their new album “Cry Time”!   \nThe Goldenrods can be best described as “Country and Midwestern”.  They perform charming original material as well as regional classics from across middle America.  They play two steps\, waltzes and polkas; songs both happy and sad\, silly and serious\, often sung in harmony.  They will be playing the entire album “Cry Time” as well as other favorites for this show!  \nThe Goldenrods are fronted by Ryan Koenig (ex Pokey LaFarge) singing and playing fiddle\, octave mandolin\, plectrum banjo and guitar.  You may recognize Ryan from his volunteer work for the Focal Point\, as well as being a supporting part of several St. Louis bands.  The Goldenrods also include Jess Adkins singing and playing accordion and guitar\, who you may recognize from So Grand Polka Band or Opera Bell Band\, as well as hosting Focal Point’s World Accordion Day shows.  Kellie Everett (known most from The Hooten Hallers) will be singing and playing upright bass\, as well as celebrating her 40th birthday! \nLPs and CDs will be available\, as well as cake! 
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/the-goldenrods-record-release-show/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/goldenrods-record-release.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240302T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240302T200000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20240123T211501Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240123T212327Z
UID:3868-1709409600-1709409600@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Cree Rider with Band
DESCRIPTION:This is a REALLY BIG show announcement for Cree and the band! Their new single “Anchors” will be dropping on March 1st\, and they will be celebrating at Focal Point with a set of their Cosmic American repertoire followed by a tribute to the Pirate King himself\, Jimmy Buffett\, playing his classic album “A-1-A” in its entirety.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/cree-rider-with-band/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/cree-a1a.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240301T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240301T200000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20240207T204128Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240207T205224Z
UID:3882-1709323200-1709323200@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Focal Point Friends of Old-Time Music presents Silver Creek
DESCRIPTION:Focal Point Friends of Old-Time Music is excited to present Silver Creek’s debut appearance at Focal Point. The Silver Creek Bluegrass Band is a group of friends that plays traditionally inspired bluegrass and country music. The band members (Derek Twesten\, Colin Graham\, Logan Perez\, Quinten Voss\, and Blake Korte) are from southwest Illinois and perform throughout the Midwest region. Instrumentation includes guitar\, bass\, banjo\, mandolin\, and dobro with strong lead vocals featuring two and three-part harmonies interspersed throughout. Their newest and first full length album “Last Fair Deal” was released in December of 2023 and is available on CD and all major streaming platforms. We’re looking forward to catching these guys in action.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/focal-point-friends-of-old-time-music-presents-silver-creek/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Silver-Creek-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240223T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240223T200000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20231130T052301Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231130T224003Z
UID:3717-1708718400-1708718400@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Jessica Fichot Quartet (featuring Chloe Feoranzo)
DESCRIPTION:Los Angeles-based chanteuse/songwriter Jessica Fichot is a lot like her hometown of Paris: French at heart\, but with a soul that’s truly international. Drawing from her multi-ethnic French / Chinese / American upbringing\, her music takes the listener on a twisting journey out of the French chanson tradition\, into the land of 1940’s Shanghai jazz\, gypsy swing\, international folk\, and into the wilderness of her imagination. \nWith 3 acclaimed albums under her belt\, Jessica has charmed audiences around the world – performing her lively songs at concert halls\, festivals and clubs in China\, Mexico\, Canada and across the US and western Europe. Featuring scorching performances from her bandmates on clarinet/sax\, upright bass and guitar\, as well as her own beautiful\, clear vocals in French\, Mandarin Chinese\, Spanish and English\, Fichot’s music is truly a dazzling trans-world journey. \nFichot is also an active composer\, who has written hundreds of children’s songs for various educational programs\, as well as music for many independent video games. \nFichot’s quartet includes acclaimed clarinetist\, saxophonist\, vocalist Chloe Feoranzo (Pokey LaFarge\, Postmodern Jukebox\, Shake’Em Up Jazz Band\, Asleep At the Wheel.) \n“Brings an art-song sensibility to delightfully catchy tunes.” – LA Times \n“Enchantingly original.” – LA Weekly \n“a delicious blend of acoustic styles” – San Francisco Chronicle
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/jessica-fichot-quartet-featuring-chloe-feoranzo/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/chloe-band-scaled.jpeg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240217T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240217T200000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20231201T015221Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231201T022910Z
UID:3730-1708200000-1708200000@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Sam Robbins
DESCRIPTION:Sam Robbins will be returning for his third appearance at The Focal Point! \nHe is often described as an “old soul singer songwriter.”  A Nashville based musician whose music evokes classic 70’s singer songwriters like James Taylor and Neil Young\, Sam adds a modern\, upbeat edge to the storyteller troubadour persona.  An avid performer\, he has gained recognition from extensive touring and as one of the six 2021 winners in the Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk competition\, one of the largest and most prestigious songwriting competitions in the country.\nSam released his debut album\, Finally Feeling Young\, in May 2021\, and his second album\, Bigger Than in Between in August 2022\, both garnering critical acclaim.  The first album is reminiscent of his 70’s singer-songwriter heroes with a modern perspective\, and on the heels of the award winning opening single\, “Remind Me”\, it has found great success in radio airplay. Two album tracks\, Remind Me and Saying Amen\, won him a place as a Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk winner.  Americana Highways writes: “He writes of subjects that others don’t explore.  Saying Amen has Robbins touching that special place Leonard Cohen went.  This is brilliance.” Fateau Magazine in the UK writes “One of the most promising new songwriters of his generation”. \nA multi-instrumentalist from a young age\, Sam began learning drums and piano\, and falling in love with guitar at age 13.  He then started writing original music\, recording his first CD during his sophomore year of high school\, while playing open mics in his hometown of Portsmouth\, NH. \nOver his career\, Sam has performed countless shows across the country\, in theaters\, house concerts\, biker bars\, weddings\, proposals\, frat parties\, and everything in between.  Sam is able to tour full time\, and feels at home in both intimate listening rooms like The focal Point as well as larger venues.  Wherever he is performing\, Sam builds an intimate\, easy connection with the listener\, naturally creating a feeling of closeness throughout the performance. \nSam is a full time troubadour\, playing over 150 shows a year across the country\, including the MainStage at the Kerrville Folk Festival\, the Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival\, and as one of the “‘Most Wanted to Return” artists in the 2023 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. \nSince moving to Nashville in September 2019 following his graduation from Berklee College of Music\, Sam has made a splash in music city – performing at the Bluebird Cafe within a month of moving\, and sitting in again at the legendary venue with Liz Longley in February\, and was a winner at the Eddie’s Attic Songwriter’s shootout competition in Atlanta in early March 2020. \nIn 2018\, Sam was able to audition on NBC’s The Voice for Adam Levine\, Kelly Clarkson\, Blake Shelton and Jennifer Hudson as the first artist to perform a Jim Croce song on the show. \nSam considers himself a student of songwriting\, constantly searching and learning about why songs have the impact they do.  A 2019 graduate of Berklee College of Music’s songwriting department\, he has hosted many songwriting workshops and masterclasses\, including at the Harvard Music Department and the Boys & Girls Club of Boston.  In his performances and workshops\, Sam explores the magic behind the craft of songwriting\, and tries to help others express themselves through the unique and powerful medium of songwriting. \nSam will be releasing his debut live album\, “Live From a Living Room” in Spring 2024.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/sam-robbins/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/sam-robbins.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240211T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240211T190000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20240103T024353Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240104T041312Z
UID:3808-1707678000-1707678000@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:The New Missouri Fox Hunters
DESCRIPTION:Focal Point is happy to host The New Missouri Fox Hunters!  Performing only occasionally\, this trio is made up of Alena Wheeler\, Nick Pence\, and Ryan Koenig. Focusing on originals and obscure old-time songs\, this group of songwriters and multi-instrumentalists came into their sound rather quickly. While attracted to each other through their calm demeanor\, this combination of folks is full of passion and energy! One can see the memories playing back in their mind when they listen to Alena fiddling behind Nick and Ryan’s vocals and complementary banjo and guitar playing.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/the-new-missouri-fox-hunters/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/fox-hunters-yaquis.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240210T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240210T200000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20231201T013234Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231201T014116Z
UID:3724-1707595200-1707595200@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Buddy Mondlock
DESCRIPTION:Buddy Mondlock writes songs. He does it so well that some great songwriters have recorded his songs on their own albums. Guy Clark\, Nanci Griffith\, and Janis Ian\, to name just a few. You might’ve heard his song “The Kid” (recorded by David Wilcox\, Peter\, Paul and Mary and Cry\, Cry\, Cry) and maybe even sung it yourself around a campfire. He draws you into his world – where a single snowflake follows the trajectory of a relationship\, where you get you pocket picked by a Roman cat\, where you might swim over the edge of the world if you’re not careful and where dreams that don’t come true still count. \nWhen Buddy’s not on the road you can find him in Nashville but he grew up in Park Forest\, Illinois\, a suburb of Chicago. He didn’t have a troubled childhood. His parents were nice to him. They paid for guitar lessons when he was ten and they never said\, “when are you going to get a real job?” He sang Crosby\, Stills and Nash songs with his sisters and answered his little brother’s questions from the top bunk. A few years away at college puzzling over Homer and Plato and then he was back. Living in the big city this time and playing open mics at Chicago’s crucible for songwriters in those days\, the famed Earl of Old town. He once opened for the amazing Steve Goodman there on New Year’s Eve. Buddy was 21. Says he could have walked out of there that night and gotten hit by a bus and he wouldn’t have felt like life cheated him at all. \nWhen Buddy made his first trip to Texas from his native Chicago\, Guy Clark heard him singing one of his songs under a tree at the Kerrville Folk Festival and liked it. So Guy went back to Nashville\, opened the door and said\, “listen to this kid\, he’s good!” A publishing deal and a U-Haul headed south soon followed. \nPeople were starting to pay attention. In 1987 he was a New Folk Award Winner at Kerrville and he released his first album called “On the Line”. Over the next few years David Wilcox recorded “The Kid” on his first record for A&M. Buddy did some writing with this other new kid in town named Garth Brooks. Janis Ian heard him singing at the Bluebird Cafe and asked him if he’d like to write with her. Their song “Amsterdam” got recorded by Joan Baez. Nanci Griffith asked Buddy to sing on a show she was taping for Irish television. She ended up liking that song so much that she recorded “Comin’ Down In the Rain” on her Grammy Award winning collection “Other Voices\, Other Rooms.” Garth became a star and “Every Now and Then” ended up on his album “The Chase.” \nBuddy was touring all over the U.S. by this time playing coffeehouses and the occasional festival (he’d become a regular on the main stage at Kerrville). And there were trips to Europe too. Buddy’s second album\, produced by Steve Addabbo in 1994\, got picked up by Son Records\, a small label in Ireland started by the band U2 and he was well received on the island of poets. He’s toured there consistently ever since. 1996 was a good year. Peter\, Paul and Mary recorded “The Kid” and then asked the kid himself to sing with them on their “Great Performances” TV special. He won a Kerrville Music Award for Song of the Year that autumn for “The Kid” too. \nSince then he’s released a string of critically acclaimed solo recordings on his own label and on EMI. And in 2003 Buddy toured North America and Europe with Art Garfunkel and Maia Sharp in support of their album “Everything Waits To Be Noticed” which they wrote and recorded together as a trio. His latest solo album\, “The Memory Wall\,” was nominated for an Independent Music Award. \nCurrently Buddy and Maia Sharp are collaborating on a new musical called\, “The Girl In the Red Dress.” It includes several songs from their project with Art Garfunkel and a slew of new material from Buddy and Maia. Set in a world where “The Leader” has banished all color as subversive\, the story focuses on a young woman who must learn to believe in herself and finds that she can actually make a difference. \nIn addition to writing and touring Buddy also teaches songwriting. Along with one day workshops across the US and Europe he has also been a staff instructor at the Swannanoa Gathering at Warren Wilson College in North Carolina\, the Kerrville Folk Festival Song School and the Sisters Folk Festival Song Camp.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/buddy-mondlock/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/mondlock-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240209T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240209T200000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20240105T051124Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240112T191634Z
UID:3827-1707508800-1707508800@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Tray Wellington Band
DESCRIPTION:Tray Wellington Band is a high energy progressive Bluegrass band. Tray has been acclaimed in the Wall Street Journal as “breaking right through sub genre boundaries. If bluegrass is about spotlighting virtuosos\, here’s a new one people will be checking in on for some time to come” The band comes equipped with anything from catchy originals to a Roy Hargrove tune to even a Kid Cudi cover. Tray was nominated for the 2023 IBMA New Artist of the Year Award as well as the winner of the 2019 IBMA Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year. The band will consist of Josiah Nelson\, Max Schwartz\, & Ethan Hawkins who are all rising musicians in the Bluegrass world.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/tray-wellington-band/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/tray-wellington-3-scaled.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240203T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240203T200000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20240115T043338Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240115T045728Z
UID:3845-1706990400-1706990400@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:STEAM/Berkeley McCluer High School and St. Margaret of Scotland School
DESCRIPTION:SCOTTISH PARTNERSHIP FOR ARTS AND EDUCATION (SPAE) will present Jil Chambless\, Scots singer\, vocal music\, and orchestra students from the STEAM/Berkeley McCluer High School and St. Margaret of Scotland School.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/steam-berkeley-mccluer-high-school-and-st-margaret-of-scotland-school/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Des-Lee-SPAE-Concert-pr-created-by-Miranda-Murray.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240203T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240203T120000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20240103T034723Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240103T041527Z
UID:3812-1706954400-1706961600@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Dakota Dave Hull Guitar Workshop - The Art of Arrangement
DESCRIPTION:In addition to his Friday night concert\, Dave is offering what promises to be a very interesting guitar workshop: The Art of Arrangement. \nThe Art of Arrangement is a hands-on workshop for both soloists and groups. We’ll talk about some of the pitfalls\, some of the things I do in making an arrangement\, both as a sideman and as a soloist. \nSome of the things we’ll discuss are: \n\nWhat key should I (we) play it in?\nUsing octaves and modulations.\nKeeping it interesting in a set.\n\nPlease bring your instruments and something you’re working on.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/dakota-dave-hull-guitar-workshop-the-art-of-arrangement/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Dakota-Dave-Hull-Workshop.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240202T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240202T200000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20231227T115718Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240105T232512Z
UID:3798-1706904000-1706904000@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Focal Point Friends of Old-Time Music presents Dakota Dave Hull
DESCRIPTION:Hailed by everyone from Dave Van Ronk to Doc Watson\, from the Washington Post to Downbeat to fRoots\, Dakota Dave Hull’s guitar style spans a wide musical geography to create an infectious\, uniquely personal blend of jazz\, ragtime\, folk\, blues\, Western swing\, and vintage pop. Dakota Dave is a restlessly curious\, adventurous traveler along the broad highway of America’s music. In his playing the masters speak\, but in a vocabulary that is Dave’s alone: alternatively mirthful and moving\, always melodic. \nA gifted composer as well as a strikingly original interpreter of older tunes\, Dave calls what he does “classic American guitar.” Folk legend Van Ronk called Dave “one of the best guitarists in the world.” \nMost of all\, Dakota Dave’s music is great fun. As Douglas Green (Ranger Doug of Riders in the Sky) puts it\, “There is an imp within Dave Hull that always expresses itself on the fretboard; a witty\, intelligent yet respectful imp who frolics in his music\, an imp Dakota Dave neither fights nor lets take control\, but simply absorbs into the heart of his style.” \nOn stage or in the recording studio Dave has performed with Utah Phillips\, Doc Watson\, Robin and Linda Williams\, Dave Van Ronk\, John Renbourn\, Paul Geremia\, Spider John Koerner\, Cam Waters\, Sally Rogers\, Butch Thompson\, Peter Ostroushko\, Garrison Keillor\, and Norman Blake\, and many others. His albums include three with early performing partner Sean Blackburn and six solo efforts (the acclaimed Hull’s Victory and Reunion Rag\, both on Flying Fish) with four more\, New Shirt\, Sheridan Square Rag\, The Loyalty Waltz and Time Machine on Arabica Records. Airship\, a duo album with singer/guitarist/fiddler Pop Wagner was widely praised. His three albums with guitar and mandolin ace Kari Larson (Double Cappuccino\, Moonbeams and The Goose is Getting Fat\, also on Arabica) have become legendary. \nWe are pleased to have Dakota Dave returning to the Focal Point stage. \n“Hull is something of a guitar god in his native midwest\, where he’s been dazzling audiences for over 30 years with his lush finger-picking and quicksilver flat-picking. He is also a sly raconteur with an encyclopedic knowledge of vintage American music.” -Scott Alarik\, Boston Globe
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/focal-point-friends-of-old-time-music-presents-dakota-dave-hull/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Dakota-Dave-Hull.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240131T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240131T190000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20240104T100550Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240104T104427Z
UID:3820-1706727600-1706727600@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:STL Songwriter’s Showcase
DESCRIPTION:Tickets $15 at the door\, no advance sales\, cash only.\n(an ATM is available across the street at the Saratoga Bowling Lanes)\nSTL Songwriter’s Showcase \nFocal Point is presenting its first ever STL Songwriter’s Showcase. The showcase highlights St. Louis-based performers representing some of the best singer songwriters in the metropolitan area. You will get to learn about the stories behind the songs and hear the songs presented by their authors. Check out below for the artists who will be performing at this month’s show. \nRyan Cheney is the driving force behind the rock sensation\, Fivefold. With a passion deeply rooted in the rich tapestry of folk and rock\, Cheney’s solo endeavors serve as a vessel for him to breathe life into the songs he’s always yearned to hear.  Each note\, each lyric\, is a brushstroke on the canvas of his musical journey\, inviting all who listen to join him on a heartfelt\, introspective\, and unforgettable ride. \nDrawing inspiration from luminaries like Ruston Kelly\, David Gray\, and the evocative sounds of nineties rock\, Ryan’s music is an exploration of the human experience. His songs carry the weight of raw emotion and lyrical depth\, inviting listeners on heartfelt journeys that traverse the highs and lows of existence. \nSteve Perron has been playing guitar for decades and began writing about 20 years ago.  He has been a featured player at the “The Songbird Cafe” series and in 2022 won “The Golden Pick” international songwriting contest sponsored by The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville and Taylor guitars.  He is the founder and host of the long-running weekly open mic at The Wolf Cafe in Ballwin\, where he also books “all originals only” live music.  Steve plays out regularly across the St. Louis area as a solo and in a duo with partner\, Emily Beck. Steve is a Florissant native\, recently retired after an Emmy-award winning career as a broadcast journalist.  He lives in Brentwood with his wife\, Debbie. \nShane Devine is one of the more creative musicians\, writers\, and visual artists living in Saint Louis\, Missouri. His current projects are The Opera Bell Band and The So Grand Polka Band. His fresh approach to songwriting never disappoints and always leaves you looking at the subject matter in a new way. His music is something that is not to be missed! \nRyan Koenig is a multi-talented musician\, singer\, songwriter and producer based in Saint Louis\, Missouri USA. He has performed with a number of internationally recognized artists including Jack White\, Pokey LaFarge\, The Rum Drum Ramblers\, Miss Jubilee and the Yas Yas Boys\, The Sapsuckers and Jack Grelle. His newest projects are The Goldenrods\, The So Grand Polka Band and The New Missouri Fox Hunters.   
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/stl-songwriters-showcase/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/songwriter-showcase.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240128T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240128T140000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20231218T231335Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231218T233335Z
UID:3791-1706450400-1706450400@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Eimear Arkins Album Release Show
DESCRIPTION:Eimear Arkins will celebrate the release of her new album Here & There with a live performance of the album on January 28. The album features traditional and sean nós songs as well as fiddle tunes\, most of which were composed by fiddle players from her home county\, County Clare. There are a number of St Louis-based musicians featured on the album who will also perform on the day – Eileen Gannon\, Dan Lowery\, Kevin Buckley\, Ranya Iqbal\, Alyssa Avery – as well as Alan Murray and David McKindley-Ward who are coming in from further afield.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/eimear-arkins-album-release-show/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Eimear-CD-Cover-Art-FIN.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240127T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240127T200000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20231218T003631Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231228T061024Z
UID:3779-1706385600-1706385600@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:The Return of Auset Sarno's Birthday Bash featuring Auset w/ Brad Sarno and Friends
DESCRIPTION:After taking a long hiatus from her original band Auset Music Project to explore new musical adventures\, Auset is bringing her annual Birthday Bash celebration back to The Focal Point!  Joining her in this year’s fun will be all sorts of friends from all kinds of other bands hailing from every corner of St.Louis! \nCount on a BIG night of music\, served along with a nice piece of Birthday Cake! 
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/the-return-of-auset-sarnos-birthday-bash-featuring-auset-w-brad-sarno-and-friends/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/auset.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240126T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240126T200000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20231026T192345Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231028T183344Z
UID:3630-1706299200-1706299200@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Kieran Kane and Rayna Gellert
DESCRIPTION:Kieran Kane’s seminal work in The O’Kanes and Kane\, Welch\, Kaplin\, as well as co-founding the independent label Dead Reckoning Records\, laid the foundation for the contemporary world of Americana music. A successful solo artist\, collaborator\, and songwriter (with songs recorded by Alan Jackson\, John Prine\, Emmylou Harris\, and many more)\, Kieran is a musician’s musician: his playing is always understated\, always groove-oriented\, and always serving the song.\n  \nIf Rayna Gellert seems a preternaturally gifted songwriter\, it’s because she’s seen farther into the old songs than most. Growing up in a musical family\, she turned to Appalachian old-time music at a young age\, becoming a prodigious fiddler and leading a new revival of American string band music through her work with the acclaimed roots band Uncle Earl. An in-demand collaborator\, she has toured and recorded with artists such as Joachim Cooder\, Scott Miller\, Abigail Washburn\, and Robyn Hitchcock.\n  \nKieran and Rayna first met\, fittingly\, at San Francisco’s celebrated Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival\, which led to their cowriting song for Kieran’s solo album Unguarded Moments (Dead Reckoning). They joined forces again for Rayna’s 2017 release\, Workin’s Too Hard (StorySound Records)\, which they also co-produced. Their first duo album\, The Ledges\, was released in February of 2018 on Dead Reckoning Records\, followed up quickly by 2019’s When the Sun Goes Down.\n  \nNow\, in 2022\, this “unlikely musical couple” released The Flowers That Bloom in Spring\, which finds the duo digging deeper into their exploration of minimalist writing and recording.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/kieran-kane-and-rayna-gellert/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/rayna.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240120T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240120T200000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20231217T021027Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231217T021407Z
UID:3773-1705780800-1705780800@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:The return of True Blues Featuring Corey Harris & Cedric Watson
DESCRIPTION:Corey Harris is a guitarist\, vocalist\, songwriter and band leader who has carved out his own niche in blues. A powerful singer and accomplished guitarist\, he has appeared at venues throughout the North America\, Europe\, Brazil\, The Caribbean\, West Africa\, Asia\, Australia and New Zealand. \nHe began his career as a New Orleans street singer\, travelling throughout the southern U.S. In his early twenties he lived in Cameroon\, West Africa for a year\, which had a profound effect on his later work. He has recorded many old songs of the blues tradition while also creating an original vision of the blues by adding influences from reggae\, soul\, rock and West African music. His 1995 recording\, Between Midnight and Day\, is a tribute to the tradition of acoustic blues. Subsequent recordings\, such as Greens From the Garden (1999)\, Mississippi to Mali (2003)\, and Daily Bread (2005) show Harris’ maturation from interpreter to songwriter. Some of his imaginative compositions are marked by a deliberate eclecticism; other works stay true to the traditional blues formula of compelling vocals and down-home guitar. With one foot in tradition and the other in contemporary experimentation\, Harris is a truly unique voice in contemporary music. \nCedric Watson is one of the brightest young talents to emerge in Cajun\, Creole and Zydeco (Louisiana French) music over the last decade\, Cedric Watson is a four-time Grammy-nominated fiddler\, singer\, accordionist & songwriter with seemingly unlimited potential. \nOriginally from San Felipe\, TX (population 868)\, Cedric made his first appearance at the age of 19 at the Zydeco Jam at The Big Easy in Houston\, TX. Just two years later\, he moved to south Louisiana\, quickly immersing himself in French music and language. Over the next several years\, Cedric performed French music in 17 countries and on 7 full-length albums with various groups\, including the Pine Leaf Boys\, Corey Ledet\, Les Amis Creole with Ed Poullard and J.B. Adams\, and with his own group\, Bijou Creole. \nWith an apparently bottomless repertoire of songs at his fingertips\, Cedric plays everything from forgotten Creole melodies and obscure Dennis McGee reels to more modern Cajun and Zydeco songs\, even occasionally throwing in a bluegrass fiddle tune or an old string band number. Unlike many of his contemporaries\, he is also a prolific songwriter\, writing almost all of his songs on his double row Hohner accordion. Cedric’s songs channel his diverse ancestry (African\, French\, Native American and Spanish) to create his own brand of sounds. Cedric’s albums are a tapestry of pulsing rhythms and Creole poetry\, and his live performances are unforgettable\, all at once progressive and nostalgic. \n“We don’t want to forget that one of the biggest contributions to our culture\, music and heritage was made by the Native Americans. I find that the old Zydeco rhythms sound like a mix of African and Native American ceremonial rhythms. This mélange very possibly came about through the intermingling of the Native American population and the Maroons.” – Cedric Watson
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/the-return-of-true-blues-featuring-corey-harris-cedric-watson/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/cedric-corey.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240119T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240119T200000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20231127T034426Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231127T034426Z
UID:3709-1705694400-1705694400@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Laka
DESCRIPTION:Born and raised in Cape Girardeau\, MO\, Laka grew up singing in a small community Pentecostal church. The energetic self-proclaimed soul singer had performed at a variety of St. Louis venues with an acoustic duo or full band since 2016. Commonly referred to as dynamite\, many are surprised by the power that her voice projects.\n \nShe debuted in her first cabaret at the Blue Strawberry October ‘20 titled “The Music in Me”\, her life story through music and went on to perform the show in New York City “. She starred in her first play in October ‘20 “St. Louis Woman”. “Laka is notable for her remarkable versatility as she manages various styles from Jazz\, to pop\, to gospel\, to R&B\, to rock n’ roll\, with excellent power and presence“ (Snoops Theatre Review).\n \nDuring the pandemic\, Laka started recording music.  Her first two R & B/blues singles were released simultaneously “My Baby’s Got Soul” and “I Want My Man”. Laka later released her third single\, a country-folk song titled “Keep it to Myself”\, written by Mike Lipel.  She continued to write and produce several unreleased tunes.\n \nAt her debut performance at the Focal Point Jun ‘24\, Laka shared all of her original music to rave reviews. With all this activity you might not guess that Laka has a career outside of music. Indeed she is an accomplished dietitian by day and wows crowds at the music venues by night.\n \nKeys: Corey Patterson\nPercussion: Gabe Bonfili\nGuitar: Rick Wagner\nGuitar: Mike Lipel\nElectric guitar: Leland Crenshaw\nBass: Theodore Brookins
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/laka/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/laka1.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240113T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240113T200000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20231111T013846Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231111T015447Z
UID:3692-1705176000-1705176000@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Keltic Reign RETURNS for their (mostly) Annual New Year Focal Point Concert
DESCRIPTION:Band leader Mitzi MacDonald says “The neatest thing about Keltic Reign is the evolution of the band. My kids cut their teeth listening to us play…and now they are playing.” It’s true\, the house has been filled with Celtic music for many\, many years. So which Keltic Reign are we talking about? …well\, it is a blend now\, for sure. \nThe original band started in 2000 and performed at countless concerts and events\, most notably The Whitaker Music Festival at the Missouri Botanical Gardens\, numerous shows at The Sheldon Concert Hall\, Twilight Tuesday at the History Museum\, and multiple appearances at First Night in Grand Center. The band has been doing their show “Christmas in the Kitchen” at the Sheldon Concert Hall for 15 years\, as well as the past 2 years\, broadcasting from their home. “Christmas in the Kitchen” has become a major charity fundraiser for children. They have been a crowd favorite for years at the MO Irish Festival in St. Charles\, and at the Scottish Games. They have performed numerous sold out shows at the Focal Point. \nKeltic Reign’s music was\, and still is\, a blend of Irish/Scottish/Canadian East Coast Music\, and original songs. They are all played with a menagerie of instruments\, traditional and otherwise: the band uses two accordions\, fiddle\, mandolin\, guitar\, bodhran\, electric piano\, Irish tin whistle\, electric bass\, synthesizer\, and drums. It’s definitely “Keltic with a kick!” Well\, most of the time. There are some really beautiful ballads and instrumental pieces to be heard\, as well. One thing’s for sure – this band loves to perform and entertain audiences and it shows! Mitzi’s two daughters\, Holly and Ashby are world class musicians\, and having them center stage is a definite treat for everyone\, on and off stage!
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/keltic-reign-returns-for-their-mostly-annual-new-year-focal-point-concert/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/KR-Feb-band-photo-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240112T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240112T200000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20231210T162709Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231218T005746Z
UID:3755-1705089600-1705089600@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:For the Sake of the Song: A Tribute to Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt with The Lowery Brothers and Kevin Buckley
DESCRIPTION:Mainstays of the St. Louis Folk music scene\, Nate and Dan Lowery originally hail from Dallas\, Texas. \nBorn into a large musical family\, the brothers were exposed to traditional music at a young age. Their earliest memories are of their father playing Doc Watson songs on his Martin D-35 guitar. It wasn’t long before they picked up instruments of their own and and plunged headlong into the rich catalogue of American music. From the hard hitting bluegrass of Bill Monroe to the mournful songs of Hank Williams\, the brothers cut their teeth on the framework of Folk and Country music. \nWhen as teenagers they discovered the music of Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt\, they were immediately entranced not only by the two musicians’ masterful songwriting\, but also their ability to meld musical styles to craft songs that sounded both fresh and timeless. \nThat influence was a torch they became determined to carry\, staying original and true to themselves while keeping their feet firmly grounded in the traditional styles they absorbed in their youth. \nIn this tribute the Lowery brothers will deliver a selection of both well-known and obscure songs from the catalogues of Guy and Townes. Playing acoustic guitars and singing duet harmony\, they will be joined by St. Louis musician Kevin Buckley on fiddle and tenor guitar.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/for-the-sake-of-the-song-a-tribute-to-guy-clark-and-townes-van-zandt-with-the-lowery-brothers-and-kevin-buckley/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Buckley-Lowery-scaled.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240106T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240106T200000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20231117T015932Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231117T031010Z
UID:3699-1704571200-1704571200@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:T.J. Muller's All Star Jazz Band Ft. Andy Schumm\, Matt Tolentino\, Mike Davis\, Josh Duffee & Colin Hancock
DESCRIPTION:Enjoy an evening of 1920’s & 30’s jazz performed by some of it’s finest practitioners from around the USA. Each member of this band is a multi-instrumentalist and bandleader in their respective cities of Chicago\, New York\, Cincinnati\, Davenport and Austin\, and each travel the world performing this energetic and entertaining style of music. The evening will include tunes both familiar and obscure performed in a variety of ways from accordion and xylophone solos\, to full hot-jazz band choruses!
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/t-j-mullers-all-star-jazz-band-ft-andy-schumm-matt-tolentino-mike-davis-josh-duffee-colin-hancock/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/T.J.-Mullers-All-Star-Jazz-Band.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240105T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240105T200000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20231217T014833Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231218T060109Z
UID:3769-1704484800-1704484800@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Calamity Mo: Mississippi Valley Creole Culture Aficionado
DESCRIPTION:Old Mines friends take note! Music historian\, author and clawhammer banjo player Calamity Mo collects and currently specializes in the French- Creole songs of Missouri and Illinois. Calamity Mo is in the region to join in Prairie du Rocher’s Guiannée\, the old French folk song still sung yearly for New Year’s Eve. For us\, she’ll be playing mainly an Appalachian Old Time set\, salted with some of her favorite curiosities from field recordings such as a California ballad from 1906\, a Wisconsin-Belgian ditty\, and\, among other Illinois/Missouri Creole Songs\, the end of the 18 th  century “Chanson de l’année du coup” narrating the 1780 Battle of St Louis. Backing her on fiddle\, Stefan Santiago\, a young fixture of the Carbondale folk scene. Calamity Mo’s main bands are The Cuckoo Sisters\, The Hog’s Trotters\, and square dance band Carambolage. In the States\, apart from the Prairie du Rocher Singers\, she has joined the Capitol Hillbillies in DC.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/camille-moreddu-aka-calamity-mo-french-citizen-mississippi-valley-creole-culture-aficionado/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/CamlamityMo_TheoK.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20231230T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20231230T200000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20231122T201057Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231123T195228Z
UID:3704-1703966400-1703966400@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Ryan Koenig Presents: So Grand Polka Band
DESCRIPTION:Hey folks!  Ryan Koenig here.  I’ll be having my annual last Saturday of the year show at the Focal Point again on December 30th.  This year I’m going to feature the band that I (willingly) exhausted myself the most for in 2023\, So Grand Polka Band!   \nSo Grand Polka Band is run by my constant musical partner Jess Adkins and will feature my wife Kellie Everett as well as some other familiar faces you may remember from The Chardonnays… (aka The Opera Bell Band).  We released our first record of all original polkas in 2023.  It’s called “Party Potato” and the title track is penned by me!  Following in the tradition of new records available at my yearly show\, you can pick up an LP or CD that night!   \n  
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/ryan-koenig-presents-so-grand-polka-band/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sgpb.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20231222T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20231222T200000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20231110T205042Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231110T205743Z
UID:3687-1703275200-1703275200@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Graham Curry's Birthday Bash with The Missouri Fury
DESCRIPTION:Graham Curry is a bluegrass multi-instrumentalist born and raised in Missouri and has been playing since a young child. Graham specializes in flat-picking guitar\, mandolin & fiddle and has a strong passion for traditional Bluegrass\, American roots & world folk music.  \nGraham\, who splits his time between St.Louis and Nashville as an accomplished live & session musician  has toured with various acts from coast to coast (including Old Salt Union) picking and performing at all sorts of theaters & festivals since the age of 18. Areas of study include learning the ways of such players as Clarence White\, Tony Rice\, Jimmy Martin\, David Grier\, Norman Blake\, JD Crowe\, Ricky Skaggs\, Doc Watson and many more. Though his style is his own\, the music will be a familiar throwback to America’s musical past. \nJoining him for this concert will be his band The Missouri Fury (featuring Alex Riffle\, Will Miskall & Sam Abochan) who will surely set the scene for a memorable birthday evening of hard driving Bluegrass. Furthermore\, we wouldn’t be surprised if there were a special guest or two.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/graham-currys-birthday-bash-with-the-missouri-fury/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thefocalpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Graham-Curry.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20231216T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20231216T200000
DTSTAMP:20260620T021906
CREATED:20231109T191042Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231110T205844Z
UID:3683-1702756800-1702756800@thefocalpoint.org
SUMMARY:Jake's Leg's 10th Annual Holiday Acoustic Dance Party (One Night Only!)
DESCRIPTION:Yes\, you heard it right! Not only will this be Jake’s Leg’s 10th Annual Holiday Show at Focal Point but they will only be doing ONE show rather than the typical two\, so get those tickets while the-get’ns good! \nSpanning the generations\, Jake’s Leg has been performing the music of The Grateful Dead for 48 years. (That’s only 11-ish years less than the Dead played Dead themselves!) This will be an acoustic performance exploring the folkier roots of the Grateful Dead. The show will likely not be the perfectly silent listening room experience we are known for\, however we promise that it will be great fun for all. Dancing recommended but not required. There will be LIMITED SEATING as we leave plenty of the dance floor open. If you want to reserve a seat\, please arrive a little before the 7:30pm doors.
URL:https://thefocalpoint.org/event/jakes-legs-10th-annual-holiday-show-one-night-only/
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