Live stream acoustic showcase to support Music & Potlucks community music initiative
Music & Potlucks a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization will present a special live stream community music acoustic showcase on Wednesday, May 26 at 7:00 pm CDT. The free event, “Open Mark” will be hosted by Midwest troubadour Mark Dvorak and feature six other performers. Donations to support Music & Potlucks’ community music initiative will be be accepted.
The Oak Park area based Music & Potlucks has presented over forty live and live stream events since March of 2017 and raised thousands of dollars for area food pantries, homeless shelters and other charities.
Featured are Max Allard, a 20 year-old award-winning 5-string banjo master, singer songwriter Sue Fink who hosts Chicago’s “Virtual Dream Cafe” series, Lyle Holthaus, a poet and songwriter, professional storyteller Lou Ann Homan, Old Town School of Folk Music student performer Susan Reader and Oak Park's Bill Ryan performing with members of his acoustic ensemble The Tell.
“We think of these folks as acoustic neighbors,” said Dvorak who has worked with Music & Potlucks, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization since it’s inception in 2017. We come from different parts of the Midwest or different parts of the country and we are fortunately connected through music and spoken word arts.”
“Bringing community musicians together for the purpose of supporting our neighbors in need is at the core of our mission,” said Music & Potlucks co-director Stephanie Schrodt who also performs with The Tell. “We’re hoping our showcase can be an ongoing event.
The Chicago Tribune has called Dvorak “masterful,” and the Fox Valley Folk Festival describes him as “an archive of song and style.” Dvorak has won awards for journalism and children’s music, and was honored in 2013 with the FARM Lantern Bearer Award from Folk Alliance International. He is busy working on a book of essays, 31 Winters, and will release his 19th CD Live & Alone later this year.
Donations will be accepted to support Music & Potlucks. To register for the free event, visit www.musicandpotlucks.org.