Chicago native Peter Berkow has been a producer and a professor, and moved from folk to funk to fusion to prog and back.
Tag: folk
Posted inMusic
Goodbye to songwriter Michael Smith
With “The Dutchman” and other widely recorded songs, Michael Smith created emotional realities that let you feel along with his characters.
Posted inMusic
Folk genius Dwain Story died a legend to the few who still knew his music
Dwain Story roomed with Phil Ochs and made a fan of Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, but mental illness denied him a career like theirs.
Posted inMusic
If you don’t know Megon McDonough, blame the maleness of Chicago’s 70s folk scene
Folk singer Megon McDonough made her 1972 debut LP while still in high school and in 1990 joined Christine Lavin’s Four Bitchin’ Babes.
Posted inMusic
Folksinger Kristin Lems has been a favorite of the women’s movement—and of Dr. Demento
Evanston native Kristin Lems has shared stages with John Prine and Gloria Steinem, and she’s currently working on a play with songs about Jane Addams.
Posted inMusic
Decades after Stumpwater put out their only single, the Aurora folk-pop group ride again
Dan Berg, Dan Haligas, and Joe Gloor released two songs in 1975 and split up in ’80, but now they’re back to writing, recording, and gigging.
Posted inMusic
Jenna Lyle of Parlour Tapes on a cowboy prophet with a didgeridoo
Current musical obsessions of Parlour Tapes cofounder Jenna Lyle, techno artist and composer Eric Fernandez, and Reader critic Peter Margasak
Posted inMusic
Folk polymath Rhiannon Giddens honors the musical cultures of the oppressed
Carolina Chocolate Drops cofounder Rihannon Giddens sings fables of struggle from a diversity of peoples and eras.
Posted inBlogs
Rhiannon Giddens, Ron Trent, D.C. blues, and blockchain: music stories from around the Web
The Reader‘s weekly roundup of music journalism that didn’t happen here
Posted inMusic
Al Scorch plays roots music with unlikely roots
Chicago banjo fiend Al Scorch talks about his inspirations—including freak bikes, DIY hardcore, and Kelly Hogan.
Posted inBlogs
Ryley Walker performs tonight to raise awareness for Chicago’s homeless
The jazz-folk prodigy plays a show for a good cause.
Posted inBlogs
Ryley Walker continues making gorgeous folk music on ‘Primrose Green’
Today’s 12 O’Clock Track is the gorgeous title track from the fingerstyle prodigy’s upcoming LP.
Posted inBlogs
Folk guitarist Ryley Walker and free jazz drummer Ben Billington jam tonight for a good cause
The duo team up at Cole’s tonight to benefit the Carrefour Collaborative.
Posted inBlogs
Gig poster of the week: An all-day country billboard
This week’s gig poster was designed by local artist Ryan Duggan.