Midwestern Songs

Chicago folk scene

Songriters from Chicago meet the first Friday of each month at the Old Town School of Folk Music to work on their craft and share new songs. These artists have all been participants at one time or another. Email me if you have a CD that should be here.

TERRY MACNAMARA: Sleepin' at a Dead Run
a knock out collection of "little movies" - a rare string of storied pearls strung together by scene-conjuring musical styles and vivid word pictures.
Recommended if you like Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, John Prine.
CD price: $15.00 / MP3 price: $8.00
SONS OF THE NEVER WRONG: One if by Hand
If the Mamas & the Papas were fronted by David Byrne...
Recommended if you like Talking Heads, The Mamas & The Papas, Peter, Paul & Mary.
CD price: $13.00
CHUCK CHEESMAN: Coming Home
Flagstaff songwriter, originally from Chicago. Acoustic music inspired by the American West, Chicago Blues, and the singer/songwriters of the Seventies. Debut CD.
Recommended if you like James Taylor, John Denver, Greg Brown.
CD price: $10.00 / MP3 price: $10.00
KAREN BANKS-LUBICZ: Karen for Kids
A great folk/rolk/blues cd for kids and their families
Recommended if you like Sheryl Crow, Natalie Merchant, Chrissie Hynde.
CHUCK CHEESMAN: A Family Songbook
Children's folk music from Flagstaff - singer/songwriter & former Old Town School Wiggleworms instructor Chuck Cheesman. Music the whole family can enjoy.
Recommended if you like Raffi, Ella Jenkins.
CD price: $12.00
SUE FINK: Not Quite There Yet
Most of Sue Fink's songs fall into the "quirky genre," if there is such a thing - but they work on a deeper level as well. The lyrics are clever, the sentiments are heartfelt; and the listener leaves happy.
Recommended if you like Christine Lavin, Annie Gallup.
CD price: $8.00 / MP3 price: $8.00
DONNA ADLER: All the Riches of the World
A gentle blend of pop-flavored folk / a modern day Judy Collins
Recommended if you like Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Rosanne Cash.
CD price: $11.99 / MP3 price: $11.99
SUE FINK: Damsel In Distress
Various styles, ranging from funny to sad... whimsical, upbeat, quirky, entirely original
Recommended if you like Rickie Lee Jones, Christine Lavin, Norah Jones.
CD price: $14.99 / MP3 price: $12.99
JAMES F. CURLEY: Tom's Cafe
A songwriting 'tour de force' in American Roots Music fashion - Doc Watson and Ralph McTell meet Dwight Yoakam and James Taylor and they all go off for pints of Guiness together.
Recommended if you like Lyle Lovett, Jimmy Buffett, John Prine.
CD price: $10.00 / MP3 price: $10.00
DONNA ADLER: Alta Vista Sky
A gentle blend of folk and alt country / Joni Mitchell meets Roseanne Cash
Recommended if you like Dar Williams, Joni Mitchell, Rosanne Cash.
CD price: $11.99 / MP3 price: $11.99
CHUCK CHEESMAN: Campfire
Original, contemporary folk songs - personal reflections on the American West in all its beauty and brutality.
Recommended if you like Greg Greenway, Greg Brown, Dave Carter.
CD price: $12.00 / MP3 price: $12.00
SANDY ANDINA: Ghosts and Angels
Fun folk-pop for grownups who haven't grown old--you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll wanna BUY.
Recommended if you like Joni Mitchell, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Blossom Dearie.
CD price: $14.00 / MP3 price: $14.00
SONS OF THE NEVER WRONG: 4 ever on
If the Mamas & the Papas were fronted by David Byrne...part deux
Recommended if you like Talking Heads, The Mamas & The Papas, Peter, Paul & Mary.
CD price: $13.00
JENNY BIENEMANN: Late Night Elaborations
Pop-infused folk music with songs like living stories, soaring vocal harmonies, and melodies that wake you up in the morning and put you to sleep at night.
Recommended if you like Alanis Morissette, Suzanne Vega, Joni Mitchell.
CD price: $12.97 / MP3 price: $12.97
NANCY WALKER: Layers of Rust and Time
Contemporary folk music
CD price: $12.00 / MP3 price: $12.00
CHICAGO SONGWRITERS: First Friday Song Sampler 2004
Modern Folk
Recommended if you like David Wilcox, John Gorka, Greg Brown.
CD price: $12.00