The Archives: La Peña

Just a few of the gems from one of the best parties of the year. Recorded by Micah Bezold aka PHOBOS.

Birthday Boatyard Humdinger

Mareva Lindo is a Chicago-made writer, editor, and audio producer. She’s the creator of The Archives podcast at the Old Town School of Folk Music, where in 2017 she conducted an oral history of the school in partnership with StoryCorps. In the past Mareva has led workshops on audio storytelling for Northwestern’s field studies program, worked as an arts writer for Northampton’s Daily Hampshire Gazette, and crafted ethnography-based theater as a company member of Albany Park Theater Project. She strives to tell stories guided by community, curiosity and deep listening, rooted in historical perspectives. Mareva holds a B.A. in American Studies from Smith College.

https://www.marevalindo.com/

Audio Portfolio

Select recordings from a live performance by Genevieve Harrison Koester and Mareva Lindo, November 9th, 2019, at the historic McGrady Inn in Charleston, Illinois. 

As a 2019 recipient of the Illinois Arts Council Agency’s Master Apprentice Program grant, Genevieve has been teaching apprentice Mareva Lindo traditional tunes and songs of downstate Illinois, as well as original tunes by Genevieve's dad, Garry Harrison. In addition to sharing tunes, sessions included fiddle techniques and oral history of the collecting process, which began in the 1970s with the Harrison family and friends visiting old-time musicians throughout central and southern Illinois. A large portion of the field tapes were collected in a book and three-CD set, titled Dear Old Illinois (available via CDbaby). 

For this final performance, they brought the music back to where it all began: Charleston, the town where Genevieve and her father grew up, and where her mother Gaye Harrison continues to live and play music today. They performed a set of rarely-heard fiddle tunes and songs that Mareva learned this past year, shared the stories behind the music, and ended the night in the most fitting way they knew how: a square dance.

CREDITS:
Molly Kiss Your Darling - Mareva: fiddle; Jay Desrosiers: mandolin; Smith Koester: banjo; Genevieve: guitar
Jones' Gal & Lovers' First Quarrel - Genevieve: fiddle and vox; Mareva: guitar and harmony vox
Green Sleeve - Mareva: fiddle; Genevieve: fiddle; Smith Koester: banjo; Cliff Harrison: guitar
Groundhog - Genevieve: vox and guitar; Mareva: fiddle and harmony vox; Smith Koester: banjo
Sam-Bob medley - Mareva: fiddle; Genevieve: fiddle; Smith Koester: banjo; Cliff Harrison: guitar
Alan Bane - Mareva: vox and fiddle; Genevieve: harmony vox
Green Valley Waltz-Yell in the Shoats medley - Mareva: fiddle; Genevieve: fiddle

GENEVIEVE KOESTER
A native of Charleston, Illinois, and a teacher at the Old Town School of Folk Music, Genevieve Koester was introduced to old time string band music before she was born, and spent her childhood attending square dances and music festivals. Genevieve learned to play the fiddle from her late father, Garry Harrison, (Indian Creek Delta Boys, Red Prairie Dawn) who was an influence in the world of old-time fiddling from the 1970s until his death in 2012. Her mother, Gaye Harrison, (Motherlode, Indian Creek Delta Boys) still resides in Charleston playing and teaching Illinois old time music.
www.pickaway.press

MAREVA LINDO
Mareva Lindo has been steeped in folk music all her life, first with her family, then as producer of The Archives Podcast at the Old Town School of Folk Music, and since 2015 as a member of Old Lazarus' Harp collective. Mareva tours nationally with vocal duo Spitzer & Mareva, and regularly plays contra and square dances with old-time string band Prairie State Ramblers. Mareva is co-director of the Midwest Sing & Stomp, and regularly produces concerts and dances around Chicago.
www.marevalindo.com

This apprenticeship was supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
http://www.arts.illinois.gov/
https://www.arts.gov/

Genevieve Koester & Mareva Lindo: 2019 Master-Apprentice Finale

"Hay Mow" is an original fiddle tune by Garry Harrison, first released on the album Red Prairie Dawn.

Hay Mow (Garry Harrison)

Just a few of the gems from one of the best parties of the year.

Boozefighters

The Mill Was Made Out Of Marble

Jitterbug Waltz

Stormalong / Bully In The Alley / Red Iron Ore

Whoop Jamboree

Little Beggarman / Highland Laddie

"It was really only after my ordeal that I discovered first-hand the ways in which rape survivors are continually re-victimized and betrayed. ... So I realized I had a choice: I could accept the injustice, or rewrite the law. So I rewrote it."

Excerpt from a conversation with Amanda Nguyen, founder and CEO of Rise, from episode 10 of Breached: Democracy.

Hosted by Helena Swanson-Nystrom and Jyoti Jasrasaria, and produced by Mareva Lindo. Go to www.breachedpodcast.org/ to hear the full episode, and more from this 10-episode series on the American social contract.

Breached Ep 10 - Democracy, excerpt feat. Amanda Nguyen (founder and CEO of Rise)

"To survive and to create, and to thrive and build relationships, and to love other people is absolutely an act of dissent, in the face of so much adversity."

Excerpt from a conversation with Charlene Carruthers, Black Youth Project 100 founding national director, from episode 2 of Breached: Dissent.

Hosted by Helena Swanson-Nystrom and Jyoti Jasrasaria, and produced by Mareva Lindo. Go to www.breachedpodcast.org/ to hear the full episode, and more from this 10-episode series on the American social contract.

Breached Ep 02 - Dissent, excerpt feat. Charlene Carruthers (founding national director of BYP100)

Select recordings from a live performance by Genevieve Harrison Koester and Mareva Lindo, November 9th, 2019, at the historic McGrady Inn in Charleston, Illinois.

As a 2019 recipient of the Illinois Arts Council Agency’s Master Apprentice Program grant, Genevieve has been teaching apprentice Mareva Lindo traditional tunes and songs of downstate Illinois, as well as original tunes by Genevieve's dad, Garry Harrison. In addition to sharing tunes, sessions included fiddle techniques and oral history of the collecting process, which began in the 1970s with the Harrison family and friends visiting old-time musicians throughout central and southern Illinois. A large portion of the field tapes were collected in a book and three-CD set, titled Dear Old Illinois (available via CDbaby).

For this final performance, they brought the music back to where it all began: Charleston, the town where Genevieve and her father grew up, and where her mother Gaye Harrison continues to live and play music today. They performed a set of rarely-heard fiddle tunes and songs that Mareva learned this past year, shared the stories behind the music, and ended the night in the most fitting way they knew how: a square dance.

CREDITS:
Molly Kiss Your Darling - Mareva: fiddle; Jay Desrosiers: mandolin; Smith Koester: banjo; Genevieve: guitar
Jones' Gal & Lovers' First Quarrel - Genevieve: fiddle and vox; Mareva: guitar and harmony vox
Green Sleeve - Mareva: fiddle; Genevieve: fiddle; Smith Koester: banjo; Cliff Harrison: guitar
Groundhog - Genevieve: vox and guitar; Mareva: fiddle and harmony vox; Smith Koester: banjo
Sam-Bob medley - Mareva: fiddle; Genevieve: fiddle; Smith Koester: banjo; Cliff Harrison: guitar
Alan Bane - Mareva: vox and fiddle; Genevieve: harmony vox
Green Valley Waltz-Yell in the Shoats medley - Mareva: fiddle; Genevieve: fiddle

GENEVIEVE KOESTER
A native of Charleston, Illinois, and a teacher at the Old Town School of Folk Music, Genevieve Koester was introduced to old time string band music before she was born, and spent her childhood attending square dances and music festivals. Genevieve learned to play the fiddle from her late father, Garry Harrison, (Indian Creek Delta Boys, Red Prairie Dawn) who was an influence in the world of old-time fiddling from the 1970s until his death in 2012. Her mother, Gaye Harrison, (Motherlode, Indian Creek Delta Boys) still resides in Charleston playing and teaching Illinois old time music.
www.pickaway.press

MAREVA LINDO
Mareva Lindo has been steeped in folk music all her life, first with her family, then as producer of The Archives Podcast at the Old Town School of Folk Music, and since 2015 as a member of Old Lazarus' Harp collective. Mareva tours nationally with vocal duo Spitzer & Mareva, and regularly plays contra and square dances with old-time string band Prairie State Ramblers. Mareva is co-director of the Midwest Sing & Stomp, and regularly produces concerts and dances around Chicago.
www.marevalindo.com

Come On Ma'am, Look At Sam & Old Bob [medley]

Green Valley Waltz & Yell In The Shoats [medley]

Alan Bane

Select recordings from a live performance by Genevieve Harrison Koester and Mareva Lindo, November 9th, 2019, at the historic McGrady Inn in Charleston, Illinois. 

As a 2019 recipient of the Illinois Arts Council Agency’s Master Apprentice Program grant, Genevieve has been teaching apprentice Mareva Lindo traditional tunes and songs of downstate Illinois, as well as original tunes by Genevieve's dad, Garry Harrison. In addition to sharing tunes, sessions included fiddle techniques and oral history of the collecting process, which began in the 1970s with the Harrison family and friends visiting old-time musicians throughout central and southern Illinois. A large portion of the field tapes were collected in a book and three-CD set, titled Dear Old Illinois (available via CDbaby). 

For this final performance, they brought the music back to where it all began: Charleston, the town where Genevieve and her father grew up, and where her mother Gaye Harrison continues to live and play music today. They performed a set of rarely-heard fiddle tunes and songs that Mareva learned this past year, shared the stories behind the music, and ended the night in the most fitting way they knew how: a square dance.

CREDITS:
Molly Kiss Your Darling - Mareva: fiddle; Jay Desrosiers: mandolin; Smith Koester: banjo; Genevieve: guitar
Jones' Gal & Lovers' First Quarrel - Genevieve: fiddle and vox; Mareva: guitar and harmony vox
Green Sleeve - Mareva: fiddle; Genevieve: fiddle; Smith Koester: banjo; Cliff Harrison: guitar
Groundhog - Genevieve: vox and guitar; Mareva: fiddle and harmony vox; Smith Koester: banjo
Sam-Bob medley - Mareva: fiddle; Genevieve: fiddle; Smith Koester: banjo; Cliff Harrison: guitar
Alan Bane - Mareva: vox and fiddle; Genevieve: harmony vox
Green Valley Waltz-Yell in the Shoats medley - Mareva: fiddle; Genevieve: fiddle

GENEVIEVE KOESTER
A native of Charleston, Illinois, and a teacher at the Old Town School of Folk Music, Genevieve Koester was introduced to old time string band music before she was born, and spent her childhood attending square dances and music festivals. Genevieve learned to play the fiddle from her late father, Garry Harrison, (Indian Creek Delta Boys, Red Prairie Dawn) who was an influence in the world of old-time fiddling from the 1970s until his death in 2012. Her mother, Gaye Harrison, (Motherlode, Indian Creek Delta Boys) still resides in Charleston playing and teaching Illinois old time music.
www.pickaway.press

MAREVA LINDO
Mareva Lindo has been steeped in folk music all her life, first with her family, then as producer of The Archives Podcast at the Old Town School of Folk Music, and since 2015 as a member of Old Lazarus' Harp collective. Mareva tours nationally with vocal duo Spitzer & Mareva, and regularly plays contra and square dances with old-time string band Prairie State Ramblers. Mareva is co-director of the Midwest Sing & Stomp, and regularly produces concerts and dances around Chicago.
www.marevalindo.com

Molly Kiss Your Darling

Groundhog

Select recordings from a live performance by Genevieve Harrison Koester and Mareva Lindo, November 9th, 2019, at the historic McGrady Inn in Charleston, Illinois. 

As a 2019 recipient of the Illinois Arts Council Agency’s Master Apprentice Program grant, Genevieve has been teaching apprentice Mareva Lindo traditional tunes and songs of downstate Illinois, as well as original tunes by Genevieve's dad, Garry Harrison. In addition to sharing tunes, sessions included fiddle techniques and oral history of the collecting process, which began in the 1970s with the Harrison family and friends visiting old-time musicians throughout central and southern Illinois. A large portion of the field tapes were collected in a book and three-CD set, titled Dear Old Illinois (available via CDbaby). 

For this final performance, they brought the music back to where it all began: Charleston, the town where Genevieve and her father grew up, and where her mother Gaye Harrison continues to live and play music today. They performed a set of rarely-heard fiddle tunes and songs that Mareva learned this past year, shared the stories behind the music, and ended the night in the most fitting way they knew how: a square dance.

MAREVA LINDO
Mareva Lindo has been steeped in folk music all her life, first with her family, then as producer of The Archives Podcast at the Old Town School of Folk Music, and since 2015 as a member of Old Lazarus' Harp collective. Mareva tours nationally with vocal duo Spitzer & Mareva, and regularly plays contra and square dances with old-time string band Prairie State Ramblers. Mareva is co-director of the Midwest Sing & Stomp, and regularly produces concerts and dances around Chicago.
www.marevalindo.com

GENEVIEVE KOESTER
A native of Charleston, Illinois, and a teacher at the Old Town School of Folk Music, Genevieve Koester was introduced to old time string band music before she was born, and spent her childhood attending square dances and music festivals. Genevieve learned to play the fiddle from her late father, Garry Harrison, (Indian Creek Delta Boys, Red Prairie Dawn) who was an influence in the world of old-time fiddling from the 1970s until his death in 2012. Her mother, Gaye Harrison, (Motherlode, Indian Creek Delta Boys) still resides in Charleston playing and teaching Illinois old time music.
www.pickaway.press

CREDITS:
Molly Kiss Your Darling - Mareva: fiddle; Jay Desrosiers: mandolin; Smith Koester: banjo; Genevieve: guitar
Jones' Gal & Lovers' First Quarrel - Genevieve: fiddle and vox; Mareva: guitar and harmony vox
Green Sleeve - Mareva: fiddle; Genevieve: fiddle; Smith Koester: banjo; Cliff Harrison: guitar
Groundhog - Genevieve: vox and guitar; Mareva: fiddle and harmony vox; Smith Koester: banjo
Sam-Bob medley - Mareva: fiddle; Genevieve: fiddle; Smith Koester: banjo; Cliff Harrison: guitar
Alan Bane - Mareva: vox and fiddle; Genevieve: harmony vox
Green Valley Waltz-Yell in the Shoats medley - Mareva: fiddle; Genevieve: fiddle

Green Sleeve

Jones' Gal & Lovers' First Quarrel [medley]

Esto es la historia de La Peña, the first Latin music concert series at the Old Town School--the predecessor to today’s enormously successful World Music Wednesday concerts. To tell the tale, we’ll share stories and music, en inglés y en español, from the people who were there. Episodes come out the first Wednesday of the month, starting in March. Listen on iTunes, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts. ¡Nos vemos el miercoles! 

Music: “Voy Por la Mañana” performed by Ensemble Charambó live at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N Lincoln Ave, 11/07/2001

This podcast series on La Peña was supported by a grant from the Illinois Digital Archive. Access more audio and video recordings from the La Peña concert series at: http://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/p16614coll9/search/

Website: www.oldtownschool.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/OTSArchives
Instagram: @archivespodcast

The Archives Podcast

Trailer - La Peña: Música Latina en la Old Town School

Esto es la historia de La Peña, the first Latin music concert series at the Old Town School, pretty much the predecessor to today’s enormously successful World Music Wednesday concerts. But the story of La Peña is really just one part of a larger story, about how the Old Town School in the 1980s was brought back from the brink of closure, in large part by broadening their definition of “folk” in highly intentional ways. To tell the tale, we’ll share stories and music, en inglés y en español, from the people who were there. Featuring an interview with Juan Díes, founder of La Peña, and former Director of Community Outreach at the school. 

Original recordings featured in this episode (in order of occurrence):
- “Voy Por la Mañana” performed by Ensemble Charambó live at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N Lincoln Ave, 11/07/2001
- Interview with Juan Díes & Luis Jahn at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 909 W Armitage Ave, 06/14/2019
- “Malagueña Salerosa” performed by Valucha de Castro, Studs Terkel OTS Show, 1968
- “Alma Llanera” performed by Karin & sus Llaneros live at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N Lincoln Ave, 07/19/2000

This podcast series on La Peña was supported by a grant from the Illinois Digital Archive. Access more audio and video recordings from the La Peña concert series at: http://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/p16614coll9/search/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/OTSArchives
Instagram: @archivespodcast 
www.oldtownschool.org

Ep 23 - La Peña, Part 1: El principio

In the early 1980s, the Old Town School came the closest it ever has to shutting its doors. How did they manage to stay open? Escucha la historia en la segunda parte de la serie La Peña. In this episode we hear stories--en inglés y español--from Juan Díes, Jim Hirsch, Michael Miles and Roberto Arce, alongside música latina from the archives.

Original recordings featured in this episode (in order of occurrence):
- Interview with Juan Díes & Luis Jahn at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 909 W Armitage Ave, 06/14/2019
- StoryCorps conversation between Jim Hirsch & Skip Landt, 7/6/2017 at the StoryCorps booth in the Chicago Cultural Center
- “Adiós la Mio Vaca Pinta” performed by Llan de Cubel, live at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N Lincoln Ave, 9/22/1999
- StoryCorps conversation between Michael Miles & Skip Landt, 10/20/2017 at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4545 N Lincoln Ave
- Phone interview with Roberto Arce, 6/7/19 (tape sync courtesy of Adrian Alcantar)
- “Pajarillo” performed by Tribus Futuras, live at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N Lincoln Ave, 3/20/2002

This podcast series on La Peña was supported by a grant from the Illinois Digital Archive. Access more audio and video recordings from the La Peña concert series at: http://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/p16614coll9/search/
Website: www.oldtownschool.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/OTSArchives
Instagram: @archivespodcast

Ep 24 - La Peña, Part 2: "The school was in dire straits"

“I think some people came because they could eat the empanadas. You know, and then, the music.” En la tercera parte de la serie, we hear how the La Peña concert series finally came to be. In this episode we hear stories--en inglés y español--from Jim Hirsch, Juan Díes, Luis Jahn, and Roberto Arce, alongside música latina from the archives.

Original recordings featured in this episode (in order of occurrence):
- “Bulería” performed by Las Guitarras de España, live at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N Lincoln Ave, 03/09/2005
- StoryCorps conversation between Jim Hirsch & Skip Landt, 7/6/2017 at the StoryCorps booth in the Chicago Cultural Center
- Interview with Juan Díes & Luis Jahn at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 909 W Armitage Ave, 06/14/2019
- “Cartas de la Habana” performed by Luis Jahn, live at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N Lincoln Ave, 03/02/2005
- Phone interview with Roberto Arce, 6/7/19 (tape sync courtesy of Adrian Alcantar)
- “Las Penas Matan” performed by Roberto Arce, live at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N Lincoln Ave, 07/26/2000

This podcast series on La Peña was supported by a grant from the Illinois Digital Archive. Access more audio and video recordings from the La Peña concert series at: http://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/p16614coll9/search/

Website: www.oldtownschool.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/OTSArchives
Instagram: @archivespodcast

Ep 25 - La Peña, Part 3: Music and empanadas

En la parte final de la serie, La Peña comes to a close, and makes room for a new and broader concert series, which continues to this day: World Music Wednesday. In this episode we hear stories--en inglés y español--from Juan Díes, Mateo Mulcahy, and Roberto Arce, alongside música latina from the archives.

Original recordings featured in this episode (in order of occurrence):
- “Túmbame el Engaño” from “A Bomba & Plena History of Puerto Rico: Bembeteo” written and performed by Ramón Lopez, live at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N Lincoln Ave, 04/27/2005
- Interview with Mateo Mulcahy at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 909 W Armitage Ave, 06/14/2019
- Interview with Juan Díes & Luis Jahn at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 909 W Armitage Ave, 06/14/2019
- Phone interview with Roberto Arce, 6/7/19 (tape sync courtesy of Adrian Alcantar)
- “La Banda” performed by Los Cenzontles, live at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N Lincoln Ave, 10/13/2004

This podcast series on La Peña was supported by a grant from the Illinois Digital Archive. Access more audio and video recordings from the La Peña concert series at: http://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/p16614coll9/search/

Website: www.oldtownschool.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/OTSArchives
Instagram: @archivespodcast

Ep 26 - La Peña, Part 4: Desde La Peña hasta World Music Wednesday

Clip from an episode of The Archives podcast's Five from the Archives series, in which I share the story behind the rise of the freedom song “We Shall Overcome." The podcast traces the song's journey from the southern Black church, to the picket line, to Highlander Folk School, to the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement--as well as its connection to the Old Town School of Folk Music.

Recordings featured in this clip:
- “We Shall Overcome” as performed by Guy Carawan, circa 1980, from the George Armstrong collection

Sources:
- Sing for Freedom: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement through its Songs by Guy and Candie Carawan
- Liner notes of Voices of the Civil Rights Movement, by Bernice Johnson Reagon: https://media.smithsonianfolkways.org/liner_notes/smithsonian_folkways/SFW40084.pdf 
- The Library of Congress: https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2014/02/tracing-the-long-journey-of-we-shall-overcome/

Ep 6, Five From The Archives - We Shall Overcome (excerpt)

Documentarian, folk musician, producer of The Archives #podcast at the Old Town School of Folk Music.

marevaraves

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