Old Town Turns 50 | 12.01.07 | Chicago

The Old Town School of Folk Music 50 Years in Chicago Benefit
12.01.07 :: Auditorium Theatre :: Chicago, IL

The Old Town School of Folk Music recently reunited an all-star roster of former students, teachers and friends from its illustrious five-decade history to perform a “50 Years in Chicago Benefit Concert” at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. An enthusiastic sold-out crowd of more than 3800 guests helped raise nearly $1 million for the non-profit music, dance and art center.

The concert lineup included Grammy Award-winner and Wilco front man, Jeff Tweedy; one of the world’s premier banjo players, Bela Fleck and Evanston native and Uncle Earl band member Abigail Washburn; the genre-busting guitarist David Bromberg; founding member of the legendary group the Byrds, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, and former Old Town School student, Roger McGuinn; blues guitarist Lonnie Brooks joined by his son, Wayne Baker Brooks, and Nicholas Tremulis; special guest artist Frank Hamilton, the only living founder of the Old Town School; The Bloodshot Family Band featuring The Robbie Fulks Band with Jon Langford, Kelly Hogan, Sally Timms, and Nora O’Connor; folk maven Bonnie Koloc; the Mexican folk group, Sones de Mexico Ensemble; blues harmonica master Corky Siegel; a new work from Luna Negra Dance Theater; and a set by The Old Town School Players, an ensemble of alumni and faculty. Between music acts were “bursts” of dance acts on stage representing the variety of arts instruction offered at Old Town School, from tap to Irish step to street dance. Proceeds from the concert will support scholarships for students who could not otherwise afford lessons and youth outreach initiatives that reach thousands of children, not to mention continuing a 50-year tradition of presenting classes with a faculty of renowned teachers and performances by local and touring artists representing cultural traditions from around the world.

Images by: Adam George

Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn

Jeff Tweedy

Jeff Tweedy and Tom Ryan

Jeff Tweedy and “Wilco Teacher Band”

Sones de México Ensemble

Lonnie Brooks with Wayne Baker Brooks, Nicholas Tremulis

Lonnie Brooks

Jon Langford and Sally Timms

Kelly Hogan and Robbie Fulks

Frank Hamilton and Roger McGuinn

Frank Hamilton

David Bromberg, Bonnie Koloc, Corky Siegel

David Bromberg

Opera Box Jam

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