33 episodes

Follow us to hear select rare recordings; music from teaching artists; and The Archives podcast, showcasing stories from the Old Town School community alongside live performances, field recordings and more from the archive at the school’s Resource Center. The Old Town School of Folk Music teaches and celebrates music and cultural expressions rooted in traditions of diverse US and global communities. Visit www.oldtownschool.org for more information on classes, concerts, the Resource Center, and other programming at the Old Town School.

The Archives Podcast Old Town School of Folk Music

    • Music
    • 4.6 • 29 Ratings

Follow us to hear select rare recordings; music from teaching artists; and The Archives podcast, showcasing stories from the Old Town School community alongside live performances, field recordings and more from the archive at the school’s Resource Center. The Old Town School of Folk Music teaches and celebrates music and cultural expressions rooted in traditions of diverse US and global communities. Visit www.oldtownschool.org for more information on classes, concerts, the Resource Center, and other programming at the Old Town School.

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

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

    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

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

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

    “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

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

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

    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

    • 14 min
    Ep 23 - La Peña, Part 1: El principio

    Ep 23 - La Peña, Part 1: El principio

    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

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

    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--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

    • 3 min
    Ep 22 - Second Half, Part 4: Jim DeWan & Elaine Moore

    Ep 22 - Second Half, Part 4: Jim DeWan & Elaine Moore

    A running theme throughout Old Town School history is people finding deep connections and community, forging lifelong collaborations, friendships, and often falling in love. In this last episode of our Second Half series, we wanted to share one such story, from two people who met while working at the school in the late 1980s. Married now for years, longtime teachers Elaine Moore and Jim DeWan first met at the school over 3 decades ago. In these excerpts from their conversation at the school on May 20th, 2017, they share a few memories and reflections on their time there--including the school’s brief relocation to the Irish-American Heritage Center. Listen to the full interview at: https://archive.storycorps.org/interviews/jim-dewan-elaine-moore/

    More stories at: www.oldtownschool.org/StoryCorps

    Original recordings featured in this episode (in order of occurrence):
    - “Glory of Love” performed by Big Bill Broonzy live at Circle Pines Center, circa 1950s
    - “Softly and Tenderly” as performed by Elaine Moore, Catherine Hall & Jim DeWan at the Old Town School of Folk Music at 909 W Armitage Ave, 1988
    - StoryCorps interview between Elaine Moore & Jim Dewan at the Old Town School of Folk Music at 4545 N Lincoln Ave, 5/20/17

    • 13 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
29 Ratings

29 Ratings

FolkBoomer ,

Love the 60th Anniversary history series

I've been enchanted by this podcast since its inception, but I've found the multi-part documentary of school's history exceptional. It's an engaging blend of archival music and interviews with people connected with the school from its earliest days to today. Host Mareve Lindo is smooth and professional.

Rvines ,

Such cool people and a cool scene

What a legacy in these archives!

barlowmandolin ,

In depth and highly entertaining!!

I love this podcast! Just listened to the new episode, “Come for to Sing” and was extremely impressed with both the style of storytelling, and the interviews taken from the Old Town Schools archives. What a treat to hear from Studs Terkel, Pete Seeger, Dawn Greening and many others who played an integral part in the creation of the Old Town School. 10/10 would recommend to anyone interested in folk music of any kind, the Chicago folk scene, and the Old Town School of of Folk Music. Enjoy!!

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