ZOOM event: Homecoming Chili Cook-off and Acoustic Neighbors Folk Showcase October 4
OAK PARK IL - Music and Potlucks, a community organization will sponsor a livestream event, the Homecoming Chili Cook-off and Acoustic Neighbors Folk Showcase on Sunday, October 4 at 4:00 pm.
The event will support Beyond Hunger Food Pantry in River Forest. Music and Potlucks is in its fifth season of presenting music events to support the homeless and the hungry.
“With the pandemic upon us,” said codirector Stephanie Schrodt of River Forest, who is on the board of Beyond Hunger, “we’ve had to get a little creative with our outreach programming. A lot of families are struggling with food insecurity, and we wanted to plan an autumn event to help out.”
Beyond Hunger provides hunger-relief programming and services to thirteen zip codes across Cook County, including portions of Chicago and its near-west suburbs.
The evening features “Chicago’s official troubadour,” Mark Dvorak in a ZOOM performance along with Acoustic Neighbors, a gathering of local musicians including Josh Kotin, Jason McInnes, Susan Reeder, Ronna Baron and Betsy Backes, who will perform a couple songs each.
“We’re thrilled that Mark is able to join us for our ‘ pop-up’ event," said Schrodt. “He is a treasured member of our community and we find a special affinity for his music and message.”
The Chicago Tribune has called Dvorak “masterful,” and the Fox Valley Folk Festival describes him as “a living archive of song and style.” He has recorded eighteen albums to date including Let Love Go On released earlier this year. Dvorak has won awards for journalism and children’s music, and was honored in 2013 with the FARM Lantern Bearer Award from Folk Alliance International. In 2008 he received the Woodstock Folk Festival Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2012 Rich Warren, long time host of The Midnight Special radio program named Dvorak “Chicago’s official troubadour.” Learn more at www.markdvorak.com.
“We hope our listeners and viewers will join us right after the Bears’ game,” said Schrodt. “We’ll be sharing chili recipes and celebrating with music and stories from our homes all to support our neighbors in need.”
Donations to the event can be made through Brown Paper Tickets at https:// https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4761434. With purchase ticket holders will be sent the ZOOM link.
To learn more about Beyond Hunger, go to www.gobeyondhunger.org. Follow Music & Potlucks at www.musicandpotlucks.org.
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