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To celebrate the 55 years of musical service to the city of Chicago, the Old Town School of Folk Music is expanding into another facility and programming 55 events to celebrate. From January 9 to March 3 there will be concerts, poster exhibits, comedy shows, dance classes, play dates, film screenings and more, most for free and all open to the public. In the tradition of bringing music from around the world, the OTSFM will continue doing what they do best, this time on a nightly basis in a soon to be open new space.

The direction staff has happily been distributing promotional materials for this expansion and celebration throughout all neighborhoods on Chicago’s north side.

The 55 Day Grand Opening and celebration of the new Old Town School Of Folk Music begins next week. For a complete list of events, please visit oldtownschool.org/55days.

The gift of classes from the Old Town School of Folk Music will please the adult on your Christmas list and give your ears a break from well-intentioned but highly annoying at home practicing. Of course one will only get better by practicing, but why does it have to be under your roof? Whether they play guitar, banjo, bass or cello, if it has string, the OTSFM has a class for musician in your home.

The direction team has been distributing Old Town School of Folk Music adult class catalogs throughout most neighborhoods of Chicago.

Registration for the January to March adult sessions is currently open. For a complete list of classes, instruments taught and times, please visit oldtownschool.org/classes/adults.

The cutest aspect of the Old Town School of Folk Music is the Wiggleworms, a chance for children ages 6 months to 3 years of age discover music. The classes are organized to allow children to thrive with their peers. They’re divided into groups for ages 6 to 12 months, 12 to 24 months, 2 years, mixed aged siblings, French and Spanish. Once your child is past their Wiggleworms stage, the OTSFM has kids classes for children of all ages.

The direction team has been distributing Wiggleworms and Kids Classes information throughout Chicago and on our family specialty route.

Wiggleworms and Kids Classes at the Old Town School of Folk Music for the fall have begun but registration is still open. For a complete list of classes, please visit oldtownschool.org/classes/wiggleworms.

Diego El Cigala is a treasure of the Flamenco community. Both of his parents played as well as his grandparents. Since the age of 12 he’s been in the spotlight, wowing audiences of all ages. The Miami Herald has hailed him as, “The Frank Sinatra of Flamenco.” This upcoming performance will highlight his recent album that was recorded at the legendary Teatro Gran Rex in Buenos Aires.

The direction team has been promoting this OTSFM event at the Harris Theater by taking out handbills on our concierge route.

Diego El Cigala will be playing the Harris Theater on November 6 in support of his newest album, “”Cigala & Tango.” Tickets are currently available. Please visit oldtownschool.org for a complete list of OTSFM sponsored shows, classes and more.

Fall is here! Hooray! The leaves have changed colors, the air is crisp, everything smells better. Give it another few weeks. Autumn in Chicago isn’t meant to last. Within a few weeks snow will be getting into your apartment, souring your mood and giving you fewer entertainment options. One way to combat the inevitable is to pick up an instrument. One way to make sure you keep picking up that instrument is to enroll in a class at the OTSFM. Whether you’re into guitar, banjo, bass, cello and pretty much anything else that has strings, the School has something for you.

The direction team has been distributing Adult Class brochures for the OTSFM throughout the north side neighborhoods of Chicago.

Adult classes for the fall have just started and are currently open for enrollment. For a complete list of classes, concerts and other upcoming OTSFM events, please visit oldtownschool.org.

We’re happy to be working with the Old Town School of Folk Music. We’ve been hitting the street with posters, handbills and brochures about the school and venue for years. This production is special since it’s the first time the OTSFM is presenting a theatrical production. “Keep a Song in Your Soul: The Black Roots of Vaudeville,” will have its world premiere at the Lincoln Square venue in early November. The Carolina Chocolate Drops, along with jazz tap virtuoso Reggio “The Hoofer” McLaughlin and ragtime piano ace Reginald Robinson, will lead the audience through music and dance on a tour of the history of African American vaudeville.

The direction staff has been distributing promotional materials for this production on our theater specialty routes, urban hipster route and throughout the north and south sides of Chicago.

“Keep a Song in Your Soul” will be at the OTSFM from November 3 to 6. Tickets are currently on sale and interested parties are encouraged to buy tickets now due to limited seating. Each night will feature an open forum Q and A following the performance. For more information about this performance, concerts and classes, please visit oldtownschool.org.

In addition to being a world class music school that reaches out to all ages in all genres, the Old Town School of Folk Music is also a world class music venue that brings in all types of music from around the world. We’re looking forward to Mott the Hoople songwriter Ian Hunter, kids tunes from Dan Zanes, jazz guitarist Pat Metheny, Ivory Coast talent Dobet Gnahore and legendary bluegrass from Del McCoury Band.

The direction staff has distributed the OTSFM fall concert brochure throughout the north side of Chicago.

The Old Town School of Folk Music has concerts most evenings at their Lincoln Square location. Tickets for the fall concerts just went on sale. Please visit oldtownschool.org/concerts for a complete list of shows, tickets and information about the OTSFM.

If you’re interested in learning how to play guitar, please don’t just pick one up, play as loudly as you can for a few hours a night for a week or two and then let it collect dust. It is an insult to your neighbor, the guitar and yourself. Do it right and take a class at the Old Town School of Folk Music. This Chicago institution is currently accepting students for its fall classes. From guitar to accordian, banjo to oud, fiddle to flute, the OTSFM has something for everyone.

The direction team has been distributing Adult Class brochures for the OTSFM throughout the north side neighborhoods of Chicago.

Adult classes begin August 29 and are currently open for enrollment. For a complete list of classes, concerts and other upcoming OTSFM events, please visit oldtownschool.org.

There’s no escaping summer. The weather is awful, the heat is inescapable and the kids are at home. All the time. While these little bundles of joy are wonderful, they’re also little bundles of what to do next? Why not get them started with a lifelong appreciation of the arts. The Old Town School of Folk Music has music classes for the littlest of tikes. Their classes are currently open for enrollment and feature something for everyone, from guitar to accordion with locations in Chicago and the suburbs.

The direction team has been distributing brochures for Wiggleworms on our kids and family specialty route.

Registration for Wiggleworms, Lullabies, Meet the Instruments and Wiggle-N-Strum has begun. For a complete list of classes, please visit oldtownschool.org/classes/wiggleworms.

Old Town School of Folk Music knows how to put on a music festival. Each year they take over Welles Park in the beautiful Lincoln Square neighborhood. They bring in a wide array of musical styles appealing to a wide swath of people. The two-day fest is open to all-ages, is donation based and has been running for over ten years. This year’s fest features sets from Texas blues rocker Delbert McClinton on Saturday night and Cuban salsa sensation Maraca on Sunday night. If neither of them is your style there are over 16 more acts on the main stage and more at the dance tent, kids town and staff stage.

The direction team has been all over the city promoting this festival on our routes and hand to hand. We’ve been at Millennium Park promoting at concerts of Low, Diogo Nigueira and RAM.

The Chicago Folk & Roots Festival is this weekend, July 9 and 10 at Welles Park. Please visit chicagofolkandroots.org for a complete schedule and lineup, transportation information and the history of the fest.