Heritage Matinee Series

Coach Ship House Concerts - a private house concert series in LaGrange Park, IL. James Curley opens for Award Winning Songwriter Dan Navarro

Join us Tuesday, August 25th at 7PM for Friendly Spotlight Series showcasing James Curley. James has been a fan, performer, songwriter and instrumentalist for 50+ years in the folk and roots music scene, primarily in Chicago. As a solo performer, he’s opened for Ellis Paul, Dan Navarro, Happy Traum, Patty Larkin and other well-known artists, as well as fronting multiple bands including Radio Fade, Earnest & Troubled and The James Curley Band. His three records released between 2001 and 2012 produced several award-winning songs and continue to receive radio airplay internationally.

A member of Folk Alliance since 2003, James was elected to the FARM Board of Directors in 2024. After a 14-year hiatus, James is releasing a new record in fall of 2026. As a songwriter, James sees life through multiple lenses - evolutionary theory, Buddhist principles, literary leanings, musical curiosity, moral clarity and his songs reflect that.

Songwriters in the Round on St. Patrick's Day! No Cover.

Inspired by round-robin nights held regularly in Nashville, Los Angeles and New York, Flint native, San Francisco transplant and Chicago-based singer-songwriter Larry O. Dean started Folk You! in December 2001. Weary of standard acoustic open mikes and showcases, Dean wanted something more intimate and at the same time, more varied. Held the second Tuesday of every month, Folk You! presents a trio of performers taking the stage simultaneously with naught but their guitars (sometimes pianos) and songs. Interaction is encouraged but there is no script; performers may play and let the songs speak for themselves, talk about how they came to write them, or wing it. Anything goes. Who performs at Folk You!? Larry hosts and plays, joined most months by two others. The one through-line is the night must comprise all original material that can be played without accompaniment and stand upon its own. Obviously performers well-versed in folk-type solo acoustic situations are welcome, but Dean also encourages songwriters who tend to front electric combos to step out from their role as one of the band and let the songs be heard as they were written. Folk You! is currently in its second decade and shows no signs of letting up. Stop by and check it out; or better still, become a regular. You never know what (or who) you might hear! This month: LOD + JAMES CURLEY & ADELE NICHOLAS As always, FREE! Hope to see you there!

Kopi Cafe Songwriter Showcase featuring James Curley and Patrick Gemkow.

For anyone not familiar with the series, Hickory Ridge concerts presents acoustic music of all styles in a unique, intimate listening room; the historic The Ellisville Opera House. The Ellisville Opera House in an 1891 Opera House right along the Spoon River in rural West Central, IL. It still retains it's original bent wood chairs, the painted backdrop and all it's original detailing plus there is in house sound, lights and air conditioning! Though in keeping with tradition, the Opera House is a second story venue, the elevator is installed and working!