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Music Moves Chicago

@musicmoveschi

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@oldtownschool’s community-based initiative
🥁💃🏾Arts Education 🎶 Concerts
🤝🏾 SOUTH & WEST side partnerships
🔥 FREE Fall Session Classes start 10/12 🫡

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Future Folk Festival is Back!

In an effort to celebrate some of the beautifully renovated Chicago park spaces and to continue our wonderful partnership with the Chicago Park District, we’ve decided to bring back the Future Folk Festival for 3 special nights in some of their updated facilities!

The Future Folk Festival draws inspiration from the definition of folk music provided by Folk Alliance International:

“Folk is the music of the people, reflective of any community where they are from.”

Because Old Town School of Folk Music doesn’t limit folk to any one genre or group of instruments, we prioritize connecting innovative, new, and global folk artists with diverse audiences.

Under the Future Folk Festival umbrella, Community Ventures continues to provide a wide variety of music-related experiences with the purpose of strengthening the Old Town School’s existing relationships with Chicago’s African American, Caribbean, Latinx, African, Asian, and Indigenous communities.

We look forward to seeing you out there! As always, all programming is FREE and OPEN to the Public.

More to come, but in the meantime 🗣️ Save the dates!! 🙂‍↕️

Future Folk Festival: Night 1
featuring Alejandro Salazar and the Afro Cuban Exchange with YAW
🗓️ Thursday, Oct. 22 at 6:00 PM
📍 Humboldt Park Fieldhouse // 1440 N Humboldt Dr, Chicago, IL 60622
 Future Folk Festival: Night 2
featuring Eva Supreme’s Hymns Reimagined with PRAISE MOTHER SQUAD and Duane Powell
🗓️ Friday, Nov. 13 at 6:00PM
📍Douglass Park Cultural & Community Center // 1401 S Sacramento Dr, Chicago, IL 60623 
Future Folk Festival: Night 3
featuring Dill Costa Quintet with AKENYA and Shon Dervis
🗓️ Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 6:00 PM
📍 Austin Town Hall // 5610 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60644

#musicmoveschi #oldtownschooloffolkmusic #oldtownschool #chicagoparks by @musicmoveschi

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11 days ago

FALL Session back Mon Oct 12 and we’re back with some of your faves 😎✨

All programming is FREE and OPEN to the public 🔥

Adult Djembe Orchestra with John Chapman
⏳ Every Monday from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
🗓️Oct 12 - Dec 14
📍Rise Training Academy • 8300 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60620• SouthSide of Chicago
✨ Drums available for use

West Side Fireflies with Mama Zahra and Mama Shanta
⏳ Every Tuesday from 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
🗓️ Oct 13 - Dec 1
📍A House in Austin • 533 N Pine Ave, Chicago, IL 60644 • West Side of Chicago

West African Dance
⏳ Every Tuesday from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
🗓️ Oct 13 - Nov 10 with Zenzile Fatou
🗓️ Nov 17 - Dec 15 with Maila Sylla
📍Washington Park Fieldhouse • 5531 S Martin Luther King Dr, Chicago, IL 60637
• South Side of Chicago

Afro-Cuban Dance with Edson Cabrera
⏳ Every Wednesday from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM *back to our normal time*
🗓️ Oct 14 - Dec 9
📍 Kennicott Park • 4433 S. Lake Park Ave. Chicago, IL 60653 • South Side of Chicago

Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba with Lauren Brooks
⏳ Every Thursday from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
🗓️ Oct 15 - Dec 17
📝Dec 17 is our Baile de Bomba! A culminating Bomba party to celebrate a successful session!
📍Washington Park Fieldhouse • 5531 S Martin Luther King Dr, Chicago, IL 60637
• South Side of Chicago
*Note* No Class Oct 22 and Nov 26

South Side FireFlies with with Mama Zahra and Mama Shanta
⏳ Every Saturday from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
🗓️ Oct 17 - Dec 19
📍Arts + Public Life Arts Incubator • 301 E Garfield Park Blvd, Chicago, IL 60637 • South Side of Chicago

Chicago Banjo Meet Ups with Black Banjo Reclamation Project
⏳ Third Sundays from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
🗓️ Oct 18, Nov 15, Dec 20
📍Chicago Art Department • 1926 S Halsted St.. Chicago, IL 60608 • South Side of Chicago
✨ Limited banjos available for use

Grab a friend, spread the word, and we’ll see you out there!

#musicmoveschi #oldtownschooloffolkmusic #oldtownschoolofmusic #freeprogramming #Chicago

*Fireflies is a free early childhood music program introduces toddlers and preschoolers to the magic of sound and play — all through the Earth, Wind & Fire songbook. The whole family is welcome!

STAY CONNECTED!

Follow us on all our platforms, even eventbrite taken in Chicago, Illinois by @musicmoveschi

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13 days ago

TONIGHT Mon Oct 12 at 6:30 PM we are back in class for Adult Djembe Orchestra with the one and only Djembefola John Chapman ✨

We are honored to be back at Rise Training Academy to offer this free class every Monday from now until Dec 14th.

In the Spring students got into a real groove! They learned and understood a series of rudiments and were intentional about technique and hearing themselves as a collective. That foundation was an awesome way to pilot this class and we can’t wait to see how far the students in this session go!

If you have a drum and experience, great. If you have one but not the other, wonderful. Don’t have either, no worries!

This space is FREE and OPEN to all levels! We can’t wait to see you there!

Adult Djembe Orchestra with John Chapman
⏳ Every Monday from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
🗓️Oct 12 - Dec 14
📍Rise Training Academy • 8300 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60620• SouthSide of Chicago
✨ Drums available for use
🤑FREE by @musicmoveschi

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7 days ago

The Music Moves party doesn’t stop!

We’re in the last week of our summer session and our Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba class always ends with a party 🤩

This Thursday, October 8, we’re gathering for our session’s culminating event: a South Side Baile de Bomba! ‼️🔥

Rooted in Afro-Puerto Rican resistance and liberation, a Baile de Bomba remains a powerful expression of identity, heritage, joy, and community.

Throughout our 10-week session, with the guidance of Lauren and our wonderful instructional team, we’ve explored the history, music, language, songs, and technique of Bomba, learning more about what makes this tradition so rich and powerful.

Now it’s time to celebrate and put all that hard work into practice! ❤️

Join us in our batey, our sacred gathering space, as we come together for our Baile. We can’t wait to see you there! ❤️🔥

✨ FREE and open to the public. Come as you are, bring a friend!

📅 Thursday, October 8
⏰ 6:30 PM
📍 Washington Park | 5513 S King Dr Chicago, IL 60615
🤑 FREE (GRATIS!)

📸 @aoctaviusw

#musicmoveschi #oldtownschool #Chicago #Bomba #musicanegra by @musicmoveschi

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14 days ago

All we can say is WOW!!! Last night’s Africa Out West show presented by @musicmoveschi was absolutely one for the books 🤩

We’re so grateful to have partnered with Kehrein Center for the Arts (@kehreincenter), the Department of Culture Affairs and Special Events (@chicagodcase), and World Music Festival Chicago for this special production. Africa Out West honors Chicago’s rich legacy of West African and African diasporic culture. The celebration brings together artists across generations, cities, and styles, reflecting the many ways African and African diasporic culture has taken root, evolved, and continues to thrive.

Thank you to all of the incredible performers from @asaseyaa, @deeplyrooteddance, @azaniadrum, and DJ @findingijeoma✨ taken in Kehrein Center of the Arts by @musicmoveschi

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17 days ago

Donate a Banjo to our Black Banjo Brokerage!

Music Moves Chicago and the Black Banjo Reclamation Project are accepting banjo donations to help build our inventory for community programming and to potentially distribute banjos to Black folks in need at reduced rates, and in some cases, free of charge as part of our training and granting programs.

Through this work, we aim to increase access to the instrument, support cultural connection, and uplift Black musicians, craftspeople, and luthiers through training and community engagement. We are doing this to repair, reconnect, heal, and learn from our own traditions of the banjo, an instrument with its origins on the African continent.

How it works
Step One: Pack up your new, used, broken banjo, or individual parts and materials.

Step Two: Drop off your donation at one of the two locations! 👇🏾

1️⃣Old Town School’s Lincoln Square Music Store
4544 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
Anytime during store hours, 7 days a week!
Monday-Thursday 11am-8pm
Friday & Saturday 11am-5pm
Sunday 11am-4pm
or

2️⃣Chicago Art Department
1926 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60608
Every 3rd Sunday from 1pm- 3pm at our Monthly Banjo Meet Ups
Next meetup is Sunday Oct 18th!

Step Three: Fill out a brief digital donation form and we will email you a receipt—the whole process takes about 5 minutes.

Not local?! Don’t fret 😏. We’ll take mailed in donations as well. Send us a dm or an email to musicmoves@oldtownschool.org!

Tell a friend!! 🪕🪕🪕

Cover photo by Sulyiman Stokes
Photo collage of collected images of African American folks with banjos by @musicmoveschi

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20 days ago

The energy doesn’t stop at Africa Out West! We couldn’t have Asase Yaa coming aaallll the way from New York without some free workshops!! 😏

Next Saturday October 3 we’re offering two workshops led by @asaseyaa 🔥

ALL workshops are FREE and open to the public! There’s an eventbrite link in our bio to rsvp, but just show up!

Djembe and Dun Dun Orchestra Workshop with @asaseyaa
🗓️ Saturday October 3
🕛 12:30 - 2:00 PM
📍 Washington Park Fieldhouse | 5531 S. King Dr. Chicago, IL 60637
✨ some drums available for use

West African Dance Workshop with @asaseyaa
📅 Saturday October 3
🕑 2:00- 3:30 PM
📍 Washington Park Fieldhouse | 5531 S. King Dr. Chicago, IL 60637

ALSO 📣 Don’t forget to come out to Africa Out West featuring @asaseyaa @deeplyrooteddance @azaniadrum and @findingijeoma
📅 Thursday October 1
🕓 6:00 PM Pre Performance Reception and Vendor Village
🕔 7:00 PM Showtime! 🎶
📍 @ke | 5628 W Washington Blvd | Chicago, IL 60644
🤑 FREE!!
🖇️ Link in bio to RSVP
🖼️ @blackmonumentensemble

#musicmoveschi #oldtownschool #southsidechicago #Chicago by @musicmoveschi

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22 days ago

In less than a week, Africa Out West is HERE in Chicago !!! Thursday, October 1 we present our third Africa Out West in partnership with Kehrein Center for the Arts along with the Department of Culture Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and World Music Festival Chicago. 🌍🎶✨

This FREE concert experience will feature New York-based Asase Yaa African American Dance Theatre with Chicago’s own Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre, Azania Drum, and DJ Finding Ijeoma!

The Bessie Award-winning Asase Yaa African American Dance Theater is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a national tour! We’re honored to host them at Africa Out West where you’ll get to witness performances from their production, The Revival: Djembe in the New Millennium!

For more about Asase Yaa and the rest of the performers visit ots.fm/aow2026 linked in bio ✨

Africa Out West is FREE and open to the public. Link in bio to RSVP 🖇️ Tag someone you want to bring in the comments!

Join us for a pre-performance reception with complimentary food and libation at 6:00 PM, followed by the show at 7:00 PM!

🖼️ @blackmonumentensemble

📍 Kehrein Center for the Arts | 5628 W Washington Blvd | Chicago, IL 60644
📅 Thursday, October 1
🤑 FREE
⏰ 6:00 PM Reception + Vendors 🍽️🥤
⏰ 7:00 PM Showtime! 🎶

@asaseyaa @deeplyrooteddance @azaniadrum @findingijeoma

#musicmoveschi #oldtownschooloffolkmusic #oldtownschool #worldmusicfestivalchicago
#dcase taken in West Side, Chicago by @musicmoveschi

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23 days ago

This cool weather is a reminding us that Music Moves’ end of spring into summer has been one for the books! Mind if we do a long dump?🙏🏾

1. Our last Baile de Bomba led by @ms_adelola and @los_medicos_chicago. Oct 8th is our next one 👀
2. A @miss.senegal Tues West African Dance Class is always 🔥. @johncuv1 leading and @azaniadrum holding the music down!
3. Hip Hop Jam Band recital at @catalystcirclerock. Our campers, led by @fred_jackson_jr and OTS staff, showed out!
4. Chicago Banjo Meet Up with @black.banjo.reclamation. Special guest @sulegreg was in town leading the way!
5. Wed Afro-Cuban dance class led by @edson_de_cuba ✨
6. This group was locked in for Djembe Orchestra class with @johncuv1 at @risetrainingacademy. We will be back for fall ☺️
7. Class prep for West Side Fireflies with @angeltheoracle and @deaconotiscooke at @ahouseinaustinchicago. Also will be back for fall :) Details forthcoming!
8. Last day of capoeira at @imagineenglewoodif camp with Mestre Marisa @marisacordeiro972. Berimbau skills shining!
9. Brass Band Intensive played for the Austin neighborhood for their recital on the @catalystcirclerock @kehreincenter stairs! Led by @chicagowindycityramblers 🎺
10. A reminder that Michael Jackson will live forever!
11. @zenzile.fatou breaking down what will be learned in class! Bring a notebook to your next Tuesday class 🫡
12. Arif explaining one of the ways the African diaspora is connected at a @los_medicos_chicago performance at the @southsidesanctuarychi ❤️‍🔥
13. @nikki.noland1 and @tiffomondo at the Saffronia performance of Cuatro Mujeres! 🍯
14. @ms_adelola showing how to come out into the batey at a Thurs Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba Class.
15. West African dance solos at the Camp Azania recital were serious! The boys didn’t come to play!

We have so much to share and we’re behind on sharing but we hope this helps a little ✨

Want to be the first to know what’s coming up next?? Sign up for our newsletter to know all the goodness coming your way! ots.fm/newsletters or linked in our bio.

Drop a comment with a favorite memory from summer! Or pic a fave 1-15 ❤️‍🔥 by @musicmoveschi

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a month ago

Have you ever played a banjo before ✋🏿?! If not, have you ever considered it?🤔

We have another opportunity for you to give it a go! Every 3rd Sunday we have Banjo meetups with our partners @black.banjo.reclamation 🫱🏾‍🫲🏿

These meets ups are Black musical affinity spaces that welcome all skill levels! Bring your banjo but if not there are a few banjos available share.🪕💥

PS, we promised before but we really do have some exciting news coming about how we are digging deeper into our efforts of uplifting, reclaiming and empowering current Black banjo players and enthusiasts, a like.

Join our newsletter to be the first to know! 🖇️Link in bio or ots.fm/newsletters 📧

Contact facilitator Micah at micah.corinne314@gmail.com
or bbrp.contact@gmail.com for more information on the meetups and we’ll see you there.

Chicago Banjo Meet Ups with Black Banjo Reclamation Project
⏳ Third Sundays from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
🗓️ Sept 20
📍Chicago Art Department • 1926 S Halsted St.. Chicago, IL 60608 • South Side of Chicago
✨ Limited banjos available for use

#musicmoveschi #oldtownschooloffolkmusic #blackbanjoreclamationproject #freeprogramming taken in Chicago Art Department by @musicmoveschi

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a month ago

No Afro-Cuban Dance class tomorrow 9/16 but we’re back on the floor next Wednesday 9/23!

See you then ✨ by @musicmoveschi

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a month ago

Here we are, finally able to witness the fourth mujer (woman). 🤩

TOMORROW, Tues Sept 8 at Austin Town Hall, we are deeply honored to present our final Night Out in the Parks performance of Cuatro Mujeres: A Diasporic Exploration of Nina Simone’s Four Women. In closing, we will explore Simone’s Peaches and the Orisha Obba. 🍑✨

Leading the way is a fantastic artistic team featuring music by Angel Bat Dawid and Fred Jackson Jr., with choreography by Ayesha Jaco‼️

It’s been a wonderful conversation we’ve had this summer, exploring Black feminine archetypes. We are so grateful to everyone who’s joined us along the way, whether you’ve been with us for one performance or all three thus far!

Tomorrow night is your last chance, for now, to get in on the action! We’re gathering at 6:00 PM with blankets, chairs, snacks, and family. Limited seating is available. Arrive early to get a good spot! The show will begin promptly at 6:30 PM.

As always, it’s FREE and OPEN to the public.

For full details, visit ots.fm/NOITP. Linked in bio.

🗓️ Tuesday, September 8
⏰ Gather at 6:00 PM | Show at 6:30 PM
✨ Peaches featuring Angel Bat Dawid and Fred Jackson Jr., with choreography by Ayesha Jaco
📍 Austin Town Hall | 5610 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60644

Flyer by @oguguam
Photos by @lawrenceagyei

@angeltheoracle @fred_jackson_jr @seerjaco

Reminder: No West African Dance Class tomorrow. See you next week!

#InTheParks #NightOutintheParks #mychiparks by @musicmoveschi

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a month ago