Bonni's "Nonessential Bizness" song joins a soundscape

JoVia Armstrong and Stephan Moore created this soundscape out of interviews and vocalizations of people from Chicago's Austin community reflecting on their experiences in the Corona pandemic. . The original Barrelhouse Bonni song "Nonessential business" boils up out of the relaxing drone from time to time.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwY2KG8g5lc

Generations Learn Blues: Videos 

During 2018-19  Barrelhouse Bonni brought blues education to several SouthSide community groups. Teens, youth and elders created a theme at the Peace House, I Grow  in Bonni'sblues class. sponsored by  Old Town School of Folk Music  They also imagined backyard alligators.

Bonni played in the band as Larry Taylor entertained in Hubbard Park on the West Side during summer 2018, sponsored by the neighborhood organization BUILD, bringing out all generations fora series peaceful and fun evenings.

In 2019…

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Larry Taylor, Bonni on CAN-TV 

Chicago bluesman Larry Taylor goes on Chicago public access channel CAN-TV 27 with Bonni to talk about his blues history and music. Directed by cameraman Chris Wilkins, first aired July 26, 2019.

Larry Taylor series at Water Hole 

During the Feb/March 2019 Black History series at the Water Hole - Chicago's Juke Joint at 1400 S. Western, Bonni shared the stage with Blues Legend Larry Taylor. Guests West and South Side blues singers Mzz Reese and Merv Murphy; blues masters and visiting local Blues Legends/sons of blues including such as Elmore James Jr.,  Eddie C. Campbell Jr., Bobby Slim James.  in this VIDEO,  Larry sings/howls "Tell Me Baby", in Howlin Wolf's "Smokestack Lightning / Commit a Crime" groove, March 11 with Odie Payne…

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Blues for good in the Hood 

 

Can live blues music make a park safer?  It sure helps!  Check out Bonni's Austin Weekly News Blog and watch s VIDEO of her playing with Larry Taylor's band in Hubbard Park with the BUILD nonprofit program "Light in the Night."

Bonni gives annual IL Quaker lecture 

 

Each year one of the members of meetings gathered in the regional Illinois Yearly Meeting of Friends gives a talk about their life's spiritual journey. In her  Plummer Lecture June 24, 2018 at ILYM, Bonni talked about how we can choose , every minute, to follow our ego or the Divine. Text of the whole thing posted by Oak Park Friends Meeting, where Bonni is a member.

She also led blues workshops and singalongs during the annual meeting at McNabb, IL.  

Blues for West Side Tourism 

 

In summer 2017 Bonni helped organize a series of public discussions about blues, arts and culture for neighborhood development and tourism. Guest speakers have included Dr. Janice Monti, professor at Dominican who has led blues tours and symposia; State Reps. LaShawn K Ford and Camille Lilly; community and nonprofit guru Valerie Leonard; and bluesman Larry Taylor. Hosted by Crystal Dyer at Gone Again Travel and Tours.   Bonni and Larry also appeared on Valerie Leonard's "Nonprofit U" podcast . of June…

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