'Song + Story' Hosts Intimate Concerts In Unexpected Settings

Canadian folk-singer Annie Sumi to play Starved Rock Country

By Ryan SearlMarch 6, 2020

Born from Ottawa's Wallace Hall, the home of WRWO 94.5 FM Community Radio, the Song + Story concert series began as a monthly showcase of Starved Rock Country musicians. Now, it's grown to include a roaming concert series, that's pairing talented local acts with with touring performers, traveling from as far as Canada and the UK!

After spending six years in California honing her musical craft, singer-songwriter Christina Eltrevoog returned home to Starved Rock Country in 2014. While playing solo shows at various venues and open mics throughout the region, she happened to reconnect with Matthew Pittman, an old friend and talented musician. The pair began playing each others acoustic songs and by 2017, they had established their band, MMCM.
While taking their rich two-part harmonies and string accompaniment on the road, Christina and Matthew saw the need for a new type of show in Starved Rock Country. A regular concert series that could bring together a mix of local, regional and touring acts.
As luck would have it, following an open mic show at Ottawa's Dockside Bar and Grill, the pair struck up a conversation with Chris Farrell, a local musician that was the interim host over at the Wallace Hall showcase. He loved the idea, and helped the duo the approval to start the song + story series that very night! — After spending six years in California honing her musical craft, singer-songwriter Christina Eltrevoog returned home to Starved Rock Country in 2014. While playing solo shows at various venues and open mics throughout the region, she happened to reconnect with Matthew Pittman, an old friend and talented musician. The pair began playing each others acoustic songs and by 2017, they had established their band, MMCM.

While taking their rich two-part harmonies and string accompaniment on the road, Christina and Matthew saw the need for a new type of show in Starved Rock Country. A regular concert series that could bring together a mix of local, regional and touring acts.

As luck would have it, following an open mic show at Ottawa's Dockside Bar and Grill, the pair struck up a conversation with Chris Farrell, a local musician that was the interim host over at the Wallace Hall showcase. He loved the idea, and helped the duo the approval to start the song + story series that very night!

In that moment song + story was born, a series of regular concerts that would bring together a listening room-like atmosphere in Wallace Hall with a bill of artists ranging from green to acomplished touring acts.

Wallace Hall, named after the mural of Union war-hero General W.H.L. Wallace that adornes the downtown Ottawa building, is home to a community radio station ( WRWO 94.5 FM) and Here and Again Inc, a non-profit promoting the arts across the region. From the moment Wallace Hall first opened it's doors, Here and Again Inc. founder Katie Troccoli had been organizing events like monthly songwriter nights, where local performers could gather and share music with each other.

The song + story series was a natural progression from these early shows. This series not only gives aspiring performers a regular all-ages venue to perform at, it also gives the community and visitors alike an opportunity to catch rising performers in an intimate concert space. In short order, they partnered with Mario Data of Ladd Sound Productions, to provide impeccable audio at the Wallace Hall live events, and the talented videographer Eric Rejman of Oak Park, IL, so the acts that preformed at song + story could walk away with a polished video of their performance.

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**Wallace Hall/WRWO Studios**

**813 LaSalle Street - Rear Entrance**

**Ottawa, IL 61350**

**wrwo.org**

**815-324-9501**

(Film Photography by Josh Johnston)
Recently, song + story has started expanding their concert series to include shows outside of Wallace Hall! These pop-up performances are bringing an eclectic selection of traveling and local musicians to preform in unexpected venues across Starved Rock Country.
This new series kicked off with a concert by the UK based husband-wife roots duo The Black Feathers, who headlined a show at Ottawa's-own River House Bed and Breakfast. These BYOB concerts are preceded by a potluck dinner, giving you a chance to mingle with the artists are learn about their story and craft.
This special fusion of house show and community concert is a wonderful way to explore businesses and locations throughout Starved Rock Country you may not have otherwise visited. One such recent show was held at Tana Yoga Studio, located inside Peru's historic Westclox building. This intimate performance brought the etherial Canadian folk-singer Annie Sumi in for an evening of acoustic songs on the floor of this beautiful yoga studio. — (Film Photography by Josh Johnston)

Recently, song + story has started expanding their concert series to include shows outside of Wallace Hall! These pop-up performances are bringing an eclectic selection of traveling and local musicians to preform in unexpected venues across Starved Rock Country.

This new series kicked off with a concert by the UK based husband-wife roots duo The Black Feathers, who headlined a show at Ottawa's-own River House Bed and Breakfast. These BYOB concerts are preceded by a potluck dinner, giving you a chance to mingle with the artists are learn about their story and craft.

This special fusion of house show and community concert is a wonderful way to explore businesses and locations throughout Starved Rock Country you may not have otherwise visited. One such recent show was held at Tana Yoga Studio, located inside Peru's historic Westclox building. This intimate performance brought the etherial Canadian folk-singer Annie Sumi in for an evening of acoustic songs on the floor of this beautiful yoga studio.