It Was A Lovely Summer Vaca, But We Are Back With A Fortuitously Serendipitous Halloweenish Hootenanny!!!

FRIDAY, October 13 at 7:30 PM (Doors Open)

Merla’s Kitchen 5207 N Kimball

NOTE: Starting In November The Hootenannies Will Be On The THIRD Friday Of The Month.

You Recall How It Works: Scads Of Talented Musicians, Comedians, Storytellers, Poets, Rappers, ETC Will Be Bringing It Hot And Heavy.

Come On Down And Enjoy Them- Or Better Yet, Sign Up And BE One Of Them!

As Always, Merla’s Kitchen Will Be Bringing Delicious Filipino Cuisine To The Table (Literally- It Is A Restaurant After All).

A Fabulous Time Shall Be Had By All!!!

Merla’s Kitchen is a great space and this night is perfect for working out new material and expanding horizons as an Artist/Performer.

When I host Open Stages I create an atmosphere of respect for all genres of performance where Artists can feel safe and secure. [No stylistic cliquishness OR DISRESPECT allowed!]

My greatest joy comes from seeing someone perform for the first time or watching an Artist try out a new genre: a Musician doing Storytelling, a Storyteller doing Stand-Up, a Poet playing Music, a Stand-Up reading a poem…

The Place Where The Boundaries Meet & Overlap Is Where True Magic Happens.

And there is nothing like the feeling of opening a door into a new room in the mansion of your soul— SO COME ON DOWN & GO ON UP!!!

Merla’s Kitchen is BYOB & All Ages. (Must Be 21 To Drink Alcohol)
$5 Suggested Donation

Come Celebrate The Long Awaited Advent Of Summer Weather With A Rollicking Hootenanny! The Roots Room Has Merged Into Merla’s Kitchen And We Are Having Our Second Go With The New Configuration.

This Month The Hootenanny Falls Exactly On The Full Moon, And Its Proximity To The Summer Solstice Will Make This An Extra Henge-ariffic Affair.

FRIDAY, June 9 at 7:30 PM (Doors Open)

Merla’s Roots Room 5205 N Kimball

(Inside Merla’s Kitchen)

You Know How It Was Written And How It Shall Be:

Merla’s Kitchen Will Be Offering Fantastic Filipino Food.

Great Poets, Storytellers, Musicians, Comics, And All & Sundry Forms Of Performer Shall Be In Evidence.

Come And Enjoy Them — Or Better Yet Sign Up To Be One Of Them!

We Shall Have A Howl At The Aforementioned Moon And Perhaps Attempt A Cover Of Spinal Tap’s Stonehenge.*

A Peter Gabrieliciously Solsbury Hillistic Time For Performer & Spectator Alike!!!

Spring Has Been Tantalizing Us By Making An Early Appearance, And We Shall Encourage It To Continue On With A Hard Rockin’ Snootful Of Hootenanny Power!

FRIDAY, March 10 at 7:30 PM (Doors Open)

Roots Room 5203 N Kimball

Great Poets, Storytellers, Musicians, Comics, And All & Sundry Forms Of Performer Shall Be In Evidence.

Come And Enjoy Them — Or Better Yet Sign Up To Be One Of Them!

As Always: Merla’s Kitchen Will Be Offering Fantastic Filipino Food.

A Paganistically Scent-ual Time For Performer & Spectator Alike!!!

Milestones And A New Beginning For Stann Champion

2017 Shall Be A Big Year For Chicago Music Legend Stann Champion

In 2016, Chicago Music Awards made guitarist/vocalist/composer Stann Champion a Lifetime Achievement Honoree for his role in establishing the Chicago Reggae scene in the 1970’s & 80’s with bands such as Gypsy-Fari and Safari, then pioneering the Tropical Roots sound in 1987 with his band, Roots Rock Society.

As the venerable multiple award-winning Roots Rock Society celebrates their 30^th Year, Champion looks to the future by reaching into his past.

Spurred on by his Lifetime Achievement Honor and to commemorate the “RRS 30” Anniversary, Stann has begun a new project, Stann Champion’s Propaganda Machine. The Propaganda Machine marks a return for Champion to the music that first inspired him as a boy.

The Propaganda Machine plays a hot mix of Classic Chicago Blues, 1960’s Garage Rock, and 1940’s Jump Blues. These are the songs Stann played along with in his bedroom as a teenager while dreaming of becoming a musician. These torrid tunes are interspersed with originals from Champion and Harmonica/Vocalist Michael Hollywood. Bassist David Bernstein and Drummer Dave Smith (also the rhythm section for Roots Rock Society) complete this tight ensemble.

Stann wishes to announce a series of shows/events in 2017 Celebrating 30 Years of Roots Rock Society and the Launch of Stann Champion’s Propaganda Machine; beginning with these two in February:

Stann Champion’s Propaganda Machine

Independence Tap

3932 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago

Saturday, February 18

8 PM

Stann Champion’s Propaganda Machine (L to R): Stann Champion- Guitar, Vocals; David Bernstein- Bass; Michael Hollywood- Harmonica, Vocals; Dave Smith- Drums

Roots Rock Society

Roots Room

5203 N Kimball Ave, Chicago

Saturday, February 25

7 & 10 PM

Roots Rock Society (L to R): David Bernstein- Bass, Vocals; Dave Smith- Drums; Judy Director- Keyboards, Vocals; Stann Champion- Guitar, Vocals.

Roots Rock Society’s most recent Album is entitled “TimeBless” and is available at Rolling Stone Records, the RootsRoom, and RRS Live shows.

Coming Soon: Stann Champion’s Propaganda Machine is putting the finishing touches on their upcoming single, “The Midnight Rocker.”

For More Info & Updates Visit:  rootsrocksociety.com

Old Man Winter Continues His Assault On Our Senses And Our Psyche, But We Shall Forge On And Persevere With Another Raucous, Rabble-Rousing, And Recreational Hootenanny!

FRIDAY, February 10 at 7:30 PM (Doors Open)

Roots Room 5203 N Kimball

Great Poets, Storytellers, Musicians, Comics, And All & Sundry Forms Of Performer Shall Be In Evidence.

Come And Enjoy Them — Or Better Yet Sign Up To Be One Of Them!

As Always: Merla’s Kitchen Will Be Offering Fantastic Filipino Food.

A Topical & Torridly Tropical Time For Performer & Spectator Alike!!!

We Had A Wonderful Field Trip To The Independence Tap Last Month, But We Are Back Home At The Roots Room To Spread Some Holiday Cheer!!!

FRIDAY, December 9 at 7:30 PM (Doors Open)

Roots Room 5203 N Kimball

The Holidays Always Bring The Whole Family Closer Together!

Great Poets, Storytellers, Musicians, Comics, And All & Sundry Forms Of Performer Shall Be In Evidence.

Come And Enjoy Them — Or Better Yet Sign Up To Be One Of Them!

As Always: Merla’s Kitchen Will Be Offering Fantastic Filipino Food.

A Ho-Ho-Ho-Licious Time For Performer & Spectator Alike!!!

Come Rock Out!!!

The Roots Room is a great space and this night is perfect for working out new material and expanding horizons as an Artist/Performer.

When I host Open Stages I create an atmosphere of respect for all genres of performance where Artists can feel safe and secure. [No stylistic cliquishness OR DISRESPECT allowed!]

My greatest joy comes from seeing someone perform for the first time or watching an Artist try out a new genre: a Musician doing Storytelling, a Storyteller doing Stand-Up, a Poet playing Music, a Stand-Up reading a poem…

The Place Where The Boundaries Meet & Overlap Is Where True Magic Happens.

And there is nothing like the feeling of opening a door into a new room in the mansion of your soul— SO COME ON DOWN & GO ON UP!!!

The Roots Room is BYOB & All Ages. (Must Be 21 To Drink Alcohol)
$5 Suggested Donation

COME DANCE OFF THAT TURKEY!!!

We Had A Blast At The Independence Tap, But Now We’re Back On “Home Court” For A Post-Thanksgiving Party!

Stop By Early And Enjoy A Delicious Filipino/Pan-Asian Dinner At Merla’s Kitchen Before We Blow The Roof Off The Roots Room!!!

Click Here For More Info About The Propaganda Machine

The Roots Room Shall Be Doing A Takeover Night At The Independence Tap!!!

Mark Your Calendars For November 11, This Is Going To Be Epic!!!

We’ve Been Having So Much Fun At The Roots Room That We Decided To Take It On The Road!!!

The night will start with a Solo Music Set by Chicago Music Award Lifetime Achievement Honoree Stann Champion.

Then I (in my Comedy Persona) will host a Variety Open Mic. All Genres of Performer Welcome.

And then the night will close with a SMOKING HOT set by Stann’s newest band, The Propaganda Machine, featuring Yours Truly (in Musician Persona) on Harmonica.

This shall be a Wing Ding of Epic Proportions!!!

Come on down and check it out!

OR BETTER YET

Come On Down And Do Some Performing Yourself!!!

The Propaganda Machine Rockin’ The Roots Room!!! Stann Champion- Guitar, Vocals, Michael Hollywood- Harmonica, Vocals, David Bernstein- Bass, Dave Smith- Drums.

ATTENTION CHICAGO MUSICIANS, POETS, STORYTELLERS, STAND-UP COMICS, MAGICIANS, AND PERFORMERS OF ALL KINDS!!!

I’m Hosting The Next Open Mic/Variety Night At The Roots Room!!!

FRIDAY, September 9 at 7:30 PM (Doors Open)

The Roots Room is a great space and this night is perfect for working out new material and expanding horizons as an Artist/Performer.

When I host Open Stages I create an atmosphere of respect for all genres of performance where Artists can feel safe and secure. [No stylistic cliquishness OR DISRESPECT allowed!]

My greatest joy comes from seeing someone perform for the first time or watching an Artist try out a new genre: a Musician doing Storytelling, a Storyteller doing Stand-Up, a Poet playing Music, a Stand-Up reading a poem…

The Place Where The Boundaries Meet & Overlap Is Where True Magic Happens.

And there is nothing like the feeling of opening a door into a new room in the mansion of your soul— SO COME ON DOWN & GO ON UP!!!

The Roots Room is BYOB & All Ages. (Must Be 21 To Drink Alcohol)
$5 Suggested Donation

Chicago Film/History Fans Will Have TWO Final Chances To Catch My Hollywood On Lake Michigan, 2nd Edition Presentation This Week:

Wednesday, July 8— 7PM
Palatine Public Library
700 N. North Court
Palatine, IL 60067
https://il.evanced.info/palatine/lib/eventsignup.asp?ID=11869

Thursday, July 9— 7PM
Wood Dale Public Library
520 N. Wood Dale Road
Wood Dale, IL 60191
http://wooddalelibrary.evanced.info/eventsignup.asp?ID=7532