Some Like It Folk is the trio of vocalists Chris and Lorraine Straw backed up with Jon Pagenkopf’s marvelous guitar work.

Chris Straw has been singing as long as she can remember, and writing songs since she was a teenager. She has performed with bluegrass, folk, traditional/standards, and choral groups over the years, most notably with The Moxie Chicks. She has performed on several CDs, the most recent featuring her own compositions, “Echoes of Home” (2019). Chris has played uke, guitar, and upright bass, but focuses primarily on vocals.

Jon Pagenkopf has played a variety of guitars since he was a teen, in a variety of styles, including rock, bluegrass, folk, classical, and a bit of jazz. He often plays lead guitar in groups, and sometimes plays his home made slide guitar. His guitar idols include Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler. He has performed solo, in duets, and with a number of groups, most recently the rock group City Boy. He was the lead guitarist in The Moxie Chicks. Jon was featured on the recent CD, “Echoes of Home.”

Lorraine Straw has been singing since she was a child, in family harmony sessions, campfire songfests, and in high school, college, church and concert choirs. She loves all types of music, folk to orchestral, and has played guitar and French horn. Lorraine has sung for decades with sister Chris, and was featured singing harmony and lead in Chris’s CD release concert last November.

Opener Lisa Medina is a contemporary folk singer-songwriter with a flavorful hint of Latin rhythm and spice. Lisa’s performance history includes: church choir, theater kid, solo singer-songwriter, vocals and guitar in various duos and bands, and as a vocalist with a Grammy-nominated Latin jazz big band. Over the years Lisa sang on renowned stages, most notably at the Petrillo Bandshell for the Chicago Jazz Festival, Park West, the Old Town School Folk & Roots Festival, the Adler Planetarium, and at Wrigley Field singing the National Anthem for Cubs games. More recently, her children's innocent laughter and musical curiosity became her muse, who inspire stories and dreams into powerful songs that form the heart and the backbone of her latest project, her first studio album, "Wishes" released in May 2024.

Early in the new year The Coffee House celebrates the musicians and songwriters who passed away in the previous year. This year's Memorial Show will occur on January 25th, and feature three acts: Dan Geddes, Don Starr, and the trio of Jerry Danks, Jonnie Guernsey and George Kidera. Come celebrate the lives of the musicians who died in 2024 in this benefit show for NourishMKE, Saturday, January 25th, 7:30-9:30 PM. 

Dan Geddes retired and moved from Appleton to Milwaukee in 2020 and is still learning about all the great music opportunities the city has to offer. He was a founding member of the folk group Laughing Whitefish and performed and recorded with that band for many years. He is a past president and currently on the board of the Green Apple Folk Music Society and is also on the board of the MOO Music Gathering organization.

Don Starr began playing at 14. He studied Classical and American Finger Style Guitar and continues playing to enrich his retirement years.

Jerry Danks found a whole new fingerstyle world, hearing Leo Kottke's A Good Egg twice on WBAY-FM out of Green Bay the summer of '74. 

Jonnie Guernsey discovered harmony in her childhood, thanks to intensive exposure to barbershop rehearsals in the living room. After 100+ performances with the Moxie Chicks, she is delighted to have discovered George on her patio, and our collaboration with Jerry began.

George Kidera started playing guitar and singing when he was ten and joined his brother’s band. He enjoys playing all kinds of music with friends.

Folks would walk under the old Coffee House sign to enter a welcoming world of music and poet friends to talk about peace and justice, reminisce, and share their stories and songs. Tonight we invite everyone to join in on an old Coffee House tradition. Bring an instrument, a song or your own book of poems. You can come just to listen or join in yourself. - The Coffee House Friends Gathering and Open Jam is a time to gather together listen, appreciate everybody's contribution, and have fun singing -- that's what it's all about. In a jam session or song circle just try to be observant and feel your way gently. Each person who wants to can take a turn playing a song and they lead the group. The idea is that no one plays louder than the person leading the song. Depending on the size of the group you may be able to lead multiple songs when the circle comes around as each person takes a turn. We love if people just want to come to listen too. Wonderful time to visit with friends.

Led by singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Gary Kitchin, the Dirty Dishes gather again to bring Americana, blues, bluegrass, and joyous early rock to our stage! Joining Gary are John Granzow (guitar and vocals), Bob Estes (fiddle, mando, guitar), and Ives Iverson (banjo, harmonica). Expect a night of high energy — these Dishes may be dirty but their audiences always leave feeling clean and refreshed!