Tree of Life coffee house welcomes back blues performer
Submitted by Tree of Life
On Saturday, Sept. 7, blues artist Andy Cohen returns to Haystacks Coffee House at 7 p.m. at the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 5603 Bull Valley Road in McHenry.
The concert will benefit the Monic Children’s Center in Jinja, Uganda. He will be joined by fellow guitarists and singers Donna Herula and Andrew Calhoun.
Andy Cohen has won fans in McHenry County in two previous appearances at the Tree of Life. He sings and performs songs that are at the root of modern blues and rock. He intersperses his encyclopedic knowledge and mastery of Piedmont, Delta and country blues with stories and humor.
He was a protégé of the Rev. Gary Davis. The Memphis-based musician teaches guitar workshops, is a popular performer at blues and folk festivals, and likes to perform in intimate settings.
Donna Herula is a Chicago born singer and slide guitar player who performs in country, Delta, and modern blues styles. A soulful singer, she performs on resonator steel body guitars and employs both finger style and blues style. An award-winning performer, she often works with her husband, singer/guitarist Tony Nardiello, at venues like Buddy Guy’s Legends.
Andrew Calhoun is an established presence on the Chicago folk scene, influenced by writers and performers like John Prine, Leonard Cohen, and Martin Carthy. He is noted as a singer/songwriter and recording producer for sensitive lyricism and gentle acoustic melodies.
The Monic Children’s center is an orphanage and street children’s home serving the abandoned and HIV affected. It provides urgent interim care in the hope that foster or permanent placement can be found. Children are accepted regardless of tribal background, religion, or sexual orientation.
To support the work in Uganda, a $10 donation is requested at the door.
For details, contact Thomas Steffens at (815) 404-7908, the church office at (815) 322-2464, or visit treeoflifeuu.org.