Jamie’s Enews. Concerts, Reviews and More.
A Note from Jamie
April, 2022
Spring Forward!
Rain and snow are hardly the way to go this early spring. Warm afternoons and sun-drenched flowers are so desperately desired. So urgently needed. I know of no one that is breezing through this long winter. But I see plenty of us looking out and forward. Anxious to return to something of what was and make new.
Just round the corner in April, on Easter weekend, my extended family with at last come together! It’s been over two years.
“You were resplendent,” my friend Kristin told me, after the March concert at Chief O’Neill’s. My voice took on a force of its own that night, determined and alive. So happy in those songs. Now I transition to the Roots in the Garden concerts. The first is with my friend Anne Hills, who will bring her golden voice to Tre Kronor with me May 19.
Do you have a lawn or garden fitting for one of our concerts? Contact me, jamie@jamieoreilly.com, and we’ll set something up.
I’ve added two new pages to this website under Projects, the SongBirds Series, and Roots in the Garden.
Do you have a lawn or garden fitting for one of our concerts?
Email jamie@jamieoreilly.com, and we’ll set something up.
“Arise love, my fair one. Follow me.
For the winter is past.”
Listen to Jamie sing Set Me as a Seal
I would speak with you of gardens
When to plant and when to trim
How the apple tree will bear more fruit
With the shaping of each limb
How the lavender and lilac, can lift the heart like song
And digging in the cool black earth brings us back where we belong
from Gardens, by Anne Hills, with Cindy Mangsen
Roots in the Garden Anne Hills & Jamie O’Reilly sing
Songs of Resilience and Spring at the wonderful Tre Kronor Swedish Bistro
Enjoy a spring evening in the lovely garden at Tre Kronor Swedish Bistro. Songbirds Anne and Jamie sing songs to lift the spirit; signature songs, folksongs, lullabies, anthems, novelty tunes, torch songs, and World War II blitz-ballads.
The program will feature unforgettable songs our grandmothers sang, from sheet music picked-up at the five and dime. Songs heard in old movies, sung in the parlor, music hall, and around the dinner table. And, of course, favorites from Anne and Jamie’s extensive musical catalogs.
A selection of Scandinavian entrees, appetizers and desserts will be available from the menu.
Alchoholic beverages are BYOB.
Make your reservations now
https://www.jamieoreilly.com/events/anne-hills-jamie-oreilly-songbirds-series/
Kicking Off our Second Year!
Roots in the Garden Concerts
Thursday, May 19 at 7:30 PM
SongBirds Series
Roots in the Garden
Anne Hills & Jamie O’Reilly sing
Songs of Resilience and Spring
with John Erickson and Judi Cogan Heikes
Tre Kronor Swedish Bistro Garden
3258 W Foster Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
Reservations suggested
https://www.jamieoreilly.com/events/anne-hills-jamie-oreilly-songbirds-series/
Friday, July 15 at 7 PM
Jamie O’Reilly’s SongBirds Series
Tough Broads & Tender Lasses: Songs of Resilience
St. Giles Church Courtyard
1045 Columbian Ave
Oak Park, Il 60302
https://www.jamieoreilly.com/events/jamie-oreilly-at-st-giles-church-courtyard-oak-park/
Sunday, July 17 at 7 PM
Midsummer Celebration
Jamie O’Reilly’s SongBirds Series
Tough Broads & Tender Lasses: Songs of Resilience
Tre Kronor Swedish Bistro Garden
3258 W Foster Ave, Chicago, IL 60625.
Reservations suggested.
Tickets https://www.jamieoreilly.com/events/jamie-oreilly-midsummer-concert-tre-kronor-swedish-bistro/
About that new show Tough Broads and Tender Lasses
“From the description of Jamie O’Reilly’s “Tough Broads and Tender Lasses: Songs of Resilience” show last night (at Chief O’Neill’s): “What keeps an artist going? Daydreaming, dancing, cooking, gardening, family, love, determination in the face of adversity, prayer, poetry, art and music. And hope.”
What a wonderful show, and it addressed just that! The songs Jamie chose reminded us that times have been tough before, and people found reasons, and the determination, to keep going. John Erickson provided beautiful piano accompaniment, and Judi Cogan Heikes added dramatic prose and poetry readings to further the underlying theme.
A moving, and ultimately hopeful concert, a reminder that beauty and art ultimately heal and give meaning to this life.”
(–Sue Fink, Singer/songwriter)
Sue Fink had some good news! Her song “Don’t Berate a Cicada” was an “Outstanding Achievement in Songwriting” winner in the “Special Music” category in the 2021 Great American Song Contest! https: suefink.com
“Jamie, you sounded incredible tonight! REALLY incredible! Seriously. And when you sang “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” I think you summoned both Studs AND Mahalia, as in, they were THERE, in the room with you and all of us! You gave us all a huge gift, and it was incredible!” (–Kathy Kelly. WNUR Folk Show)
“It moves me every time I hear you….She’s one of a kind, ladies and gentlemen. One of a kind.”
Jamie talks to WGN Radio host and pal Rick Kogan about her new show, and how great vocalists use music to find resilience. Listen to the segment here: https://www.jamieoreilly.com/on-resilience-rick-kogan-interviews-jamie/
Watch Anne’s YouTube video illustrating her song Gardens.
words: Anne Hills, music: Cindy Mangsen
© Raven Heart Music / Compass Rose Music
Jamie and Cosmo,, family photo
Jamie and Anne photo by Al Power
Judi Heikes photo Sue Fink
Jamie under the moon photo Mary Lewis
Rick Kogan Chicago Tribune photo
Poster art Nia O’Reilly Amandes
Blogs, newsletter Jamie O’Reilly, J. O’Reilly Productions, 2022
