4/12/26 – Heritage Matinee Series
Welcome to the second season of the Heritage Matinee Series at the Two Way Street Coffee House! We are thrilled to announce the continuation of this successful concert series at the Two Way Street Coffee House, taking place on select Sunday afternoons in 2026. In each concert, Mark Dvorak and Ashley & Simpson will be joined by two local artists for a matinee concert, all benefitting the Two Way Street Coffee House! 100% of free-will donations collected at each concert will support the Two Way Street Coffee House’s operation and programming. It’s a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon, and it’s a great way to support Two Way Street! All shows will begin at 3pm (CT) and the doors will open at 2:30pm.
On April 12, 2026 the Two Way Street Coffee House is pleased to present Mark Dvorak, Ashley & Simpson, Ren Herr, and Joseph Kostal as part of our Heritage Matinee Series.
Mark Dvorak
Mark Dvorak is a modern-day troubadour who has never stopped performing, writing and recording. He has been called “a folk singer’s folk singer” with “an encyclopedic knowledge of traditional songs.” His original songs “wondrous” and “profound.”
Though Mark often appears in theaters and on festival stages, he is also at home in a more intimate setting. His concerts are a mix of the familiar and the new, traditional folk and standards from the Great American Songbook. He plays authentic country blues guitar and picks great old-time banjo. Mark enjoys involving his audiences in sing-along songs, just like The Weavers used to do, and mixes in his own infectious and well-crafted originals.
Ashley & Simpson
Comprised of Jennifer Ashley and Joel Simpson, Ashley & Simpson are quickly becoming folk scene favorites. This folk duo blends traditional songs and instrumentation along with beautiful vocal harmonies reminiscent of famous duos such as Ian & Silvia and The Everly Brothers. With their sophomore release “Off To Here Land,” they have pushed the art of folk to a new sound with an all traditional track list that will delight fans new and old. Both bringing a classical perspective to their duo, Jennifer Ashley & Joel Simpson have reached a new level with incorporating elements of jazz, popular music and other modern styles in their arrangements.
Ren Herr
Ren Herr is a local musician who lives in Brookfield, IL. He grew up singing in choirs in church, high school and college. When Ren was 18, he heard some acoustic blues guitar on TV, and instantly knew he had to make “that sound”. He bought a guitar that week and has been playing ever since. His particular musical influences are Mississippi John Hurt, Rev. Gary Davis, Blind Blake, Dave Van Ronk and Joseph Spence. Ren has sought out expert instruction and has participated in group lessons from guitar greats including Mark Dvorak, Stefan Grossman, Woody Mann, Rory Block, Bob Brozman, Eric Lugosch, and Catfish Keith.
Ren and his wife, Kathy are proud to be affiliated with Music and Potlucks, and are members of the Bound for Glory Singers. While Ren started out playing the blues, his playing has expanded to include ragtime, folk, Irish music and hymns. In the past year he has picked up a special and frankly unexplainable passion for waltzes, and has arranged some of Jay Unger’s numbers for solo fingerstyle guitar.
Ren appreciates a wide variety of musical styles. He loves to travel and collected field recordings while in Tibet.
Joseph Kostal
Joseph Kostal is a folk musician based in Cicero, Illinois, whose music draws deeply from the American folk revival tradition of the 1940s through the 1960s. A guitarist and emerging banjo player, Kostal performs traditional folk songs alongside singer-songwriter material, bringing renewed life to obscure and historically rooted music.
Inspired by artists such as Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, The Carter Family, Jackson C. Frank, and Gordon Bok, Kostal’s journey began after discovering folk music through WFMT’s Midnight Special and studying at Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music. His performances reflect a dedication to authenticity, shaped by ongoing research into the origins and stories behind the songs he sings.
Kostal’s repertoire explores the shared human experience—loneliness, love, loss, and resilience—presented with warmth and sincerity. Though his songs often touch on life’s hardships, his goal is connection: leaving listeners with the feeling that they are not alone in their experiences.
He began performing at Chicago-area open mics in the early 1990s, including No Exit Café and Fitzgerald’s, and continues to perform regularly at folk jams and open mic nights with the Friendly Music Community. Outside of music, Kostal pursues drawing and enjoys working on mathematical problems.
We will also host this concert virtually. You may access the livestream on www.twowaystreet.org, on our Facebook page, or on our YouTube channel. All donations will support the Two Way Street Coffee House. Support the Two Way Street Coffee House HERE.
4/12/26 – Open Mic at Two Way Street
We are always closing out the night at the Two Way Street Open Mic! Come join in the fun! More info at www.twowaystreet.org
3/24/26 – Live on Folk Festival 90.9 WDCB
We’re making a live appearance on Lilli Kuzma’s Folk Festival on 90.9 WDCB in support of their pledge drive! Be sure to tune in!
2/8/26 – Tunes & Tales
Tunes & Tales is a new songwriter-in-the-round series at the Two Way Street Coffee House, hosted by Ashley & Simpson—directors of the venue and a songwriting folk duo. Each session brings Ashley & Simpson together with two guest songwriters for an intimate afternoon of tunes and tales. In this cozy setting, artists take turns sharing their songs and the stories behind them, offering a deeper look into their creative process. Join us for a warm, conversational atmosphere where melodies meet meaning and every song comes with a tale.
Our first Tunes & Tales will be February 8, 2026 at 3pm (CT), where Ashley & Simpson will host Chris Walz and James H Jewell.
CHRIS WALZ
Nationally acclaimed bluegrass multi-instrumentalist Chris Walz combines a joy of performing with a reverence for America’s musical story. Chris perfected his Scruggs-style banjo playing and guitar flatpicking at a young age as he diligently studied all his musical heroes from Pete Seeger to Mississippi John Hurt to Woody Guthrie to Dave Van Ronk. Whether it is his lightning speed on the banjo’s fretboard, his hard-hitting grooves on the guitar or his tender melodic touch on the mandolin, Chris delivers a fulfilling performance. To top it off, Chris is an extraordinary singer, using his rich voice to buoy up a traditional ballad, a unique original composition, or a rousing ‘tear down the house’ bluegrass medley. His many years touring with bluegrass, Grammy nominated Special Consensus, honed his group and solo prowess. A natural born storyteller, Chris has a masterful presence as he weaves his songs and remembrances, one to the next, into a night of music that is not easily forgotten. Chris is a gifted and much sought-after teacher at the historic Old Town School of Folk Music and spreads his knowledge and love of music in each community he plays in with well-polished workshops. A rare combination of past and present, Chris is playing music for the future.
JAMES H JEWELL
James H Jewell is a Singer-songwriter, furniture maker, and poet. Pennsylvania born he now is living in Chicago. In between he and his wife have lived in Nashville, Los Angeles, Toronto, and Paris. His songs reflect a very homegrown Pennsylvania feeling while telling stories of travel, adventures, struggles, and trials of a vagabond lifestyle. He’s recorded and played with musicians everywhere he’s gone and has a beautiful collection of songs and recordings to show for it. His third record is “Songs From the Fridge” which was recorded in Paris France with one of Ray Charles’s engineers Steven Forward. It features musicians from Pennsylvania, Seattle, Paris, and Nashville.
ASHLEY & SIMPSON
Comprised of Jennifer Ashley and Joel Simpson, Ashley & Simpson are quickly becoming folk scene favorites. This folk duo blends traditional songs and instrumentation along with beautiful vocal harmonies reminiscent of famous duos such as Ian & Silvia and The Everly Brothers. With their sophomore release “Off To Here Land,” they have pushed the art of folk to a new sound with an all traditional track list that will delight fans new and old. Both bringing a classical perspective to their duo, Jennifer Ashley & Joel Simpson have reached a new level with incorporating elements of jazz, popular music and other modern styles in their arrangements.
Two Way Street Coffee House is Chicagoland’s most beloved folk and acoustic music venue, presenting weekly concerts and community events for over 55 years! The show starts at 3pm (CT) and the doors open at 2:30pm. Donations are accepted and encouraged. We will also host this concert virtually. You may access the livestream on www.twowaystreet.org, on our Facebook page, or on our YouTube channel. You can donate to these artists HERE.
1/25/26 – Friendly Music Community
Good music doesn’t just happen at night. Chicagoland’s phenomenal duo, Ashley & Simpson will be joining Miguel and I as our next musical guests, possibly along with some other surprise performances. Come for the music and coffee bar delicacies, but stay for the community vibes! Kids and dogs are encouraged! 
1/20/26 – Fitzgerald’s Side Bar
FITZGERALDS SONGWRITER CIRCLE:
w/ Host Jenny Bienemann and guests Ashley & Simpson and Paige Hargrove
FREE SHOW! Click “Book Now” to make a reservation
Grab dinner before the show at BABYGOLD BARBECUE
***PARKING***
There is rather limited street parking in the area, we recommend arriving by rideshare, bicycle, or rickshaw.