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Two Way Street Coffee House – Presents Mark Ambrose and Lisa Medina
August 2, 2024 @ 7:30 pm
Two Way Street Coffee House is Chicagoland’s most beloved folk and acoustic music venue, presenting weekly concerts and community events for over 50 years! The show starts at 8pm (CT) and the doors open at 7:30pm. (Suggested donation $10). 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.
On Friday, August 2, 2024 Two Way Street Coffee House Friday Night Concert Series presents Mark Ambrose and Lisa Medina as part of our Local Artist Showcase.
Mark Ambrose
American singer-songwriter, Mark Ambrose has been turning out songs faithful to the Texas folk/roots tradition yet still sounding like a much needed revival for our modern times. His voice, effortless flat picking guitar style, humor and sincere delivery will win an audience over. “A talent that is sure to be a force in roots country music (Roots Music Report)”. His album “Troubadour (2011)” has songs like “Train Whistle Blues” that have the feel of an instant classic. Meanwhile songs like “Shadow on the Moon” and “Redbirds” speak to the depth and romance embedded in Mark’s songwriting, as he addresses matters of the human spirit and the heart. At least a couple dozen artists have either performed or recorded Mark’s songs including Dave Rawlings and Gillian Welch and Austin stalwart Toni Price. Mark has worked with Rawlings and Welch, playing acoustic guitar on Welch’s “Soul Journey” album (electric guitar on “Wrecking Ball.”) Dave Rawlings produced Ambrose’s album, “Put The Hammer Down” in Nashville at RCA’s historic Studio B. Both Rawlings and Welch played and harmonized on the record. His particular charm, laid back and charismatic, is deceptively simple but also satisfyingly profound as the very best of folk music should be.
Lisa Medina
Lisa 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.
Upon having children, Lisa’s paid gigs transformed into exclusive cribside lullabies and toddler storytimes. This season as a new mom – full of wonder and sometimes chaos – left her without the time or energy for writing songs. After a decade flew by, Lisa thought perhaps she had forgotten how. Finally, when the pandemic hit in 2020, isolation at home with her family, a new puppy, and an old piano stirred her creative spirit. Lisa and her little ones filled their time playing music together. Amid the devastating events in her community and the world, her children’s innocent laughter and musical curiosity became her muse. Lisa started crafting stories and dreams into powerful songs that resonate with listeners of all ages. These songs, written at a time of creative reawakening, form the heart and the backbone of Lisa’s latest project: her first studio album, which will be released in May 2024.
If you can’t join us in person, you can still tune in virtually to catch the show! Make your donation HERE to Mark and Lisa. Visit www.twowaystreet.org for more information.