The Emergent Series hosted by Andrew Sa and His Organic Sound

Talented folks are all around us. Join the Old Town School for a new creative concert series highlighting emerging artists from within the School and around our city. Once a month we will feature a number of artists in an interactive, intimate setting at our historic 909 W. Armitage location.

Ryan Suzuka

Ryan Suzuka picked up harmonica while in his home state of Hawaii, and started playing ukulele after moving to Chicago in the Fall of 2000. Maybe this seems a little backwards, but this is the same guy who didn't sing or even hum to himself, from ages 5 through 17. Drawing upon indie pop, Americana and blues, Ryan makes music that is gutsy, vulnerable and beautiful. When not playing solo, Ryan fronts his band, Blow Wind Blow, with the help of lead guitarist/band leader, Rami Atassi. He has also played/recorded harmonica with American Idol's Crystal Bowersox, The Voice's Sarah Potenza, former Wind Up Records artist Company of Thieves and numerous Chicago locals including Ty Maxon and Cold Country.

The Wandering Boys

Since joining forces in 2014, the boys have refined a unique craft of rapid picking, clever arrangements and crisp four­part harmony to make a hard­driving, traditional bluegrass sound. They've made a name for themselves with a weekly Thursday residency at Cole's Bar in Logan Square and frequent appearances at storied Chicago venues, The Hideout and Schuba's Tavern. Paying homage to the hard­-driving traditional bluegrass they love, these boys light a fire in casual listeners and die-hard bluegrass aficionados alike.

Japper Watson

Japper Watson is a writer, improvisor, and comedian from Chicago who was raised on folk music. She performs with her improv teams Brandon and Realness at tiny theaters throughout the city. Japper uses her unique world view to explore the surreal and make sense of reality.

Matt Brown

Matt Brown is a teaching artist at the Old Town School of Folk Music. His latest release, “Speed of the Plow,” is a collection of old-time duets with guitarist Greg Reish that was engineered and co-produced by GRAMMY winner Dave Sinko (Punch Brothers, Béla Fleck). Matt has toured the country as a soloist, with percussive dance ensembles Rhythm in Shoes and Footworks, and has made guest appearances with Tim O'Brien, The John Hartford Stringband, Uncle Earl, Special Consensus, Della Mae, and with Mike Snider on the Grand Ole Opry. Thanks to his banjo-playing father, Brown grew up with the old-time music of the Appalachian South. He studied with tradition bearers Brad Leftwich, Bruce Molsky, Paul Brown, Ginny Hawker, and Tracy Schwarz.

Andrew Sa and His Organic Sound

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Andrew Sa is a Chicago folk pop singer-songwriter who tells the stories of humanity. According to Bau Graves, the Executive Director of the Old School of Folk Music, Andrew sings with the “voice of an angel.” He has played across Chicago, from the Hideout to Wang's Bar. Andrew Sa & His Organic Sound recently released their debut EP, For Tonight. Chicago-based folk band Sons of the Never Wrong called the album “glorious” and “perfection.”