Folk music has always been a big part of Natalie Mae Palms life.

ART Antioch Fine Arts Foundation Gallery: 983 Main St. (847) 838-2274; www.antiochfinearts.org . Free folk music on the second Saturday every month from 1 to 4 p.m.Lake County Discovery Museum: Lakewood Forest Preserve, Route 176 and Fairfield Road, Wauconda. (847) 968-3400. See intricate hand-carved folk art cathedrals and historic postcards in "Charles Warner's ...

Today is Friday, July 30, the 211th day of 2010. There are 154 days left in the year.

If your kids have ever threatened to run away and join the circus, tell them they can skip that first step.

Canadian Tia McGraff began her writing and recording career at the age of 19. She released two albums and had four music videos showcased on Country Music Television (CMT) before moving to Nashville, Tenn. There, she met songwriter/producer Tommy Parham, who became her partner in life and on stage.

Susquehanna Folk Music Society announced its 2010-11 concert season. For details and tickets, call 234-3844, e-mail bart.

Ethel plays a variety of styles at Lincoln Center Out of Doors.

Rick Moody grew up in New Canaan, then wrote a hit novel that sliced the town to pieces. Now, hes got a new novel and, after that, another new direction

Soon after opening for business in Mt. Pleasant in early 2002, the Village Tavern established itself as a hot-spot for cool live music in the area. They closed down this week after a financially tough period. by T. Ballard Lesemann The Village Tavern officially closed this week. Owner Daniel Drew confirmed the news today. "We weren't even breaking even," Drew says. "I spoke with Kyle [Smoak, the ...

Shop and explore everything baby at the new Chicago Baby & Toddler Expo from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 31, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 1, at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center, 1551 North Thoreau Drive , Schaumburg.

The Chilean vocalist will open for pop-folk music composer and interpreter Leon Gieco at Queens Theatre in the Park. Aquiles Baez and Lucia Pulido also perform. Call 718-760-0064 or visit queenstheatre.org for more details...

Fabian and Bobby Vee, Chris Isaak, We Fest

The singer/songwriter ranks up there with such names as Lucinda, Dusty and Emmylou -- and Kenny Loggins.

The Mission Folk Music Festival appears to be weathering the storm. Last year a lightning storm threatened the safety of the performers and audience, and all of Saturdays performances were cancelled. It cost the festival $35,000 because of the loss of gate receipts.

It's kind of hard to believe the Justin Rutledge on The Early Widows and the one on his past three albums are, well, the same Justin Rutledge. The Toronto-based singer/songwriter sounds much different on The Early Widows . That's got a lot to do with Hawksley Workman's production.

Watch out, Myrtle Beach. The brass knuckles are coming out, and you just may get hit with some raucous honky-tonk blues and a psycho swing of rock 'n' roll.

Folk music has always been a big part of Natalie Mae Palms life.

Elmhurst Green Fest will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 31 at Wilder Park on Prospect Avenue between the Art Museum and Cottage Hill Street parking lot. Highlights include fun and educational activities for kids and adults, recycling drop-off, eco-friendly product and service exhibits, live folk music, door prizes and give aways. Presentation topics include reducing home energy usage, easy ...

Singer/songwriter Sarah Harmer performs on the mainstage at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival Saturday night.

Danny Quinn will perform at the gazebo in Veterans Park (across from the train station) on Thursday, July 29 at 7:30 p.m. Quinn has been a performer of Irish and American folk music for nearly three decades.