Two Way Street Coffee House live music venue

10/28/2026

For Sarah Morris, songwriting seems to be as much about community as creation. Over more than a decade of writing and recording, she has built an acclaimed catalog of Americana songs while continually finding ways to encourage, collaborate with, and shine a light on other songwriters.

Her own work reflects that same generosity. Sarah writes with empathy and precision, pairing a beautifully clear voice with lyrics that recognize the complicated, ordinary, hopeful business of being human. Her commitment to the craft has earned honors from Kerrville, the Midwest Country Music Organization, the Chris Austin Songwriting Competition, Telluride, and more.

Yet behind those accolades is an artist who simply seems to love songs: writing them, singing them, talking about them, sharing them, and helping other people write them too.

Join us THIS Friday, as Sarah joins us at Two Way Street!

https://youtu.be/dCl-Crj7DI0?si=KGCRF4JTCM8rccAd
Sarah Morris with Lars-Erik Larson | Yeah, Yeah | live at Waldmann Brewery

Directed by Eli GardenerMay 13, 2025Waldmann Brewery, St. Paul, M...

10/26/2026

Looking ahead at what's happening at Two Way Street:

🎶 Thursday, October 29 – High School & College Open Mic
🎶 Friday, October 30 – Friday Night Concert Series featuring Sarah Morris
🎶 Saturday, October 31 – 5th Saturdays with Fox Valley Folk Society Storytellers

Whether you're performing, participating, or simply enjoying the music, we'd love to see you.

Visit twowaystreet.org for details.

10/26/2026

Think a creative writing workshop sounds interesting - but you're not a writer?

That's okay. This one is for the curious, too.

No previous storytelling, creative writing, songwriting, or singing experience is required for our Halloween 5th Saturday workshop.

If you're fascinated by folklore, traditional songs, great stories, or the question of how a song becomes a story - and a story becomes a song - you're welcome.
We'll provide traditional ballads and short stories for inspiration. You bring the imagination.

Murder Ballads: From Song to Story or Story to Song
Saturday, October 31 | 1:00-3:30 p.m. | $25

10/24/2026

WELCOME TO THE TWO WAY STREET COFFEE HOUSE FRIDAY NIGHT SERIES!

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 page or on our YouTube channel.

On Friday, October 23, 2026 Two Way Street Coffee House Friday Night Concert Series presents John Derado.

FEATURED ARTIST
John Derado brings the kind of deep musical roots that feel right at home in a listening room. Grounded in pre-war blues and shaped by decades of performing, traveling, and sharing music with audiences across North America, John pairs fingerstyle guitar and bottleneck slide with the storytelling spirit of Americana. His years as both a performer and co-founder of Valparaiso’s Front Porch Music give him a rare perspective on the community that grows around live acoustic music—something Two Way Street understands very well.

ARTIST BIO
Originally from East of Gary, John Derado plays fingerstyle guitar and bottleneck slide. His roots are firmly planted in traditional pre-war blues with a strong inclination towards the Americana singer/songwriter. He has played throughout the contiguous 48 states, Canada and Mexico. In 1991 along with Paul Schriener he took time out to open Front Porch Music in Valparaiso, a retail and performance venue that has hosted such acts as John Hartford, Paul Geremia, Donovan, James Lee Stanley and Jim Post to name but a few. John has opened for many internationally touring acts including Little Feat, Duke Tumatoe, Rodney Crowell, Leon Redbone and Corky Siegel. After performing a few numbers on his own, Mr. Siegel called John back on stage to play out the rest of the evening with him, according to John, “One of the highlights of my career indeed.” Another highlight was being selected by Pinetop Perkins himself to open a star studded 88th birthday party for him in his then hometown of LaPorte, Indiana.

If you can’t join us in person, you can still tune in virtually to catch the show!

10/23/2026

Friday nights are better together. ❤️

Live music has always been about bringing people together.

Join us tonight as we welcome John Derado for another evening of music, stories, and community at Two Way Street Coffee House.

We'd love to share the evening with you.

10/21/2026

John Derado has spent much of his life on both sides of the stage.

As a performer, he has traveled throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico, developing a style rooted in pre-war blues, fingerstyle guitar, bottleneck slide, and Americana songwriting. As co-founder of Front Porch Music in Valparaiso, he also helped create a place where musicians and audiences could come together, hosting artists such as John Hartford, Paul Geremia, Donovan, James Lee Stanley, and Jim Post.

That combination of performer, listener, and community-builder gives John’s music a lived-in authenticity. Whether interpreting blues traditions or bringing his own voice to Americana material, he approaches the music with respect for where it came from and an instinct for how it connects people in the present. Come see him this Friday at Two Way Street!

https://youtu.be/bMHrtUuLfHg
John Derado and Anne McIntyer @ 2WS 8/4/23 “My Kinda Place” by Paul Geremia

www.twowaystreet.orgDowners Grove, IL (Chicagoland)Live Music E...

10/19/2026

Here's what's coming up at Two Way Street:

🎶 Friday, October 23 – Friday Night Concert Series featuring John Derado
🎶 Saturday, October 24 – Community Country Western Jam

Whether you're joining us to play, sing, listen, or connect with fellow music lovers, there's a place for you at Two Way Street.

More information at twowaystreet.org.

10/19/2026

Quick question for the folk-song people...

Is there a traditional ballad or old song that has ever made you wonder, "Wait - what REALLY happened here?"

The best ballads can leave us with as many questions as answers - which is exactly what makes them such wonderful storytelling material.

Tell us one that comes to mind in the comments.

And if this sounds like your kind of rabbit hole, join us October 31 for Murder Ballads: From Song to Story or Story to Song.

Learn more: https://twowaystreet.org/5th-saturdays-registration/