Esto es la historia de La Peña, the first Latin music concert series at the Old Town School, pretty much the predecessor to today’s enormously successful World Music Wednesday concerts. But the story of La Peña is really just one part of a larger story, about how the Old Town School in the 1980s was brought back from the brink of closure, in large part by broadening their definition of “folk” in highly intentional ways. To tell the tale, we’ll share stories and music, en inglés y en español, from the people who were there. Featuring an interview with Juan Díes, founder of La Peña, and former Director of Community Outreach at the school.

Original recordings featured in this episode (in order of occurrence):- “Voy Por la Mañana” performed by Ensemble Charambó live at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N Lincoln Ave, 11/07/2001- Interview with Juan Díes & Luis Jahn at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 909 W Armitage Ave, 06/14/2019- “Malagueña Salerosa” performed by Valucha de Castro, Studs Terkel OTS Show, 1968- “Alma Llanera” performed by Karin & sus Llaneros live at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N Lincoln Ave, 07/19/2000

This podcast series on La Peña was supported by a grant from the Illinois Digital Archive. Access more audio and video recordings from the La Peña concert series at: http://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/p16614coll9/search/

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