Summer Kickoff Week at the Library

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St, has kicked off its lineup of summer programs for all ages. Here are the week's events!

• Geneva Red's Harmonica Blues Concert - In partnership with the Junior Women's Club of Racine, the library is offering a one-hour musical performance and Hohner Harmonica Blues workshop with acclaimed blues musician Geneva Red on Monday, June 21 at 6:00pm.
  
  With her partner, Jackie 5 & Dime, on drums and guitar/banjo, Geneva Red will present an hour of music, history and interactive harmonica instruction. The audience will embark on a musical journey that starts in Chicago, heading south along the Mississippi River, to St. Louis, Memphis, the Juke Joints of the Mississippi Delta, and down to New Orleans. Participants are introduced to this small but powerful instrument with an insightful introduction to beginners Blues harmonica. A limited number of harmonicas will be available for use by participants. It is suggested that those attending come with their own harmonicas, Hohner being the recommended brand. A 10 hole diatonic harmonica in the key of C is needed. Free; call the library at 262.636.9245 to register your attendance.
  

• Ruff Readers - The library's award-winning read-to-the-dogs program kicks off another season on Monday, June 21. Kids ages 6-12 are invited to spend 15 minutes reading to one of our specially-trained listening dogs. This is a relaxed and fun way for kids to practice reading over the summer. Participants may drop in during the reading times or may call 262.636.9245 to reserve a time slot. Days and times vary. Call 262.636.9245 for more information.

• Early Childhood Storytimes begin June 22 and will be held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10am in the Youth Services Dept. Two different age-appropriate programs are held simultaneously to accommodate different learning levels. Both programs are designed to teach crucial early literacy skills. Children ages 1-3 are invited to sit with their parents in a 20 minute storytime featuring songs, fingerplay, and short stories. Children ages 4-5 who are able to sit independently are invited to attend a longer preschool storytime offering more complex stories and activities. These are drop-in events and no registration is needed to attend.

• Make a Splash Activity Day: "Just Add Water!" - This weekly story and activity program will be held on Tuesday, June 22 at 2:30pm. This week's topic is all about the things water can do when we "just add it" to things and situations. Registration is required. Call 262.636.9245.

• Storywagon Performance: "Pint-Size Polkas!" The first in this series of performances by professional entertainers will be held on Thursday, June 24 at 10 am and 1:30 pm in the Youth Services Dept. The program will feature an entertaining and educational live polka musical experience for children of all ages and their families. Free; no registration.

• Family Fun Night: "Growing Power!" A special activity night for families looking for some quality time together. On Thursday evening at 6:30pm families will spend time with the Master Gardener's Club learning all about growing your own family garden. Registration required; call 262.636.9245.

• BONK! It's the season to hit the streets and enjoy some of Racine's finest evening entertainment. Enjoy an evening with some very talented artists on Saturday, June 26 from 6-8pm, for another installment of "BONK!", a free monthly performance series in downtown Racine. Now being held at the Racine Arts Council, 316 Sixth St., the series was created to expose the public to both local and nationally-recognized artistic talents. Each event showcases poets, writers, musicians, film makers and other talented artists. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with seating available on a first come/first served basis. Each BONK! event features a short question and answer session with the artists. This month's event will feature poet NINA CORWIN, spoken word artist NIGEL WADE, and musicians KEVIN MACPHAIL, AUSTIN SPIKA, CODY HESS.

For more information about the Racine Public Library's summer event schedule, call 262.636.9245, follow us on Twitter, find us on Facebook, subscribe to our blog (rplinfo.blogspot.com), or just visit our website at racinelibrary.info!

Friday, August 14: Racine Public Library Hosts The Original Delta Fireballs to Help Eliminate Hunger in Racine County

Internationally acclaimed blues duo The Original Delta Fireballs - Featuring Geneva Red will perform at the Racine Public Library to help eliminate hunger in Racine County on Friday, August 14, 2008 starting at 7:00 p.m. The performance will be held in the Adult Service Area on the second floor of the library. Admission to this performance is a donation of two non-perishable food items per person to be donated to the Racine
County Food Bank. All ages welcome.

Jessica MacPhail the Director at the Racine Public Library and author of Yesterday's Papers: A Bibliography of the Rolling Stones, has connections in the national music scene and is a longtime fan of harmonica player Geneva Red. She is delighted that Geneva Red and her "juke joint style" duo, The Original Delta Fireballs has agreed to give a performance to help fight hunger in Racine county. "It's a great chance for young people who can't visit the night spots and other venues I play, to enjoy a performance and admittance is only two non-perishable food items. Just tell your parents you're going to the library!" said Geneva Red.

The Original Delta Fireballs are a classic sounding unit playing danceable "Juke Joint" music in that energetic rough and tumble style that is well known along the rural southern levee and plantation towns that dot the Mississippi river delta. Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine says "Geneva Red is one of the top female "blues harp" players on the scene today." and "This pair has taken the humble duo format and revitalized it." Geneva Red, plays harmonica and sings, while her Roadster's guitarist Jackie 5 & Dime plays guitar and drums at the same time in the tradition of Memphis musician Joe Hill Louis. This "stripped down to basics" delta juke style ensemble pays homage to renowned musicians like: "Rice" Miller's (Sonny Boy Williamson II) band The King Biscuit Entertainers, The Jelly Roll Kings, Slim Harpo, Juke Boy Bonner, Dr. Ross, and others.


Geneva Red...

...Is one of the few female instrumentalists performing on the "blues harp" and leading her own band. Couple this with her outstanding harmonica ability, strong vocal talent, and high energy show, and you've got the chemistry that immediately establishes her as a rare and exciting performer. The influences of Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson I and II, Big Walter Horton, George "Harmonica" Smith, and Jimmy Reed are apparent in her own personal approach to her music.

...Tours nationally and internationally; has had CDs charted in "Top 25" blues radio playlists around the world; is featured in The Encyclopedia of the Harmonica by Mel Bay Books and also in IL Soffio dell'anima: armoniche e armoniciesti blues (The Breath of the Spirit: Harmonicas and Blues Harmonicists) book by Fabrizio Poggi, published in Italy;

...Has played blues festivals across the nation including three of the most important blues festivals in the most historical blues locations in the world: The Chicago Blues Festival, The King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, AR and The Sunflower River Blues Festival in Clarksdale MS.;

...Has recorded/performed with Matt "Guitar" Murphy, Bob Margolin, Sam Carr, Louisiana Red, Floyd Murphy, Phil Guy, John Primer, Jimmy Johnson, Little Smokey Smothers, Billy Branch, Paul deLay, Studebaker John, and others;

...Has headlined/performed at some of the most revered blues clubs in the world: Checkerboard Lounge, Chicago, IL. Buddy Guys Legends, Chicago, IL. B.L.U.E.S., Chicago, IL. Rosa's Chicago, IL. B.L.U.E.S. Etc., Chicago, IL. Ground Zero, Clarksdale, MS. The Delta Blues Room, Clarksdale, MS. The Blues Station, Clarksdale, MS. Huey's, Memphis, TN. The Black Diamond, Memphis, TN. Blues City Cafe, Memphis, TN. Blind Willie's, Atlanta, GA. The Zoo Bar, Lincoln, NE. The Key Palace Theatre, Redkey, IN. Salon 21, Mexico City, MX.;

...Has been featured on the cover of international blues magazines and other publications along with fellow harp players Charlie Musslewhite, Paul Oscher, Billy Gibson and Big George Brock.

...Has important items used during her career archived (harmonicas, microphone, clothing, recordings, etc.) in the permanent collection at the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

...Is an official contracted endorsee for the Hohner Harmonica Company since 1998. Her likeness is seen in Hohner's printed advertising world wide and is a featured "Artist" on Hohner's website.

For more information visit www.genevared.com.