After the success of his inaugural Working Songwriter Forum last year, Joe Pug returned to the Old Town School of Folk Music for year two.
The Working Songwriter Forum is a three-day event that encompasses a weekend full of workshops, concerts, and (this year) an episode of Joe Pug‘s Working Songwriter podcast. For this year’s forum, Pug was joined by Rachel Baiman, Jonas Friddle, David Ramirez, and John Moreland, who not only hosted their own workshop sessions and, in the case of Baiman, Ramirez, and Moreland, also performed a concert in the evening.
Throughout the weekend, attendees had the chance to workshop their own songs, either on their own or in concert with others, and showcase their own material during open mic sessions. Joe was present for the entire weekend, often wandering amongst the attendees to lend words of encouragement and advice, and sitting side stage for every single open mic performance. Huge credit must be given to Joe and his manager, Alex Fang, for creating an event that celebrates the act of creating songs in such a supportive and genuinely fun atmosphere. Of course, an event such as this is only as good at the people who attend it, but in true Field of Dreams style, Joe and Alex built it, and the songwriters came from all over the US to spend time with each other at the fantastic Old Town School of Folk Music. It’s a truly special thing to be in a room with a group of people who create an environment where it feels totally comfortable to create and perform, and where everybody is there to support and not to judge or compete. With this event, Joe, Alex and this year’s faculty created the perfect environment for that to happen. So, in the words of Mr Pug himself, whether you’re a grizzled veteran or a scrappy upstart, if you want to spend a weekend honing your craft, playing songs, having fun, and likely meeting some great new friends, keep an eye out for the ’27 edition of the Working Songwriter Forum.
Saturday evening saw Joe Pug take to the stage in the Maurer Hall at the Old Town School of Folk to show the attendees of the forum, and anyone else who’d bought tickets, exactly how it’s done. Much like Todd Snider, who asked Pug to open for him at this very venue at the tender age of 24, he likes to weave stories and anecdotes in between performing his songs. One such story which received a lot of laughter from the crowd, was when Joe described the first time he heard John Moreland’s debut album while alone in a hotel room when on tour. Without repeating the expletives used, let’s just say he was nervous about Moreland’s arrival on the scene shortly after his own debut album had been released.
These two singer-songwriters on the same bill were the perfect combination, both bringing their own skills and unique style to the table. It was a masterclass in songwriting in its own right. It takes a special breed of performer to be able to entertain a crowded room entirely by themselves, but armed only with an acoustic guitar, a harmonica, and some gorgeous lyrics. This is something that both Pug and Moreland excel at.
People might think that going to see a folk singer-songwriter might sometimes be a somber affair, but that is anything but the case with Joe Pug. His set is interlaced with the funny stories and sometimes comical but scarily accurate lyrics, such as in songs like “I Don’t Work in a Bank.” This does not take away from the songs that tug at your emotions, such as “I Do My Father’s Drugs” and “Hymn #101.” Does it matter that the person sitting right next to you might interpret a Pug song entirely differently to you? Absolutely not – that is the true beauty of songwriting! The lyrics and Pug’s unique delivery and on stage presence never fail to draw the audience in, captivating their attention throughout the set. Add in the fact that, on this evening, he was clearly energized by spending a weekend with a room full of aspiring songwriters and some of his peers, and you get a very special show.
In addition to all the above, there is clearly just a deep bond between Pug and Chicago, with him having lived here when he was first trying to make it as a musician. Although it isn’t technically a hometown show, when Joe rolls through, it certainly always feels like one.
Next up was John Moreland. In contrast to Pug, Moreland is not much of a talker between songs. Instead, he lets the songs do all the talking – and when the songs are this good, why wouldn’t you!? At one point, he did joke that he was “gonna keep these feel-good summer jams going,” but primarily, he just moved through his set, perfectly delivering each song with that wonderful voice in front of a room that watched in silent awe. One woman in the crowd who had never seen him before was even writing down some of his lyrics that stood out to her. Needless to say, by the end of his set, her page was full!It was surprising that there were quite a few in the room that hadn’t seen John perform before, but after the reception he received from the entire crowd, it certainly will be the first of many for those people. No matter how many times you see him live, there’s always something special about these shows (and trust us, we’ve seen him a lot, so we know what we’re talking about!). He captivates the audience and holds people’s attention, unlike anything most others are able to achieve. While some use the banter between songs to help win people over, it’s the complete reverse that works for Moreland. Listening to songs like “Break My Heart Sweetly” and “You Don’t Care Enough for Me to Cry,” you cannot help but be moved, and you want to go back for that feeling over and over again.
Joe Pug has tour dates scheduled through the next few months before returning to the area in August for a newly announced show at Robert’s Westside in Forest Park. John Moreland appears to have a little break in touring, but don’t worry, he has more dates scheduled in later in the year.
