Folk festival at Broadway Books and Roasting Co. raises money for Discovery Playhouse

Janet Woods, owner of Broadway Books and Roasting Co., has wanted to raise money for the Discovery Playhouse ever since she heard about the building of the children's museum on Broadway in downtown Cape Girardeau.

She hopes Saturday's benefit folk festival at her coffeehouse and used book store, 605 Broadway, appeals to people because of its purpose. Woods is donating all proceeds from the volunteer performance by Southern Illinois-based folk quartet Etherton Switch toward the completion of the children's museum.

"I hope this is something the town can get behind," Woods said.

Woods said she can see how the museum would be a good thing for Broadway, and would love to see more families downtown.

She has had plans for a fundraiser for the children's museum for a while, but hadn't come up with an event to suit the purpose. In the past, the coffeehouse has held concerts in its backyard to benefit Safe House for Women and CASA.

A regular patron who plays mandolin at the coffeehouse's weekly open mic night gave Woods the idea for a folk festival, and the name of Etherton Switch.

"Thats how everything happens around here, is connections with customers and ideas from them," Woods said.

Etherton Switch, features Mila Maring on vocals and accordion, Kelley Sims on vocals and guitar, Mark Stoffel on vocals, mandolin and fiddle and Tom Cummings on bass. The indoor concert begins at 7 p.m. Saturday and admission is $6 at the door.

Inside the shop, there is art for sale by regular patrons. The coffeehouse's weekly open mic night has become a popular entertainment choice on Friday nights. Last week Woods said there were around 100 people in attendance, with standing room only. Twenty performers kept the crowd entertained through the evening.

Matt Antill, who often performs opera during open mic night, said there are various types of musicians, as well as poets and that the venue offers a friendly audience. Antill was a member of an opera company when he attended Quincy University in Illinois. He now attends Southeast Missouri State University and studies computer science, but hasn't lost his love of performing.

Another university student and regular customer, Sonya Allen, sings during open mic night and said she likes the venue because the crowd is really welcoming no matter what style a performer may have.

Performances during open mic night vary widely. Woods said she has seen many music styles, including jazz, folk and beat boxing, as well as poetry readings and monologues.

"Most nights we have one or two new people and we always have people returning as favorites," she said.

Van Riehl, a retiree, plays guitar and sings during the open mic nights.

"It gives a chance for a person like me, a living room player, to play in front of a live audience," Riehl said. "And whether you're good or bad the applause is the same."

Woods has other plans for future entertainment at the coffeehouse, including a vintage and secondhand clothing fashion show at 2 p.m. Oct. 24. Allen, a fashion merchandising major, will run the show with the help from Amy Everett of Annie Laurie's Antiques, who is providing clothing.