Artists

Barbara Spies Labus

Artists

BARBARA SPIES LABUS is a native of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and has been a resident of Whiting, Indiana for the past 26 years. Barb worked for many years as a printer at a fine art workshop in Chicago. She began doing illustration work with an ongoing series of educational outreach posters for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and has also created several posters in the ‘Just Around the Corner Along the South Shore Line’ poster series. She currently works for Shirley Heinze Land Trust as a part-time Communications Coordinator. Barb received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Printmaking from Western Michigan University, and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Painting & Drawing from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she met her husband, Paul Labus. She credits Paul with introducing her to the many wonders of the Calumet Region and its environmental community.

Andy Prieboy

Musician

ANDY PRIEBOY, a native of Indiana Harbor, began his singer/songwriter career in the late seventies in San Francisco’s punk and new wave scene. Working with influences as diverse as Irving Berlin, Ray Davies, Kurt Weill, and W. S. Gilbert, his 30-year career has included recording and fronting Wall of Voodoo, along with solo albums containing songs covered by Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt and Concrete Blonde. In the late nineties, he created the acclaimed comic rock oratorio “White Trash Wins Lotto”, a Gilbert and Hooligan take on the story of Guns n’ Roses. In 2015 he performed an autobiographical song cycle called “A Thousand Gorgeous Lies” at the Harold Williams Theatre at The Getty Center in Los Angeles.

Currently performing at LA’s Echoplex, Andy is busy composing a 10-minute opera on the abduction of the Statue of General Kosciusko from its pedestal in East Chicago’s Kosciusko Park.

Andy lives in Malibu with his wife, Emmy Award winning humorist, Merrill Markoe, with whom he co-authored a novel, The Psycho Ex-Game, for Random House. They live with Rosie and Wally, considered by many to be the best dogs on the West Coast.

Eric Lambert

Musician

ERIC LAMBERT has been pickin’ and grinnin’ his way into people’s hearts for over 40 years. Specializing in the fiery art of flatpicking, he has built a distinguished career writing, performing, recording, and teaching Americana music in and around Chicago, and beyond. Traces of rock, folk, bluegrass, and blues can be detected throughout his music, which is delivered with energy, soul, and inspiration. His voice, presence, and precision moves audiences to their feet, while his playful spirit and warm sense of joy makes them feel right at home.

John Maxwell

Musician

Born in Chicago, JOHN MAXWELL was exposed to Chicago Blues at a young age through his older brother. He has played many styles over the years but blues has always been the foundation of his playing. A lifelong friendship with Andy Prieboy began when the two went to college together in St Louis. Currently in the San Francisco Bay Area and soon to move to Washington State, John.s first solo CD, “Blues For Evangeline”, was released in 2015 and represented the Bay Area at the Memphis International Blues Competition as Best Self Produced CD. Blues For Evangeline finished in the top five. A followup CD is expected later in 2016.

Susan Brown

Musician

As multi-instrumentalist and songstress, SUSAN RUTH BROWN performs on fretted dulcimer, guitar, zither, autoharp, piano, penny whistle, recorder and various rhythm instruments. She is known for expressive vocals; from ethereal Celtic tunes to hard-hitting country songs. Brown performs on three compilation projects considered for Grammy nomination. She has instructed Renaissance dance at Valparaiso University, high schools and renaissance fairs, teaches private music lessons, writes original compositions and loves to entertain audiences of all ages. Susan is also music leader at First Presbyterian Church in Portage, IN.

As a Folk Legacy, Cobwebs and Tradfolk recording artist, Susan has received national acclaim. Her recordings have been heard on radio all over the US, parts of Europe, Australia and New Zealand. She has performed live on WYIN Channel 56 and other local television, WVPE (Elkhart), WDSO (Chesterton), and WLOI (LaPorte). The Songs and Ballads of Hattie Mae Tyler Cargill on Folk Legacy label was ranked #56 most played Folk for 2001.