Biography

Chris McIntosh & Alvin McGovern have been performing as a duo since 1981. They sing and play guitar, banjo, and ukulele, and enjoy entertaining people of all ages. They have an eclectic repertoire of traditional and contemporary songs, forgotten popular pieces, and obscure gems. The primary focus of their selections, both serious and humorous, is on interesting lyrics. And they always encourage their audiences to join in.

In the Chicago area, where they are from, McIntosh & McGovern have made regular appearances at the Two Way Street Coffee House, Maple Street Chapel, the Eastgate Cafe, Edger's Place, Masthouse, the Montclair Coffeehouse, and the None Of The Above Coffeehouse, to name but a few. They have been featured a number of times at the Woodstock Folk Festival. And for many years their music has helped out organizations like the Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, Little Brothers—Friends of the Elderly, and the Ray Graham Association's Hanson Center. They were regular guests on “Zoo Party,” a program on WBEZ, Chicago's Public Radio station. They are two of the co-founders of the Free Range Ukulele Society of Oak Park Meetup. And they have both taught for several schools including the Old Town School of Folk Music. Chris and Alvin also teach privately and conduct workshops.

Folk Alliance Region Midwest honored Chris McIntosh & Alvin McGovern with their 2008 Lantern Bearer Recognition award which is “given to an individual performer of folk music and/or dance who has contributed locally and regionally to folk performance arts and the folk music and dance community for 25 years or more.”

McIntosh & McGovern can be found online at their McIntosh-McGovern.com website.