Picnic After Dark: Val Leventhal + Lisa P Medina
Date and Time:
Date: 07/17/2026
Time: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location:
Picnic Wine & Provisions
7301 Sheridan Road
Chicago, IL 60626
Kick back and enjoy the mash-up of two folk-songwriters.
About the Performers:
VAL LEVENTHAL
Singer/songwriter Val Leventhal has been performing in the Chicago area since 1973. She writes and performs her original songs in folk, country, rock, blues, jazz, and pop with an occasional foray into world music. Val has been a featured performer at the Around the Coyote Art Festival, the Bucktown Arts Fest, the Buena Park Porchfest, and Arts on Devon. She has performed at the Maple Street Chapel in Lombard, IL, the Jarvis Square Pottery, the Colvin House, City News Cafe, the Two Way Street in Downers Grove, the Rudyard Kipling in Louisville, KY, and Paprika in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. In 2014, Val took third place in the Hey Nonny Songwriters contest in 2025. In addition, she works as a professional session vocalist and private vocal coach.
Her music is available here: Val Leventhal on BandCamp
In 2018, she began hosting her own radio show on Que4 Radio (www.que4.org) (also iTunes and TuneIn Radio. Search for que4 at air time), which airs every Sunday morning 10-11:45 am central time. The show focuses on politics, philosophy and the arts, including lots of great local music. Her purpose in taking on this new medium is to encourage people to think, talk and work across various divides, to help make a better world for us all, something that she also focuses on in her songwriting. An archive of past shows is available on SoundCloud here: https://soundcloud.com/user-
LISA P MEDINA
Lisa P. Medina is a contemporary folk singer-songwriter with a flavorful hint of Latin rhythm and spice. Lisa’s musical journey began in church choir and theater stages, evolving into a vibrant career that’s taken her from intimate duos and solo shows to fronting a Grammy-nominated Latin jazz big band. She has graced iconic stages like the Petrillo Bandshell at the Chicago Jazz Festival, Park West, the Old Town School’s Folk & Roots Festival, the Adler Planetarium, and even Wrigley Field—where she sang the National Anthem for Cubs games.
After stepping away from the spotlight to focus on raising her children, Lisa returned with fresh energy and heartfelt songs that resonate with audiences of all ages. Her debut album “Wishes,” was released in May 2024, and since then, her songs have aired on over 60 radio stations across North America. For more info, please visit: www.lisapmedina.com or follow on Instagram @singasonglisa.
