Folk singer/songwriter Buddy Mondlock’s songs draw you into his world - where a single snowflake follows the trajectory of a relationship, where you might swim over the edge of the world if you’re not careful, and where dreams that don’t come true still count. Hear Buddy Mondlock in concert on Thursday, March 15 at 7 pm at Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake Street. Free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 pm. First-come, first-seated. Meet Buddy Mondlock and purchase CDs following the concert. This free concert is funded by the Friends of the Oak Park Public Library.

Buddy Mondlock’s new album, “The Edge of the World,” is his most personal recording to date. The song cycle is an introspective journey from childhood through to the recent breakup of a marriage and beyond. And while always a wry observer of the social interactions of human beings, the song “Big Fish, Shallow Water” takes on a political edge as well.

When Buddy’s not on the road now, he lives in Nashville. But he grew up in Park Forest, Illinois, where he sang Crosby, Stills, and Nash songs with his sisters. Later, he played open mics at the famed Earl of Old town. When he was 21, Buddy even opened for the amazing Steve Goodman there on New Year’s Eve.

Eventually, Buddy’s talent took him to Nashville where he did some writing with another new kid in town named Garth Brooks (they had the same manager). Janis Ian heard him singing at the Bluebird Cafe and asked him if he’d like to write with her. Their song “Amsterdam” got recorded by Joan Baez.

In 1996, Peter, Paul, and Mary recorded Buddy’s song, “The Kid” and then asked the kid himself to sing with them on their “Great Performances” TV special. Buddy won a Kerrville Music Award for song of the year for “The Kid” too.

This free performance by Buddy Mondlock is part of the Friends of the Oak Park Public Library’s folk music concert series. Singer/songwriters including Bill and Kate Isles, Claudia Schmidt, Kevin So, Joe Crookston, and Kat Eggleston have performed as part of this series. My Sweet Patootie will perform the next free concert on Monday, April 30 at 7 pm at Oak Park Public Library.

Find more events happening at Oak Park Public Library at http://oppl.org/events/calendar [1].