Friday, February 2, 7pm, Columbus Mennonite Church, 35 Oakland Park Ave.

The Ups and Downs of Love: Our Pre-Valentine Concert Returns with New “Stuff.”

Serious and comical love songs, fun trivia questions, and delicious home-made sweets will highlight the 15th annual Valentine concert by Bill Cohen and friends from 7pm to 9pm on Friday, February 2.

With guitar and piano, Bill will sing favorites from the 1940s through the 1990s that have been made famous by John Denver, the Everly Brothers, John Prine, Sam Cooke, James Taylor, Sting, Patti Page, Johnny Mathis, and even “Weird Al” Yankovic. Bill promises that this year’s show will be a refreshed version with several new songs and new surprises.

Ann Fisher will be on hand to add some romantic flute accompaniment on several songs. David Maywhoor will keep the beat on percussion, and Brian Szuch will add extra sparkle on lead guitar. Plus, the all-girl trio, The Harmonettes, will sing smooth backup vocals.

While the songs will reflect the ecstasy, warmth, heartache, and pain that love can bring, there will be a lighter side too, as Bill poses trivia questions about famous and infamous couples and love songs throughout the decades.

The concert takes place at the Columbus Mennonite Church, 35 Oakland Park Ave. $15 per person donations are suggested at the door, with proceeds helping put on this May’s Central Ohio Folk Festival.

Did we mention the free and delicious home-made cookies and goodies right after the show? Yep, we’ll have them, so stick around ’til the end, enjoy the treats, and schmooze with the musical cast.

For more information, call Bill at 614-263-3851.

Hosted by Bill Cohen Sings.