Calendar
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calendar@corvallisfolklore.org
The Flow
- Rita Brown: vocals, acoustic guitar, keyboards, pennywhistle, banjo
- Bill Smyth: electric guitar, vocals, keyboards
- Mike Grattan: bass
- Jed Irvine: drums
The Flow is the union of an acoustic duo and a hard rock band. Rita Brown (Corvallis Gazette-Times favorite female vocalist, 2010) and guitarist/songwriter Bill Smyth toured the Pacific Northwest between 1997 and 2003, playing everything from children’s shows to retirement centers. They recorded two CDs and during this time managed Oregon’s longest running folk coffeehouse. Rita was also the guitarist and lead singer for the eclectic all-girl trio Crooked Kate, while Bill played with popular Albany band 49 Fingers and contributed guitar, keyboards and cross-dressing to “Rocky Horror Show” and other local theater productions. Bassist Mike Grattan and original singer-drummer Don Thorp were members of the powerhouse rock outfit Knockout John, and met Rita and Bill while gigging together in a Joe Cocker cover band. In 2008, Rita, Bill, Mike and Don formed The Flow. Don moved on in 2009, shortly after the completion of the band’s first CD, All Things Flow. Fortunately, virtuoso drummer Jed Irvine had just arrived in Corvallis and The Flow snapped him up. In the bargain came Irvine’s wife, the singer Laurie Barshay, who joins in on harmony from time to time. The Flow’s quest for a permanent keyboardist is epic and eternal. The role has been filled at different times by Susan Peck, Charlie Parker and Fumi Funahashi, and is presently shared by Rita and Bill using bionically enhanced prosthetic limbs. The Flow took a hiatus in 2011 as Rita and Bill spent the year working and playing in Europe and aboard a research ship on the Indian Ocean. Inspired, the band re-united and began the 16-month task of producing its second CD, Spring Wind. The Flow is now firmly in performance mode, raising the roof at local venues and on winery stages (which admittedly don’t have roofs) around the Willamette Valley
“We’ll be playing a concert/dance at the Unitarian Fellowship this coming Saturday. It’s an “originals only” show, so we’ll be pulling some new and old things into play that you likely haven’t heard before. Some snacks and non-alcoholic drinks will be provided.”
WINTERDANCE
a Celtic Christmas Celebration
Molly’s Revenge and special guest vocalist Christa Burch with The Murray Irish Dancers
(out of Portland) will present an evening of music, song and dance associated with the festive season. The performance will include Christmas songs both old and new, all played with a Celtic twist, as well as selections from the band’s new album.
The California-based group has toured internationally since 2000 as an acoustic band, releasing ten CDs. In 2013, Molly’s Revenge as a trio released an all-instrumental collection titled Trio, recorded at a remote windswept retreat in the redwoods of the Mendocino coast. Trio is a compelling collection of fierce and beautiful tunes encompassing Scottish pipe sets, driving Irish reels, jigs, polkas, slides, and hornpipes, French Canadian fiddle tunes, and even a set of American oldtime melodies featuring Highland pipes.
Molly’s Revenge, whose lineup includes bagpipes, fiddle, whistle, guitar, mandola, and bodhran, have toured extensively in the USA as well as Australia, China and Scotland. The band is known for its unique and infectious on-stage enthusiasm. Their arrangements of traditional jigs and reels bring these dance tunes up to date with a driving, hard-edged accent that always leaves audiences shouting for more.
Guest vocalist Christa Burch possesses a singular voice: warm, supple, expressive, intimate, and instantly recognizable. Part of a vibrant new generation of American folk singers, Christa deftly marries intuitive musicianship and storytelling through song. To balance the gentle beauty of Christa’s songs, The Murray Irish Dancers bring a percussive, joyful, and colorful exuberance to the stage. This 10th Annual Celtic Christmas Celebration will capture the traditional spirit of the season and warm the hearts of all.
The Murray School of Irish Dancing offers classes for students of all ages and levels wishing to become outstanding Irish dancers. At the Murray school we believe in supporting students through enhancing their self esteem and confidence. We also encourage our students to work hard and strive for excellence. Through this they will develop skills that will last a lifetime. We endeavor to create a safe learning environment for all students through mutual respect and responsibility towards all teachers, students and parents in The Murray School. We welcome students from all levels of dance experience and of all cultural backgrounds to learn about Irish Culture, Music and Dance and to be part of the Murray team.
Concert has been CANCELLED
Jim Malcolm has been forced home for family health reasons and had to cancel the rest of his west coast tour.
The concert producer will be in the Majestic Theatre lobby from 6:30pm to 8:00 pm on Thursday, Feb 4, 2016. Bring your tickets purchased at Grass Roots and exchange them for a refund. Ticket Tomato tickets are being refunded through Ticket Tomato and you should get a notification.
FMI: Richard Thies 541 753-8307
Jim Malcolm
Live from Scotland
He’s Scotland’s Songwriter of the Year in 2004 and three-times nominated for Scots Singer of the Year. Jim Malcolm’s concerts are like a musical tour through Scotland’s landscape and history, with humor his constant companion. Jim Malcolm performs award-winning original songs, traditional ballads and the works of Robert Burns, with guitar and harmonicas. His harmonica work is pretty hot. Jim likes to do a 50 seat venue so he can do it without a sound system. He has a great voice for that and has sold out here before, so I recommend getting tickets early.
Here is what others say:
“Jim Malcolm’s voice has the complex individuality of an aged single-malt whisky.” Boston Globe
“One of the finest talents to have emerged through the Scottish folk scene in years” The independent
“One of those pure warm Scottish folk voices one never tires of listening to.” Dirty Linen
Review by Michael Moll of Folkworld of Jim Malcolm’s 2014 CD “The Corncrake”
The popular Scottish singer/songwriter tackles on this album almost entirely traditional songs (with only one exception). This is the second “traditional” album by Jim Malcom, after last year’s “Still” – while all previous 10 solo albums were very much focussed on Jim’s own material. Many of the songs are seldomly heard, while some are better known. The album has a very relaxed flair featuring Jim’s wonderful warm voice, guitar and harmonica, as well as guests Pete Clark (fiddle, Mark Duff (whistles, bodhran), Scoter Muse (banjo), Dave Watt (keyboards and melodica) and Jim’s wife Susie adding vocal harmonies. The cover of the album is a beautiful watercolour painting of a corncrake by wildlife artist David Bennett.
Jim has also just released a 2015 CD: “ Live in Perth”: “This is a rewarding selection of old and modern Scottish folk song, recorded live with no studio jiggery pokery, in front of a lively audience of fans, friends and family. “
Semmy Stahlhammer is First Concertmaster at the Stockholm Royal Opera, faculty member at the Stockholm Royal Music College, and appears as solo artist on 20 CD recordings. His CD anthology, Swedish Turn of the Century, was chosen as “Records of the year 2000” by Sweden’s largest newspaper Dagens Nyheter. Semmy also leads the “Stahlhammer Klezmer Classic Ensemble”, an ensemble founded by Semmy’s grandfather around 1910, in Poland.
He will join cellist Isabel Blomme’ and Sergei Teleshev in a performance of kelzmer music (sometimes called “Jewish jazz). He will also speak about his father, Mischa. Semmy wrote a memoir, Codename Barber: My Father’s Story, based on Mischa’s reminiscences of the Holocaust and documents that attested to his service. The Wartime experiences of Mischa Stahlhammer will be the topic of Semmy’s talk when he appears in Corvallis.
Hoolyeh and Friends 9th Annual Folk Dance Party
Anyone who likes to folk dance is welcome!
Bring snacks, refreshments, drinks and stories.
Bring your memories to share!
Costumes are encouraged and besides, they are fun!
CAJUN CELEBRATION OF SUMMER!
Music, Painting and Dance
Join renowned fiddle player Kelly Thibodeaux and learn Cajun style fiddling (no prior experience necessary – fiddles available for all), paint a bayou tapestry, do the two-step, sample Cajun cooking and more to celebrate the start of summer with a Cajun party. All ages welcome!
Registration limited to 15, so register early.
Latif Bolat
Latif Bolat, one of the most renowned Turkish musicians in North America , is a native of the Turkish Mediterranean town of Mersin. After receiving his degree in folklore and music at Gazi University in Ankara, Turkey, he taught traditional music throughout the country. He then went on to manage Ankara Halk Tiyatrosu, a musical theater company, which performed traditional musical plays. Mr. Bolat also received additional degrees in Turkish History and Middle East Religion and Politics from Ankara University and an MBA from San Francisco State University.
Latif Bolat will present a concert of Turkish mystic music and poetry. He is one of the most distinguished Turkish musicians outside of Turkey. His concert and conference itinerary has taken him all across America, Canada, Australia, Bulgaria, New Zealand, Indonesia, England and Turkey. He composed soundtrack music for “Young Indiana Jones” and PBS documentary “Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet.”
Folk Singing Song Circle
with special visitors
Jeff and Ann Corfield of Australia
A chance to sing and hear songs from Australia and elsewhere. Bring your instruments if you like, and a snack to share. There will be a “healthy” dessert provided.
WINTERDANCE
a Celtic Christmas Celebration
Molly’s Revenge
special guest vocalist Christa Burch
The Murray Irish Dancers
(out of Portland) will present an evening of music, song and dance associated with the festive season. The performance will include Christmas songs both old and new, all played with a Celtic twist, as well as selections from the band’s new album.
The California-based group has toured internationally since 2000 as an acoustic band, releasing ten CDs. In 2013, Molly’s Revenge as a trio released an all-instrumental collection titled Trio, recorded at a remote windswept retreat in the redwoods of the Mendocino coast. Trio is a compelling collection of fierce and beautiful tunes encompassing Scottish pipe sets, driving Irish reels, jigs, polkas, slides, and hornpipes, French Canadian fiddle tunes, and even a set of American oldtime melodies featuring Highland pipes.
Molly’s Revenge, whose lineup includes bagpipes, fiddle, whistle, guitar, mandola, and bodhran, have toured extensively in the USA as well as Australia, China and Scotland. The band is known for its unique and infectious on-stage enthusiasm. Their arrangements of traditional jigs and reels bring these dance tunes up to date with a driving, hard-edged accent that always leaves audiences shouting for more.
Guest vocalist Christa Burch possesses a singular voice: warm, supple, expressive, intimate, and instantly recognizable. Part of a vibrant new generation of American folk singers, Christa deftly marries intuitive musicianship and storytelling through song. To balance the gentle beauty of Christa’s songs, The Murray Irish Dancers bring a percussive, joyful, and colorful exuberance to the stage. This 10th Annual Celtic Christmas Celebration will capture the traditional spirit of the season and warm the hearts of all.
The Murray School of Irish Dancing offers classes for students of all ages and levels wishing to become outstanding Irish dancers. At the Murray school we believe in supporting students through enhancing their self esteem and confidence. We also encourage our students to work hard and strive for excellence. Through this they will develop skills that will last a lifetime. We endeavor to create a safe learning environment for all students through mutual respect and responsibility towards all teachers, students and parents in The Murray School. We welcome students from all levels of dance experience and of all cultural backgrounds to learn about Irish Culture, Music and Dance and to be part of the Murray team.
Stuart Mason
&
John Weed
(of Molly’s Revenge)
Ireland to Appalachia
John Weed (fiddle) and Stuart Mason (guitar, mandola, banjo) will be performing traditional Appalachian, blues, and Celtic music that digs deep into the roots of American music. Long before the time of Bill Monroe or Ralph Stanley or the Carter Family, rural Americans were singing and fiddling the ballads and dance tunes of Britain and Ireland, as well as the sentimental and comedy hits of the wildly popular minstrel shows. These sources provided a wellspring of material that later formed the basis of the bluegrass and early country repertoire.
John and Stuart have just recorded a new album project–their first CD as a duo. Material for the project ranges from early American ballads and songs newly composed by their peers to beautiful melodies with Celtic and French roots. They will remain true to their love of American old timey music and Irish trad while expanding the repertoire with tunes and songs that reflect their life-long love of traditional music from all eras and all regions. The audience can expect a few surprises along with some familiar favorites, and maybe even a singalong or a humorous party piece dating back to the minstrel era. Along with brand new pieces, these concerts will showcase material from the new Molly’s revenge album “Lift” as well as songs from the lively repertoire of Little Black Train and from Stuart’s two solo albums.
Doors open 6pm with a potluck reception.
There will be daytime workshops – Irish fiddle & DADGAD Guitar $25. Contact Lisa for more information.
A house concert is an excellent opportunity to hear great music in a very intimate setting.
Irish Duo
Tommy and Saundra O’Sullivan
Tommy O’Sullivan has been aclaimed as “one of the great contemporary folk voices of Ireland” and “a stellar guitarist.” Tommy has recorded albums with Sliabh Notes and with Bothy Band piper, Paddy Keenan as well as 2 solo albums. He and his wife Saundra have matched her alto harmonies with his tenor lead vocals and they are very much a part of the vibrant music scene in Dingle, Ireland, as well as owning O’Sullivan’s Couthouse Pub.
Come and hear them in this cozy and intimate setting.
The regular Hoolyeh 3rd Sunday dance has been cancelled for tonight only.
Hoolyeh and Friends 10th Annual Folk Dance Party
Anyone who likes to folk dance is welcome!
Bring snacks, treats, refreshments, drinks and stories.
Bring your memories to share!
Costumes are encouraged and besides, they are fun!