Calendar
Submit calendar info to:
calendar@corvallisfolklore.org
Woodstock, Revisited: A conversation with
publicist Rona Elliot
and official Woodstock photographer Henry Diltz
7:30 Chuva Boa
Colleen Kitchen and Laura Zaerr have been collaborating since the 90’s. Laura’s diatonic lever harp was a natural fit for Celtic music, and Colleen had spent three years in Ireland with no piano, so she had gotten a pennywhistle and learned Irish music for lack of other options. Their first Celtic band, “Heather Breeze,” was active doing dances and festivals including the inaugural daVinci days, until other competing interests such as the birth of Colleen’s daughter put a crimp in that. The two collaborated on a number of classical endeavors in the ensuing decades. Laura put together “Village Green”in the oughts, and Colleen was part of that ensemble for a while. But meanwhile the jazz roots were beckoning. While Colleen crashed Neal Grandstaff’s jazz improv class at Oregon State, Laura had been sitting in with Winston McCullough’s jazz ensemble and discovering ways to make the big harp work for jazz. It’s NOT easy. Only the best harpists can do it. With a natural gift for improvisation, and inspired by Dorothy Ashby Colleen and Laura developed ways to tag team each other, and the bright brilliant choros and bossa novas of Brazil seemed especially suited to the sound of the harp. You can’t have a Brasil band without percussion, and when expert percussionist Kevin Ronkko joined the group, it was just the ticket to make manifest the groove that was driving the music only in their imagination.
The group played for a while with no name, and everyone was telling them they needed a name. It was the drought year of 2015, not only dry, but very hot. The band was rehearsing the song “Chovendo na Roseira” and all the references to good nurturing rain were making everyone thirsty. Someone remarked that we could use a dose of “Chuva Boa” (good rain) right about now, and the name stuck. Below is a video of Brazilian icon Gal Costa performing “Chovendo na Roseira” (to be replaced with our own when we get a nice clean one.)
8:30 The Lucky In Love String Band
Pete Kozak, Jeff Hino, Ron Green, and Mark Weiss
Bluegrass with a twist. Well, maybe a few twists. Hot instrumental work and three part harmony.
The best Cellar is a once-a-month evening of acoustic music. Admission is “pay what you will,” and kids are free. Cookies and coffee are available. Located in the cellar of the Methodis Church on 11th and Monroe, in Corvallis. For more information, or to join the volunteer team, contact Mark Weiss at mjweiss@cmug.com
Note different location: OSU MU Ballroom
Countercurrent
From Seattle:
- Brian Lindsay – fiddle
- Alex Sturbaum – guitar
Countercurrent is a contra dance and folk music band in western Washington, featuring driving guitar, foot percussion, lyrical fiddle, and harmony vocals.
Tarka Ayres
Tarka Ayres credits contra dance with helping keep her mental stability through school. She started dancing in 2004 and has called dances in Oregon and Washington since 2012. Dancers appreciate her ability to integrate new dancers into the community, her clear teaching and succinct calling, and her choices of challenging dances.
Beginners lesson starts at 7:00pm (experienced dancers welcome) dance starts at 7:30pm
Each dance is taught. No partner necessary (it’s traditional to dance each dance with a different partner)
First and Third Saturdays of the month except July, August. Occasional special dances.
First and Third Sundays
We will mix Balkan, Israeli and other folk dances each week, with occasional live music from Balkan, Israeli and other traditions. Watch the calendar for announcements about special dances, but just come to each dance and learn all sorts of dances.
Corvallis Guitar Society
The goal of the Corvallis Guitar Society is to act as a catalyst to bring local guitarists out of the woodwork and provide an opportunity to perform and enjoy guitar music in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. The accent here is on participation and we hope people will want to participate in the open stage section also – no piece of music is too short or simple (though there is a five minute limit if we have a full sign-up sheet) and you are guaranteed a warm round of applause for showing us what you can do! We do have a limited number of open stage slots so be sure to sign up early at the front desk on the way in.
Our Mission
To promote classical and related guitar styles by providing a supportive performance environment for people of all ages and ability.
We seek to achieve this through a monthly meeting that provides an opportunity to discuss, listen to, and play solo guitar music including classical, flamenco, finger-style, jazz, as well as classical guitar ensemble styles.
Sophie & Fiachra Trio
The Sophie & Fiachra Trio are a group of musicians sans frontières who refuse to let the Atlantic sunder their love of their own and other’s Irish and Québecois musical traditions.
Comprising of Irish uilleann piper Fiachra ORegan, Québec fiddler/singer Sophie Lavoie, and guitarist André Marchand, the trio take traditional Irish and Québécois traditional music, blended with Lavoies lithe and masterful compositions. Their choice of songs will “captivate the most casual listener”.
“Its refreshing to hear a traditional band reference the present with such subtlety and finesse”
-Quotes from Siobhán Long, of The Irish Times
Released in 2016, Un canadien errant features a mixture of Irish & French-Canadian traditional music and song. It has been nominated for Traditional Album of the Year for the ADISQ awards in Quebec and Traditional Album of the Year in the Canadian Folk Music awards. In the latter, the album also gets Sophie Lavoie a nomination for Best Trad. singer of the year for her vocal tracks.
The 3rd Annual Corvallis Guitar Festival is just around the corner and will provide a bumper crop of talent, entertainment, and participation in the world of classical guitar and ukulele! The three concerts, workshop, lecture and Master Class will all be taking place at the 1st Presbyterian Church on 8th St downtown Corvallis on Saturday May 11th starting at 10:00am in the morning through 9:30pm in the evening.
The concerts feature Ian O’Sullivan, a great Hawaiian classical guitarist and ukulele musician, and Grammy Award winning classical guitarist Bill Kanengiser. Also, in line with our goal to bring local guitarists out of the woodwork, there will be a short concert performed by the Corvallis Guitar Ensemble led by Cameron O’Connor.
Tickets for the concerts are now available downtown at Grassroots Books and Music store on 2nd St, Corvallis; tickets are also available online at Brownpaper Tickets: https://cgf2019.brownpapertickets.com/.
More information is available on the Guitar Society website: www.corvallisguitarsociety.org
It’s going to be an inspiring and hugely enjoyable event with a wide variety of guitar (and ukulele) music styles so mark your calendars, and here’s the schedule:
10:00am – 12:00pm Masterclass with Bill Kanengiser: 4 students, 30 mins each free
1:00 – 2:00pm Featuring James Bishop Edwards, Cameron O’Connor & Tom Strini free
Discussion and music performance from the period 1750-1800 when the newly developing early Classical six single string guitar and the traditional five and six course Baroque double string guitar were contemporary. The lecture includes two historical instruments: a 1798 Italian guitar (Fabricatore) and an 1800 Spanish guitar (Benedid).
2:30 – 3:30pm Hawaiian Guitar and Ukulele Concert featuring Ian O’Sullivan ticketed
4:00 – 5:00pm Ukulele and Hawaiian Music Workshop with Ian O’Sullivan free
A brief history of the ‘ukulele, prominent players and style, strumming and picking techniques, chord melody, and arranging for ‘ukulele as a solo instrument vs ensemble.
7:00pm- 7:30pm Corvallis Guitar Ensemble Concert Directed by Cameron O’Connor ticketed
7:30pm – 10:00pm Closing Concert: Classical Guitarist Bill Kanengiser ticketed
LOCAL FOLK
the collaborative open stage program of CFS and The Arts Center has started again after a nearly ten year hiatus. The venue, as in the past, is The Corvallis Arts Center and stage. Free and open to all, the stage is open to individual musicians and groups presenting a variety of music under the large “folk” umbrella.
Sign up for a set of two or three songs for a total time of 10-15 minutes in a rotating format. Or, just come to be part of an audience appreciative of local performers.
This month featuring Lorraine Anderson, singer-guitarist.
Local Folk convenes monthly, on second Tuesdays, from 7-10 pm.
Corvallis Folklore Society 2019 Annual Meeting
3:15 to 5:15 PRE-POTLUCK MUSIC JAM in the Fireplace Room. Bring musical instruments, voices, songs & stories. We have 2 hours to socialize, jam, play music & share songs before the potluck. Enter the church from usual parking lot entry doors for the Dances. A map/sign will show how to get to the Fireplace room.
5:30 POTLUCK: Please bring salads, casseroles, pizza and other substantial snacks & finger foods. Coffee, tea and water will be provided. Other beverages welcome.
6:00 MEMBER MEETING: Meeting will start when folks have gotten food & a place to sit. During the next hour or so CFS Board officers will present a review of CFS activities, give a current financial report and propose a slate of candidates to serve on the Board for next year. Members may propose additional candidates to this list & here will be time for questions, comments and suggestions from the community. Approval of candidates will be decided by voice vote.
7:00 Regular CFS Contradance (optional): The last dance of the season with Treehouse playing and William Watson calling.
PLEASE NOTE: The regular Monthly Board Meeting will take place one week prior to the Annual Meeting. All are welcome to observe and/or join this Board discussion.
Saturday, May 11, 2019 at 1:00 at Bill Pfender & Anne Smith’s house:
3704 NW Jameson Dr. in Corvallis.”
Treehouse
- Rachael Young (piano)
- Ben Young (banjo, whistle)
- Bo Leyden (mandolin)
- Shari Ame (fiddle)
bring a mix of Irish, Quebecois, and New England style, and put it together with Pacific Northwest flair. Becky has played for dances throughout Vermont, New Jersey, Arizona, and California, and previously played with Amazon Creek in Eugene. Ben and Rachael come from the Irish traditional session background, having played with many groups across Canada and throughout Washington, Oregon, and California.
William Watson
William Watson, a resident of Eugene, OR, danced his first contra in 1989 and began calling in Texas in 1992. Having called numerous contra events in cities coast-to-coast, William’s extensive experience and soothing voice project a calm confidence. His vigilant and thoughtful dance programming ensures a variety of figures, transitions, and sequences to entertain and support new dancers while offering the occasional challenge for the more advanced. His calling proficiency and sensitivities ensure everyone has a good time.
Beginners lesson starts at 700pm (experienced dancers welcome) dance starts at 7:30pm
Each dance is taught. No partner necessary (it’s traditional to dance each dance with a different partner)
First and Third Saturdays of the month except July, August. Occasional special dances.
First and Third Sundays
We will mix Balkan, Israeli and other folk dances each week, with occasional live music from Balkan, Israeli and other traditions. Watch the calendar for announcements about special dances, but just come to each dance and learn all sorts of dances.
Peter Yarrow Benefit Concert
Proudly presented by CHS Green Club! Singer/songwriter Peter Yarrow, of Peter, Paul and Mary, offered to give a concert in support of the Fellowship’s immigration and refugee work, something that is very important to him. Realizing the impacts and importance of this work, CHS Green Club has partnered with the Fellowship so more people can be a part! All proceeds benefit the Fellowship’s immigration and refugee work.
We’re part of a long train ride, is the way Peter Yarrow visualizes the many events that have highlighted a career spanning more than five decades. With characteristic care, Yarrow places the success hes had within a greater context, seeing his accomplishments as part of a tradition, to be credited as his inspiration and carried on. When I was in high school, he recalls, I heard The Weavers at Carnegie Hall singing songs like If I Had a Hammer Follow The Drinking Gourd and Wasnt That a Time. I was stunned by the extraordinary effect that music of conscience can have on people, particularly when they sing songs of conscience together. That lesson launched Peter on a lifelong journey that is now, perhaps, in its most vital phase.
Over the years, many issues have moved Peter to commit his time and talent: equal rights, peace, the environment, gender equality, homelessness, hospice care, public broadcasting and education. All have utilized his skills as both a performer and an organizer. Along with his singing partners, (Noel) Paul and Mary, Peter became deeply committed to the Civil Rights Movement, which brought them to Washington in 1963 to sing at the historic August 28, 1963 March On Washington led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as the equally historic Selma-Montgomery March in 1965. When the Civil Rights Movement merged its efforts into the Peace/Anti-Vietnam War Movement, Peter produced numerous large events including peace concerts at Madison Square Garden and Shea Stadium with tens of performers. These efforts culminated in his co-organizing with Cora Weiss, his friend and ally and a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, the famous1969 Celebration of Life, a march and demonstration in Washington, Dc attended by a half-million people who demanded an end to Americas military involvement in Vietnam.
Though much of Peters activism has been directed toward the social/political arena, Peter has also been active on behalf of more personal projects such as the Hospice Movement. He is a board member of the Connecticut Hospice, the first hospice established in the United States, where he periodically sings for patients and staff and for whom he has been a voice of media advocacy for over two decades. Also, in 1996, Peter founded the Save One Child Fund, now centered at Roosevelt Hospitals Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery (INN) in New York City. Over the last fifteen years, Save One Child has provided free interventional radiological and neuro-surgical treatment, saving the lives of over 200 children who have been brought from all over the world with their families, all expenses paid.
A concert by Peter, today, is exciting, moving and also entertaining but it is also an event that follows in the tradition of his early mentors, The Weavers and Pete Seeger. Peter intentionally uses his music to create a community of acceptance from the stage, an oasis of peace as he calls it. His gift for songwriting has produced some of the most poignant songs Peter, Paul & Mary have recorded, including Puff, the Magic Dragon, Day is Done, Light One Candle, and The Great Mandala. As a member of the renowned musical trio, he has earned many gold and platinum albums and has been awarded and nominated for numerous Grammys.
Peter Yarrows life and work, culminating in the founding and leadership of Operation Respect, embraces the premise that if each person finds a way to articulate his or her own voice and joins with others, together they can become a powerful force for society’s transformation. “We’ve lived through a time in which people have felt they could forge their own future and make a better world. We may not have achieved our dreams in the time frame that we once believed was possible, but the magnitude of what is yet to be achieved only confirms the importance of our continuing commitment. Knowing this, we can’t stop now.”
7:30 Tim Hardin
Folk songs and good humor from a long time Corvallis singer and guitarist, now living in the Virgin Islands. He will be joined for some songs by Corvallis singer Audrey Perkins.
8:30 Dave Plaehn and Jeff Hino
Dave Plaehn and Jeff Hino are the Corvallis Blues Brothers.
Dave Plaehn & Jeff Hino have been performing their own distinct blend of acoustic blues, folk, and original material since 1990. Plaehn and Hino explore the uncluttered powerful interplay of blues harmonica, National steel guitar, and vocals in the tradition of the great country bluesmen like Robert Johnson, Elmore James, and Bukka White.
“It’s a nice reminder that not all the talented musicians in this state are based in the city at the terminus of the Willamette River. This is roots music at its finest played by craftsmen in the deepest sense. This is a duo that has a lot to say and the skills to back those voices, too.”
Greg Johnson, President,
Cascades Blues Association
“Two talented blues musicians who offer a fresh and diverse array of original and traditional acoustic based compositions. Treat you ears to a real pleasing performance.”
Rod Downing, President,
Washington Blues Society
Hope to see you there for this spring evening of Corvallis musicians!
The best Cellar is a once-a-month evening of acoustic music. Admission is “pay what you will,” and kids are free. Cookies and coffee are available. Located in the cellar of the Methodis Church on 11th and Monroe, in Corvallis. For more information, or to join the volunteer team, contact Mark Weiss at mjweiss@cmug.com
The Nettles
Laura Brophy – fiddle;
Kevin Johnsrude – guitars;
Michael Proctor – bass;
Brian Bucolo – percussion;
The Nettles are well-known on the West Coast for their original approach to contra dance music. Playing traditional music from all over the world, The Nettles create a strong rhythmic groove under soaring improvisations. Rhythmic drive and melodic fluidity allow The Nettles to propel contra dances into the stratosphere.
Marlin Prowell
Marlin Prowell is a well known caller from Bellingham. “Marlin has an easy-going way of teaching so that your feet know what to do before your mind has time to worry about it. If you’ve never danced a step in your life, follow the caller’s instructions and you’ll be smiling and swinging in minutes.”
Beginners lesson starts at 7:00pm (experienced dancers welcome) dance starts at 7:30pm
Each dance is taught. No partner necessary (it’s traditional to dance each dance with a different partner)
First and Third Saturdays of the month except July, August. Occasional special dances.
First and Third Sundays
We will mix Balkan, Israeli and other folk dances each week, with occasional live music from Balkan, Israeli and other traditions. Watch the calendar for announcements about special dances, but just come to each dance and learn all sorts of dances.