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Local Folk!
Local Folk! is the free, monthly, open mic (without the mic) program of the Corvallis Folklore Society, featuring local performers offering a wide variety of music, including traditional tunes and songs, covers of favorite artists, and original compositions. There is no requirement to play and anyone is invited to just come and enjoy the music.
Doors open at 6:45pm and folks can sign up to perform at that time.
Performances are from 7pm-9pm.
We conduct shared performances without a break. There is a restroom on site, and folks are free to get up and move around as needed.
This is an entirely acoustic event, without amplification. Each performer or performance group will have a maximum time allotment of 15 minutes to perform up to three songs, as in the past. There is an electric keyboard available. Contact Shari for more information or if you would like to help.
We are at TROUBADOUR MUSIC CENTER, 521 SW 2nd St, Corvallis.
Shari Ame is the manager of the event. Contact her at [email protected].
Ryan Buys is the operator of the shop who is allowing the use of his place for this CFS offering.
This is a monthly event, every first Thursday of the month.
This is a free event, open to the public.
We do ask for a $5 donation to help defray the costs of the facility.
Come share your music with us!
All attendees must sign a waiver for the First Congregational UCC (our dance hall) before their first dance of the 2025-26 season. Please read the waiver here before you arrive in order to speed up the check-in process at the door.
Thank you for helping to keep our dance community safely dancing:
- Dancing should be fun and safe.
- You have the right to say “yes” or “no” to any dance or any role, no excuses needed.
- If your dance partner is doing something that hurts or makes you feel uncomfortable, let them know.
- Tell a committee member or the person at the front table about inappropriate behavior, or ask for assistance if needed.
For more information on attendance requirements and other precautions, please see our current COVID-19 policy here
The Nettles
The Nettles play improvisational music based on traditional tunes. Playing hard, they’re a Celtic jam band that makes audiences move and groove. Playing soft, they’re a lyrical folk-jazz group.
The Nettles blend traditional Irish and American music with modern spices. Laura Brophy’s fiddle forms strong melodies punctuated by soaring improvisation and intertwined with Kevin Nettle’s muscular guitar. The Nettles are propelled by the purring but powerful rhythm engine of Michael Proctor on bass and Tracy Daugherty on drums.
The Nettles play for festivals, dances, bars, and weddings on the West Coast. Their music retains the vital energy of its roots, but The Nettles’ unique interpretations add to The Tradition with every performance. The Nettles joke that “We never play the same tune once.”
Lorie Bunyard
from Coos Bay teaches, calls and leads dances in SW Oregon.
Newcomers lesson starts at 7:00pm (experienced dancers encouraged)
Dance starts at 7:30pm.
Each dance is taught. No partner necessary
(it’s traditional to dance each dance with a different partner).
We are still seeking new volunteers to help with dances in the fall! If you are interested in volunteering this fall, please see role descriptions and tell us how you would like to help by taking our volunteer survey at:
https://bit.ly/CorvallisContraVolunteering2022
For questions regarding contra dance volunteering, please contact Shari Ame at [email protected]
Come to play or listen at the
Corvallis Pan Celtic Session
Every Sunday from 2-4pm.
All instruments welcome
It’s a great way to learn to play your
instrument, get some good pointers,
and learn new music
Or just enjoy
Online Song Circle
Share a song, lead a song, request a song, or listen as we go around the circle. Song Circle is free and open to all who wish to participate. Play your instrument or just sing.
The song circle is conducted on Zoom (you can download the app to your laptop, tablet or smart phone at https://zoom.us/ ). You can play or sing along as others perform with your microphone muted. If you plan to sing, please set your audio settings to
- Original sound for musicians: on (if this is available on your Zoom version)
- Automatically adjust microphone volume: off
- Echo cancellation: checked
- Suppress background noise: low (if this is available on your Zoom version)
You can access the audio settings in a Zoom meeting by pressing the ^ next to the microphone icon and clicking audio settings.
You can join the song circle by clicking here.
Corvallis Hoolyeh dances are back in person
2nd and 4th Thursdays from 7 pm to 9 pm.
Hoolyeh Folk Dance
COVID-19 Policy
Updated 2023-06-13
These policies are created by an informal Hoolyeh Live Dance Committee and are approved by the Corvallis Folklore Society. They are intended to keep our community and dancers as safe, healthy, and happy as possible.
Folk dancing involves physical exertion and close contact with many people and is therefore associated with greater risk of viral transmission than other common activities. To protect our community as much as possible, Hoolyeh folk dances will have the following precautions in place until further notice, which meet and may exceed mandated COVID-19 safety guidelines.
Please note: People at higher risk of severe illness from the COVID-19 virus, or who are in regular contact with someone at higher risk, including young children and other unvaccinated people, should not attend folk dancing at this time.
All attendees are required to:
- Provide an email address for contact tracing if needed (gathered at dancing).
- Be mindful of others’ variable comfort levels, especially with respect to personal space and level of touch.
- Feel comfortable wearing a mask if that is their personal choice.
- Stay home if you experience any illness symptoms.
Additional precautions will include:
- An attendance capacity of 20-25 dancers
- Unscented hand sanitizer available at the dance
- Ventilation (open doors and windows)
- Attendees should wash hands regularly
- Letting Dana know if you have experienced any COVID-19 symptoms after the dance or in the following week
Current fees are $5 per person if not CFS member, $4 for CFS member, 18 and under $2.
Julie Fowlis
‘If snow could sing, it would sing like Julie Fowlis…’
…this is how her pure Northern voice was recently described by acclaimed nature writer Robert Macfarlane. Hailing from the Outer Hebrides and now based in the Highlands, Julie Fowlis is a multi-award winning singer whose music is deeply influenced by the Hebridean islands where she grew up and by the Highland landscapes where she now resides.
With a career spanning several studio albums and numerous high profile collaborations, her ‘crystalline’ and ‘intoxicating’ vocals have enchanted audiences around the world.
Julie Fowlis, is known the world over for her singing of the theme song in Brave, the Oscar-winning animated film set in the ancient Highlands.
The Corvallis Contra Weekend is Sold Out.
There will be a closing dance on Sunday open to everyone.
The Orb Weavers
From Seattle we have
- Hayden Stern on fiddle
- Ezra Jane Landsman on guitar
- Elise Snoey on second fiddle
Wake Up Robin
- Audrey Jaber on fiddle
- Andrew VanNorstrand on fiddle/guitar
- Noah VanNorstrand on mandolin/guitar/feet
- Amy on piano/accordion
Andrew, Audrey, and Amy began playing together as a trio in 2015 on a cross-country road trip, performing at various stops along the way. Noah joined them in 2016, adding his rhythmic playing to the mix. Wake Up Robin plays for contra dances, concerts, and festivals across the country. They delight listeners with a variety of musical styles, whether singing moving ballads or cowboy songs, busting out traditional fiddle tunes or original compositions. Wake Up Robin creates magical moments, joyful harmonies, and raw energy.
Gaye Fifer
Gaye Fifer is an accomplished contra caller from Pittsburgh, PA. Her delightful personality makes everyone happy to be dancing, and her clear and charming explanations makes it easy. An active dancer herself, Gaye understands the subtleties of making contra dances particularly satisfying for dancers. She is also an enthusiastic advocate and instructor of the contra-style waltz.
Jeremy Korr
Jeremy is a popular bicoastal caller, based in Southern California most of the year and in Eastern Massachusetts during the summer. A dancer since childhood, he has been calling contras and squares around the country since 2003 and children and family dances since 1993. Jeremy is acclaimed for his fun dances, efficient walkthroughs, precise calling, and community spirit.
Each dance is taught. No partner necessary
(it’s traditional to dance each dance with a different partner).
Come to play or listen at the
Corvallis Pan Celtic Session
Every Sunday from 2-4pm.
All instruments welcome
It’s a great way to learn to play your
instrument, get some good pointers,
and learn new music
Or just enjoy
Contra dance is back to the regular schedule in Corvallis! The dance will start at 7:00 PM with a newcomer’s lesson and community meetup, helpful for all dancers. Following the lesson will be dancing from 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM. No partner necessary. Dance calling and role terms will be Larks & Robins. The cost is $12 – $20 sliding scale.
Because of the Covid-19 situation:
All attendees must sign a waiver for the First Congregational UCC (our dance hall) before their first dance of the 2024-25 season. Please read the waiver here before you arrive in order to speed up the check-in process at the door.
Thank you for helping to keep our dance community safely dancing! For more information on attendance requirements and other precautions, please see our current COVID-19 policy here, to be further updated soon.
The Orb Weavers
From Seattle we have
- Hayden Stern on fiddle
- Ezra Jane Landsman on guitar
- Elise Snoey on second fiddle
Wake Up Robin
- Audrey Jaber on fiddle
- Andrew VanNorstrand on fiddle/guitar
- Noah VanNorstrand on mandolin/guitar/feet
- Amy on piano/accordion
Andrew, Audrey, and Amy began playing together as a trio in 2015 on a cross-country road trip, performing at various stops along the way. Noah joined them in 2016, adding his rhythmic playing to the mix. Wake Up Robin plays for contra dances, concerts, and festivals across the country. They delight listeners with a variety of musical styles, whether singing moving ballads or cowboy songs, busting out traditional fiddle tunes or original compositions. Wake Up Robin creates magical moments, joyful harmonies, and raw energy.
Gaye Fifer
Gaye Fifer is an accomplished contra caller from Pittsburgh, PA. Her delightful personality makes everyone happy to be dancing, and her clear and charming explanations makes it easy. An active dancer herself, Gaye understands the subtleties of making contra dances particularly satisfying for dancers. She is also an enthusiastic advocate and instructor of the contra-style waltz.
Jeremy Korr
Jeremy is a popular bicoastal caller, based in Southern California most of the year and in Eastern Massachusetts during the summer. A dancer since childhood, he has been calling contras and squares around the country since 2003 and children and family dances since 1993. Jeremy is acclaimed for his fun dances, efficient walkthroughs, precise calling, and community spirit.
Newcomers lesson starts at 7:00pm (experienced dancers encouraged)
Dance starts at 7:30pm.
Each dance is taught. No partner necessary
(it’s traditional to dance each dance with a different partner).
We are still seeking new volunteers to help with dances in the fall! If you are interested in volunteering this fall, please see role descriptions and tell us how you would like to help by taking our volunteer survey at:
https://bit.ly/CorvallisContraVolunteering2022
For questions regarding contra dance volunteering, please contact Shari Ame at [email protected]
Come to play or listen at the
Corvallis Pan Celtic Session
Every Sunday from 2-4pm.
All instruments welcome
It’s a great way to learn to play your
instrument, get some good pointers,
and learn new music
Or just enjoy
Online Song Circle
Share a song, lead a song, request a song, or listen as we go around the circle. Song Circle is free and open to all who wish to participate. Play your instrument or just sing.
The song circle is conducted on Zoom (you can download the app to your laptop, tablet or smart phone at https://zoom.us/ ). You can play or sing along as others perform with your microphone muted. If you plan to sing, please set your audio settings to
- Original sound for musicians: on (if this is available on your Zoom version)
- Automatically adjust microphone volume: off
- Echo cancellation: checked
- Suppress background noise: low (if this is available on your Zoom version)
You can access the audio settings in a Zoom meeting by pressing the ^ next to the microphone icon and clicking audio settings.
You can join the song circle by clicking here.
Corvallis Hoolyeh dances are back in person
2nd and 4th Thursdays from 7 pm to 9 pm.
Hoolyeh Folk Dance
COVID-19 Policy
Updated 2023-06-13
These policies are created by an informal Hoolyeh Live Dance Committee and are approved by the Corvallis Folklore Society. They are intended to keep our community and dancers as safe, healthy, and happy as possible.
Folk dancing involves physical exertion and close contact with many people and is therefore associated with greater risk of viral transmission than other common activities. To protect our community as much as possible, Hoolyeh folk dances will have the following precautions in place until further notice, which meet and may exceed mandated COVID-19 safety guidelines.
Please note: People at higher risk of severe illness from the COVID-19 virus, or who are in regular contact with someone at higher risk, including young children and other unvaccinated people, should not attend folk dancing at this time.
All attendees are required to:
- Provide an email address for contact tracing if needed (gathered at dancing).
- Be mindful of others’ variable comfort levels, especially with respect to personal space and level of touch.
- Feel comfortable wearing a mask if that is their personal choice.
- Stay home if you experience any illness symptoms.
Additional precautions will include:
- An attendance capacity of 20-25 dancers
- Unscented hand sanitizer available at the dance
- Ventilation (open doors and windows)
- Attendees should wash hands regularly
- Letting Dana know if you have experienced any COVID-19 symptoms after the dance or in the following week
Current fees are $5 per person if not CFS member, $4 for CFS member, 18 and under $2.
The Best Cellar
Masks welcomed for everyone’s continued safety
7:30 Compass Rose
Compass Rose is a unique musical group that performs an eclectic mix of songs from around the world and across the decades. The band includes lead singer Jeanette Hardison, harpist/singer Laura Zaerr, cellist/singer Sabina Monn, percussionist George Beekman, and bassist Bill Veley.
8:30 Johanna Beekman
Johanna Beekman is one of a kind. Whether she’s leading a kirtan, performing original music at a concert or festival, or guiding students through a Lullaby Yoga session, she warms hearts with her soulful music and her soaring spirit. Her velvety voice, her creative interpretations of music from various world traditions, her gorgeous original songs, and her open-hearted presence come together to create unforgettable musical experiences.
Johanna’s songwriting knows no stylistic boundaries. Her catalog includes heart-opening folk-pop songs, gospel hymns, a cappella anthems, classic soul songs, and jazz-infused love ballads. And these songs haven’t gone unnoticed. One of them, Free to Decide (Breathe), has been performed by several choirs and a cappella groups across the United States and Canada.
Best Cellar is held on the last Friday of each month of the school year.
Admission is pay-what-you-will, with a minimum of 2 dollars. Kids are free and welcome.
Coffee, tea, and gluten free cookies are fifty cents each.
Masks are encouraged but not required.
We will be in the sanctuary for this show. Enter at 1165 NW Monroe.
For more information contact Mark Weiss at [email protected]
Come to play or listen at the
Corvallis Pan Celtic Session
Every Sunday from 2-4pm.
All instruments welcome
It’s a great way to learn to play your
instrument, get some good pointers,
and learn new music
Or just enjoy
Local Folk!
Local Folk! is the free, monthly, open mic (without the mic) program of the Corvallis Folklore Society, featuring local performers offering a wide variety of music, including traditional tunes and songs, covers of favorite artists, and original compositions. There is no requirement to play and anyone is invited to just come and enjoy the music.
Doors open at 6:45pm and folks can sign up to perform at that time.
Performances are from 7pm-9pm.
We conduct shared performances without a break. There is a restroom on site, and folks are free to get up and move around as needed.
This is an entirely acoustic event, without amplification. Each performer or performance group will have a maximum time allotment of 15 minutes to perform up to three songs, as in the past. There is an electric keyboard available. Contact Shari for more information or if you would like to help.
We are at TROUBADOUR MUSIC CENTER, 521 SW 2nd St, Corvallis.
Shari Ame is the manager of the event. Contact her at [email protected].
Ryan Buys is the operator of the shop who is allowing the use of his place for this CFS offering.
This is a monthly event, every first Thursday of the month.
This is a free event, open to the public.
We do ask for a $5 donation to help defray the costs of the facility.
Come share your music with us!