Calendar
Submit calendar info to:
calendar@corvallisfolklore.org
NOTE: New location for April 19 dance:
Ashbrook Independent School Gym
4045 SW Research Way, Corvallis
Enter the building through the main entrance, then walk straight through the long lobby to the gym doors in the far corner.
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 Overtones
The Overtones is a Corvallis-based band whose sound was born in the rivers and woods of the lush Willamette Valley. Its musical versatility ranges from Irish to Quebecois, Old Time to funky modern tunes, and features Shari Ame kicking a serious backbeat on fiddle, Evelyn Idzerda wading deeply into rhythm and rhyme on piano, Bo Leydon rocking octave mando and wooden flute, Marjorie Sandor coaxing luscious new chords from DADGAD guitar and harmonium, and Tracy Daugherty keeping it steady on bodhran and cajon. Together, the Overtones whip up a danceable storm!
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.
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 Shell Stowell at corvalliscontra@gmail.com
The Best Cellar
Masks welcomed for everyone’s continued safety
7:30 Sharon and Dave
Sharon and Dave Thormahlen have been making beautiful music together in Corvallis for decades. They perform traditional and new music written by Sharon, mostly on instruments made by Dave.
8:30 Wild Hog In The Woods
Stringband music from a bygone era played the way it always should have been.
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 cellar for this show. Enter from the back of the church parking lot.
For more information contact Mark Weiss at mjweiss@cmug.com
Online Song Circle
Share a song, lead a song, request a song, or listen as we go round the circle. Song Circle is free and open to all who wish to participate. Bring your own instrument, borrow one, 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 with your microphone muted. If you plan to sing, please set your audio settings to
- Original Sound: on (if this is available on your Zoom version)
- Automatically adjust microphone volume: unchecked
- Suppress background noise: low
You can access the audio settings when you are in a Zoom meeting by pressing the ^ next to the microphone icon and clicking audio settings.
You can get the Zoom link by emailing Kurt at song-circle-2@CorvallisFolklore.org .
Local Folk! is back
Local Folk! is a free, monthly, open mic (without the mic!) program of
local artists offering a wide variety of music, including original creations. There is no requirement to play and anyone is invited to just come and enjoy the music.
We have a new location at TROUBADOR MUSIC CENTER, 521 SW 2nd St, Corvallis.
Shari Ame is the new manager of the event. She can be contacted at shariame@gmail.com. Ryan Buys is the operator of the shop who is allowing
the use of his place for this CFS offering. We anticipate this to be a monthly event, every first Thursday of the month.
Doors will open at 6:45pm and folks can sign up to perform at that time.
Performances will be from 7pm-9pm. We will conduct shared performances for
approximately two hours without a break, though people are free to move around.
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. We do not have a piano available at this time but if someone is able to help by providing a keyboard, that would be great. Contact Shari. And contact her if you would like to help.
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!
Westwind Weekend
of music and dance
A beautiful setting on the Oregon Coast. A pristine, sheltered beach, tidepools galore, wildlife in the water, woods, and air, hikes that lead to superb vistas up and down the coast. It’s a weekend at the beach, with music and friends old and new. It’s always sunny at Westwind, AND it almost always rains. Which is to say, any weather can happen.
A growing, family friendly community. More than a fourth of those who attend the Westwind Weekend are young people. Kids bring their friends. They dig in the sand, play Frisbee, hike, play cards, dance, play music, drink hot cocoa, help out, hang out, and build lasting memories.
Non-stop music jams. At any moment you’ll find swing favorites on the front porch, old-time in the shed, and Irish/contra tunes in the kitchen. Some of the finest musicians in the Willamette Valley come to Westwind and are joined by folks just learning to play and everyone in between.
Contra dancing and more. Friday and Saturday evenings feature the Westwind All Star Orchestra playing tunes, and dance programming that’s aimed at all ages and abilities. Expect family dances, contras and squares, and a set of Scandinavian favorites. Also find musicians jamming and swing or zydeco dancing underway outside the main hall.
Camper-led workshops. Gumboot dancing, daisy chain squares, swing chords, beach talk, favorite folk songs: come with your special talent to share or learn something you’ve never heard of before. Sunday morning expect time for singing the gospel of our non-denominational love of community.
A Saturday camper concert. Enjoy listening to the crazy, creative, and sublime as your fellow campers perform, or put together your own high or low art performance and step up onto the whale bone stage.
Happy, hearty vegetarian food.
Registration is open.
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.
Campaign for Reel Time
From Portland
- Betsy Branch – fiddle
- Mark Douglas – piano
- Bill Tomczak – reeds, percussion
Campaign for Reel Time is an exciting Northwest band featuring Betsy Branch on fiddle and guitar, Bill Tomczak on clarinet, saxophone and percussion, and Mark Douglas (tonight) on piano. With their mix of instruments and improvisatory natures, plus their deft interweaving of dance-music genres, you never know what to expect from this trio, other than stimulating and inventive dance music. Their delight in playing together translates to the dance floor, and you are likely to hear plenty of laughter from the stage.
Kelly Tabor
Kelly Tabor is a caller and organizer from Portland, Oregon. She enjoys dances that play with elasticity of momentum and works to incorporate them at an accessible level.
dance I visit.
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 Shell Stowell at corvalliscontra@gmail.com
Online Song Circle
Share a song, lead a song, request a song, or listen as we go round the circle. Song Circle is free and open to all who wish to participate. Bring your own instrument, borrow one, 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 with your microphone muted. If you plan to sing, please set your audio settings to
- Original Sound: on (if this is available on your Zoom version)
- Automatically adjust microphone volume: unchecked
- Suppress background noise: low
You can access the audio settings when you are in a Zoom meeting by pressing the ^ next to the microphone icon and clicking audio settings.
You can get the Zoom link by emailing Kurt at song-circle-2@CorvallisFolklore.org .
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 Euphemists
The Euphemists are not your ordinary contra dance band. Yes, they have fiddle, piano, and whistle (Alan Snyder, Dave Goldman, and Greg Martin). But they also have HORNS! (Greg Martin and Stephanie Shea on various saxophones, and Kaye Blesener on trombone.) In addition to familiar Celtic, Québécois, and old-time tunes, the band plays lively jazz standards that feature the horn section. Throw in some ragtime era tunes, a little klezmer, and even a Sousa march, and it all adds up to a highly entertaining dance
Koren Wake
Koren Wake has only been calling contra dances since 2022, but she has been dancing, loving, and obsessing about contra since she was a child. Originally from New England, she spent decades analyzing the art and flow of contra and developing a deep understanding of the dance before she finally picked up a microphone in Seattle, where she is now based. She has already shared stages with some of the hottest bands in the Pacific Northwest, and has quickly proven that’s exactly where she belongs. She loves nothing more than to help dancers discover the patterns and connections of well-crafted choreography. Koren’s primary goal as a caller is to combine exquisite dance selection with clear and accessible teaching in order to bring dancers of all skill levels together on the floor.
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 Shell Stowell at corvalliscontra@gmail.com
GALLOWGLASS
Gallowglass, a Contemporary Celtic Folk Band from Bellingham, WA will present a fundraiser concert for The Corvallis Celtic Festival and the South Benton County Food Bank. Presented by the Corvallis Folklore Society, the show is at Heritage Hall in Monroe (the old Methodist Church, 648 Orchard Street, Monroe) on Saturday May 24.
With a combination of emotional vocal delivery, fresh melodic arrangements, and airtight accompaniment, Gallowglass has developed a style of contemporary Celtic folk that Irish Music Magazine calls “an inspired approach to the tradition.” The group, featuring Jan Peters (vocals, harmonica), Mishon Kirkland (vocals, Irish flute), Zach Bauman (Irish Bouzouki) and David Pender Lofgren (Bodhrán), has become one of the Pacific Northwest’s most celebrated Celtic music
They will be joined by Corvallis fiddler Erika Nagamoto.
- 6pm-dessert potluck, wine available for purchase to benefit the South Benton Food Bank
- 6:30pm- doors open
- 7-9pm- concert
There will be an open Celtic session with the band after the show. All instruments and abilities welcome!
Tickets $25 with $5 going to the South Benton Food Bank. Tickets online at corvalliscelticfestival.org or at the door.
Please join us at this lovely concert space for what promises to be a great community concert and jam!
Online Song Circle
Share a song, lead a song, request a song, or listen as we go round the circle. Song Circle is free and open to all who wish to participate. Bring your own instrument, borrow one, 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 with your microphone muted. If you plan to sing, please set your audio settings to
- Original Sound: on (if this is available on your Zoom version)
- Automatically adjust microphone volume: unchecked
- Suppress background noise: low
You can access the audio settings when you are in a Zoom meeting by pressing the ^ next to the microphone icon and clicking audio settings.
You can get the Zoom link by emailing Kurt at song-circle-2@CorvallisFolklore.org .
The Best Cellar
Masks welcomed for everyone’s continued safety
7:30 Jens Lovetang
Jens is the Director of Choirs for Corvallis and Crescent Valley High Schools and the Music Director for the First United Methodist Church in Corvallis, Oregon. He’s done plays at the Majestic Theatre, Corvallis High School and elsewhere. A singer/songwriter, during Covid he recorded videos of his music which can still be seen on youTube.com at https://www.youtube.com/@LovtangMusic
8:30 The Flat Stanley Incident
The Flat Stanley Incident is an Oregon band based in the Willamette Valley. A great acoustic, country trio. Lots of strong original tunes, vocal harmonies, and some sharp picking, to boot, they deliver their own eclectic mix of Americana music built on original material, ranging from traditional folk to contemporary genres. Rob Pugliese and Steve Martin (formally of The Kindreds) are joined by Texas bass player Ron Green
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 cellar for this show. Enter from the back of the church parking lot.
For more information contact Mark Weiss at mjweiss@cmug.com
Unfortunately, this month’s event is canceled.
See you next month
Local Folk! is back
Local Folk! is a free, monthly, open mic (without the mic!) program of
local artists offering a wide variety of music, including original creations. There is no requirement to play and anyone is invited to just come and enjoy the music.
We have a new location at TROUBADOR MUSIC CENTER, 521 SW 2nd St, Corvallis.
Shari Ame is the new manager of the event. She can be contacted at shariame@gmail.com. Ryan Buys is the operator of the shop who is allowing
the use of his place for this CFS offering. We anticipate this to be a monthly event, every first Thursday of the month.
Doors will open at 6:45pm and folks can sign up to perform at that time.
Performances will be from 7pm-9pm. We will conduct shared performances for
approximately two hours without a break, though people are free to move around.
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. We do not have a piano available at this time but if someone is able to help by providing a keyboard, that would be great. Contact Shari. And contact her if you would like to help.
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!
Folklore Society Annual Meeting / Potluck / Jam
Join us for our annual meeting, potluck and jam session
at the First Congregational Church
Bring musical instruments, voices, songs & stories or just listen
Bring food to share – Snacks & drinks available.
SCHEDULE:
- 3:30 – Doors open
- 4:00 – Socialize, jam, share tunes & songs
- 5:30 – POTLUCK food table opens A hearty soup & bread will be provide
- Please bring a salad or side dish
- Dessert will be served during the meeting.
- 6:00 – Annual Membership Meeting after the Board Meeting.
- Review CFS activities
- Financial report
- Member input
- Board Election
- Present slate of candidates for next year’s board
- Accept additional nominations from the floor
- All members present vote for next year’s CFS board
- 7:00 – Contra Dance lesson starts
- 7:30 – Contra Dance starts
Come for music, friends & food
Support CFS in its mission
Stay for the contra dance
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.
Pringle Creek Band
The members of the Pringle Creek Bank have ben involved in various styles of folk music for a long time.
Jeff Graham (fiddle, string bass) started out flat picking on the guitar, played fiddle for contra dances in Alaska and currently plays string bass in the Salem Philharmonic Orchestra.
Louise Rothrock (string bass, mandolin) was a clog dancer in Portland, played electric bass in the Cajun band Blackfish, and at present is concentrating on mandolin and string bass.
Shawn Morford (piano, fiddle, penny whistle) has impressed people for many years with her singing and finesse on the acoustic guitar. She has now added fiddle and back up piano to her long list of instruments.
Dennis Rothrock (accordions, banjo) has played piano accordion for contra dancing and Zydeco music, as well as button accordion for Cajun, Irish, and French Canadian. As a diversion, he has lots of fun playing the clawhammer banjo.
Stacy Rose
Stacy Rose is a passionate advocate for folk dancing and a dedicated educator. She began folk dancing in the early 1980s and expanded her repertoire in the early 2000s when she became a contra dance caller, sharing her love of dance at events around her state and beyond. Recognizing a need to revitalize her local folk dance community, Stacy began teaching a folk dance class at her community college in 2009. This effort not only kept the tradition alive but also inspired others to take up teaching folk dance themselves.
Stacy’s commitment to fostering new talent extends to her involvement with the National Folk Organization’s mentoring project. As a steering committee member and mentor to novice dance teachers, she helps nurture the next generation of folk dance leaders. She also co-facilitates “Dancing With Friends,” a weekly Zoom folk dance class, collaborating with skilled remote instructors to bring the joy of dance to a global audience.
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 Shell Stowell at corvalliscontra@gmail.com
Online Song Circle
Share a song, lead a song, request a song, or listen as we go round the circle. Song Circle is free and open to all who wish to participate. Bring your own instrument, borrow one, 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 with your microphone muted. If you plan to sing, please set your audio settings to
- Original Sound: on (if this is available on your Zoom version)
- Automatically adjust microphone volume: unchecked
- Suppress background noise: low
You can access the audio settings when you are in a Zoom meeting by pressing the ^ next to the microphone icon and clicking audio settings.
You can get the Zoom link by emailing Kurt at song-circle-2@CorvallisFolklore.org .