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.”

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.

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!

Hambo Workshop
with John Scott

Hambo is not a dance you can learn in  5 minutes.  It takes instruction, time and practice.

• This class is for beginners, or anyone who wants tips & practice opportunity with coaching.
• No partner is needed!
• The May 6th evening contra dance will feature several live HAMBOS to practice your skills!

Family Play Day in Portland

Immerse yourself in traditional
American music and dance at the
Willamette Valley Old-Time Social
May 3rd – May 6th!

Mud City Old-Time Society is once again hosting the region’s 3rd annual old-time music and dance celebration, the Willamette Valley Old-Time Social in Eugene, Oregon May 3rd-6th. There will be a Thursday night kickoff party at 1st National Taphouse with four local bands including, Huff & Meade, Sugar Pine String Band, The Eugene City Barnstormers, and Grand Ronde String Band. Friday night will feature a BBQ social and jam fest, and on Saturday there will be a whole day of workshops at The Shedd Institute for the Performing Arts, focused on old-time fiddle, banjo, guitar, dance and voice, including one with two-time Grammy-nominated fiddler Bruce Molsky and his Mountain Drifters-Allison de Groot and Stash Wyslouch! Saturday evening we will offer flatfoot dance lessons with Rebecca Stout and a big traditional square dance at the W.O.W. Hall with The Horsenecks and Gabe Strand calling. The weekend will finish off with a Sunday farm brunch and later that evening, a farewell concert at Sam Bond’s Brewing with The Local Honeys from Kentucky.

This event is sponsored by; Bubbaville, Stumptown Printers, 2Towns Ciderhouse, Zigzag Mountain Farm, 100 Mile Bakery and the Eugene City Barnstormers. Mud City Old-Time Society is a local nonprofit dedicated to supporting traditional old-time music and dance in the Southern Willamette Valley. Come and be a part of the thriving Pacific Northwest old-time music scene and experience the community-building power of traditional American music and dance!