The Best Cellar

Masks welcomed for everyone’s continued safety

7:30 Shanghaied on the Willamette

Jonathan Lay and Gordie Euler have been singing together and entertaining Pacific Northwest audiences for decades.  They’re really good!

8:30 Julie Williams, Linda Knighten, and Stephanie Lynn Smith

 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

The Best Cellar

Masks welcomed for everyone’s continued safety

7:30 Webster Chicago

Gospel-tinged blues and funk with some vintage Chicago, Delta and NorthMississippi blues. Chris Dunfield, Bill Veley, Brian Rhodes, and Jim Munford.

8:30 Cassandra Robertson

A muse with a message, Cassandra has the heart of a lion, and the mane to match. Accompanied by her acoustic guitar, she floors the audience like a sonic boom with captivating messages of peace, prosperity, hope and above all, inspiration. Her unique style of “acoustic conscious folk” kick starts the heart and levitates the soul; reminding us all that we CAN positively affect the world we all share, as long as we choose planet over profit and remember to be ourselves.

 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 main hall for this show. Enter from Monroe.
For more information contact Mark Weiss at mjweiss@cmug.com

The Best Cellar

Masks welcomed for everyone’s continued safety

7:30 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.

Johanna will be joined by pianist/vocalist Lauren Servias, cellist/vocalist Sabina Monn, and percussionist/father George Beekman.

8:30 Dave Plaehn and Jeff Hino

The best Blues duo this side of the Mississippi delta.

 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 main hall for this show. Enter from Monroe.
For more information contact Mark Weiss at mjweiss@cmug.com

The Best Cellar

Masks welcomed for everyone’s continued safety

7:30 Adam Scramstad

Adam is an award winning Acoustic/Electric Finger-style & Blues Musician, born and raised in Oregon. Performing regularly throughout the Pacific Northwest, Scramstad’s reputation as a professional Blues Guitarist & Vocalist is rapidly becoming widespread.

A strong and creative Songwriter in his own-right, Scramstad’s repertoire also covers a broad range of early American Folk/Blues artists’ works – such as: Son House, Bukka White, Mississippi John Hurt, Rev. Gary Davis, Robert Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy, Lightning Hopkins, Blind Blake, John Fahey, Elizabeth Cotton.

Adam’s 2006 debut Solo album “No Sun Around Blues” climbed to #33 on the Roots Music Radio Blues Chart – June 2006. The CD is a mix of acoustic blues (w/vocal) & finger-style guitar songs, and quickly became a favorite of local NW Radio Stations. His music has been featured on the nationally syndicated “Blues Deluxe Show” as well as receiving regular airplay on many regional, national and international stations/shows.

Although he maintains a focus on Solo Acoustic Delta Slide & Country Blues (both vocal and instrumental), Adam also regularly performs with Blues Guitar Legend Terry Robb (Adam’s Producer & Mentor)– as an acoustic duo as well as slinging electric guitar in the acclaimed Terry Robb Band. You can hear Adam’s rhythm & lead electric guitar work throughout the 2012 Terry Robb Band release “Muddyvishnu”.

8:30 Loose Flagstone

Loose Flagstone celebrates its fifth anniversary this year as a Corvallis Celtic quartet drawing from Irish, Scottish, and American musical influences both traditional and contemporary. Come savor the rich variety of moods—from mysterious airs to driving and danceable reels and jigs—created by Leslie Glassmire on silver flute, Jennifer Parke on fiddle, Tracy Daugherty on bodhran, and Marjorie Sandor on DADGAD guitar.

 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

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

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

The Best Cellar

Masks welcomed for everyone’s continued safety

7:30 Willis, Brassfield & Chiller

A jazz group with guitar, bass, and percussion.

8:30 Tim Hardin and Audrey Perkins

Tim and Audrey have been singing in Covallis for decades and most people reading this already know their music.  If you don’t, you should.

 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

As part of
2025 Corvallis Open Streets Festival
CFS is presenting a
Free Contra Dance

with The Nettles playing

and Noah Grunzweig calling.

The Nettles have been a premiere Corvallis contra dance band for years, having played here most recently at the March 1 dance.

Noah Grunzweig will have called here most recently at the June 21 dance.

Open Streets this year will be in Southtown

• Lilly Park in the north to
• Willamette Park in the south
  via
• SE Bethel St.
• SE Alexander Ave.
• SE Thompson St.
• SE Park Ave.
• SE Heron View St.

There will be dancing at Lilly Park and music at Willamette Park.  At Lilly Park:

• 11am   Swing Dance
• noon   Cuban Salsa
•   1pm   CFS Contra Dance
•  2pm   traditional dance performance by Corazón Oaxaqueño

For more information on the event, which runs from 11am to 3pm, go to
https://openstreetscorvallis.org/

The Best Cellar

Masks welcomed for everyone’s continued safety

7:30 River Rocks

Laurie Childers, Joe Casprowiak,
Michael Everett, Tracy Daugherty,
Bill Veley

Long time Best Cellar favorites, RiverRocks plays some of Laurie’s originals and a broad range of sweet covers.  We like lyrics that matter, that uplift, that tell a good story, that make us laugh or cry, that prompt us to get up and dance.  You might even sing along!

8:30 Space Neighbors

Space Neighbors bring an original blend of retro future classics to life by taping into the universal consciousness of love. Yohan Solo(John Navarro), Rigel 7(Rigel Woodside), Nick of Time(Nick Rivard), Melanie Moonbeam(Melanie Reid), and Jennatronix (Jenna Summer Smith) are your crew.

 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

Corvallis Celtic Festival
2025

The third annual Corvallis Celtic Festival will be held in several locations downtown.  All Events are free except the Open the Door for Three concert on Friday at PRAx and Saturday performances at Tyee Winery.

Activities will take place::

Check the full schedule here.

This will be the third year for the festival, now becoming a favorite summertime tradition in Corvallis. While the general theme of the festival remains the same, bringing the finest local and regional Celtic musicians and dancers together and encouraging participatory sessions open to all, there are also a few new and exciting changes!

The festival kicks o@ Thursday evening, July 24 with a free event at Common Fields including dancers from the Blackthorn Academy of Dance and performances by The Nettles and The Ballybogs. Friday night, July 25 features a concert at PRAx with the Boston-based Irish music trio Open the Door for Three. Legendary fiddle player Liz Knowles, uilleann pipes player Kieran O’Hare, and bouzouki-player and singer Pat Broaders will spark plenty of musical joy! Come early to hear local favorites Sharon and Dave Thormahlen on harp, guitar, mandolin, and tenor banjo and enjoy refreshments for purchase in the PRAx lobby. Tickets are available through prax.oregonstate.edu/events. If you’re a member of CFS, you may apply the code cfs2025 to receive a $2 discount on tickets.

Saturday, July 26 is the biggest day of the festival. Events begin with bagpipers at the riverfront and morning workshops on Celtic instruments and singing at the Corvallis library and the Dragon’s Whistle in downtown Corvallis. Workshops are free to all on a first-come, first-served basis. Check the schedule and workshop descriptions on the Corvallis Celtic Festival website for more information. Saturday’s music performances will be held this year at Tyee Wine Cellars, located on a scenic farm and vineyard 10 miles south of Corvallis. Come and enjoy a variety of Celtic performers (Fionnghal, Willamette Valley Pipes and Drums, James Wilson, Amhranaithe, Schmid & Guest, and Steeplechase) in this gorgeous outdoor setting from 12:30-8:30 pm. In addition to fine music, there will be food and craft vendors and beer and wine for purchase. There is plenty of shade, but you may want to bring a blanket or camp chair. Children’s craft activities will be o@ered from 1-5 pm, and the nature trail is open all day! Please, no outside alcohol or dogs. Tickets for this event are $20/person in advance or $25 day of show. Children 12 years old and under are free, so bring the whole family! Tickets are available online from the Corvallis Celtic Festival website or in person at Grass Roots Books and Troubadour Music Center (cash or check only). After the festivities at Tyee, all Celtic musicians are invited to a free late-night jam session at the Brass Monkey from 9:30-11:30 pm.

Sunday morning, July 27, begins with performances by Whitehorn Crossing and Loose Flagstone at the Old World Deli, followed by afternoon instrumental and singing sessions at the Old World Deli and Common Fields. A special treat will be a Ceili Dance led by Ceili of the Valley, with Triple File, a youth trio from Portland, providing live music. Close out the festival at the no host slow-tune session. Come and play, or just listen!

The festival needs volunteers.  Go to https://www.corvalliscelticfestival.org/volunteer/

The Best Cellar

Masks welcomed for everyone’s continued safety

7:30 Jim Lynch

Jim Lynch is a singer/guitarist whose music reflects his passion for blues, country, old standards, and folk-inspired Americana. His set will include an eclectic variety of both well-known songs and hidden gems in these genres.

8:30 Choro Na Cozinha

The name is Brazilian and means “choro in the kitchen.” And they, in fact, practice in the kitchen.  CnC plays a Brazilian music style known as Choro, whose character ranges from fun to sweet. The quartet has clarinet (Bill Pfender), mandolin (John Bliss), 7-string guitar (Spencer Doidge), pandeiro (hand drum) and vocals (Kimberly Cullen). Choro has a long history as an urban popular music in Brazil, and has become better known around the world in the last few decades.

 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

The Best Cellar

Masks welcomed for everyone’s continued safety

7:30 Nicasio

Ralph Penunuri and Beth Brown bring their neo-traditional folk stylings old, new and borrowed back to the Best Cellar after a long hiatus. Their shared musical conversations on guitar, cello, woodwind and vocals – create far-ranging musical journey, from rootsy mystic balladry to swingin’ improv celebration.

8:30 Cucunandy

Corvallis based Cucunandy brings a wide variety of traditional and contemporary Scottish, Irish, Manx, Quebecois, and Old Time tunes to the contra dance floor. With Katie Maxey on fiddle, Beth Brown on cello and penny whistle, Laureen Urey on Bodhran and other percussion instruments, Cucanandy is now joined by Van Fister on guitar. Van brings his expertise as a contra dancer to the band making for a wonderful program of dance sets.

 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

The Best Cellar

Masks welcomed for everyone’s continued safety

7:30 Wallop Sisters

Suz Doyle and Jeannie Holmes (joined by their spouses, John Swanson and Nils Nielson) doing “Novelty Songs through the ages.” One of the most “alive” groups around. Full of energy, great singing, and some very special instrumental work.

8:30 Mike and Carleen McCornack

These three absolutely delighted The Cellar audience last year and for decades before. Here’s what some other artists have said about them:

“Beautiful melodies, great musicians, pure, heartfelt vocals all blended together into music that will leave you smiling in your heart.” -Bill Staines, singer, songwriter

“Their songs are wonderful. exquisite. I love their voices and sweet harmonies. Very expressive. -Steve Gillette, songwriter

 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

The Best Cellar

Masks welcomed for everyone’s continued safety

7:30 Song Tenders

These collaborators and longtime friends are on a mission to serve up great music. Don’t we all get crushes on songs? Great songs never die but they sure could get played more! The Songtenders do just that–they echo songs from the past with sweet harmony and hearty respect. Singer Melanie Reid and piano player Evelyn Idzerda started The Songtenders after an epic late-night jam. The music that resulted made them realize their chemistry is perfectly aligned for giving service to songs they love. Later, to even better serve those songs, they were joined by Luke Painter on electric guitar, Barbara Barry-Doyle on stand up bass, and George Beekman on percussion. It’s always a treat when the Songtenders serve up their fun musical nostalgia!

8:30 Can’t Never Could

Can’tNeverCould is a new Corvallis band made up of long-time local musicians Rita Brown, Bill Smyth and Leigh Ann Starcevich. Featuring rich vocal harmonies, expressive guitar, they do originals as well as intriguing songs from the 60s to the present (The Band, Joni Mitchell, Pure Prairie League, Guy Clark, Brandi Carlile, Tracy Chapman, Natalie Hemby, and more). A fun and friendly band.

 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

The Best Cellar

Masks welcomed for everyone’s continued safety

7:30 Karen Sikich

Songs from multiple eras. Karen sings beautifully and covers everything from swing
to the sixties to current songwriters.

8:30 Us and Them

Us and Them is a Celtic quartet composed of two couples who love to create musical tapestries together. With twin fiddles, guitar and bodhran, they stitch together music from Cape Breton, Scotland, Ireland, Quebec, among other interesting places. Soaring soulful melody lines slip into groovy foot tapping lines that grow to driving reels. Deep explorers of music, this band loves to be a magpie – picking delicious tunes from the Celtic world and weaving them into a dynamic new mix. David Greenberg brings in baroque violin, Cape Breton and 18th century Scottish music. Maria Blair plays fiddle, cello, and adds some Cape Breton step dancing. Marjorie Sandor rocks the DADGAD guitar, and Tracy Daugherty has condensed his full drum kit down to the portable bodhran.

 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