Calendar
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WINTERDANCE
a Celtic Christmas Celebration
Molly’s Revenge
special guest vocalist Amelia Hogan
The Murray Irish Dancers
(out of Portland)
Molly’s Revenge, whose lineup includes bagpipes, fiddle, whistle, guitar, mandola, and bodhran, have toured extensively in the USA as well as Australia, China and Scotland. The band is known for its unique and infectious on-stage enthusiasm. Their arrangements of traditional jigs and reels bring these dance tunes up to date with a driving, hard-edged accent that always leaves audiences shouting for more.
Guest vocalist Amelia Hogan sings traditional, Irish, Scottish, British, American and contemporary folk music with lilting grace and subtle power. She transports you with a spell into another time and place, where the beansidhe (banshee) cries and lovers embrace. Haunting melodies, stirring passion, and evocative storytelling are what you’ll find with Amelia’s music.
The Murray Irish Dancers bring a percussive, joyful, and colorful exuberance to the stage. This 13th Annual Celtic Christmas Celebration will capture the traditional spirit of the season and warm the hearts of all.
“A seriously joyous, masterly musical experience.”
— Tom Clancy, Irish Music Magazine
The Murray School of Irish Dancing offers classes for students of all ages and levels wishing to become outstanding Irish dancers. At the Murray school we believe in supporting students through enhancing their self esteem and confidence. We also encourage our students to work hard and strive for excellence. Through this they will develop skills that will last a lifetime. We endeavor to create a safe learning environment for all students through mutual respect and responsibility towards all teachers, students and parents in The Murray School. We welcome students from all levels of dance experience and of all cultural backgrounds to learn about Irish Culture, Music and Dance and to be part of the Murray team.
These folks gave an outstanding concert last year. The crowd was enthusiastic, especially when the musicians upped the tempo and the Irish dancers joined in with gusto. David Brewer is the most vigorous piper I have ever seen. He also plays whistles and bodhran (Celtic drum). The group has fun playing songs of the season with a Celtic twist. Amelia has a gorgeous voice and lovely vocal ornamentation.
SVER
play grand Norwegian folk music with relentless energy and seductive spark taking you on a fantastic musical journey guaranteed to excite you. Ranging from the very dreamy to a swinging, pounding and sweaty madness – you are invited to the party, greeted by a welcoming primal force that pulls you into the dance.
SVER has often been described as “sounding electric without electricity”, and their flexible musicianship has also made them an attractive backing band for some of Scandinavia’s leading singers in different genres. That has lead to playing on TV-shows, big festivals and positions in the radio charts with the music ranging from folk to reggae/dancehall and rap. Their imaginative soundscapes, grooves, and melodies will take you on a journey over the Norwegian fjords and mountains, into the lively pubs and back out into the deep forest of their musicality.
SVER consists of Olav Luksengård Mjelva (fiddle and hardangerfiddle), Anders Hall (fiddle and viola), Leif Ingvar Ranøien (diatonic accordion), Adam Johansson (guitar) and Jens Linell (Drums and percussion). Olav and Leif Ingvar have played together since 2002. Vidar Berge joined the group in 2007 on guitar and together they released the self titled album “SVER”. In the spring of 2008 Anders and Jens completed the band, and they released “Fruen” in 2010. Vidar quit the band later that year and Adam joined the group. Since 2011 SVER has collaborated with the Swedish dance-hall artist Snakka San.
Jim & Susie Malcolm
From Scotland
Corvallis has a special treat coming on Feb 6. Jim Malcolm has done highly entertaining concerts here before but always by himself. I enjoyed the music they did together when we visited them in Perth, Scotland. Susie adds a lot to the show. The image shows them having a bit of fun Susie does not play an instrument, that is a frying pan.
“For his 14th album, favorite Scots troubadour Jim is joined by his wife Susie, who’s often sung backing vocals on Jim’s albums but here takes equal part in this collection of duets – including taking the lead on several songs – and the two singers sound very well together in happy consort throughout. Although a number of the songs embrace romance and elopement, there’s more than the usual quota of happy endings (False Lover Won Back, Braw Sailin’). There’s humor too (The Lass Of Killiecrankie, and a frisky take on Jack Foley’s ode to whisky, A Bottle O’ The Best). Even so, the album highlights for me are Jim’s own compositions., This is a most cherishable CD.” – David Kidman
“One of the great Scottish voices of our time” Frank Hennessy – BBC Radio Wales
“Quietly, unforcefully and undeniably stunning” – Mojo
“A master of well chosen words and melodic inventiveness” – Rock ‘n’ Ree
l“One of the finest singing voices in Scotland in any style” – Living Tradition
International Guitar Night
Each year, International Guitar Night’s founder Brian Gore invites a new cast of guitar luminaries from around the world for special concert tours of North America highlighting the diversity of the acoustic guitar. We are proud to celebrate our 20th year of touring the U.S. For our special Anniversary Tour, Brian Gore has put together his most eclectic lineup yet: Guest host Mike Dawes (England) and his incredible two-hand contemporary style is joined by fretless guitarist from Turkey Cenk Erdoğan; electrifying jazz virtuoso Olli Soikkeli from Finland and Hawaiian Slack Key master Jim Kimo West.
Celtic Harps, Rare Instruments & Wondrous Stories
with Lisa Lynne & Aryeh Frankfurter
Workshop: Intro to Swedish music for all instruments:
In this workshop you will learn some Swedish “gems” demonstrated on the Nyckelharpa; But any instrument will benefit from this as we will discuss some basic rhythms, ornaments and phrasing that makes a tune sound “Swedish.” We will learn the music in the tradition first, which will be by ear, phrase by phrase slowly. After we have the tune down together I will distribute the music for those who want to read. For some tunes, I will share seconds (the second harmony parts) and chords for fretted instrument players. We will learn with some really cool, relatively easy, popularly played tunes. As well as some more unique polskas. An extra Nyckelharpa will be on hand for you to try.
Lisa Lynne & Aryeh Frankfurter are a multi-instrumentalist duo with Celtic Harps, Swedish Nyckelharpa, Ukrainian Bandura, Bouzouki, Cittern and more. They hail from Oregon and tour extensively, have performed with some of the biggest names in folk and acoustic music and have sold well over a million albums combined. Audiences are spellbound and enchanted with their unique show of breathtaking music both Traditional and original, with wondrous stories and humor entwined.
Lisa Lynne is a multi-instrumentalist and performer who has gained worldwide recognition for her original music featuring her Celtic Harp. She is widely acclaimed for composing memorable and heartwarming melodies on the Windham Hiill/Sony music labels that have repeatedly placed in the Top 10 & Top 20 on the Billboard New age music charts. Lisa tours year round performing at large US festivals and performing art centers. Her work in Therapeutic music has gained recognition from NBC, CNN, Fox News Atlanta and numerous newspaper and magazine articles including Wall Street Journal. Lisa’s music is heard throughout the award winning PBS special “Alone in the Wilderness,” amongst many other soundtracks for commercial television and independent films. She performs regularly as a solo artist, with Aryeh Frankfurter, Patrick Ball and the Windham Hill tours. She was recently named one of the 50 most inspiring women by Los Angeles Magazine. https://www.LisaLynne.com
Aryeh Frankfurter is a renowned Celtic harper and multi- instrumentalist who went from virtuosic progressive rock violin to intricate Swedish folk and Celtic Music. He began with Classical violin at the age of three, and studied music throughout his life. He has 17 albums to his credit, works on film and television scores as composer and arranger, and continues to teach himself to play a variety of instruments most recently the rarely seen Swedish Nyckelharpa. He earned his masters in philosophy as he was becoming one of the most successful street performers in the US. He is a full time musician and producer whose uncommon approach to the Celtic harp and folk harp repertoire, his critically acclaimed albums have earned him high regard as an artist of extraordinary talents and abilities. www.Lionharp.com
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED
Téada
A traditional band with a truly worldwide reach, Téada has appeared as a frequent headliner at major music festivals throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Africa, Russia, Israel and Australia. Highlights include a 30,000-capacity stadium concert in Brittany, along with performances at Penang World Music Festival in Malaysia, Edmonton Folk Festival in Canada, Harare International Festival of the Arts in Zimbabwe, and Campeche International Festival in Mexico. In 2014 the band performed to 40,000 people during an extensive 7-week tour of Japan / Taiwan.
Continuing to grow in vision and popularity, Téada recently welcomed a sixth member to the line-up, legendary West Kerry singer and accordionist Séamus Begley, winner of 2013 TG4 Traditional Singer of the Year. The band recently released a smashing new album – Ainneoin na stoirme / In spite of the storm – on the Gael Linn label.
Founded by Sligo fiddler Oisín Mac Diarmada, Téada first came together in 2001 to make an appearance on the innovative TG4 television series ‘Flosc’. One of Irish traditional music’s leading exponents, Téada is driven by a fascination for the timeless, expressive force of music inherited from previous generations of musicians. Irish Music Magazine describes the band as “at the cutting edge of the next generation of Irish musicians…with a fierce familiarity with the old ways.”
This event has been CANCELED
Golden Bough
Golden Bough’s first European performances were in the streets and small folk clubs of Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, Germany, Holland and Switzerland in the early `80’s. These simple beginnings soon led to major tours of European cities and a recording contract with a top European folk music label. Other activities that Golden Bough has been involved in over the past several years include peace marches in cities all over Europe protesting the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, musical presentations for tens of thousands of elementary school children and events for human rights, religious freedom and drug rehabilitation.
Since their inception, Golden Bough has become a popular and in demand group on both sides of the Atlantic, gaining critical acclaim and enthusiastic support from folk fans wherever they perform. Blending their voices in pristine harmony, they back themselves on an array of rare and more common acoustic instruments, including; Celtic harp, penny-whistle, violin, octave-mandolin, mandolin, accordion, guitar, harmonica, recorder and bodhran. In the recording studio, as well as on stage, Golden Bough captures the essence and joy of traditional folk music and captivates listeners with the uniqueness of their original compositions. With songs and instrumental pieces ranging from ballads to lively jigs, reels and sing-alongs, Golden Bough provides an atmosphere in which the listener can enjoy unique entertainment within and beyond the boundaries of traditional folk music. Their music is well received and enjoyed by audiences of all ages.
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED
Salem Folklore Community’s
34th Annual
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. Beth Littlewolf has been our cook for 25+ years. She makes wonderful fare that brings us all together in the historic Wilson Lodge for family-style meals. Meals at Westwind include snack Friday evening, breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Saturday, and early-wake up breakfast fare plus brunch on Sunday.
Northwest Folklife Announces
From Home to Home: Northwest Folklife Festival
Dear Northwest Folkife community,
We believe that uplifting our arts, culture, and heritage is paramount in nourishing our livelihood. Amidst these times of uncertainty, we have listened and heard the need for a space to connect during these digitally-driven circumstances. As such, in line with our mission to continue to serve our community, we have created a virtual platform where we can collectively showcase our folklife, right from our homes.
Northwest Folklife and Seattle Center are proud to announce
From Home to Home: Northwest Folklife Festival
taking place May 23-25, 2020 online at nwfolklifestreaming.org.
Presented by Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, From Home to Home: Northwest Folklife Festival will feature multiple program channels and a virtual marketplace that will bring together local culture bearers, artists, creatives, sponsors, and merchants all on one platform.
The full program includes:
- Livestream Channels of music, participatory dance, and workshops
- On-Demand Streaming Channel featuring an exploration of music, dance, storytelling, and more
- Family Fun Channel featuring pre-recorded performance videos and engaging hands-on activities
- Living Legacies Channel featuring storytelling and panel discussions that pass on tradition and culture
- Festival Artist Directory highlighting the 600+ artists initially slated to perform at the Northwest Folklife Festival
- Virtual Marketplace highlighting local merchants with online purchasing options
This annual folk festival will be conducted online over 2 consecutive Sundays, Sept. 13 and Sept 20. Takoma Park, Maryland, is adjacent to Washington DC and has been presenting its festival since 1978. It is now available to people all over the world, including Corvallis. Click here or on the logo for more information and to access the festival.
This annual folk festival will be conducted online over 2 consecutive Sundays, Sept. 13 and Sept 20. Takoma Park, Maryland, is adjacent to Washington DC and has been presenting its festival since 1978. It is now available to people all over the world, including Corvallis. Click here or on the logo for more information and to access the festival.
Folk Unlocked: Connection, Discovery, Inspiration, is a five-day event for the entire international folk community to come together for panels, workshops, showcases, affinity and peer group meetings, exhibit spaces, networking, and mentorship. This is a year for innovation and creativity, and our goal is to create a space for community building and career development for everyone from the comfort and safety of their own home.
While the conference officially starts on Monday, 2/22, there are events on Sunday, 2/21, including meet-ups with artists such as John Gorka, Eliza Gilkyson, Cathy Fink and many others. The schedule is much too long to even summarize here, but there will be the Keynote Interview: Margaret Atwood with Anaïs Mitchell, and a session on Songs and Pursuit of Social Justice including OSU’s Bob Santelli.
For more information and to register click here or on the logo above.
Portland FolkMusic Society presents
Singtime Frolics Online
a spring weekend of singing, jamming, learning, sharing and good food (you provide) at Portland FolkMusic Society’s annual retreat.
To register click here
Guest artists
Gordon Bok & Carol Rohl
Gordon and Carol need no introduction to lovers of traditional music. Gordon says “I’m drawn to songs that show me how others have lived their lives and sorted through their problems… They’ve shown me how to live, and if others learn something from my passing them on, that’s another pleasure.” Carol plays Celtic harp and has a special love for Paraguayan music . Washington Post said “The shimmering weave of harp tones and supple guitar rhythms cast a spell unlike anything else the duo performed.”
Stephanie Anne Johnson
Stephanie Anne learned to sing and started to teach herself guitar in grade school, soaking up folk, blues and gospel singers. Building on that base, she went on to study music in college, and has sung opera and musical comedy. She is equally at home with her band, the Hidogs, or accompanying herself on acoustic guitar. Her music is “rooted in all that’s American,” and reflects her daily practice of cultivating joy. Her concert and workshop will leave you joyful!
Beth Wood
Beth has been writing and performing full-time for twenty-three years — delighting and inspiring audiences with her exceptional musicianship and her songs that pull you into her world, all presented in the warmest most inviting way. She is well known to the Portland folk community, and if you have never spent time with Beth, you are in for a treat!
Lauren Sheehan
Lauren launched her recording and performing career in 2002 and has been sailing on to critical acclaim, national and international radio charts and lots of encores at venues across the US and Canada ever since. This vivacious singer delights audiences with the breadth of her material, evocative artistry and musicianship.
Jermaine Malone
Jermaine writes songs that tell stories from his life, moving easily among genres from R&B to hip hop. He draws his energy from interacting with the people who come to be with him when he is performing. Jermaine says his main joy is “to bring a smile to your face, and a shake to your hips”!
The Gothard Sisters
The Gothard Sisters are a dynamic musical group of three sisters who play contemporary Celtic music. Through 10 years performing, touring and writing music together, the optimistic style of their music and performances continue to resonate with their fans, building a loyal international following.
Their latest all-original album release, Midnight Sun, reached #6 on the Billboard World Music charts as the highest ranking debut on the chart. The Gothard Sisters have performed in venues large and small all over the country, including a concert at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium stage in Washington DC, performances with Disney Cruise line in Europe, a 20-city concert tour of Japan in 2019 and appearances at music festivals and performing arts venues nationwide.
Blending Celtic, folk, classical, world and northwest musical influences, the Gothard Sisters bring songs to life with violin, acoustic guitar, mandolin, bodhran, djembe, octave violin, whistle and vocal harmonies, creating music that is “vivid, inspirational and captivating.” (Tim Carroll, Folk Words Review 2018)
Writing and recording near their home in the Pacific Northwest between touring nationally, the band has released 7 albums and has performed over 1,000 live shows over the course of their career.
Portland FolkMusic Society is delighted to announce this new event – not because of the pandemic, but because we want to create a space where old and new friends from across the US and around the world enjoy music together. No cars, no hotels, just music!
PFS is planning a full slate of events, starting with a wonderful group of guest artists: Cindy Kallet & Grey Larsen, Rita Gallagher, William Seiji Marsh, Michelle Alany, LaRhonda Steele, and Arietta Ward, who will do concerts over the three days. We’ll have workshops, song circles and panels led by participants, and there will be big events every evening where participants who want to can sing for the whole group, and those who don’t can soak up the good vibes and good singing. In March this year, we held our first big on-line event, Singtime 2021, and the participants – from 26 states and nine countries – created a magical space, filled with warmth, music and community. We hope you will come to fAll Song and create more magic. To find out more, to register, and to volunteer to lead a song circle or a workshop or help with tech, just click here. Thanks, keep singing, and we hope to see you in September.
Alana McKenzie for the PFS fAll Song organizing committee