Calendar

The Quarks

• Terry Wergeland – piano, accordion
• Betsy Branch – fiddle
• Bill Tomczak – clarinet, saxophone, percussion

Betsy and Terry have played together for dances since 1994, and when Bill moved to Portland in 2012, he was thrilled to join forces with them. With their mix of instruments and improvisatory natures, you never know what to expect from this trio. Their delight in playing together translates to the dance floor, and you are likely to hear plenty of laughter from the stage. When not playing, the three of them love to pontificate about the mysteries of the universe (like how 3 quarks form a particle), thus inspiring the band name.

Sue Baker

Sue has been calling dances all over the Pacific Northwest since 2001. Sue says “Dancing is a joy and I try to make every one a wonderful experience for everyone in the hall.” From her store of “dorky” wedding dances to complex technical dances, she’s danced most of them and draws on the ones she thinks each crowd will like and be successful at. And as she likes to add, “It’s just a dance.”

Beginners lesson starts at 7:30pm (experienced dancers welcome) dance starts at 8:00pm

Each dance is taught.  No partner necessary (it’s traditional to dance each dance with a different partner)

Potluck & CFS’s Annual Members’ Meeting: Saturday, May 7^th, 2016, before the regular contra dance, at the home of Diane Arney, 770 SW Lookout Drive, Corvallis. It will take place during the pre-Contra dance potluck dinner. (Open to everyone.) Please bring a dish to share; arrive for snacks and socializing at 5:30. The purpose is to provide CFS members an opportunity to talk with the current board, to vote on the proposed slate for 2016-17 and, most importantly, to help support, expand and improve CFS activities.

Members for the annual meeting should arrive around 5:30 pm. The potluck will begin at 6 pm, and the business meeting at about 6:15.  Members who don’t wish to eat, are encouraged to come just for the meeting. Diane’s home is a short walk from FCC’s Gatton Hall. Parking at Diane’s is somewhat limited, so please consider walking, biking or carpooling from the parking lot at First Congregational Church.

First and Third Saturdays of the month except July, August. Occasional special dances.

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.

All levels Welcome!

Visit the Imagine Coffee Facebook

Third Thursday Imagine Open Mic Night

Traditional Coffeehouse Music, Poetry and Standup Comedy

Solos – Trios, signup & keyboard setup 6:30 pm.

With the launch of Imagine Coffee’s Third Thursday Imagine Open Mic Night, Corvallis now has three solid weeks of Open Mics every month.
Hosted by a collective of seasoned local songwrights and creatives, the unique character of Imagine’s Open Mic is the variety of it’s traditional coffeehouse format of the ’50’s to ’60’s ‘Village and college  community enclaves — which hosted an emerging new populism of deep cultural roots and social activism. This creative renaissance set the stage for the major paradigm shift and cultural blossoming of the 1960’s and ’70’s, which rocked, enlightened and often conflicted with the established conformity and malaise of that era, as it conflicted with yet enriched fixed institutions of the day worldwide with a creative consciousness and power we still see all around us in that new paradigm’s diaspora today. It is still evolving and growing, and still outside the mainstream, like wildflower and weed pushing up through the established pavement of mainstream media culture. This is the spirit we bring to this new monthly event.  ~:o)

Birch Pereira
&
The Gin Joints

Born out of a love of the early years of swing, country and rock ‘n ‘roll, Birch Pereira & the Gin Joints is a band whose sound transports you to the time of speakeasies, honkey tonks and rock ‘n’ roll joints. With upright bassist and vocalist Birch Pereira at its center, the band features Jason Goessl on acoustic guitar and Adrian Van Batenburg on drums, some of Seattle’s most skilled and versatile musicians who share the love of the American song traditions and a desire to offer a fresh angle on them.

This concert celebrates their debut album release, and there will be space in the hall for swing dancing.

First and Third Sundays

The first Sunday of the month will be dedicated to Balkan dances and the third to Israeli.

All levels Welcome!

Visit the Imagine Coffee Facebook

Hands4

Since 2004, Hands4 has delivered high-energy music to dance halls throughout the Pacific Northwest, and in Texas during a 2006 tour. Combining seldom-heard traditional tunes with originals by band members and other musicians, Hands4 has created a unique blend of music that is definitely not your usual contra tunes. Hands4 features rock-steady leads by Keith Moe on fiddle and mandolin, soaring whistle and flute lines from Fran Tewksbury, and a clockwork rhythm engine driven by Rich Goss (percussion) and Carl Thor (piano).

Eric Curl

Eric started calling in 1996 and called in California and Colorado before moving Seattle in 2006. A mechanical engineer working for Boeing, he now enjoys calling in Washington, Oregon and British Columbia on a semi-regular basis. In his spare time, he likes to hike, snowshoe, camp, visit friends and family, play music, and of course, dance and call.

Beginners lesson starts at 7:30pm (experienced dancers welcome) dance starts at 8:00pm

Each dance is taught.  No partner necessary (it’s traditional to dance each dance with a different partner)

~Potluck at 6:00 p.m.  Host: Relan Colley, 745 NW 16th St; 541-753-2617. (Located near the south side of Corvallis High School and several blocks east of Fred Meyer. The closest intersection is NW Taylor & NW 16th.) Map: https://mapq.st/1cyFC3m

First and Third Saturdays of the month except July, August. Occasional special dances.

All levels Welcome!

Visit the Imagine Coffee Facebook

7:30 Sharon and Dave Thormahlen

Sharon and Dave 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.

The best Cellar is a once-a-month evening of acoustic music. Admission is “pay what you will,” and kids are free. Cookies and coffee are available. Located in the cellar of the Methodist Church on 11th and Monroe, in Corvallis. For more information, or to join the volunteer team, contact Mark Weiss at mjweiss@cmug.com

All levels Welcome!

Visit the Imagine Coffee Facebook

The Nettles

Laura Brophy – fiddle;
Kevin Johnsrude – guitars;
Michael Proctor – bass;
Brian Bucolo – percussion;
The Nettles are well-known on the West Coast for their original approach to contra dance music. Playing traditional music from all over the world, The Nettles create a strong rhythmic groove under soaring improvisations. Rhythmic drive and melodic fluidity allow The Nettles to propel contra dances into the stratosphere. .

Lindsey Dono

Massachusetts transplant Lindsey Dono is rapidly establishing herself as a Northwest mainstay. With her serene teaching, meticulous programming, and sunny demeanor, Lindsey transforms absolute beginners into confident regulars. Known for her creativity on the dance floor, Lindsey incorporates knowledge of waltz, swing, and blues to lead a variety of workshops, including the ever-requested “advanced contra flourishes.” By day, Lindsey is a devoted research scientist.

Beginners lesson starts at 7:30pm (experienced dancers welcome) dance starts at 8:00pm

Each dance is taught.  No partner necessary (it’s traditional to dance each dance with a different partner)

~Potluck at 6:00 p.m. Host: Diana Jenner, 3675 SE 3rd St; (last house on the left); phone 605-201-9863.  Directions: Head south on SE 3rd St (Hwy 99 W). After passing SE Rivergreen, drive just a little bit more. Last house on the left. Map: https://tinyurl.com/h68n7w6

First and Third Saturdays of the month except July, August. Occasional special dances.

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.

First and Third Sundays

The first Sunday of the month will be dedicated to Balkan dances and the third to Israeli.