Calendar
Submit calendar info to:
calendar@corvallisfolklore.org
Our mission: to preserve and promote the cultural and ethnic traditions of the people in the Mid-Willamette Valley through folk music, dance, exhibits, arts, crafts and food.
– Live Music
– Performing Arts
-Ethnic Foods
– Kids Area
– Quality Arts & Crafts
– Acoustic Music Jamming Area
– Rogue Farms Beer & Airlie Winery Garden
7:30 James Wilson
I’m very happy to say that I am a member of SACtown’s Whiskey and Stitches and that we have been awarded a 2012 SAMMIES Award to go along with our 2011 SAMMIES Award! That and a weekend playing at the KVMR Celtic Festival in Grass Valley, rubbing elbows with the likes of the Young Dubliners, Old Blind Dogs, Molly’s Revenge, Bricktop Blaggards, Wake the Dead, and others have made this one of my best musical years ever. play mandolin, whistle, tenor banjo, melodeon in Whiskey and Stitches and mostly mandolin with Stout Rebellion – two of Sacramento’s finer Irish bands. Both regularly gig around the SACtown area and beyond. I came to Sacramento from Corvallis, Oregon where I played in folk-punk group Poitin and Stout – great experience and a fine group of lads. I occasionally get to return there and play some solo instrumentals for folks who appreciate it. Other than that, I spent a lot of years driving and working, driving and working in Southern California. My parents came to the United States from Ireland via England and Canada. Mom had a pretty good voice and Dad played melodeon and harmonica. Music was always around the house. I’m one of those Irish-Americans who was lucky enough to venture overseas when I was younger to meet the aunts, uncles, and cousins. Those are irreplaceable memories. I LOVE instrumental music and feel lucky to have connected with some many fine musical folks in my middle age. Get out and support live music!
8:30 Tom and Ellen Demarest
Tom Demarest was one of the founders of the Best Cellar and played at the first one, more than 40 years ago. He and Ellen have been playing together in Corvallis for decades, and are perennial favorites with their original songs and great covers.
MUSIC by Nor’Easter and KGB.
CALLERS: Jeremy Korr and Susan Petrick.
THEME: Alice In Wonderland; Through the Looking Glass.
Costumes welcome for Saturday night dance.
7:30 Jeff Hino
8:30 Dave Plaehn 
Dave Plaehn and Jeff Hino are the Corvallis Blues Brothers, and tonight they each get independent billing for their solo acts, though I’ll bet there will be some duets involved. Guests will include Deborah and Creighton Lindsay, Pete Kozak, and DeLynn Anderson.
Dave Plaehn & Jeff Hino have been performing their own distinct blend of acoustic blues, folk, and original material since 1990. Plaehn and Hino explore the uncluttered powerful interplay of blues harmonica, National steel guitar, and vocals in the tradition of the great country bluesmen like Robert Johnson, Elmore James, and Bukka White.
“It’s a nice reminder that not all the talented musicians in this state are based in the city at the terminus of the Willamette River. This is roots music at its finest played by craftsmen in the deepest sense. This is a duo that has a lot to say and the skills to back those voices, too.”
Greg Johnson, President,
Cascades Blues Association
“Two talented blues musicians who offer a fresh and diverse array of original and traditional acoustic based compositions. Treat you ears to a real pleasing performance.”
Rod Downing, President,
Washington Blues Society
The 13th annual festival has moved from Peace Presbyterian Church to the Irving Grange which is still in the Santa Clara area. The Eugene Scottish Festival Committee is a nonprofit organization that provides the only Scottish cultural event in Lane County, the 13th annual such event. On stage the music is mainly folk with lots of fiddles, Guitars, harps and bagpipes. It is a family event and no alcohol is served. We organize games for children, including a bouncy house, a Scottish museum, Scottish foods and a dog parade.
Join us for a free one-day DIY gathering
of ukulele players to Converge in Corvallis. Our goal is to play music and have fun at all levels of experience as we play the ukulele. Share in the joy of playing music; connect with other musicians in the region; learn new songs, and advance your ukulele skills.
Take free classes, teach a free session.
This will be a Do-It-Yourself event. When you arrive you can simply take a class at your skill level, or you can teach a song, a skill or a theory to others. It’s as simple as signing up on a volunteer board.It’s all free!
No registration. Just show up.
This event will be free and open to the public. Help us invite and spread the word by emailing friends and the many ukulele groups in Corvallis, Eugene, Salem, Portland and other neighboring communities.
Volunteers interested in leading a session are requested to bring extra music sheets or educational material to share. There is a copy center right across the street from our venue if you should need it.
A quadrant of skill levels:
- Beginners
- Beginner-Intermediate
- Intermediate
- Intermediate-Advanced
Learn at your appropriate skill level.
The Convergence will feature a quadrant of areas for beginners, beginner-intermediate, intermediate, intermediate-advance skill levels. Each quadrant will have sign-up area for volunteers to lead a 40-minute session teaching a song or a skill or a concept.
There will be a time allotted for a children’s circle.
Location:
We will meet in Central Park in downtown Corvallis, which will give participants close access to restaurants, music stores, copy stores and other businesses. We are looking at alternate venues nearby in the event of rain, and will announce those if necessary. Refer back to this website for that information as needed later on.
Parking:
Free Parking Area is located in the heart of downtown and limited to 3 hours per block. Metered parking is available adjacent to the Free Customer Parking Area and free unrestricted parking in the areas beyond that. The Free Customer Parking Area and metered spaces are enforced daily between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. except Sundays and holidays.
7:30 Ian Priestman
British songwriter and humorist and, these days, instructor at LBCC. Ian brings a unique perspective to music in the northwest.
8:30 Ruthie Dornfeld and Cyd Smith
Great guitar and fiddle from two legends of Corvallis past. They were members of the High Water String Band, all of whom have moved on to larger cities and strong musical careers. Ruthie and Cyd reunite every two or three years for some gigs, and we are lucky enough to have them at The Cellar this time around.
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 Methodis Church on 11th and Monroe, in Corvallis. For more information, or to join the volunteer team, contact Mark Weiss at mjweiss@cmug.com
7:30 Pete Kozak with special guests
Pete plays mandolin, guitar, banjo, fiddle, dobro, and harmonica. He’s a great musician who has played in several local bands, through the years: The Bush Pilots, Yellow Rose, Pickin’ Noodle Soup, and The Rubes. He’s stood on stage with Neal Grandstaff, Paula Walters, Jeff Hino, Creighton Lindsay, Mark Weiss, Ray Brassfield, and Gary Nolde. On top of all that, before coming out west, Pete earned a Best Vocalist award at the Nebraska Old Time Fiddlers and Country Music Festival.
8:30 Swing and a Ms. with Audrey Perkins
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 Methodis Church on 11th and Monroe, in Corvallis. For more information, or to join the volunteer team, contact Mark Weiss at mjweiss@cmug.com
7:30 John Swanson with Suzanna Doyle and Jeannie Holmes
John and Jeannie were mainstays of the Corvallis Folklore Society more than three decades ago, and are back together with one of Jeannie’s Wallop Sisters compatriots. Versatile vocalist (and former Best Cellar coordinator) John Swanson teams with pianist Suz doyle, Ukist Jeannie Holmes, and Bassist Neils Neilson for a wonderful potpourri of perspicaciously picked songs. A playful potpouri of genres will be presented.
8:30 Neil Grandstaff with Bev and Ray Brassfield
Neil is, quite simply, the best guitar player this side of Django Reinhardt, Doc Watson, B.B. King, and Chet Atkins. Ray is brilliant on Bass, and they will be joined by Bev’s wonderful vocal stylings. The Great American Songbook comes alive!
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 areavailable. 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
MUSIC by Notorious and The Nettles
CALLERS: Cis Hinkle and Lindsey Dono
For more information and to register go to
https://www.eugenefolklore.org/CascadeContras
7:30 MCsquared at the Unitarian Fellowship
Cliff and Chere Periera and Mark Weiss celebrate 30 years of playing and singing in a Best Cellar benefit for the Corvallis Folklore Society.
Note the different location for this program.
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
7:30 Tim Hardin
Tim returns to The Cellar with some new satirical material and a few old friends helping him out. Tim has a great voice and some very clever lyrics.
8:30 Mike and Carleen McCornack
Pacific Northwest folk musicians, Mike and Carleen McCornack have shared their musical artistry with grateful audiences for over four decades. From coffee houses to concert halls, Mike and Carleen’s beautifully crafted songwriting comes to life in their music with superb vocal harmony and sparkling guitar accompaniment that touches the heart and never fails to tickle the funny bone!
With music firmly rooted in the Folk-Americana tradition, Mike and Carleen are award winning songwriters and 2 time winners of the Florence Winter Folk Festival’s People’s Choice Award. Equally at home performing for “grownups” and for those who know them for their delightful, award winning music for children, Mike and Carleen’s performances are filled with themes of love and humor, inspiring originals and cover songs they love.
“Beautiful melodies, great musicians. Pure heartfelt vocals all blended together into music that will leave you smiling in your heart.” – Bill Staines, Singer/Songwriter
Note: Jeff Hino and Dave Plaehn are rescheduled for next September.
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
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
7:30 Curtis and Loretta
Curtis & Loretta’s music comes straight from the heart. The husband and wife duo’s extraordinary harmonies and proficiency on a parade of stringed instruments create an alluring frame for their poignant original songs, and traditional pieces from America and the British Isles. The current menagerie includes mandocello, folk harp, guitars, clawhammer banjo, ukulele, and mandolin, plus a bit of kazoo, harmonica, and shakers. Curtis’ down-home sense of humor and Loretta’s theater background engage the audience in an experience that runs the gamut of rolling with laughter to holding back tears, with plenty of side-trips in between. They rack up countless miles each year, crisscrossing the country to deliver their own unique brand of folk singer/songwriter music.
8:30 Crooked Kate
Crooked Kate returns after a ten-year hiatus. What was a trio is now a duo with Anne Ridlington on cello and Rita Brown on guitar and vocals. Anne and Rita stayed in touch during the last decade while Anne played in the Eugene Symphony among other ventures, and Rita played in the local band, The Flow. But the eclectic, adventuresome Crooked Kate beckoned and the two could no longer ignore the call. Sometimes the sound elegant, sometimes messy, always creative and heart fulfilling.
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