American Banjo Camp

Spend a weekend away from the toil and cares of everyday life, with nothing to do but learn about the 5-string banjo or fiddle or guitar or some other instrument from world-famous teachers, play in jams, eat delicious food, and possibly even sleep!

The American Banjo Camp takes place on the first weekend after Labor Day each year at a camp on the Puget Sound.

ABC is a camp for adults of all ages (students under 18 may attend if accompanied by a parent). There you can study old-time or bluegrass banjo with world-class instructors. Or you can take classes in fiddle, guitar, or other instruments (see the schedule).

The schedule is packed with hands-on classes and faculty concerts as well as dozens of jamming opportunities. An “Extra Day” offers a band scramble, student open mic, hosted jams, and panel sessions.

Registration is now open.  Click here for details.

Come join us for the fourteenth annual American Banjo Camp. The dates are Sept. 9-11, 2016. We also offer an optional Extra Day beginning mid-afternoon on Thursday Sept. 8 (for details, see below). Our new site is the Pilgrim Firs Conference Center near Port Orchard, WA.

American Banjo Camp offers a weekend of intense instruction with some of the best old-time and bluegrass banjo players around (not to mention great fiddle and guitar players), plus demonstrations, concerts, and plenty of jamming opportunities.

We have full time programs in bluegrass banjo, old-time banjo, fiddle, and guitar. We offer four levels of banjo instruction: Novice, Lower Intermediate, Upper Intermediate and Advanced.

Here’s our 2016 staff:

Bluegrass Banjo Instructors:

+ Janet Davis (Arkansas) – One of America’s foremost banjo teachers and a regular columnist for Banjo newsletter
+ Bill Evans (California) – Versatile instructor; veteran of Dry Branch Fire Squad and numerous other bands
+ James McKinney (Georgia) – Virtuoso in both Scruggs & Single String Styles.
+ Alan Munde (Texas) – Legendary picker, innovator, and educator; banjo player for Jimmy Martin, Sam Bush, and Country Gazette
+ Mike Munford (Maryland/Pennsylvania) – Hard-driving, eclectic player; banjoist for the well-known national touring band Dirty Kitchen

Old-time Banjo Instructors:

+ Riley Baugus (North Carolina) – Widely-traveled exponent of the Round Peak and other traditional Appalachian styles
+ Bob Carlin (North Carolina) – Versatile master of numerous traditional banjo styles; noted scholar of banjo  & old-time music history
+ Michael Miles (Chicago) – Clawhammer innovator; known for his original banjo “suites” & for clawhammer adaptations featuring world music and classical music.
+ Joe Newberry (North Carolina) – Multi-instrumentalist and vocalist; plays a powerful clawhammer style; he often appears on Prairie Home Companion
+ Ken Perlman (Massachusetts) – Pioneer of melodic clawhammer; author of several widely-acclaimed clawhammer instruction manuals

Novice Programs:
Mike Stahlman from Portland, OR continues as our bluegrass novice specialist, and Laura Smith from Bellingham, WA is once again our old-time novice specialist.

The ABC Fiddle Program:
We offer a full time fiddle program at ABC. Returning as our principal instructor for 2016 is Erynn Marshall, the first woman (and the first Canadian) to win first place in old-time fiddling at Clifftop. Fiddle classes will also be offered by old-time fiddler Greg Canote  and by bluegrass fiddler Paul Elliott.

New! the ABC Full-Time Guitar Program:
ABC offers a full-time program in guitar this year. The principal instructor in guitar for ABC 2016 is Chris Luquette, who plays in the Dirty Kitchen band. Camp accompanists Jere Canote and Peter Langston will also teach in the program.

Accompanists:
Our old-time accompanists for 2016 are Greg Canote and Erynn Marshall (fiddle) and Jere Canote (guitar). On the bluegrass side, Peter Langston is our guitar/mandolin/dobro accompanist, Paul Elliott joins us for his ninth year as our fiddle accompanist, and Mick Nicholson is back as our bass accompanist.

Special Classes:
ABC also offers a variety of “miscellaneous” classes. So far, our 2016 offerings currently include bass, mandolin, and jazz ensemble.

The ABC Extra Day:
Our Extra Day gives students and staff a chance to get to know each other, and ease their way into the regular Camp with a bunch of low-pressure activities in a relaxed atmosphere. Generally, on Thursday evening we have a student open mic and band scramble followed by instructor-led jams; on Friday morning we offer round-robin demonstrations. There is an extra charge for students who wish to take part in the Extra Day, which also covers the cost of lodging and meals (dinner on Thursday through lunch on Friday).

You can access artists’ bios, logistical information, and the registration form on our website, https://AmericanBanjoCamp.com. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to email us at info@AmericanBanjoCamp.com.

Cascade Crossing

Carl Thor – piano, dulcimer, mando
Lori Prime – Fiddle
Rich Goss – guitar, percussion
Sarah Goss – Bass, whistle, oboe

Cascade Crossing is currently one of the hottest and most sought after bands in the Pacific Northwest region. They have developed a reputation for intense creativity, breadth of instrumentation, and energizing dance crowds. Cascade Crossing’s music is influenced by many styles, with touches of baroque, Caribbean, Celtic, Klezmer, traditional, northern, southern, jazz and ragtime. With many original tunes, expect the unexpected, from hard-driving reels to smooth, mysterious jigs. Using their wide range of instrumentation and styles, Cascade Crossing fills the dance hall with an exciting palette of musical colors and textures.

William Watson

William Watson, a resident of Eugene, OR, danced his first contra in 1989 and began calling in Texas in 1992. Having called numerous contra events in cities coast-to-coast, William’s extensive experience and soothing voice project a calm confidence. His vigilant and thoughtful dance programming ensures a variety of figures, transitions, and sequences to entertain and support new dancers while offering the occasional challenge for the more advanced. His calling proficiency and sensitivities ensure everyone has a good time.

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)

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

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

Full Moon

Gordy Euler – fiddle
Dave Hamlin – fiddle, mandolin
Janet Ghoulston – concertina, banjo
Fran Slefer – fiddle, button accordion,  piano

Full Moon have used their 15+ years of playing together to hone a distinct sound focused on lifting dancers’ feet and hearts.
Laurel Thomas

Laurel Thomas has called contra dances all over Oregon and Washington since 2008. Dancers appreciate her clear teaching, her articulate calling and her carefully crafted programs designed to build skill for beginning dancers while keeping experienced dancers happy with an appropriate level of challenge. .

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)

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

The Weisenheimers

Alan Snyder – fiddle,
Dave Goldman – keyboard

from Portland play zesty dance tunes with a sly sense of humor.

Marlin Prowell

Marlin Prowell is a well known caller from Bellingham. “Marlin has an easy-going way of teaching so that your feet know what to do before your mind has time to worry about it. If you’ve never danced a step in your life, follow the caller’s instructions and you’ll be smiling and swinging in minutes.”

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)

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

7:30 Marshal Adams –

Marshall has been performing music on the guitar for over 50 years, and once
opened for the Grateful Dead. For the Best Cellar, Marshall will play arrangements from jazz to flamenco, Brazil to the wild west, and will be joined, on some tunes, by his grandson, Will Danley.

8:30 Dave Plaehn and Jeff Hino 

The best blues duo for miles around. Not to be missed.

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

Special Halloween Dance

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. .

Noah Grunzweig

Noah has been calling contra dances in Corvallis for a couple of years now.

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 pm: Diane Arney, 770 SW Lookout Drive; just a 1/4 mile from the dance hall! Phone: 541-753-0762

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