Calendar
Submit calendar info to:
calendar@corvallisfolklore.org
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
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
Latif Bolat
Latif Bolat, one of the most renowned Turkish musicians in North America , is a native of the Turkish Mediterranean town of Mersin. After receiving his degree in folklore and music at Gazi University in Ankara, Turkey, he taught traditional music throughout the country. He then went on to manage Ankara Halk Tiyatrosu, a musical theater company, which performed traditional musical plays. Mr. Bolat also received additional degrees in Turkish History and Middle East Religion and Politics from Ankara University and an MBA from San Francisco State University.
Latif Bolat will present a concert of Turkish mystic music and poetry. He is one of the most distinguished Turkish musicians outside of Turkey. His concert and conference itinerary has taken him all across America, Canada, Australia, Bulgaria, New Zealand, Indonesia, England and Turkey. He composed soundtrack music for “Young Indiana Jones” and PBS documentary “Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet.”
Folk Singing Song Circle
with special visitors
Jeff and Ann Corfield of Australia
A chance to sing and hear songs from Australia and elsewhere. Bring your instruments if you like, and a snack to share. There will be a “healthy” dessert provided.
7:30 Shy and Gary Nolde
High school sweethearts Shy and Gary Nolde have been singing their style of American folk and blues for about 50 years.
“Through the years we’ve seen it all, had it all, spent it all, known our share of joy and pain, sunshine and rain. In other words, we’re playing music together and having the time of our lives,”
8:30 Adam Scramstaad
Adam is an 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.
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
WINTERDANCE
a Celtic Christmas Celebration
Molly’s Revenge
special guest vocalist Christa Burch
The Murray Irish Dancers
(out of Portland) will present an evening of music, song and dance associated with the festive season. The performance will include Christmas songs both old and new, all played with a Celtic twist, as well as selections from the band’s new album.
The California-based group has toured internationally since 2000 as an acoustic band, releasing ten CDs. In 2013, Molly’s Revenge as a trio released an all-instrumental collection titled Trio, recorded at a remote windswept retreat in the redwoods of the Mendocino coast. Trio is a compelling collection of fierce and beautiful tunes encompassing Scottish pipe sets, driving Irish reels, jigs, polkas, slides, and hornpipes, French Canadian fiddle tunes, and even a set of American oldtime melodies featuring Highland pipes.
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 Christa Burch possesses a singular voice: warm, supple, expressive, intimate, and instantly recognizable. Part of a vibrant new generation of American folk singers, Christa deftly marries intuitive musicianship and storytelling through song. To balance the gentle beauty of Christa’s songs, The Murray Irish Dancers bring a percussive, joyful, and colorful exuberance to the stage. This 10th Annual Celtic Christmas Celebration will capture the traditional spirit of the season and warm the hearts of all.
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.
7:30 Revel’n featuring Evelyn Idzerda
Evelyn Idzerda and Ron Snyder bring us great vocals and spiced with hot guitar licks.
8:30 Gumbo featuring Sid Beam
Sid Beam and some all star musicians perform imaginative originals, sometimes with the feel of swing jazz, sometimes with the feel of deep Americana, and sometimes, well with a lot of imagination.
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
Stuart Mason
&
John Weed
(of Molly’s Revenge)
Ireland to Appalachia
John Weed (fiddle) and Stuart Mason (guitar, mandola, banjo) will be performing traditional Appalachian, blues, and Celtic music that digs deep into the roots of American music. Long before the time of Bill Monroe or Ralph Stanley or the Carter Family, rural Americans were singing and fiddling the ballads and dance tunes of Britain and Ireland, as well as the sentimental and comedy hits of the wildly popular minstrel shows. These sources provided a wellspring of material that later formed the basis of the bluegrass and early country repertoire.
John and Stuart have just recorded a new album project–their first CD as a duo. Material for the project ranges from early American ballads and songs newly composed by their peers to beautiful melodies with Celtic and French roots. They will remain true to their love of American old timey music and Irish trad while expanding the repertoire with tunes and songs that reflect their life-long love of traditional music from all eras and all regions. The audience can expect a few surprises along with some familiar favorites, and maybe even a singalong or a humorous party piece dating back to the minstrel era. Along with brand new pieces, these concerts will showcase material from the new Molly’s revenge album “Lift” as well as songs from the lively repertoire of Little Black Train and from Stuart’s two solo albums.
Doors open 6pm with a potluck reception.
There will be daytime workshops – Irish fiddle & DADGAD Guitar $25. Contact Lisa for more information.
A house concert is an excellent opportunity to hear great music in a very intimate setting.
Irish Duo
Tommy and Saundra O’Sullivan
Tommy O’Sullivan has been aclaimed as “one of the great contemporary folk voices of Ireland” and “a stellar guitarist.” Tommy has recorded albums with Sliabh Notes and with Bothy Band piper, Paddy Keenan as well as 2 solo albums. He and his wife Saundra have matched her alto harmonies with his tenor lead vocals and they are very much a part of the vibrant music scene in Dingle, Ireland, as well as owning O’Sullivan’s Couthouse Pub.
Come and hear them in this cozy and intimate setting.
7:30 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.
7:30 Pete Kozak with Mark Weiss
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.
Mark Weiss has been flat picking and singing in Corvallis for decades and currently produces the Best Cellar.
7:30 Guitar Masala
Unfortunately Sid injured his hand and won’t be able to play. Instead Audrey will give two sets starting at 7:30.
8:30 Swing and a Ms. with Audrey Perkins
Swing and Ms. is a Corvallis band since September of 2013. Band members–Audrey Perkins on vocals, Page Hundermer on bass, John Bliss on guitar and other strings, Paul Regan on guitar, and Bill Pfender on clarinet–play music from the 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s and other tasty tunes along the music-time spectrum. From Gershwin to Gladstone “The Great American Songbook” comes to life with these wonderful musicians.
Special Note: Because we expect a larger crowd than usual, this Best Cellar will not be held in the cellar. We will be upstairs, at the top of the Methodist Church where we can seat more folks, as Audrey and the guys often sell out the room.
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 Chuva Boa
Colleen Kitchen and Laura Zaerr have been collaborating since the 90’s. Laura’s diatonic lever harp was a natural fit for Celtic music, and Colleen had spent three years in Ireland with no piano, so she had gotten a pennywhistle and learned Irish music for lack of other options. Their first Celtic band, “Heather Breeze,” was active doing dances and festivals including the inaugural daVinci days, until other competing interests such as the birth of Colleen’s daughter put a crimp in that. The two collaborated on a number of classical endeavors in the ensuing decades. Laura put together “Village Green”in the oughts, and Colleen was part of that ensemble for a while. But meanwhile the jazz roots were beckoning. While Colleen crashed Neal Grandstaff’s jazz improv class at Oregon State, Laura had been sitting in with Winston McCullough’s jazz ensemble and discovering ways to make the big harp work for jazz. It’s NOT easy. Only the best harpists can do it. With a natural gift for improvisation, and inspired by Dorothy Ashby Colleen and Laura developed ways to tag team each other, and the bright brilliant choros and bossa novas of Brazil seemed especially suited to the sound of the harp. You can’t have a Brasil band without percussion, and when expert percussionist Kevin Ronkko joined the group, it was just the ticket to make manifest the groove that was driving the music only in their imagination.
The group played for a while with no name, and everyone was telling them they needed a name. It was the drought year of 2015, not only dry, but very hot. The band was rehearsing the song “Chovendo na Roseira” and all the references to good nurturing rain were making everyone thirsty. Someone remarked that we could use a dose of “Chuva Boa” (good rain) right about now, and the name stuck. Below is a video of Brazilian icon Gal Costa performing “Chovendo na Roseira” (to be replaced with our own when we get a nice clean one.)
8:30 Cooper Hollow
With members Jim Hockenhull (Fiddle, guitar, accordion, vocals), Sally Clark (Mandolin, guitar, harmony vocals), and Paul Scheerer (Guitar, mandolin, tenor banjo, harmonica, lead vocals), Cooper Hollow is a high energy string band. They perform a mix of bluegrass, old-time fiddle tunes, country, blues and rags with a bit of Cajun thrown in for spice.
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 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
A Special Night of
Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan Songs
Many of your favorite local performers will be on hand to perform and lead sing-alongs of these popular folk works.
Special Note: Because we expect a larger crowd than usual, this Best Cellar will not be held in the cellar. We will be upstairs, at the top of the Methodist Church where we can seat more folks.
It will be a benefit for the Corvallis Folklore Society, the non-profit that provides insurance cost, royalty fees, and publicity for folk concerts, dances, and The Best Cellar Coffee House. Events like the Neal Gladstone Tribute, that some of you attended, can only happen because of The Folklore Society. And there are so many other concerts and dances they provide. Because, really, no one can afford the insurance and royalties to put on a music event anymore.
The Folklore Society needs help bearing these costs and so the volunteers of The Best Cellar have created this concert and musicians from all over our area have flocked together to perform. With so many folks stepping onto the stage, and playing in combinations they don’t usually play with, some of this will be brilliant, some will be ragged, and all of it will be heartfelt and joyful.
For this benefit, we selected Dylan because he won the Nobel Prize for Literature this year; and Guthrie because he was Dylan’s inspiration and role model, and doesn’t every great artist need inspiration and role models?
I hope you’ll consider joining us.
June 9, 7:30 upstairs at The Methodist Church on 11th and Monroe in Corvallis.
Pay what you will (and as many times as you care too). Kids are free and welcome.
Cookies, gluten free cookies, coffee, and tea will be provided
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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
The Fire
is a trio with Rebecca Lomnicky on Scottish fiddle, David Brewer on Highland pipes and whistles, and Adam Hendey on guitar & bazouki. The Fire performs captivating Scottish music as a heartfelt and rousing musical experience. Between their entertaining and informative stage banter, vast array of instrument combinations and extensive repertoire, including everything from soaring slow airs to intricately arranged dance tunes, these charismatic performers will leave you on your feet with your hands together. In 2009, Rebecca won the 20th Annual Glenfiddich International Scottish Fiddle Championship held at Blair Castle, Blair Atholl, Scotland. David Brewer is unarguably one of the most energetic and charismatic performers of the Highland pipes in the world today. Adam brings an innovative contemporary approach to traditional music. (Rebecca is from Corvallis)