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

Hoolyeh and Friends 10th Annual Folk Dance Party

Anyone who likes to folk dance is welcome!

Bring snacks, treats, refreshments, drinks and stories.
Bring your memories to share!
Costumes are encouraged and besides, they are fun!

Hambo Workshop
with John Scott

Hambo is not a dance you can learn in  5 minutes.  It takes instruction, time and practice.

• This class is for beginners, or anyone who wants tips & practice opportunity with coaching.
• No partner is needed!
• The May 6th evening contra dance will feature several live HAMBOS to practice your skills!

First and Third Sundays

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

Family Play Day in Portland

First and Third Sundays

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

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

First and Third Sundays

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

Tonight’s Balkan-emphasis dance will feature
live music by

Živeli

Julie Firman – violin and vocals
Jeff Muhr – guitar
Bill Pfender – clarinet
Diane Rainsford – percussion, vocals
Leigh Ann Starcevich – tambura,  vocals
Brian Wood – guitar, tambura, bass

Živeli is a Corvallis-based Balkan folk dance band who have played for Hoolyeh dances twice last year to enthusiastic response.  They have played for folk dances in Salem and Eugene also.  Their repertoire includes dances from Bulgaria, Macedonia, Greece, Serbia, and Roma traditions.