Calendar
Submit calendar info to:
calendar@corvallisfolklore.org
Westwind Weekend
of music and dance
A beautiful setting on the Oregon Coast. A pristine, sheltered beach, tidepools galore, wildlife in the water, woods, and air, hikes that lead to superb vistas up and down the coast. It’s a weekend at the beach, with music and friends old and new. It’s always sunny at Westwind, AND it almost always rains. Which is to say, any weather can happen.
A growing, family friendly community. More than a fourth of those who attend the Westwind Weekend are young people. Kids bring their friends. They dig in the sand, play Frisbee, hike, play cards, dance, play music, drink hot cocoa, help out, hang out, and build lasting memories.
Non-stop music jams. At any moment you’ll find swing favorites on the front porch, old-time in the shed, and Irish/contra tunes in the kitchen. Some of the finest musicians in the Willamette Valley come to Westwind and are joined by folks just learning to play and everyone in between.
Contra dancing and more. Friday and Saturday evenings feature the Westwind All Star Orchestra playing tunes, and dance programming that’s aimed at all ages and abilities. Expect family dances, contras and squares, and a set of Scandinavian favorites. Also find musicians jamming and swing or zydeco dancing underway outside the main hall.
Camper-led workshops. Gumboot dancing, daisy chain squares, swing chords, beach talk, favorite folk songs: come with your special talent to share or learn something you’ve never heard of before. Sunday morning expect time for singing the gospel of our non-denominational love of community.
A Saturday camper concert. Enjoy listening to the crazy, creative, and sublime as your fellow campers perform, or put together your own high or low art performance and step up onto the whale bone stage.
Happy, hearty vegetarian food. Beth Littlewolf has been our cook for 25+ years. She makes wonderful fare that brings us all together in the historic Wilson Lodge for family-style meals. Meals at Westwind include snack Friday evening, breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Saturday, and early-wake up breakfast fare plus brunch on Sunday.
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!
Campaign for Reel Time
(The Quarks revised)
From Portland
- Betsy Branch – fiddle
- Mark Douglas – piano
- Bill Tomczak – reeds, percussion
Campaign for Reel Time is an exciting Northwest band featuring Betsy Branch on fiddle and guitar, Bill Tomczak on clarinet, saxophone and percussion, and Mark Douglas (tonight) on piano. With their mix of instruments and improvisatory natures, plus their deft interweaving of dance-music genres, you never know what to expect from this trio, other than stimulating and inventive dance music. Their delight in playing together translates to the dance floor, and you are likely to hear plenty of laughter from the stage.
Karen Marshall
from Seattle.
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 6PM* 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.
First and Third Sundays
The first Sunday of the month will be dedicated to Balkan dances and the third to Israeli.
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.
Kate Power
&
Steve Einhorn
Kate Power and Steve Einhorn are lifelong musicians, songwriters, teachers, and were the owners of the world renowned performance venue, music school, and instrument shop, Artichoke Music in Portland, Oregon (1981-2006). Vocal Cut of the Year 2017 for Paddy’s Lament on their new release, Portland Romance, their ninth album of original and traditional folk. They won the Music2Life award for the song,”Travis John” at the Kerrville Folk Festival and have shared stages with folk luminaries including Pete Seeger, Tom Paxton, Odetta, and Garrison Keillor.
Go to https://lisalynne.com/cedarhouse-concerts/ for location details.
A house concert is an excellent place to hear and meet great musicians in a very intimate setting.
Annual Membership Meeting 2017
The Corvallis Folklore Society’s Annual Members’ Meeting will be on Saturday, May 20th, 2017, before the regular contra dance, at the home of Diane Arney – 770 SW Lookout Drive, in Corvallis. It will take place during the usual pre-Contra dance potluck dinner. 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 2017-18 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 6:00. Members who don’t wish to eat, are encouraged to come just for the meeting. The meeting will end in plenty of time for contra folks to get to Saturday night’s dance at Gatton Hall.
Diane’s home is a short walk from Gatton Hall where the Saturday night Contra Dance will be held. Parking at Diane’s is somewhat limited, so please consider walking, biking or carpooling from the parking lot at First Congregational Church.
Hope to see you there!
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).
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)
~Potluck & Annual CFS Member Meeting~ Host: Diane Arney, 770 SW Lookout Drive; phone: 541-753-0762) . Potluck to start about 5:30 pm, with Member Meeting convening at 6:00 pm.
First and Third Saturdays of the month except July, August. Occasional special dances.
First and Third Sundays
The first Sunday of the month will be dedicated to Balkan dances and the third to Israeli.
Crooked Kate
Crooked Kate is back (now as a duo) after a 10-year hiatus. It features folk singer Rita Brown and cellist Anne Ridlington, playing a blend of folk, pop and classical music. The inventive cello provides rich harmony with Rita’s voice and guitar. Anne, who plays cello with the Eugene Symphony, also does impressive solos.
If the weather is nice, we’ll be out on the deck. If it is rainy (i.e., like it’s been forever), we’ll be in the tasting room. In either case, this is a wonderful winery in a beautiful setting, a pretty drive from Corvallis, Salem, Monmouth, Albany… really, pretty much anywhere. And the wine is quite great, too. I understand there will be a nice assortment of finger foods, and a tasting fee of $10.