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.

Ralph Penunuri

Played in Marin County bands Fairfax Street Choir (Gospel Rock), Happy Valley (Progressive Folk); and in Corvallis, Oregon, played in Two Hits & a Ms. (Orig. Roots & Swing), Bon Ton Roulet (Cajun-Zydeco) and Inner Strength Gospel Quartet (Black Congregational style covers — Blind Boys of Alabama, Dixie Hummingbirds, etc…).

Played in front of thousands at UC Berkeley Amphitheater, San Francisco Cow Palace & Golden Gate Park Festivals. Played for just a handful too. Most memorable was SF Cow Palace with Fairfax Street Choir, opening for Crosby-Stills-Nash & Young.

“I’m really looking forward to this upcoming Friday evening at this fine intimate and friendly setting with it’s exceptional warm acoustic quality and comfortable atmosphere. I’m absolutely thrilled that amazing fiddler Kevin Craven and my dear cellist wife Beth Brown will be sitting in during the second set. C’mon by for a fine organic music interlude.”

Lisa Lynne
and
Aryeh Frankfurter

Lisa Lynne is a multi-instrumentalist and performer who has gained worldwide recognition for her original music featuring her Celtic Harp. She specializes in Traditional acoustic folk and rare instruments and is widely acclaimed for composing memorable and heartwarming melodies that transcend category and genre.

Since 1994, Aryeh has been delighting audiences around the globe with his passionate, enduring and evocative music. Aryeh’s uncommon approach to the Celtic harp and folk harp repertoire, command of the unusual Swedish nyckelharpa (or keyed fiddle) and other stringed instruments, his recording and production credits, and his numerous critically and commercially successful albums have earned him credit as a musician, recording and performance artist of extraordinary talents and abilities.

“Aryeh Frankfurter is amazing.”  – San Francisco Chronicle

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)

Anna Roberts-Gevalt
and
Elizabeth LaPrelle

House Concert

Anna & Elizabeth stand at the vanguard of tradition and the avant-garde. What began in 2011 as two artists sharing a love of Appalachian music has evolved into a visionary project that utilizes multimedia such as visual art, movement, and experimental film. Through their immersive creative process and bold interpretations, Anna & Elizabeth pioneer new ways of understanding old songs and stories.

The collaboration between Anna Roberts-Gevalt and Elizabeth LaPre​​lle spans worlds—between their homes in Brooklyn and rural Virginia; between deep study of mountain ballads and explorations into the avant garde.  Their mission is to balance respect for traditional music and musicians who came before with a relentless push into new artistic territories.

Anna & Elizabeth are beginning a new cycle of work, inspired by ballad singers of the 1930s and 1940s in Vermont and Virginia—the states where they grew up. Spending time in archives, with the families of these singers, and with a director, Anna & Elizabeth with explore connections between place and tradition to develop a new show, a new set of crankies (intricate picture-scrolls illustrating the old songs they sing, which they create in tandem with papercuts, shadow puppets, prints, and embroidered fabric), and a new album inspired by these ballads.

Check out their YouTube channel for samples of their amazing music.

Email mudcityoldtimesociety@gmail.com for reservations or more information.

A house concert is an excellent place to hear and meet great musicians in a very intimate setting.

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.

Juliet Strong

is a New York City based singer-songwriter, with a background in Folk, Classical and Jazz piano and voice. With a voice like butter and a body of original, folk-soul inspired melodies, Juliet touches audiences with her depth of sound, musicality, poetic imagery and eclectic style. Juliet’s energetic sound is underscored by rhythm piano, counter melodies, vocalize, and ukulele. She has spent years absorbing a variety of styles in a traditional folk setting, supplementing with her love of Bebop, Soul, Funk and R&B, and travel to Turkey, Spain, Portugal, and Argentina. The result is a unique, infectiously uplifting sound often likened to that of Norah Jones, Carol King, and Carly Simon.–
She will be playing with our own Dave Chiller on percussion and Michael Proctor on upright bass.

The show will open with Aeryn Brassfield (vocals) accompanied by Ray Brassfield on upright bass.  The show starts at 7 pm, gate at 6:30.  Please bring low chairs or blankets, and something munchy or liquid to share at the break if you wish.

Click on the Tickets link for concert address.

A house concert is an excellent place to hear and meet great musicians in a very intimate setting.

Joyride Tunes

Joyride is a Portland Oregon contra dance band known for fun, skilled play, tune sets carefully tailored to dances, and well-phrased melodies and harmonies set in a danceable groove.  George Penk’s rich, compelling fiddle, Erik Weberg’s deft flute, harmonica and bombarde,  and Jeff Kerssen-Griep’s vital guitar and percussion provide modern and traditional tunes for dances, weekends and festivals throughout the year (unfortunately, Sue Songer won’t be able to be there).

Susan Petrick

Susan Petrick has been calling all over the country for more than a decade. Her gracious manner along with her clarity and confidence on stage have made her one of the most sought after callers in the Pacific Northwest.
As a dancer herself, she knows what makes dancers happy and as a caller, she is always conscious of what is happening on the dance floor. Susan brings with her a diverse collection of dances featuring many flowing and flirty contras that will please your feet and satisfy your soul!

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.

Old Blind Dogs

Since forming in 1992, Old Blind Dogs have stood on the cutting edge of Scotland’s roots revival. The band has developed its own trademark style with an energetic mix of songs and tunes. Dynamic percussion, polished vocals, soaring fiddle and stirring pipes fuel the delicately-phrased melodies and traditional songs.

Twenty-five years is a long time in the life of any band and most who reach that milestone are content to rest on the tried and true formulas that have worked in the past. Not so for Scotland’s Old Blind Dogs, who do not shy away from change. A strong, shared musical vision has allowed the group to ride out inevitable line-up changes whilst their popularity has never dimmed.
The current foursome of Jonny Hardie (fiddle, vocals), Aaron Jones (bouzouki, guitar, vocals), Ali Hutton (Pipes, whistles, vocals) and Donald Hay (percussion, vocals) have proven more than capable of carrying on the tradition of the band that the Montreal Gazette called, “…a Scots neo-traditional supergroup with a bracingly modern musical attack.”

The Dogs have released eleven albums and have won numerous awards along the way
including the prestigious title of ‘Folk Band of the Year’ at the 2004 and 2007 Scots Trad Music Awards. Their album ‘Four On The Floor’ also picked up the IAP ‘Best Celtic CD’ Award in the USA and their last CD was nominated for the same honour.

“The skill, talent and verve with which they played, belied their laddishness and the crowd responded with thunderous applause. Folk is the new rock and roll.” (Evening News)

The Old Blind Dogs play with a compelling energy and intoxicating rhythm, players and audience seem to share a wild ecstasy of emotion. (The Scotsman)

“Old Blind Dogs have mastered the tricky art of innovating within a musical tradition while faithfully revealing its essence.” (Acoustic Guitar)

“Old Blind Dogs bring freshness and color to acoustic music steeped in centuries of Scottish folklore and history.” (The Los Angeles Times)

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.

Lindsey Dono

Massachusetts transplant Lindsey Dono is rapidly establishing herself as a Northwest mainstay. With her serene teaching, meticulous programming, and sunny demeanor, Lindsey transforms absolute beginners into confident regulars. Known for her creativity on the dance floor, Lindsey incorporates knowledge of waltz, swing, and blues to lead a variety of workshops, including the ever-requested “advanced contra flourishes.” By day, Lindsey is a devoted research scientist.

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.

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.