Calendar
Submit calendar info to:
calendar@corvallisfolklore.org
Contra Sutra
“May all beings be free to dance to the most melodious and rhythmically funky Contra Sutra”
Andrea Nettleton
From Atlanta, Andrea has been calling dances all along the mid-atlantic region and around the country. She last called a CFS dance in September, 2013.
Beginners lesson starts at 7:00pm (experienced dancers welcome) dance starts at 7:30pm
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.
A fund raiser for The Folklore Society and The Best Cellar. We will have several local musicians: 
Rita Brown,
Suz Doyle, Adam Scramstaad, Fred Towne, Mina Carson, Cliff and Chere Pereiera, Mark Weiss, Evelyn Idzerda, and others.
They will be singing songs from The Great Women Songwriters. Including songs from Carol King, Elizabeth Cotton, Joni Mitchell, Etta James, Nanci Griffith, Kate Wolfe, Gillian Welch, Laura Nyro, Malvina Reynolds, and more.
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
New World String Project
John Weed • Aryeh Frankfurter • Lisa Lynne • Stuart Mason
Extraordinary instruments and heartwarming music rooted in the Nordic, Celtic, and American folk traditions. 98 strings on stage!
Science tells us that cross pollination can result in hybrid vigor that transcends the sum of its parts. In a parallel vein, the vibrant West Coast traditional music community has given birth to the New World String Project. Four highly skilled and well known multi-instrumentalists have joined forces to create an exciting weave of music rooted in the Celtic, Nordic and American folk traditions. Ancient and modern sounds mingle freely on Swedish nyckelharpa, Celtic harp, fiddle, guitar, cittern, bouzouki, and more. Join the New World String Project for a musical ride that will shake your boots, uplift your spirit and warm your heart.
“(New World String Project) literally pranced through their hour-long program at St. Mary’s in Pacific Grove, displaying both calculated structure and unbridled abandon.” –Monterey County Weekly (CA)
Doors open 6pm with a potluck reception.
A house concert is an excellent opportunity to hear great music in a very intimate setting.
Noctumbule
– Marla Fibish and
Bruce Victor –
Original and Traditional, harmonized poetry songs, lots of humor.
This incredible duo are our best friends from where we lived in the bay area. That could make us partial, but indeed they make some of the most beautiful acoustic music you will ever hear. Marla is my idol. She is one of the foremost Irish mandolin players in the world. But that is just the tip of the iceberg. Bruce is the funniest guy we know, a great guitarist with a side hobby as a psychiatrist. They are a songwriting duo that layers incredible sounds and virtuosity with their clever and brilliant songs. They use musical settings of a broad array of poetry that they sing in harmony, original instrumental pieces, and traditional Irish tunes and songs. Aryeh recorded their first album in our home studio and whenever they play, we get to sit in. You will get to hear an unusual array of strings — fine guitars in varied tunings, mandola, mandolin, bouzouki, cittern, tenor guitar — and their blended voices. More about their music: https://www.noctambulemusic.com/us
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.
Treehouse
Treehouse brings a mix of Irish, Quebecois, and New England style, and put it together with Pacific Northwest flair. Ben and Rachael come from the Irish traditional session background, having played with many groups across Canada and throughout Washington, Oregon, and California. Kevin Craven is recently arrived from Hawaii. He is a Corvallis violin teacher and also plays with the OSU Symphony. Shari teaches fiddle and has played with several Corvallis area bands including Three Finger Jack.
Michael Karcher
Michael Karcher is a popular Seattle caller who originally hails from New York. Michael has been having the time of his life calling around the U.S. and Canada since 2011. Michael calls regular and techno contras for weekly dances and full weekends. He has honed a warm and concise style of teaching and calling, to the delight of dancers across North America.
Beginners lesson starts at 7:00pm (experienced dancers welcome) dance starts at 7:30pm
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.
Peppino D’Agustino
A young Sicilian artist left Italy over 30 years ago, with the dream of “playing with the greatest guitarists”. Peppino has achieved his dream and he’s now firmly planted in the “who’s who” of the guitar world.
Peppino D’Agostino emerged on the acoustic guitar scene in the early 80’s as a leading member of the second wave of the great fingerstylists that helped redefine the instrument in the ’90s. His remarkable technique, penchant for open tunings, and percussive effects are the basis of his unique compositional style which has been inspiring musicians and audiences alike for decades. Add to that his natural warmth, playfulness, and broad musical tastes and you have the recipe for what he calls “minestrone music”. His virtuosity and his emotional charge have also had a significant influence on the younger generation of fingerstyle guitarists. D’Agostino continues to evolve and grow in ways that would have been hard to predict when he first showcased his melodic yet emotionally intense style on the recordings Acoustic Spirit, Close to the Heart, and Every Step of the Way which was named one of the top three acoustic guitar albums of all time by Acoustic Guitar magazine readers.
Doors open 6pm with a potluck reception.
A house concert is an excellent opportunity to hear great music in a very intimate setting.
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
The Nettles
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.
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.
NOTE NEW TIMES: Beginners lesson starts at 7:00pm (experienced dancers welcome) dance starts at 7:30pm
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.
Dam Beavers
The Dam Beavers is a contra dance band of two vibrant musicians who have charmed the contra dance community with their energy and talent, Ben Schreiber and Scotty Leach. Scotty has been immersed in music since he was born, playing piano and fiddle. He is one with his instrument, at ease with his skill, energizing the dancers. Ben Schreiber plays fiddle in a number of bands, Uncle Farmer, the Off Beats and more. He shows a virtuosity and range that is mesmerizing. They will be playing for contra dancing and doing a week long band and instrument workshop. Fun awaits!
Seth Tepfer
Mr. Tepfer develops database systems for Emory University, including interfaces and web front ends. In his spare time, Mr. Tepfer travels across the country as a contra and square dance caller and dance organizer, from Ithaca, New York to Bonaire, (Netherlands Antillies) to Seattle, Washington. He enjoys many different styles of dance, from Contra to Cajun, Waltzing to Swing and beyond.
At various times in his life, Mr. Tepfer has been a Scottish Country Dancer, a Lincoln-Douglas debator, a trombone player, an Argentine Tango dancer, a dungeon master, a foil and epee fencer, a graphic designer, a polarity therapist, a movie critic, an EMT, a cajun dancer, a macrame artist, a pastry chef, a waltz instructor, a vaudeville-style comedian, and a gas station attendant. Still to come are massage therapy, sky diving, contra dance band member, and polar expeditions.
Beginners lesson starts at 7:00pm (experienced dancers welcome) dance starts at 7:30pm
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 Fred Towne
Fred has been writing and singing songs for many years, independently and as part of Where To? and with other performers.
8:30 Suz Doyle and Friends
Suzannah Doyle is a composer, performer, and on-the-spot songwriter whose work appears in productions world-wide. She plays with and in groups of all sizes, from classrooms to concert halls, from singers and instrumentalists to improv groups, and she is the chief comedy wrangler of Ringtone Theatre.
She played by invitation at the White House in Washington, D.C., and appears live and on 23 albums with a diverse array of performers in the Pacific Northwest, including her most recent group “The Wallop Sisters” (formerly “the Ukes of Hazard”), with whom she co-hosts the monthly Corvallis Ukulele Cabaret community Singalongs.
Suz’s music can be heard in network television, PBS, commercials and videos, in Piano Dreams: the Movie, in Jane Eyre, the Musical Classic (with playwrite Kristina Harris), and on the CD “Ringtone Theatre: Volume 1” featuring short musical comedy sketches for cellphones and comic relief. Her songs are available online at many nifty digital marketplaces.
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
Treehouse
- Rachael Young, piano
- Benjamin Young, whistle and guitar
- Kevin Craven, fiddle
- Shari Ame, fiddle
- Bo Leyden, mandolin, flute
TREEHOUSE is Kevin Craven and Shari Ame on twin fiddles, Ben Young on guitar, whistles and flute, Rachael Young on keyboards and Bo Leyden on mandolin and flute. As well-seasoned musicians, we will serve you up a full sound, infectious rhythms, and creative arranging. Expect delight from the first contra to the last waltz, and all this for the meager cost of two lattes!!!!! Come dance your heart out to some of your local favorites!!!! Treehouse will not disappoint!!!!!.
Shell Stowell started contra dancing in 2015, and has been dancing up and down the West coast ever since. Driven by her passion for the dance, music, and community, Shell now plays the fiddle and helps to organize the Corvallis Contra Weekend. As a dancer, Shell is known for her enthusiasm on and off the dance floor. As a caller, she incorporates her love of teaching, organizing, and music to strive for clear, energetic instruction and variety in her programming. Shell also emphasizes safe, inclusive dance etiquette that promotes positive communication between dancers.
Beginners lesson starts at 7:00pm (experienced dancers welcome) dance starts at 7:30pm
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.
Registration opens for the
Corvallis Contra Weekend 2020
February 14-16, 2020
This event sells out quickly, so register now at the event website https://corvallisfolklore.org/ccw/
Joyride
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, Sue Songer’s heartbeat piano and Jeff Kerssen-Griep’s vital guitar and percussion provide modern and traditional tunes for dances, weekends and festivals throughout the year. This band loves creating a great experience for everyone, every time. Come catch a lift with Joyride at home or on the road!
Deb Comly
Deb Comly was bitten by the contra bug in 1994 and took off dancing across the country. Her passion for the dance keeps her dancing, calling, teaching, organizing, and playing music in Flagstaff and across the Southwest. Known for her quick and efficient teaching, diverse programing and reassuring demeanor, dancers are comforted to know she’ll be behind the mic! From her beaming smile to her happy feet, Deb’s energy is contagious!
A beginner’s lesson starts at 7:00pm (experienced dancers welcome and encouraged); dance starts at 7:30pm.
Each dance is taught. No partner necessary (it’s traditional to dance each dance with a different partner)
We dance First and Third Saturdays of the month except for July & August. Occasional special dances. See the rest of the calendar for more info.
Special Monday Contra Dance
Faux Paws
Noah VanNorstrand, Chris Miller and
Owen Morrison have been making music together since 2010, all over North America. Ostensibly based in Brattleboro, VT – their music is a mix of fiddle tunes, bluegrass and country songs, explosive jams and tight harmonies.
George Marshall
George Marshall is one of the top contra callers in the world. He usually calls with Wild Asparagus or Swallowtail, but occasionally graces another group’s dances.
Beginners lesson starts at 7:00pm (experienced dancers welcome) dance starts at 7:30pm
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 Choro Na Cozinha
- Kimberly Cullen (pandeiro),
- Spencer Doidge (7-string guitar)
- John Bliss (mandolin)
- Bill Pfender (clarinet).
Choro na Cozinha: (“Choro in the Kitchen”). Choro is a lively, lyrical genre of Brazilian music. Syncopated and harmonically complex, it is the ancestor of samba and bossa nova and still a widely-popular music in bars, restaurants and backyards of Brazil.
8:30 Swangle
Swing tunes from the early to mid 1900’s – with clarinet, fiddle, piano, vocal harmonies and an emphasis on fun. Group members are Michelle Dedman, Barbara Barry-Doyle, Evelyn Idzerda, Jacques Gabriel, Bill Pfender.
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