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.

Kelsey Hartman

Since I am a “contraholic,” I can often be found any given weekend dancing or calling a contra dance. My inspiration for calling comes from Nils Fredland, whose callers’ workshop at American Week (BACDS) in 2012 spurred me down the caller’s path.  
When calling, I consider myself a conduit between the dancers and the band, helping to channel the  joy of the musicians’ music through flowing, interesting 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.

Penk, Pinney & Lindsay

George Penk is a well-known fiddle player across the USA, especially in the Pacific Northwest. He lives in Portland where he currently plays with the bands Joyride and Jigsaw. George collaborates with many musicians in various musical adventures, including being part of the Portland Collection project through his playing on the Portland Selection CD’s. His spirited and rich fiddle style is a delight to listen to. George is widely appreciated as a consummate dance fiddler working with callers to make sure the music is in-tune with the spirit of the dances. The Penk, Pinney, Lindsay trio, which includes Heather Pinney on piano and fiddle (also a member of Jigsaw) and Deborah Lindsay (from Corvallis) on percussion, works most often with the caller Erik Weberg, who also lends his expertise on wind instruments to the tune medleys.

Erik Weberg

I danced my first contra dance in Moscow Idaho in the Fall of 1986.  Several excursions to the dance hall were necessary for me to find the courage to actually dance, but once I, tried it caught hold quickly and I became a regular dancer. Christian Petrich encouraged me to try calling for the first time in 1990 and soon after that I started regularly attending the first Wednesday open mic in Spokane Washington. I called dances around Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho for a few years before moving west of the Cascades in 1993. I was soon asked to call dances in Portland and up the Willamette Valley. Since then I’ve been calling dances, festivals and weekends around the country from Seattle to Boston, from Fairbanks to Tuscon and most places between. I am able to enjoy this craft because of the good folks who encouraged and taught me to call dances years ago, the booking agents and local dance committees who have given me wonderful opportunities to practice in their communities, and the thousands of dancers and musicians who forgive me my mistakes and make it all worthwhile. If you’re reading this you’re probably one of them; so, thank you!

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.

This annual folk festival will be conducted online over 2 consecutive Sundays, Sept. 13 and Sept 20.   Takoma Park, Maryland, is adjacent to Washington DC and has been presenting its festival since 1978.  It is now available to people all over the world, including Corvallis.  Click here or on the logo for more information and to access the festival.

This annual folk festival will be conducted online over 2 consecutive Sundays, Sept. 13 and Sept 20.   Takoma Park, Maryland, is adjacent to Washington DC and has been presenting its festival since 1978.  It is now available to people all over the world, including Corvallis.  Click here or on the logo for more information and to access the festival.

Portland FolkMusic Society presents

Singtime Frolics Online

a spring weekend of singing, jamming, learning, sharing and good food (you provide) at Portland FolkMusic Society’s annual retreat.

To register click here

Guest artists

Gordon Bok & Carol Rohl

Gordon and Carol need no introduction to lovers of traditional music. Gordon says “I’m drawn to songs that show me how others have lived their lives and sorted through their problems… They’ve shown me how to live, and if others learn something from my passing them on, that’s another pleasure.” Carol plays Celtic harp and has a special love for Paraguayan music . Washington Post said “The shimmering weave of harp tones and supple guitar rhythms cast a spell unlike anything else the duo performed.”

Stephanie Anne Johnson

Stephanie Anne learned to sing and started to teach herself guitar in grade school, soaking up folk, blues and gospel singers. Building on that base, she went on to study music in college, and has sung opera and musical comedy. She is equally at home with her band, the Hidogs, or accompanying herself on acoustic guitar. Her music is “rooted in all that’s American,” and reflects her daily practice of cultivating joy. Her concert and workshop will leave you joyful!

Beth Wood

Beth has been writing and performing full-time for twenty-three years — delighting and inspiring audiences with her exceptional musicianship and her songs that pull you into her world, all presented in the warmest most inviting way. She is well known to the Portland folk community, and if you have never spent time with Beth, you are in for a treat!

Lauren Sheehan

Lauren launched her recording and performing career in 2002 and has been sailing on to critical acclaim, national and international radio charts and lots of encores at venues across the US and Canada ever since. This vivacious singer delights audiences with the breadth of her material, evocative artistry and musicianship.

Jermaine Malone

Jermaine writes songs that tell stories from his life, moving easily among genres from R&B to hip hop. He draws his energy from interacting with the people who come to be with him when he is performing. Jermaine says his main joy is “to bring a smile to your face, and a shake to your hips”!

Shook Twins

Oregon State University presents Shook Twins on the next installment of the College of Liberal Arts’ American Strings series on Wednesday, October 6 at 7:30pm.

Join host Bob Santelli as we kick off another great season of American Strings with a special evening, outdoors, in the Student Experience Center Plaza on the beautiful OSU main campus in Corvallis. Bob will talk with the popular Portland-based indie-folk band SHOOK TWINS about their creative process and musical lives. Shook Twins will also perform live as a trio comprised of identical twin sisters Katelyn and Laurie Shook with longtime bandmate Niko “Slice” Daoussis.

Shook Twins’ music incorporates acoustic instruments including banjo, guitar, mandolin, glockenspiel and their signature gold egg, in a unique, contemporary sound that has never really been confined to the indie-folk world in which they’ve become well-known artists. Always performing with an adventurous spirit, the sisters are never shy to incorporate beatboxing, banjo-head drumming, vocals using a repurposed telephone as a microphone, and other ambient sources within their music arrangements.

Since the release of their debut album, “You Can Have The Rest,” Shook Twins have shared the stage with artists including Laura Veirs, Mason Jennings, Sarah Jarosz, Gregory Alan Isakov, Crooked Still and many others. They’ve appeared at premiere festivals including Summer Camp Music Festival (Ill.), Arise Music Festival (Colo.), High Sierra Music Festival (Cali.), Northwest String Summit (Ore.), Revival Fest (Minn.), Suwannee Hulaween (Fla.), and have toured Germany and the U.K.

Their recently released fourth album, “Some Good Lives,” pays homage to the people who have influenced their lives and become chapters in Shook Twins’ story. Throughout the album’s 14 tracks, Katelyn and Laurie pay homage to a number of those people — from a late grandpa and godfather, to Bernie Sanders.

Hosted by Bob Santelli, OSU director of popular music and performing arts, the conversation and live performance that comprises each segment of American Strings makes for a one of a kind opportunity to learn about the creative process, the performers and the influencers behind the great American music tradition.

Seating on the plaza is free and on a first come basis. The SEC Plaza is located between the Memorial Union and the Student Experience Center on Jefferson Street. Parking in permit restricted lots is unrestricted after 5 p.m. Future performances this season will head back to the Majestic Theatre, 115 SW 2^nd Street in Corvallis, and will be posted at events.oregonstate.edu.

Open to all community members.

Open to all community members.

 CFS annual Corvallis Contra Weekend 2022 CANCELED

This event is yet another casualty of Covid

Elixir

Elixir blends driving fiddle and guitar with the rich texture and rhythmic excitement of a full horn section, deftly weaving brassy riffs and daring solos in and out of traditional Irish, French Canadian and New England tunes. Elegant melodies evolve into raucous dixieland horn riffs; transcendent harmonies, playful improvisations, and rock, swing and reggae-inspired rhythms weave in and out of traditional and original Irish, French Canadian and New England tunes.

Second band TBA

Nils Fredland

Nils Fredland has been calling dances with admirable skill and infectious energy since 2000. Respected for his expertise as a teacher and caller, sensitive leadership, and generosity, Nils is one of the busiest and most sought-after callers in the business. He draws on a large and varied repertoire of dances, presenting material from centuries-old “chestnuts” to cutting-edge contemporary choreography.

Nils is also known for breathing new life into traditional singing squares, and he has co-authored two books on the topic with master callers. Nils studied classical trombone at Indiana University, and has played his horn in ensembles ranging from symphony orchestras to ska bands. In Elixir Nils brings together his myriad talents in one thrilling package. Nils also works as the American Dance Publications Coordinator at the Country Dance and Song Society.

Jacquie Grennan

Jacqui Grennan is a contra dance caller, choreographer, and dance organizer in the Los Angeles contra dance scene.

A fixture in the Los Angeles contra dance community since 2010, Jacqui currently calls at contra dances around the nation and in her home community of Los Angeles, CA. Jacqui produced and organized the 3rd Saturday contra dance series held at the Woman’s Club of South Pasadena, CA, from 2014 to 2016.

Open to all community members.

Curtis Salgado
with Alan Hager

Oregon State University presents Curtis Salgado on the next installment of the College of Liberal Arts’ American Strings series.

Get to know better the Pacific Northwest’s own blues legend, Curtis Salgado, and guitarist Alan Hagar, in an evening of conversation and live performance.

“Curtis Salgado’s range and power as a vocalist are a tour-de-force…hard-nosed blues, beautifully nuanced R&B, phat and funky.” –Billboard

Salgado is famous, not only for his powerhouse live shows and multiple albums, but also for his passionate and insightful original songs. He is a three-time Blues Music Award nominee for Song of the Year, winning in 2018 for “Walk A Mile In My Blues” from The Beautiful Lowdown album. In total, Salgado has won nine Blues Music Awards, including the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year.

Seating on the plaza is free and on a first come basis. The SEC Plaza is located between the Memorial Union and the Student Experience Center on Jefferson Street. Parking in permit restricted lots is unrestricted after 5 p.m.

Philomath Bluegrass Workshop/Jam

Philomath Bluegrass Workshop/Jam

Philomath Bluegrass Workshop/Jam