CFS annual Corvallis Contra Weekend 2023

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.

Countercurrent

A powerhouse acoustic duo based in Seattle WA, featuring fiddle, guitar, harmony vocals, and foot percussion.

Alex Sturbaum and Brian Lindsay display a musical fluency that comes from a decade of playing together at contra dances, concert halls, jam sessions, festivals, bars, and living rooms all across the continent. When dancers and listeners experience the blend of lyrical melodies, groovy chords, thumping percussion, and vocal harmonies all simultaneously, the reaction is usually “How does so much music come from just two people?!”

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.

Jacqui 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.

NOTE: This is a fragrance-free event. Please do not use cologne, perfume; or scented deodorants, soaps or other grooming products. We will provide scent-free hand soap at the dance venues.

Register after Nov. 17, 2022 by completing the online application form or by printing, filling out and mailing the paper registration form.

Check the FAQ for Covid restrictions before registering.

American Strings Celebrates Women’s History Month

featuring Shannon McNally
with Marilyn Jordan and Fiona Daley

GRAMMY® Nominated Americana Musician Shannon McNally has been called a Zen-like, post-Beat song poet. Those who have followed her nearly 20-year career, know the thing that stands out about McNally is the timelessness and effortlessness of her work. With a long catalog and longer list of peers with whom she has written, recorded, and toured, McNally continues to turn out great music that crosses many genres.  McNally’s music career began on the jam band circuit of the 1990’s with bands like Robert Randolph and Derek Trucks. She writes original music as well as she interprets the songs of others. With a top tier musicality to her craft, a soul stirring voice that immediately grabs one by the heart strings, and a troubadour’s wanderlust, not to mention that she is also an excellent electric guitar player, McNally knows she can serve up a song much like her anti-hero heroes J.J. Cale, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan. Dr. John, and Jim Dickinson.

Our host Bob Santelli will will talk to Shannon about her quiet but steady plodding through the many layers of music business. And while she hasn’t yet been rewarded with massive fame and fortune, that slow burn has become the treasure in and of itself. Perhaps the music industry is finally catching up with her independent spirit. We’ll explore that and more and hear Shannon perform at this special installment of American Strings.  Joining Bob and Shannon in this special evening will be two special guests, from right here at OSU:

Marilyn Jordan is a jamband-inspired singer-songwriter who creates songs like impressionist paintings, from her native rural Oregon. Drawing on themes of home, hiding out, and running like hell, Jordan tells stories of badass adventures through this bittersweet life, with intriguing stories, and a soul-saving sense of humor. An OSU graduate student studying Nanci Griffith’s songwriting, Marilyn is releasing her debut album titled “Both Things Are True,” on March 3.

Fiona Daley is a freshman in the College of Liberal Arts. She was born and raised in a small town in Montana just outside of Yellowstone. Daley has been playing guitar for four years and writing songs for two, but grew up always listening to and playing music. Fiona loves and writes music because of the ability it has to connect people, no matter how different. In sharing pieces of her life through music, she hopes to do just that.

Regarding tickets to this event: A ticket vendor with which Oregon State University contracts is experiencing an outage. This outage could last as long as five to seven days. Our ability to sell tickets online, as well as to take credit card payments in-person, are both impacted.

If you have not yet purchased tickets: Tickets will be available for purchase at the event by cash or check only. Ticket sales will begin one hour prior to the performance. Please note that we anticipate that this performance may sell out. Tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis.

If you have already purchased tickets: We will have your name on a will call list at the event. We recommend you arrive early for general admission seating.

American Strings
An Evening with
the Kingston Trio

Join University Director of Popular Music Bob Santelli in a conversation with the legendary folk group: The Kingston Trio. Current members Mike Marvin, Tim Gorelangton and Buddy Woodward, have intrinsic links and experience with the iconic trio’s original members. Mike is the adopted son of founding member Nick Reynolds, who was also his musical mentor; Tim, a close friend since boyhood, is one of the few musicians outside the trio who has recorded with Nick Reynolds; and Buddy has performed with longtime Kingston Trio member George Grove. Together, they recall and will talk with Bob about the original members’ journey as folk music made its extraordinary ascent to the pinnacle of popular culture and the top of the music charts.

Following the interview, the trio will perform such timeless classics as “Where Have All The Flowers Gone?” and “Tom Dooley”.

Only 200 seats!  Take advantage of the presale now at the link above to secure your seats.

Salem Folklore Community’s
34th Annual
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.

Registration opens February 23.

 CFS annual Corvallis Contra Weekend 2024

Riptide Trio

Riptide is one of the most energetic contra dance bands on the scene today. They love the tunes they play, and their repertoire contains  hundreds of tunes from New England, Quebec, Ireland, Appalachia, and a few other places. Featuring Glen Loper on mandolin, Alden Robinson on fiddle, Max Newman on guitar.French Canadian and New England tunes.

The Fiddle Hellions

Combine the driving rhythm of George Penk’s fiddle, the soaring harmonies of Betsy Branch’s fiddle, and the propulsive accompaniment of Sue Songer’s piano and you get…The Fiddle Hellions! This trio of long-time musical collaborators from Portland, Oregon came together to give concerts and lead jam sessions at Fiddle Hell online in 2021 and have been repeat performers in this setting ever since. They take special delight in chances to share their vibrant energy with live dancers.

Frannie Marr

Frannie Marr, from southern California, began contra dancing in 1998 when she went looking for a new form of dance to bring back to her elementary school.  She quickly fell in love with the music and dance scene and became an organizer as well as a caller.  Frannie is known for her excellent choices of wonderful dances, and her clear precise walkthroughs which make her easy to understand and follow.  Can you tell she was a kindergarten teacher?  Frannie’s joy of dance is so present in her exuberant calling you’ll think you’re at a dance party.  Which is exactly where you’ll be when you arrive in Corvallis.

Julian Blechner

Julian Blechner has a passion for contra dance and is excited to share it with you! He is a seasoned contra and set dance caller based in Western Massachusetts. Since 2011, he’s called dances of all sizes, from big festival and camp stages, to series from Maine to the Mid-Atlantic. Julian is excited to return to the West Coast to call! He loves calling for all skill levels. He brings a cheerful, friendly attitude with clear, concise teaching and prompting. Julian has written dozens of dances, and combines this expertise with his love of dancing to provide a joyful flair to dances!

NOTE: This is a fragrance-free event. Please do not use cologne, perfume; or scented deodorants, soaps or other grooming products. We will provide scent-free hand soap at the dance venues.

Registration is open!

Check the FAQ for Covid restrictions before registering.

 Corvallis Contra Weekend 2024 Public Dance

Masks Required

Riptide Trio

Riptide is one of the most energetic contra dance bands on the scene today. They love the tunes they play, and their repertoire contains  hundreds of tunes from New England, Quebec, Ireland, Appalachia, and a few other places. Featuring Glen Loper on mandolin, Alden Robinson on fiddle, Max Newman on guitar.French Canadian and New England tunes.

The Fiddle Hellions

Combine the driving rhythm of George Penk’s fiddle, the soaring harmonies of Betsy Branch’s fiddle, and the propulsive accompaniment of Sue Songer’s piano and you get…The Fiddle Hellions! This trio of long-time musical collaborators from Portland, Oregon came together to give concerts and lead jam sessions at Fiddle Hell online in 2021 and have been repeat performers in this setting ever since. They take special delight in chances to share their vibrant energy with live dancers.

Frannie Marr

Frannie Marr, from southern California, began contra dancing in 1998 when she went looking for a new form of dance to bring back to her elementary school.  She quickly fell in love with the music and dance scene and became an organizer as well as a caller.  Frannie is known for her excellent choices of wonderful dances, and her clear precise walkthroughs which make her easy to understand and follow.  Can you tell she was a kindergarten teacher?  Frannie’s joy of dance is so present in her exuberant calling you’ll think you’re at a dance party.  Which is exactly where you’ll be when you arrive in Corvallis.

Julian Blechner

Julian Blechner has a passion for contra dance and is excited to share it with you! He is a seasoned contra and set dance caller based in Western Massachusetts. Since 2011, he’s called dances of all sizes, from big festival and camp stages, to series from Maine to the Mid-Atlantic. Julian is excited to return to the West Coast to call! He loves calling for all skill levels. He brings a cheerful, friendly attitude with clear, concise teaching and prompting. Julian has written dozens of dances, and combines this expertise with his love of dancing to provide a joyful flair to dances!

NOTE: This is a fragrance-free event. Please do not use cologne, perfume; or scented deodorants, soaps or other grooming products. We will provide scent-free hand soap at the dance venues.

Newcomers lesson starts at 7:00pm (experienced dancers 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 are still seeking new volunteers to help with dances in the fall! If you are interested in volunteering this fall, please see role descriptions and tell us how you would like to help by taking our volunteer survey at:
https://bit.ly/CorvallisContraVolunteering2022
For questions regarding contra dance volunteering, please contact Shell Stowell at corvalliscontra@gmail.com

Kalos

Kalos is made up of three innovative interpreters and composers of Celtic roots music: Eric McDonald, Ryan McKasson and Jeremiah McLane. They are masters of tradition who purposefully explore the dark corners floating on its edges, delivering an alluring musical complexity full of spontaneity and joyful exuberance. They set the standard for traditional repertoire with an underlying drive and pulse charged with rhythmic electricity and integrity, forging a new musical path that draws on Celtic, Breton, American and other musical traditions on accordion, guitar, fiddle, and vocals. The title of their new album, Headland, which refers to a point where land meets sea, is a fitting analogy for the exploratory space Kalos inhabits — one that calls forth driving, heartfelt music journeying through unknown territory to seek and find its essence – the enduring, resilient experience of the human heart.

Rated: G