ITHACA NY - Notes Inégales for a traditional, old New England style Contra Dance on Fri May 24th. Notes Inégales [pronounced notes in-a-gall] is Andrea Katz on fiddle and Michael Ludgate on mandolin. For this dance featuring special musical guests: Laurie Tupper on flute and Tim Ball on guitar. Caller: House callers. Location: Bethel Grove Community Center 1825 Slaterville Rd Ithaca NY. 8-11 pm $6- TCCD sponsored event. Band: www.notesinegales.org FB event https://www.facebook.com/events/441495482607316/

Andrea Katz (fiddle, viola) - Andrea Katz (from Texas on playing fiddle and viola) is a PhD candidate in applied physics at Cornell University (finishing her 2nd year there). Andrea played in a variety of contra dance bands in the San Antonio area and has studied with Jay Ungar and David Kaynor. Andrea is joined by Michael Ludgate (mandolin, fiddle, tenor banjo), joined by occasional special guests. Both are fantastic contra dance musicians and are playing a dance with Ithaca contra musician and music promoter Michael Ludgate under the new band name Notes Inégales. This will be an exceptionally fun dance!

Laurie Tupper (flute) - Laurie Tupper is also a graduate student at Cornell University, moving here from Swarthmore College. Laurie is well know in contra dance circles as the flute player for “Last Exit” a Philly based band. She has played all around the northeastern US. She is also the flute player for “Stunt Double” contra band. More here http://tedcrane.com/DanceDB/DisplayIdent.com?key=LAURIE_TUPPER

Tim Ball (guitar) - Tim has recently been perfecting a style of guitar playing that is great for Irish sessions and contra dancing. Most folks know him for his fiddling: Tim plays fiddle with Contrapasso, Tunescape, the O’Shanigans, and other fine musicians for contra and English Country dances around upstate New York and beyond. A recent graduate of the Ithaca College School of Music where he studied violin with Susan Waterbury, he brings training in classical music and jazz improvisation together with a love of social dancing and a great respect for the traditional music of New England, Ireland, Quebec, and the many other regions that have lent their influence to contra dance musicians everywhere. http://tedcrane.com/DanceDB/DisplayIdent.com?key=TIM_BALL

Notes Inégales (pronounced notes in-a-gall) contra dance band performs Celtic, American and world fiddle tunes suitable for contra dancing,  general entertainment and weddings. Fiddle and dance tunes from: New England, Southern Appalachia, Canada, Ireland, Scotland, England, France, Finland, Sweden and the Middle East! We currently combine the skills of two of Ithaca’s most talented contra dance musicians: Andrea Katz (fiddle, viola) with local contra session leader and acoustic music promoter, Michael Ludgate (mandolin, fiddle, tenor banjo), joined by occasional special guests.

From the dancers and callers –  “Notes Inégales, what a fantastic band! You guys rock! True to it’s name, the band infused some interesting rhythmic swing-like patterns (rock step-1-2-3??) into regular square steps. Thanks guys for a fun evening!” “A wall of dance sound” “Wow! What was that Horse Flies tune you played?” “The music was fantastic!” “That was a delightful contra dance last night … I truly enjoyed the many subtleties of your musical arrangements.”, ” … such a fun group of people, and the band was awesome … ” , “The band was absolutely wonderful last night!”

Notes Inégales - About the band name: “Notes Inégales” (pronounced notes inagall) contra dance band http://www.notesinegales.org/ — “In music, notes inégales (French: unequal notes) refers to a performance practice, mainly from the Baroque and Classical music eras, in which some notes with equal written time values are performed with unequal durations, usually as alternating long and short. The practice was especially prevalent in France in the 17th and 18th centuries, with appearances in other European countries at the same time; and it reappeared as the standard performance practice in the 20th century in jazz.” source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notes_in%C3%A9gales

More about the musicians here: Bios and Photos www.notesinegales.org

More about Contra Dancing:

WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR FIRST DANCE Contra dancing is easy to learn. It’s so easy to learn that you don’t take lessons. Just show up at a dance and by the end of the first night you’ll have learned Danceers at an O’Shanigans’ contra dance in Ithaca NYall the dance moves and you will be able to enjoy the next dance even more. People are friendly and welcoming to beginners. The age range is from kids to folks that have been around for a while. Both singles and doubles come to contra dances and women as well as men ask people to dance. It is usual that you change partners after every dance. You will meet people in a relaxed, pleasant, smoke and alcohol free atmosphere. The patterns of the dance can be a tad confusing at first but remember everyone had a first time and that other dancers will help you. Listen to the caller and the music and go with the flow of the dance. Some people find they get dizzy at first. Looking directly at the person you are dancing with eliminates this sensation. For many, the music is what keeps them coming back as it is exciting and lively. People come to dance, hear the music, socialize and have a good time.

WHAT TO WEAR? Wear smooth soled shoes and comfortable light weight clothing. Some halls require non-street shoes so make sure the soles of shoes aren’t bringing grit onto the dance floor. Most people bring a bottle of drinking water. Contra dancing is joyous so it’s important that you bring a smile. Adapted from http://www.greatmeadowmusic.com/music.html

More information about contra dancing at these links:

http://canaaninstitute.org/mn/mus_dance.html
https://www.facebook.com/groups/cny.contradance/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contra_dance
http://tedcrane.com/DanceDB/DisplayDance.com/US_NY_ITH_TCCD
http://tedcrane.com/DanceDB/DisplayBand.com?key=OSHANIGANS
http://hands4dancers.org/
http://www.syracusecountrydancers.org/
http://contra.binghamtondance.org/contra_calendar.htm
http://www.thedancegypsy.com/
http://www.thedancegypsy.com/performerList.php?band=Oshanigans
http://www.sbcds.org/contradance/whatis/

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BROOKTONDALE NY - Cantrip is a trio of Scottish traditional musicians that has been stunning audiences on several sides of the Atlantic for over a decade with its driving blend of fiddle (Jon Bews), bagpipes (Dan Houghton) and guitar (Eric McDonald). Weaving together songs and tunes, both traditional and contemporary, Cantrip takes an audience on a cultural journey, weaving dense textures together and leaving listeners hungering for more. They will be at the Canaan Institute in Brooktondale NY on Thursday June 13th 2013. Concert starts at 7:00 pm and will be followed by a jam session $15- RSVP to reserve a seat mike@cinst.org

Jon Bews - vocals, fiddle
Dan Houghton - vocals, pipes & whistles, wooden flute, bouzouki, guitar
Eric McDonald - vocals, guitar, mandolin, bouzouki
Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/cantripband

DIRECTIONS and other events at this venue http://canaaninstitute.org/mn/mus_jamcann.html

Facebook event for this concert

Cantrip is a trio of Scottish traditional musicians that has been stunning audiences on several sides of the Atlantic for over a decade with its driving blend of fiddle, bagpipes and guitar. The name is an Old Scots word meaning a charm, magic spell or piece of mischief and it aptly describes the unexpected twists and turns in their musical arrangements, likewise the compelling potency of their musicianship. From the strong base of its Celtic roots their music branches out into, and takes influences from, the music of other European cultures. Originally formed as a quartet in Edinburgh, eleven years of evolution has yielded an extensively diverse and still growing catalogue. Weaving together songs and tunes, both traditional and contemporary, Cantrip takes an audience on a cultural journey, putting their own spin on each style.

Since its inception Cantrip has performed at festivals, clubs, bars, weddings, funerals, stonings and various other events and venues in Breizh, the People’s Republic of Vermont, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the State of Maine, the Territory of Tennessee, the Dominion of Virginia. the Dutchy of New York, the Principality of Massachusettes, The Kingdom of the Angle, Le Royaume des Francs, Poblacht na hÉireann and, of course, Alba bheadarach (Scotland). The band released its first album “Silver” on the Footstompin’ label in 2001. In 2005 the long awaited second album Boneshaker issued forth on the Mischief label, followed by “Piping the Fish” in 2008. After a period of hiatus in which some children were born and continents were left for other ones, Cantrip was joined by guitarist and mandolinist Eric McDonald, and is now in the process of preparing for their highly anticipated fourth album. Look for Cantrip wherever there is excitement, music, love and liquor.

BROOKTONDALE NY (near Ithaca) - Laura Cortese w/ Mariel Vandersteel at the Canaan Institute - Wed May 8th - Fiddle workshop at 5:00 pm followed by a House Concert at 7:00 pm followed by a jam session. Workshop alone $20-, Concert alone $15-, both together $25- RSVP to mike@cinst.org to reserve your space in any of these. http://www.thisislauracortese.com/ and http://www.marielvandersteel.com/

Workshop - Bow, Grooves and Arrangement
Bow techniques, Grooves, Chords and Arrangements for fiddles, violas and cellos. Make your bow work for YOU not the other way around. This class is the foundation for learning jamming and arrangement techniques as a fiddler. We’ll adapt the workshop to accommodate all skill levels; talk to Mike when you RSVP mike@cinst.org

Directions http://canaaninstitute.org/mn/mus_jamcann.html

Facebook event https://www.facebook.com/events/509851765743287/

Laura Cortese BIO - scroll past photo
http://www.thisislauracortese.com/

Laura Cortese to Release New Album “Into the Dark” April 23
Full East Coast, West Coast Record Release Tours; Midwest Support Dates

“Ambition often follows talent, and Laura Cortese has an embarrassment of both. Her open-armed approach to her art reveals a determination to spread the word about folk music without watering down its distinctiveness.” - John Wenzel, Denver Post

Fiddle player and folk-pop singer-songwriter Laura Cortese takes to the road this April and May in support of her forthcoming full-length release, “Into the Dark” (street date April 23, 2013). American Songwriter describes the title track, which the publication premiered, as a “fiddle-drenched, Americana gem.” The rest of the record follows suit as all ten tracks feature Cortese’s stunning vocals backed by lush string arrangements on both her original, dark folk songs and a few carefully curated covers.

Cortese grew up in San Francisco and moved to Boston to study violin at Berklee College of Music. She has since immersed herself in the city’s vibrant indie music scene and enjoyed a busy sideman career, which has included appearances with Band of Horses at Carnegie Hall, Pete Seeger at Newport Folk Festival, and Patterson Hood and Michael Franti for Seeger’s ninetieth birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden. She performs frequently with Jocie Adams of the Low Anthem and can be heard on Adams’s upcoming album.

The finest moments on Into the Dark occur when Cortese spins out a metaphor as fluidly as she plays. She wrote the album’s first song, “For Catherine,” about an incident in her hometown in which a young woman was sexually assaulted by a group of high school boys. “For Catherine” bends and shifts as if through an alcoholic haze, playing on the dual meanings of “brandy” as both a libation and a woman’s name. As the song nears its mournful conclusion, the strings soar and the drum strikes a doleful beat. But Cortese always has the last word. When the cacophony subsides, her voice rings out alone. More http://www.thisislauracortese.com/

Mariel Vandersteel BIO - scroll past photo
http://www.marielvandersteel.com/

Somewhere between the fjords of Norway and mountains of the Blue Ridge, the fiddle-playing of Mariel Vandersteel intones the strains of elevation, clarity and tremendous feeling. It is uncanny that she hails from a very different set of mountains: those of northern California. Mariel came of age musically nurtured by the Bay Area’s rich revivalist traditional music scene, receiving a cultural grant to venture to the traditional music archives in Dublin, Ireland, and attending Boston’s Berklee College of Music for violin performance. After graduating, Mariel moved to Norway to study Hardingfele, the country’s national instrument at Hogskolen i Telemark folk music school. Returning to Boston in 2009, Mariel continued to work with acoustic-roots conjurers Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned Zippers, exploring musical connections between Scandinavia and the United States.

On her new record, Mariel aims to bridge old and new worlds, organically melding the sounds, ornaments and accents of the fiddle communities in which she has delved; Boston and Norway, Ireland and California. In making the record, the goal was to give an aural snapshot of the textures of those communities. Collaborating with the Boston-area’s finest acoustic musicians, including producer/composer Jordan Tice, Scottish harpist Maeve Gilchrist, Tristan Clarridge, Samson Grisman, Dominick Leslie and Duncan Wickel, Mariel’s new music incorporates lush instrumental dialogues, playful timbral exchanges between fiddle and hardanger, and evocative interpretations of old-world melodies. The record endeavors to capture the incredible energy and ingenuity of the musical community Mariel has surrounded herself with: warmly inviting the listener to the fjord, the Sierra or the living room.

Along with her solo project, Mariel tours nationally and internationally with Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned Zippers, Laura Cortese’s Acoustic Project and a duo with Emma Beaton. More http://www.marielvandersteel.com/

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BROOKTONDALE NY (near ITHACA) - Old-time fiddle and Old Country Song Day - at The Canaan Institute Sat Apr 20th - Vocal Harmony workshop plus old-time house concert. Katie Trautz and Alec Ellsworth:

Twin fiddles and country songs (VT). Plus local favorites Steve Selin, Stefan Senders and Emily Thompson (Ithaca). This will be an all afternoon and evening event! Do it all or take it in “a la carte”. Vocal workshop. American harmony singing workshop from 3:00-5:00 pm - $20., Potluck dinner from 5:00-6:30 pm; bring something to share please., House Concert from 7:00-9:30 pm - $15., Music Jam after the concert; bring your instrument or voice! or $25 for the whole day. No tax dollars. No grant money. No Arts money: Funded only from your donations at the door. Thanks for your support. RSVP to mike@cinst.org to reserve your place! Directions here http://canaaninstitute.org/mn/mus_jamcann.html

Facebook event https://www.facebook.com/events/593710150640882/

Alec Ellsworth and Katie Trautz
‘Twin Fiddles and Country Songs’
www.katietrautz.com

Alec Ellsworth and Katie Trautz are a Vermont based duo that plays traditional old-time and Cajun music. Both musicians are strong fiddlers who weave harmonies and melodies together playfully and tastefully. Ellsworth and Trautz swap lead and harmony vocal parts effortlessly and as mufti-instrumentalists, they integrate banjo and guitar. Their collaborations together are relatively new, but both Alec and Katie are well versed in traditional music. Most recently, they have traveled to Louisiana where they learned and shared music with some of their favorite musicians.

Katie will be teaching an American Harmony Singing Workshop from 3-5pm at the Canaan Institute. Katie will teach Appalachian two part close harmony songs, three and four part Gospel tunes, Carter Family songs and shape-note hymns. The songs will be taught primarily by ear, word sheets provided. No experience necessary to join the folk choir! Katie has taught this workshop for the past five years at the Summit School of Traditional Music and Culture in Vermont www.summit-school.org

Katie Trautz (www.katietrautz.com) is a native Vermont fiddler who has toured nationally and internationally sharing traditional music and original folk songs. She has released three albums in the past three years, two of which have won ‘best traditional album of the year in the state of Vermont. Katie plays fiddle, guitar and banjo crossing genres with her numerous ensembles. Her bands include: Mayfly, Wooden Dinosaur and the New Foundry. She has studied with some of the greatest fiddle players in the US, including Dirk Powell, Pete Sutherland, James Bryan, Jimmy Tripplett, and Bruce Molsky. Katie has played alongside and shared the stage with many well-known bands including: Aoife O’Donovan Band, Brittany Haas & Lauren Rioux, Dirk Powell and Riley Baugus, Deadly Gentlemen, Sheesham and Lotus, David Wax Museum, Matt and Shannon Heaton, Rusty Belle, Michael Chorney and Dollar General, Brown Bird, Devil Makes Three, 4tet, Pete Sutherland and many others. Katie is also the co-founder of the non-profit folk music school ‘The Summit School of Traditional Music and Culture’ based in Montpelier, VT.

“Katie Trautz is representative of many young people playing traditional music today. On (her album) Remembering, she has used the traditional style to establish her own distinctive and lovely repertoire.” — TD, Sing Out Magazine

“On her new solo recording, Trautz does her mentor proud and really shines as a vocalist, instrumentalist and songwriter. Her fiddling is full of old-timey swing, her five-string banjo playing leisurely, and her alto voice confident and full of emotion.” –Robert Resnik, VPR

“In the spotlight by herself, Trautz reveals nuance and depth. She approaches singing the way she does the fiddle: with a subdued directness, creating a sound that’s beautiful in its simplicity.” –Dan Bolles, Seven Days Review

Alec Ellsworth plays his fiddle and sings from the small mountains of Central Vermont. He grew up in the dance halls of New England, where he fell in love with traditional music and dancing. After biking across the US with a fiddle on his back, he fell in love with the music of the South, and has since spent much time learning traditional tunes. Over the summer of 2012 he received a grant to study traditional American fiddle styles, and he spent the summer learning from some of our great cultural proprietors. He now uses his fiddle and voice in dance halls, farmers markets, living rooms and street corners across the U.S.

Steve Selin (guitar) began playing old-time American fiddle music with his family, and has been influenced by the elegant simplicity of it ever since. He is a multi-instrumentalist and professional luthier who performs in the Evil City Stringband along with multiple side projects. Steve will be joined by Stefan Senders and Emily Thompson.

ITHACA NY - Sunday, February 24 at 4pm at the Unitarian Church in Ithaca Winter Village is very excited to bring the Kruger Brothers to Ithaca for the first time later this month. Cornerstone was fortunate to play with them at the Riverhawk Festival in Florida in 2004ish, and at that time I was impressed my their incredible instrumental ability.  Jens is an amazing banjoist, second to none, and Uwe a top-notch flatpicking guitartist.  In listening to their recorded music, I am struck by their rare combination of technical proficiency, respect for the traditional mountain music of their adopted home in the Carolinas, and their heartfelt original songs.  In concert, they blend their beautiful original instrumentals, folk-tinged original songs, with some bluegrass chestnuts.  And they are not above playing popular, flashy, and fun bluegrass instrumentals like Dueling Banjos or Orange Blossom Special.  Please join us for what should be a great show.

“Jens Kruger is a wonderful banjoist who is one of the most creative and giving and positive musicians I’ve ever met. The Krugers put on a great show and you shouldn’t miss it.” Tony Trischka

Concert at 4pm at the Unitarian Church in Ithaca - 2 sets
Tickets cost $18 in advance (additional Ticket Center fees may apply) and are available exclusively at The Ticket Center on the Ithaca Commons. You can reach Ticket Center Ithaca at 607-273-4497. Tickets can also be purchased online through www.IthacaEvents.com.  Tickets will likely be available at the door for $25. Note that The Krugers travel with their own sound man so the sound should be great in the Unitarian Sanctuary.

Jens Kruger Banjo Workshop at 6pm
Jens Kruger will teach a banjo workshop after the show for 90 minutes.  Cost will be $60 per student with a minimum of 5 students required (all fees to Jens).  Email Rick to register in advance.  Pay Jens directly at the workshop.

About the Kruger Brothers
Born and raised in Europe, brothers Jens and Uwe Kruger were performing regularly by the time they were 11 and 12 years old, and they began their professional career in 1979. Since a formal introduction to American audiences in 1997, their remarkable facility with their instruments and unique take on the American Songbook have made the Kruger Brothers a fixture within the world of acoustic music. Although initially staying fairly close to a traditional repertoire, the group later turned to song writing and composition in order to draw more closely from their personal experiences. The result is a catalog of songs distinguished by rich detail and an insight into the delicacy and complexity of everyday life. The honesty of their writing has since become a hallmark of the trio’s work. The Kruger Brothers personify the spirit of exploration and innovation that forms the core of the American musical tradition. Their original music, composed by Jens Kruger, is crafted around their discerning taste, and the result is unpretentious, cultivated, and delightfully fresh.

The Kruger Brothers were awarded a National Endowment for the Arts grant for Music from the Spring a sym­phonic suite composed and orchestrated by Jens Kruger, which premiered in 2007.  In late 2010, the Kruger Brothers premiered the Appalachian Concerto, a concerto for banjo, bass, guitar, and string quartet. In addition to their regular concert schedule they perform these pieces regularly with select symphony orchestras and string quartets throughout the country. Through their numerous CD releases, radio and television performances, lectures, and collaborative efforts, the Kruger Brothers powerful artistic state­ment inspires and enlightens.

What Colleagues Say About the Kruger Brothers

“The Krugers are nothing short of magnificent.” Bluegrass Journal

“I used to think the banjo was somewhat limited to certain styles, until I heard Jens Kruger. Jens has played some of the most beautiful and expressive banjo I’ve ever heard.“ Ron Block of Alison Krauss and Union Station

“The Kruger Brothers are just about as fine a band as I’ve ever played with … I love to play music with them.” Doc Watson

“It’s a blast playing with them … not only are they all superior musicians, they are the nicest guys you’d ever want to meet.” Adam Steffey

“They are some awesome musicians.” Bobby Hicks

“Jens Kruger has established himself as one of the world’s most musically sophisticated and technically accomplished five-string banjo players.” Happy Traum

Videos on You Tube with Viewer Comments

Jack of the Wood
“Is this what love sounds like?”
“Jens plays and his soul pours out along with the amazing technical performance.”

Forever and a Day
“Lost my mother a few months ago and this song speaks so directly to my heart and the loss I feel. You folks are so evocative in your playing. Thanks so much for putting music to my feelings. I am a life long banjo player and , Jens , your banjo playing is so tonal and nuanced…You are just so refreshing to hear. Excellent, Beautiful, Thanks”
“Absolutely beautiful. I like the northern, ice-flow imagery with the southern pickin’.”
“The Kruger Brothers are AMAZING. Tight, highly skilled musicianship and ensemble PLUS real humanity. I can listen to them for hours.”
“A man could live a lifetime and not experience something that amazing. This song will be played in my home for ever more. Thanks for the music.”

Behind the Barn
These kats are really amazing, world class for sure. I was fortunate to do a session which Jens was also playing on a year or so back , incredibly gracious and talented man, I am in awe of his talent ! A one take genious ! I did get a chance to see them at Merle Fest last year, great set.

Jens Kruger Playing Bach Cello Suite No 1 on Banjo
Bach’s genius created music that can work on many instruments, and Mr. Kruger’s genius brought that music to life. Bravo!

Waterfall Waterfall at Grey Fox Workshop Tent
Todd Taylor is in the Guiness Book of Records as the fastest banjo, playing dueling banjos at 210 bpm. I don’t have a drum machine, but I just listened to it before listening to this of Jens play Waterfall, and I’m pretty sure this is faster, at least 20 bpm! Jens, you should be in Guinness!

BROOKTONDALE NY - Raz de Marée, or Tidal Wave will bring their high energy and passion for traditional music and entertaining to the Canaan Institute in Brooktondale NY on Wednesday September 26th 2012 beginning at 7:00 pm for a house concert followed by a jam session. Donation for the band $20- Limited seating at this private venue: RESERVATIONS & RSVP: please email Mike Ludgate to reserve your seats and for directions mike@cinst.org .

Facebook event https://www.facebook.com/events/376210869118015/
Directions to the concert http://canaaninstitute.org/mn/mus_jamcann.html
Band website http://www.tidalwavemusic.com/index_eng.html

Raz de Marée - Tidal Wave - The Band

Raz de Marée (aka Tidal Wave) is a unique traditional music ensemble on the Quebecois folk music scene. Composed of very accomplished musicians, recognized by their peers as the very best, the ensemble has evolved since 2004 primarily as a dance band, infusing them with the original essence of traditional instrumental music: to make people dance. The members of this band come from Quebec (Sabin Jacques on accordion and violin Eric Favreau), Acadie (Rachel Aucoin on piano and vocals) and New England (Stuart Kenney on bass and banjo). Together, they share a passion for traditional music and dance. They reveal their deeply rooted musical roots, authentic and heartfelt. Relying primarily on a traditional repertoire, their music is contagiously energetic and sensitive. They propel dancers and audiences into a world of liveliness. Their latest CD, MARCHE DU ST-LAURENT, nominated for best instrumental album at the 2011 Canadian Folk Music Awards, features inspired melodies, both bound to be danced to and listened to with pure enjoyment. Served by flawless execution and backed by a deliciously imaginative accompaniment, the album shows maturity and a rare blend of excellent musicianship.

The musicians of Tidal Wave: SEE BELOW

Rachel Aucoin

After a frankly classical training including two Masters degrees (performance - UM 2001 and piano pedagogy - UL, 2003), two first prizes at the Canadian Music Competition (1997 and 1998) and a solo performance of Beethoven’s second with the Orchestre Symphonique de la Montérégie (1997), Rachel Aucoin specialises today in folk music accompaniment, since her first appearance at the Carrefour Mondial de l’Accordéon in 1999.

Her first years with power-trio Domino gave her a solid experience as a dance back-up musician. Followed collaborations with recording artists such as Laura Risk, Michèle Choinière, Claude Méthé, Francine Desjardins, Réjean Simard, Jean Duval and Frank Sears. Most recently, we heard her creative colors on both Tidal Wave / Raz-de-marée’s projets : self-titled (2007) and Marche du St-Laurent (2010). Evolving as a piano teacher since 1993, Rachel meets her greatest interest and passion through pedagogy. Now living in Beaumont, near Quebec city, Rachel directs the Maréemusique project, which includes a learning program. www.mareemusique.org

Sabin Jacques

Since Sabin Jacques began playing the accordion at age 14, his reputation grew non-stop: his multiple and diverse musical engagements made him a versatile and accomplished artist. Deeply influenced by such musicians as Simard, Bruneau, Labbé, Messervier and Montmarquette, he sought his originality in his unusual technique which gives him, as a left-handed player, a recognizable signature.

Originally from the beautiful Gaspé peninsula, Sabin lived in Montreal between 1992-2009. This cosmopolite musical community allowed him to make significant acquaintances with musicians in the popular and commercial music domain. His work with Acadian icon signer Edith Butler remains the most prolific, between 1993 and 2001. He was also heard alongside celebrated Hugues Aufray, Jean-Pierre Ferland, and Gregory Charles. Eventually, Sabin’s multiple collaborations offered him opportunities to travel worldwide. Italy, Bulgaria, Poland, France, England, Spain and Madagascar, winning the bronze at Les jeux de la Francophonie (1997).

Sabin remains profoundly attached to his traditional roots and regularly takes part in pedagogical projects, teatching at camps such as the Leahy – Natalie MacMaster camp (ONT) and Ashokan (NY), to name a few. Since distance is not an obstacle for learning, Sabin teaches accordion at home through internet or weekly at the Maréemusique School of Traditional Music. His teaching is said to be uplifting and always inspiring. His most recent recordings (2007 and 2010) present traditional tunes from Quebec played through remarquable arrangements, with his fellow musicians from band Tidal Wave / Raz-de-marée, putting a highlight on his stunning technique and musicianship while confirming his status as one of Quebec’s leading master accordionists.

Stuart Kenney

One of the most in demand upright bass, and five-string banjo players on the US contradance circuit, Stuart Kenney’s regional musical interests sweep from Southwest Louisiana to Acadia. Stuart began playing 5-string banjo at age 12, and upright bass at age 18.

He has a long career in many traditional music genres. Stuart cut his Cajun teeth with the legendary, late Dewey Balfa, and played with him for many of his northeast appearances. His interest in Quebecois music formed through the fiddling of Lisa Ornstein, and performances by La Bottine Souriante. The inclusion of French Canadian music into the living tradition of New England contradance music caught his attention early on. In 1999, Stuart’s path crossed with Sabin Jacques and Rachel Aucoin at Augusta Heritage Traditional Dance and Music week. At that point, Stuart invited them to play for contradances in Greenfield, MA and they’ve been playing together ever since. A tight musical bond was formed. Later, these three formed this group, Tidal Wave.

Stuart is a founding member of many great bands including AIRDANCE, Greenfield Dance Band, The Sevens, Tidal Wave, and Undertoe. He spent 14 years touring with the legendary contradance band Wild Asparagus. He has played on National Public Radio’ All Things Considered (The Sevens), and NPR’s A Prairie Home Companion (Airdance). Stuart has appeared at American Folk Festival, ME (National Council for Tradiational Arts), Ashokan (NY) Fiddle and Dance workshops with Jay Unger and Molly Mason, Augusta (WV), Alaska Traditional Folk Dance Society, City Stages (AL), Falcon Ridge Folk Festival (NY), Fiddle Tunes (WA), Hawaii and St. Croix Dance Vacations, Philadelphia Folk Festival (PA), Sidmouth Folk Festival (UK), and countless others. Stuart is a much-in-demand studio musician as well with over fifty recordings to his credit.

Stuart’s most recent project, Undertoe, is a musical collaboration with accordionist Karen Tweed (Yorkshire, England), John Dipper (London), and Marko Packard (US). He has composed many original pieces of music featured in their first recording Walking Down Angell Road. Although Stuart’s music has brought him coast to coast and beyond, his musical home is at the Guiding Star Grange in Greenfield, MA, where he plays for and hosts the TopHill Music and Dance Series.

Éric Favreau

Éric Favreau comes from a family of traditional musicians and has spent a great deal of time playing with other fiddlers, learning their repertoire and studying their varied styles. Éric has explored and exploited various sources including archives and personally made field recordings and has accumulated a rich and fascinating repertoire. Over the years, he has garnered a profound understanding and vast knowledge of Québécois traditional music.

As an individual, and in various groups including Entourloupe, Éric has vast experience in the Canadian, United State and European music scenes. Éric has recorded two solo albums, two with his current group Entourloupe, and has appeared on at least a dozen others. He is a consumate entertainer/educator in Introduction to traditional music workshop in the public school system in program under the auspices of the Minister of Education. He also teaches traditional fiddle, and the history of traditional music at the Cégèp(Junior college music) in Joliette, Québec.

Éric’s playing is marked by delicacy, nuance and liveliness that will leave no foot untapped!

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FULL STORY news article http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=4968#4968
Facebook event https://www.facebook.com/events/376210869118015/
DIRECTIONS to the concert http://canaaninstitute.org/mn/mus_jamcann.html
Band website http://www.tidalwavemusic.com/index_eng.html

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BROOKTONDALE NY - Sheesham & Lotus & Son for a house concert followed by a music jam at The Canaan Institute (Mike and Raylene’s workshop) on Thursday Sept 13 2012 starting at 7:00 pm. Donation for the band $15- RESERVATIONS & RSVP: please email Mike Ludgate to reserve your seats and for directions mike@cinst.org

Facebook event for this concert https://www.facebook.com/events/421565647880173/

More events at Canaan Institute: Concerts, Workshops, Jams http://canaaninstitute.org/mn/mus_jamcann.html

An important moment of reckoning between Lotus Wight and Sheesham Crow was when they realized that they had the common experience as children brushing their teeth to the fiddle tune “Turkey in the Straw”, using the shape of their mouths to manipulate the melody of the tune. It was this kind of idle,yet innate musicality which followed them as youngsters.

High-steppers Sheesham and Lotus and Son bring you an audacious mix of Old-Time, Ragtime, fiddle and banjo sung through their patented sepia-phonic Monophone! They play homemade bass harmonicas and Jaw-harps too, making them an asset to the workshop and clinic stages. Flatfoot Buck-dance & Hambone!!

Sheesham and Lotus came together in 1998 as Teilhard Frost and Sam Allison, playing as the rhythm section in a fiddle band called Flapjack. Together for the next seven years they were on the road throughout Canada and the United states playing dances-camps, concerts and workshops. It was during this time that both Frost and Allison took a keen interest in the folk traditions of North America, particularly the American south. Both became enthusiastic historians of old-time fiddle and banjo music, learning from the old masters across the regions south of the Mason-Dixon line. Through personal instruction, perseverance and osmosis they learned harmonica, jaw-harp, flatfoot and song.

“…Sheesham and Lotus are the Kings of Old-time!” -Carrie Ough, The Good Lovelies

Sheesham Crow - Harmonica, Singing, fiddles, jawharp.
Son Sanderson - Trumpet, Sousaphone, Cornet.
Lotus Wight - Singing, Banjos, jawharp, contrabass harmoniphoneum

Discography: “Sheesham & Lotus Old Time Fiddle & Banjo” 2006, “EVERYTIME” 2008 - Sepiaphone Records, “Five Miles from Town” 2011 - Sepiaphone Records

Web Page http://sheeshamandlotus.com/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sheesham-and-Lotus/115654218477913

Crow and Wight play fiddle and banjo respectively, with an additional array of home-made curiosities of noise-makery. Sheesham is a maker of gourd banjos and fiddles, and Lotus plays an invention called the contra-bass harmoniphoneum, which is a self-contained bass-harmonica and euphonium horn which can be used while plucking a banjo. Indeed it is a well documented fact that Sheesham and Lotus use horns for singing, harmonicas, jaw-harps and more.

The music of Sheesham and Lotus could be described as American roots music. They love to play fiddle tunes, hokum blues songs and ragtime string music. “The sounds of the south are near and dear to our hearts,” says Lotus, “from the old fiddlers on the Lomax collections to the Memphis jug-bands and the Mississippi Sheiks and Narmour and Smith…there is so much to hear and learn.”

“…They’re the best thing that Canada has in American old time music performance right now- maybe ever! ” -Arnie Naiman

“Sheesham and Lotus play music that knocks my hat in the creek! Their fiddle and banjo intertwine seamlessly to show listeners the way home” -Joe Newberry

Though Sheesham and Lotus have worked primarily as a duo they are joined by third member Sonny Sanderson on sousaphone for festival and theatre dates this upcoming season. Sanderson joins Sheesham and Lotus from Peterborough’s the Silver Hearts, with whom Lotus played upright bass for a number of years.

“Come highstepping with Sheesham and Lotus!. Old-time rhythms that will blow the mind and hypnotize! ” -Chris Coole

Sheesham and Lotus are inspired by an array of different music from all over the world but one could say that within the spectrum of their repertoire lies special attention to American folk music. If one were to try to further interpret this criminally broad categorization they would find these two incomparable musicians engaging in something which can be described as the living, breathing tradition of Old-time, ragtime banjo-and-fiddle-centric, good-time sound.

Sheesham and Lotus take love of the pre-jazz sounds of the Memphis jug band era, and music of the Appalachian Mountains, blue strains from the Mississippi flatlands and through music and dance transform the casual observer into a devoted participant. The facility and mastery with which they manipulate banjo, fiddle, jaw-harp, harmonica, and song is undeniable, unbelievable! HAMBONE! Take an earful and travel down the flinty spine of Old-time Music with Sheesham and Lotus as soon as you can, and you may never be the same. After hearing one note, you will see that this music can be loved by everyone. Sheesham and Lotus for EVERYONE, EVERYTIME! -Dr. Felix Van Nostrand, Den Hague, Netherlands

Originally brought together as the rhythm section for Canadian folk and fiddle outfit Flapjack in 1998, Sheesham and Lotus immersed themselves in the traditional music scenes wherever their travels took them, from West Virginia to Kasheshewan and California to Nova Scotia. They traded tunes and studied with old masters throughout the American south while becoming top-demand clinicians in old-time dance and music. Sheesham and Lotus’ self-produced debut CD, “Old-time Fiddle and Banjo” was met with critical acclaim from Canadian folk music publication, ‘Penguin Eggs’. They accepted invitations to play folk festivals around Canada including Winnipeg, Ottawa, Lunenberg and Sudbury, receiving high recommendations for mesmerizing performances and keen work-shop skills. Sheesham and Lotus appear as if they are from the very old days themselves. Dressed sharply in the old style, they play jaw harps, ham-bone percussion and home-made bass harmonicas in the ragtime and mountain style. They delight with fiddle tunes and blues songs and always have an instrument on hand and a tune to play.

In 2008 fans were treated to a special release of Sheesham and Lotus’ EVERYTIME, a record that was recorded exclusively through their patented Sepiaphonic Monophone Horn Amplifiers, offering a very ‘old-time’ listening experience that Matt Large, concert promoter and old-time scholar in Montreal, Quebec called-’the best folk record of 2008′ . Now Sheesham and Lotus tour as a trio with Sousaphone player Son Sanderson. Son and Lotus used to share the stage together as rhythm section members of the legendary ‘Silver Hearts’ from Peterborough, Ontario. The 2010 season saw the trio hosting and playing mainstage engagements at Sudbury’s Northern Lights Festival, The Peterborough Folk Festival and the Shelter Valley Folk Festival, as well as their first time headlining stateside at Vermont’s Champlain Valley Folk Festival. During August of 2010, Sheesham and Lotus played dates in Paris and Bordeaux, France.

Sheesham Crow - Harmonica, Singing, fiddles, jawharp.
Son Sanderson - Trumpet, Sousaphone, Cornet.
Lotus Wight - Singing, Banjos, jawharp, contrabass harmoniphoneum

Discography: “Sheesham & Lotus Old Time Fiddle & Banjo” 2006, “EVERYTIME” 2008 - Sepiaphone Records, “Five Miles from Town” 2011 - Sepiaphone Records

Web Page http://sheeshamandlotus.com/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sheesham-and-Lotus/115654218477913

ITHACA NY Fri Jun 29 2012 — Contra Dance with Notes Inégales (pronounced notes inagall) at Bethel Grove. Ethan Jodziewicz (guitar, bass, banjo and feet) and Andrea Katz (fiddle) along with Michael Ludgate

(mandolin) at Bethel Grove Community Center. Calling the dances will be local favorite Pamela Goddard. All at 1825 Slaterville Road (Rt 79 about 4 miles east of Ithaca) Ithaca NY from 8-11 pm. Admission $6- Sponsored by: TCCD - Tompkins County Country. http://www.notesinegales.org/

Facebook event https://www.facebook.com/events/146715998785801/

We are lucky to have two new contra dance musicians now living in the Ithaca area, both are students starting well into their second semesters here. Ethan Jodziewicz (bass, guitar, banjo, mandolin and feet) is studying double bass performance at Ithaca College. Ethan is from Washington state, where he often plays with his band The Retrospectacles. Andrea Katz (from Texas on playing fiddle) is a PhD candidate in applied physics at Cornell University. Andrea played in a variety of contra dance bands in the San Antonio area and has studied with Jay Ungar and David Kaynor. Both are fantastic contra dance musicians and are playing a dance with local contra musician and music promoter Michael Ludgate under the new band name Notes Inégales (pronounced notes inagall). This will be a fun dance! http://www.notesinegales.org/

More information about this upcoming dance: Located at Bethel Grove Community Center. The contra dance starts at 8:00 - 11:00 pm. The street address is 1825 Slaterville Road (Rt 79 about 4 miles east of Ithaca; look for the yellow street sign that says “School”) Ithaca NY. Admission $6- (discounts for students and new dancers). Sponsored by: TCCD - Tompkins County Country Dances 607-273-8678. Don’t miss this celebration of the roots of New England folk dance. This is an authentic Old New England style venue with a newly refinished wooden dance floor. Bring clean shoes, a water bottle and YOUR FRIENDS. All dances taught, No partner needed. http://www.notesinegales.org/

Additional links …

BAND Notes Inégales contra dance band http://www.notesinegales.org/
VENUE http://tedcrane.com/DanceDB/DisplayDance.com?key=US_NY_ITH_TCCD
VENUE’S POSTER http://canaaninstitute.org/photos/TCCD_Insert_current.pdf
FACEBOOK EVENT https://www.facebook.com/events/146715998785801/

DIRECTIONS to this DANCE http://tedcrane.com/DanceDB/DisplayVenue.com?key=US_NY_ITH_BG Bethel Grove Community Center 1825 Slaterville Road (NYS Rt.79) (from Ithaca take State Street east to Rt. 79, about four miles from the Ithaca Commons; a few hundred yards past the Bible Church)

GOOGLE MAP link to VENUE http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode&q=1825+Slaterville+Rd%2C+Ithaca%2C+NY+14850&sll=42.41161%2C-76.29505&sspn=0.008523%2C0.01929&ie=UTF8&hq&hnear=1825+Slaterville+Rd%2C+Ithaca%2C+Tompkins%2C+New+York+14850&ll=42.40552%2C-76.432515&spn=0.034097%2C0.077162&z=14

About the band name: Notes Inégales (pronounced notes inagall) contra dance band http://www.notesinegales.org/ — “In music, notes inégales (French: unequal notes) refers to a performance practice, mainly from the Baroque and Classical music eras, in which some notes with equal written time values are performed with unequal durations, usually as alternating long and short. The practice was especially prevalent in France in the 17th and 18th centuries, with appearances in other European countries at the same time; and it reappeared as the standard performance practice in the 20th century in jazz.” source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notes_in%C3%A9gales

MORE INFORMATION About Contra Dancing:

http://www.greatmeadowmusic.com/music.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contra_dance
http://tedcrane.com/DanceDB/DisplayDance.com/US_NY_ITH_TCCD
http://hands4dancers.org/
http://www.syracusecountrydancers.org/
http://contra.binghamtondance.org/contra_calendar.htm
http://www.thedancegypsy.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTtEOaruqr4
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128273050

NPR: Youth Flock To Contra Dancing — Contra dancing has been around since the 1700s. If you don’t know it — it’s kind of like square dancing but with long lines of dancers. The dance is having a renaissance around the country thanks to a thriving youth scene and incredibly lively acoustic music. Article by Marika Partridge on All Things Considered NPR July 2nd 2010 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128273050

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BROOKTONDALE NY - Join us for a House Concert and CD release Party at The Canaan Institute (Mike and Raylene’s workshop) on Saturday June 16th 2012 from 2:00-4:30 pm. This event is FREE (also a great time to purchase their new CD!) RSVP: please email Mike Ludgate to reserve your seats and for directions michael@canaaninstitute.org

Facebook event https://www.facebook.com/events/351665688228803

More events at Canaan Institute: Concerts, Workshops, Jams http://canaaninstitute.org/mn/mus_jamcann.html

CONFLUENCE Trio, from Olean, Rochester, and Ithaca NY, is a highly creative, versatile, and energetic band consisting of Nadine Dyskant-Miller on flute and foot-percussion, Tim Ball on fiddle, and Barbara Dyskant on keyboard. Ethan Jodziewicz (of Notes Inégales fame) is also on this new CD and will be at Canaan Road for this concert!

They feature both contemporary and traditional arrangements of music from Quebec, Ireland, New England, and elsewhere, plus modern grooves and rhythms and plenty of original material. Contra Dances are their specialty. Their music ranges from intensely driving to silky and lyrical, and is always high energy, filled with verve and life. They are clever at mixing styles and rhythms to create exciting twists and surprises. Within this you will hear (and feel) hints of blues, jazz, and Latin material tucked within the texture of our grooves along with traditional New England dance tunes played as musicians did years ago.

The musicians function as more than their number. Nadine plays simultaneous flute and foot-percussion with pulse and ease. Barbara plays both back-up and melody on keyboard with rapid precision and gusto, and Tim provides lightning fiddle with intensity and sensitivity.

Of special note is the soaring and seamless interweaving of flute and fiddle, ramping up the intensity and pulse of driving tunes and providing gorgeous lyricism in melodic selections.

http://www.confluence-band.com/

SATURDAY, APRIL 21

WORKSHOP: 3-5 pm, Willard Straight Hall

Music Room (Room 411), Cornell University

CONCERT: 8 pm, 165 McGraw Hall,

Central Ave., Cornell Arts Quad, Cornell University

Widely considered the premier old-time fiddler of his generation (by fellow virtuoso fiddlers including Alasdair Fraser, Jay Ungar, and Darol Anger, and by audiences worldwide), this Grammy-nominated musician is also outstanding on guitar, banjo, and vocals. Bruce Molsky is most closely identified with Appalachian music (Darol Anger calls him its “Rembrandt”), but over two decades he’s also absorbed and transmuted traditional music from many cultures—Celtic, Scandinavian, Eastern European, Delta blues—into his unique sound. He has “a mystical awareness of how to bring out the new in something that is old,” says composer Mark O’Connor, who credits Molsky’s spirit and drive as the inspiration for O’Connor’s remarkable String Quartet No. 3 and Concerto for Violin, Cello and Symphony Orchestra. Perhaps Molsky’s greatest influence is as a teacher. “Young people realize this is a guy who’s tapped into the real deep emotional wellsprings of this music. Young people are very hungry for something real. Bruce has that in spades,” writes Matt Glaser, director of the American Roots Program at Boston’s Berklee College, where Molsky is on the faculty this semester.

Bronx-born, Molsky encountered blues and jazz as a teen, but credits Cornell University with his introduction to old-time music. In his twenties, he moved to Virginia and began to learn from traditional players like Tommy Jarrell of Mt. Airy, North Carolina, for whom music was integrated into daily life as work, play, and an expression of regional culture. At age 40, in the thick of his career as a mechanical engineer, Bruce Molsky decided he did not want to wait until retirement to make music full-time. With full blessings from his wife, Audrey, he took a year off in 1997 to explore his passion and never looked back. We are all blessed by that choice.

Molsky’s approach to performing is without pretension: “I talk to an audience the way I talk to people in my house; and I play for them just like we’re all in the living room together. I want to present myself as who I am; and this music as what it is.” The songs he writes depict the strengths and hardships of communities, as in Peg and Awl, in which shoemakers lose their jobs to automation. An April 20, 2011 headline from Bloomberg News humorously shorthands Molsky: “Bronx Fiddle Master Designed Drainage System, Made Ronstadt Cry.” Peg and Awl made her weep, admits Linda Ronstadt, because of the honesty in Molsky’s singing: “It’s pared back to only the essential architecture of emotion.”

Whether performing solo or with a vast list of friends (including Mike Seeger, Liz Carroll & John Doyle, Dirk Powell, Kevin Burke, Mick Moloney, Bill Frisell, Donal Lunny, Darol Anger, Nikola Parov, Rens van der Zalm, Rafe Stefanini, Michael Doucet, Andy Irvine, Aly Bain, and Ale Möller), he’s a warm, compelling musician, equally at home on world tours, at Lincoln Center, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, and backporch house concerts and jams. He’s made at least 16 recordings, including 6 solo, some with Big Hoedown, Mozaik, Fiddlers 4, and others, and some instructional. He’s in high demand as a teacher at Ashokan, Mark O’Connor’s camps (where he’s taught every year since 1990), and Berklee. To celebrate Bruce Molsky’s return to his alma mater, the Cornell Folk Song Society is sponsoring both a fiddle workshop and concert.

Concert Tickets: Ithaca Guitar Works, GreenStar, Autumn Leaves Bookstore, Bound for Glory, and online at www.cornellfolksong.org/. $15 advance/$17 door; $3 rebate at the door for CFSS members, seniors, and teens; children 12 & under free. Cornell students $10 advance/$12 at door. [Discount for workshop participants, see below.] Info: 607-351-1845 or website. We anticipate a sell-out, so get tickets early.

Old-Time Fiddle Workshop (3-5 pm): Bruce describes the afternoon as follows: “The workshop takes a hands-on approach to old-time fiddle. Tunes are taught a phrase at a time, first melody, then bowing, and then piecing things together. We’ll dig into old-time music’s unique phrasing, rhythm and syncopation, intonation, etc. The tune is the vehicle, so mostly we’ll be playing! Suggested experience level: If you’re comfortable with the instrument and have at least a small repertoire of tunes, you’ll be fine. A recorder (minidisc, hard disk, tape, 78-rpm acetate cutter or wire recorder) is highly recommended.  Since developing ear training skills is one of the workshop goals, written music will not be provided.  *No video cameras, please.*”

Workshop limited to 25 participants; please pre-register to reserve a spot (E-mail Laura Taylor at lbt1@cornell.edu). Payment at the door is fine: $15 for students, $25 for non-students. Discount price for combined workshop plus concert: $20 students, $35 non-students (an amazing deal!).

UPDATE: AS OF 18 APRIL, ONLY ABOUT 5 SPOTS LEFT IN THE WORKSHOP!

– Margaret Shepard

Fri April 6th 2012 - ITHACA NY. O’Shanigans dance party with Tim, Mike and Phil at Bethel Grove Community Center 1825 Slaterville Road (Rt 79 about 4 miles east of Ithaca) Ithaca NY waltzes at 7:00 pm, contras from 8-11 pm. Admission $6- Sponsored by: TCCD - Tompkins County Country. Tim Ball (fiddle), Phil Robinson (guitar), Mike Ludgate (mandolin). Don’t miss this celebration of the roots of New England folk dance! This is an authentic Old New England style venue with a newly refinished wooden dance floor! Bring clean shoes, a water bottle and YOUR FRIENDS! All dances taught, No partner needed. Waltz Jam night! Come dance at 7:00 pm!

Schedule:

7:00 pm Waltz Jam: open band: come dance or play!
8:00 pm Contras with O’Shanigans until 11:00 pm:

O’Shanigans is Tim Ball on fiddle, Mike Ludgate on mandolin and Phil Robinson on guitar.

BAND http://www.oshanigans.org/
VENUE http://tedcrane.com/DanceDB/DisplayDance.com?key=US_NY_ITH_TCCD
VENUE’S POSTER http://canaaninstitute.org/photos/TCCD_Insert_current.pdf
BAND’S EVENT POSTER http://canaaninstitute.org/docs/Oshanigans_current_poster.pdf
FACEBOOK EVENT https://www.facebook.com/events/254135064676513/

DIRECTIONS to this DANCE — http://tedcrane.com/DanceDB/DisplayVenue.com?key=US_NY_ITH_BG Bethel Grove Community Center 1825 Slaterville Road (NYS Rt.79) (from Ithaca take State Street east to Rt. 79, about four miles from the Ithaca Commons; a few hundred yards past the Bible Church)

Google Maps http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode&q=1825+Slaterville+Rd%2C+Ithaca%2C+NY+14850&sll=42.41161%2C-76.29505&sspn=0.008523%2C0.01929&ie=UTF8&hq&hnear=1825+Slaterville+Rd%2C+Ithaca%2C+Tompkins%2C+New+York+14850&ll=42.40552%2C-76.432515&spn=0.034097%2C0.077162&z=14

From the dancers and callers about O’Shanigans — “That was a delightful contra dance last night in Fayetteville … I truly enjoyed the many subtleties of your musical arrangements. And when Nils Fredland joined in on his trombone, it was polyphonic heaven … ” , “Ithaca’s best contra dance band”, “O’Shanigans rock(s)”, ” … such a fun group of people, and the band was awesome … ” , “What a great dance! Nils called some fun and interesting dances, the band was delightful! The place was packed…” , “you guys really GET the dance thing”, “wow …. WOW! That was inceredible!”, “you guys are so much fun to dance to!”, ”O’Shanigans is Ithaca’s hottest new contra dance band.”, “Tim Ball, Mike Ludgate, and Phil Robinson play with energy and style. It’s party time!” “I was happy to see and hear your band play, it was great! The music was the best I’ve heard at a contra for sure. It really got everyone grooving and elicited hooting and hollering … YEAH!” “The O’Shanigans rocked the hall tonight! You guys sure know how to throw a party!” “I was really glad to get to dance to your music- that was tons of fun!!” “Super dance on Friday! You guys were peppy, and there were some imaginative arrangements that made familiar tunes sound fresh. Hooray for the O’Shanigans!” “It was invigorating music, great company and fun caller!” “Do play for us again!” “It was fun dancing and even more so to the tunes of O’Shanigans!” “It was great!” “Mike, you and Phil and Tim were SOLID! I had a blast and my daughter had fun too! Thanks for playing, and thanks to Ray for the goodies!” “We’ve heard great stuff about you guys: We’d love to have you play at our dance!” “Wow! I have not seen that kind of energy at the Friday Dance in long time, you guys were great!” “That was they most amazing medley … was there something Middle Eastern in there?” “You guys were way out there like in Hungary or somewhere? … then you brought it back home with that old-time tune … the best version of that I have ever heard!” “The band was absolutely wonderful last night!”

More information About Contra Dancing:

http://www.greatmeadowmusic.com/music.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contra_dance
http://tedcrane.com/DanceDB/DisplayDance.com/US_NY_ITH_TCCD
http://hands4dancers.org/
http://www.syracusecountrydancers.org/
http://contra.binghamtondance.org/contra_calendar.htm
http://www.thedancegypsy.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTtEOaruqr4
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128273050

NPR: Youth Flock To Contra Dancing — Contra dancing has been around since the 1700s. If you don’t know it — it’s kind of like square dancing but with long lines of dancers. The dance is having a renaissance around the country thanks to a thriving youth scene and incredibly lively acoustic music. Article by Marika Partridge on All Things Considered NPR July 2nd 2010 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128273050

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