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.

Larry Hanks and Deborah Robins

Larry Hanks and Deborah Robins in Concert

165 McGraw Hall, Cornell Arts Quad

Saturday, April 20, 8 pm

Berkeley, California-based Larry Hanks and Deborah Robins sing unadorned, true “brand spankin’ OLD” songs. Known as a “folksinger’s folksinger,” Hanks has been performing to delighted festival and club audiences for over 50 years, solo and with folks such as Janis Joplin, Utah Phillips, Mike Seeger, and Geoff Muldaur. He’s still remembered fondly from the glory days of Fox Hollow, and with Deborah Robins, his wife and musical partner, he has charmed the Old Songs Festival for the last several years. Hanks gained “legendary” status in the 60s while playing with the likes of a young Mac Benford, in-her-prime Malvina Reynolds, and then-emerging songwriter Bill Steele when they all were based in the San Francisco Bay area. After his move to Bellingham, Washington, Hanks seemed to “disappear” for a few decades, with little touring, especially in the east. Thankfully, Deborah Robins persuaded him a few years ago to return to full-time performing. They’ve been touring regularly and have put out two great CDs together (No Hiding Place and OLD DAYS) since then.

Larry Hanks and Deborah Robins aren’t flashy or over-the-top. Instead, they are warm and unpretentious. Hanks is a master of spare 6- and 12-string guitar accompaniments and a virtuosic Jew’s harp player. His bass-baritone voice has been called mellifluous as well as rough-hewn; it combines well in earthy and unearthly close harmony with Robins’ resonant alto. They do some originals (such as Hanks’ widely-sung “Apple Picker’s Reel”) but like to keep the traditional songs alive. Influenced by the music of Sam Hinton, Leadbelly, and Woody Guthrie, they range lovingly across cowboy songs both sad and funny, rousing work songs, political and topical songs, and old ballads.

The Cornell Folk Song Society is pleased to welcome Larry Hanks and Deborah Robins at last. Find out what caused another veteran folk musician Michael Cooney to say of Hanks, “This is why I got into folk music to begin with.”

Tickets: Ithaca Guitar Works, GreenStar Market, Autumn Leaves Books, Bound for Glory, online at http://www.cornellfolksong.org/, or at the door. $15 advance, $17 at door: rebates of $3 for CFSS members, seniors, teens; children under 13 free. Students $10/12. Info: website or (607) 351-1845.

– Margaret Shepard and John Henderson

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

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

HUNTINGDON PA  — Musicians of all ages, instruments and skill levels are invited to attend Folk College 2012, where they’ll have the opportunity to learn from locally and nationally-known folk musicians in a fun and friendly environment.

The event will be held May 25-27 at Juniata College in Huntingdon PA (near State College and Penn State) and will feature workshops, concerts, jam sessions and more, culminating in a student concert where participants can show off the skills they learned throughout the weekend. Workshops range from beginner to advanced and cover genres including blues, old time and world music.

The Folk College 2012 musical staff include:

• Atwater-Donnelly: Atwater-Donnelly performs a unique and thrilling blend of traditional American and Celtic folk music and dance, along with original songs and poetry. The highly praised husband-wife duo blends gorgeous vocals with an astonishing array of instruments including the mountain dulcimer, old-time banjo, tin whistle, guitar, limberjack, mandolin, harmonica, feet and more.
• Four Shillings Short: Four Shillings Short is part of the creative fusion that is happening in World Music today.  Blending Celtic, East Indian and American Folk music with Medieval, Renaissance and original compositions, the international duo have carved out a musical identity all their own.
• Simple Gifts: Three women plus twelve instruments equals one good time when Simple Gifts takes the stage. Drawing on an impressive variety of ethnic folk styles, th award-winning trio of Linda LIttleton, Karen Hirschon and Rachel Hall play everything from lively Irish jigs and down-home American reels to hard-driving Klezmer frailachs and haunting Gypsy melodies, spicing the mix with the distinctive rhythms of Balkan dance music, the lush sounds of Scandinavian twin fiddling, and original compositions written in a traditional style.

• The Horse Flies: A longtime favorite of critics and fans, The Horse Flies blend Americana roots with indie rock, ethnic percussion, creative songwriting, and a fierce, percolating groove. With a love of both the traditional and the modern, The Flies have consistently explored the intersection of the two to create a musical world all their own.
• The Twilite Broadcasters: The Twilite Broadcasters are the missing link between vintage country, old time, early bluegrass and rockabilly. Based in Asheville, North Carolina, the band creates traditional American music directly inspired by the likes of the Louvin Brothers and Bill Monroe.
• Tomás Lozano and Polly Ferber: Barcelona born Tomás Lozano’s music incarnates his mix of cultural roots; a history of conquest and resistance masterfully expressed through his smooth voice, the vibrant fingerwork on his guitar and the soothing droning of his hurdy-gurdy. He will be joined by Polly Ferber, a percussionist, music educator, performer, and recording artist who specializes in hand percussion from the Middle East, the Balkans, Spanish Andalusia, and North Africa.

The weekend will also feature teacher training for the Mark O’Connor method of fiddle playing. This intensive workshop is designed for music teachers interested in learning O’Connor’s unique method of fiddle instruction.

Folk College is hosted by Simple Gifts nd sponsored by the Huntingdon County PA Arts Council. Those who register before April 1 can take advantage of a $200 “early bird” pricing; the cost is $235 after April 1. Meals and lodging in Juniata College residence halls are also available for additional fees.

Folk College 2012 will be held May 25-27 at Juniata College in Huntingdon PA. For more information, visit folkcollege.com or contact the Huntingdon County Arts Council at 814-643-6220.

Dana & Susan Robinson in Concert

For the Cornell Folk Song Society

Saturday, March 3, 8 pm,

165 McGraw Hall, Cornell Arts Quad

Hailing nowadays from Asheville, North Carolina (by way of the Pacific Northwest and New England), Dana and Susan Robinson have the rare ability to write contemporary songs set deep within the American tradition and to transport their audience along on their journey through time and place. Their stories unfold through brilliant instrumentation (fingerstyle guitar, fiddle, clawhammer banjo, mandolin) and lovely, intimate vocal harmonies. They’re also acclaimed devotees and hot pickers of old-timey Appalachian music.

Dana’s a gifted song creator with something to say; he took a path to full-time touring (since 1994) after off-grid homesteading and running a bakery and folk music café in northern Vermont. Susan came to traditional music by way of environmental work and classical training in piano, oboe, and Scottish fiddle, which got tweaked when she learned from real old-timers in the North Carolina mountains. Because they love and breathe the songs, they can throw together Robert Johnson, Lui Collins, cowboys and farmers, Child ballads, a dash of Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, railroad hobos, Annie Dillard, and Bill Steele’s Griselda, and can evoke a Mississippi paddlewheeler, the Nebraska sandhills, or the Outer Hebrides while remaining cohesive and true to themselves.

Dirty Linen proclaims Dana and Susan Robinson worthy to wear Woody Guthrie’s mantle because they “embody the heart and soul of folk music.” They have “a poet’s perspective delivered in quietly spectacular musicianship… the music sounds laid back even while the guitar licks are knocking your socks off” (Music Matters Review). A reviewer for Music Upstream (Hartford, CT) describes their music as “physical and spiritual, contemporary and ancient, up to its eyeballs in mud and transcendent–in and of this world with a vengeance, but filled with brilliant epiphanies that throw narrow shafts of light into the corners of worlds barely imagined.” Come and hear for yourself!

Tickets: Ithaca Guitar Works, GreenStar, Autumn Leaves Bookstore, Bound for Glory, and online at www.cornellfolksong.org/. $15 advance/$17 door; $3 rebate for members, seniors, teens; children 12 & under free. Cornell students $10/$12. Info: 607-279-2027 or website.

– Margaret Shepard

Saturday, April 16, noon to 11 pm
Boynton Middle School, 1601 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca

As fern fiddleheads push their way through winter-squashed litter and tardy snow, dancers and musicians will also unfurl in 11 hours of nonstop contra, English country, squares, waltzes, instrumental workshops, and jamming. Fabulous New England-based band Elixir, with Ethan Hazzard-Watkins on fiddle, Anna Patton on clarinet and vocals, Jesse Hazzard-Watkins on trumpet and flugelhorn, Owen Morrison on guitar and foot percussion, and multi-talented caller-trombonist-vocalist Nils Fredland, will ignite the crowd with the brassiest contra dances around. It’s a happy fusion–with finesse–of big-band, traditional Celtic and French Canadian, Dixieland jazz, swing, reggae, and rock. The tone ranges from raucous to serene; always creative and impossible for dancers to resist! Nils Fredland is an inventive, wildly popular and gifted caller who wowed the crowd at the 2007 Fiddlehead Frolic with fun, interwoven dances never before seen in Ithaca. Nils and Elixir will also do some singing squares learned from grand master Ralph Sweet, will provide flowing tunes for English country dances taught by Pamela Goddard, and will lead an instrumental workshop. Energy to spare!

Ithaca’s own O’Shanigans (in high demand throughout the region), with Tim Ball on soulful fiddle, Michael Ludgate on mandolin, and Phil Robinson on guitar, will offer more contras (called by Katy Heine), waltz sessions, and a contra medley. http://canaaninstitute.org/oshanigans.html

Mad Goat String Band (Peter Fraissinet on fiddle and banjo, Joe Hayward on banjo, Tom Ruscitti on mandolin and hammered dulcimer, Marianne Marsh and Nancy Spero on [double] bass) will play for an old-time square dance with Nancy Spero calling. Informal jam marathons will occur afternoon and evening (no charge for those who come just to jam).

If high spirits and sublime, hot music are not fuel enough, there will be sandwiches/light lunch and a waltz jam at noon and a community potluck supper at 6:15 pm. There’s also a silent auction (with wonderful donated goods and services). Whether it’s your fingers or feet that are flying, you’ll find hours of delight in spring-celebratory company at the Fiddlehead Frolic, hosted by Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca.

Prices vary by session (afternoon, evening, all-day); discount for HFDI members. Full schedule and details at http://www.hands4dancers.org/frolic/2011/index.html or call 607-539-3174. Out-of-towners who need a place to stay should contact Susan Arnsten-Russell at 607-277-0770 or sarnsten@gmail.com. Newcomers are welcome; each dance is taught, there a just a few basic steps, and the dance community is friendly and happy to help beginners. You don’t need to bring a partner, but you will need clean, soft-soled shoes (to protect the floor). Hands Four Dancers is a community-run, all-volunteer nonprofit dedicated to promoting great dances in the region, and the Frolic is our home-grown festival, guaranteed to induce euphoria!

RSVP ON FACEBOOK! See who else is coming!! https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=140384776025805

—Margaret Shepard

Ken Kolodner

Saturday, 12 March

Hammered dulcimer workshops:

10 am to noon and

1-3 pm

Old-time fiddle workshop:

3:30-5:30 pm

JAM Performance space,

Cornell’s North Campus

Ken Kolodner Workshops March 12

An astonishing virtuoso, recognized as one of the world’s masters of hammered dulcimer, Ken Kolodner’s also a hot old-time fiddler and mbira player. You’ll find him regularly on the NPR airwaves, performing with Chris Norman and Robin Bullock (as Helicon), with Laura Risk as Greenfire, keeping contra dancers up to speed, teaching with passion, and playing solo or with other fine musicians such as Doc Watson, Kevin Burke, Allison Krauss, Jay Ungar, John McCutcheon, Bryan Bowers, Jean Ritchie, and his son Brad (an Ithaca College student), who plays a mean and melodic clawhammer banjo and banjola. 

Ken Kolodner is in high demand for workshops and lessons; in addition to CDs, he’s created tunebooks and instructional materials that span his 25 years as an influential musician and teacher.  Folowing the three workshops, he and Brad will perform in concert for the Cornell Folk Song Society, 8 pm in 165 McGraw Hall, Cornell Arts Quad. Concert details in separate article on this BLOG.

10 am-12 pm: Hammered dulcimer workshop for advanced beginners and above: topics will include techniques and ideas for arranging and for playing accompaniment. Written music will be provided (including examples of full arrangements), but I recommend bringing a recording device. Designed to hit all levels of players.     

1-3 pm: Continue hammered dulcimer workshop but possibly at a faster pace, depending on the composition of the group.

3:30-5:30 pm: Old-time fiddle workshop for advanced beginners and above: the focus will be on systems of bowing to include 3-1 bowing, ghost bows, bow rocking, left hand techniques (unisons, slides, chords, etc.) and much more.

$30 for one session; $50 for two sessions; students $20. Please register in advance by contacting Ken directly at kenkolodner@aol.com  or 410-746-8387.

Workshop location for workshop:  JAM (Just About Music) Performance Space, Cornell’s North Campus, Ithaca, NY.  JAM (aka Low-rise #9) is on Program House Drive off of Jessup Road, which runs between Pleasant Grove Rd. and Triphammer Rd. For unloading dulcimers, you can drive right up to the P-space, which resembles a cement box on the side of a brick dorm. But do not park here; a ticket is almost guaranteed! There is free legal parking in several nearby lots: off Cradit Farm Drive, at Robert Purcell Union, or in the “A” lot. We can direct you once you’ve unloaded your instrument. 

Cancellation policy: In the event of really bad weather, contact Ken to find out if the workshop is on. Full refunds will be provided if the workshop is cancelled.

Saturday, 12 March

8 pm

Ken and Brad Kolodner

165 McGraw Hall

Cornell Arts Quad

An astonishing virtuoso, recognized as one of the world’s masters of hammered dulcimer, Ken Kolodner’s also a hot old-time fiddler and mbira player. You’ll find him regularly on the NPR airwaves, performing with Chris Norman and Robin Bullock (as Helicon), with Laura Risk as Greenfire, keeping contra dancers up to speed, teaching with passion, and playing solo or with other fine musicians such as Doc Watson, Kevin Burke, Allison Krauss, Jay Ungar, John McCutcheon, Bryan Bowers, Jean Ritchie, and his son Brad (an Ithaca College student), who plays a mean and melodic clawhammer banjo and banjola.

Although Brad grew up in a home filled with traditional music and played cello, he began banjo just three years ago at a music camp, with Richie Stearns as instructor. Not a bad start! Brad took to it with fluidity and feeling, winning the Old-Time Banjo Contest in Maryland last year, and performing widely at venues such as the Common Ground Festival and the Kennedy Center with Helicon. Wanting to encourage other young musicians, Brad has formed a Traditional Music Club at Ithaca College.

The rich repertoire of the father-son Kolodner duo ranges from stunning originals to traditional tunes from Ireland, Quebec, and Appalachia, to music from over 20 other countries. Ken and Brad have an exciting new release, Otter Creek, a CD including Brad’s compositions, and a host of recordings, tunebooks, and instructional materials that span Ken’s 25 years as an influential musician and teacher. Don’t miss this concert!

Fiddlers and hammered dulcimer players take note: Ken will lead workshops all day before the concert. Details in separate workshop article!

Concert tickets: Ludgate Farms, Ithaca Guitar Works, GreenStar, Autumn Leaves Bookstore, Bound for Glory, and online at www.cornellfolksong.org/. $15 advance/$17 door; $3 rebate for members, seniors, teens; children 12 & under free. Students $10/$12. Info: 607-279-2027 or website.

TONIGHT — Nancy Spero w/ Contrapasso, The MacGillicuddies., SAT — The Ageless Jazz Band, The Hogwashers, Ithaca Community Orchestra., SUN — Black Walnut Band.

Fiddle tune books make great GIFTS! Yes Mike sells tune books! Portland Selection I&II, Waltz Books I,II&III, New England Fiddlers Reperatoire III, many more! Complete list here http://canaaninstitute.org/mn/mus_sound.html

Scroll down for general calendar … also take a look here! http://canaaninstitute.org/mn/musicnt.htm

Musicians: Looking for gigs? http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewforum.php?f=6 =and= Classifieds: Buy sell want need? http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewforum.php?f=2

Fri Dec 10    Cielle - (Original acoustic songs) - Dinner Hour 7-9 PM at The Rongovian Embassy to the USA, Trumansburg NY (607) 387-3334 http://www.rongo.com/

Fri Dec 10    Contra Dance every Friday at Bethel Grove Community Center ITHACA NY — 8 pm $6- dance sponsored by TCCD http://tedcrane.com/TCCD/ FACEBOOK http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=31552309563 AND http://www.ludgatefarms.com/mus_dance.html AND http://canaaninstitute.org/photos/TCCD_Insert_current.pdf — Dec.10: Nancy Spero w/ Contrapasso Yes, it’s Tim Ball and Roberta Truscello.

Fri Dec 10    El Caminos - (Electic Americana) - 10 PM at The Rongovian Embassy to the USA, Trumansburg NY (607) 387-3334 http://www.rongo.com/

Fri Dec 10    ELMIRA NY — Christmas Show with Curt Osgood on Dulcimer and RJ Siegers on banjo and guitar, Express Café & Bakery, 164 N. Main St. Elmira, NY (607) 732-2250 info@expresscafebakery.com for more visit www.curtosgood.com

Fri Dec 10    Friday at Felicia’s with The MacGillicuddies 5:30-8:30 pm http://www.atomicloungeithaca.com/calendar.php — “THE MACGILLICUDDIES. The MacGillicuddies play an eclectic blend of zydeco, old-time, rock and country, with enough energy to blow up a building. $2 Yuenglings, $4 Cosmos/Lychees/Bloodys, and $2.50 Drunken Dogs boiled with beer and topped with homemade ketchup, homemade mustard and homemade relish.  Flatbread pizzas also available. No cover.”

Fri Dec 10    Friday Jazz Happy Hour at Oasis Dance Club - live music and dancing - http://www.ithacaoasis.com/ — This Friday Jazz Happy Hour, The Oasis is featuring THE ECLECTICS from 6:00pm-9:00pm, no cover.  Iska Ziver will be giving the free swing dance lesson at 7:15pm on their break.

Fri Dec 10    JAM — Bluegrass Jam - open jam at LONGVIEW 6:30 - 8:30 pm every other Friday — Bluegrass only - all levels welcome! This jam is being slightly restructured (Starting Oct 1st 2010) to help promote a higher skill level of pure bluegrass. It is still open and friendly, but the emphasis will be on bluegrass only … we will try and have a jam leader at each session to assist in this transition! Keep on pickin’! :-) MORE INFO http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=3679#3679

Fri Dec 10    SYR NY — Contra Dance — Bob Nicholson will be calling to the tasty music of the Salt Potatoes. http://syracusecountrydancers.org/

Fri Dec 10    The Festive Concerto: December 10-12 A celebration of music for strings, including Bach’s 3rd Brandenburg Concerto. More http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=3568#3568

Fri Dec 10    THE NUTCRACKER RETURNS TO THE STATE THEATRE IN ITHACA DECEMBER 10-12 — Magical toys, dancing snowflakes and belly dancers, all topped off with visions of sugar plums dancing on the stage! It’s time for the return of a holiday tradition at the State Theatre in Ithaca with the Ithaca Ballet’s Nutcracker December 10-12. Once again, the Friday evening performance at 7:30 will be particularly magical because it features the Finger Lakes Symphony Orchestra conducted by Diego Garcia playing the familiar Tchaikovsky score live. The Saturday and Sunday matinee performances are at 3:00 PM. FULL STORY TICKETS http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=3790#3790

Fri Dec 10    Tom Quigley will be appearing at Tioga Trails Cafe this Friday evening, December 10th, starting at 7pm.  Tom will be playing covers on acoustic guitar of songs mostly from the 60’s and 70’s, plus a little folk and bluegrass  Tioga Trails Cafe is located at 50 Lake Street, Owego, NY, and their website is http://www.tiogatrailscafe.com/.

Sat Dec 11    BING NY — Contra Dance — Caller: Sharon Perry. Music by Confluence. Trinity Memorial. Contradance http://www.binghamtondance.org/

Sat Dec 11    JACKSONVILLE NY — Old-Time Dance Night 8 pm. Live music by The Hogwashers with Nancy Spero calling Squares. Close Hall on Rt 96 Jacksonville NY $7- beginners welcome, no partner needed http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=3776#3776

Sat Dec 11    KennyT and WildFire at Spark’s Tavern (Waverly NY) Saturday December 11th 9pm to 1am

Sat Dec 11    NEWARK VALLEY NY — Holiday Magic at Newark Valley, Municipal Building 7-9 pm,. Curt Osgood on dulcimer with Annie Simpson on guitar and Bill Myers on whistles

Sat Dec 11    Swing Dance with The Ageless Jazz Band  — Ithaca Swing Dance Network with the Ageless Jazz Band Annual December benefit for CSMA Sat Dec 11, 8:30 pm (dance lesson at 7:30) 3rd Floor Performance Space, CSMA Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) 330 E State Street Ithaca MORE INFO http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=3803#3803

Sat Dec 11    SYR NY — Jonathan Dinkin & Klezmercuse will be performing as part of the “Second Saturday” concert series at the Westcott Community Center, 826 Euclid Avenue, Syracuse, N.Y., on Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. Admission: $10 ($8 for WCC members, $5 students with ID). For reservations call the Westcott Community Center at (315) 478-8634. http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=3791#3791

Sat Dec 11    The Festive Concerto: December 10-12 A celebration of music for strings, including Bach’s 3rd Brandenburg Concerto. More http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=3568#3568

Sat Dec 11    The Ithaca Community Orchestra’s 2010 Winter Concert on Saturday, December 11, 2010 4 pm at the First Baptist Church of Ithaca, DeWitt Park — The orchestra will premiere a commissioned piece by local composer Mer Boel, as well as perform works by Elgar, Saint-Säens, and Brahms. The concert begins at 4 pm and will be held at the First Baptist Church of Ithaca on DeWitt Park . The concert and reception that follows are open to the general public. There is a $5 suggested donation for adults. Funding for this concert is provided with grant support from the Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County. http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=3800#3800

Sat Dec 11    The Lost Sailors - (Grateful tribute) - 10 PM at The Rongovian Embassy to the USA, Trumansburg NY (607) 387-3334 http://www.rongo.com/

Sat Dec 11    THE NUTCRACKER RETURNS TO THE STATE THEATRE IN ITHACA DECEMBER 10-12 — Magical toys, dancing snowflakes and belly dancers, all topped off with visions of sugar plums dancing on the stage! It’s time for the return of a holiday tradition at the State Theatre in Ithaca with the Ithaca Ballet’s Nutcracker December 10-12. Once again, the Friday evening performance at 7:30 will be particularly magical because it features the Finger Lakes Symphony Orchestra conducted by Diego Garcia playing the familiar Tchaikovsky score live. The Saturday and Sunday matinee performances are at 3:00 PM. FULL STORY TICKETS http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=3790#3790

Sat Dec 11    Watkins Glen, NY - The Purple Valley returns to the Rooterfish Brewing Company in Watkins Glen (http://www.roosterfishbrewing.com/) from 8-11PM. Great beer and food and a really friendly place to hang out and enjoy/

Sun Dec 12    Black Walnut Band at Maxie’s - Live music on Tuesdays and Sundays 6-10 pm http://www.maxies.com/events.html

Sun Dec 12    Blue Skies at Americana Vineyards, Winery & Cafe This SUNDAY December 12, (4-6 pm) 4367 East Covert Road, Interlaken (off rt 96)  2 miles N. of T’Burg www.americanavineyards.com and www.myspace.com/blueskiesithaca

Sun Dec 12    JAM — Old Time Jam every Sunday late afternoon; playing fiddle tunes in the southern old time tradition. This open jam floats around the Ithaca area to various jammers homes and has a separate email list. Email Mike L or Laura T for more info. This jam stays in one key (A, C, D, or G) for the entire session, and rotates to a new key each week.

Sun Dec 12    Klezmer Christmas Chaos Brookton’s Market 2-3:30  Join renowned story teller Regina Carpenter, CU Klezmer Ensemble and Uncle Joe and the Rosebud Ramblers for an afternoon of holiday craziness.  Fun stories and music for the whole family. Brookton’s Market 491 Brooktondale Road Brooktondale, NY 14817 http://www.brooktonsmarket.com/ http://www.myspace.com/unclejoerosebudramblers http://www.soaringstories.com/web/

Sun Dec 12    Myra Kovary is performing the Benjamin Britten Ceremony of Carols at the First Presbyterian Church in Ithaca on Sunday morning, December 12, 2010 at 10 am.  The piece is a beautiful work for harp and choir written in 1943.  The carols are not at all the traditional Christmas carols.  She often plays in orchestra where the harp is only a small part of the ensemble.  In the Britten, the harp is the only instrument accompanying the choir and there is also a solo harp Interlude — so, you’ll really be able to hear the harp!  The performance is part of the regular church service and is free and open to the public.  The First Presbyterian Church is at the corner of Court and Cayuga Streets in Ithaca. www.myrakovary.com

Sun Dec 12    Oasis Dance Club — This Sunday Open Blues Jam and Swing Dance will be hosted by FRANK JOSEPH AND THE HIPSHAKERS from 5:00pm-8:00pm, no cover.  All musicians, dancers and music lovers welcome.
”

Sun Dec 12    Sunday at Felicia’s with Free Little Birds with Marie Burns  www.marieburns.com 7 pm http://www.atomicloungeithaca.com/calendar.php — “FREE LITTLE BIRDS WITH MARIE BURNS. Country, old-time and other awesomeness with Marie Burns, Eric Aceto and Rich Dipaolo. $1 off menu drinks, $5 pizzas. No cover. www.keirneuringer.com, www.myspace.com/stevegollnick”

Sun Dec 12    The Festive Concerto: December 10-12 A celebration of music for strings, including Bach’s 3rd Brandenburg Concerto. More http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=3568#3568

Sun Dec 12    THE NUTCRACKER RETURNS TO THE STATE THEATRE IN ITHACA DECEMBER 10-12 — Magical toys, dancing snowflakes and belly dancers, all topped off with visions of sugar plums dancing on the stage! It’s time for the return of a holiday tradition at the State Theatre in Ithaca with the Ithaca Ballet’s Nutcracker December 10-12. Once again, the Friday evening performance at 7:30 will be particularly magical because it features the Finger Lakes Symphony Orchestra conducted by Diego Garcia playing the familiar Tchaikovsky score live. The Saturday and Sunday matinee performances are at 3:00 PM. FULL STORY TICKETS http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=3790#3790

Sun Dec 12    WITH-FM is pleased to announce that Ithaca radio personality Tracey Craig will produce and host a new weekly radio program, Rootabaga Boogie. The show will air Sundays from 10 a.m to noon on FM 90.1 in Ithaca, starting December 12. Rootabaga Boogie will feature an eclectic selection of folk and roots music, plus live music and conversation about music. WRUR-FM 88.5, WITH-FM’s sister station in Rochester, New York, plans to broadcast the program in early 2011. FULL STORY http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=3804#3804

Sun Dec 12    WVBR’S Bound for Glory — From DECEMBER 12 through JANUARY 16, Bound for Glory will be Albums from the Studios.  Catch the Winter Solstice show on DECEMBER 12,  the Christmas special show on DECEMBER 19, and the New Year’s special on DECEMBER 26.  Holiday songs you won’t hear in the shopping malls.  Give Phil a call at 607-273-2121.  Next Live Bound for Glory?  JANUARY 23, 2010, with BILL STAINES. Give Phil a call at 607-273-2121 WVBR’s BOUND FOR GLORY, North America’s longest running live folk concert broadcast, Ithaca, NY, since 1967. Sunday nights, 8 -11 pm Broadcast live at WVBR-FM, 93.5 and 105.5, web stream http://wvbr.com Presented by long-time host Phil Shapiro.

ATTENTION: Musicians! Send me your gigs! Guidelines http://canaaninstitute.org/mn/musicnt.htm#listings — HERE IS THE IMPORTANT PART — if you want to get the word out, the earlier you send me the gig, the more web coverage it gets. Increasingly folks (non-subscribers) are commenting that they get their information about what is happening from my web-pages and not from the emails (this is disappointing to me, but true), The number of readers on the email is in the hundreds while the number of readers (web clicks or hits) is in the many thousands per week. I only update the events grid once per week! Send them early! If you send the listings last minute, your news is missing a large part of the music news hungry audience :-)

UNSUBSCRIBE — Send email to Mikes-Music-request@icycle.org?subject=unsubscribe (with the word “unsubscribe” in the subject line) ==OR== you can simply email Mike (reply to this message) at michael.ludgate@gmail.com anytime. PLEASE never use the “spam” button to get off ANY list: that is poor e-etiquette it causes more problems for the administrator of the list AND other subscribers AND for yourself. Take the time to properly unsubscribe. Please tell me which list: I have five! Thanks! :-)

DIGEST MODE — Not recommended for this list [Mikes-Music]. The digest mode is really only useful on busier list-serves. Since I usually only send one message per day, it will not change your email volume as the digest is also one message per day. The non-digest version is easier to read because it includes HTML formatting and the wider screen of text.

Thanks for reading,
Mike :-)

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MUSIC HOME — CURRENT CALENDAR http://canaaninstitute.org/mn/musicnt.htm tons of music links
MUSIC BLOG — ARTICLES OF INTEREST http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusicblog/ ask how to become an author!
MUSIC FORUM — DETAILS on many things musical — http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/
FUTURE CALENDAR — UPCOMING LISTINGS http://canaaninstitute.org/mn/mus_upcom.html
WEDNESDAY - every week 7-10 pm “The Contra Jam” — http://canaaninstitute.org/mn/mus_jamcann.html 8 years running! All are welcome
Mike on MySpace http://www.myspace.com/michael_ludgate
Mike on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/michael.ludgate
The O’Shanigans Band http://www.canaaninstitute.org/oshanigans.html (Tim Ball, Phil Robinson and Mike Ludgate)

Contra Dancing in Central and Upstate NY http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=31552309563
The Wednesday Jam at Canaan Road http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=346116175882
Bluegrass music in Upstate and Central New York http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=59418231754
Open Dance Bands http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2378078998

ITHACA NY - The Pearly Snaps will have their CD release party at Felicias happy hour (5:30-8:30). Felicia’s Atomic Lounge 508 West State Street Ithaca, NY 14850 607.273.2219 www.atomicloungeithaca.com — Stephanie Jenkins and Rosie Newton with be playing cuts from their recording and will also be joined by friends for some tunes. Their new CD is also available at local retailers such as Ludgate Farms and Ithaca Guitar Works.

“Steph “Pearly” Jenkins and Rosie “Snap” Newton have been making music together since high school. They moved to Ithaca and quickly joined the ranks of local oldtime musicians. They’re excited to release their first duo CD! Steve Selin, Richie Stearns, and more friends join them for this release show. Rosie Newton! fiddle, voice, spoons, banjo; Stephanie Jenkins! banjo, voice, ukulele, guitar.” -Felicia

Ithaca Festival Jam Tent 2010 - sponsored by Ithaca Guitar Works and Ludgate Farms.
http://www.guitarworks.com/ and http://www.ludgatefarms.com/

More info on the forum http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=3322#3322

Sunday June 6th 2010 from 11:30 am until 9:00 pm at Stewart Park at the Jam Tent (near the entrance and family fun tent). We have 6 jams again this year. These are all jams loosely related to sessions and sings that happen in and around the Ithaca area on a regular basis. Time slots and band leaders subject to change at the last minute. See this music forum thread for updates http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=3322#3322

11:30 am - 1:00 pm – CAJUN JAM (Traditional Cajun maybe a little Zydeco) — The origins of Cajun music started in the north when the Acadians were forced to migrate from Nova Scotia to Louisiana in the late 1700’s. This is a rich and unique American music style. This will be an open acoustic only instrumental jam as are all the others in the Ithaca Festival Jam Tent listed below. Contact person: Greg Grodem rjgreg@lightlink.com

1:00 PM - 2:30 pm –SINGING JAM (Folk Songs) — This is a sing-a-long, where anyone can lead. Songs your parents sang when you were little, songs you sang at camp, songs that mean a lot to you right now. Instruments are welcome for back up, but the focus for this jam is on voices. Bring a song to share, chime in on a chorus or just listen, everyone is welcome! Contacts: Jim Harper jimh@jhdesigns.com or Richie Holtz richard_holtz@verizon.net

2:30 pm - 4:00 pm — OLD-TIME JAM (Appalachian Fiddle Tunes) — Southern old-time music was born when African rhythms and syncopation began to influence the fiddle dance tune tradition. Old-time jams often include guitar, clawhammer banjo, fiddle, mandolin, dulcimer, voices, and tapping feet to keep the rhythm. Tunes are usually passed along by oral tradition, but chord charts are available for many of the tunes, and musicians of any level are welcome. The emphasis is on getting into a groove for each tune, allowing each musician room to improvise within the structure of the tune. Contact: Laura Taylor lbt1@cornell.edu

4:00 pm - 5:30 pm – BLUEGRASS JAM (Traditional Bluegrass) — Bluegrass is American roots music comprising a rich fusion of traditions from the British Isles, jazz, blues, and country. This jam features fiddle, mandolin, banjo, guitar, dobro, upright bass, and vocals, and each instrument has the opportunity to improvise around the melody in wildly creative ways. All skill levels are welcome! Contact: Philip Robinson philip.robinson@cornell.edu

5:30 pm -7:00 pm – CONTRA TUNE JAM (New England Fiddle Dance Tunes) — We will be playing “fiddle tunes” suitable for contra or square dancing. These tunes originate from New England, Canada, British Isles and parts of Europe . This is an open instrumental jam where typical instruments are fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo (4 or 5 string), accordion, acoustic bass and occasional woodwinds such as flute or clarinet. This group typically works from the Ithaca “YFN tuneset”. All skill levels welcome, come join us! Contact person: Michael Ludgate michael.ludgate@gmail.com

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm — IRISH SESSION (Traditional Irish) — This session will be run in traditional Irish session style, which is generally full speed ahead and often stringing 2 or 3 tunes together at a time. All skill levels welcome: the tunes are fast, but the only way to “get the feel” is to jump in and try! Contact persons: Ed McGowan, Scott Whitham or Mark Bickford scott.whitham@gmail.com