BROOKTONDALE NY - Music Jam Event at the Canaan Institute (Mike and Raylene’s workshop) with mountain dulcimer musician extraordinaire Bing Futch! Wednesday November 9th 5-10 pm Bing will teach a Mountain dulcimer workshop from 5-7 pm cost is $25. This will be followed by the regular MUSIC JAM at the usual time 7:00-10pm the music jam is FREE. The music jam is also open to ALL instruments! It is OK to come to only the dulcimer workshop OR only the music jam (or both of course). RSVP to mike@cinst.org to reserve a seat at the workshop and for directions.

Some of you may have seen Bing at Old Songs this year. More about this fabulous musician: With roots in both African and Seminole Indian tribes, Bing Futch’s window on America is a unique landscape of music, words and imagery. He began playing Appalachian mountain dulcimer at Knott’s Berry Farm theme park in 1986, working at a Ghost Town shop for Bud & Donna Ford.

That same year, Futch founded techno-punk band Crazed Bunnyz, a trio that grew popular in the international underground college radio scene and has remained a fan favorite long after disbanding in 1988. Since then, he has enjoyed a diverse and prolific solo career, composing dozens of scores for film, theater, themed attractions and television.

After working closely with producers of the hit NBC series “Quantum Leap” while shooting his first documentary in 1992, Futch left his California hometown of Los Angeles in 1993 to pursue production opportunities in central Florida where he set up a multimedia company called J.O.B. Entertainment Inc. Some of his early projects include the travelogue “Disney Overload”, a reality series called “Toastin’”, serving as musical director and composing an original score for the Stage Left Theater production of “Jungle Book: The Musical” and writing/performing portions of the soundtrack for The Castle of Miracles at Give Kids The World Village in Kissimmee, Florida.

In 1999, Mohave was born. The award-winning Americana band has performed in a variety of venues including multiple shows at The House Of Blues at Walt Disney World, Hard Rock Live Orlando, The Bamboo Room, Freebird Live, The Orlando Fringe Festival, The Central Florida Fair and they’ve also opened for national acts Molly Hatchet, Subject To Change, St. Somewhere and The Crests.

As a solo performer, Bing’s high-energy, crowd pleasing shows and unique approach to the mountain dulcimer combined have made him a much-sought national act from California to Connecticut. Named 2006 “Songwriter of the Year” by the Songwriters Showcases of America (with a 2007 “Song of the Year” award for “Crazy Feels Like”), Bing has become a regularly featured artist at festivals, house concerts, Irish and British pubs and other venues across the country. He’s opened for Grammy-award nominated artists Sam & Ruby, bluesman Scott Ainslie, singer/songwriter Larry Mangum, shared the stage with Zydeco king Chubby Carrier, Tom Constanten (The Grateful Dead), national fingerstyle guitar champion Michael Chapdelaine, produced numerous recordings and has published several songbooks.

Alongside his performing career, Bing has become a popular instructor of the mountain dulcimer and Native American flute and his video podcast, “Dulcimerica”, has been seen and downloaded by over half a million unique viewers.

Along with the music and video, Bing is also an accomplished podcaster, published writer and roller-coaster fan whose music columns in Jam, Ink-19 and Connections Magazine have been a Florida scene staple for over ten years. He and his wife Jae live in Orlando, so close to Walt Disney World that you can see the fireworks from their interstate exit. — bio by Dean Rezzen

Bing Futch’s Website http://www.darkstudios.com
Canaan Institute Website http://www.canaaninstitute.org

Fri Oct 21 2011 ITHACA NY - O’Shanigans dance party with Tim, Mike and Phil at Bethel Grove Community Center. Our local favorite and funtastic Nancy Spero will be calling the dances 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. 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.

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

BAND on WEB http://www.oshanigans.org
BAND on FACEBOOK http://www.facebook.com/oshanigans please “LIKE” :-)
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/event.php?eid=172826912801471

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”, ” … 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

###

Special events and announcements …
(scroll down for general calendar)

Here is a fun documentary on old New England fiddlers http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-4834509217044767508

Sheet music. Folk tunes, dance tunes, contra tunes. Some for sale (Waltz Books, Portland Books etc) tons for free: YFN tunes and similar from all over http://canaaninstitute.org/mn/mus_sound.html

T-shirts are here! The Canaan Institute T with an iconic image representing music (a fiddle), cross country skis and a bicycle tire on a pebbled backgound … (artwork by Christi Sobel) PHOTOS https://picasaweb.google.com/111695742714689219857/TheCanaanInstitute# — Hey! I can mail these to “alumni of The Institute”. It would also be fun to post photos of people wearing their new t-shirts in exotic places!! Send in your photos!! :-)

The O’Shanigans with Tim Ball, Phil Robinson and Mike Ludgate will be back at Bethel Grove on Friday October 21st 8-11 pm playing high energy fiddle tunes for the local contra dance! www.oshanigans.org

General Live Music and Dance Calendar …
(for specialty calendars see list at end)

Fri Oct 07    JAM and Waltz: Dancing to a Waltz Jam. This is CNY’s only “waltz jam”. It is is an open band playing the “New England standard waltzes” from The Waltz books (I,II &III). This takes place once per month at 7:00 pm, first Friday of the Month for one hour preceding the regular ITHACA NY Friday Contra dance at Bethel Grove Community Center which starts at 8 pm … a great warm up for the evening’s contra dance. http://tedcrane.com/DanceDB/DisplayDance.com?key=US_NY_ITH_TCCD

Fri Oct 07    Banjo Burke Irish Music Festival — Columbus Day weekend (October 7-10th) East Durham NY Workshops, Sessions, Ceilithe, & Concerts: Workshops are held throughout town on Saturday & Sunday morning & afternoon, and include all levels of: fiddle, flute, harp, whistle, bodhran, accordion, tenor banjo, sean nos singing, and guitar. Participants can choose one or up to four workshops, and can stick with one teacher or mix & match teachers and instruments. MORE INFO http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=4200#4200 more here http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=4358#4358

Fri Oct 07    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://canaaninstitute.org/mn/mus_dance.html AND http://canaaninstitute.org/photos/TCCD_Insert_current.pdf — Oct.7: Open Waltz Band, Dancing at 7pm Bring an instrument or your feet. Or both. Oct.7: Crooked Sixpence w/ House Callers - Fiddle, flute, and piano from Selby, Bonnet, and Wobus. A real New Endland-y evening.

Fri Oct 07    CORNING NY — Littlewheel (Art Godin, Joanna Green, Todd Rose) eclectic acoustic music – www.littlewheel.org Soul Full Cup Coffeehouse Corning NY http://www.peacefulgatherings.org/calendar.htm 7:30-10pm First Friday of the Month (except May & July)

Fri Oct 07    Eric Aceto and Doug Robinson will be doing a duo show at the Simply Red Bistro in Sheldrake this Friday October 7th from 6:30 - 9:00 PM.  No cover,  but reservations are recommended. http://www.watershed-arts.com/dougrobinson.html

Fri Oct 07    First Friday Chamber Music w/ Bill Hurley & Friends - Music for violin & flute with Laura Campbell (Vivaldi); violin & guitar with Matt Ocone; and a Haydn trio with ‘Three’ (Hurley; Karen Melamed Smith & Elisa Evett) Kickoff of the 2011-12 series. sponsor: Ithaca Sertoma Club Fri Oct 7 (First Friday Gallery Night) 8 pm 3rd Floor Performance Space CSMA Ithaca

Fri Oct 07    Flood Relief Benefit for the Southern Tier, First Baptist Church, Ithaca, N.Y. 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. Hope Grietzer, Rick Manning. Tom Hodgson, Terry Burns, Ron Kristy, and more.

Fri Oct 07    Friday at Felicia’s with The Bernie Upson Trio 5:30-8:30 pm http://www.atomicloungeithaca.com/calendar.php — Some of the most amazing jazz in Ithaca! Harlem native Bernie Upson has played bass professionally since the late 1950’s. His activities included Apollo appearances with such diverse artists as Marvin Gaye and Richie Havens and tours across Africa and Europe with Illinois Jacquet and the Mamma Lue Parks Dancers.

Fri Oct 07    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 NINES JAZZ ENSEMBLE 6:30pm-9:00pm, no cover!  Come early at 5:45pm for the swing dance lesson this week taught by James! Bower.

Fri Oct 07    Ironwood at Plantation Bar & Grill 1285 Dryden Road, Ithaca, NY (607) 273-4950 Friday, Oct 7,  2011 7 to 10  PM

Fri Oct 07    Marc Berger - western americana music Friday 10/7 7-9pm Dryden Community Center Cafe One West Main Street 607-844-1500 www.drydencafe.org

Fri Oct 07    Men of Kent at Dorothy’s Music Room in T-Burg,  7-9:30-ish

Fri Oct 07    OSWEGO NY - Contra Dance at the McCrobie Civic Center (same location as Music Hall shows), with live band, John Cadley & Lost Boys, and caller, David Smukler. 7 PM Newcomer Workshop | 7:30 – 10:30 PM Dance http://oswegomusichall.org/

Fri Oct 07    SYR NY — ANAIS MITCHELL - October 7 - Back by popular demand after a too-long Folkus absence,. What separates Mitchell from other singer/songwriters with political leanings is that she delivers the message without compromising the song; everything fits together naturally and her thoughts are expressed in lyrical and subtle ways. at May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society, 3800 E. Genesee St., Syracuse, starting at 8 p.m. http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=4314#4314

Fri Oct 07    SYR NY Contra Dance — Pamela Goddard is coming up from Ithaca to call to the music of a wonderful band from Pittsburgh: Amarillis (Maro Avakian, Donna Isaac and Allison Thompson). http://syracusecountrydancers.org/

Fri Oct 07    Terry Burns and Rick Manning with their bands are having a benefit to help those in the southern tier who were affected by the floods.  First Baptist Church, Dewitt Park is hosting the event on Friday, October 7 at 8 PM.  Burns & Kristy and Manning, Grietzer & Hodgson will be joined by special guests including Susan Lytle and Mark Lawrence.  Suggested donation is $10.

Fri Oct 07    The (Cayuga) Nature Photographers Club has a photo show for the month of October. The opening is Fri Oct 7th from 5-8 pm at Collegetown Bagels on Aurora St downtown Ithaca as part of ‘Gallery Night’. My daughter Megan Ludgate has two of her photographs in this show. FULL STORY http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeskiblog/?p=1134

Fri Oct 07    Sunnyside - Brian Keeler will have a new show “Lake Light- Recent Paintings of the Finger Lakes” open at the Titus Gallery between 5 and 9 .  Stop down tomorrow or see the show or anytime until November 30. The band “Sunnyside” will play on the commons on Friday from 4 to 5:30 at the east end in front of the Titus Gallery- where Brian has a new art show opening. “Playing will be Marty Blodgett, Wash, Jim Sherpa (maybe), and Brian Keeler.  Others are welcome to sit in. -Brian” www.briankeeler.com

Fri Oct 07    The Peoples Fest IV  [ EVENT CANCELLED ] Friday, October 7 at 12:00pm - October 8 at 11:30pm Location Pine Creek Campground 28 Rockwell Rd Newfield, NY 14867 http://thepeoplesfest.com/ “The People’s Festival IV has been cancelled because of a death in the family. ”

Fri Oct 07    Tru Bleu at The Blue Frog Cafe (Ithaca Mall) Friday, October 7th from 7:00pm - 9:00pm The Blue Frog Cafe (The Shops at Ithaca Mall) 40 Catherwood Road Ithaca, New York

Fri Oct 07    WATKINS GLEN NY - Blue Skies is back in Watkins Glen for one more performance at The Crooked Rooster Brew Pub  This Friday, October 7,  From 8 to 11pm For directions, as well as food & beer menus, go to http://www.roosterfishbrewing.com/ David & George www.myspace.com/blueskiesithaca

Sat Oct 08    Alicia Dale & Bill Ring at Elm Tree Inn – Benefit for Bob Skinner 2 McLean Cortland Road Cortland, NY 13045 (607) 838-3313 Saturday, Oct 8,  2011 3 to 5 PM

Sat Oct 08    Banjo Burke Irish Music Festival — Columbus Day weekend (October 7-10th) East Durham NY Workshops, Sessions, Ceilithe, & Concerts: Workshops are held throughout town on Saturday & Sunday morning & afternoon, and include all levels of: fiddle, flute, harp, whistle, bodhran, accordion, tenor banjo, sean nos singing, and guitar. Participants can choose one or up to four workshops, and can stick with one teacher or mix & match teachers and instruments. MORE INFO http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=4200#4200 more here http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=4358#4358

Sat Oct 08    BING NY English Country Dance — Terry Glasspool & Suzanna Spiese w/ Amarillis (from Pittsburgh), Christ Church, English Country Dance 2-5 pm $7 http://www.binghamtondance.org/contra.htm

Sat Oct 08    ITHACA NY Contra Dance — Vermont-based Clayfoot Strutters, with suave caller George Marshall, in a contra dance EVENT. BJ Martin School, 302 W. Buffalo St., Ithaca. Experienced dancers 4-6 pm; potluck dinner 6:15 pm, beginners’ workshop 7:30 pm, 8-11 pm dance for all levels. Info at www.hands4dancers.org or call 607-539-3174. Newcomers always welcome. Dances are easy to learn. No partner needed, but please bring clean, soft-soled shoes. FULL STORY PHOTO http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusicblog/?p=1694

Sat Oct 08    Lisa and the Tom Cats at Oasis, 6:30-9–

Sat Oct 08    Mathews Family Tradition [ EVENT CANCELLED ] — “UPDATE ON OCTOBER 8TH CONCERT AT VAN ETTEN VFW 8139 Due to a family emergency, Mathews Family Tradition has had to postpone our concert originally scheduled for October 8th. Make up date to be announced. We appreciate everyone’s patience with this matter. — Thank you. Roy Mathews”

Sat Oct 08    OASIS DANCE CLUB - This Saturday Twilight Cafe The Oasis is featuring LISA AND THE TOMCATS 6:00pm-8:30pm 5.00 cover.  Lisa Wright, Jeff Sacco, Lisa Bloom, Mike Wellen and Ken Zeserson playing a fun mix of oldies, funk, and swing.

Sat Oct 08    RICHARD THOMPSON The State Theatre http://www.stateofithaca.com/

Sat Oct 08    SYR NY - Tenor Madness: Two tenor guitars, one upright bass, and pure, sweet vocals; classic, swinging, American music! Saturday, October 8, 2011. 8:00 p.m. $15, $12 for WCC members Westcott Community Center, 826 Euclid Avenue, Syracuse, N.Y. East of SU at the intersection of Euclid Ave and Westcott Street http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=4323#4323

Sat Oct 08    The Peoples Fest IV  [ EVENT CANCELLED ] Friday, October 7 at 12:00pm - October 8 at 11:30pm Location Pine Creek Campground 28 Rockwell Rd Newfield, NY 14867 http://thepeoplesfest.com/ “The People’s Festival IV has been cancelled because of a death in the family. ”

Sun Oct 09    Banjo Burke Irish Music Festival — Columbus Day weekend (October 7-10th) East Durham NY Workshops, Sessions, Ceilithe, & Concerts: Workshops are held throughout town on Saturday & Sunday morning & afternoon, and include all levels of: fiddle, flute, harp, whistle, bodhran, accordion, tenor banjo, sean nos singing, and guitar. Participants can choose one or up to four workshops, and can stick with one teacher or mix & match teachers and instruments. MORE INFO http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=4200#4200

Sun Oct 09    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 Oct 09    Maxie’s - Live music on Tuesdays and Sundays 6-10 pm http://www.maxies.com/events.html –

Sun Oct 09    Nate SOLO at Americana Vineyards Concerts Interlaken, NY Nate & Kate www.nateandkatemusic.com SUN, Oct 9th, 4-6pm

Sun Oct 09    OASIS DANCE CLUB - This Sunday, being the 2nd Sunday of the month, we’re having our Open Blues Jam and Swing Dance hosted by Rich Andersson and the Swampcats 3:00pm-6:00pm, no cover!  All musicians, dancers, and music lovers welcome.  The kitchen opens at 5pm on Sunday’s

Sun Oct 09    ROXBURY NY - Fiddlers! is the oldest celebration dedicated to the Fiddling Traditions of the Catskill Mountains and North America. FIDDLERS! 18, Sunday, October 9, 2011, noon-7:30pm at the Roxbury Arts Center’s Hilt Kelly Hall The Fiddlers! festival, an annual fall event in Roxbury since Hilt Kelly Hall was dedicated in 1994, celebrates the artistry of musicians whose playing styles originate from family heritage and community tradition. Hilt Kelly taught nearly every Catskill fiddler and had broad influence in the fiddle styles that eventually evolved in the Catskills. FULL STORY HISTORY http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=4341#4341

Sun Oct 09    SMYRNA NY - Wolf Mountain Nature Center Pumpkin Festival!  http://www.thewolfmountainnaturecenter.org/specialevents.html Dannielle Swart will be playing for this benefit, accompanying Tom Wadsworth http://www.thewolfmountainnaturecenter.org/index.html

Sun Oct 09    Sunday at Felicia’s with Parker West 7 pm http://www.atomicloungeithaca.com/calendar.php — Parker West (aka Park Doing) writes and plays original country rock music.  Equal parts Gram Parson, Bruce Springsteen, and George Harrison, Parker carries on Gram Parson’s tradition of “Cosmic American Music” with songs that evoke heartache, loss, and love along with the sometimes surreal experiences of life’s journey.  It’s American roots music with heart and soul, and a twist.  Hailing from Dayton, Ohio, Parker is based in Ithaca, NY. and is currently working on his debut record “Devils Love Strangers” with Ithaca musicians Alan Pauling, Jim Catalano, Benn Barteshevich, and Ami Ben-Yaacov.

Sun Oct 09    WVBR’S Bound for Glory — Bound for Glory will be Albums from the Studios, as Cornell takes Fall Break, and the Cafe at Anabel Taylor is closed.  Give Phil a call at 607-273-2121.  There will be seven more live shows in the late Fall, starting OCTOBER 16, including visits from MARK RUST, MATCHING ORANGE, AMY GALLATIN AND STILLWATERS,  JOE CROOKSTON, ANNE HILLS,  MUSTARD’S RETREAT, and GUY DAVIS.  Sunday night 8 to 11 pm live sets at 8:30, 9:30, and 10:30 pm at Anabel Taylor Hall on Cornell Campus Ithaca NY - FREE - Kids are always welcome. Refreshments are available. Broadcast live at WVBR-FM, 93.5 and 105.5, also web stream http://wvbr.com Presented by long-time host Phil Shapiro.

Mon Oct 10    Banjo Burke Irish Music Festival — Columbus Day weekend (October 7-10th) East Durham NY Workshops, Sessions, Ceilithe, & Concerts: Workshops are held throughout town on Saturday & Sunday morning & afternoon, and include all levels of: fiddle, flute, harp, whistle, bodhran, accordion, tenor banjo, sean nos singing, and guitar. Participants can choose one or up to four workshops, and can stick with one teacher or mix & match teachers and instruments. MORE INFO http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=4200#4200

Mon Oct 10    JAM - accoustic jam at the Mate Factor on the Ithaca Commons. Contra-celtic-accoustic jam circle….free beverages for musicians….7:00-9:00pm.

List-serves, Links and Unsubscribe …

SUMMARY of Mike’s NEWS list-serves: These are all fully moderated (announce only, low volume, hi-security) lists. You can subscribe or unsubscribe at these links. Tell me who you are please :-)

GENERAL MUSIC EMAIL LIST: http://icycle.org/mailman/listinfo/mikes-music_icycle.org

BLUEGRASS JAM AND NEWS: http://canaaninstitute.org/mailman/listinfo/bluegrassjam_canaaninstitute.org

CONTRADANCE NEWSLETTER: http://canaaninstitute.org/mailman/listinfo/contradancenews_canaaninstitute.org

OUTDOOR EXERCISE: HIKE, MT BIKE, XC-SKI http://icycle.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeski_icycle.org

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 any of my lists. The digest mode is really only useful on busier list-serves. Since I usually only send one message per day maximum, 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 :-)

Michael Ludgate
http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

Friday, October 21, 8 pm

[NOTE FRIDAY, NOT SATURDAY]

Memorial Room,

Willard Straight Hall, Cornell

Fingers flying, this British musician from Glossop, UK is one top-notch squeezebox man (Anglo concertina, button accordion, melodeon), and he’s no slouch on guitar. Brian Peters’ intricate, energetic arrangements, combined with a fervent voice and sly humor, give life to old jigs and reels, traditional folk songs and ballads, wild sea songs, ragtime, blues, hillbilly rock, contemporary songs, and his own clever compositions. His passion for music of the past is evident, but he is hardly mired there: you can expect a surprising performance with forays in many directions, anchored by musicality and wit. A Dirty Linen reviewer describes Brian Peters as “a singer, guitarist and melodeon player of rare ability,…an unusual repertoire and unusual conviction in singing it.” And Rock’n'Reel puts him in fine company: “No singer outside Nic Jones and Martin Carthy has embraced the tradition and used its wellsprings in as vivid and ingenious a way.”

Where Brian Peters truly shines is as a world ambassador and guardian of centuries-old ballads: ghosts and dragons, the wise child and the devil, the beggar and king, the spells, the magic ring. He plunges deep into these ancient songs to find their mystery, evil, drollery, and courage, and brings them to us fresh. Some of the old Child ballads he has unearthed had no surviving tunes, so he has ably met the challenge of writing music that fits them beautifully. This is a fine gift. Roy Harris of The Living Tradition calls him “A ballad hero….a man who sings these vivid tales as though he read them in this morning’s headlines.” He’s not afraid to give some songs a shake-up.  Steve Winick ofDirty Linen praises his “folk-rock arrangement of Three Ravens worthy of Steeleye Span…. tragedy, action, excitement, and humor, to say nothing of sex, drugs, and even rock ‘n’ roll. You couldn’t ask for more.” Festival-goers at Mystic Seaport, Champlain Valley, Fox Valley, and Old Songs have thrilled to his Child Ballad show “Songs of Trial and Triumph.”

In concert, Brian Peters’ musical integrity, compelling energy, and easy rapport quickly draw in his audience. A fine teacher, he is in demand in Europe and the States for vocal and instrumental workshops. When he isn’t busy nosing out new old material, performing, and teaching, he’s likely to be found in a recording studio: 12 fine albums to date, with his latest, Gritstone Serenade earning rave reviews.

Local dancers take note: Brian composes traditional-style dance tunes as well as researching dances and songs from rare old manuscripts, and is a powerful force in the resurrection of dance music from Northern England; there will be room in the hall for you to leave your seats and dance as the music moves you.

It takes a volcano to stop this fellow. Last year, when the Iceland volcano grounded all trans-Atlantic flights, we had to cancel Brian Peters’ Ithaca concert. But the Cornell Folk Song Society rebooked him immediately for his next available trip ‘cross the Pond. With typical vigor, he’s made up for last year’s cancelled shows by doing five East and West Coast tours in 2011. Please make welcome this thoroughly grounded, well-rounded angular Anglo!

Tickets: $15 advance/$17 door; $3 rebates at door for members, seniors, teens; children free. CU students $10/$12. Tickets at Ithaca Guitar Works, GreenStar, Bound for Glory, Autumn Leaves Book Store, Ludgate Farms, and online <http://www.cornellfolksong.org/>. Info: website or 607-279-2027 or mbs19@cornell.edu.

– Margaret Shepard

Clayfoot STRUTTERS CONTRA DANCE, Saturday, 8 Oct.: DOUBLE FEATURE!

4-6 pm and 8-11 pm dancing; 6:15 pm potluck; beginners’ workshop 7:30 pm Beverly Martin Elementary School, 302 W. Buffalo St., Ithaca

Every October, legendary caller George Marshall brings with him from New England a mighty fine band for a Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca contra dance. We’ve delighted to Nightingale, Wild Asparagus, and Swallowtail; this time ‘round it’s the glorious Clayfoot Strutters. They were last in Ithaca many years back for the Fiddlehead Frolic; you don’t want to miss them! They’re veterans of the Dance Flurry, Falcon Ridge, and other dance festivals, camps, and musical partnerships too numerous to list. The stellar band includes our own Harry Aceto (bass), Vermonters Pete Sutherland (fiddle, piano, and vocals), Jeremiah McLane (accordion and piano), and Lee Blackwell (drums, guitar and vocals), plus Peter Davis (guitar, piano and sax) from Saratoga and Mark Roberts (flute) from the Pacific Northwest.

Since 1990, the Strutters have set the pace for creative musical fusions that really sizzle on the dance floor. With uninhibited, fluid playfulness and tight, brilliant instrumental work, they’re masters at arranging and composing contra dance tunes that meld disparate styles: traditional New England, Celtic, and Quebecois with jazz, swing, and pop, and hot grooves based in Latin, Afropop, Cajun, and Zydeco dance. This is one of the few bands that can pull off this level of diversity, holding dancers to the beat while bringing out their full expressiveness on the floor. Contra bliss is guaranteed.

This event is a special “double-header”: an afternoon session for experienced dancers, and an evening dance for everyone. Newcomers are encouraged to try this old, but freshly evolving, form of community dance. The steps and patterns are simple and quickly learned, particularly as taught by gracious caller George Marshall, who is adept at leading smooth, fun dances with clear, brief walk-throughs.

Between the two sessions there will be a potluck supper in the cafeteria. Please bring a generous dish to share! You don’t need to bring a partner to the dance, but please do bring clean, soft-soled shoes to protect the floor.

Cost varies by session, with discounts for HFDI members. Call 607-539-3174 or visit www.hands4dancers.org for more information. HFDI is an all-volunteer community-run organization, with membership open to all

– Margaret Shepard