ARCHIE FISHER IN CONCERT, Saturday, February 11, 8 pm

Hollis Cornell Auditorium, Goldwin Smith Hall, Cornell Arts Quad

Archie Fisher is a true legend in the world of Scottish folk music for songs both traditional and his own, which are considered classics. His warm, craggy voice and simple but masterful guitar have an inimitable spirit. Raised in Glasgow, he was influenced by his father’s broad love of ballads, vaudeville, and opera and by the lyrical music of the Outer Hebrides sung by his Gaelic-speaking mother. His attitudes toward music-making and politics were in part shaped by hearing the Weavers (Seeger, Gilbert, Hays, and Hellerman, not the Scottish tweed-makers). Moving to Edinburgh in the 1960s, he formed the Fisher Family band with his parents, sisters Ray and Cilla, and Artie Tresize; they made many treasured and influential recordings on the Folk Legacy label. Archie Fisher also hosted an Edinburgh music club where he played with the likes of Bert Jansch and Robin Williamson and penned songs performed by the nascent Incredible String Band and Steeleye Span. Involved in the Fringe Fest, he went on to run the Edinburgh Folk Festival (1988-1992) and hosted the beloved Travelling Folk traditional music program for BBC Radio Scotland (1983-2010).

It is no small sign of respect that the only songs the late great Stan Rogers recorded but did not write himself were written by Archie Fisher: Witch of the Westmerlands, Final Trawl, and Dark-eyed Molly. Archie Fisher’s discography since 1965 includes seven solo recordings and many with other performers, including Off the Map (1986) with Garnet Rogers. The two share a passion for open spaces, raising horses, and creating story songs with soul. The ballads on Fisher’s 2008 CD, Windward Away, breathe the wild beauty of the Scottish Borderlands.

In the early years, Archie Fisher collaborated and produced recordings with a fine roster, including Bert Jansch, Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy, as well as Silly Wizard. The UK has been his regular performing turf, but since the late1980s, he has toured Canada (and rarely the States) both solo and with John Renbourn, Bert Jansch, James Keelaghan, and Garnet Rogers. Despite his many awards, including the Tradition Bearers, Scots Music Hall of Fame, and MBE bestowed by Elizabeth II, he seems happy to stay below the radar. He considers himself not a celebrity but a low-key journeyman musician, and accepts friend Christie Moore’s advice: “You’ll never be famous because everybody knows you!” Throughout a deeply respected career of making and fostering music, Archie Fisher has remained a quiet giant. Please make him welcome for the first time in Ithaca.

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

Festival Description & Schedule

ITHACA NY - In just over a week, the music will begin.   We are excited to welcome you to La Tourelle Resort & Spa for a warm winter weekend of great music from Friday, January 27 to Sunday, January 29.  Following is the latest information on the festival.

TICKETS
Tickets are still available for all events. Only 30 or so weekend passes ($85) remain with over 100 sold. Plenty of tickets are available for the Saturday night concert at the Hangar Theatre, though we anticipate that this 350 seat venue will be filled. Tickets are available at www.ithacaevents.com or can be purchased directly from the www.wintervillagebluegrass.org

ITHACA NY Fri Jan 20 2012 — Contra Dance with David Kaynor and Notes Inégales at Bethel Grove. Nationally renowned musician and dance caller David Kaynor will join Ethan, Andrea and Mike as Notes Inégales for a more-fun-than-usual contra dance! This will be a fun DANCE PARTY featuring “Notes Inégales”; Ethan Jodziewicz (guitar, bass, banjo and feet) and Andrea Katz (fiddle) along with Mike Ludgate (mandolin) at Bethel Grove Community Center. Calling the dances will be various local callers including David Kaynor and Megan Ludgate.  This will be the 3rd performance of this fabulous high energy TRIO.

We are lucky to have two new contra dance musicians now living in the Ithaca area, both are students starting 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. This will be a fun dance!

More information about this upcoming dance: Celebrate the START of the spring semester with Notes Inégales contra dance band!  A fun DANCE PARTY featuring  special guest DAVID KAYNOR with Ethan Jodziewicz (guitar, bass, banjo and feet), Andrea Katz (fiddle) and Mike Ludgate (mandolin) at Bethel Grove Community Center. The contra dance starts at 8:00 - 11:00 pm. Local favorite house callers will be calling the contra dances; including visiting guest David Kaynor and Megan Ludgate. All at 1825 Slaterville Road (Rt 79 about 4 miles east of Ithaca) Ithaca NY dancing from 7-11 pm. Admission $6- (discounts for students and new dancers). Sponsored by: TCCD - Tompkins County Country Dances. 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.

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/204383522985229/

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 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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The Contradictions

SATURDAY, 21 JANUARY 2012: CONTRADICTIONS Dance and Dessert (last contra at WCB!)

Beginner’s Workshop 7:00 pm, Dancing 7:30-11:30 pm, Dessert potluck 10:30 pm

Women’s Community Building, 100 W. Seneca Street, Ithaca

A feast of music, dancing, friends, and fabulous desserts are all part of the Ninth Annual “Dance and Dessert Potluck” hosted by Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca. Contra dancing (7:30-10:30 pm) will be followed by a dessert potluck and schottisches, hambos, and waltzes, 10:30-11:30 pm. Step lively and you just might balance your caloric intake and output! Music is by the witty, high-energy Contradictions: Laurie Hart on fiddle, Rick Manning on fiddle and mandolin, Tom Hodgson on guitar, Dave Davies on bass, and the sparkling Vikki Armstrong calling. Their irresistible fiddle harmonies and imaginative, hot rhythms will drive winter away, at least for one night. Having performed together for over a decade, they’re revered for tight playing; nary a contradictory note. Their peppy mix of Appalachian and Irish jigs and reels, bluegrass, driving French Canadian tunes, lilting Swedish dances, 1930s and Texas swing, and sophisticated tango-waltzes has brought joy to dancers from the Saratoga Dance Flurry, the Brattleboro Dawn Dance, and Ashokan, to the Finger Lakes, where the Contradictions reside.

Beginners of all ages are always welcome; a workshop at 7:00 pm will teach the basic moves. No need to bring a partner, but please bring clean, soft-soled shoes and something yummy to share for the grand dessert finale. Hot beverages will be provided. Info: 607-539-3174 or www.hands4dancers.org. Admission: $8 HFDI members; $10 nonmembers.

Amid the sweetness, the evening will be a little bittersweet. The Women’s Community Building, which has been the site of many Hands Four dances, including the annual Contradictions dance, will be torn down for a new building that will not have a large space for events. On behalf of the contra dance community, Hands Four extends its thanks and fond farewell to the WCB staff for supporting such a diversity of fine events and programs over the years.

– Margaret Shepard