:: O'Shanigans :: [ also: Notes Inégales, Spektakel & NO'Shanigans ]

Upcoming performances Where is the Dance? Check out this contra dance venue MAP for CNY! Fri Apr 05 2013 - Cooperstown NY - Casey Mullaney w/ NO'Shanigans a Contra Dance w/ Gail Blake (guitar) and Mike Ludgate (mandolin) with Tim Ball (fiddle). The delightful Casey Mullaney (Hartwick ALUM) calling the dances. Great little venue with a nice wooden floor. First Presbyterian Church, on the corner of Pioneer and Church Streets in Cooperstown NY. 8-11 pm., $8- Facebook, Dance Venue MAP. Sat Apr 06 - Trumansburg NY - Contra Dance 8-11 pm. Fundraiser for the Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts! Casey Carr calling the dances to lively music (from Celtic to Quebecois to old-time) by the amazing O'Shanigans: Tim Ball (fiddle), Phil Robinson (guitar), and Michael Ludgate (mandolin). Location: Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts. Adults $10; children under 13 free. Come celebrate the Trumansburg community and the area dance community together in a splendid historic building. Contra dances have been held for hundreds of years in small town halls such as the Conservatory. Come help us revive this tradition in Trumansburg! The steps are simple, each dance is taught, and you can come without a partner. But please bring clean, soft-soled shoes to protect the lovely wooden floor! Sponsored by the board of the Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts. Band www.oshanigans.org Venue http://tburgconservatory.org/ Sat May 11 2013 - O'Shanigans w/ Mike, Tim and Phil for a wedding reception. Sat May 18 2013 - CANCELLED O'Shanigans w/ Tim, Mike, Phil for the Fayetteville Contra Dance. Caller Margaret Mathews (why the canellation? there was a booking problem with the dance hall; it was double booked, the Syr group had to bow out ... bummer! but these things happen now and then). NO SYR DANCE THIS NIGHT. Sun May 19 2013 - Mike and Tim with Renee Baum on fiddle for a private contra dance in the village of Brooktondale Sat May 25 2013 - tentative wedding (pending) Contra Dance Fri May 24th with Notes Inégales (Andrea Katz on fiddle and Mike Ludgate on mandolin) with special guests: Laurie Tupper on flute and Tim Ball on guitar. Bethel Grove Community Center 1825 Slaterville Rd Ithaca NY 8-11 pm $6- TCCD event Sat Jun 01 2013 - O'Shanigans w/ Mike, Tim and Phil for a wedding reception. Sun Jun 09 2013 - Mike and Phil are playing for a wedding ceremony on mandolin and guitar. Sun Jun 30 - O'Shanigans w/ Mike, Tim and Phil for a wedding reception. July 12-14 - HOTAfest Titusville PA., Mike is teaching mandolin workshops for the 3rd year in a row at this fun weekend  festival in the historic "oil region" of PA. Sat Oct 05 2013 - O'Shanigans w/ Tim. Phil and Mike for the Cornell Contra Dance CCDC at Appel Commons Cornell University Campus. Where is the Dance? Check out this contra dance venue map for CNY! Previous performances Fri Mar 29th - Contra Dance Workshop - Katy Heine w/ O’Shanigans. This is a dance instruction workshop for the Cornell Chorale. We could use some experienced student and local dancers to help teach beginners. Fri Mar 29th 5:30-7:00 pm (Free) Room B20 (basement) Lincoln Hall Cornell Campus Arts Quad. Please read additional details here if you are considering coming: HERE Sat Feb 09 ROSE NY - Notes Inégales duo: Andrea Katz (fiddle, viola), Mike Ludgate (mandolin). Casey Carr Calling EARLY dance 7:30-10:30 pm Fri Feb 08 ITHACA NY - Notes Inégales: Andrea Katz (fiddle, viola), Mike Ludgate (mandolin). 1825 Slaterville Rd Ithaca NY 8-11 pm Fri Jan 18 ITHACA NY - NO'Shanigans quartet - Contra Dance w/ Margaret Ball (fiddle), Sophie Orzechowski (fiddle & accordion), Tim Ball (guitar) and Michael Ludgate (mandolin). Bethel Grove Community Center 1825 Slaterville Rd., Ithaca NY. 8-11 pm TCCD. Facebook Sat Jan 12 BING NY - O'Shanigans TRIO Mike Tim Phil Contra Dance w/ Michael Ludgate (mandolin, tenor banjo), Philip Robinson (guitar) and Tim Ball (fiddle) for the BING contra dance. 7.00 - 10.00 pm intro lesson 6:40 pm Music by O'Shanigans Caller Casey Carr (from Ithaca) General admission $8 Students with ID and those under 18 $3 Family maximum $17 At Trinity Church, 44 Main Street, Binghamton (enter on Oak Street) Facebook Mon Dec 31 - Ithaca NY - Michael and Kathy Selby will be co-leading the open band at the Bethel Grove New Year's Eve Contra Bash Party! Potluck dinner 6 pm, Waltzing 7 pm, Contras and more starting at 8 pm. Open band come join in! Sun Dec 16 - O'Shanigans w/ Tim, Phil and Mike for a contra dance at the Tioga Trails Cafe 4-7 pm Owego NY Sat Dec 15 - O'Shanigans w/ Mike, Phil and Tim for the SYR contra dance. 8-11 pm Wed Dec 12 - Mike will lead an open band for a Hobbit party! Should be a blast! Come join in the band. CSMA Ithaca (see map above and FB event here) Sat Dec 08 - NO'Shanigans w/ Margaret Ball (fiddle),  Sophie Orzechowski (keyboard, fiddle, accordion) and Michael Ludgate (mandolin, tenor banjo) at Rose Community Center, School Street off Rte. 414, Rose NY for a Contra Dance. Casey Carr calling the dances! EARLY dance 7:30-10:30 pm. Location link Fri Dec 07 - NO'Shanigans w/ Margaret Ball (fiddle),  Sophie Orzechowski (keyboard, fiddle, accordion) and Michael Ludgate (mandolin, tenor banjo) at Alfred University 9-11pm Alfred NY for a Contra Dance. Casey Carr calling the dances! Location Powell Center Alfred U location link Google MAP  http://goo.gl/maps/O0kyF Sat Nov 17 - O'Shanigans w/ Mike, Tim and Phil for a wedding. Sat Nov 17 - Mike and Phil as a subset of CMEMME playing Middle Eastern tunes for a wedding. Tim might sit in. Sun Nov 11 - Mike and Phil playing middle eastern with CMEMME in Danby Town Hall 3:00 pm Fri Nov 09 - NO'Shanigans w/ Margaret Ball on fiddle, Phil Robinson on guitar, Michael Ludgate on mandolin. Andrea Katz on viola for some of the dance. Bethel Grove Ithaca. Thu Nov 08 - Mike and Phil playing middle eastern melody on campus w/ percussionists from CMEMME. Sat Oct 13 - Mike Ludgate and Bill Gregg "New Money" for a private party in Trumansburg NY Sun Oct 07 - O'Shanigans proper (Mike, Tim and Phil) with Ted Crane calling dances for the Newark Valley Apple Festival (1-2pm and 3-4 pm) at the Bement Billings Museum Farmstead. This living history museum is located one mile north of the village of Newark Valley, at 9241 State Route 38 MORE INFO http://nvhistory.org/Apple%20Festival.shtml Sat Oct 06 - Mike Ludgate will be sitting in with "Andrew and Noah and Friends" for the Phylla Mae Dance Festival in Syracuse NY Fri Oct 05 - Bethel Grove Contra Dance for Pam's Birthday party! Mike, Phil, Margaret and maybe a surprise guest!? Stay tuned ... Fri Sep 28 - Mike with Bill Gregg as a duo "New Money" on mandolin and fiddle playing some traditional upstate NY style dance tunes. Bethel Grove Community Center 8-11 pm Ithaca NY Fri Aug 24 - Andrea, Mike and Gail Blake are playing for the Bethel Grove Contra Dance Ithaca NY 8-11 pm. Ithaca NY  Sat Aug 18 - NO'Shanigans! Penn Yann NY  - Mike, Phil and Andrea with Ted Crane calling the dances for a festival contra dance. 2:30-4:00 pm  Aug 18 2012. Sat Aug 11 - Tim, Mike and Phil for a private party (wedding). Ted Crane calling dances. Avon NY. Sat Jun 30 TBURG NY - Special Contra Dance, Saturday, June 30th, 7:30-10:30 pm. Fundraiser for the Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts! Casey Carr calling contra and square dances (she's gifted at keeping beginners of all ages comfortable and experienced dancers entertained). Lively music (from Celtic to Quebecois to old-time) by the amazing O'Shanigans: http://www.oshanigans.org/ Tim Ball (fiddle), Phil Robinson (guitar), and Michael Ludgate (mandolin). Location: Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts http://tburgconservatory.org/. Suggested donation $10; children under 13 free; discount for families. Come celebrate the Trumansburg community and the area dance community together in a splendid historic building. Contra dances have been held for hundreds of years in small town halls such as the Conservatory. Come help us revive this tradition in T'burg! The steps are simple, each dance is taught, and you can come without a partner. But please bring clean, soft-soled shoes to protect the lovely wooden floor! Sponsored by the board of the Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts. [ FACEBOOK EVENT FOR THIS DANCE ] Fri Jun 01 2012 COOPERSTOWN NY -- O'Shanigans w/ Tim, Mike and Phil for a contra dance. Caller Bob Nicholson. First Presbyterian Church, on the corner of Pioneer and Church Streets in Cooperstown. 8-11 pm., $8- [ O'SHANIGANS POSTER ][ VENUE WEBSITE ] [ FACEBOOK ][ FACEBOOK EVENT ][ MAP TO VENUE ] Fri Apr 06 2012 - ITHACA NY. Back for a fun contra dance! O'Shanigans dance party with Tim, Mike and Phil at Bethel Grove Community Center. Local favorite and funtastic TBA 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). [ O'SHANIGANS POSTER ][ VENUE WEBSITE ][ MAP DIRECTIONS  to this EVENT ][ TCCD VENUE POSTER ][ BAND FACEBOOK ] [ FACEBOOK EVENT FOR THIS DANCE ] Friday March 16th - Celebrate the 25th Anniversary celebration of Ithaca's Irish Traditional Music Session at CSMA The Community School of Music and Arts State Street Ithaca NY - Featuring Dalriada, The Grady Girls, host session band Traonach, and other local artists, including and a children's band, O'ShanigansTip Naog. This is the only irish event around St. Patrick's Day, so come join the celebration! Facebook event Dec 03 2011 MORRISVILLE NY O'Shanigans is playing high energy contra dance tunes with Tim Ball (fiddle), Phil Robinson (guitar) and Mike Ludgate (mandolin) at Madison Hall in Morrisville NY for the Syracuse Contra Dance. The fantastic caller David Smukler will teach the dances. Madison Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. See http://www.oshanigans.org/ for more about the band! December 3rd 8-11 pm $7- [ O'SHANIGANS POSTER ][ SYRACUSE CONTRA WEBSITE ][ BAND ON FACEBOOK ][ MAP TO MORRISON HALL ] [ FACEBOOK EVENT FOR THIS DANCE ] [ MORE ABOUT VENUE ] Fri Oct 21 2011 - ITHACA NY. Back for a fun contra dance! O'Shanigans dance party with Tim, Mike and Phil at Bethel Grove Community Center. 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). [ O'SHANIGANS POSTER ][ VENUE WEBSITE ][ MAP DIRECTIONS  to this EVENT ][ TCCD VENUE POSTER ][ BAND FACEBOOK ] [ FACEBOOK EVENT FOR THIS DANCE ] Fri Sept 9 2011 Bob Nicholson calling to the music of NO'Shanigans! This version of NO'Shanigans is Michael Ludgate (on mandolin) with Margaret Ball and Howard Blumenthal (on twin fiddles) and Jim MacWilliams (power guitar). Margaret Ball is an accomplished fiddler and is recently in great demand for both English and Contra. Howard is well know in Western NY for organizing and playing at many dance events. Jim has years of experience providing awesome guitar playing for contra fiddlers! 8-10 pm at United Church of Fayetteville 310 E. Genesee Street Fayetteville, NY  -- Tonight's Fayetteville dance: we have a new surprise guitar player! Jim MacWilliams lives south of the Susquehanna river in Owego and is "flooded in" ... we are going to miss Jim! But the surprise guest is a fantastic guitar player better known (at least to me!) for his dance calling. Here is a big hint:  [ O'SHANIGANS POSTER ][ VENUE WEBSITE ][ FACEBOOK ][ MAP TO VENUE ] [ FACEBOOK EVENT FOR THIS DANCE ] Sun Sep 04 2011 ITHACA NY -- The band is reserved for a private party. We are playing music for a wedding with contra dancing and lots of waltzes near Ithaca from 6:00 pm on [ O'SHANIGANS POSTER ][ FACEBOOK ] Fri Aug 05 2011 - ITHACA NY - NOTE VENUE CHANGE! NO’Shanigans will play as Ted’s Big Birthday Band! It’s a barn dance in a special location with special musician line-up: Tim Ball (fiddle), Hope Grietzer (fiddle), Mike Ludgate (mandolin), Jim MacWilliams (guitar) w/ guest Martha Carpenter (flute & feet)! To get there: GoogleMap “814 Comfort Road Ithaca NY” Schedule: 6:00 pm Potluck Dinner, 7:00 pm Open Waltz Jam, 8:00 pm Contras w/ the NO’Shanigans birthday band. This is a Barn Dance at Pam and Ted’s new rural property! Wear sneakers, bring a dish to pass and utensils, bring battery lanterns. There is no running water. Arrive early, this will be lots of fun! Admission: FREE (donations to hat)  [ O'SHANIGANS POSTER ][ TCCD WEBSITE ][ MAP DIRECTIONS  to this EVENT ][ TCCD current POSTER ][ BAND FACEBOOK ] [ FACEBOOK EVENT FOR THIS DANCE ] Fri July 8 2011 SYRACUSE NY -- O'Shanigans! "Come see caller Paul Wilde who is visiting from Providence, Rhode Island; irresistible music by the O'Shanigans." Tim, Mike and Phil for a contra dance. This will be a FUN DANCE! More details: 8:00 - 11:00 pm Friday July 8th at The United Church of Fayetteville on 310 E. Genesee Street in Fayetteville, NY. Sponsored by Syracuse Country Dancers! Admission $7- Don't miss this dance! This is an authentic old New England style venue with a newly refinished dance floor! Bring clean shoes, a water bottle and YOUR FRIENDS! All dances taught, No partner needed.[ O'SHANIGANS POSTER ][ VENUE WEBSITE ][ FACEBOOK ][ MAP TO VENUE ] [ FACEBOOK EVENT FOR THIS DANCE ] Sat Jun 18 12-3 pm -- Phil, Tim and Mike performing under the band name "Spektakel" for the Scandinavian Festival at Swedish Hill Winery ."Spektakel"  is the Swedish word for shenanigans the dubious but humorous origin of our band name. More about the Scandinavian Festival at Swedish Hill from their website: "Be Swedish for a Day! Enjoy Scandinavian food(fee for food), music and unique arts & craft exhibitors while dancing around our Maypole! Many wine specials as well." [ O'SHANIGANS POSTER ][ FACEBOOK ][ GOOGLE MAPS LINK TO WINERY ] Fri May 27 2011 -- ITHACA NY --  Celebrate the end of the semester with an O'Shanigans dance party with Tim, Mike and Phil along with special guest Martha Carpenter (flute and feet) at Bethel Grove Community Center. 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). [ O'SHANIGANS POSTER ][ VENUE WEBSITE ][ MAP DIRECTIONS  to this EVENT ][ TCCD VENUE POSTER ][ BAND FACEBOOK ] [ FACEBOOK EVENT FOR THIS DANCE ] Fri May 06 2011 -- OSWEGO NY (North by Lake Ontario!) -- NO'Shanigans has been invited to perform at the Ontario Center for Performing Arts in Oswego NY for a contra dance at this great venue. 7:30-10:30 pm. David Smukler is calling the dances! Margaret Ball (fiddle), Phil Robinson (guitar), Mike Ludgate (mandolin).  [ O'SHANIGANS POSTER ][ VENUE WEB ][ FACEBOOK ] [ DIRECTIONS GOOGLE MAP LINK ] Thu Apr 28 -- ITHACA NY -- Contra Dance "Spring Fling" Fundraiser!! [ open to all; probably lots of beginners! ] for Animal Science trip abroad 8-11 pm. Caller Ted Crane. The Cornell Dairy Spanish Club will be hosting a FUNDRAISING contra dance with live music by the NO'Shanigans (Margaret Ball on fiddle, Mike on mandolin, Phil on guitar) and dances called and taught by Ted Crane! Beginners are especially welcomed to this event. ALL DANCES TAUGHT. Funds will go to an overseas trip for the Spanish Class. ¡Please come and help us make this event even better than last year! Cornell Livestock Pavillion 48 Judd Falls Road Ithaca, NY [ O'SHANIGANS POSTER ][ DIRECTIONS GOOGLE MAP ][ FACEBOOK  EVENT ] Sat Apr 30 -- ITHACA NY -- O'Shanigans with Tim, Phil and Mike at Risley Hall on Cornell Campus, Sat April 30th from 3-5 pm for their "Spring Faire". This is a contra and square dance with Casey Carr calling the dances. Open to the general Cornell Community: limited to college age participants. Spring Faire at Risley Hall:  [ O'SHANIGANS POSTER ][ VENUE WEBSITE ][ DIRECTIONS GOOGLE MAP ][ TCCD VENUE POSTER ][ FACEBOOK ] Fri APR 15 -- PINE LAKE CAMPUS Hartwick College -- O'Shanigans will be playing high energy dance tunes with Peter Blue calling the dances from 8-11 pm at 1894 Charlotte Creek Road in Davenport NY in the Vaudevillian Building. Don't miss this celebration of the roots of New England folk dance! This is an authentic Old New England style venue! Bring clean shoes, a water bottle and YOUR FRIENDS! All dances taught, No partner needed. Admission: This event is FREE for Hartwick students, all others a donation of $5-10 dollars would be terrific to support future events like this. PARKING: Please park in the parking lot by Robertson Lodge, The Vaudevillian is down the hill towards the lake. [ O'SHANIGANS POSTER ][ FACEBOOK ] [ FACEBOOK EVENT ][ GOOGLE MAP LINK ] Sat Apr 16 2011 ITHACA NY -- Fiddlehead Frolic presented by Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca. O'Shanigans has been invited to play at this awesome all day dance festival! Time: Noon-11:00 pm. Location: Boynton Middle School 1601 North Cayuga Street Ithaca, NY. The headliner band is Elixer with Nils Friedland calling. Elixir performs tightly crafted music drawing on a wide range of styles and evoking a variety of moods. Elegant melodies evolve into raucous dixieland horn riffs; transcendent harmonies, playful improvisations, and rock, swing and reggae-inspired rhythms weave in and out of traditional and original Irish, French Canadian and New England tunes. [ VENUE WEBSITE ][ FACEBOOK ][ FACEBOOK EVENT ][ DIRECTIONS MAP ] Sun Apr 17 2011 -- OWEGO NY (South near Binghamton!) -- O'Shanigans at Ahwaga! The very personable TBA from Syracuse NY will be calling the dances! O'Shanigans visit the Southern Tier for a Contra Dance at Tioga Trails Cafe at 50 Lake Street in Owego NY from 4-7 pm. Admission $7- 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 tenor banjo and Phil Robinson on guitar. [ BAND WEBSITE ][ VENUE WEBSITE ][ BAND'S EVENT POSTER ][ FACEBOOK ] Tue Aor 12 -- ITHACA -- Tim and Mike at DeWitt Middle School for their history class's "old home days". With caller Casey Carr teaching the 7th grade class about contra dancing in the old days. Here is a link to Mr Pritz's class blog [ here ] where the middle schoolers get a homework assignment about the dance day. Fri Mar 25 2011 -- ITHACA NY -- O'Shanigans dance party at Bethel Grove. The high energy O'Shanigans are back with Tim, Mike and Phil at Bethel Grove Community Center with Ted Crane calling w/ guest caller Megan Ludgate 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 [ O'SHANIGANS POSTER ][ VENUE WEBSITE ][ DIRECTIONS MAP TO VENUE ][ TCCD VENUE POSTER ][ FACEBOOK ][ FACEBOOK EVENT ] Fri Mar 11 2011 SYRACUSE NY -- Nils Fredland calling with O'Shanigans! Tim, Mike and Phil for a contra dance. Nils Fredland has been making music, leading dances, and bringing people together for twenty years as a teacher; singer and song leader; trombonist; contra, square, and community dance caller; story teller; and workshop leader. [ O'SHANIGANS POSTER ][ VENUE WEBSITE ][ FACEBOOK ][ MAP TO VENUE ] [ FACEBOOK EVENT FOR THIS DANCE ] Fri Mar 04 2011 COOPERSTOWN NY -- O'Shanigans w/ Tim, Mike and Phil for a contra dance. Caller Peter Blue. First Presbyterian Church, on the corner of Pioneer and Church Streets in Cooperstown. 8-11 pm., $8- [ O'SHANIGANS POSTER ][ VENUE WEBSITE ] [ FACEBOOK ][ FACEBOOK EVENT ][ MAP TO VENUE ] Fri Jan 14 2011 -- ITHACA NY -- O'Shanigans dance party at Bethel Grov. The high energy O'Shanigans are back with Tim, Mike and Phil at Bethel Grove Community Center with house callers 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 [ O'SHANIGANS POSTER ][ VENUE WEBSITE ][ DIRECTIONS ][ TCCD VENUE POSTER ][ FACEBOOK ] Sat Jan 15 2011 -- BINGHAMTON NY -- O'Shanigans revisit the Carousel Capital of the World! O'Shanigans at the Binghamton Contra Dance. Pamela Goddard will be calling the dances. Early Dance!! 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm at Trinity Memorial Church in Binghamton NY. Admission $7- O'Shanigans with Phil Robinson on guitar, Tim Ball on fiddle, Mike Ludgate on mandolin and tenor banjo. [ VENUE WEBSITE ][ O'SHANIGANS POSTER ] [ DIRECTIONS ][ FACEBOOK ] Fri Dec 03 2010 -- OSWEGO NY -- O'Shanigans has been invited to perform at the Ontario Center for Performing Arts - in Oswego NY for a contra dance at this great venue. 7:30-10:30 pm. Bob Nicholson is calling the dances! Mike, Tim and Phil. [ O'SHANIGANS POSTER ][ VENUE WEB ][ FACEBOOK EVENT ] Fri Dec 17 2010 -- Band is reserved for a private party near Ithaca 6:00 pm [ O'SHANIGANS POSTER ] Fri Nov 12 2010 SYRACUSE NY -- O'Shanigans w/ Tim, Mike and Phil for a contra dance n Fayetteville NY Friday, November 12, 2010 from 8:00 - 11:00 pm at The United Church of Fayetteville on 310 E. Genesee Street in Fayetteville, NY. Sharon Perry will be calling the dances - she's awesome! Sponsored by Syracuse Country Dancers! Admission $7- [ O'SHANIGANS POSTER ][ VENUE WEBSITE ][ FACEBOOK EVENT ] Fri OCT 29 2010 -- ITHACA NY -- O'Shanigans CONTRA SPOOK dance party at Bethel Grove kicking off Halloween weekend in Ithaca! The high energy O'Shanigans are back for a scary Contra Dance at Bethel Grove Community Center with the mysterious Pamela Goddard calling the dances at 1825 Slaterville Road (Rt 79 about 4 miles east of Ithaca) Ithaca NY from 8-11 pm. Don't miss this SPOOKY celebration of the roots of New England folk dance! Admission $6- Sponsored by: TCCD - Tompkins County Country Dances with Tim, Mike and Phil. [ O'SHANIGANS POSTER ][ VENUE WEBSITE ][ DIRECTIONS ][ TCCD VENUE POSTER ][ FACEBOOK ] Sat Oct 02 2010   SYRACUSE NY -- Les Canards Sinistres (aka: The Dire Ducks) for a contra dance. Les Canards Sinistres is Alice Boyle on fiddle, Robert Rosenberg on guitar and Michael Ludgate on mandolin. Ted Crane is calling the dances. [ GIG LISTING POSTER ][ VENUE WEBSITE ] [ DIRECTIONS ][ FACEBOOK EVENT ] Thu Oct 07 2010    ROCHESTER NY -- Les Canards Sinistres (aka: The Dire Ducks) for a contra dance. Les Canards Sinistres is Alice Boyle on fiddle, Robert Rosenberg on guitar and Michael Ludgate on mandolin. Katy Heine is calling. [ GIG LISTING POSTER ][ VENUE WEBSITE ] [ DIRECTIONS ][ FACEBOOK EVENT ] Fri Oct 08 2010    ITHACA NY -- Les Canards Sinistres (aka: The Dire Ducks) at Bethel Grove for a contra dance at Bethel Grove Community Center at 1825 Slaterville Road (Rt 79 about 4 miles east of Ithaca) Ithaca NY from 8-11 pm Les Canards Sinistres is Alice Boyle on fiddle, Robert Rosenberg on guitar and Michael Ludgate on mandolin. Katy Heine is calling. [ GIG LISTING POSTER ][ VENUE WEBSITE ][ DIRECTIONS ][ FACEBOOK EVENT ][ TCCD VENUE POSTER ] Wed Oct 13 2010 ITHACA NY -- O'Shanigans with Ted Crane calling at Robert Purcell Community Center on the Cornell Campus (downstairs 1st floor). Wear smooth soled shoes; no sneakers or rubber soles please! For a contra and square dance. Fundraiser for a student trip to Honduras: come help raise funds by dancing! 8:00-11:00 pm Tim, Mike and Phil on instrumentals [ O'SHANIGANS POSTER ][ FACEBOOK EVENT ] Fri Sept 17 2010 -- ITHACA NY -- O'Shanigans at Bethel Grove for a contra dance at Bethel Grove Community Center at 1825 Slaterville Road (Rt 79 about 4 miles east of Ithaca) Ithaca NY from 8-11 pm with Tim, Mike and Phil. [ O'SHANIGANS POSTER ][ VENUE WEBSITE ][ DIRECTIONS ][ FACEBOOK EVENT ][ TCCD VENUE POSTER ] Thur Sept 9 2010 -- ROCHESTER NY -- O'Shanigans play the Rochester contra dance with Tim Ball on Fiddle and Tom Hodgson on guitar. David Smukler calling. [ GIG LISTING POSTER ][ VENUE WEBSITE ] Sat Aug 14 2010    ITHACA NY -- Contra Dance at the Women's Community Building. Dessert Potluck at 7:00 pm Dancing from 7:30-10:00. The ever delightful Sarah VanNorstrand will call the dances.  Music will be provided by members of Contrapasso, Tunescape, Confluence and O'Shanigans. Tim and Lydia are getting married earlier that day and they want you to come dance with them and help celebrate! Please come join in the fun! FREE! 100 West Seneca Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 [ O'SHANIGANS POSTER ][ DIRECTIONS ] Sat Aug 21 2010 -- Indian Head Camp in Honesdale, PA  -- O'Shanigans play contra dance and waltzes for a a wedding! This date has been reserved for a private party (a wedding with a contra dance and waltzing).  Tim, Mike and Phil along with Ted Crane calling. Fri JULY 23 2010 -- ITHACA NY -- O'Shanigans at Bethel Grove! O'Shanigans are back for a fabulous Contra Dance at Bethel Grove Community Center at 1825 Slaterville Road (Rt 79 about 4 miles east of Ithaca) Ithaca NY from 8-11 pm. Don't miss them! This is an authentic Old New England style venue with a newly refinished dance floor! Bring clean shoes, a water bottle and YOUR FRIENDS! All dances taught, No partner needed. Sponsored by: TCCD - Tompkins County Country Dances. O'Shanigans is Tim Ball on fiddle, Mike Ludgate on mandolin and tenor banjo and Phil Robinson on guitar. [ VENUE WEBSITE ][ EVENT POSTER ][ FACEBOOK EVENT ] [ O'SHANIGANS WEBSITE ][ DIRECTIONS ][ TCCD VENUE POSTER ] Sat July 03 2010 -- SYRACUSE NY -- O'Shanigans RETURN to Salt City! O'Shanigans will be playing for the CONTRA DANCE in Fayetteville on Saturday July 3rd 2010 from 8:00 - 11:00 pm at The United Church of Fayetteville on 310 E. Genesee Street in Fayetteville, NY. TBA will be calling the dances. Sponsored by Syracuse Country Dancers! Admission $7- Don't miss them this time! This is an authentic old New England style venue with a newly refinished dance floor! Bring clean shoes, a water bottle and YOUR FRIENDS! All dances taught, No partner needed. O'Shanigans is Phil Robinson on guitar, Tim Ball on fiddle, Mike Ludgate on mandolin and tenor banjo. [ VENUE WEBSITE ][ EVENT POSTER ][ FACEBOOK EVENT ] Fri June 11 2010 -- ITHACA NY -- NO'Shanigans contra dance at Bethel Grove! NO'Shanigans makes their debut for a Contra Dance at Bethel Grove Community Center at 1825 Slaterville Road (Rt 79 about 4 miles east of Ithaca) Ithaca NY from 8-11 pm. Admission $6- Don't miss them this 1st time! This is an authentic Old New England style venue with a newly refinished dance floor! Bring clean shoes, a water bottle and YOUR FRIENDS! All dances taught, No partner needed. Sponsored by: TCCD - Tompkins County Country Dances. NO'Shanigans is Alice Boyle on fiddle, on guitar and Phil Robinson Mike Ludgate on mandolin and tenor banjo. Super talented Canadian fiddler, Alice will be sitting in for Tim Ball (thus the band name twist!).   [ VENUE WEBSITE ][ EVENT POSTER ][ FACEBOOK EVENT ] [ O'SHANIGANS WEBSITE ] Thu May 20 2010 -- ROCHESTER NY -- O'Shanigans visit FLOWER CITY! O'Shanigans will be playing for the CONTRA DANCE in Rochester on Thursday May 20th 2010 from 8:00 - 11:00 pm at The Covenant United Methodist Church on 1124 Culver Rd in Rochester NY 14609. The amazing Sarah Van Norstrand will be calling the dances. Sponsored by Country Dancers of Rochester! Admission $7- Don't miss them this time! This is an authentic old New England style venue with a newly refinished dance floor! BRING clean shoes, a water bottle and YOUR FRIENDS! All dances taught, No partner needed. O'Shanigans is Phil Robinson on guitar, Tim Ball on fiddle, Mike Ludgate on mandolin and tenor banjo. [ VENUE WEBSITE ][ EVENT POSTER ][ FACEBOOK EVENT ] Sun May 09 2010 -- LANSING NY -- Rogue's Harbor Inn. A benefit for 3 area middle school students participating in a special program in Washington DC. We will be donating our music for this community event. [ VENUE WEBSITE ][ EVENT POSTER ][ FACEBOOK EVENT ] [ O'SHANIGANS WEBSITE ] Fri May 14 2010 -- ITHACA NY -- O'Shanigans contra dance PARTY at Bethel Grove! O'Shanigans return for a fabulous Contra Dance at Bethel Grove Community Center at 1825 Slaterville Road (Rt 79 about 4 miles east of Ithaca) Ithaca NY from 8-11 pm. Don't miss them this time! This is an authentic Old New England style venue with a newly refinished dance floor! Bring clean shoes, a water bottle and YOUR FRIENDS! All dances taught, No partner needed. Sponsored by: TCCD - Tompkins County Country Dances. O'Shanigans is Tim Ball on fiddle, Mike Ludgate on mandolin and tenor banjo and Phil Robinson on guitar. This particular contra dance will be preceded by the monthly event, “Dancing to a Waltz Jam”. Generally the first Friday of the month, for one hour 7-8 pm, there is an open band that plays waltzes as a warm-up to the contra dance. Bring your instrument or your feet! The waltz event is free. The contra dance admission is $6- [ VENUE WEBSITE ][ EVENT POSTER ][ FACEBOOK EVENT ] [ O'SHANIGANS WEBSITE ] Sat Apr 17 2010 -- Trumansburg NY -- Playing for a private contra dance party at The Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts. [ VENUE WEBSITE ][ EVENT POSTER ][ O'SHANIGANS WEBSITE ] Mon Mar 29 2010 -- ITHACA NY -- O'Shanigans play an Ivy League Dance! O'Shanigans are playing for the Cornell CONTRA DANCE with the fabulous Hilton Baxter calling dances from 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm at The Appel Commons, Cornell Unibersity, Ithaca NY 14850. Don't miss them this time!  Admission $7- (discounts for students!). Bring clean shoes, a water bottle and ALL YOUR FRIENDS! All dances taught, No partner needed. Sponsored by the Cornell Contra Dance Club. O'Shanigans is Phil Robinson on guitar, Tim Ball on fiddle, Mike Ludgate on mandolin and tenor banjo. [ VENUE WEBSITE ][ EVENT POSTER ][ FACEBOOK EVENT ] [ O'SHANIGANS WEBSITE ] Fri Mar 05 2010 -- ITHACA NY -- O'Shanigans revisit Bethel Grove. O'Shanigans revisit for a Contra Dance at Bethel Grove Community Center at 1825 Slaterville Road (Rt 79 about 4 miles east of Ithaca) Ithaca NY from 8-11 pm. Admission $6- Don't miss them this time! This is an authentic old New England style venue with a newly refinished 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 tenor banjo and Phil Robinson on guitar. Phil is back on board for this special event! [ VENUE WEBSITE ][ EVENT POSTER ][ FACEBOOK EVENT ] [ O'SHANIGANS WEBSITE ] Sat Feb 20 2010 -- BINGHAMTON NY -- O'Shanigans visit the Carousel Capital of the World! O'Shanigans at the Binghamton Contra Dance. Nancy Sperowill be calling the dances. Early Dance!! 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm at Trinity Memorial Church in Binghamton NY. Admission $7- Don't miss them this time! This dance is at a beautiful old church with a newly refinished dance floor! Bring clean shoes, a water bottle and YOUR FRIENDS! All dances taught, No partner needed. O'Shanigans is Phil Robinson on guitar, Tim Ball on fiddle, Mike Ludgate on mandolin and tenor banjo. [ more about this dance series ][ EVENT POSTER ] [ directions ] [ FACEBOOK EVENT ] Fri Jan 22 2010 -- SYRACUSE NY -- O'Shanigans in Salt City! O'Shanigans will playing for the CONTRA DANCE in Fayetteville NY Friday, January 22, 2010 from 8:00 - 11:00 pm at The United Church of Fayetteville on 310 E. Genesee Street in Fayetteville, NY. Sharon Perry will be calling the dances - she's awesome! Sponsored by Syracuse Country Dancers! This is a really nice venue with a newly refinished wooden dance floor in a beautiful large old church! No partner needed. All dances taught! Admission $7- [ VENUE WEBSITE ][ EVENT POSTER ][ FACEBOOK EVENT ] Sun Jan 17 2010 -- OWEGO NY -- O'Shanigans at Ahwaga! The ever creative Ted Crane from Ithaca NY will be calling the dances! O'Shanigans visit the Southern Tier for a Contra Dance at Tioga Trails Cafe at 50 Lake Street in Owego NY from 4-7 pm. Admission $7- 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 tenor banjo and Phil Robinson on guitar. Tom Hodgson will be sitting in for Phil at this event. [ BAND WEBSITE ][ VENUE WEBSITE ][ BAND'S EVENT POSTER ][ FACEBOOK EVENT ] Fri Jan 08 2010 -- ITHACA NY -- O'Shanigans return to Bethel Grove. The astounding Peter Blue from Oneonta NY will be calling the dances! O'Shanigans return for a Contra Dance at Bethel Grove Community Center at 1825 Slaterville Road (Rt 79 about 4 miles east of Ithaca) Ithaca NY from 8-11 pm. Admission $6- Don't miss them this time! This is an authentic old New England style venue with a newly refinished dance floor! Bring clean shoes, a water bottle and YOUR FRIENDS! All dances taught, No partner needed. O'Shanigans is Phil Robinson on guitar, Tim Ball on fiddle, Mike Ludgate on mandolin and tenor banjo. Tom Hodgson will be sitting in for Phil at this event. This is a "waltz jam" night!! come early at 7 pm and waltz or play  in the open waltz band!! [ Facebook event ]   [ more on this venue ] [ poster ] [ DIRECTIONS ] Fri Nov 13 2009 -- ITHACA NY -- O'Shanigans are back!! for a Contra Dance at Bethel Grove Community Center from 8-11 pm. Pamela Goddard will be calling the dances! O'Shanigans is Phil Robinson on guitar, Tim Ball on fiddle, Mike Ludgate on mandolin and tenor banjo.[ Facebook event ]   [ more on this venue ] [ poster ] [ DIRECTIONS ] Fri Oct 23 2009 -- O'Shanigans at Bethel Grove for a Contra Dance -- with renowned caller Woody Lane! 8-11 pm Yes, this will be fun!  this is Ithaca's weekly contra dance. This dance is a great venue for some of the best fiddle dance music in Central New York! [ more on this venue ] Facebook Event page for this Dance, invite your friends!! [ Facebook Event ] Sat Oct 03 2009 -- O'Shanigans at The Newark Valley Apple Festival: with Phil Robinson, Tim Ball and Michael Ludgate - 11:15 am - 1:00 pm with lots of other bands and musicians! Three stages 2 days of music!  Lots of music all weekend! Bluegrass, Old-time and Celtic! Enjoy traditional music and crafts, food, fun, and festivities. Great for the kids! MORE INFO HERE July 24 2009 - Contra Dance with Mike, Tim, Phil for the ITE Suzuki Summer Music Camp at Ithaca College. Sat May 16 2009 - Outdoor Festival: Primitive Pursuits Day Ancestral skills, Nature Awareness and Sustainability Festival at 4-H Acres Ithaca, NY - A day of music, survival skills and family fun at the 8th annual Primitive Pursuits Festival. Wed Mar 25 2009 - Benefit for Habitat for Humanity: Rogues’ Harbor Inn teamed up with Habitat for Humanity to raise much needed funds. O'Shanigans played for this event in Rogues’ Harbor Inn's newly restored Ballroom. Tue Mar 17 2009 - Saint Patrick's Day at the Scale House Brew Pub.

The O'Shanigans contra dance band perform Celtic, American and world fiddle tunes suitable for contra dancing,  general entertainment and weddings. Fiddle and dance tunes from: New England, Southern Appalachia, Canada, Ireland, Scotland, England, France, Finland, Sweden and the Middle East! We currently combine the skills of two of Ithaca's most experienced open music jam leaders with an incredibly talented young fiddler and violinist, joined by occasional special guests. We have our own sound gear and a publicity network to help gain attention for your event. We love to play our music for weddings and especially for contra dances! The O’Shanigans is: Phil Robinson on guitar (Ithaca Bluegrass jam leader, multi-instrumentalist), Tim Ball on fiddle (Contrapasso, Tunescape, IC violinist and etc) and Michael Ludgate on mandolin (Canaan jam leader, waltz jam originator, CMEMME member and etc). We may substitute other well qualified musicians if any of these members are not available for a particular event. The contra dance band O'Shanigans was originally formed by Phil Robinson to fill a fun gig for Saint Patrick's Day in March of 2009. The members shift and change a bit, but Phil and Mike are usually at the core. Yes, you guessed the name was coined as a spin off on the word shenanigans and that first Irish gig! But we play way more than Irish! We have not lost our sense of humor even when we hit a few bumps in the road!  Our email address  oshanigans@canaaninstitute.org Our web page is here  http://www.canaaninstitute.org/oshanigans.html Sound clips -- These are rough drafts really, made on a portable recorder during rehearsals. We are getting ready for some studio time at Wilburland, so we can post some high fidelity clips! Meanwhile, these give a feel for our unique high energy dance style.  Demo CD available on request: we can snail mail it to you if you want! Al Grunwell has made a pretty cool recording of O'Shanigans at a live performance. Ask Mike about it http://www.fingerlakesrecording.com/ From the dancers and callers --  "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 ... " , "O'Shanigans rock(s)", " ... such a fun group of people, and the band was awesome ... " , "What a great dance! Nils called some fun and interesting dances, the band was delightful! The place was packed..." , "you guys really GET the dance thing", "wow .... WOW! That was inceredible!", "you guys are so much fun to dance to!", ”O'Shanigans is Ithaca’s hottest new contra dance band.”, "Tim Ball, Mike Ludgate, and Phil Robinson play with energy and style. It’s party time!" "I was happy to see and hear your band play, it was great! The music was the best I've heard at a contra for sure. It really got everyone grooving and elicited hooting and hollering ... YEAH!" "The O'Shanigans rocked the hall tonight! You guys sure know how to throw a party!" "I was really glad to get to dance to your music- that was tons of fun!!" "Super dance on Friday! You guys were peppy, and there were some imaginative arrangements that made familiar tunes sound fresh. Hooray for the O'Shanigans!" "It was invigorating music, great company and fun caller!" "Do play for us again!" "It was fun dancing and even more so to the tunes of O'Shanigans!" "It was great!" "Mike, you and Phil and Tim were SOLID! I had a blast and my daughter had fun too! Thanks for playing, and thanks to Ray for the goodies!" "We've heard great stuff about you guys: We'd love to have you play at our dance!" "Wow! I have not seen that kind of energy at the Friday Dance in long time, you guys were great!" "That was they most amazing medley ... was there something Middle Eastern in there?" "You guys were way out there like in Hungary or somewhere? ... then you brought it back home with that old-time tune ... the best version of that I have ever heard!" "The band was absolutely wonderful last night!" Musical backgrounds of the current members and guests of O'Shanigans ... Michael Ludgate - Mandolin, fiddle and Irish tenor banjo for O'Shanigans http://www.oshanigans.org and Notes Inégales http://www.notesinegales.org/ contra dance bands. Michael comes from a long local line of Ithaca musicians. His grandfather Morris "Moe" Harper was a local jazz clarinet and tenor saxophone player in the Ithaca area in the 1940's through the 1960's Moe's wife Ina, played violin in a more classical style. Mike's mother Roberta played flute and piano and was popular around town as a piano accompanist for a variety of musical tasks. Mike remembers vividly the multiple barbershop quartets training in the living room as a child with coaching from his mom. This was the beginning of Michael's musical education. He always tinkers with the keys of any keyboard he walks by, but never took a lesson - he says he wishes he did. He started on trombone in 4th grade at the public schools in Dryden NY .. taking some private lessons from some of his grandfather's jazz friends, Woody Peters and Ned Dunham along the way. When his sister took up flute, he just couldn't resist noodling with woodwinds and started playing scales and simple tunes on flute and saxophone and clarinet. This instrumental distraction continues today; Michael picked up his grandmother's violin as an adult in his mid-forties and taught himself to read treble clef with help from a Suzuki book. Then his spouse took pity on him (or the rest of the family?) and offered to pay for lessons. He took lessons on violin from IC Masters violinist Rebecca Anne Geiger Hamlen for three years and at that same time started hosting the weekly Wednesday fiddle and contra tune jam from his home. He also plays rudimentary guitar; thanks to Phil Shapiro's guitar class! Mike has studied Irish tenor banjo, influenced by Harry Lawless of Traonach. He learned the basics of playing fiddle tunes for contra dancers from Ted Crane and Pamela Goddard's many open band opportunities. He has also been influenced greatly by David Kaynor. Michael started the Upstate NY area's only waltz band a few years ago - this is an open band that plays once per month at the Bethel Grove Contra dances.  Most recently Michael has developed a passion for mandolin which he plays mostly melodically in a Celtic style with some New England, bluegrass and old-time influence with thanks to David Surette, Phil Banaszak, Tod Sukontarak and Tom Quigley to name a few. Michael loves and supports the open bands and open acoustic jams around the Ithaca area and attends many of them when time permits. Michael continues to host a weekly contra tune jam (open jam) at his home in Brooktondale NY. Recently Michael has been performing with the Cornell Middle Eastern Music Ensemble (CMEMME) where he is studing Armenian, Turkish and other Middle Eastern fiddle styles under Harold Hagopian and Atakan Sari. Mike on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/michael.ludgate Tim Ball - [ Fiddle ] Praised for his "soulful" and "inventive" playing, Tim Ball is known for his fluid, rhythmic fiddle style that lifts dancers' feet and captures listeners' ears. Tim plays fiddle with Contrapasso, Tunescape, the O'Shanigans, and other fine musicians for contra and English Country dances around upstate New York and beyond. A recent graduate of the Ithaca College School of Music where he studied violin with Susan Waterbury, he brings training in classical music and jazz improvisation together with a love of social dancing and a great respect for the traditional music of New England, Ireland, Quebec, and the many other regions that have lent their influence to contra dance musicians everywhere. Tim's first instrument was the tin whistle, at age 6. He began taking violin lessons when he was 9, and almost immediately began to teach himself the traditional tunes that he had learned on the whistle. Around the time that he started college, he started to play regularly with the Monday night open band in Ithaca. Two years later, he and pianist Roberta Truscello formed Contrapasso. That was truly a "gateway" experience; he has been performing with many musicians around the region ever since. Tim's website http://www.timballviolin.com/ Tim's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=13805841 Phil Robinson - [ Guitar, also mandolin, fiddle, sitar and 5-string banjo ] Phil's grandmother and mother both played piano and sang, and his father played saxophone in a swing band.  His family noticed early on that Phil had perfect pitch, so they encouraged him to learn piano and music theory as a young child and even bought him a baby grand piano on which to practice.  He competed in National Piano Players Guild auditions and earned several honorary certificates as a boy.  In elementary school, Phil learned recorder, baritone horn, and tenor sax as well. As he degenerated into a rebellious teen, Phil thought electric guitar would be way cooler than anything, so at 13 he bought a bizarre bright blue electric with dozens of semi-functional buttons to play with.  He managed to plug it into his mom's 8-track tape player and use it as his first amplifier.  Hard rock was his earliest influence, with Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, Angus Young of AC/DC, and Alex Lifeson of Rush being his favorite guitarists to try to emulate.  Phil took a few lessons but mostly practiced scales and chords endlessly, whiling away several hours a day, many years in a row, from junior high school through grad school.  After the initial funky guitar, Phil acquired a Fender Jazzmaster, then a Gibson Les Paul Standard, and finally a gorgeous red Fender Stratocaster that he still plays today.  In high school and college, Phil played with various rock cover bands.  He started to enjoy jam bands like the Grateful Dead and Phish, learned many of their songs, and he loves soloing to that kind of music.  Also, Phil started to get serious about learning classical guitar, playing pieces by Heitor Villa-Lobos, Isaac Albeniz, Bach, Fernando Sor, and many other composers. With some semblance of maturity settling in recently, Phil got into Old-Time, bluegrass, Celtic, Cajun, zydeco, and contra dance music.  And since everyone and his/her canine plays the guitar in Ithaca, Phil decided to branch out and teach himself fiddle, mandolin, 5-string banjo, and sitar (out of an appreciation for classical Indian music).  Phil leads a local bluegrass jam and he sometimes attends Jay Ungar and Molly Mason's Ashokan Fiddle and Dance camps (Southern Week).  Monday evenings in the summer, Phil makes regular appearances with Your Friends and Neighbors at the contra dances on the Ithaca Commons. Spring 2011 Latest news: Phil has joined the Cornell Middle Eastern Music Ensemble where he is studying oud under the direction of Harold Hagopian. Phil Robinson on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/phiip.k.robinson Guest musicians ... Andrea Katz - Andrea plays fiddle and viola in NO'Shanigans and Notes Inégales http://www.notesinegales.org/.  It is hard to believe that Ithaca's hottest new contra dance fiddler was reluctant to play violin as a young woman. Andrea started playing violin in 5th grade in the school orchestra, because she had a choice between that or taking "Composition and Composer Memory." She took well to violin and made the All-Region Orchestra three times and was second chair in her school's symphony, but classical violin still wasn't really something she loved. But that changed when, at the end of 9th grade, she got a CD in the mail from an uncle who she had only met once, very briefly. It was a CD of fiddle tunes. She liked them enough to learn all of them by ear and then managed to get brave enough to call the unknown uncle and ask what they were called. He told her that it was "contra dance music" and that he was a "contra dance caller." She wanted to learn more of that music, so her Dad called the North Texas Traditional Dance Society, who put him in touch with fiddler Mimi Rogers, who invited Andrea to sit in with her band at the next dance she was playing at. That was Andrea's first contra dance: She had such a good time, she was totally hooked on fiddling. Mimi told her about the local Irish sessions, and she started going to those. She also went to the Fiddler's Dream music and dance camp over New Year's and that's where she contra danced for the first time. Throughout the rest of high school, she played more fiddle and less classical, (she also asked for a tenor banjo for Christmas one year and her parents thought she'd gone nuts) and she finally dropped out of orchestra after her first semester of college at Trinity University in San Antonio, TX. While at college, she played for a lot of contra dances with John Roby and Amy Hartman as "Katzenjammin'" and playing with them really helped develop her skills and tune repertoire. She kept going to Fiddler's Dream and also started going to Ashokan Northern Week, where she met David Kaynor. He really inspired Andrea and encouraged her, and she learned a lot just from watching and listening to him. By the time she was a junior at Trinity, she was teaching band scramble and basic fiddle at Fiddler's Dream, and she'd also joined the folk band "Raising Jane," where she got pushed quite a bit outside of her comfort zone and learned a lot. Physics took over my life my senior year so she had to quit "Raising Jane," and "Katzenjammin'" only playing one or two dances all year. Andrea says: "It's nice to play a little more now that I'm here in Ithaca, I am really having fun with Michael and our special guests as Notes Inégales" Margaret Ball - Margaret sits in for Tim at occasional fun dance events. Margaret remembers soaring through the air at the Ithaca contra dance at age 7 or 8.  About this time, she also began classical violin lessons and learned a few fiddle tunes.  She now lives in Rochester, NY, where a wonderfully welcoming dance community has gotten her firmly hooked on contra dancing and contra dance music. With enthusiastic support from a number of excellent musicians and dancers, Margaret recently began playing both English and contra dances in the Rochester area and is having a fabulous time! She looks forward to whatever joyful moments fiddling may bring her way in the future, and plans to bring her trombone to a contra dance, too, someday. Margaret Fiddles for NO'Shanigans and sometimes joins O'Shanigans and Notes Inégales for some twin fiddling. You'll also see her name on the program for many contra dances and English country dances in Central New York. Sophie Orzechowski - Sophie and Margaret and Mike have done some dances together recently where Sophie is playing mostly keyboard. Sophie is a musician from New Hampshire and recent graduate of Cornell. She grew up in a musical family and has been playing Irish, Scottish, Swedish, French Canadian and traditional New England dance music on the fiddle since the age of seven. She was a piano apprentice to Bob McQuillen, a National Heritage Fellow from New Hampshire, and has played fiddle, piano and accordion for contra dances, weddings, and concerts around New England and more recently around the Ithaca area. She enjoys writing folk and classical music and learning new instruments, including the organ, nyckelharpa and hardingfele.  Alice Boyle - Alice sits in for Tim at occasional fun dance events. Usually we give the band the name NO'Shanigans of Alice is playing. All of us are always excited to play with Alice who is a seasoned fiddler of Irish and Contra tune styles. She received a degree in music from The University of British Columbia in 1990 and then worked as a professional violist for 7 years before heading back to school for her PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from University of Arizona. She also spent time in the Colorado area where she became musical friends with Hope Grietzer (at a festival in Winfield Kansas). Alice visited Ithaca while on academic leave from from The University of Western Ontario and played for some contra dances during the spring and early summer of 2010 while conducting research in ornithology on tree swallows . Alice now fiddles in a variety of styles for the pure joy of it! We expect her back in CNY every now and then, stay tuned! Alice fiddles for NO'Shanigans and Les Canards Sinistres (aka: The Dire Ducks http://direducks.webs.com/ ). Robert Rosenberg - Robert will be stting in for Phil at some dances. Robert loves to play tunes, especially for dancers.  After years of playing bluegrass, he realized that contra dance melodies were his passion.  Robert grew up in Philadelphia and has been living most of his life in Colorado... so there is no genetic or cultural explanation for his love of Irish, Scottish, Appalachian Old Time, and New England style tunes. Fortunately this does not stop him from providing a driving rhythmic basis for the band and hot flat picking that makes you forget that there is nothing authentic about him. Robert plays guitar for Les Canards Sinistres (aka: The Dire Ducks http://direducks.webs.com/ ). Tom Hodgson -- Tom sits in for Phil on occasion with O'Shanigans. Tom played folk guitar as a teenager, and has gone on to accompany some of the great fiddlers of the Irish, New England and Midwest dance scenes, including Randy Miller, Martin Hayes, Jane Rothfield, George Wilson, Hope Grietzer, Laurie Hart, and Kathy Selby. He has traveled extensively with a Vermont dance performing group, the Green Mountain Volunteers. Also with Celticladda and Contradictions. O'Shanigans Booking - our email address oshanigans@canaaninstitute.org O'Shanigans Press - web page http://www.canaaninstitute.org/oshanigans.html O'Shanigans HI-RES - press photo http://canaaninstitute.org/photos/OShanigans_press.jpg O'Shanigans Stage Plan http://www.canaaninstitute.org/oshanigans_stage.html O'Shanigans More Photos http://picasaweb.google.com/michael.ludgate/OShanigans# O'Shanigans Current Poster: http://canaaninstitute.org/docs/Oshanigans_current_poster.pdf O'Shanigans on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/oshanigans More about Contra Dancing: WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR FIRST DANCE Contra dancing is easy to learn. It's so easy to learn that you don't take lessons. Just show up at a dance and by the end of the first night you'll have learned all the dance moves and you will be able to enjoy the next dance even more. People are friendly and welcoming to beginners. The age range is from kids to folks that have been around for a while. Both singles and doubles come to contra dances and women as well as men ask people to dance. It is usual that you change partners after every dance. You will meet people in a relaxed, pleasant, smoke and alcohol free atmosphere. The patterns of the dance can be a tad confusing at first but remember everyone had a first time and that other dancers will help you. Listen to the caller and the music and go with the flow of the dance. Some people find they get dizzy at first. Looking directly at the person you are dancing with eliminates this sensation. For many, the music is what keeps them coming back as it is exciting and lively. People come to dance, hear the music, socialize and have a good time. WHAT TO WEAR? Wear smooth soled shoes and comfortable light weight clothing. Some halls require non-street shoes so make sure the soles of shoes aren't bringing grit onto the dance floor. Most people bring a bottle of drinking water. Contra dancing is joyous so it's important that you bring a smile. Adapted from http://www.greatmeadowmusic.com/music.html More information about contra dancing: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=31552309563 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contra_dance http://tedcrane.com/DanceDB/DisplayDance.com/US_NY_ITH_TCCD http://tedcrane.com/DanceDB/DisplayBand.com?key=OSHANIGANS http://hands4dancers.org/ http://www.syracusecountrydancers.org/ http://contra.binghamtondance.org/contra_calendar.htm http://www.thedancegypsy.com/ http://www.thedancegypsy.com/performerList.php?band=Oshanigans http://www.sbcds.org/contradance/whatis/ O'Shanigans Booking - our email address oshanigans@canaaninstitute.org O'Shanigans Press - web page http://www.canaaninstitute.org/oshanigans.html O'Shanigans HI-RES - press photo http://canaaninstitute.org/photos/OShanigans_press.jpg O'Shanigans Stage Plan http://www.canaaninstitute.org/oshanigans_stage.html O'Shanigans More Photos http://picasaweb.google.com/michael.ludgate/OShanigans# O'Shanigans Current Poster: http://canaaninstitute.org/docs/Oshanigans_current_poster.pdf O'Shanigans on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/oshanigans

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ithaca and the Finger Lakes. Wedding Music. Wedding music Ithaca. music for weddings. contra dance music for weddings. contra for wedding. Ithaca contra. new york weddings. new york contras. contra dance. contradance. square dance. Canaaninstitute.org The Canaan Institute Web pages for Mike's Music and the BikeSki Forums in Ithaca NY and CNY, contra tune jam, tune books, new england music, outdoor excercise, cross country ski, mountain bike, folk music, open jam ithaca, celtic music ithaca, fiddle jam ithaca, your friends and neighbors ithaca, yfn, ithaca farm market, farmers market, ithaca natural foods, hammond hill state forest, ithaca organic foods, ithaca produce, ithaca flowers, olive oil, gifts, Ithaca, Tompkins, Finger Lakes, ithaca farmers market, Farm Market, Ludgates, Ludgate's, coop, co-op, cooperative, plants Ithaca NY, Brooktondale NY, Contra Dancing, contra tune session, Dryden NY, fiddle jam, Fiddle Tunes, Irish session, Ithaca jam session, kitchen theatre, musical theater, open jam session. weekly jam, Workshops, the wednesday jam, michael ludgate.

LOCAL FOOD PLUG — Ludgate Farms http://ludgatefarms.com/ is my family’s farm market and natural food store. We have been selling local, organic and specialty food items for 35 years in the Ithaca NY area. We are open 7 days a week from 9 am - 9 pm, have easy free parking and a bike rack for cyclists! Support our community projects like this list-serve and web space by supporting our store! Even small purchases make a difference to small retailers like us! Thanks in advance for your patronage! -Mike Ludgate.
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