PEACE AND JOY IN 2005

Save the Date-Free Folk Festival 2005

2005 San Francisco Free Folk Music Festival will be held on June 18-19 at Roosevelt School. Mark your calendars now for the San Francisco Folk Music Club's annual gift to the bay area and a wonderful weekend of music.

Folknik Open House

The annual folknik Open House will be held at Camp Harmony, with light refreshments, the usual display of past folkniks, and a chance to meet and thank all the fabulous, hard-working page editors who produce the folknik six times a year. If you appreciate getting the folknik, this will be the time to say so! (Just imagine not getting it.) Look for a surprise this time - a drawing. The prize or prizes will be music related. The winner must be present to claim the prize. The tentative time and place for the open house will be Wednesday, December 29 in Sommer Lodge from 2:00 to 3:30 pm The drawing will be at 3:00 pm Watch the workshop calendar at Camp Harmony for confirmation of the time and date. back to top

Directory Deadline

January 31 It's almost here! January 31 is the deadline for submitting your contact information for inclusion in the new Folkie Directory. The directory will include all contact information on file with the club secretary as of that date. To update your contact information, simply or send mail to Directory, SFFMC, 885 Clayton, San Francisco, CA 94117. We would like to include as many email addresses and website URLs, so if the club doesn't have your virtual addresses too, send 'em along. back to top

Labor Heritage Festival

The 19th annual Western Workers Labor Heritage Festival will be held January 14-16, at the beautiful new IBEW local 332 Hall, 2125 Canoas Garden Ave., San Jose. The Festival begins at 6pm Friday, and 9am on Saturday and Sunday. Sunday evening's Benefit Concert is at 7pm. Meals are available on site Saturday and Sunday. Festival registration for the whole weekend is $50, including admission to the Sunday evening concert. Saturday only registration is $30, and Sunday evening concert admission is on a sliding scale $10-$20. However, no one will be turned away for lack of funds. The Festival will feature a variety of workshops, displays and performances highlighting labor culture.

This annual Martin Luther King holiday weekend event encourages the artistic expression of working people and honors Dr. King for his commitment to workers' rights. The Festival has become a vibrant Northern California tradition. Union artists, activists and supporters celebrate the diverse culture of the labor movement. The festival provides an entertaining and exciting environment in which participants explore the heritage of working people and discuss the vital issues facing today's workers. Activities this year include (but aren't limited to) song, poetry and story swaps, theater music & spoken word workshops; a visual arts display (including Bus Murals from San Mateo, photography from Local 250, and more); presentations by Solidarity Notes of Vancouver, the Freedom Song Network, and the Rockin Solidarity Labor Chorus; visual arts workshops with cartoonist Mike Konopacki and graphic artist Lincoln Cushing; a panel on how to use photography in organizing moderated by David Bacon; performances by folksinger Faith Petric; Sunday mid-day tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. featuring civil rights singer Jimmy Collier who worked directly with Dr. King. For further information, call David Winters at (408) 426-4940, , or write us at WWLHF, PO Box 7184, Santa Cruz, CA 95061. back to top

Fold-in/Folk Sing February 27

The fold-in is at noon, Sunday, February 27, at the home of Abe and Joan Feinberg, 1121 Ashmount Ave., Oakland, 510-451-1122. The more, the merrier-to help with the folknik, enjoy a meal afterwards, and to make music. Bring a potluck dish and instruments.

Festivals 'n Such

Sing for Peace Vigils

Wednesday Eves At the Vigil 4 Peace, Wednesday nights, 6:30-8:00 pm, Downtown Berkeley Bart Station (SW corner of Center and Shattuck). Song sheets are provided. For more information contact: Trish niGabhain, (510) 527-4277, back to top

CA Sacred Harp Singing Convention

Jan 15-16 10 am-3 pm, Angels Gate Cultural Center overlooking the Pacific Ocean at Angels Gate Park, 3601 S. Gaffey Street, Bldg. H, San Pedro, CA. All are welcome: come to sing, or come to listen!! Info: (310) 450-3516, back to top

SF Bluegrass & Old-Time Festival

Feb 4-13 Venues around San Francisco, the East & North Bay. Concerts, workshops, dances, kids' show and more.Many great local and out of town bands, featuring: Ralph Stanley, Uncle Earl, Danny Barnes, Jackstraw, Foghorn Stringband, Crooked Jades, John Reischman & Due West, Kenny Hall and many more. Info: , www.sfbluegrass.org back to top

Presidents Day Bluegrass Festival

Feb 19 1-9 pm, Analy High School Theater, Sebastopol, CA. Jam packed day of great Bluegrass and Old-Time music. Featuring: Kathy Kallick Band, Rick Jameson & Copper Canyon, Due West, John Reischman and the Jay Birds, Mac Benford, Sarah Elizabeth Campbell & Nina Gerber. Online or mail ticket info: Gene or Kathy Kirkpatrick at (209) 473-1616, . Info: (707) 829-8012, , www.cbaontheweb.org/tickets/eventList.aspx

Pete Wernick's Bluegrass Jam Camp

March 4-6 Los Gatos, California. Jamming tips and techniques for all ages! Open to all instruments and singers. Novices particularly welcome! Expert Instruction; You'll be jamming the first day. Info: (831) 335-3662, ,www.brookdalebluegrass.com/jammer's-camp!.htm back to top

19th Annual Calaveras Celtic Faire

March 12-13 Frogtown Fairgrounds, Angels Camp, CA. Camping, Living History, Reenactments, Dancers: English Sword, Irish Step and Highland, Music: Dervish, Teada, Tempest, Golden Bough, Black Irish Band. Info: , www.calaverascelticfaire.com

Monte Toyon Spring Dance Weekend

March 18-20 Monte Toyon Camp, Felton CA. Join us for our annual Spring Dance Weekend of dancing in the redwoods just east of Santa Cruz. The weekend is filled with classes in Contras, English Country dance, couple dance, and Squares; workshops for callers and musicians; dance parties; and much more! Info: (650) 234-122, , www.bacds.org/camps/sprwkend2005/ back to top

Autoharp Spring Fling

April 2 First Christian Church, 1038 Mc Henry Avenue, Modesto, CA, 1-8 pm. One-day "Spring Fling" includes autoharp workshops, open mic showcase (ten-minutes per act, music must include autoharp), and performances. More info available soon! Info: back to top

Lark In The Morning Camp

July 29-August 6 Mendocino Woodlands, Mendocino, CA. Registrations is open for Lark Camp 2005, its 25th year! Lark Camp is a celebration of music & dance that takes place in the Mendocino redwood forest every year. Sessions 24 hours a day, music & dance workshops with over 97 instructors, dances, parties & more. Workshops for beginners & professionals. A unique aspect of Lark Camp is the great variety of music & dance: Irish, French, Andean, Balkan, Cajun, American, Middle Eastern, Mexican, Latin, African, Swedish, English, Breton and more. Full camp is 8 days, half camp is 4 days. Registration forms and complete information at: www.larkcamp.com, , (707) 964-4826, Lark Camp, PO Box 1176, Mendocino, CA 95460 back to top

Folk Music & Beyond Schedule

Winter's playlists for KALW's Folk Music and Beyond. For this great program (and others) tune in on Saturdays from 3-5 pm to 91.7 on your FM radio dial or listen streaming over the World Wide Web at www.kalwfolk.org. Hosted by JoAnn Mar and Bob Campbell. More info about this program can be found at www.kalwfolk.org.

Jan 1: Songs for Fresh Beginnings: From Judy Mayhan, the late Kate Wolf, Cathie Ryan, and others.

Jan 8: New Releases in British, Celtic and American Folk-from England, the latest from Adrian Legg, Fairport Convention, Martin Carthy, and Waterson/Carthy. From Ireland, accordion player Sharon Shannon. And from the south, new collections celebrating the Carter Family and Stephen Foster.

Jan 15: Dynamic Duos: Great duets and collaborations: John Renbourn and Robin Williamson, Ale Mvller and Aly Bain, Grey Larsen and Paddy League, many others.

Jan 22: A chat with Keb' Mo' talking about how he got into the blues, the influence of Taj Mahal and Robert Johnson on his music, and his new CD "Peace/Back By Popular Demand."

Jan 29: Local Folk Showcase: Hour 1, women's vocal ensemble Ya Elah share their music based in Jewish spiritual traditions and drawing from Balkan, Middle Eastern, and medieval influences. Hour 2: Elisa M. Welch - multi-instrumental countercultural ethnomusician specializing in Left-Coast, Neo-Celtic Folk. Her original songs are influenced by Irish, Baroque, Romantic, impressionist, blues, jazz, and too many other kinds of music to name.

Feb 5: Just Another Diamond Day: the bygone, more pastoral days of the late '60s & early '70s by Donovan, Nick Drake, Vashti Bunyan, Judy Mayhan, Cat Stevens, Richard Thompson, Bert Jansch, and others. Welsh singer-songwriter Martyn Joseph will be our in-studio guest.

Feb 12: Pre-Valentine's Day Celebration: Songs of midnight trysts by Lisa Moscatiello, Paul Brady, Dougie MacLean, Sylvia Herold, The Whistlebinkies, Steeleye Span, the Bothy Band.

Feb 19: Music from England, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Mann, and more. Feb 26: Continental: Music from Europe-recent releases by Gabriel Yacoub, famed for work with Malicorne, Maria del Mar Bonet from Mallorca, La Musgaqa, and more.

March 5: Music and Conversation with John Renbourn: The master fingerstyle guitarist from England talks about his collaborations with Bert Jansch, Pentangle, and American blues guitarist Stefan Grossman.

March 12: Pre-St. Patrick's Day: The best of Irish traditional and contemporary music.

March 19: Coming Home to You: Fond (or not so fond) memories of returning home. Music by Greg Brown, Pierce Pettis, Lisa Baldwin, Iris de Ment, Richard Shindell, Claudia Schmidt, Darrell Scott.

March 26: Gumbo: A spicy musical mix. back to top

Mountain View House Concerts

Here are some of the upcoming house concerts at the home of Daniel Steinberg in Mountain View. All concerts require advance reservation. Daniel prefers reservations be made via email or you can call him at (650) 947-9669. Daniel occasionally hosts other shows that may not make it into the folknik listing--send him an email to ask for the schedule and in depth descriptions of performers.

Thursday, January 27 Gomez/Mendez Duo: Argentine Tango

Wednesday,Feb 23 Sol y Canto: Latin American music and song

Thursday, March 24 Mark Graham & Orville Johnson: Kings of Mongrel Folk

Sunday, May 22 Lissa Schneckenburger: driving New England fiddle music

Beginning Autoharp Class

Want to learn music? Evo Bluestein is teaching a class as part of the California State University, Fresno Division of Continuing and Global Education. With music disappearing from the curriculum, every teacher can learn to play music for classroom students. This class is also excellent for education and music students. Music specialists and trained musicians will benefit greatly and are also encouraged to attend. This class is especially designed to accommodate students with no prior musical training. Bluestein's teaching method ensures that all students, regardless of past music experience, will learn to play music in a very short time. Loaner autoharps are available. Class is Friday night and Saturday Jan. 28-29, 2005 (one unit). For more information go to www.EvoBluestein.com/auexted.html or call Evo at (559) 297-8966. To register call (559) 278-0333

Adam Miller Releases New CD

Folksinger, storyteller and autoharp virtuoso Adam Miller has released a new CD of traditional American folk songs for young folks entitled "Along Came a Giant." It features songs by Bonnie Lockhart, George Cooper, Bob Blue, Mark Ross, Gordon Bok, Celia & Peter Scott, Sam Hinton, Bob Devlin, and Eugene Field, as well as a number of traditional American folks songs. The album features Adam singing and playing guitar and autoharp, accompanied by Neal and Coleen Walters of harmony vocals, mandolin, banjo, concertina and acoustic bass.You can listen to the album online at: www.folksinging.org/order.asp back to top