Ever wish you could bring the kids to the Folk Club, or wish you had a sitter so that you could come yourself? For all those families with kids, and kid-loving others, here is a special evening to which you are especially invited. On Friday, July 28th, the Singing Room will open early at 7:30 P.M., to encourage youngsters and their folks to attend. But all are welcome to join in the singing. The theme that night is "Music," and from 7:30 to about 9:00 P.M. we will share kids' music, or music about kids and families. After 9:00 P.M., any kind of music will do! Please spread the word to bring children that night. If this experiment works, we'll add a kid-friendly early Friday evening gathering every now and then.
Faith's 85th and Piper's 45 birthdays will be celebrated at the Freight and Salvage on September 13, 2000. Proceeds are a benefit for the Freight. Mark your calendars now!
Dick Holdstock is looking for a good folkie venue for his Limey friend Richard Grainger to perform in Southern California on Wednesday, November 8. Dick writes, "I am mostly interested in getting folkies to hear him (preferably a house concert) so that he can make some contacts in the South. The date is specific because I am doing a 4 hour AM job in Long Beach on the 9th and Richard has several other gigs. Richard is well known in UK and from SF to Vancouver in the states. He is a great musician and performer of traditional music and his own material in the traditional idiom. Carol and I will drive Richard down south and could also perform our stuff. Richard needs to make $300 and Carol and I are willing to cover the guarantee from the proceeds of my job in Long Beach so who ever puts him on will not have to worry about the cost. Any other suggestions will be greatly appreciated." DHoldstock@aol.com
Sing Out! Magazine, which published SSFMCer Mike Bechler's "Forty Sturdy Lumberjacks" last issue announces three songs by west coast authors to be in the next issue (that'll be Vol.44 #3): Kathy Kallick's "Wings", Dave Carter's "When I Go" and David Roth's "Cutter of Stone." Editor Mark Moss writes: "I'm receptive and interested in passing along more from the west coast-fire 'em my way." And may we remind everyone again that a subscription to Sing Out! is $22 a year for four issues full of songs, articles, columns-Faith's "Folk Process" for example-and many other items of interest to all folkies. No one should be missing it! P O Box 5460, Bethlehem PA 18015-0460.
Bob Everhart and his wife Sheila are bringing their "Great Plains and Prairie Music Tour" to California November 29 through December 17. A reviewer writes, "The music is real country, not Nash-Trash, good solid vocals, fine pickin' and no drums, choirs or electric amps.. . " To book, contact Prairie Music, LTD. P O Box 492, Anita, Iowa 50020, phone/fax 712-762-4363, E-mail bobeverhart@yahoo.com.
Mike Cogan of Bay Records announces a reduction in duplication prices. For example, 1000 CDs with 2-page folder is $1650 from supplied art work and master. (What's happened is that the expensive film strip is eliminated.) Contact Mike at 510-428,2002, mcogan@bayrec.com, or 1741 Alcatraz Ave., Berkeley CA 94703.
Madge Strong writes that she's moved to 800 N Bush in Ukiah where she continues to direct the Ukiah chorus, is recording a CD of her new songs and plans to be singing for seniors and kids in the Ukiah area. Faith writes:
When I was touring with the Chautauqua troupe last summer one of our performance and workshop series took place in Eureka, Montana. There we met and enjoyed the music of "real" down home folk musicians who meet regularly (not unlike SFFMC) to sing and jam and who played for and with us at one of our nightly campfires. One of these, Ray Jacobs, is one of the truly most extraordinary people I've met. He's a master of the fiddle and some other instruments and makes lots of them with unusual materials and designs. I got to see a grand bass, a fiddle and a few other instruments he has crafted. Having retired from something or other he spends a good deal of time in schools playing music with kids and leaving behind his home-made dulcimers and instructions for playing. Probably his most unusual group is the "Cardboard Band."
Ray writes "We played for the kick-off dinner of our local Rendezvous Celebration. There were six of us playing cardboard instruments I'd made: fiddles, a guitar, dulcimer, washtub type (box) bass, and a five string banjo. It's been fun developing instruments with cardboard backs, sides and tops. The challenge has been to devise an internal bracing structure that will adequately withstand the string tension, and to get good tone from the instrument. I'm satisfied on both counts."
I certainly hope to get back to Eureka, Montana. - Faith
Lee Baker Haggerty, co-founder and president of Folk Legacy Records, died on March 31, 2000. He will be long remembered through his legacy of helping to produce 125 recordings, cassettes and compact discs of folk music old and new. -Faith
Does anyone know of a guitarist who might be interested in playing traditional Cajun-Creole dance music? We have a core group of four people, practice together regularly and play the occasional gig. We are looking for a regular guitarist. If you have any ideas, please get in touch! Thank you. Blair Kilpatrick blairk1@home.com
The Folk Alliance, of which SFFMC is a member, has published a directory of Folk Music Societies and Organizations, artists and other valuable information for working musicians and persons just traveling who want to know what's available in different areas. The Directory includes information on organizations, folk, art, cultural; broadcast & print media; the recording industry; schools and camps; agents; performers and other items. Cost: $50 plus $7 shipping. E-mail or write for more information: Tony@folk.org 1001 Connecticut Ave. NW, WDC 20036
Folkways is coming out with a 5 CD box set of songs from the Broadside years. Proceeds are a benefit for Sis Cunningham who started and edited Broadside, the early publication where many singer/song writers, including Bob Dylan, got their start for the great folk explosion of the 1960s.
Victory Review is the excellent publication that give news of events, people, recordings, etc. and has covered the folk scene in the Pacific Northwest for some 30 years. I don't know how anyone up there could get along without it. The May issue notes other publications (including the FOLKNIK) and tells of a Festivals Directory which gives detailed information on such events. For information on how to obtain the Victory Review or the Festivals Directory contact: P O Box 2254, Tacoma, WA 98402-2254 / 253-428-0832 / victory@nwlink.com / www.victorymusic.org.