The SFFMC campout will once again be in the redwoods about a mile from the town of Boulder Creek. It's one of our favorite camps and the same place as last year's July 4th and Labor Day campouts: Boulder Creek Scout Reservation, on Bear Creek Road off Highway 9, south of Big Basin State Park. Camp runs September 3 - 6.
Jams and workshops: Informal daytime jams and around the campfires at night, two nights of open mics, and varied workshops. We're planning workshops on sea songs, Irish songs, cotton mill songs, two and three-chord songs and others. Anyone can lead a workshop! If you'd like to or have suggestions for a topic, email Phyllis at or sign up at camp at the workshop bulletin board.
Open mics: Usually the 2nd and 3rd nights of camp, at the main outdoor amphitheater since it has a stage that can be lit at night. A signup list will be at the registration table.
Swimming: Bring your swim suit! This weekend is usually great weather for swimming. We plan to have the required lifeguard and open the pool on the 2nd and 3rd days. Hours will be posted.
Potluck: Saturday night, we will potluck at the outside dining area near the kitchen, and follow dinner by an open mic in the amphitheater. We are able to use the camp’s kitchen to store and heat potluck items, as well as their pans, serving utensils and sink. Please bring your own place settings.
Hiking: Camp land is over 300 acres and several hiking trails and fire-roads lead from camp. There is a self-guided historical trail about 3.5 miles long, and a nature trail about 1.5 miles long, among others.
SFFMC T-Shirts: will be for sale at the registration table for $15.00 each: blue or maroon in various sizes.
The camp ground is roughly linear with camp-site areas strung along its central road, south of Bear Creek. Many campsites have fire-pits and often there is firewood available. The kitchen area is the center of camp and has an outdoor dining area and deck (with a free ice machine), picnic tables and umbrellas. Also near center camp are the pool, eight tent-cabins with cots, and a bathroom with showers. At the bottom of the hill by the parking lot is a large, flat site which can hold tents; bathrooms with flush toilets and running water are nearby. RVs are welcome; they park in the parking lot.
The paved road from the parking lot to the kitchen must be kept clear at all times for emergency vehicles. We will have people to register campers and direct parking. It is important that we respect the Camp's parking directions, so please follow the instructions of the parking volunteers.
The camp does have neighbors directly across Bear Creek, so any music near the creek after 10:00 pm—the usual curfew for noise— needs to be quiet. If you plan to go late, please locate your circle as far from Bear Creek as possible.
Everyone over 12 years old (except day-use attendees) does an hour of camp duty: registration and parking, cleanup after the potluck, or camp cleanup on the last day. Please sign up at the registration table as soon as you can after arriving. And please, show up for your chore. If you can’t, leave a note at the registration desk so we can cover the time.
We’d love to fill the Registration Supervisor and Cleanup Coordinator volunteer spots in advance. If you’re interested please email Phyllis at before camp.
Click here for a registration form. Confirmation and directions are sent when you register. If you haven’t registered ahead of time, come anyway; there is plenty of camping space and parking. If camping isn’t your style, come for the day ($5.00 fee), rent an RV, or stay in a motel nearby.
If you have friends who are interested in folk music, please invite them. No need to be a member of the SFFMC to attend (although we encourage new members).
We want to widely publicize this campout to increase attendance so we can afford to keep coming to this location—one of our favorites. Spread the word to all your friends who are interested in folk music! We are sending publicity to several CA folk clubs, music stores and other organizations. If you have ideas about where to send flyers, or want a PDF of our black and white, 8-1/2 x 11 flyer to post, contact Phyllis Jardine at
Our very own Faith Petric, the Fort Knox of Folk Music, turns 95 this year. Come celebrate her birthday on Saturday, September 11, 8:00 p.m., with a evening of music at the Freight and Salvage, in Berkeley.
The night features an outstanding medley of folk and vaudeville performers including: Tom Noddy, the Bubble Man; Funny Frank Olivier, Ronnie Gilbert, Estelle Freedman and Friends; Cici Dawn and her Handsome Cowboy; and Faith herself with Peter Kessler. Others to be announced. Cake at intermission.
The evening is a benefit for the Freight, which receives all proceeds. $18.50 advance/$19.50 at door. For more info on the show: www.thefreight.org. Visit Faith's website: www.faithpetric.com/
The fold-in is at noon, Sunday, August 29, at the home of Abe & Joan Feinberg. The more, the merrier. Help with the folknik, enjoy a meal afterwards, and make music. Bring a potluck dish and instruments.
The second annual El Cerrito Free Folk Festival will be held on Saturday, October 9. Last year's event was a great success and the festival will be returning to the same venue: the beautiful and historic Windrush School. The festival features performances and workshops from world renowned and local musicians alike, with open microphone, jam sessions, and much, much more. There are several main stages, as well as a number of smaller performance areas for indoor and outdoor jams. Workshops will be held in several classrooms, along with dedicated areas for the Family Program. The Festival is sponsored by the San Francisco Folk Music Club, the El Cerrito Arts and Culture Commission, and Windrush School. We can always use more volunteers. Check out the web site at www.elcerritofolkfest.org for more details as they come in.
After the print edition went to press we got word that the July 10 Hootenanny had been cancelled. The Hoot is now history.
Hoot impresario Richard Rice writes, “It’s been 9 years. It had to end some time. Thanks to all the great performers and all the people who have come out over the years. It was a special event to be involved with. Please keep supporting the Café International. We couldn’t have done it without their kind support.
“The Hootenanny could not have happened without the dedicated sound volunteers who put in so many years keeping the sound going, especially Roan Michaels, Shawn Scarlett, Doug Jones and Mike Bechler. Thanks to Marlene McCall for all the work she did with those great theme shows.
“Our compilation CD Hootenanny Saturday Night is available at CD BABY: www.cdbaby.com/cd/hootenannyfolk
“Happy trails!”
Jo D’Anna and Julie Larson appear on July 17, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at the Bazaar Cafe, 5927 California Street (between 21st & 22nd Ave.), SF. For more INFO see www.bazaarcafe.com or www.jodanna.com. The Bazaar Cafe is another great SF venue that features regular acoustic music - much of it focusing on Singer Songwriters - and an open-mic night. They have reasonably priced, good food and a lovely back garden. Calendar of performers is available at their website.