The Berkeley Free Folk Festival will take place on Saturday, Nov. 18 at the Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center, 1317 San Pablo Ave, (near Gilman), Berkeley. The hours will be 11:00 a.m. to about 1:00 a.m.
The list of musicians includes (in alphabetical order, and some of these are not yet confirmed): Caren Armstrong, Shay Black (hopefully the Black Brothers!), Charlie Blacklock & Art Peterson, Jessica Bryan, Quique Cruz, Carol Denney, David Gans,
Larry Hanks, Dick & Carol Holdstock, Laurie Lewis, Lost Weekend Western Swing Band, Bob Reid, Stump Tailed Dog, Marc Silber, Spectre Double Negative and the Equal Positive, Uncle Sean's Band, Danny Torres...with more to be added!
Also there will be a kids' program, workshops and jam sessions, including a Saturday night Irish session hosted by festival favorite Shay Black..and you will be able to have a beer, too! The concerts will last from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and dances start at 9:30 p.m.
More detailed info will go on the Ashkenaz website (http://www.Ashkenaz.com), as it becomes available. If you would like to volunteer to help out on the day of the festival, please call Jane Barker at the Ashkenaz office ((510) 525-5099, extension 3) after Sept. 15.
The festival is free to all, thanks to the City of Berkeley, the Charles Schwab Foundation, and Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center!
Camp Harmony approaches! It's SFFMC's annual ring-in-the-new-year music/dance/tribal meeting/party for SFFMC members and their immediate families. The camp is brought to you by you and me and everyone who participates, so please come and join in. First-timers are very welcome.
When & Where: Again this year it will be held in the Santa Cruz mountains near Boulder Creek (The address and a map will arrive with your acceptance letter). The dates are from 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2000 through 2:00 p.m. Monday, Jan. 1, 2001. Since the site can only accommodate about 300 people, it's first-registered, first accepted. The facilities include heated cabins, many with indoor plumbing. You must be a current SFFMC member to register. Those whose membership was current on September 1 get first priority. Registrations from those who did not have a current membership on September 1 but who joined or rejoined after that date go on a waiting list until November 2.
Cost: Prior to November 2, the early-bird special price for the entire camp is $200 plus at least 1 hour per day of chores for adults (age 12 and up), $130 for children ages 3-11. The daily rate is $43/day for adults. This gets you bed, meals and all the fun you can share. After November 2, the price is only on a daily basis (2:00 p.m. to the next 2:00 p.m. = 1 day) and goes up to $51/day plus one chore hour (12 years and over), $33/day (3 -11). Camp is often fully enrolled by Nov. 2, but Sandy Schuitema, our volunteer registrar, works wonders at accommodating you. On-site registration will be available for $32/day plus 1 hour of work but won't include food. Some meals may be available for purchase from other campers.
Financial assistance: Camperships are available for those who need them. The limited funds are allocated first-come, first-served, so register early. If you're flush this year, please consider adding something to the campership fund. It's tax deductible.
Workshops: There are many places around the camp for workshops and all campers are invited to share their favorite activities by leading a workshop. All concerts, crafts, dance, dance calling, jams, music, stories, etc., etc. are welcome. Sign-ups for the various workshop times and spaces will be posted at camp but if you have something that you already know you want to present, contact Madge Strong at (707) 467-0497, address 800 N. Bush St., Ukiah, CA 95482, or e-mail mstrong@mcn.org for pre-camp scheduling. Families are welcome! Please contact Rae Fixler ((510) 283-3400) to find out about special housing arrangements.
Special Needs: For concerns about health, diet restrictions, limited access, or disabled housing, etc., contact Ray Frank ((707) 782-1009, dadgbe@davis.com).
Camp Chores: Camp Harmony is a community-organized and volunteer effort. This means every attendee over age 12 must commit to giving about 1 hour per day in organized chores so that camp can happen. Even folks aged 8-11 can help in the kitchen or arts and crafts room for 1/2 hour per day. Everyone is expected to sign up for the chores available (kitchen help, parking duty, coffee making, etc.) and show up on time to do them. Throughout camp, there are many more hours of work to do than people to do them, so each year some stalwart members spend many extra hours working. If you see that something is being neglected, feel free to jump in and lend a hand. Our camp is a do-it-yourself affair without paid staff. We all help make it what it is. If you will be able to stay late on New Year's Day to help with clean-up (this would fulfill all your chore requirements!), contact Mary Luckhardt ((510) 233-5065, mary@luckhardt.com).
The Rules: As usual, NO PETS are allowed at camp. In keeping with all SFFMC events, computers, cell phones, beeping watches and other electronic noisemakers are strongly discouraged at camp, and not allowed in workshops or other public rooms.
Please don't save beds or cabins for folks arriving later. All camp activities are open to all campers, so please don't teach activities which exclude anyone. Only dance shoes on the dance floor, please.
Button Making: Start Harmony early. Come to Mary Luckhardt's house in Richmond ((510) 233-5065, mary@luckhardt.com) on Tues. Dec. 5 for the pot-luck button-making party. Make a custom name button for yourself, and help produce the 400 buttons we need for camp. Finally: Please join us for a wonderful camp, and your last chance to welcome in the New Millennium!
This year's Festival of the Sea, on September 9 and 10 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the Hyde Street Pier, San Francisco, has Celebrating Fishing Traditions as its theme. Exhibits, tours and presentations will highlight the history of fishing in and around San Francisco Bay. Music will feature the local sea music community and also international performers. Admission is free. Phone (415) 447-9822, e-mail (Alison Healy) festival@maritime.org
Web site http://www.nps.gov/safr/festival.html
§ Friday, October 6 : Phil Ochs Tribute Concert with the Limeliters, Magpie, Greg Greenway, Robin Flower & Libby McLaren, Tom Prasada-Rao, Pat Humphries, Faith Petric, and Eric and Suzy Thompson.
§ Monday, October 16: Bill Staines, New England singer-songwriter
Further details: Web Site: www.thefreight.org
Aboard historic ships at Hyde Street Pier, San Francisco
§ Saturday, Sept. 16, John Roberts, one of the finest performers of English folk songs. Aboard the Balclutha.
§ Saturday, October 14, Celtic fiddlers Laura Rish and Athena Tergis. Aboard the Eureka.
All concerts at 8:00 p.m. $12.00.
Phone (415) 561-6662,
Web site: http://www.nps.gov/safr/concert.html
§ September 22-24 Sebastopol Celtic Festival, Sebastopol, CA. Martin Hayes with Dennis Cahill, Alasdair Fraser, workshops, Scottish games and more! Information: (707) 823‑1511, http://www.monitor.net/celtic
§ September 22-24 Skandi-Fest X, Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, Turlock, CA. Workshops, crafts. Information: Luana Fiorini, Turlock Scandinavian Festival, Inc., P.O. Box 3247, Turlock, CA 95381; phone (209) 667-1452; FAX (209) 667-5644; E-mail: skanfest@sonnet.com; Web site: http://www.cityofturlock.com/skandifest
§ September 23-24 San Francisco Blues Festival, Great Meadow, Fort Mason, CA. Tickets: $20 advance, 2‑day $40 advance, $30 door. Information: Tom Mazzolini, San Francisco Blues Festival, P.O. Box 460608, San Francisco, CA 94146; phone (415) 979-5588; Web site: http://www.sfblues.com
§ September 24 Napa Valley Festival is cancelled this year! Come to Music in the Vineyard, Guglielmo Winery, Morgan Hill. Tom Russell, The Waybacks, Cats 'n' Jammers and more. Information: (408) 358‑3505, E‑mail: tobynita@earthlink.net; Web site: http://www.napafest.com
§ October 6-8 28th Annual National Storytelling Festival, Jonesborough, TN. Special guest: Pete Seeger. Ray Hicks, Waddie Mitchell, many others. Pre-register by September 29. Phone: (800) 952‑8392; FAX: (423) 913‑8219; Web site: http://www.storytellingfestival.net
§ October 6-8 The Folk Project Fall Festival, YMCA Camp, New Jersey. Concerts, dances, workshops, pickup jams and more. Registration deadline: October 1, 2000. Information: Karyn Grunwald, P.O. Box 472, Roosevelt, NJ 08555; phone (609) 426‑9064; E‑mail: eg122653@aol.com Web site: http://www.research.att.com/psa/folkproject
§ October 20-22 Country Roads Folk Music Weekend, Mt. Madonna County Park, Highway 152 between Watsonville and Gilroy, CA. Jam during the day, organized sing-along and performance Sat. night, gospel sing Sun. morning. Information: Anna Green, phone (408) 379-4090; E‑mail: swmusic@sfbay.net
§ November 11-12 Auburn Christmas Craft Marketplace and Festival, (Sat.) 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., (Sun.) 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Crafts, demonstrations, food, live entertainment on 3 stages. Tickets: $5 adults, $4 seniors, $1 ages 6-12, under 6 free with adult. Information: phone during show hours (530) 888-9921; phone prior to show (209) 533-3473 or fairgrounds office at (530) 823‑4533; Web site: http://fireonthemountain.com/auburn.html
§ November 24-26 (Thanksgiving weekend) Sonora Christmas Craft and Music Festival, Mother Lode Fairgrounds, Sonora, CA. (Sat.) 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., (Sun.) 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Doors open 10:00 a.m. each day. Tickets: $6 adults (Fri. and Sat., $5 Sun. w/canned food donation), $4 seniors, $1 ages 6-12, under 6 free with adult. Information: phone during Festival hours (209) 532-9804 or (209) 532-9905; phone prior to Festival (209) 533-3473; Web site: http://fireonthemountain.com/sonoracraft.html