April 2006 Folk Enews, 1st Half

Howdy, Folkies,

We made it through high heating bills, and the daffodils, forsythia and hyacinths are abloom in most parts of Albuqueque. If you read (past tense) the 2nd March Enews early, scroll down and check out the very fine new photo of the yellow grosbeak taken by a birder who visited NM from CA. I added it after I had let everyone know I’d posted the Enews. Last sighting of him was March 9, so maybe he’s in one of your yards now.

Susannah, a recent dancer transplant to Albuquerque, needs rides to dances. Can you help her? Susannah is working as an intern at Los Poblanos Organics. She is living on Griegos Rd, near Rio Grande NW in Albuquerque. If anyone who would be coming to the dances from that neighborhood and would be willing to give her a ride, please let her know. She only has a cell phone 240-418-4134, which is long distance. E-mail is hard for her to check – she has to go to the library, so the cell phone is better.

Albuquerque Contra Dance, Saturday, April 1
Kris Jensen is calling and Hey! (Linda Vik and Jane Phillips on fiddle, Chris Carlson on fiddle and banjo, Tim Shaffer on fiddle and guitar) is playing. 8-11 p.m., acoustic jam at 7 p.m.; newcomers class at 7:30. Albuquerque Square Dance Center, 4909 Hawkins NE, one full block west of I-25 and 1/2 block north of Ellison. See www.asdc.org for directions. $5 members, $6 others.

Silver City Dance, Saturday, April 1
The Silver Heels Community Dance Band will be hosting quarterly dances at the THE U.U.FELLOWSHIP HALL 3845 N. SWAN, SILVER CITY, N.M. The first one will take place on Saturday, April 1, 7:30-10:30. Celebrating Dancing Together, Music by the Silver Heels Community Dance Band (coached by Ken and Jeanie of Bayou Seco fame), the Fiddling Friends and Fiddle Club Children Welcome! VIRGINIA REEL, LA BASTRANGE, WALTZES and 2 STEPS, POLKAS AND RANCHERAS, THE BROOM DANCE, THE HANDKERCHIEF DANCE, THE CHOTIS, AND LOTS MORE … ADMISSION BY DONATIONS. For more info call 505-534-0298 or send email to WENTZSIMMONS@ZIANET.COM or BAYOUSECO@AOL.COM.

Solas Concert in Santa Fe, Wed., April 5
Southwest Roots Music & AMP Concerts are proud to present Celtic sensations *SOLAS*
Wednesday, April 5, 2006 at 7:30 pm
St. Francis Auditorium at the Museum of Fine Arts
107 W. Palace Ave., Santa Fe
$25 advance. $29 door. $20 for Members. General Admission.
*Tickets at Lensic Box Office **505-988-1234 * www.lensic.com

Since its birth in 1996, Solas has been loudly proclaimed the most popular, influential, and exciting Celtic band ever to emerge from the United States–the first truly great Irish-American band. The Philadelphia Inquirer said they make mind-blowing Irish folk music, maybe the world’s best. The New York Times praised their unbridled vitality. And the Austin American-Statesman called them the standard by which contemporary Celtic groups are judged. The band interprets a wide range of original, traditional and contemporary material in surprising ways. Songs by contemporary artists–Dylan, Waits, Drake–are given a Celtic tinge, making explicit their connections with the deep, ultimately Celtic roots of American music. The Solas sound today is anchored by founders fiddler Winifred Horan and Seamus Egan, who plays flute, tenor banjo, mandolin, whistle, guitar and bodhran. They are two of the most respected?and imitated?musicians anywhere in acoustic music. Mick McAuley from Kilkenny plays accordion and concertina; Eamon McElholm from Tyrone plays guitar and keyboards. Deirdre Scanlan is the band’s latest vocal discovery, gorgeously filling the role carved out by founding vocalist Karan Casey.

Solas in Albuquerque, Thursday, April 6
AMP Concerts presents Solas at the Lobo Theater, 3013 Central Ave., NE (Albuquerque)
7:30 PM
Visit www.abqmusic.com for details.
Solas has been acclaimed as “the most exciting Irish traditional group in the world” by the Boston Herald. They interpret a wide range of material in surprising ways; songs by contemporary artists are given a Celtic tinge, making explicit their connections with the deep, ultimately Celtic roots of American music. Solas weaves together a fascinating body of material including songs by Bob Dylan (the obscure gem “Dignity”), Tom Waits, Nick Drake and Jesse Colin Young of The Youngbloods, as well as traditionally-rooted original compositions.

Corrales Sing, Friday, April 7
FOLK SONG CIRCLE. Spring/Flowers/Plants/Trees are the April theme.
FIRST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 8:00 P.M. TO MIDNIGHT
Each participant in the circle may lead a song, do a solo, request a song, or pass. Bring enthusiasm, songbooks, instruments, beverages/snacks, kids, and friends.
Contact: Laurie McPherson 898-6978
Email: lauriemcpherson@hotmail.com or lmcpherson@salud.unm.edu
114 Coronado Road, Corrales, 87048
(Directions: From the intersection of Alameda and Coors, go 1.8 miles north on Corrales Road. Pass the Chevron station, go several blocks. Just past the Horseman?s Supply store, turn left on Coronado Road. Post office is too far. They?re the second house on the right, come in past the barns to park.)

Solas in Socorro, Friday, April 7
As part of their Spring 2006 tour, Solas will appear in concert at New Mexico Tech?s Macey Center at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 7, in a Performing Arts Series (PAS) event. Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for seniors and $12 for youth and may be bought at the door or in advance at the New Mexico Tech Bookstore, New Mexico Tech Cashier’s Window (Brown Hall), Brownbilt Western Wear, Burrito Tyme Walk-In, and Video Shack. Tickets also may be purchased from Performing Arts Series Office at pas@admin.nmt.edu or 505-835-5688. New Mexico Tech students should pick up their free ticket by showing their ID at the New Mexico Tech Bookstore.

Durango, Colorado Contra Dance, April 7
A special Contra Dance, in conjunction with the Durango Bluegrass Meltdown, will be held Friday April 7th. The Denver band Skean Dubh will be playing for the dance, and Peg Hesley from Phoenix will be the caller. The dance will be at the VFW Hall, 1550 Main Avenue, with beginner instruction at 7:00 and dancing from 7:30 to 10:30. All dances are taught and called. No partner is necessary, and dancers of all abilities are welcome. Admission for this special dance is $10. For further information, call 970-259-6820.

Santa Fe Contra Dance, Saturday, April 8
One hot dance is planned in Santa Fe, Saturday, April 8. Merri Rudd is calling, Hands Five (Bruce Thomson on fiddle, Erika Gerety on bass, Peter Esherick on hammer dulcimer, John Brinduse on guitar, Gary Blank on percussion) are playing. 8 p.m. -11 p.m., IOOF Hall, 1125 Cerrillos Rd. $5 members, $6 others. Instruction at 7:30 p.m.

Second Sunday Dance, April 9
William DeRagon will call elegant English country and zesty contra dances; music by Gemma DeRagon and friends; 7:00 – 9:30 p.m., Dance Studio in Albuquerque at 4217 San Mateo NE, 1 block south of Montgomery on the west side of the San Mateo between Auto Zone and Bank of the West (across from Grandy’s). Park directly behind the studio on west side in gated area or along San Mateo to avoid vehicle break-ins. Do not park behind Auto Zone. Bring clean dance shoes. No shoes with nails or that leave black scuff marks, please. Clean dance shoes and tennis shoes OK. $6 admission. In honor of daffodil season, we may “spring” a few surprises on you all.

Albuquerque Dance Weekend, April 7-9
A WEEKEND FULL OF FUN TO BENEFIT THE NATIONAL MS SOCIETY
WORKSHOPS **DANCES ** ENTERTAINMENT
April 7-9, Albuquerque, NM
OUT-of-STATE GUEST INSTRUCTORS INCLUDE MICHAEL & DAWNE KIEHM & JEFF & MARY HILL
Patti Miller is hosting her 7th Annual Workshop Weekend with the stars in Albuquerque, NM, April 7-9. Dancers from all across the country attend this annual event. Dances and workshops Friday through Sunday at various locations. Click on: www.becauseyoucan.us to print a tegistration form and for all the details. If you cannot attend the DBYC workshop weekend but would like to contribute to the MS Fundraiser, please write a check to Patti Miller (write MS Fundraiser on the memo line) and send it to: Dance! Because You Can, P.O. Box 90155 ABQ, NM 87199. FOR MORE INFORMATION on DBYC or the following or to subscribe to NM Local Dance e-newsletter, please contact Susan Kellogg at glkello@nmia.com or call 505-299-3737.

Albuquerque Megaband Practice, Tuesday, April 11
Join the Megaband on Tuesday, April 11, at the Blue Dragon, 1517 Girard NE, Albuquerque, 7:30-10:30 p.m. Bring your sweeties, and maybe they’ll play some rowdy but romantic old-time tunes. More info: Bruce Thomson, 277-4729.

Albuquerque Contra Dance, Saturday, April 15
Wendy Graham, the energetic cutie from Durango, is calling and Megaband is playing this CAMP BENEFIT DANCE to raise money for scholarships. 8-11 p.m., acoustic jam at 7 p.m.; newcomers class at 7:30. Albuquerque Square Dance Center, 4909 Hawkins NE, one full block west of I-25 and 1/2 block north of Ellison. See www.asdc.org for directions. $6 members, $7 others ($1 higher fee tonight only).

Fun Folk Festival Fundraiser, Tuesday, April 18
The Albuquerque Folk Festival and Il Vicino have teamed up to bring families together for an all day event of great food and fun. Tuesday April 18th; order take-out, come in for lunch or dinner or both at Il Vicino and a portion of the proceeds will be donated directly to the AFF organization. This is a great opportunity for AFF to get some much needed funds and enjoy good food with good friends. 3403 Central NE in Nob Hill 505-266-7855. Il Vicino has great, wood-fired pizza, so plan to eat there that night. And mark your calendars for June 17, 2006 for the Folk Festival. Visit http://www.abqfolkfest.org/ for details.

This & That
New Mexico’s FolkMadness Camp needs more men to sign up for this camp, May 26-29, 2006. Early registration deadline for NM Folkmadness is April 15, www.folkmad.org has info!

And Prescott, AZ’s MayMadness Weekend, May 19-21, 2006 needs more men to sign up, too. Callers Seth Tepfer and Merri Rudd. Bands Hotpoint String Band and the Privy Tippers. More info is at http://www.sharlot.org/madness/

For you guys who don’t know the secret to women’s hearts, we only want one thing: a guy who can dance!

If you have folk music and/or dance events for me to list for the 2nd half of April, let me know by April 15th. And don’t forget to file your income taxes by April 17.

Merri Rudd
www.merridancing.com

March 2006 Folk Enews, 2nd Half

Hey, Folkies,

It’s been a roller-coaster few weeks with the tragic deaths from cancer of dance composer Gene Hubert, age 51 (see blog entry of March 8, 2006) and Gary Hughes, a Kansas fiddler, dance organizer, and fine dancer. Then we had a fiasco with the 2nd Sunday dance a few nights ago, when the Dance Studio folks did not show up to let us in. It turns out one of the owners was in the hospital, and they assure us they’ll be there for our dances in April, May and June. We caravanned down San Mateo to Lloyd Shaw (thanks, Donna Bauer, for helping us on short notice!) and held the dance acoustically. A small crowd, but the dancers seemed to have fun dancing to the fine tunes of Gary Papenhagen, Peter Wegman, Graham Daily and Lou Blackwell.

On a lighter note, some bird watcher posted a link to the yellow grosbeak entry on my blog on a New England rare bird site, and my blog got over 200 “hits” in one day!

Yellow Grosbeak\\\'s Still at Kay\\\'s on 3/11/06
Photo taken on March 11, 2006 by Matthew Matthiessen, Ukiah, CA, who visited the bird in Albuquerque, (c) 2006

And Trish Woodall is currently “dancing down the Nile” on a wooden boat with 50 others, Joseph Pimentel and Colin Hume calling contras and English country dances, Peter Barnes and Mary Lea of Bare Necessities fame playing. Pyramids by day, dancing by night; let’s hope Trish will post a report on FOLKMADS’ roadtrips.blog or with me.

Albuquerque St. Patrick's Day Concert
This Friday, March 17, at 7 P.M., The Bost Family will return to play. They were such a hit last year that they were immediately signed on to play at the big Enchanted Desert Festival. The kids are all a year older and another one has joined the family since we saw them last. The show is free but donations are encouraged to help them defray their cost of driving from Arizona. Covenant Cafe is located at 9315 Candelaria NE in Albuquerque, show starts at 7 pm. Refreshments will be available.

Las Cruces Contra Dance, Friday, March 17
It’ll be the ‘wearin’ of the green’ in Las Cruces at the St. Patrick’s Day Contra Dance. There’ll be shamrocks & shades of green & traditional Irish Reels and dance. Get in the mood for a party — wear something green or funny. Lots of Irish tunes from our lads & lasses in our Southern N.M. Music & Dance House Band. Chole, Lonnie and Lewis will be teaching & calling. Lucky “Green” refreshments. Location: San Andres Learning Center, 2355 Avenida De Mesilla/Highway 28, Mesilla (2 blocks east of church and plaza). Info: 505-522-1691 or 505-521-7586.

Albuquerque Contra Dance, Saturday, March 18
Marj Mullany is calling and Megaband is playing. 8-11 p.m., acoustic jam at 7 p.m.; newcomers class at 7:30. Albuquerque Square Dance Center, 4909 Hawkins NE, one full block west of I-25 and 1/2 block north of Ellison. See www.asdc.org for directions. $5 members, $6 others. If you’re not at Popejoy Hall for Garrison Keillor and the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra that night, you might want to wear some green to go dancing. Here is Jim Boros’ cyber rendition of our Megaband:

rowdy music happy violin happy guitar happy violin happy guitar happy violin happy guitar happy violin happy guitar rowdy music

Taos Contra Dance, Saturday, March 18
This month they’ll again be dancing near the center of town — at the Community Dance Studio, aka the khecari dance theatre, at 1219 Gusdorf Road. That’s the 3rd Saturday, March 18, at 7 p.m. The Community Studio is located in the complex of buildings at the corner of the BY-pass East and Gusdorf Road. From the Visitor Center, take a right turn onto Gusdorf. Take the 4th left-hand entrance, just after the sign with the number 1219 written above the words “Phoenix Plaza” On the adobe wall behind and above will be the logo of the Taos Orthopedic Clinic. Drive out back, keeping the Clinic on your left. The studio entrance is at the end. They are asked, however, to REMOVE OUTDOOR SHOES upon entering. So bring soft-soled indoor shoes, or slippers, or dancing shoes if you have them. If you’ll be wearing socks (some will) you might bring somewhat heavier socks to give some support at least. Music by Taos Contraband, once again. Lausanne Allen, winter Resident Caller, in her next-to-last appearance before she returns to Vermont in May.

Albuquerque Concert, Monday, March 20
Bosque House Concert #85 with Brian Joseph with Brad Colerick
7:30 pm
$12 suggested minimum donation
Contact Jeff at abqmusic.com or make a reservation on-line at
www.abqmusic.com/houseconcerts.html
A warm and engaging performer, Brian carved a spot in everyone’s hearts with “We’re Gonna Laugh”, a song that still gets played on KBAC years later. He’s a master of story songs that create a strong sense of place and people. He’s also a fairly new father. He’ll show you a stack of family pictures in a heartbeat. His latest album “If I Never Sleep Again”, is all about his experiences with parenthood – leading up to it, living through it, and imagining what it brings for the future. It’s a universal theme handled in a very nice way that works for parents and non-parents alike. Brian’s travelling with Brad Colerick, who will be doing a short opening set and probably singing on a few of Brian’s songs.

Bayou Seco House Concert, Santa Fe, March 24
Fri. Mar 24 – Santa Fe – House Concert – Marilyn Ferrell’s house – 113 Monte Alto, El Dorado. Santa Fe 7:30 PM – for reservations call: 505-466-4469 or mamateq@cybermesa.com – Cajun Snacks at Break – $15.00 or sliding scale.

Bayou Seco Concert, Corrales, Sat., March 25
Corrales Library – Children and adults concert – 10:30 AM , Corrales NM

4th Santa Fe Contra Dance, Saturday, March 25 with Music Workshop First!
There will be a Bayou Seco Fiddle Workshop -Cajun/New Mexican/Tohono O’Odham styles before the dance. 3-5:30 PM in Santa Fe at 810 1/2 W. Manhatten (Lisa Bertelli’s house). $25.00 includes disc and transcriptions. bayouseco@aol.com for reservations. Then go to the Contra Dance in Santa Fe, 8 p.m. -11 p.m., IOOF Hall, 1125 Cerrillos Rd., Wendy Graham from Durango calling and Bayou Seco (Ken Keppeler on fiddle and accordian, Jeanie McLerie on fiddle and accordion, Ted Seeley on guitar and bass) playing. $5 members, $6 others. Instruction at 7:30 p.m.

Albuquerque Concert, Saturday, March 25
An AMP Concert, Mountain Music of Kyrgyzstan featuring
The Tengir-Too Ensemble
KiMo Theater, 5th & Central (downtown)
8:00 pm – Concert
7:00 pm – video and lecture
$20 & $25, reserved seating
Tickets at the KiMo Box Office and TicketMaster
A small number of tickets available at abqmusic.com and concerts as well.
A very special opportunity to see music rarely heard in the United States, let alone in Albuquerque. They are only playing at four venues around the country. The first of their two shows at the Smithsonian is already sold out. This 7-piece ensemble’s new CD is the first in a 10-volume set being released by Smithsonian Folkways entitled The Music of Central Asia. It’s a stunning package with a 30-page booklet and a DVD. The music is worthy of the treatment. The Kyrgyz people were primarily nomads, so playing in large groups is a new concept for them. The group tends to break into smaller ensembles to perform different styles of music, ranging from battling Jew’s harps to wild playing on a handmade lute. There are male and female vocalists, and an epic storyteller. The show is both visually and aurally rich and intriguing, transcending language to capture the spirit of the people. Pre-concert, we will show a DVD on the band and their homeland and have a short discussion with Professor Ted Levin from Dartmouth. Ted is the executive producer of the Smithsonian series, helped Yo-Yo Ma create the Silk Road Project, and has spent decades immersed in the music of the region.

4th Sunday Contra Dance, Albuq., March 26
Artie Walsh and friends calling, One Good Turn (Gary Papenhagen and Graham Daily on fiddle, Peter Wegman on guitar, and Lou Blackwell on bass) playing. 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Lloyd Shaw Dance Center, 5506 Coal SE (2 blocks south of Central, 1.5 blocks east of San Mateo). $5 all. Call Artie for more info: 332-3737.

Albuquerque Concert, Sunday, March 26
An evening of music with David Roth, 7 p.m., Christ Unity Church, 9800 Candelaria Rd. NE, $10, advance, $12, door. Call 241-9627 for more info and tickets.

Taos Concert, Sunday, March 26
ZoukFest Presents! Laura Kemp & Steve Smith
Roots and Contemporary Americana Music with Sizzling Hot Mandolin and Gorgeous Vocals
Sunday, March 26th, 2006
at RANE Gallery, 214 Ledoux Street, Taos, New Mexico
7pm, tickets are $12 at the door 1/2 hour before the show.
Laura Kemp and Steve Smith met in 2002 when Laura invited Steve to play mandolin parts on her CD, May. Since then they have played shows together in Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, Texas and in Steve?s home state, New Mexico, featuring original and traditional vocal music in a duo format. Steve and Laura accompany each other on mandolin, guitar, and with vocal harmonies and both artists will also perform solo selections during the evening. With the release of her fifth studio album, May, Laura Kemp has gained a reputation as one of the finest performers and songwriters on the west coast. She has been a fixture on the Eugene, OR folk scene since 1990, her dynamic performing style, refined confidence and uncompromising frankness on stage, and her unique brand of acoustic poetry earning her comparisons to Bob Dylan and Nanci Griffith, as well as consistently winning her ?Best Female Musician? honors in the Eugene Weekly readers? poll.

Steve Smith has been performing mandolin, guitar, and vocals for over 25 years in about as many different types of musical situations as one can imagine, from hard-driving traditional Bluegrass to New Acoustic, Celtic, Jazz ensembles, Old-Time, and chamber music. In 2005 Steve released the latest CD, meet Me By The River with his retro/old-time Bluegrass group Steve Smith and Hard Road. In 2004, he released his fourth solo CD, a collection of original and traditional tunes performed on voice, mandolin, guitar, mandola, mandocello, banjo, bass and percussion in solo, duo, trio and quartet settings. The musicians include Jim Hurst, Missy Raines, Wayne Shrubsall, Jane Horton, Robin Russell, Sally Barnes, George Rhee, Bob Hull, Fred Bugbee and Bruce Johnson and his quintet Steve Smith and Hard Road. For more information contact: Roger Landes at 505.751.3512 or info@zoukfest.com, http://zoukfest.com

Albuquerque Contra Dance, Saturday, April 1
I have a feeling this dance is gonna sneak up on us. Kris Jensen is calling and Hey! (Linda Vik and Jane Phillips on fiddle, Chris Carlson on fiddle and banjo, Tim Shaffer on fiddle and guitar) is playing. 8-11 p.m., acoustic jam at 7 p.m.; newcomers class at 7:30. Albuquerque Square Dance Center, 4909 Hawkins NE, one full block west of I-25 and 1/2 block north of Ellison. See www.asdc.org for directions. $5 members, $6 others.

This & That
Remember that www.folkmads.org has calendars and info on FOLKMADS events. FolkMadness Camp registration for Memorial Day weekend is open! Don’t miss the opportunity to refine your contra, English country and waltz skills with some of the nation’s finest dance musicians and leaders.

Let me know of events to list for April by March 25.

Thanks,

Merri Rudd
Albuquerque, NM
www.merridancing.com

Gene Hubert Goes Down the Hall

The New England Folk Festival Association web site www.neffa.org reports that “It is with sadness that we report the death of Gene Hubert, influential contra dance composer and caller, from pancreatic cancer.” Excerpted from the trad-dance-caller list: “Gene Hubert passed away [March 6, 2006] at Durham County Hospital. He was not in pain. Memorial service Friday morning at their home, in the garden. –Karen D.” On a personal note, Gene was my age, 51.

Many of us dance and call Gene’s dances, and we are lucky to have his voluminous compositions. Gene’s obituary is a remarkable summary of a remarkable man. May we all be so blessed, talented and missed when we go.

After pondering Gene’s obituary and his impact on the dance world, I am developing a new dance workshop called “The Dizzy and the Flow: a Tribute to Gene Hubert and his Dances.” I will present this workshop at one of the camps I’m calling at in the next few months.

March 2006 Folk Enews, 1st Half

Hello, Folkies,

Those of you who read my full blog may already know about the birdwatching excitement in Albuquerque (“THE Bird Find of a Lifetime, posted 2/22/2006). If you’re reading the full blog right now, just scroll down past this post to the one on 2/22/06. If not and you’re interested in birding history, you can visit the full blog at www.merridancing.com/wp and scroll down past this post to the one on 2/22/06.

Rare Yellow Grosbeak, 2/24/06, ABQ, NM
Photo by Mark Justice Hinton, (c) 2006

But here is something you probably don’t know and will want to know: Lunasa, a fantastic Irish band, will play at the Kimo in Albuquerque on October 4, 2006. On March 15, tickets go on sale to the general public. Visit www.abqmusic.com for more info.

Santa Fe Concert, March 2
Thursday, March 2nd, 8PM
Radio Free Bassanda! Music from the Mediterranean, Near East and Balkans
GiG Performance Space – 1808 2nd Street, Santa Fe
Suggested donation $10-$15
Radio Free Bassanda! was founded by Roger Landes, Mason Brown and Chipper Thompson out of a shared interest in the various modal musics from around the Mediterranean, the Middle & Near East, and the Balkans. Modal music is one of the oldest types of music, while remaining the dominant musical language in many parts of the world. Modal musics emphasize melody and rhythm rather than harmony and they invariably contain a great deal of improvisation and spontaneous invention. Radio Free Bassanda! brings a wide range of repertoire and instrumentation to their performances. Their use of both eastern and western instruments affords them a broad timbral palette with which to weave their sound pictures. Energetic and complex rhythms challenge the ear and the feet! http://gigsantafe.com

Santa Fe Concert, Friday, March 3
Miguel Combs is playing at Upper Crust Pizza (yummy whole-wheat crust!) Fri, March 3, 6-9 p.m. He’ll probably have mystery guests too. It’s at the corner of De Vargas & Old Santa Fe Trail, (OSFT), info: 438-6636. Also, Miguel reports that Gary Schiffmiller, Michael Combs, Michael’s son Hickory, and others have formed the Santa Fe Buskers Alliance- santafebuskers@yahoo.com . At their 2nd meeting, the ACLU sent two fabulous lawyers from Albuquerque, who’ve decided to take their case. Street musicians ( buskers) have been on the receiving end of illegal yet effective harrasment by police for ove 20 years in Santa Fe, and that may be about to change. The Journal is supposed to run a story on this soon, watch for it. On Sundays, the merry buskers meet at 2 p.m. at San Francisco St. & Burro Alley and raise a joyous noise, eliciting smiles and coinage from passers-by. If you’d like their newsletters, e-mail them.

Corrales Sing, Friday, March 3
FOLK SONG CIRCLE. Sea Songs and Fish are the March theme.
FIRST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 8:00 P.M. TO MIDNIGHT
Each participant in the circle may lead a song, do a solo, request a song, or pass. Bring enthusiasm, songbooks, instruments, beverages/snacks, kids, and friends.
Contact: Laurie McPherson 898-6978
Email: lauriemcpherson@hotmail.com or lmcpherson@salud.unm.edu
114 Coronado Road, Corrales, 87048
(Directions: From the intersection of Alameda and Coors, go 1.8 miles north on Corrales Road. Pass the Chevron station, go several blocks. Just past the Horseman?s Supply store, turn left on Coronado Road. Post office is too far. They?re the second house on the right, come in past the barns to park.)

Albuquerque Contra Dance, Saturday, March 4
A special treat with Lausanne Allen calling the contra dance to Bayou Seco’s tunes (Ken Keppeler on fiddle and accordian, Jeanie McLerie on fiddle and accordion, Scott Mathis on mandolin and bass, Linda Askew on guitar!!!). 8-11 p.m., acoustic jam at 7 p.m.; newcomers class at 7:30. Albuquerque Square Dance Center, 4909 Hawkins NE, one full block west of I-25 and 1/2 block north of Ellison. See www.asdc.org for directions. $5 members, $6 others. Should be a rollickin’ good time!

Dance Twice in Albuquerque on March 4
Square dancing for fun on Saturday before the contra dance! You don’t need to know anything about square dancing to have a great time. Jerry Jestin, known all over the square dancing world for his fresh and creative choreography, will call be calling from 1:30 – 3:30 at the Albuquerque Square Dance Center, 4909 Hawkins NE. All ages are welcome. $5/adults, $2/kids.

Durango, Colorado Contra Dance, March 4
Saturday evening March 4th, the monthly Contra Dance will be held at the VFW Hall, 1515 Main Avenue. Beginner instruction is at 7:00 p.m. Dancing is from 7:30 to 10:30. All dances are taught and called. No partner is necessary, and dancers of all abilities are welcome. Admission is $7. Accomplished local caller Paul Bendt will call the dance, with live music provided by the extensive Kitchen Jam Band. These smoke-and alcohol-free dances are a project of the Durango Arts Center. For further information, call 259-6820.

Bayou Seco in Concert, Taos, Sunday, March 5
Cross-cultural Music of the Southwest, Sunday, March 5th, 2006, 6:30-9:30pm
In the Adobe Bar of the Taos Inn
125 Paseo del Pueblo Norte
Ken Keppeler and Jeanie McLerie play cross-cultural music of the southwest that they have learned first hand from elder musicians in the communities where they have lived. Cajun, early Chicken Scratch (waila) from the Tohono O?odham, northern New Mexican, Norte?o and Zydeco styles are artfully blended into a uniquely exotic sound that entwines the roots of these musics. Ken (diatonic 1 and 3 row accordions, fiddle, harmonica, fretless banjo and vocals) and Jeanie (5 string violin, guitar and gutsy lead vocals in French, Spanish and English) met in Eunice, Louisiana 28 years ago, and currently live in Silver City, New Mexico. Their special brand of Southwestern ?Chilegumbo? ? Cajun two-steps, waltzes, polkas and ranchers, chotis?s, meringues and huapangos, and, perhaps a broom dance, is cross-cultural, multi-lingual, extremely participatory, and transcends labels and pigeonholes. It is true COMMUNITY music.

Santa Fe Contra Dance, Saturday, March 11
Check out the Contra Dance in Santa Fe, Saturday, March 11. Chris Kelly of Santa Fe is calling, Music in the Glen (Will McDonald on fiddle and others I don’t know about) are playing. 8 p.m. -11 p.m., IOOF Hall, 1125 Cerrillos Rd. $5 members, $6 others. Instruction at 7:30 p.m.

Second Sunday Dance, March 12
Merri Rudd will call elegant English country and zesty contra dances; music by One Good Turn (Gary Papenhagen on fiddle, Lou Blackwell on bass, Peter Wegman on guitar, young Graham on fiddle); 7:00 – 9:30 p.m., Dance Studio in Albuquerque at 4217 San Mateo NE, 1 block south of Montgomery on the west side of the San Mateo between Auto Zone and Bank of the West (across from Grandy’s). Park directly behind the studio on west side in gated area or along San Mateo to avoid vehicle break-ins. Do not park behind Auto Zone. Bring clean dance shoes. No shoes with nails or that leave black scuff marks, please. Clean dance shoes and tennis shoes OK. $6 admission. In honor of daffodil season, we may “spring” a few surprises on you all.

ABQ Concert, Sunday, March 12
The Karan Casey Band, Lobo Theater, 3013 Central Ave., NE, 7 PM
Karan Casey is one of the most instantly recognizable, alluring and original voices in all of world music. The former longtime lead vocalist with the Irish supergroup Solas exhibits the grace, pacing and richness of an old soul. The Wall Street Journal says Karan Casey is “one of the true glories in Irish music today,” while the Associated Press says Casey has “…a voice so beautiful, it’s almost impossible to avoid falling under her spell.” Her album The Winds Begin to Sing (Shanachie Records) won Irish Music Magazine’s “Best Folk Album” award in 2001. Her latest CD, Chasing the Sun, represents a new level of maturity for Karan and is presented with an immediacy and vibrancy that will delight her fans as well as attracting a whole new audience. Visit www.abqmusic.com for more info and to purchase tickets.

Albuquerque Megaband Practice, Tuesday, March 14
Join the Megaband on Tuesday, March 14, at the Blue Dragon, 1517 Girard NE, Albuquerque, 7:30-10:30 p.m. Bring your sweeties, and maybe they’ll play some rowdy but romantic old-time tunes. More info: Bruce Thomson, 277-4729.

This & That
Folkmadness Camp: You should have received a FOLKMADness camp flyer and registration form in the mail if you’re a FOLKMADS member, or find them at dance tables, or on the web at www.folkmads.org. Now all you have to do is send the registration form in! This 14th annual camp’s lineup of guest callers, singer, and musicians is sterling. Mark your calendars for May 26-29, 2006, Socorro, NM. The waffle machine and ice cream scoops await you!

Outpost Performance Space Concerts: There are a bunch of good concerts coming up at the Outpost Performance Space in Albuquerque. Count Basie Orchestra, Cesaria Evora,
Cape Verde?s queen of morna music, and Susan McKeown Celtic Trio are just a few. Check out http://www.outpostspace.org/ for more info.

Santa Fe Concerts: GiG is Santa Fe’s non-profit performance space. GiG is located at 1808 Second St. The suggested donation is $7 to $10. All shows are at 8 PM. Check out www.gigsantafe.com for more details about each week’s artists and listen to their music samples at the Listen link! This music is updated weekly, so please check back often.

New Scottish Country Dancing class in Taos: Dancers are meeting on Thursday evenings, 7-9, at the Chrysalis School (except not March 30 and April 13, due to the school being closed on those days). Head out of town on Kit Carson. Turn LEFT on Evergreen Lane, just across from Anglada’s. Chrysalis School is about half a block down that dirt road on the left. Scottish Country Dancing is what evolved into American square dancing when the Scots settled in America. It is still a popular form of social dancing in Scotland, and internationally. Great exercise–stimulating music! The teacher, Rob, has taught SCD in San Diego for many years, but now that he is finally able to move full time to Taos, he is starting a class there. Kilts are not required, and you don’t need to bring a partner. Thin, soft-soled shoes are suggested. Rob Sanders, 751-0191, RobTaosSCD@aol.com They also have classes in Santa Fe, Los Alamos, and Albuquerque. Visit the website: http://www.losalamos.com/nmrscds/ for more info.

If you have folk music and/or dance events for me to list for the 2nd half of March, let me know by March 15th. I’m waiting to hear from Las Cruces, Taos and AMP concerts re: March events.

Merri Rudd
www.merridancing.com