Hi, Julie & Other Fans

Julie in Las Cruces asks why the full blog and folk enews both looked the same when she visited. It was because the most recent entry, the 2nd April Folk Enews, happened to be the last blog entry until now. The blog page and full page may look the same at the top (most recent entry), but if you scroll down the folk enews page, you’ll only see earlier folk enews. If you scroll down the full blog, you’ll see “Gene Hubert Goes Down the Hall,” my Las Cruces Ruthie Foster concert report, and other non-folk enews entries. There you have it, and with this entry, the two will no longer be identical. Thanks, Julie!

April 2006 Folk Enews, 2nd Half

Greetings, Folkies,

First, the New Mexico Folk Music and Dance Society (FOLKMADS) retreat planned for April 29 has been postponed. Planning “The Future of Folkmads” requires many of you to participate and brainstorm. So please contact FOLKMADS President Scott Mathis at mandowork@aol.com and let him know what day and time of year you can attend a retreat. Ideas of locations conducive to small discussion groups, a large discussion group, music jamming, dancing, and eating are welcome.

Second, we Albuquerque women want to have a workshop for women “How to Dance the Man’s Part.” We’ve had so many extra women at dances lately that we’ve decided to take matters into our own hands. If you’re interested in such a workshop, contact Linda Starr at lstarr@hubwest.com, and she’ll start a list of who to contact for the workshop, which will probably be held this fall.

Third, there are 24 Albuquerque dances a year. We need “dance hosts” to volunteer to host one or more dances a year. Hosting would involve welcoming newcomers, providing refreshments (reimbursement provided by FOLKMADS if receipts submitted), arranging for cashbox sitters, setting up and cleaning the hall, etc. We can’t do these dances without some help. So if you can host one or more dances a year, please contact Linda and Bob at lstarr@hubwest.com. Thanks!

Fun Folk Festival Fundraiser, Tuesday, April 18
Don’t forget 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.

Las Cruces Contra Dance, Friday, April 21
The FOLKMADS paper calendar is incorrect. This “Swing into Spring” dance will be on Friday, April 21, not Friday, April 28. Chole and Lewis will be teaching & calling. SNMMDS House Band playing. They’re touting a COOL spring color theme, like those Easter eggs you used to color as a kid. Location: Mesilla Park Recreation Center, 304 W. Bell Avenue, Las Cruces NM. Info: 505-522-1691 or 505-521-7586.

Santa Fe Concert, Friday, April 21
MICHAEL COMBS plays at UPPER CRUST PIZZA
(corner of De Vargas and Old Santa Fe Trail)
APRIL 21, 2006, Friday, 6-9p.m.
no cover
Traditional Acoustic Songs of the West, South & Norte on the Button Accordion, Fiddle and 6- and 12-string guitar. 438-6636

4th Santa Fe Contra Dance, Saturday, April 22 (Earth Day!)
Camp Benefit Dance in Santa Fe, 8 p.m. -11 p.m., IOOF Hall, 1125 Cerrillos Rd., Open mike for callers and SF Community Band playing. $6 members, $7 others ($1 higher price tonight only). Instruction at 7:30 p.m.

4th Sunday Contra Dance, Albuq., April 23
Dance CANCELLED! Artie Walsh is taking a break from his dance series until further notice.

Albuquerque House Concert, April 28, Friday
LISA McCORMICK
Friday, April 28, 7:30 pm
$12 suggested donation
For reservations, contact Jeff at abqmusic@att.net or use the on-line reservations system at www.abqmusic.com/houseconcerts.html
Lisa hails from Vermont and has a lush, sultry voice and a strong sense of style. Her last album “Mystery Girl” takes a jazzy turn, with some lovely Latin touches as well. The music harks back to kd lang at her slinkiest, mixed with Suzanne Vega’s spark and wordplay and classic Joao Gilberto swing. Mostly in English, but a few songs in Spanish provide a nice change of pace (and a preview for Perla Batalla on May 7!). You can hear short sound clips at www.lisamccormick.com

Santa Fe English Country Dance, April 29
Dance CANCELLED! Due to lack of hall, full band and caller, this dance will not take place. But, then, neither will the FOLKMADS retreat originally planned for this date. So….the message from the universe for this day is: turn off your computer, mute your TV, go outside, enjoy the sunshine and dance within. And maybe ponder the future of FOLKMADS while you’re out and about.

This & That
Camp Approaches: 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.

Elliott’s New Website: Our own Elliott Rogers (of Elliott and the Ramblers, plus Adobe Brothers fame) has a new web site and should have music downloads soon as well as more news and dates. It looks like fun at http://myelliottsramblers.com.

Folk Music All Day and Night: Tom and Deb report there is a website that streams folk music 24/7. It is called Folk Alley www.folkalley.com and it’s free! You have to register on the website . Deb says they are very responsible and don’t give your email address to anyone else. She registered several months ago with no ill effects. They also list folk festivals and folk music organizations on their website.

Prague anyone? David Millstone, who will be one of our guest callers at Folkmadness Camp next month, asked if anyone from New Mexico might be interested in a ten-day dance trip to
Prague and beyond this coming October? The website has full details
http://www.dvorana.cz/dance/

Let me know of events to list for May by April 26. Beware, I will only do one blog posting in May!

Thanks,

Merri Rudd
Albuquerque, NM
www.merridancing.com