March 2007 Folk Enews

Well, Folkies,

Here is my folk enews for March. Thanks for all of your gentle prodding to continue! I update this entry as I receive new information, so check back occasionally if you want.

Corrales Sing, Friday, March 2
FOLK SONG CIRCLE. Newcomers welcome! They’re meeting to sing as usual on Friday. March’s apt theme is WEATHER, WIND, RAIN, and STORMS.
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 3
Artie Walsh will call with the Fast Pesos (Gary Ashkin & Jim Hughes on fiddle, Tom Adler on banjo, Bo Olcott on guitar) playing rollicking dance tunes. 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., acoustic jam and newcomers class at 7 p.m. Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE (1 block east of University, south of Lead/Coal). Bring clean dance shoes. No shoes with nails or that leave black scuff marks, please. $6 members, $7 others.

Bills in Concert, Albuquerque, March 3
If you have a hurt foot like I do and can’t dance, then don’t miss the Bills in concert at the South Broadway Cultural Center in Albuquerque. From the beautiful West Coast of Canada comes this extraordinary quintet, renowned among folk music fans of all ages for their instrumental virtuosity, lush vocal arrangements, exuberant live performances, evocative songwriting, and refreshingly innovative interpretations of traditional tunes from around the globe. Drawing musical inspiration from a broad range of North American traditions, a mélange of European stylings, rhythms of Latin America, and melodies of the wandering Romany peoples, The Bills have forged a musical style all their own that transcends musical boundaries and defies simple categorization. Tickets are available in person and over the phone from the South Broadway Cultural Center Box Office. The ticket office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Call 505-848-1320 to charge with Mastercard or Visa over the phone. I don’t think the box office is open on Saturdays, so Friday is the big day to buy. After that, people will have to wait and get tickets at the door and hope they’re not sold out after VENUE comes out.

Durango Contra Dance, Saturday, March 3
Peg Hesley from Phoenix, AZ and Albuquerque’s own Sandia Hots rev it up in Durango, CO if you happen to be travelling there this weekend. Dance is 7:30-10:30. Concert and waltz workshop too. Info: 970-903-9402.

Old Time Music Circle, Sunday, March 4, ABQ
Everyone with an interest in playing old-time music is welcome. This is for old-time Appalachian music, so bring your instruments and jam to your heart’s (and fingers’) content.
2PM to 4PM, FREE!
Covenant Presbyterian Church
9315 Candelaria, NE (near Moon)
For additional information, email inquiry@siliconheights.com

Singing Class with Robyn Avalon, Santa Fe, March 5
SINGING WITH EASE –Transform excessive effort into useful energy
Monday March 5, 6-9 p.m.
$35
Robyn Avalon, 505-670-2596
office@alexandersw.com
www.alexandersw.com
All Singers welcome- – from country to opera to jazz to shower!
For singers, your instrument is your body; how you use it determines the quality of your sound. The Alexander Technique teaches you how to use your body with ease and efficiency. We are designed for movement. Unconsciously, we often interfere with this design. Energy, delight, and grace give way to effort, tension and fatigue. Through study, we can recognize and change habitual limiting patterns in order to regain deep structural support and realize our full potential. Singing can be as easy as it sounds!

Taught by Robyn Avalon, 30 years experience teaching Alexander principles, Director of Alexander Southwest Teacher Training Program, faculty for three international Alexander Alliance programs. Robyn travels worldwide to work with singers, performing artists, Olympic athletes, equestrians, scientists and health professionals. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to work with Robyn in Santa Fe.

LOCATION is still being worked out. Folks should call to register and will be told where class is held.

Ruth Alpert is in the full Alexander teacher training program with Robyn, and accompanied her to Anchorage Alaska in Jan 2006, observed her work 10 hours per day with various singers. Ruth says Robyn is TRULY BRILLIANT in how much improvement she was able to effect in just a one hour lesson. Ruth highly recommends Robyn’s class!

Santa Fe Contra Dance, Saturday, March 10
Katherine Bueler calling, Sandia Hots playing (Liz Stevens on fiddle, Michael Gallagher on banjo, Linda Askew on guitar, Scott Mathis on guitaron and mandolin). 8 p.m. -11 p.m., IOOF Hall, 1125 Cerrillos Rd. Instruction at 7:30 p.m. $6 members, $7 others.

Phoenix, AZ Dance-Wich Delirium, March 10-11
A regular PFOTM Saturday night contradance sandwiched in between two challenging, zesty contradances!
March 10-11, 2007
Callers: International Caller, Kathy Anderson & Arizona Caller, Peg Hesley
Bands: ClusterFolk of Phoenix & Updraft of Flagstaff
Saturday, March 10th: at Kenilworth School
map: http://pfotm.org/kenilworthmap.html, 3:00-5:30 pm, $7.00 All Dancers
Saturday, March 10th: at Kenilworth School, 7:30-10:30 pm, $7.00 PFOTM Members/Affiliates/Students & $9.00 Public
Sunday, March 11th: at The Backyard Dance Floor (7437 W. Acoma, Peoria, AZ 85381), 10:30 am-1:00 pm, All Dancers $5.00
Information: http://pfotm.org/dancewich.pdf or call Irene Lundquist at 480.897.7275 or ilundquist@cox.net
Home Hospitality Coordinator: Tom Tang, margoapt@aztecfreenet.org

Second Sunday Dance, March 11, Albuquerque
Noralyn Parsons and Kris Jensen will call elegant English country and zesty contra dances; music by McPapenhagens (Gary Papenhagen on fiddle, Scott Mathis on mandolin, Linda Askew on guitar). 7:00 – 9:30 p.m., Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE (1 block east of University, south of Lead/Coal). Members $6; nonmembers $7. Bring clean dance shoes. No shoes with nails or that leave black scuff marks, please. Clean dance shoes and tennis shoes OK.

Albuquerque Megaband Practice, March 13
Join the Megaband in a jam at the Blue Dragon, 1517 Girard NE, Albuquerque, 7:30-10:30 p.m. More info: Bruce Thomson, 277-4729.

Las Cruces Contra Dance, Friday, March 16
Albuquerque’s Kris Jensen calling! SNMMDS House Band playing. 7:30-10:30 p.m. $4 all. Mesilla Community Center, 2251 Calle de Santiago, Las Cruces. It’s actually the adjacent town of Mesilla, and hall is 2 blocks west of the plaza. Julie says to wear green for St. Patrick’s Day. For more info, call 522-1691.

Albuquerque Contra Dance, Saturday, March 17
Richard Wilson calls this St. Patrick’s Day dance to the hot old-time tunes of the award-winning Albuquerque Megaband. 7:30-10:30 p.m., Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE (1 block east of University, south of Lead/Coal). Acoustic jam and instruction at 7 p.m. Members $6; nonmembers $7. The wearin’ o’ the green encouraged. Snack donations welcome too!

Taos Contra Dance, Saturday, March 17
Note: Different Location for March Only! Taos Jewish Center, 1335 Gusdorf Road. Turn into the shopping plaza at the sign “1335 Gusdorf Road”, bear to the right. The TJH is next door to the UNM Family Resource Center. Starting time 7:30 as usual. Beginners and refresher course at 7. Jim Buechler calling, Taos Megaband playing. Five dollars per dancer. Call 776-1580 with any questions about the dance.

Albuquerque Concert, Tuesday, March 20
The Southwest Pickers are hosting a concert this coming Tuesday, March 20th at the Covenant Presbyterian Church, 9315 Candelaria NE in Albuquerque by Byron Berline (fiddler) and his fabulous band. Also featured will be John Moore,the legendary guitar and mandolin player. This is an amazing lineup that got a great write-up in today’s newspaper, and you should tell your friends not to miss this one. The concert begins at 7 PM, and tickets are the usual rock bottom price of $12 for non-members and $10 for members.

Santa Fe Contra Dance, March 24
Open Mic dance and Hey! playing (Linda Vik, Chris Carlson, Jane Phillips on fiddle, Tim Shaffer on guitar). 8 p.m. -11 p.m., IOOF Hall, 1125 Cerrillos Rd. Instruction at 7:30 p.m. $6 members, $7 others.

Community Dance, Albuquerque, March 31
Chris Kermiet from Denver calling, McPapenhagens playing. 7:30-10:30 p.m., Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE (1 block east of University, south of Lead/Coal). Instruction at 7 p.m. Members $6; nonmembers $7. See flyer for more info.

Fun on the web
Our own videographer Jim Boros has posted two youtube videos from our annual camps at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS5fsFuR7_s (the late Dean Brodkey teaching a Bouree dance)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQrcJp3EAHM (1996 Folkmadness camp, Schottische dance)

Bird lovers should check out this astounding shot (don’t know if it’s been doctored) of two eagles fighting in mid-air over a fish: http://www.pbase.com/soonipi1957/image/74794115/original

Finally, here’s a tidbit I heard. A new movie “Seraphim Falls” starring Liam Neeson and Pierce Brosnan is soon coming out. It is a Civil War era movie, and many of you may recognize the banjo and fiddle players in the movie–Tom Adler (of Santa Fe and Fast Pesos claim) and Rob Pine (of Sandia Park and Nabobs fame)!

Finally, my hubby Mark just wrote a national computer book called “PC Magazine’s Windows Vista Solutions.” If you’re considering an upgrade or already have, check it out! Wiley Publishing Company delivered it to bookstores nationwide 2 weeks ago. And it’s available at amazon.com too:

Dance on and play on,

Merri Rudd
Albuquerque, NM
www.merridancing.com