May 2008 Folk Enews

Greetings, Folkies,

FOLKMADS is going to an all-electronic newsletter and calendar to save paper and postage. You can ask to continue to receive the paper version though, if you prefer it. Visit http://www.folkmads.org/ for details.

Well, Folk Wedding #9 (to the tune of “Love Potion #9) happened May 10, 2007. That’s right, 2007. I was sworn to secrecy until their 1st anniversay, and now I’m cleared to divulge. There was one particularly hilarious bulk mail party before I relinquished my crown where some of the mailing crew were speculating about the identity of Folk Couple #9, who were sitting right there. It was hilarious to me at least, as I watched #9 maintain their anonymity without even a grin or wink.

Many local Albuquerque bands will be playing free concerts in the Old Town plaza various nights in May to help promote the Albuquerque Folk Festival on June 21 at the NM Expo (former state fairgrounds). See the schedule at http://abqfolkfest.org/oldtown.shtml

And might I just say that the Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas concert was AWESOME! Just ask any of the 25 or so FOLKMADS folks who attended!

Corrales Sing, Friday, May 2
FOLK SONG CIRCLE. Newcomers welcome! They’ll sing songs about Unions, Labor, Mining, Logging.
FIRST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 8:00 P.M. TO MIDNIGHT
Tonight only–different location!! The First Friday Singaround will be at Art and Jenn Brooks’ place, 8109 Sprenger Dr. NE in Albuquerque, near Paseo del Norte and Wyoming NE. Call 797-0916 for a map. 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.

Albuquerque Contra Dance, Saturday, May 3
Open mike for callers hosted by Richard Wilson with Five-Dog String Band (David Margolin on fiddle, Steve Huestis on banjo, Rick Olcott on guitar) playing old-time dance tunes. 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., acoustic jam at 6:30 p.m. 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. $7 members, $8 others, students 1/2 price with ID.

Durango Contra Dance, Saturday, May 3
POTLUCK & CONTRA DANCE
The location this month only is the American Legion Hall, 878 E. 2nd Ave, Durango (enter from 9th Street).
6:00 is a community potluck that is open to all. Bring a dish to share.
7:00 is beginner dance instruction
7:30, the Contra Dance starts, with Flagstaff caller Deb Comly and music by Durango’s own Kitchen Jam Band.
All dances are taught and called. No partner is necessary, and dancers of all ages and abilities are welcome. Admission is $10. First-timers get a pass to come back for free. For further information, call 970-385-9292, or see the website http://groups.google.com/group/Durango-Contra-Dances

Old Time Music Circle, Albuquerque, Sun., May 4
Come jam from 2-4 PM at the Covenant Presbyterian Church, 9315 Candelaria NE, Albuquerque, NM. There will be 2 groups playing in 2 separate rooms. Bluegrass music will be in the front room (entry room) and Old Time music will be in the west room (where concerts are held). Email Judy Muldawer at inquiry@siliconheights.com for more details.

Albuquerque Concert, Sunday, May 4
BOB MALONE at
Windchime Champagne Gallery
518 Central Ave SW
Show: 7:30 PM, Doors: 6:30 PM
Tickets are $15 advance, $20 door
Available at www.abqmusic.com, Bookworks and Natural Sound
Bob tore up the Bosque House Concert several years ago. His blend of Randy Newman-esque clever songwriting (“I Know The Stripper Likes Me”, “Sometimes I Wish I Were Me”, “In Love With The Woman (The Other Woman Love To Hate)” runs headlong into Dr. John’s boogie woogie rootsiness. Bob’s a flashy piano player (check out the video of “Home To Me” on his web site), a hilarious storyteller, and an all around top notch performer. He’s coming off of an amazing 2007, where he opened for Rickie Lee Jones, Leon Russell, The Subdudes and The Bobs, toured Australia and New Zealand, and was named Songwriter of the Year in the South Bay Music Awards. Get plenty of musical previews at http://www.bobmalone.com

Michael Combs in Concert in Santa Fe 3 Times in May
MICHAEL COMBS plays hard-boiled, rough-sawn, whole-grained ACOUSTIC FOLK from many lands on the Button Accordion, Fiddle & Guitar at Upper Crust Pizza, Old Santa Fe Trail & De Vargas St. 6-9 p.m., no cover, Sun. 5/4; Mon. 5/26; Sat. 5/31

Three ABQ Concerts in a Row, May 7-9
Leo Kottke at the Kimo on Wednesday, May 7
Asylum Street Spankers at Cooperage on Thursday, May 8 (these talented musicians sing some sizzling political satire)
Wilco, a rock band, at UNM’s Popejoy Hall on Friday, May 9
Details at www.abqmusic.com

Santa Fe Contra Dance, Sat., May 10
Wendy Graham from Durango calling with Albuquerque’s Hands Five playing. This dance will ROCK! 7:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m., IOOF Hall, 1125 Cerrillos Rd. Instruction at 7:00 p.m. $7 members, $8 others, students 1/2 price with ID.

Second Sunday Dance, May 11
Merri Rudd calling elegant English and zesty contras; One Good Turn playing this Mother’s Day dance. 7:00 – 9:30 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. $7 members, $8 others, students 1/2 price with ID.

Albuquerque Megaband Practice, Tuesday, May 13
Join the Megaband in a jam in its current location at O’Niell’s Pub, Banquet Room, 4310 Central Ave SE (Central at Washington in East Nob Hill), 7:00-10:00 p.m. More info: Bruce Thomson, 277-4729. (We just ate there today and it was YUMMY!)

Albuquerque Contra Dance, Saturday, May 17
Artie Walsh calling and the Albuquerque Megaband playing. 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., acoustic jam at 6:30 p.m. 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. $7 members, $8 others, students 1/2 price with ID.

Taos Contra Dance, Saturday, May 17
Dance at the San Geronimo Lodge, at 7: 00 and wind down at 10:00. Call 776-1580 with questions about the dance.

No Las Cruces Contra Dance in May, June or July
It’s summer holiday for those folks down south as they travel to various other dances and camps around the southwest. Las Cruces dances will resume on August 15. You can also find the current dance schedule on the web at: http://www.zianet.com/lcludeman/contra/cdsched02.htm (don’t believe the schedule totally because the May 16 dance is cancelled!)

ABQ Baroque Concert, Sunday, May 18
Albuquerque Baroque Players present a concert of Cantatas by J.S. Bach with soloists Janeene Williams, soprano, and David Farwig, baritone. Central United Methodist Church, 201 University Blvd. NE. 3 p.m. FREE admission. For more info call 255-7089 or visit the website at www.unm.edu/~sbpatric

NO Santa Fe Contra Dance, Saturday, May 24
That’s because you should all be at Folkmadness 2008! Music & dance camp will be May 23-26, 2008 at NM Tech campus in Socorro, NM . Lisa Greenleaf and Bill “Doc” Litchman calling, Groovemongers and Alice/Al White playing. Details at: http://www.folkmads.org/2008Folkmadness.html

Two Special Dance Events on May 31
Cotillion Ball & Ramble in honor of Lily Wilson’s 21st birthday!
IOOF Hall, Santa Fe – 7 pm, Music by Second Nature
Fancy Dress encourages. Details here

Special 5th Saturday Square Dance
7:30-10:30 p.m., Heights Community Center
Caller: Kris Jensen, Band: The Fabulous Waynerds
Details here

This & That

San Antonio Dance Weekend: Weekend Dance Workshops by Bob Dalsemer from North Carolina. San Antonio May 9-11, 2008. Info on the website, www.sacontradancers.org The San Antonio Contra Dancers invite you to dance with us during this exceptional weekend! Some home hospitality is still available. For questions, please contact Lissa at lissa@ifcchouseconcerts.com

ZoukFest World Music Camp (June 8-14 in Santa Fe) will be here soon. Guest Artist this year is Andy Irvine! Check out new and returning staff and new classes. Details at www.zoukfest.com

Albuquerque Folk Festival : Saturday, June 21 at the State Fairgrounds, aka NM EXPO. From 10 a.m. to 11. p.m. Contra (Wendy Graham and Kris Jensen calling), swing and African dance in the evening. Band Scramble. Linda Vik is leading Lit’l Folks Fiddle Contest. They need volunteers–contact them by May 31 – big benefits: free admission, parking, T-shirt. volunteers@abqfolkfest.org

Save the dates: Banjo and Mountain Dulcimer Workshops, June 20 and 22, in Albuquerque with Mary Z. Cox. Email inquiry@siliconheights.com for more information or for a registration form.

Oklahoma’s Flamingo Fling in June: The Flamingo Fling is the annual contra dance weekend in Oklahoma City, this June 20-22nd, with Joseph Pimentel calling to the rhythms of Goldcrest. It will be a stunning combo of contra and English to thrill your dancing feet. Registration form online at http://www.scissortail.org/FlamingoFling/tabid/59/Default.aspx

Portland, Oregon’s Northwest Passage Camp Bruce Hamilton, Sue Rosen & Merri Rudd calling English and contra dances. Notorious (Larry Unger, Eden MacAdam-Somer, Ralph Gordon) and Phantom Power (Lissa Schneckenburger, Bruce Rosen, Mark Roberts, Stefan Amidon) playing. Annie Johnston cooking gourmet meals! Alan Roberts on sound. August 29 – September 1, 2008. www.NWPassageDanceCamp.org contains full details about camp, including registration form, information about scholarships, work-trade positions, and student discounts.

!GLOBALQUERQUE! Sept. 19-20, 2008
Hispanic Cultural Center. They just launched the new festival web site with some previews of this year’s lineup. Confirmed so far are:
– GENTICORUM (Quebec, Canada)
– HAPA (Hawaii)
– MOR KARBASI (Israel)
– ORCHID ENSEMBLE (China/Canada)
– SAVINA YANNATOU (Greece)
¡Globalquerque! tickets are available from the NHCC box office and
Ticketmaster.

And last, but certainly not least...MARK YOUR CALENDARS for Oct. 10-12, 2008: Pete Sutherland will play a concert in Albuquerque on October 10, a dance in Santa on October 11, and then the annual Fall Ball English Workshop and Dance will be on Sunday, October 12. A music and dance extravaganza not to be missed!

Oh yeah, I forgot to say who Folk Couple #9 was. Here they are…….

Folk Wedding #9!
Judge Merri, Gale (daughter of bride), Carol Langer (fiddler), Tim Shaffer (fiddler & guitarist), May 10, 2007 [Photo by Tony Garcia]

Happy Spring to All,

Merri Rudd
Albuquerque, NM
www.merridancing.com

April 2008 Folk Enews

Greetings, Folkies,

A special English ball will take place in Taos on Friday, April 25, details below. AND Santa Fe has a special guest from California, Ray Bierl from Hillbillies from Mars (I once drove 18 hours to Wyoming to dance to them, and they played at our Folkmadness Camp last century too). That concert, workshop and dance will be April 11 and 12. Lots of things for dance gypsies too, as well as multiple concerts in April.

Corrales Sing, Friday, April 4
FOLK SONG CIRCLE. Newcomers welcome! They’ll sing songs about KINGS, QUEENS, and JACKS. This might evoke any number of historical ballads about royalty real or imagined, as well as the plentiful appearances of poor Jack the fool. Card games and gambling songs should also be in plentiful evidence!
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, April 5
Doc Litchman calling and special guest band Bayou Seco (former Albuquerqueans Ken and Jeanie now from Silver City, NM) playing New Mexican and Cajun style dance tunes. 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., acoustic jam at 6:30 p.m. 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. $7 members, $8 others, students 1/2 price with ID.

Durango Contra Dance, April 5
POTLUCK & CONTRA DANCE
Saturday April 5
VFW, 1550 Main St, in Durango
6:00 is a community potluck that is open to all. Bring a dish to share.
7:00 is beginner dance instruction
7:30, the Contra Dance starts, with Durango caller Wendy Graham and more music by The Usual Suspects from Laramie, Wyoming.
All dances are taught and called. No partner is necessary, and dancers of all ages and abilities are welcome. Admission is $10. First-timers get a pass to come back for free. For further information, call 970-385-9292, or see the website http://groups.google.com/group/Durango-Contra-Dances

Old Time Music Circle, Albuquerque, Sun., April 6
Come jam from 2-4 PM at the Covenant Presbyterian Church, 9315 Candelaria NE, Albuquerque, NM. There will be 2 groups playing in 2 separate rooms. Bluegrass music will be in the front room (entry room) and Old Time music will be in the west room (where concerts are held). Email Judy Muldawer at inquiry@siliconheights.com for more details.

Santa Fe House Concert, Friday, April 11
Ray Bierl is one of the famous/infamous Hillbillies from Mars from California. Check this one out! Details at Bierl Events (scroll down that page).
7:30 p.m., 400 Cortez Place, Santa Fe
$10 FolkMADS members, $12 non-members

Santa Fe Music Workshop & Contra Dance, Sat., April 12
Workshop 2-4 p.m., IOOF Hall. $15 FolkMADS members, $25 non-members. Details at Bierl Events. Note new dance time of 7:30 -10:30 p.m. (same as ABQ dances now) Kris Jensen calling with special guest Ray Bierl & Friends playing dance tunes. 7:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m., IOOF Hall, 1125 Cerrillos Rd. Instruction at 7:00 p.m. $7 members, $8 others, students 1/2 price with ID.

Second Sunday Dance, April 13
Noralyn Parsons & Kit French calling elegant English and zesty contras; The McPapenhagens playing. 7:00 – 9:30 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. $7 members, $8 others, students 1/2 price with ID.

Albuquerque Megaband Practice, Tuesday, April 15
Join the Megaband in a jam in its current location at O’Niell’s Pub, Banquet Room, 4310 Central Ave SE (Central at Washington in East Nob Hill), 7:00-10:00 p.m. More info: Bruce Thomson, 277-4729. (We just ate there today and it was YUMMY!)

Albuquerque Concert, Wednesday, April 16
ABI TAPIA & BETH WOOD
Windchime Champagne Gallery, 518 Central Ave SW
7:30 PM, Tickets are $15 advance, $20 door
Available at abqmusic.com, Bookworks and Natural Sound
Two Austin-based singer songwriters drop by for the monthly acoustic music showcase at a downtown art gallery. Bring snacks to share! Sponsored by AMP concerts, www.abqmusic.com

Albuq. Megaband in Concert, Thursday, April 17
The Albuquerque Megaband will be playing for community dancing on Thursday, April 17 in the Old Town Plaza at 7 p.m. Bill “Doc” Litchman will call some community dances. This is part of the “Folk Festival Presents” series of concerts by Albuquerque Folk Festival participants and supporters. You can hear a different band or two every Thursday evening in Old Town for the next several months. Visit http://abqfolkfest.org/oldtown.shtml for the full schedule.

Albuquerque Concert, Friday, April 18
ALASDAIR FRASER & NATALIE HAAS
South Broadway Cultural Center, 1025 Broadway SE
8:00 PM, Tickets are $20 reserved seating
Available at abqmusic.com and the SBCC Box Office (505-848-1320)
We have our tickets; do you have yours?! I hope it’s not sold out yet. Enjoy Alasdair’s fiery Scottish fiddle with cello accompaniment. This is a high energy show with some of the best instrumental interplay you are likely to see all year. (They’ll also play in Corrales on Sat., April 19). The SBCC show is sponsored by AMP concerts, www.abqmusic.com. And visit Alasdair’s web page at www.alasdairfraser.com

Albuquerque Contra Dance, Saturday, April 19
Wendy Graham from Durango calling and the Albuquerque Megaband playing. 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., acoustic jam at 6:30 p.m. 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. $7 members, $8 others, students 1/2 price with ID.

Corrales Concert, Saturday, April 19
ALASDAIR FRASER & NATALIE HAAS
Not sure about the time, Tickets are $22/$25 at door.
Concert at Old San Isidro Church.

Santa Fe Concert, Saturday, April 19
Michael Combs playing crunchy, whole-grain, rough-hewn traditional fiddle and button accordion.
Upper Crust Pizza, Santa Fe
6-9 p.m. no cover
For more info, call 946-0338

Taos Contra Dance, Saturday, April 19
Dance at the San Geronimo Lodge, at 7: 00 and wind down at 10:00. Call 776-1580 with questions about the dance.

Santa Fe Concert, Tuesday, April 22
Michael Combs playing crunchy, whole-grain, rough-hewn traditional fiddle and button accordion to celebrate Earth Day.
Upper Crust Pizza, Santa Fe
6-9 p.m. no cover
For more info, call 946-0338

Taos English Dance, Friday, April 25
They’re having a “Mostly English Country Dance” here in Taos on April
25th. Albuquerque’s Kit French is one of the instructors, the other is from Vermont–Joan Shimer (she wrote the book I often use for teaching English). The dance will be in a barn and it’s free. Starts at 7:30. Local musicians will play. Call 575-770-5259 for directions to the barn.

Las Cruces Contra Dance, Friday, April 25
Lewis Land calling with SNMMDS Band playing. Location: La Mesilla Community Center, 2251 Calle de Santiago, Mesilla NM. It’s actually the adjacent town of Mesilla, and hall is 2 blocks west of the plaza. For info, contact 505-522-1691. 7:30 p.m. beginner lessons & dance to follow to 10:30 p.m., Cost: $5

Santa Fe Contra Dance, Saturday, April 26
Merri Rudd calling and Soda Rock Ramblers (Larry Edelman from Denver on fiddle, Scott Mathis on mandolin and guitaron, Linda Askew on guitar) playing. Dance 7:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m., IOOF Hall, 1125 Cerrillos Rd. Instruction at 7:00 p.m. $7 members, $8 others, students 1/2 price with ID.

This & That
Folkmadness 2008 is fast approaching with fantastic talent. Send in your registration for camp in Socorro, NM May 23-26, 2008. Lisa Greenleaf and Bill “Doc” Litchman calling, Groovemongers and Alice/Al White playing. Details at: http://www.folkmads.org/2008Folkmadness.html

Folk Wedding Without Me: Susie Tomlinson of Tucson, AZ reports, “Doug Acuff and I got married while we were on a Wild Asparagus dance vacation in Hawaii. We got married on the beach at Holoholokai which is north of Kona. We stayed on the Hilo side of the Big Island and at Kalani Retreat Center near Pahoa. We always thought you’d be the one to marry us, Merri, but there we were in Hawaii and….”

Beach Wedding

Merri says, Doug used to live in Albuquerque and dance with us. They often attend Folkmadness. Susie continues, “We met contradancing. Doug was new to Tucson (from Albq) to work at IBM….I had just returned to dancing from having a hip replacement. I was bent over putting on my shoes a bit late (dancing had already started) and noticed a “new pair of legs dance by in shorts”…that was Doug. Our first dance that night had us back to back doing a sashay with our opposites which caused Doug and I to constantly bump butts! So we always say our first dance was the Butt Contra! That was in the fall of 2000…and the rest is history!”

Congrats to both of you, even though I didn’t get to officiate!

ZoukFest World Music Camp (June 8-14 in Santa Fe) will be here soon. Guest Artist this year is Andy Irvine! Check out new and returning staff and new classes. Details at www.zoukfest.com

San Antonio,TX Contra Dance Weekend: North Carolina’s Bob Dalsemer calling, May 9-11, 2008. They are celebrating their 24th Anniversary as a group, and have priced all events very reasonably so that everybody can attend. Info at: http://sacontradancers.org/Upcoming_Dances.htm

Prescott, AZ’s MayMadness: May 16-18, 2008, Robert Cromartie and Deb Comly calling. JAX and Privy Tippers playing.

ABQ Bluegrass concerts: Details about various concert are at www.southwestpickers.com

Happy Spring to All,

Merri Rudd
Albuquerque, NM
www.merridancing.com