February 2009 Folk Enews

Greetings, Folkies,

This month’s headline is an upcoming Irish fiddle workshop taught by former Albuquerque fiddler Eileen Sullivan (or Eileen O’Sullivan, if you prefer). Eileen O'Sullivan

Irish Fiddle Workshop for the New Mexico Musical Heritage Project at UNM
Eileen Sullivan is offering an Irish Fiddle Workshop on Saturday, February 7th, from 2:00-4:00 pm at the New Mexico Musical Heritage Workshop on the campus of UNM in Room 144 of the Communications and Journalism Building (NW corner of Yale and Central). The workshop is for advanced beginner and intermediate fiddlers. No previous experience with Irish music is required. The cost of the workshop is $20.00 and proceeds will go to benefit the New Mexico Musical Heritage Project. For additional information about the workshop, please contact Eileen Sullivan at: estreetfiddle@yahoo.com or call Peter White at: 280-7601.

Corrales Sing, Friday, February 6
FIRST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 8:00 P.M. TO MIDNIGHT
Simple and sweet: songs of love, careless or otherwise! 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.)

Free Albuquerque Concert, Saturday, February 7
Or, in the alternative to the fiddler workshop, you could check out Roger Landes (bouzouki, tenor banjo), Will Duty (fiddle), and Dain Forsythe (bodhran, flute), who will be playing Irish traditional music at Two Fools Tavern, 3211 Central Ave SE in Albuquerque,this Saturday from 2-5pm. It will be informal, almost like a session, and there is no admission charge. Two Fools Tavern is a great Irish-style public house. Roger says, “their pour is righteous and food outstanding.” And Eileen says she’s sorry she can’t be in two places at one time!

Albuquerque Contra Dance, Saturday, February 7
Called by Noralyn Parsons with Sandia Hots playing. 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., 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, February 7
CONTRA DANCE
Location: American Legion 878 E. 2nd Ave (enter from 9th Street)
6:00 – community potluck that is open to all. Bring a dish to share.
7:00 – beginner dance instruction
7:30 – Contra Dance with caller Wendy Graham and the Ice Cold NuGrapes from Albuquerque, NM playing. 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. Season passes will be on sale for $99, which covers 11 dances and one free guest admission. Pay for a year of dances at once, support the Contra Dance, and get free stuff!! For further information, call 970-385-9292, or see the website http://groups.google.com/group/Durango-Contra-Dances

Albuquerque Concert, Sunday, February 8
Please help the Adobe Brothers celebrate (or commiserate depending on your perspective) the end of football season by joining us at O’Niell’s Pub (Central SE & Washington) on Sunday, February 8, from 4 to 7 p.m. They’ve got new tunes & songs, and O’Niell’s has got great beverages and food. Then you can go dance it off…

Second Sunday Dance, Albuquerque, February 8
Dance two nights in a row. Kit French & Kris Jensen 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.

Santa Fe Contra Dance, Saturday, February 14
Bring your sweetheart (or not) to this Valentine’s Day, Donna Howell calling with Hands Five playing. 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. (You can ride the train to and from Albuquerque to Santa Fe now; http://www.nmrailrunner.com/schedule.asp has details and schedules.)

Albuquerque Old Time Jam, Sunday, Feb. 15
Due to the Super Bowl, the old-time jam is postponed until February 15th, and it will be at Judy Muldawer’s house, not at Covenant Church. Mark your calendar for February 15 from 2-? If you need directions to Judy’s house, email her at inquiry@siliconheights.com

Albuquerque Megaband Practice, Tuesday, February 17
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 last night and it was YUMMY!)

Las Cruces Contra Dance, Friday, February 20
Lonnie Ludeman and Lewis Land calling with special musicians Ken Keppeler, Jeanie McLerie, Rus Bradburd and Marc Robert playing. This dance has a Mardi Gras theme with some Cajun music played. There will be cajun waltzes and 2 steps as well as contras. Julie reports they had 100 people at their last dance, so this dance will be in a larger hall!! Location: San Andres Learning Center (Gymnasium), 2355 Avenida De Mesilla, Las Cruces, NM. For info, contact 575-522-1691 or email juliedance@yahoo.com. 7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., beginner lessons & dance to follow to 10:30 p.m., Cost: $5

Albuquerque Contra Dance, Saturday, February 21
Richard Wilson 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, February 21
Dance at the San Geronimo Lodge, 1101 Witt Road, Taos, at 7:30 and wind down at 10:00. Call 776-1580 with questions about the dance.

Banjo Show, Albuquerque, Saturday, Feb. 21
Wayne Shrubsall is putting on a “Really Big Banjo Show” on February 21. It’s called a “Really Big Banjo Show” because Wayne’s a really big guy. We think the banjos are just normal size. Wayne will be joined by our other good friends Jimmy Abraham and Bruce Thomson. The show will be at the Covenant Presbyterian Church (9315 Candelaria NE) from 7-9 p.m.

Santa Fe Contra Dance, Saturday, February 28
Open Microphone with Santa Fe Megaband playing. 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

Save the dates: 17th Annual Folkmadness Music and Dance Camp, Socorro, NM, May 22-25, 2009. Kathy Anderson and Scott Higgs calling English, contras, and squares. Bag O’Tricks from Seattle and Privy Tippers from Tucson playing. Nils Fredland leading singing. We keep thinking our camps can’t get any better, but then they do!

AMP concerts host many fantastic musicians. Upcoming artists include Sam Bush, Joan Baez, Boulder Acoustic Society, the Bills (a personal favorite of mine), and more that don’t start with the letter B. Here is a partial list of concerts in 2009:
Feb 13: John McCutcheon – South Broadway Cultural Center
Feb 14: John McCutcheon Family Show – South Broadway Cultural Center
Feb 22: Joan Baez – National Hispanic Cultural Center
Mar 5: California Guitar Trio – The Cooperage
Mar 20: Boulder Acoustic Society – The Cooperage
Apr 11: Bruce Cockburn – KiMo Theatre
Sept 3: The Bills/Marc Atkinson Trio – South Broadway Cultural Center
Full details at www.ampconcerts.org

Looking Ahead
BAYOU SECO FIDDLE WORKSHOP for the NEW MEXICO MUSICAL HERITAGE PROJECT at UNM Sat. March 7, 1:00-3:30 PM, Albuquerque, NM.
Ken Keppeler and Jeanie McLerie of Silver City N.M. are offering a fiddle workshop on Sat. March 7, from 1:00-3:30 PM in Room 144 in the Communications and Journalism Building at the University of New Mexico (Corner of Yale and Central) They will teach the New Mexican Spanish Colonial Fiddle tunes as learned from Cleofes Ortiz and other great N.M. fiddlers, some Cowboy tunes from the Lewis Family of Crow Flats, in southern Otero County and a few Cajun/Creole tunes as learned from Dennis McGee, Canray Fontenot and other great players of the SW Louisiana area. Email Ken or Jeanie at bayouseco@aol.com for reservations.

The New Mexico Folk Music and Dance Society (FOLKMADS) has gone 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. But folks who are nostalgic for paper newsletters have the option of printing the “mailed version,” as well. There’s a link to a PDF file in the online newsletter. The calendar can be printed in old-school style, too, from a link at the bottom of the online calendar. Visit http://www.folkmads.org/ for details.

Happy Music & Dancing,

Merri Rudd
Albuquerque, NM
www.merridancing.com