LAFTA is fortunate to be able to host a concert in The Loft at the Mill, Saturday, March8 at 7:30 pm, featuring Diana Jones. She was a winner of the 2006 Kerrville New FolkSongwriting Contest and has toured this country and Europe, sharing the stage withMartina McBride, Del McCoury Band, Guy Clark, Odetta, Old Crow Medicine Show, andJohn Gorka among others. During the summer of 2007 Diana played several top musicfestivals, including Philly, Newport, American and Rhythm & Roots. Her latest CD titled MyRemembrance of You was released in Europe in May, while Diana followed with 3 toursincluding performances at Cambridge Folk Festival, Galway Arts Festival and a tour forlegend Richard Thompson at some of Europe’s top venues. "It goes without saying, DianaJones is a consummate singer and writer, who totally charms audiences. What sets herapart — and this is the highest praise in a crowded music profession — is her originality.Her music doesn't sound like anyone else's." — Richard Thompson Diana’s themes are love, loss, and redemption. From the mournful lament of a dancehall girl to the stomping melodic rant of a young woman’s burial instructions, each ofDiana’s original songs from her CD My Remembrance of You draws life from old-timey,country blues and mountain music. Critics across the nation have extolled the wonders of

her music and performances: Chicago Tribune declares Diana Jones's "My Remembrance of You" #1 Country album ofthe Year! “Jones is on the verge of a critical breakthrough. Increasingly compared to the likes of Iris DeMent and GillianWelch, Jones just might be the best American songwriter most people have never heard of.”— Chicago Tribune "Hersongs are as threadbare and timeless as a Carter Family classic, yet as personal and carefully crafted as a John Prine orGuy Clark tune." — Nashville Scene "One of the most exciting singer-songwriters to emerge in recent years"—Sing Out!Magazine "Diana Jones allows her mountain heritage to shine through on her delightful album, My Remembrance of You.”—Bluegrass Now Magazine Regular ticket pricing of $13 for members, $17 for nonmembers, $10 for students and children under 12 for $1 applieswith tickets online at www.lafta.net or at the door the evening of the performance. More information is available on the webor at 580-8656, the LAFTA phone number.

Lincoln Association For Traditional ArtsSince 1982. News To Put A Little LAFTA In Your Life !

PO Box 30561 Lincoln, NE 68503Spring 2007- 2008

Prairie Dog Music is a local independent music label featuring country blues,American folk and bluegrass, and other forms of traditional music. LAFTA is hosting amassive Prairie Dog Release Party Friday, March 28, 7:30 pm at The Loft at the Mill, 8thand P Street, spotlighting a new compilation CD, "A Year of the Prairie Dog: A Samplerfrom the Congregation at the First Church of the Prairie Dog." The album featuresthe artists who have recorded on the label and is organized around a confluence of achurch service theme and the 12 months of the year. The CD will feature an Invocation song, a song for each month of the year, an AltarCall song, and a Benediction, a poem by Bill Kloefkorn. The artists represented on theCD include Pete Blakeslee, Terri Jo Dodson, Dave Fowler, Steven O. Hanson, JohnHischke, Terry Keefe, Bill Kloefkorn, John Kloefkorn, Rob Kloefkorn, Dave Marsh, ErinMcGovern, David Morris, Dan Newton, Jim Pipher, Chris Sayre, John Walker, and C. AWaller. The bands highlighted are The Bluegrass Crusade, Daddy Squeeze and theDoctor, The Loup River Nightcrawlers, Paddywhack, and The Toasted Ponies. All thesongs are either original or traditional tunes arranged by the artists. The party will alsofeature a number of recent Prairie Dog releases, including new CDs by The BluegrassCrusade, Terri Jo Dodson, Steven O. Hanson, Terry Keefe, Rob Kloefkorn, Paddywhack, The Toasted Ponies, JohnWalker, and C. A. Waller. The doors will open at 6:30 pm and while it lasts, expect to find some gumbo, chili, cornbread, and cobbler provided byDr. Walker and friends. Coffee, soda, water and cookies will be available for sale. Admission at the door is only $10 forfor adults and children under 12 only $1 for this special event. And with such a well known talent lineup, tickets are boundto go early. Buy them on the web at www.lafta.net or call 580-8656.

Dr. JOHN WALKER

CONTRA DANCE7:30 pm first Saturday ofeach month at AuldRecreation Center. $6Donation. For moreinformation call (402) 464-3143 or (402) 325-9450 orcheck the LAFTA web site atwww.lafta.net.

LAFTA Board of Directors to be short 3 members It will soon be time for the 2008 annual election of theLAFTA Board of Directors and the future is not lookingrosy. Rebecca Carr (10 years), Tom Franti (6 years)and Dave Hughes (4 years) are stepping down fromthe board and not running for re-election. Job andfamily restraints are cited as the reasons, and theirdedicated and active input will be sorely missed. That leaves the board in a tenuous position with only1 person running for re-election for 4 open positions.With only 6 out of 9 positions filled, the already busy workload schedule of theremaining board members could cause a burnout leading to more membersleaving, effectively destroying the board and LAFTA program. As LAFTA hasexpanded it’s offerings over the past 15 years, it has taken more work and peopleto keep the program running smoothly. Trying to increase attendance whilebalancing the rising cost of performers versus ticket costs is a concern. Findingthe money for advertising and finding the most effective means of advertising isanother concern. Balancing the performance dates and available Loft opendates plus physically setting up the concerts for attendance and cleaning upafterwards is a concern. Websites, newsletters, food sales at concerts,government filings and grant applications all are part of the work the boardaccomplishes. All these items are handled by dedicated volunteers that alsohave personal and professional lives. LAFTA is one of the few non profit organizations that accomplish this without apaid staff member. It doesn’t happen without volunteers that are willing to sharetheir time and talent to promote folk music and bring it to the Lincoln people thatotherwise would not see it. This year the annual 2008 LAFTA board election will be held by mail.Members will vote for board members to fill positions whose terms have expired.There is one vote per household unless two memberships have been purchased.The following board member is the only one running for re-election. Write invotes are also allowed. So watch the mail and return those ballots! Randy Smith is currently the LAFTA board treasurer. He has enjoyed Celticand hammer dulcimer music for several decades and has even made feebleattempts to play the hammer dulcimer. He likes the diversity of (mostly) acousticmusic presented by LAFTA during the past few seasons as well as thecommunity building aspect of LAFTA. He would like to continue to work with therest of the board members to further both of these goals. There are three more open board member positions with no one currentlyrunning. If you would like to be on the ballot, contact the board president, JoanJohnson, by calling 580-8656 or by emailing LAFTA at laftane@yahoo.com.

Previews abound on folkfriendly KZUM radio

Haven’t heard one of our featured artistsbefore? Listen to these fine shows featuringfolk music at KZUM radio, 89.3 FM, for apreview !Sun 2:00 - 6:00 am Dr. Rock & The

Medicine ShowSun 11:30 - 1:30 pm The Wimmin’s ShowMon 6:30 - 8:00 pm Exposition FlyerMon 10:00 - Noon Tom Thumb’s

Fillmore MidwestTue 7:00 - 9:00 pm Tuesday Night Drive-InWed 8:00 - 9:00 am River City FolkWed 7:00 - 8:30 pm Just Off The FringeWed 8:30-10:00 pm Radio GumboThurs 6:00 - 8:00 am A Prairie SunriseThurs 6:00 - 7:00 pm Thunder on the PlainsThurs 7:00 - 8:30 pm The Acoustic CafeThurs 10:00-11:00 pm Alive in LincolnFri 10:00 - Noon TGI Femmes Other fine specialty shows have also featuredour showcase artist, so keep on listening andsupporting community radio at KZUM!"Powered By the Community"

OPEN HARVESTCOOPERATIVE

GROCERYLincoln’s Natural Food Cooperative

Freshly Baked BreadOrganic and Local ProduceDeli, Seafood, Fresh Meat

Vitamins / HerbsCruelty-Free Health / Beauty

Gluten and Dairy Free Products

1618 South St. Lincoln NE 68502Phone (402) 475-9069http://www.openharvest.coop

A Novel Idea BookstoreUsed, Rare and Out of Print

Building & Buying Book Collections Since 1991WE BUY BOOKS !

Hardcover and Paperback118 N. 14th St. Lincoln NE 68508

(402) 475-8663www.anovelideabookstore.com

DON’S PIANO SERVICEPIANO TUNING, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR

Don Pinkley Lincoln NE 68502 (402)-742-4229

Made possible with the support of

through funds fromThe Nebraska Legislature andNational Endowment for the Arts.www.nebraskaartscouncil.org

Number 2 2007-2008The LAFTA NEWSLETTER is published severaltimes annually by the Lincoln Association forTraditional Arts, P O Box 30561, Lincoln, NE68503-0561. LAFTA is a non-profit organization,committed to the promotion of folk music and folkarts in the Lincoln area. For membership or otherinformation, please call (402) 580-8656 or checkthe website at www.lafta.net .

Editor: Kerry L “Butch” KrauseSupporting writers listed by column.

Age 5 thru Adult

Glenda Dietrich MooreExperienced Teacher & Professional Artist

See Glenda’s paintings at www.GlendaDietrich.com5401 Franklin St. Lincoln NE 402-483-5308

Email: creationenergy@windstream.net

If dancing is your thing, check out the folk dancing clubs available in Lincoln.International Folk Dancing: The Lincoln International Folk Dancers meet onFriday evenings in room 210, Mabel Lee Hall on the University of Nebraska CityCampus. Call (402) 617-2483 for information.Irish Folk Dancing: For information about the Lincoln Irish dancers, call LuAnneat (402) 475-8674 or check http://irishdance.inetnebr.com/ .Scottish Country Dancing: Call Judi Duerr at (402) 617-2483.

Keep those feet flying!

You’ve heard them on the radio with Garrison Keillor and seen them on thebig screen (Robert Altman's “Prairie Home Companion”). They have appearedon The Grand Ole Opry and Austin City Limits. Now you can see Robin andLinda Williams and Their Fine Group at our season’s closeout show. For morethan a quarter of a century they have delighted audiences large and small with ablend of bluegrass, folk, old-time and acoustic country that truly merits the title of"American music." The Saturday show at 8th and P streets starts at 7:30 pm.

They are first-class singers, instrumentalists and superb songwriters, able to,as The Washington Post put it, "sum up a life in a few details with movingcompleteness." It's why their compositions have been recorded by the likes ofEmmylou Harris, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Tom T. Hall, Kathy Mattea, Tim andMollie O'Brien, George Hamilton IV and The Seldom Scene. Irish singer MaryBlack included their haunting "Don't Let Me Come Home a Stranger" on her CDFull Tide.

Robin and Linda Williams, the Virginia-based duo known for their richharmonies and original songwriting, are joined in concert by Jim Watson, afounding member of the Red Clay Ramblers, on bass and his distinctive harmonyvocals, and bluegrass veteran Jimmy Gaudreau on mandolin and mandola.

Just released on Red House Records, Robin and Linda's new CD, “DeeperWaters,” is a selection of personal and strong songs that has been described as“nothing more than a masterpiece” by the All Music Guide. Their previous CD,"Visions Of Love," stayed on the Americana Charts soon after its releaseJanuary 2002 and was rated in the top five of both the Folk and Bluegrass chartson Roots Music Report.

For this concert only, special pricing applies: $17 members; $22 non-members; $15 students w/ ID; $1 children under 12. Tickets are available onlineat www.lafta.net and at the door.

Robin and Linda Williams

A Great Big LAFTAThank You To The Mill

Coffee Shop !If you’ve enjoyed thewonderful coffee at ourconcerts, thank the Mill forits donation and buy a cupor two.

Check out the LAFTA websitefor venues in the areapromoting folk or traditionalmusic. And check out thelocal music scene!

Friday, April 11 at 7:30 pm will find Greg Trooperensconced in the living room at 857 N. 42nd St.,ready for another house concert. Dubbed "one of thebest-kept secrets in Nashville" by the AustinChronicle, Trooper is considered a “songwriter’ssongwriter.” Many artists, including Steve Earle, BillyBragg, Maura O’Connell, Robert Earl Keen, LucyKaplansky, have recorded his songs. Trooper hasestablished a reputation as an exuberant performerwhose wit and vigor have charmed audiences acrossthe  U.S. and Europe. His music feels equallyinformed by Memphis soul, Greenwich Village folkand Nashville twang.

In a review of his live album Between A HouseAnd A Hard Place, music critic Barry Mazor said that Trooper "sings with a clarityof purpose and a variety of effect that few in the acoustic world match." Billboardmagazine has called him "an artist of considerable insight and passion." Nashvillemusic critic Robert K. Oermann has said Trooper's "songs and delivery grab youby the throat." Fans know a voice of grit and experience signing songs in whichthey recognize themselves.

"Greg Trooper writes great songs, including one of my very favorite songs inthe world, Little Sister. On top of all that, there's his voice - an instrument I havecoveted for 15 years." Steve Earle

Donations at the door are $12 and all proceeds go to artist. Call 466-4775 forreservations or e-mail janedell@yahoo.com to RSVP, since seating is limited.

CGSMUSIC (402) 328-0677

Restorations Repairs Instrument Sales

Harris Music Studio (402) 423-7121

Private Music Instruction Professional Musician Ensembles

Cosy Sheridan is one of the pre-eminentsongwriters on the folk scene documenting thelives of the modern women. Cosy describesherself as being “on a spiritual quest, withoccasional moments of tasteless, comicdiversion.” Winner of both Kerrville Folk Festival’s

Newfolk award and Telluride Bluegrass Festival’s Troubadour award, her musicalapproach places her in a class apart. She’s played from Carnegie Hall to the Dr.Demento Show to the Cowgirl Hall of Fame and many places in between. You cancount on her humor, warmth, and wonderful voice to entertain you throughout theevening. We love her in Lincoln and are very pleased to have her back on Friday,May 9, 7:30 pm at 857 N. 42nd St.

"She’s a wonderfully lively, very funny and enormously amiable entertainer,with a keen and wicked eye for the excesses of our fast-food, TV-happy andnoisome culture.” Boston Globe

“Exactly the kind of artist that Lilith Fair should be celebrating...you neverknow where you might find a diamond like this. Sheridan is definitely an artist towatch.” Disc Domain

Donations at the door are $12 and all proceeds go to artist. Call 466-4775 forreservations or e-mail janedell@yahoo.com to RSVP, since seating is limited.

Cosy Sheridan house concertFriday May 9

Butch has been hounding me to writea column for the LAFTA newsletter. Tobe honest, I am having a very difficulttime writing this because this past yearhas been a financially difficult one forLAFTA. (I would like to write aboutsomething other than money but it isforemost on my mind) LAFTA will bevery fortunate to be in the black at theend of this season. Memberships aredown, attendance is down and ofcourse, costs are up. Yes, we are a notfor profit organization but we generallyneed money in the bank at the end of theyear to pay sales tax and otherscheduled payments. For the past several years, there hasbeen someone at the ticket table askingyou, “How did you hear about ourshow?” This question may have beenirritating after a while but it is a valuablequestion to ask. Advertising isexpensive! In the Lincoln Journal Star’sGround Zero, we run 2 ads for eachshow; just 2 ads cost $280.00$1960.00 per year! We also partner withNET Radio. Because there is animbalance between what we can offerNET and the publicity NET can give tous, we pay $400.00 per year to NET torun ‘spots’ announcing our shows.Fortunately, KZUM and LAFTA are ableto exchange equally so no dollars areinvolved in running ‘spots’ for our shows. So, how did you hear about the show?I’ve been on the asking end many timesand one response I’ve rarely heard is“Word of mouth”! To me, this should beone of the most frequently heardresponses. Those of us who are LAFTAmembers AND want this tradition tocontinue should be out thereencouraging our friends/ neighbors/acquaintances to come see whatLAFTA offers. Not only is LAFTA aboutputting on shows, it is about community.It’s a chance to get together with friendsand to meet new people that share yourlove of music. We have had outstandingartists this year. Rarely, does LAFTAhost a bad show. So, put some trust inus and come out to hear thesemusicians whose music may not make itto the Top 40 but who have so muchtalent. And, bring a friend! And for one last bit of incentive theLoft has softer, larger chairs! No longeris your backside screaming for mercy bythe end of the first set!

Joan Johnson, Lafta President

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAID Lincoln, NE.

Permit No. 609

LAFTAThe Folk Music FolksP O Box 30561Lincoln NE 68503-0561

Return Service Requested

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Save $4.00 off regular tickets (two maximum per show)

Don’t forget to reserve Sunday, September 28, 2008. Headto PO Pears in downtown Lincoln, which will be the new siteof the 2008 Plainsong Folk Festival. The indoor, weather andaudience friendly site will have a host of performers. ConnieDover & Skip Gorman, and Kusi Taki have committed tothe performance with other artists to be named yet. Theheadliner act is Pavilion 3, consisting of Karen Ashbrook,Paul Oorts and Steve Bloom. Pavilion 3 brings together

dance traditions from central Europe and adds the immigrant experience with Afro-Cuban, Persian & Latin drumming.Stately Peruvian drumming joins with 18th century minuets from the courts of Europe. The Flemish Bear Dance swirls withthe wild beat of the Persian daf frame drum. Irish reels, Galician muñeiras, sultry Parisian café waltzes and enchanting airs,old and new, are all part of the Pavilion 3 experience. Paul Oorts & Karen Ashbrook started playing as a duo featuring Celtic,Belgian and French music with the recording "Celtic Café" on the Maggie's Music label. They added master percussionistSteve Bloom in 2006. Keep checking www.plainsongfestival.com for updated information and links to the artists.

JACKIE TICE

MICHAEL MURPHEY

JACKIETICE

$20 Basic$30 Friend$50 Enthusiast$500 Lifetime Supporter$______You name it, we’re grateful!