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Notorious In Concert May 14th: Virtuoso Fiddling & Fretwork

Volume 14, Issue 5 May 2010 Celebrating Piedmont Carolinas Music Since 1982

Save the Dates: Ice Cream Social Old-Time Virginia

Jam Weekend A couple of favorite CFS events are coming up in July. Be sure to save the dates so you don’t miss out on the fun! Our annual Old-Time Acoustic Mu-sic Jam and Ice Cream Social takes place on Sunday, July 11th, 1-4 PM. We are delighted to again partner to present this event with Historic Ro-sedale Plantation, 3427 North Tryon Street, near the intersection with Sugar Creek Road. The Storytellers Guild of Charlotte also joins us again as a welcomed partner; Guild members will share stories on the back porch of the plantation house. Rosedale was built in 1815 and is one of the finest examples of Fed-eral period architecture in North Carolina and is noted for its faux-grained wood and original wallpa-per surviving in three rooms. The grounds are the perfect setting for families to enjoy a summer after-noon with jam sessions, song circle, and, of course, ice cream. Admis-sion to events on the grounds is free and will include blacksmithing and flatfoot dancing demonstrations. There will be a charge to tour the house. For the past twenty-one summers, Tom and Barbara Phlegar have hosted the CFS Old-Time Music Jam Weekend on the Phlegar Family (Continued on page 5.)

Please join us on May 14th when our second-Friday Gathering will feature the extraordinary fiddling and masterful fretwork of the Mas-sachusetts-based duo Notorious. Lauded as "sparkling" and "exhilarating,” Eden MacAdam-Somer and Larry Unger make their debut with the Charlotte Folk Society at the 7:30 PM con-cert in the Great Aunt Stella Cen-ter at 926 Eliza-beth Avenue in downtown Char-lotte. If you haven't heard them yet, it won't take you four beats to realize that this isn't just any ordinary folk band. Sweet vocals and virtuosic fiddling cou-pled with driving rhythm and snappy guitar solos make for a thrilling musical experience that spans many continents. Pro-claimed a “guitar genius” by Sing Out Magazine, Unger combines talent with exciting and versatile young violinist Eden MacAdam-Somer, whose classical and jazz background merges with Larry's driving style to push the envelope towards swing, blues, and Gypsy genres. The front doors of the Stella Center open at 7 PM. Handicapped access

is available through the ground-floor door on the right side of the building. Charlotte Folk Society Gatherings are family-friendly, open to the public, and free. Do-nations, which support the series in part, are greatly appreciated.

The hour-long concert will be fol-lowed by re-freshments, a song circle, slow and fast jams, and a Charlotte Ap-palachian Dulcimer Club meeting. Free surface parking is available ad-

jacent to the Stella Center, as well as in a parking deck nearby. Exit the deck freely after 8 PM. With Eden on fiddle and vocals and Larry on guitar and banjo, their music lights up the hall with rhythm and sonority. Their per-formances are always new and exciting, featuring traditional American, Celtic, and Eastern-European tunes and songs, swing, blues, classical music and the group’s original compositions. Notorious has been a featured en-semble at such festivals as Falcon Ridge, Wheatland, Festival of (Continued on page 3.) (Notorious Concert, continued from page 1.)

Notorious

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CFS Folk Calendar Folk Calendar is a publication of the Charlotte Folk Society. No articles may be reproduced without the permission of the Society. Deadline for all submissions is generally the 20th of the month preced-ing publication. Contact Wanda Hu-bicki 704-563-7080 (phone), 704-563-5382 (fax), e-mail at phubicki@carolina.rr.com, or U. S. mail at 3610 Country Club Drive, Charlotte, NC 28205. All rights reserved.

2009 Board of Directors

President: Dennis Frost 704-532-8846 Vice President: Tom Hanchett 704-377-5257 Secretary: Bethli Miescher- Clemens 704-892-4914 Treasurer: John Goldsbury 803-802-3551 Members at Large Mark Clemens Barbara Ivey 704-892-4914 803-547-6163 Elene Clemens Tom Kelleher 704-892-4914 704-366-9441 Ramona Moore Big Eagle Karen Singleton 704-568-6940 704-364-5433 Cathey Franklin Sara Spencer 704-525-3256 704-375-3042 J. C. Honeycutt Harry Taylor 704-531-9991 704-366-1869 Junior Board Members Carson Hedberg Avery McGuirt 980-254-0847 704-948-1122 Newsletter Editor & Publicist Wanda Hubicki 704-563-7080 Webmaster John Goldsbury 803-802-3551 Founder and Board Member Emeritus Marilyn Meacham Price 803-548-5671 Charlotte Folk Society Events Information 704-372-FOLK (704-372-3655) Charlotte Folk Society website www.folksociety.org

The Charlotte Folk Society has ex-tensive resources to help you with your special event or conference – anything from just a taste of this re-gion’s Appalachian musical heri-tage to a full evening of music and dance with audience participation. Call Karen Singleton at 704-364-5433 to arrange for entertainment and/or instruction at reasonable rates.

Hire Musicians For Your

Next Event

Charlotte Folk Society Mission

The purpose of the Charlotte Folk Society, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit or-ganization and an Arts & Science Council grant recipient, is to pro-mote the ongoing enjoyment and preservation of traditional and con-temporary folk music, dance, crafts, and lore.

Please support these merchants who offer Charlotte Folk Society mem-bers a 10% discount on their pur-chases. Present your membership card at the time of purchase: CD Warehouse The Violin Shoppe Wax Museum Rob Webster, Santa Cruz Guitars Woody’s (Rock Hill and York)

CFS Member Discounts

The musician’s friend, Visit http://hetzler.

homestead.com.

Aldersgate Allen Tate Agent Becky Herring Arts & Science Council Photographer Daniel Coston Foskoskies Neighborhood Café Historic Rosedale Plantation Si Kahn Levine Museum of the New South Photographer Michael McCluskey Maxx Music Myers Park Baptist Church The Neighborhood Theatre The Swannanoa Gathering The Scottish Bank Photographer Glen Simmons Storytellers Guild of Charlotte The Violin Shoppe WGWG-FM WNCW-FM WTVI-TV

CFS Partners

Charlotte Folk Society Annual Membership Fees

Individual $25 Student $15 Family $35

Senior Individual (62+) $20 Senior Family (62+) $30

Sustaining $50 Sponsor $100

Benefactor $250 Patron $500

Lifetime $1000 Affiliate Organization $35

Folk Calendar Contributors

Thanks to Daniel Coston, Carol Raedy, Isabelle Young, and Dennis Frost, for providing photos this month. Thanks to Bill Cooke for putting together the dance calen-dar and to Hat and Dan Thompson for labeling, stamping, and mailing the newsletter. Call Wanda Hu-bicki at 704-563-7080 to help with the newsletter.

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American Fiddle Tunes, East-bourne International Festival, the Savannah Folk Festival, Pine-woods, and the Augusta Music Festival. Notorious has also per-formed at prestigious venues, in-cluding the Kennedy Center of Washington D.C. and the Multi-Educational Cultural Center for the Arts of Houston, Texas, and frequently dedicates time to per-formances and educational pro-grams in schools. The band has also toured extensively, across the entire East and West coasts of the United States, to Alaska, and Eng-land. In addition to solo concerts, Notorious frequently works with orchestral ensembles, performs for folk and swing dances, teaches workshops, and participates in musical film collaborations. At home in the worlds of both clas-sical and popular music, Eden MacAdam-Somer is one of the most exciting and versatile young violinists and singers performing today. She has been a featured so-loist with symphony and chamber orchestras, jazz and swing bands, bluegrass, and American folk groups. Eden is also well-versed in the music of other cultures, in-cluding Irish music, Eastern-European music, and European music from the Medieval and Ren-aissance periods. She has been an artist at the Aspen and Beijing In-ternational Music festivals, soloist at Texas and Wimberly jazz festi-vals, performer at Texas and St. Louis Renaissance Fairs, and has appeared on numerous recordings in folk, rock, jazz, and classical genres. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree and Master of Music degree in music performance from the Moores School of Music (University of Houston) and the Shepherd School of Music (Rice University), respectively. Larry Unger has been a full-time

musician since 1984 and has pre-sented a diverse range of musical performances across the United States, Europe, and Scandinavia. Proclaimed a “master guitarist” by Dirty Linen, Unger has played with many top contra dance bands and has accompanied such fiddlers as Judy Hyman, Matt Glaser, and Lissa Schnecken-burger. Larry’s original waltzes and fiddle tunes have been played and recorded by musi-cians around the world and can also be heard in the Ken Burns documentary, Our National Parks. Initially studying blues guitar with Etta Baker and John Jackson and later taking up the banjo and bass, Unger has become one of the most sought-after rhythm players in the country. He has a great breadth of under-standing of traditional music to complement his considerable technical proficiency and enjoys telling stories about the origins of his music and the people who taught him. Visit the Notorious website at www.notoriousfolk.com/index.html. Watch video performances of Notorious at www.folksociety.org. Charlotte Folk Society Gatherings are made possible, in part, with funding from the Arts & Science Council and the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency of the De-partment of Cultural Resources, and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

The Charlotte Appalachian Dulci-mer Club meets next on Friday, May 14th, at the Great Aunt Stella Center after the CFS Gathering con-cert, approximately at 8:30 PM. This is a beginner-friendly gather-ing; so, if you’ve never played the dulcimer but would like to learn, please join us. Loaner dulcimers will be available for the meeting. For more information, contact Mark Willingham at 980-254-8059.

Charlotte Appalachian

Dulcimer Club May 14th

May and June CFS Old-Time Acoustic Jams

Charlotte Folk Society Old-Time Acoustic Sunday Jams take place on the second Sunday of each month from 2 PM to 4 PM in the Asbury Care Center Living Room at Al-dersgate, 3800 Shamrock Drive (between Eastway Drive and Sharon Amity Road) in east Char-lotte. The next jams take place on Sunday, May 9th, and Sunday, June 13th. These sessions are free and open to all, both musicians and listeners. If you have questions, please contact Jam Coordinator Tom Kelleher at 704-366-9441. Directions:

Traveling from Eastway Drive, make a right turn from Shamrock Drive into Aldersgate at the traffic light at Tippe-rary Place. Stop at the Guard Gate and say that you’re going to the Asbury Care Center to the Folk Society jam session. The guard will direct you to the correct building and the reception-ist in the Asbury Care Center will di-rect you to the Living Room.

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The afternoon of Sunday, April 18th, eight adults and two young people auditioned and were inter-viewed for CFS scholarships to this summer’s Swannanoa Gathering Workshops at Warren Wilson Col-lege in Swannanoa, North Carolina. All were strong candi-dates who would thrive at the Swan-nanoa Gathering. We deeply appreciate the service of judges for the youth scholarship, Elene Clemens, Theresa Gebauer, and Harry Taylor; and judges for the adult scholarship, Dennis Frost, Rita Hartmann, and Karen Singleton. The Charlotte Folk So-ciety and Warren Wilson College partner in offering the two fully-funded scholarships. The scholar-ships cover tuition ($440), provided by the Folk Society, and room and board ($350), provided by the col-lege; total scholarships of $790 each.

Youth Scholarship Competition The winner of the 2010 Marilyn Meacham Price Youth Scholarship is Isabelle Young. She will attend the Swannanoa Gathering Fiddle Week, July 4-10, and has requested Improvisation, Intermediate Irish Fiddle, and Intermediate Mandolin classes. Isabelle is fifteen now and has been playing fiddle since the age of ten, starting with the Mount Airy, Fid-dler’s Grove, and Galax Fiddlers’ Conventions. The first tune she learned was Over the Waterfall by Henry Reed, taught to her by Reed’s own sons. She loves tradi-tional music and has attended both

the Swannanoa Gathering Fiddle Week and the Mark O’Connor Fid-dle Camp, the latter on full scholar-ship. Isabelle has taken lessons and performed with Jamie Laval, Mark O’Connor, Jeremy Kettle, Joe Cra-ven, Seamus Connelly, and Ashley

Broder. Isabelle has been an active mem-ber of the Folk Society for sev-eral years and has performed in annual Youth Showcase Gath-erings and on the Folk Stage at Festival in the Park. Isabelle began

studying classical violin in middle school. She placed in the Western Regional All-State Orchestra and Charlotte Honors Orchestra for two consecutive years. She also per-formed with the UNC-Charlotte Phil-harmonia. Isabelle is a member of Union Symphony Youth Or-chestra and Union Symphony Chamber Players, where she performs with a string septet. Isabelle is an assistant chamber mu-sic instructor. Isabelle’s ambition is a life in music. As well as the violin, she plays piano and mandolin. She has re-cently added the cello to her reper-toire, as well. The first runner-up for the Youth Scholarship is Colin Shoemaker, who performs on Irish flute and tin

whistle. Should Isabelle be unable for any reason to attend the Swan-nanoa Gathering, Colin will go in her stead.

Adult Scholarship Competition Carol Raedy was selected to re-ceive the 2010 Spencer-Bryant Adult Scholarship. She is attend-ing Old-Time Week at the Swan-nanoa Gathering, July 18-24. She is taking classes in Appalachian Ballads and Folk Songs with Bobby McMillon, Intermediate/Advanced Old-Time Fiddle with Shay Garriock, and Square Dance and Calling with Phil Jamison. Carol grew up in the small, south-western town of Emory, Virginia. She and her two older sisters learned to sing from and with their mother, and Carol sang in her church choir. One of her high school English teachers affected the course of her life when she of-fered students the opportunity to learn to play a traditional folk in-

strument as an alter-native to writing a paper. Carol bor-rowed a mountain dulcimer and fell in love with the music. She often went to the nearby Carter Fold on Saturday nights to hear great old-time music and to dance. She first heard John McCutcheon sing and play hammered dul-cimer on the campus of Emory and Henry

College, near her home. As a per-cussionist, Carol was enthralled with the hammered dulcimer. She learned to play guitar to accom-pany singing and enjoyed being a song leader with youth at her church and in summer camps.

2010 CFS Swannanoa Gathering Scholarships

Isabelle Young

Carol Raedy

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First Saturday Willow Grove Old-Time Jam

Bill Williams invites all to join in and come on out on the first Sat-urday of every month from 2-4 PM in the Activities Room at the Willow Grove Retirement Center, located at 10043 Idlewild Road, Matthews, NC 28105. The next jam will take place on Saturday, June 5th. For information, call Bill Williams at 704-573-6154 or 704-517-2822 (cell).

Carol graduated college as a per-cussion major with a degree in mu-sic. She taught music and in ele-mentary classrooms for twenty years. She is presently giving indi-vidual lessons and leading classes in her home. Carol founded the Community Singers, an intergenerational folk choir committed to promoting peace through music, in 2004. They sing in hospitals, nursing homes, festivals, and for other community events. Since 1998, Carol has performed solo and with others at contra dances, schools, churches, wed-dings, festivals, and other venues, playing fiddle, hammered dulci-mer, mountain dulcimer, and lead-ing community dancing. Carol is a long-time member of CFS. For several years she sched-uled performers for the CFS Folk Stage at Festival in the Park. She served on the CFS Board of Direc-tors from 2001 to 2003. Carol also-helped to write the curriculum and teach in the Traditional North Carolina Music Project, a collabo-rative project between CFS and the CMS After School Enrichment Pro-gram. As an adult, Carol taught herself to play hammered and mountain dulcimers, but was reluctant to play with anyone else. When she and husband, Patrick, moved to Charlotte some fifteen years ago, she joined the Folk Society and took fiddle lessons, but was still reluctant to play with a group. Af-ter attending the Swannanoa Gath-ering Old-Time Week, she joined the CFS slow jam group and, over time, gained confidence to play for contra dances and at Festival in the Park. Carol looks forward to being once more immersed in old-time music

and dance at Swannanoa. She hopes to improve her own musi-cianship and knowledge and to share what she learns with her stu-dents. She also looks forward to learning about square dance calling from Phil Jamison. The first runner-up for the Spencer-Bryant Scholarship was Ed Ge-bauer. The second runner-up was David McGuirt. Should Carol be unable to go to Swannanoa for any reason, Ed will be offered the op-portunity to use the scholarship.

chian State Fiddlers Convention and the Alleghany County Fid-dlers Convention in Sparta. Jake has shared first-place honors with several bands in competition, as well. Sample recordings and en-joy videos of Jake’s performances at www.jakekrack.com.

(Save the Dates, continued from page 1.) Farm near Pearisburg, Virginia. The 2010 dates for this generous gift to all: July 23-25. If you’ve never experienced the Phlegar hospitality, plan now to do so! You’ll enjoy a relaxed, family-friendly, music-filled weekend in a place of great physical beauty. All are welcome – listeners, as well as musicians and dancers. The highlight of the weekend is the Saturday night potluck din-ner; bring a side dish to comple-ment barbecue. Rough camping on the farm and nearby accommo-dations are both available. There’s no charge for the week-end; small donations are re-quested to offset Porta-Jon rentals and picnic goods. Have ques-tions? Call Tom and Barbara at 704-535-2154.

Phenomenal fiddler Jake Krack per-forms in a house concert on Friday, May 14th, and holds two fiddle workshops on Saturday, May 15th, at the Freer Farm, 1667 Hugh Champion Road, in Tryon, North Carolina. The house concert takes place at 7 PM and costs $10. A Be-ginners Fiddle Workshop takes place from 9 AM to noon and an Intermediate/Advanced Fiddle Workshop takes place 1-4 PM. The workshops cost $50 each. Space is limited. Make reservations by call-ing Bibi Freer at 864-415-4936. Jake Krack, a young man (2007 graduate of Berea College), already has a long list of impressive musi-cal accomplishments. For the fourth time, Jake captured first place in the Old-Time Fiddle con-test at the Galax Old Time Fiddlers Convention in 2009. Last June, he won the first place Old-Time Fiddle contest for the third time at the Mt. Airy Fiddlers Convention. He’s also taken first place in Old-Time Fiddle contests at the 2010 Appala-

Jake Krack Fiddle

Workshops & Concert

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the country-influenced sound of her previous albums for a darker, hauntingly personal sound in-spired by the iconic female folk singers and songwriters of the 1960s and ‘70s. Caroline mixes her literary, original material with well-crafted covers of Joni Mitchell (Cactus Tree), Cyndi Lauper (True Colors), and country songwriting duo Dill/Wilkin’s gothic composi-tion Long Black Veil — which

Herring deftly reshapes into an even darker Ap-palachian murder ballad. Just how good are Caroline’s origi-nals? Well, on April 1, 2010, The Mississippi Insti-tute of Arts and Letters recog-nized Caroline’s Golden Apples of

the Sun with their 2010 award in Popular Music Composition. Lis-ten to NPR’s interview (1/2/2010) with Caroline at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122110056 Caroline Herring’s house concert on May 22nd begins at 8 PM. Ar-rive at 6:30 PM for the covered dish supper; dinner begins at 7 PM. Barbara and Randy Ivey’s house is five minutes from the Carowinds Exit off I-77. Admission is a mini-mum donation of $20 per person; all proceeds benefit the artist. Seat-ing is limited to 45; RSVP today. (Sorry; no kids.) Email Barbara and Randy at MusicLovers@comporium.net to make a reservation and receive di-rections.

By Randy Ivey A question for you readers out there. What do Eudora Welty, Wil-liam Faulkner, and John Grisham have in common? Correct! They are all great American authors from Mississippi. Well, if you love the southern sto-rytelling of these Mississippi authors, we think you will enjoy our favorite Mis-sissippi song-writer – Caroline Herring. She will perform her music on Satur-day, May 22nd, at the next Music Lover’s House Concert at Bar-bara and Randy Ivey’s house. Caroline Her-ring’s (www.CarolineHerring.com) music is hailed for combining traditional sounds with striking, original ob-servations on modern life and love. Caroline has been prolific since we hosted her last in November 2006. Much of the new material we heard that night was included in her 2008 album, Lantana. The Austin Chronicle proclaimed Lantana to be “the best modern Southern Gothic album since Lucinda Wil-liams’ Sweet Old World.” In October 2009, Caroline released Golden Apples of the Sun and Sil-ver Apples of the Moon. (If you were at the April Folk Society Gathering, you heard the Yeats poem that these titles came from.) On these recordings, Caroline staked out new terrain, exchanging

Caroline Herring House Concert Saturday, May 22nd

Folk Society Celtic Sessions

The CFS Celtic sessions started in January of 2009 and have been steadily growing by word of mouth ever since. We try to meet one or two Sundays a month in homes, at either a north and/or south Char-lotte location. Sessions usually run 2-4:30 PM. Come prepared to play a lot! You'll need to get on our Celtic Session email list to learn the tunes, dates, and places, as these will change from one month to the next; contact John Goldsbury at flatpick_guitar@yahoo.com or 803-802-3551. Check out the "Celtic Session" link on our web page (www.folksociety.org) to learn more about this great playing op-portunity!

Isabelle Young

Carol Raedy Offers Summer Singing Classes Carol Raedy is offering Everybody Sing: A Class for Shy and Non-Singers, on Mondays, 5:30-6:30 PM, June 7, 14, 21; and July 5,12. The classes are taught in Carol’s home and cost $45 per person. Returning students and newcomers are both welcome. There is an Af-rican proverb that goes: “If you can walk you can dance, if you can talk you can sing.” This class will help you find or reclaim your singing voice in a fun and non-threatening atmosphere as you learn practical music theory and sight singing skills. For information about the class and to register, contact Carol Raedy at 704-367-2536, carol-raedy@hotmail.com, or through her website, www.carolraedy.com.

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takes place on Saturday night in 1938 in Mt. Pleaseant, NC. For the whole family. 704-376-3777; www.theatrecharlotte.com MAY 13, Barrie Howard, The Corkscrew, 16916 Birkdale Commons Parkway, Huntersville, NC, 8-10:30 PM. 704-987-0011; www.thescrewcrew.com MAY 13, John Doyle, Cook Shack Concert Series, 7:30 PM, $16; adv. reservations re-quired; write CookShackShows@roadrunner.com MAY 13, The Brilliant Inventions & Rayland Baxter, 8 PM, $8-10. MAY 13, Jonathan Byrd, The Purple Onion, 7:30-9:30 PM. MAY 13, Barrie Howard (Thursdays), Down-town Farmers’ Market, Statesville, NC, 4-6 PM. 704-460-8013. MAY 13, The Hoppers (gospel), R-S Central High School Auditorium, on Hwy. 221, north of Rutherfordton, NC. 7 PM; gen. admission $12. 704-434-1918; www.carolinagospel.com May 13-15, Central Virginia Family Blue-grass Festival w/Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road, Al Batten & Bluegrass Reunion, The Snyder Family, James King, Surefire, Coun-try Poor, Marty Rabon, Bluegrass Brothers, Junior Sisk, Country Fried Grass, California Ramblers, Little Roy & Lizzy, Amelia Family Campground, 9720 Military Rd., Amelia, VA 23002. 804-561-3011; www.ameliafamilycampground.com **MAY 14, Charlotte Folk Society Gathering: Traditional, Celtic & Gypsy Music by Noto-rious (Eden MacAdam-Somer and Larry Unger), Great Aunt Stella Center, 926 Eliza-beth Ave., Charlotte, 7:30 PM, free; donations appreciated. Refreshments, song circle, slow & fast jams follow concert. Doors 7 PM. Free parking. 704-563-7080; www.folksociety.org

MAY 14, Charlotte Appalachian Dulcimer Club, Great Aunt Stella Center, 926 Elizabeth Ave., Charlotte, following the CFS concert, approx. 8:30 PM, free. Call Mark Willingham for information: 980-254-8059. MAY 14, Karan Casey, Celtic Series, Diana Wortham Theatre, 8 PM, $30. MAY 14, Phil Wiggins & Corey Harris, Fletcher Theater, Progress Energy Ctr., Ral-eigh, NC, 8 PM, $23-25. 919-664-8302; www.pinecone.org MAY 14, Carolina Chocolate Drops, The Or-ange Peel, 8 PM, $15-17. MAY 14, Audrey Auld w/Jack Lawrence, The Evening Muse, 8 PM, $8-10.

All calendar listings are subject to change and should be verified.

VENUE INFORMATION

The ArtsCenter, 300-G E. Main St., Carrboro, NC. 919-929-2787; www.artscenterlive.org.

Belk Theater, Blumenthal Performing Arts Ctr., 130 N. Tryon St., Charlotte. 704-372-1000; www.blumenthalcenter.org.

Blue Ridge Music Center, milepost 213, Blue Ridge Parkway, 700 Foothills Rd., Galax, VA. Call 276-236-5309, ext. 112; visit www.blueridgemusiccenter.org.

The Blue Vine, 209 S. Main St., Salisbury, NC. 704-797-0093; www.thebluevine.com.

Brock Performing Arts Ctr., 622 N. Main St., Mocksville, NC. Call 336-751-3000; visit www.daviearts.org.

Broyhill Civic Center of Caldwell Community College, 1913 Hickory Blvd., SE, Lenoir, NC. Call 828-726-2407; www.broyhillcenter.com.

The Comet Grill, 2224 Park Rd., Charlotte. 704-371-4300.

Cook Shack Concert Series, The Cook Shack, Union Grove, NC. Exit 65 off I-77 North; turn west; travel 2 miles; sits on left of road. Reser-vations required; email cookshack-shows@roadrunner.com or call 704-539-4353. http://uniongrovemusic.site.voila.fr./page1.html

Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place, 2 Pack Place Square, Asheville, NC. 828-257-4530; www.dwtheatre.com.

Don Gibson Theatre, Theatre, 318 S. Washing-ton St., Shelby, NC. 704-487-8114; www.DGshelby.com

The Double Door Inn, 218 E. Independence Blvd. Charlotte, NC. 704-376-1446; www.doubledoorinn.com.

The Evening Muse, 3227 N. Davidson St., Char-lotte. 704-376-3737; www.theeveningmuse.com.

Fairview Ruritan Club Concerts, Fairview Rd., SR821, Galax, VA. 276-238-0376; www.fairviewruritan.com.

Fiddle & Bow Society Series, Blessings, 823 Reynolda Rd., Winston-Salem, NC. 336-724-9393; www.fiddleandbow.org.

The Garage, 110 West 7th St., Winston-Salem, NC. 336-777-1127; www.the-garage.ws

Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall, 185 Cling-man Ave., Asheville, NC. 828-232-5800; www.thegreyeagle.com.

Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC. 704-372-1000; www.blumenthalcenter.org.

McGlohon Theatre, Spirit Square, 345 N. Col-lege St., Charlotte, NC. 704-372-1000; www.

Calendar FOLK CALENDAR

blumenthalcenter.org.

The Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E. 36th St., Charlotte, NC. 704-358-9298; www.neighborhoodtheatre.com.

Old Rock School, 400 Main St. West, Valdese, NC. Call 828-879-2129; visit www.bluegrassattherock.com.

Orange Peel, 101 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, NC. 828-225-5851; www.theorangepeel.net.

Puckett’s Farm Equipment, 2740 W. Sugar Creek Rd., Derita, NC. 704-597-8230; www.puckettsfarm.com.

Purple Onion, Hwy. 176, Saluda, NC. 828-749-1179; www.purpleonionsaluda.com.

Ri~Ra Irish Pub, 200 N. Tryon St., Charlotte. 704-333-5554; www.rira.com.

Rodi, 245 W. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia, NC. 704-864-7634; www.rodiworld.com.

Scruggs Opry House, 124 N. Main St., Belmont, NC. http://scruggsopryhouse.blogspot.com/

Skyland Performing Arts Center, Historic Skyland Hotel, 6th & Main Sts., Hendersonville, NC. 828-693-0087; www.thespac.org/

Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St., Davidson, NC. 704-895-9090; www.summitcoffee.com.

The Sylvia Theater, 27 N. Congress St., York, SC. 803-684-5590; www.sylviatheater.com.

The Visulite Theatre, 1615 Elizabeth Ave., Charlotte. 704-358-9200; www.visulite.com.

CALENDAR LISTINGS

THRU JUNE 12, New Harmonies: Celebrat-ing American Roots Music Exhibit, Warrenton County Memorial Library, 119 South Front St., Warrenton, NC. Free admission. 252-257-4990; www.wcplnc.org/ **MAY 9, CFS Old Time Acoustic Sunday Jam, Asbury Care Center Living Room, Al-dersgate, 3800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, 2-4 PM, free. Contact jam coordinator Tom Kelle-her with questions at 704-366-9441. MAY 10, Find Your Muse (Open Mic) (Mondays), The Evening Muse, 7 PM, $3. MAY 11, Barrie Howard (Tuesdays), Down-town Farmers’ Market, Mooresville, NC, 7-9 PM. 704-460-8013. MAY 12, Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band, McGlohon Theatre, 7:30 PM, $20 & up. MAY 12, Tosco House (Open Mic), The Even-ing Muse, 8 PM, $2. MAY 12, Old Mountain Road (bluegrass), Puckett’s Farm Equipment, 8:30 PM, no cover. MAY 12-16, Smoke on the Mountain, Theatre Charlotte, 501 Queens Rd., Charlotte. Musical

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MAY 14, Tinsley Ellis (blues/rock), Double Door Inn, 10 PM, $12-15. MAY 14, Gigi Dover & the Big Love (Southern soul), The Blue Vine, 9 PM-Midnight, $5 cover. MAY 14, Barrie Howard (Fridays), Sweet Peppers, Baxter Village, I-85 Fort Mill Exit, 6-8:30. 704-460-8013. MAY 15, Al Petteway & Amy White (Contemporary Celtic & Appalachian in-fluenced acoustic music), Skyland Perform-ing Arts Center, 7:30 PM, $20. MAY 15, Pickin’ in the Park w/Constant Change Bluegrass Band, Nu-Blu, Carolina Breeze, Hubert Lawson & the Bluegrass County Boys, HWY 61 Bluegrass Band, Skip Kelley & Ed Dodson, T.R. & the Boys, Wide Open Bluegrass, Hagan-Stone Park, 5920 Hagan-Stone Park Rd., Pleasant Gar-den, NC, 9:30 AM-6 PM, Free; food available to purchase. Bring a chair & instrument. www.highlonesomestrings.org MAY 15, Alice Peacock, The Evening Muse, 8 PM, $12. MAY 15, Jake Krack Fiddle Workshops & Concert, Freer Farm, 1667 Hugh Champion Rd., Tryon, NC. Beginners Workshop 9 AM – Noon; $50. Intermediate/Advanced Workshop 1-4 PM $50. Concert 7 PM, $10. Reservations: 864-415-4936. MAY 15, Lonnie Carpenter (acoustic), The Blue Vine, 9-11 PM, no cover. MAY 15, Irish Spring w/Celtic musician Ed Harrison, Marshall Goers & Friends, His-toric Hagood Mill, 5138 Hagood Mill Rd., Pickens, SC, 11 AM-4 PM, free. 864-898-2936; www.co.pickens.sc.us/culturalcommission/events.asp MAY 15, Old Hat Revival (blues, rock), Double Door Inn, 10 PM, $10. MAY 16, Salvation Army Brass Spectacular featuring guest soloist Joe Burgstaller of the Canadian Brass , Calvary Church, 5801 Pineville-Matthews, Charlotte, 6 PM. Free; donations to benefit Salvation Army Fine Arts Conservatory, an arts enrichment pro-gram for low-income children. 704-716-2769; www.salvationarmycharlotte.org MAY 16, Elizabeth Cook (Americana/country/folk rock), Double Door Inn, 8 PM, $12. MAY 16, Rod McDonald, Mountain Spirit Coffeehouse, Unitarian Universalist Church, 1 Edwin Place, Asheville, NC, 7 PM, Adults

MAY 21, Donna Hughes (Americana/bluegrass), The Blue Vine, 9-11 PM, no cover. MAY 21 Martha Bassett Band w/Andy Mabe & Sweet Tooth, The Garage, 9 PM, $10 adv. MAY 22, Caroline Herring House Concert, home of Barbara & Randy Ivey, near I-77 Carowinds Exit. Covered Dish 7 PM, Concert 8 PM, $20 min. donation to benefit artist. Reser-vations: email MusicLovers@comporium.net. MAY 22, Rick Spretizer, Summit Coffee, 8-11 PM. MAY 22, Riley Baugus & Tim Ericksen, The Garage, 8:30 PM, $10. MAY 22, Michael Reno Harrell, The Purple Onion, 7:30-9:30 PM. MAY 22, Matt Walsh (blues), The Corkscrew Wine Bar, 16916 Birkdale Commons Parkway, Huntersville, NC, 8-11:30 PM. 704-987-0011; www.thescrewcrew.com MAY 22, Peter Karp & Sue Foley, Americana Stage, Burke Jailhouse Gallery, 115 Meeting St., Morganton, NC, 8 PM, $20. Contact Clint Ber-nard at 828-433-0198 or americana-stage@charter.net. MAY 22, “Livin’ la Vida Local,” The Sylvia Theater, 9 PM, $10 donations appreciated. Fea-tures York County talent. MAY 22, Charlotte FemmeFest 2010 w/Jill An-drews, Amelia’s Mechanics, The Alpha The-ory, Wavy Space, Mieka Pauley, Doria Rob-erts, Eva Gael, Natalie Royal, Rachel Van-Slyke, Jill Dineen Band, Hannah Miller, Emily Lynch, Bridgit Scheide, Amissville, The Near Misses & more, The Evening Muse, Neighbor-hood Theatre, Smelly Cat, Dolce Vida, Green Rice, 5:30 PM-1 AM, $15 adv. www.charlottefemmefest.org MAY 22, Got to Be NC Bluegrass Band Com-petition, Heritage Stage, State Fairground, Ral-eigh, NC, 1-5:30 PM, free & open to the public. First prize: $500; competition open to first 10 bands to register. Information: www.pinecone.org/gottobencbluegrass.html MAY 22, Robin Rogers, Rodi, 8-10 PM. MAY 23, Zydeco Dance w/Creole Zydeco Farmers, The Grey Eagle, 6 PM, $12-14. MAY 23, Tom Russell, The Evening Muse, 9 PM, $20. MAY 23, Oak Ridge Boys, Belk Theater, 7 PM, $35-77. MAY 23, Railroad Earth, Visulite Theatre, 9 PM, $20.

$12-15; Students $10-12. 828-254-6001; www.uuasheville.org/Coffeehouse.php MAY 16, Benefit for Obakunle Akinlana (local musician/poet/storyteller who lost house in a fire) featuring Black Ice Theory, Groove 8, Still Life Static, The Evening Muse, 6 PM, $Donations. MAY 16, Laurelyn Dossett, Carl Jones & Scott Manring perform music from Providence Gap: An Appalachian Saga in Song, The Ga-rage, 7:30 PM, $10. MAY 18, Ashley Chambliss, Flat Rock Wine Shoppe Back Room, 2701 Greenville Hwy., Flat Rock, NC, 6:30 PM. 828-697-6828; www.flatrockwineshoppe.com/index.html MAY 19, Damon Fowler (blues/Americana/roots), Double Door Inn, 9 PM, $8. MAY 19-23, Smoke on the Mountain, Theatre Charlotte, 501 Queens Rd., Charlotte. Musical takes place on Saturday night in 1938 in Mt. Pleaseant, NC. For the whole family. 704-376-3777; www.theatrecharlotte.com MAY 20, Infamous Stringdusters w/Town Mountain opening, Visulite Theatre, 9 PM, $12-15. MAY 20, Lake Norman Jam Session, home in Lake Norman, NC area, 7 PM, Free. Call Ralph Gettings at 704-892-7415. MAY 20, Howe Gelb/Sea of Cortez, The Even-ing Muse, 9 PM, $15. MAY 20, Tim Eriksen & Riley Baugus, The Grey Eagle, 8:30 PM, $10-12. MAY 20, Amelia Curran w/Justin Rutledge opening, The Sylvia Theater, 9 PM, $10-15. MAY 20, Jeff Coffin & The Mu’tet, Double Door Inn, 9 PM, $12-15. MAY 20, Trent Wagler & the Steel Wheels, Flat Rock Wine Shoppe Back Room, 2701 Greenville Hwy., Flat Rock, NC, 8:30 PM. 828-697-6828; www.flatrockwineshoppe.com/index.html MAY 21, Sue Foley & Peter Karp, The Even-ing Muse, 8 PM, $12-14. MAY 21, Trent Wagler & the Steel Wheels, Jack of the Wood, 95 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC, 9:30 PM. 828-252-5445; www.jackofthewood.com/music.htm MAY 21, Montana Skies (cello & guitar duo), Fiddle & Bow Society Series, 8 PM, $12. MAY 21, Sam Quinn (of the everybody-fields), Visulite Theatre, 9 PM, $10-12.

FOLK CALENDAR

Calendar, continued

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MAY 29, Carolina Gator Gumbo, The Evening Muse, 8 PM, $8. MAY 29, Bua, Celtic Series, Diana Wortham Theatre, 8 PM, $30. MAY 29, Hickory Grove (bluegrass), The Purple Onion, 7:30-9:30 PM. MAY 29, Darrell Scott w/David Grier, The Grey Eagle, 8 PM, $15-18. MAY 30, Irish Session with ClannDarragh, Dande-lion Market, 118 W. 5th St., Charlotte, 5-7 PM. 704-333-7989; www.dandelionmarketcharlotte.com JUNE 1, Patty Griffin & Buddy Miller, Blumenthal PAC Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St., Charlotte, 7:30 PM, $29.50-37.50. JUNE 2, Triangle Jazz Orchestra Rehearsal (Big Band & more recent jazz & blues), The ArtsCenter, 7:45-9:30 PM, Free. JUNE 2, Tosco House (Open Mic), The Evening Muse, 8 PM, $2. JUNE 3, Big Daddy Love (Americana/bluegrass/folk rock), Double Door Inn, 9 PM, $7. JUNE 3, Spring Creek Bluegrass Band, Flat Rock Wine Shoppe Back Room, 2701 Greenville Hwy., Flat Rock, NC, 8:30 PM. 828-697-6828; www.flatrockwineshoppe.com/index.html JUNE 4, Laurence Juber (British virtuoso guitarist), The ArtsCenter, 8:30 PM, $20. JUNE 4, Tift Merritt w/Megafaun opening, Visulite Theatre, 9 PM, $15. JUNE 4, Brooks Williams, Fiddle & Bow Society Series, 8 PM, $10. JUNE 4, Chuck Brodsky, The Grey Eagle, 9 PM, $10-12. JUNE 4, Laurence Juber, The ArtsCenter, 8:30 PM, $20. JUNE 4, Azucar! A Caribbean Celebration, Neigh-borhood Theatre, 8 PM, $10-15; limited seating; fam-ily-friendly event. JUNE 4-5, Bluegrass & Old-Time Fiddlers Conven-tion, Veterans Memorial Park, Mount Airy, NC. Competition & jamming. www.mtairyfiddlersconvention.com JUNE 6, Ginny Hawker & Tracy Schwarz; Benton Flippen & the Smokey Valley Boys, Blue Ridge Music Center, 7 PM; seating opens 5:30 PM; $10. Advance tickets available. JUNE 5, Willow Grove Old-Time Jam, Willow

Grove Retirement Center Activities Room, 10043 Idlewild Rd., Matthews, NC, 2-4 PM. Call Bill Williams at 704-573-6154 or 704-517-2822 (cell).

JUNE 5, Beatles Tribute, Blumenthal PAC Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St., Charlotte, 7 PM, $12-20. www.toscomusicparty.com

JUNE 5, Rick Spreitzer, Pura Vida Worldly Art, 1521 Central Ave., Charlotte, 5-7 PM, Free. 704-335-8587; www.puravidaart.com JUNE 6, Charlotte Blues Society BlueSun-day presents Blues Jam, Double Door Inn, 8 PM (doors open 7 PM), $5 non-members. Sign up for jam 7-7:30 PM. www.charlottebluessociety.org JUNE 6, Rick Trolsen & the New Orleans Po’ Boys, Jazz Series, Diana Wortham Theatre, 7 PM, $35. JUNE 6-12, 19th Annual Blue Ridge Old Time Music Week, Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, NC. www.mhc.edu/oldtimemusic JUNE 6-JULY 4, Providence Gap: An Appalachian Sage in Song (by Preston Lane; original music by Laurelyn Dossett of Polecat Creek), Triad Stage, 232 Elm St., Greensboro, NC. On-stage band: Laurelyn Dossett, Carl Jones & Scott Man-ring. 336-272-0160; www.triadstage.org JUNE 7, Open Bluegrass Jam, Scruggs Opry House, 124 N. Main St., Belmont, NC, 7-9 PM (doors open 6:45), free. http://scruggsopryhouse.blogspot.com JUNE 7, Bob Schneider, Visulite Theatre, 8 PM, $15. MONDAYS, JUNE 7-JULY 12, Everybody Sing: A Class for Shy and Non-Singers taught by Carol Raedy, Carol Raedy’s home, 5:30-6:30 PM, $45. Contact Carol at 704-367-2536 or carolraedy@hotmail.com to register. JUNE 7-12, Dulcimerville, produced by Lois Hornbostel w/instructors Ken Bloom, Linda Brockinton, Bill Taylor, Don Pedi, Anne Lough, Doug Berch, Paul Andry, Nina Zanetti, Stephen Seifert, Jim & Phyllis Gaskins, Betty Smith, John Huron, Lois Hornbostel, Washburn Ctr., YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly, Black Moun-tain, NC. Workshops, concerts, jamming, open stage. www.dulcimerville.com Reg-istration closes June 1st. JUNE 8, Red Rocking Chair (Michael Reno Harrell, Jack Lawrence, Tom Kuhn & Dale Meyer) (Tuesdays), Comet Grill, 8:30-11:30.

FOLK CALENDAR

MAY 23, Coffeehouse Concert w/Laurelyn Dossett, Carl Jones & Scott Manring per-forming music from Providence Gap: An Appalachian Saga in Song, Haywood-Duke Room, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 607 N. Greene St., Greensboro, NC. 7-8:30 PM, Free. www.holytrinity.com MAY 26, Jacob Johnson & Justin Taylor, The Evening Muse, 8 PM, $TBD. MAY 27, Laura Boosinger & Josh Goforth, Cook Shack Concert Series, 7:30 PM, $15; advance reservations required; write Cook-ShackShows@roadrunner.com MAY 28, Hot Music from the Deep South: Red Stick Ramblers; Backstep opening, Blue Ridge Music Center, 7 PM; seating opens 5:30 PM; $15. Advance tickets avail-able. MAY 28, Pierce Pettis w/Eric Scott Guth-rie, The Evening Muse, 8 PM, $12-14. MAY 28, An Evening with Dehlia Low, The Grey Eagle, 8 PM, $8-10. MAY 28, Rick Spreitzer w/Kevin Edwards, Dilworth Coffee at Ballantyne Village, 14815 Ballantyne Village Way, Ste. 140, Charlotte, 7:30-10 PM. MAY 28-30, Ole Time Fiddler’s & Blue-grass Festival w/Cockman Family, Spirit Fiddle, Laura Boosinger, Josh Goforth, Sally Spring, Trantham Family, The Shive Show, Lissy Beaver, Wicker & Jones, Doug & Todd Elliott, Orville Hicks, Steve Houser, Green Grass Cloggers, Cane Creek Cloggers, Fiddler’s Grove, NC. Competition, concerts, children’s events, camping. 828-478-3735; www.fiddlersgrove.com MAY 29, Gathering in the Gap, Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park, Big Stone Gap, VA. Workshops, concerts, com-petition, children’s events, jamming. www.gatheringinthegapmusicfestival.com MAY 29, Lucy Allen & Marshall Goers, Carolina First Saturday Farmers’ Market, Main St. between Court & McBee Sts., Greenville, SC, 8 AM-Noon, Free. 864-467-4494 MAY 29, Johnson’s Crossroad (mountain/bluegrass/TX singer-songwriter), Flat Rock Wine Shoppe Back Room, 2701 Greenville Hwy., Flat Rock, NC, 9 PM. 828-697-6828; www.flatrockwineshoppe.com/index.html

Calendar, continued

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JUNE 9, Richard Shindell, The Evening Muse, 8 PM, $18-20. **JUNE 11, Charlotte Folk Society Gathering: Traditional, Bluegrass, Gospel & more by The Whippersnappers, Great Aunt Stella Center, 926 Elizabeth Ave., Charlotte, 7:30 PM, free; donations appreciated. Refreshments, song circle, slow & fast jams follow concert. Doors open 7 PM. Free parking. 704-563-7080; www.folksociety.org JUNE 11, Carrie Rodriguez, The Evening Muse, 8 PM, $12-14. JUNE 11, Cyril Lance’s North Carolina Roots Music Reverie Arkestra, The ArtsCenter, 8:30 PM, $14. JUNE 11-12, Henry Reed Memorial Fiddlers Convention, Glen Lyn, VA. Workshops, con-certs, dance, competition, children’s events, jamming, open stage. www.gilesmountainstringband.com JUNE 11-13, Charlie Poole Music Festival, Eden Fairgrounds, Eden, NC. Concerts, dance, competition, children’s events, jamming. www.charlie-poole.com JUNE 12, Tom Russell, The Evening Muse, 8 PM, $20. JUNE 12, Night of Blues w/Mac Arnold Plate Full O’ Blues, Blonde Blues, WSNB, Neigh-borhood Theatre, 8:30 PM, $15-19; limited seat-ing. **JUNE 13, CFS Old Time Acoustic Sunday Jam, Asbury Care Center Living Room, Al-dersgate, 3800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, 2-4 PM, free. Contact jam coordinator Tom Kelle-her with questions at 704-366-9441. JUNE 13, The Gospel Jubilators, Daniels Auditorium, NC Museum of History, 5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh, NC, 3-4 PM, Free. Jubi-lee-style male gospel group. www.pinecone.org. JUNE 13, Edmar & Pavelid Castaneda (Colombian harp players), The ArtsCenter, 7 PM, $15. JUNE 16, Otis Taylor Band (blues), McGlohon Theatre, 7:30 PM, $17.50 & up. JUNE 17, Quebe Sisters, Cook Shack Concert Series, 7:30 PM, $15; advance reservations re-quired; write CookShackShows@roadrunner.com JUNE 18, Beppe Gambetta (acoustic guitarist),

Skyland Performing Arts Center, 7:30 PM, $15-18. JUNE 19, Iris DeMent, The Grey Eagle, 8 PM, $25-27; fully seated show.

CONTRA DANCES

Charlotte Dance Gypsies, Chantilly Commu-nity Bldg., 2101 Shenandoah Ave., Charlotte. Potluck 6:30 PM, lessons 7:30 PM, dance 8-11 PM, $8, students $5. Gretchen at 704-537-1377 or Dean at 704-361-6387; www.charlottedancegypsies.org. MAY 16: Family Dance for Beginners & Families, 4—5:30 PM; Adults $5, ages 2-16 $3, under 2 free. Family max $15. Ron at 704-577-7510. MAY 22: Bonne Terre w/Caller TBA.

Charlotte Country Dancers, Chantilly Com-munity Bldg., 2101 Shenandoah Ave., Char-lotte. Every Monday evening. Lesson 7:30 PM. Dance 8-10 PM, $7. Call Nancy Howe at 704-536-9594. www.charlottedancegypsies.org. No information on May dances available.

The Grey Eagle, Haywood Rd. & Clingman Ave., Asheville, Mondays, 8 PM, $5. Call 828-232-5800 for details; visit www.oldfarmersball.com. MAY 10: Euphoria String Band w/Diane Silver calling. MAY 17: Magic Food w/Nils Fredland. MAY 24: Red Wellies w/Anne Marie Walter calling. MAY 31: Fly By Night w/Hank Morris. JUNE 7: Gypsy Meltdown w/Jack Mitchell.

Boone Country Dancers, Apple Barn, Valle Crucis Conference Ctr., Valle Crucis, NC. Lessons 7:30, dance 8 PM, $7; wear soft-soled shoes. Bob Oelberg at 828-265-2627; www.boonecountrydancers.org. MAY 27: Thursday Dance, Western NC Dances – Circle, Squares, Freestyle Flatfoot, Two Step, Waltz & more; all dances taught.Flatfoot workshop 7 PM. Zephyr Lightning Bolts w/Phil Jamison calling. (7-10 PM)

Carolina Song & Dance Assn., Carrboro Cen-tury Ctr., Greensboro St., between Weaver & Main, Carrboro, NC. Lessons 7:30 PM, Dance 8-11 PM, $8. Call 919-967-9948 for directions. Visit http://csda-dance.org/index.htm MAY 21: Lu Gamble, Buz Lloyd & Friends w/George Segebade calling.

Columbia Traditional Music and Dance, Arsenal Hill Park Bldg., Laurel & Lincoln Sts., Columbia, SC. Lessons 7 PM, Dance 7:30-10:30 PM, $8. Call 803-796-8935 or visit www.contracola.org. MAY 16: Steam Shovel w/Linda Thomas.

Fiddle & Bow Country Dancers, The Grange, Guilford School Rd., off I-40 E, Greensboro.

FOLK CALENDAR

Calendar, continued Lessons 7:30 PM, Dance 8-11 PM. Call Carol Thompson at 336-272-3245 or email George Segebade at gsegebade_80@msn.com. Visit website at http://feetretreat.com. MAY 15: Appalachian Storm w/Barbara Groh calling. JUNE 5: Anadama w/Charley Harvey.

Fiddle & Bow Country Dancers, Vintage Theatre, Vintage St. & S. Main St., Winston-Salem, NC. Every Tuesday; Dance 8-10 PM, $6; $4 students. See contact info above. MAY 11: Pilot Mountain Bobcats w/Will Stimpson calling. (10:00 Dance) MAY 18: Magic Foot w/Jesse Edgerton calling. (10:30 Dance) MAY 25: Reel Shady w/George Segebade. (10:30 Dance)

Harvest Moon Folk Society, River Falls Lodge, near Marietta, SC, Set up 5 PM, Pot-luck 6:30 PM, lessons 7:30 PM, dance 8-11 PM, $8, Children free. Call Terry Pizzuto at 864-639-6113 or email tpzzt@clemson.edu; www.harvestmoonfolk.org. MAY 15: Notorious w/Robert Cromartie. MAY 16: Sunday Dance w/Notorious & Diane Silver calling; 1:30-5 PM. MAY 21: Friday Advanced Dance w/Magi Foot & Jesse Edgerton calling. Experienced dancers only; not for beginners/new danc-ers. MAY 22: Magic Foot w/Jesse Edgerton.

Harvest Moon Folk Society CityDance, Landmark Hall, 156 Landmark Dr., Taylors, SC. Lessons 7:30 PM, dance 8-11 PM, $8, Children free. Call Terry Pizzuto at 864-639-6113 or email tpzzt@clemson.edu; www.harvestmoonfolk.org. MAY 28: Cailen Campbell & David Brown w/Hank Morris calling.

Old Farmer’s Ball, Bryson Gym, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa, NC, Thursdays, Lessons 7:30 PM, Dance 8 PM, $6. Beginning & intermediate music jam Thursdays, 7:30 PM. Information: 828-299-8823/828-298-7821 or visit www.oldfarmersball.com. MAY 13: The Nightshades w/Phil Jamison calling. MAY 20: Magic Foot w/Jesse Edgerton. MAY 27: Chicken Train w/Beverly Smith. JUNE 3: Gypsy Meltdown w/Jack Mitchell calling. JUNE 10: Anadama w/Anne Marie Walter.

Triangle Country Dancers, Carrboro Cen-tury Ctr., Greensboro St., between Weaver & Main, Carrboro, NC. Lessons 7:30 PM, Dance 8-11 PM, $8. Dance hotline: 919-286-6624; questions 919-220-8411. www.TCDancers.org. MAY 14: Wildcat w/Barbara Groh calling. MAY 26: Wednesday Dance w/Swallowtail & George Marshall and Tim Egmond call-ing. Lessons 7 PM; dance 7:30-10:30 PM. JUNE 5: Footloose/Contrazz Dance; Band & Caller TBA. $9.

Triangle Country Dancers, Pleasant Green

11

FOLK CALENDAR

PM. Mark Willingham at 980-254-8059. 2nd & 4th FRIDAYS Boots-N-Slippers Square Dance, Steele Creek Presbyterian Church, 7407 Steele Ck. Rd., Charlotte. 8-10 PM. Call 704-525-1940.

SATURDAYS Morning Jam Session, Cook Shack, Union Grove, NC. Exit 65 off I-77 North; turn west; travel 2 miles; sits on left of road. Call Pal Ireland at 704-539-4353 for directions. Bluegrass Jam Session, Pat’s Gourmet Cof-fee Shop, 166 North Main St., Mooresville, 9 AM-1 PM. Call 704-662-6299. Singer/Songwriter Performers, Starbucks on East Blvd, 1401 East Boulevard at Scott Ave., Charlotte, 8-11 PM. Call 704-338-9911. 1st SATURDAYS Willow Grove Old-Time Jam, Willow Grove Retirement Center Activities Room, 10043 Idlewild Rd., Matthews, NC, 2-4 PM. Call Bill Williams at 704-573-6154 or 704-517-2822 (cell). Wilkes Acoustic Folk Society Open Mic, Wilkes Heritage Museum, Wilkesboro, NC, 10 AM; www.wilkesfolks.com. 3rd SATURDAYS Blue Ridge Jamboree, Surry Arts Council, Andy Griffith Playhouse, 218 Rockford St., Mt. Airy, NC, 7:30 PM, $5. 336-786-7998. Old Time Square Dance, Denton Civic Ctr., W. Salisbury St., Denton, NC. Live bands for traditional dances, 7-10:30 PM, $5 adults. 336-475-9397; www.geocities.com/dentondance. Folklife Demonstrations and Traditional Artists & Musicians, Historic Hagood Mill, 3 miles N of Pickens, SC, off Hwy. 178, on Hagood Mill Rd. www.co.pickens.sc.us.

SUNDAYS Bluegrass Jam, Tyber Creek Pub, 1933 South Blvd., Charlotte, 8-10 PM. Call Everette Carpenter at 704-567-1187. Live Celtic Music at Ri-Ra, The Irish Pub, 208 N. Tryon, 7-9 PM, food available, no cover. 704-333-5554. 1st SUNDAYS Charlotte Blues Society, Double Door Inn, 218 E. Independence Blvd., Charlotte, 8 PM, $5. Concert & open mic blues jam. 704-455-5875. 2nd SUNDAYS **CFS Monthly Old Time Jam Session, Asbury Care Center Living Room at Al-dersgate, 3800 Shamrock Drive (between Eastway Drive and Sharon Amity Road) in east Charlotte, 2-4 PM, free. Call Tom Kelle-her at 704-366-9441. English Country Dancers meet at 7:30 PM. Call Nancy Howe at 704-536-9594 for loca-tion (east Charlotte). 3rd SUNDAYS Dixieland Jam Sessions, Fraternal Order of Police Hall, 1201 Hawthorne Lane, Char-lotte, 6-9 PM, free. Dinner & bar service available.

Comm. Ctr., Pleasant Green Comm. Rd., near Cole Mill Rd., (N of I-85, between Dur-ham & Hillsborough). Lessons 7:30 PM, Dance 8-11 PM, $8. Dance hotline: 919-286-6624; questions 919-220-8411. www.TCDancers.org. MAY 28: David DiGuiseppe & Pete Camp-bell w/Robert Cromartie calling.

DANCE WEEKENDS

MAY 30: Contrathon VII, Mountain Music Jamboree, Glendale Springs, NC. Dot-Dot-Dash & The Kruger Brothers with Bob Kogut. Callers: Shawn Brenneman & Maggie Jo Saylor. 10 AM-10 PM; registra-tion limited to 200. www.historicjonesboroughdancesociety.com

JUNE 18-20: Asheville Summer Soiree, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa, NC. Magic Foot & The Morrison Brothers w/George Marshall & Jesse Edgerton calling. www.oldfarmersball.com.

ONGOING EVENTS

MONDAYS Find Your Muse Open Mic, The Evening Muse, 8 PM, $3. 1st MONDAYS Open Bluegrass Jam, Scruggs Opry House, 124 N. Main St., Belmont, NC, 7-9 PM, free. http://scruggsopryhouse.blogspot.com/ 2nd & 4th MONDAYS Open Irish Session, Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St., Davidson, NC, 7:30-10 PM. Tim Helfrich: 704–895-0505. www.summitcoffee.com. 4th MONDAYS Wilkes Acoustic Folk Society, Watson Stage, Wilkes Community College, Wilkes-boro, NC, 7 PM; www.wilkesfolks.com.

TUESDAYS Charlotte Scottish Country Dance Society, Selwyn Ave. Presbyterian Church, 2929 Sel-wyn Ave., Charlotte, 7:30-9:30 PM, dona-tion. Call 704-366-9260 or 704-333-6917. Community Singers, Friends School of Charlotte, 7001 Wallace Rd., Charlotte, 7-8 PM, free. Contact Carol Raedy at 704-367-2536 or carol@communitysongleaders.org. Mineral Springs Music Barn Open Mic Jam Sessions (starting April 20th), 5920 Eubanks St., Mineral Springs, NC (4 mi. east of Wax-haw, on Hwy. 75, by RR tracks), 7-10 PM. Black Hat Auctions: 704-668-1689. 2nd TUESDAYS Nashville Songwriters Assoc. Interna-tional, Workshop Meeting, The Well, 220 Main St., Pineville, NC, 7 PM. Call Greg Baker at 704-846-3873; visit www.NSAICharlotte.com. 3rd TUESDAYS Sacred Harp Shape Note Singing, St. Mi-

chael’s Anglican Church, 2211 Margaret Wallace Rd., Charlotte, NC, 7 PM. Catherine Sullivan at 704-900-7850 or christianeduca-tor@gmail.com; www.charlottesacredharp.org.

WEDNESDAYS Bluegrass, Puckett’s Farm Equipment, 2740 W. Sugar Ck. Rd., Derita, NC. 9-11 PM. No cover. 704-597-8230; www.puckettsfarm.com. Bluegrass, Old-Time Country, Folk & Gos-pel Jam Session, Cabarrus Co. Senior Ctr., 331 Corban Ave., SE, Concord, 6:30-9 PM. Open to the public and free. Call 704-920-3484. High Lonesome Strings Bluegrass Jam Ses-sion, The Cultural Arts Ctr., 200 N. Davie St., Greensboro, 6-10 PM. 336-674-1277. Open Mic Night, The Comet Grill, 2224 Park Rd., Dilworth, Charlotte, 7:30 PM. Host: Bill McDonald. Call 704-371-4300. 1st WEDNESDAYS Tosco House Party (open mic), The Evening Muse, 3227 N. Davidson, Charlotte, 8 PM, $2. Host John Tosco. www.toscomusicparty.org.

THURSDAYS Charlotte International Folk Dancers, 8-10 PM, St. John's United Methodist Church, 4305 Monroe Rd., Jeannine Wright. 704-847-0134. Open Mic hosted by Dale Hillyard, Puckett’s Farm Equipment, 8 PM. 1st & 3rd THURSDAYS Bluegrass Thursday Night, Allison Creek Presbyterian Church, 5780 Allison Ck. Rd., York, SC, 6:30-9:30, free. Call 803-684-5875. 2nd THURSDAYS Storytellers Guild of Charlotte, Arboretum Barnes and Noble, 3327 Pineville-Matthews Rd., Charlotte, 7:30 PM, free. Storytelling first hour of meeting; public welcomed. Call Ramona Moore-Big Eagle at 704-568-6940. 3rd THURSDAYS Lake Norman Jam Session, Lake Norman area, 7 PM. Open to all. Ralph Gettings at 704-892-7415 or ralphcrn9@aol.com for direc-tions.

FRIDAYS Charlotte Appalachian Dulcimer Club, home of Carol Rousey, 9:30 AM-Noon. Call Carol at 704-321-2020 for directions. Alleghany Jubilee, Spartan Theater, N. Main St., Sparta, NC. Live old-time & bluegrass bands; dancing. Admission. Call 336-372-4591; visit www.blueridgemusic.org. 2nd FRIDAYS **Charlotte Folk Society Gathering (August-June), Great Aunt Stella Center, 926 Elizabeth Ave., Charlotte. Concert, song circle & jams. Free & open to the public; donations appreciated. 7:30 PM. 704-563-7080; www.folksociety.org. Charlotte Appalachian Dulcimer Club, Great Aunt Stella Center, 926 Elizabeth Ave., Char-lotte. After Folk Society concert, app. 8:30

Calendar, continued

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Introduction and interview by Daniel Coston Look at any folk record from the past forty years, and the names Ashley Hutchings and Ken Nicol will pop up in some prominent places. Hutchings was the found-ing bassist in Fairport Convention, leaving after the fabled 1969 album Liege & Lief to form another legen-dary folk/rock act, Steeleye Span. He is still very active today, with the Albion Band, his series of Morris music albums, and the Rain-bow Chasers. Ken Nicol has been Hutchings’ longtime partner in the Albion Band, and has been the guitarist in Steeleye Span since 2002. Now the two have released their first album as a duo, entitled Copper, Russet and Gold. The album, available through Park Records (www.parkrecords.com), is a fun and eclectic collection of songs that are not bound by any one genre. Coston: How did this record come about? Hutchings: The record came about through Ken contacting me and suggesting we write and record an album of newly written songs. He said (quite correctly) that we write good songs together, and had com-posed many fine ones for the Al-bion Band, and wasn't it time we composed together again? Coston: What surprised me is the diversity of the music on the CD. Some rock, folk, and jazz mixed in. Was that something that evolved during the writing process? Nicol: Both Ashley and I are very

eclectic in the way we view music. Largely, it’s a case of, the way you think, is consequently the way you write. If there was a process that could be described as evolvement, it would be less of one that just sort of happened by itself, and more a case of wanting to give the album a breadth of expression and color that could be achieved effectively by using a whole mixture of musi-cal genres.

Coston: Both of you keep busy schedules. Was it hard to find time to write and record this album? Nicol: Yes, I mentioned earlier that it slowed down the recording proc-ess quite considerably. I should add also that, for me at least, it’s not just a case of grabbing any available time you can get you hands on. With anything I become involved with, there is always a pe-riod of time within which I have to ‘think my way’ into it. I have to capture a feel for that task. This isn’t an issue so much if it’s, say, recording or mixing, but when it comes to writing, it takes me a while to get my head into that zone. It can actually be quite difficult when you have a number of things on the go at the same time. Hutchings: The album took some time to record, probably two years, during which we would do a bit,

have a few months off, do a bit, record some more after a long break, etc.. Coston: Do you find that the writ-ing process is different in working with each other, as opposed to writing on your own, or with oth-ers? Nicol: It’s quite different. If I write alone, often melodies and chord progressions initiate the

subject matter of a song. Ninety-something percent of the time, when writing with Ashley, he’ll send me his lyrics, and I then set them to mu-sic. Of course, there’s little difference be-tween the two when it comes to reaching deep within for that spark, that essence of something that gives one the sense of hav-

ing found something inspirational, or at least something that inspires oneself. But one of the reasons I believe our partnership works well is because our songwriting roles are clearly defined. Ashley writes the words, and I write the tunes. Hutchings: The writing process is inevitably different when we work together. Put simply, I write the words and send them to Ken who sets them to music, just like Rod-gers and Hammerstein! Coston: Ken, Steeleye just fin-ished a lengthy 40th anniversary tour, and a new album. What's next for the band? Nicol: I’m not 100% certain just at this moment, but my guess is that there’ll probably be a couple of tours in 2011.

Interview with Ashley Hutchings & Ken Nichol

Ashley Hutchings and Ken Nicol (photo courtesy of Ken Nicol)

13

CONTACT MARK PONISCHIL FOR RENTAL INQUIRIES

AT 704-944-6014

OR Info@greatauntstellacenter.org

FOLK CALENDAR

New Folk Ways Episodes Air In May on UNC-TV

Coston: While it's been many years since Ashley was in Steeleye, did he have any advice for you when you joined the band? Nicol: Keep your head down. And always carry an extra pair of boxers. Coston: Ashley, you've been a key part of four legendary groups: Fairport, Steeleye, Albion, and Morris On. What would you say has been the key to your success? Hutchings: I've absolutely no idea about the key to success. I just do what I want to do and hope for the best! Coston: How would you describe your bass playing? Does it change, depending on the project? Hutchings: My bass playing is pretty conventional nowadays. It was more adventerous back in the Fairport and Steeleye days. I think of myself as a writer, pro-ducer, band leader first, and bass playing comes well down the list. Coston: When I interviewed Dave Mattacks last year, he told me that playing on the first Morris On rec-ord (Morris On, 1972) changed the way he thought about what he could do on drums. What have you gotten out of the Morris On series? Hutchings: Constructing the Mor-ris On series of albums, and there have been six, has been fun and therefore a relaxing change with all the strongly emotional songs I've recorded. Check out the full interview at the forthcoming new website for the reunited Tangents Magazine, www.tangentsmag.com.

By Wanda Hubicki UNC-TV airs four new episodes of Folk Ways, hosted by Grammy Award winner David Holt, in May. Each will air at 9:30 PM on Thurs-days. If you miss one or would care to watch any of twenty-four older programs, you can do so online at www.unctv.org/folkways/episodes.html. (Note: the UNC-TV webmaster says that you currently need Real Player 10.0 to play epi-sodes. He will shortly add a link to episodes to download this version of the program. He has promised to let us know when this happens.) May 6: Music of Surry County Learn how a group of talented fid-dle and banjo players from Surry County, North Carolina came to have a world-wide impact on old-time music. The show features the music and vintage footage of fiddler Tommy Jarrell. May 13: Dance! Folk dancing is a tradition that is alive and well in Appalachian cul-ture, bringing folks together in com-munity gatherings. Features square dancing, flat footing, and clogging from a Swannanoa Gathering at Warren Wilson College. May 20: Conversations with Doc Watson David Holt sits down with his long-time friend and seven-time Grammy winner, Doc Watson. Learn more about Doc in this retro-spective look at his life and career. May 27: Gospel Music In Rocky Mount, Pastor Dready Manning and Saint Mark Holiness Church weave a rocking, lively style

The May 14th CFS Gathering with the band Notorious will be dis-cussed on Spanish-language radio 1310 AM that afternoon! It’s part of a new partnership between La-tino media group Norsan Multi-media, owner of four local radio stations plus MiGente newspaper, and Levine Museum of the New South. Historian Dr. Tom Hanchett of Levine Museum is featured in an hour call-in pro-gram, offered in English and Spanish, 2-3 PM, on two Friday afternoons each month. Charlotte Folk Society and Levine Museum already partner to have CFS Vice President Tom Hanchett offer historical commentary prior to our Gathering concerts. This new partnership extends that to a fresh audience on the air and in MiGente newspaper.

CFS On Latino Radio!

of service each Sunday. Pastor Faircloth Barnes and his Red Budd Holy Church favor a more old-time gospel style. Together, they represent two styles of influential gospel music that continue to grow and evolve.

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tors must register by 6 PM on Sat-urday; competition begins at 7 PM. A rhythm section will play with competitors; each one in turn will play a “break.” The tune all will play will be announced at the be-ginning of this contest. The “Fiddler of the Festival” contest will follow the “Hot Licks” contest. A total of $4000 in cash prizes will be awarded during the festival. Visit www.fiddlersgrove.com for complete rules and registration forms. Mail in your ticket order post-marked by Friday, May 14th, to en-joy discounted prices. An advance adult full festival pass is $35; full price is $50. Advance full festival passes for youth, ten to fifteen years old, are $15. Children under ten are admitted without charge. Daily and family pricing is avail-able. There are additional fees for camping. Visit www.fiddlersgrove.com to download a ticket order and camping reservation form. Pick up a festival brochure at the May 14th Gathering or request one by calling Jessie Cockman at 828-478-3735. Don’t miss it!

Fiddler’s Grove: May 28th-30th The oldest continuous fiddlers' con-test in the country takes place in Union Grove, North Carolina, just an hour north of Charlotte, May 28-30, 2010. The Ole Time Fiddler's and Bluegrass Festival, held every spring since 1924, celebrates tradi-tional American music in a family environment. Known simply as “Fiddler’s Grove,” the festival en-joys a well-deserved reputation as one of the most prestigious and authentic fiddling competitions in the country. As well as individual and band contests, the Fiddler’s Grove expe-rience includes performances, workshops, and jam sessions. True to the name, camping on the grounds and many of the week-end’s events take place under a canopy of trees. Performing during the weekend are The Cockman Family, Spirit Fid-dle (Robin Warren and Brian Clancey), Laura Boosinger, Josh Goforth, Sally Spring, The Tran-tham Family, The Shive Show, Lissy Beaver, and Wicker and Jones. Storytellers Doug Elliott, Todd Elliott, Orville Hicks, and Steve Houser entertain young and old. Sharon Underwood & Friends perform music for children. The Green Grass Cloggers and the Cane Creek Cloggers add spirited dance to the entertainment lineup. Old-time and bluegrass individual and band competitions are a major part of the Fiddler’s Grove experi-ence. Individuals may register the morning of Saturday, May 29th, upon arrival. Old-time and blue-grass bands must pre-register. A new contest is being introduced this year: the “Hot Licks” Competi-tion. This category is open to all individual instruments; competi-

from the experience of playing with others. The only require-ments for membership are pa-tience, tolerance, and laughter. The group plays in traditions pre-sented by the Folk Society and is open to all types of instruments. All are welcome. Contact Ralph Gettings at 704-892-7415 or ralphcrn9@aol.com for informa-tion and directions.

Glen Alexander: Fiddle Teacher

Glen Alexander, one of the re-gion’s most celebrated fiddlers, is presently accepting intermediate to advanced fiddle students. No wonder that Glen’s students ex-cel – he’s been winning fiddling competitions for more than twenty years. Glen is co-owner of The Violin Shoppe, located at 2112 East Sev-enth Street in Charlotte. Prospec-tive students should contact him there by calling 704-373-0551.

CFS member Ralph Gettings coor-dinates an acoustic jam group in the Lake Norman area. The group is currently meeting in a mem-ber’s home at 7 PM on the third Thursday each month. The next date is May 20th. The group operates on the princi-ple that everyone - from beginning to advanced musicians - benefits

Lake Norman Jam Session

May 20th

Mint Hill Farmers’

Market Wants You!

The Mint Hill Farmers Market, located at the Carl J. McEwen Vil-lage, 7601 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, in Mint Hill, invites folk musicians, storytellers, stitchers, and demonstrators to be a part of the Market. The Market is open 9 AM to 1 PM on Saturdays from May through September. If you’re interested in sharing your gifts and passions, call 704-573-0726 to be scheduled.

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FOLK CALENDAR FOLK CALENDAR

By Dennis Frost As always, I’d like to welcome one and all to another edition of Cuz’s Corner. I feel like I was much the road warrior last month in having packed in two festivals in succes-sive weeks in April. I can’t believe that I had never been to the Sha-kori Hills GrassRoots Festival be-fore and I must admit that I was pretty much blown away with this year’s experience. Not only does the festival take place on a breath-takingly beautiful piece of farm-land, but it also has friendly, warm feeling to it. This is a grassroots festival in every sense of the word! Obviously, music is the centerpiece of the weekend, but I was equally impressed with all the workshops and activities revolving around not only nourishing the human spirit, but also those emphasizing how to better respect our precious planet. After checking in, we were imme-diately part of a huge Earth Day parade on the way to our first stage complete with huge paper mache puppets. This is a relatively small, compact festival with two music stages, a huge dance stage, and a children’s stage all in close proxim-ity to one another. Also, unlike so many festivals, the food was excel-lent with many healthy and veggie options available. Shakori Hills also goes to great lengths to mini-mize its carbon imprint by offering recycling and requiring all food vendors to use compostable plates, cups, and silverware. Musical highlights this year included Celtic/Gypsy power house Scy-thian, Crooked Still (old-time chamber music), Bela Fleck with Casey Driessen, Abigail Wash-burn and friends, and a mind-blowing set by Mali’s Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba, who were part of Bela’s Throw Down Your

Cuz’s Corner Heart project last year. Bassekou’s band consisted of four players of ngonis (lute-like precursors to the banjo) of varying size and pitch, three percussionists, and a vocal-ist. I absolutely love traditional African music and catch it when-ever I have the opportunity, but I’ve never experienced anything as amazing as this. Mr. Bassekou is on the same level on the ngoni as Mr. Fleck, who joined the proceed-ings, is on banjo – enough said! I would highly rec-ommend the two-hour trip to Sha-kori Hills Farm, which is just out-side of Siler City. In addition to spring and fall GrassRoots Festi-vals, there is an old-time bluegrass and fiddler’s con-vention in Sep-tember for your enjoyment in this beautiful section of North Caro-lina! (www.sharorihills.org) I know this is sounding like a travelogue, but the following Thursday it was up to Wilkesboro for the “big daddy” of them all, MerleFest. As all of you who have been to this festival can at-test, there are so many musical of-ferings that it would take the en-tire newsletter to review it, but there were a few highlights. I really enjoyed the Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers set way more than I thought I would. The mix of music and sat-ire was just about perfect, and Steve’s banjo playing was defi-nitely worthy of the Watson Stage. The set was capped off with a bluegrass version of Steve Mar-tin’s classic King Tut, leaving a

smile on thousands of faces as the sun slipped behind the mountains! As usual, the highlight for a large percentage of the attendees was the annual Waybacks’ Album Hour, where the band and special guests perform a classic album all the way through. I think half of the fun is guessing what exactly the album will be. Well, this year we were treated to The Beatles’ Abbey Road with special guests Jerry Douglas, Jens Kruger, Jim Lauderdale, Elvis Costello, and the incredible vocals of Sarah Dugas of The Duhks. It’s true that The Waybacks usually

nail the album, but I do think the energy of this “happening” is another factor that brings folks back to the Hillside Stage year after year. Of course, the two sets I heard with Doc Watson were exceptional, espe-cially the Sunday gos-pel set with the Nash-ville Bluegrass Band. I always enjoy hearing artists live for the first time and this year pro-vided several opportu-

nities. I absolutely loved the three-part harmonies of Red Molly from New England and their take on contemporary folk music and more traditional material. This all-female band has a wonderful new record-ing, James, that I would highly rec-ommend. This CD has, I think, a perfect balance of original songs, fine covers, and traditional mate-rial. (www.redmolly.com) Another artist I just happened on at the Cabin Stage proved to be one of the most unique performers I’ve heard of late. Harry Manx laid down a set of mostly original music that I would describe as combining folk, blues, country, and classical Indian music within an addictive J. J. Cale-style groove. Harry totally capti-vated me when he pulled out his sitar/guitar clone – really cool stuff! The new Harry Manx record-

“Cuz” and Little Bit

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ing is entitled Bread Buddha and is highly recommended for those that are tired of the same ole, same ole! (www.harrymanx.com) As usual, MerleFest was a blast but also was a tiring four-day affair. The only compliant I would have is the fact that the folks at MerleFest really need to get with the plan and re-duce the immense carbon imprint it leaves behind. Like Shakori Hills, many festivals are getting serious about not only what food is served on, but are also getting into composting as opposed to taking those mountains of garbage to the landfill. Hopefully, MerleFest will begin doing a better job with this important aspect in the coming years. Thanks to one of our board mem-bers who has recently discovered the amazing mix of contemporary folk, traditional folk, ‘60s folk, and roots/Americana found on Folk Alley’s internet stream, I have be-come a fan all over again. If you have yet to find this jewel of a ra-dio station, I would highly recom-mend you go to www.folkalley.com! Before we close, there are two more CDs I’d like to turn you guys on to. Darrell Scott has a new two-disc set of wonderful songs that is highly recommended. There aren’t too many songwriters that have the whole package: be-ing incredible singers and instru-mentalists, in addition to their song craft. Darrell is one of them. The first disc is mostly acoustic with the artist backing himself up on multiple instruments with the second adding more layers to the mix. The name of the project is Crooked Road and is a must for all of you Darrell Scott fans, as well as newcomers. It doesn’t get any bet-ter than a slew of new tunes from the one and only Darrell Scott! Also recommended highly is the

FOLK CALENDAR

By John Goldsbury On our website we've expanded the page "Musicians, Bands & In-structors." In addition to listing those CFS members for hire, we've added a section for those looking for musicians, for instruments, etc. If you are a member and would like to list your services on this page, or list something you're seeking, send the information to John Goldsbury at flat-pick_guitar@yahoo.com.

Added CFS Member Services

new one from the super bluegrass band, The Infamous Stringdust-ers. This is probably among the best touring bands today and Things That Fly should convince you of that. These are not only powerful instrumentalists and singers, but they can also write a great song – my favorite bluegrass CD of the year! See what the buzz is about on May 20th at the Visulite Theater. ( www.maxxmusic.com) That’s about it for this month and I surely hope all the traveling didn’t wear you out. Be sure to check out Notorious at the May 14th CFS Gathering - blending old-time, Celtic, Gypsy, and many other styles. (See the article in the news-letter.) Have a great May! CUZ To share with Cuz about your favorite music, contact him at 704-532-8846 or

We extend a warm welcome to our new members and thank them, as well as those renewing, for choosing to support the Char-lotte Folk Society. The names of new members appear in bold be-low. The Charlotte Folk Society is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and your donations are deductible as charitable contri-butions under applicable tax law. We deeply appreciate donations above your basic membership and employer matches, as they enable

Thank You, New And Renewing Members

us to continue to meet our mission in the Charlotte community and to offer scholarships for adults and young people to the Swannanoa Gathering.

Individual Members Josh Campbell Kenneth Hill Rod Johnston Fintan Muldoon Dawn Schneider Colin Shoemaker Carolyn Zicherman

Member Families Bruce Cox and Barbara Osgood Mary Anne and Dorsey Locklear Shirley and Butch Rosen Sponsoring Members Sam and Gloria Jones Peter and Joanne McCranie

Final Notes We offer deepest sympathy to Leonard Fitzsimons and his family on the death of his wife, Johanna, on April 26th.

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CFS Gatherings are open to the public and take place on second Fridays at the Great Aunt Stella Center, 926 Elizabeth Avenue. The front doors to the concert space will open at 7 PM; concerts will begin at 7:30 PM. Gatherings are free and open to the public; dona-tions are appreciated.

June 11: The Whippersnappers, Emmy, Casey, and Avery McGuirt have grown up in the Folk Society. With their dad, David, they play bluegrass, gospel, and folk music and have performed at Gospel Shout, Festival in the Park, as part of the Singing Christmas Tree, and many other events. WNCN’s Carolina Traveler featured The Whippersnappers in a 2008 seg-ment. Charlotte Folk Society Gatherings are made possible, in part, by funding from the Arts & Science Council and the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Cultural Resources, and the National Endow-ment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

June 11th CFS Gathering 19th Annual Blue Ridge Old Time

Music Week: June 6-12, Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, NC. www.mhc.edu/oldtimemusic 6th Annual Peach Bottom Farm Fid-dle & Strings Camp: June 14-18, In-dependence, Virginia. Instructors: Shane Cook, April Verch, Jerry Cor-rell, Steve Kilby, Stanley Widener & Brian Grim. Information & registra-tion: email Patti at PeachBottom-Farm@yahoo.com or call 276-773-2181. Visit www.peachbottomfarm.com/fiddleCamp.html for details. Dulcimerville, June 7-12, YMCA Washburn Ctr., Blue Ridge Assem-bly, Black Mountain, NC. Instructors: Lois Hornbostel, Ken Bloom, Linda Brockinton, Bill Taylor, Don Pedi, Anne Lough, Doug Berch, Paul An-dry, Nina Zanetti, Stephen Seifert, Jim & Phyllis Gaskins, Betty Smith & John Huron. Registration closes June 1st. www.dulcimerville.com 2nd Annual Bluegrass in the Blue Ridge Mountains: June 22-26, Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, NC. www.mhc.edu/bluegrass Mountain Dulcimer Week, July 18-23, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC. Instructors: Janita Baker, Molly McCormack, Susan Trump, Jim Miller, Sue Campbell, Steve Eulberg, Jeff Hames, Bob Ma-gowan, Marsha Harris, Erin Rogers, Jeff Sebens, Sarah Elizabeth Mus-grave & Gary Sager. www.wcu.edu/5046.asp Connie Regan-Blake’s 5th Annual Summer Storytelling Workshop/Retreat, July 11-17, Asheville, NC. Contact Connie at 828-258-1113 or connie@storywindow.com. Details & registration forms at www.storywindow.com. Swannanoa Gathering Folk Arts

2010 Folk Arts Workshops Workshops, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa, NC. Visit www.swangathering.org Traditional Song Week, July 4-10 Fiddle Week, July 4-10 Celtic Week, July 11-17 Old-Time Week, July 18-24 Contemporary Folk Week, July 25-31 Guitar Week, July 25-31 Dulcimer Week, August 1-7 Augusta Heritage Summer Work-shops, Davis and Elkins College, El-kins, WV. Visit www.augustaheritage.com July 11-16: Cajun/Creole Week, Early Country Music Week, Guitar Week, Augusta for Kids, Craft & Folklore Classes July 18-23: Blues Week, Craft & Folklore Classes July 25-30: Irish/Celtic Week, Irish Music on Hammered Dulcimer, Craft & Folklore Classes August 1-6: Bluegrass Week, Swing Week, Hammered Dulcimer Tech-niques, Clogging & Percussive Dance, Craft & Folklore Classes August 8-15: Dance Week, Old Time Week, Vocal Week, Mountain Dulcimer, Craft & Folklore Classes August 13-15: Augusta Festival (traditional dance, crafts and music) Little Windows Vocal Camp, Sep-tember 5-11, Hart’s Retreat, near In-dependence, VA. Instruction by Julee Glaub and Mark Weems fea-turing Irish, Appalachian and coun-try singing styles, with special focus on duet harmony. Visit www.littlewindows.net/camp.html. Con-tact Julee at 919-477-2780. John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC. Year-round week-long and weekend classes in tradi-tional crafts, music, dance, and food-ways; includes Elderhostel classes. Visit www.folkschool.org for sched-ule of classes. Request a catalog on-line or by calling 800-365-5724.

The Whippersnappers

18

In This Issue...

Charlotte Folk Society PO Box 36864

Charlotte, NC 28236-6864 www.folksociety.org

2112 East 7th Street (between Caswell & Laurel)

Charlotte, NC 28204

Tuesdays-Fridays 10 AM – 6 PM Saturdays 10 AM – 4 PM

EASTMAN GUITAR & MANDOLIN SALE

YOU HAVE TO PLAY ONE TO BELIEVE THE QUALITY

Bluegrass & Old-Time Instruction By Glen Alexander & Jon Singleton

FOLK SOCIETY MEMBERS RECEIVE 10% DISCOUNT

704-373-0551 www.theviolinshoppe.net

FOLK CALENDAR

The Whippersnappers Perform Folk, Bluegrass & More June 11th

NOTORIOUS (Fiddle & Guitar Duo) Traditional, Celtic, Gypsy, Swing & More

Friday, May 14th, 2010, 7:30 PM Great Aunt Stella Center

926 Elizabeth Avenue, Charlotte 28204

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k Free Member Ad Private Lessons: Hammered Dulcimer, Singing, Music Theory, Ukulele, and Recorder. Contact Carol Raedy at 704-367-2536. www.carolraedy.com If you’ve lost an item while attend-

ing a concert at the Great Aunt Stella Center, please contact Mark Ponischil, the Facility Manager. Call him at 704-944-6014 and leave a message. His earliest opportu-nity to look into your inquiry will be the Tuesday following our Gathering. Please do not simply come to the Stella Center to ask about lost objects, as there is no one else in the building who would be aware of what has been found and Mark is not on site daily. He will arrange with you a time to come and pick up your found items.

Great Aunt Stella Center Lost & Found

Society News Congratulations to CFS member Natalie Royal, the recipient of the inaugural Tosco Music Party Youth Scholarship to the Swannanoa Gath-ering! Congratulations go to seven-year-old Ruth Shumway for debuting on the Watson Stage at MerleFest! A fan of the Celtic band Scythian, Ruth so impressed them that the band in-vited her to join them on stage. To watch video, go to www.YouTube.com and search for “Scythian @ Mer-lefest with 7 yr old Ruthie.”