NEWSLETTER September 2008 Folk Project House Concert: the best of Nashville & New Jersey featuring Barbara Lamb with Jeff Loy, Hen3ry Nerenberg, Russ Stewart and YOU! Sat., Sept. 6 8pm Rockaway Fiddle champion Barbara Lamb has been fiddling, singing and occasionally yodeling for decades with tons of nationally acclaimed bands: Asleep At The Wheel, the John Cowan Band, The Laura Love Band, Peter Rowan, Trisha Yearwood, Tony Trischka. Her band, Rodeo Romance, toured as k.d.lang's opening act. She s recorded extensively for Sugar Hill. She is the real deal. We re lucky to get her in an intimate house concert setting and we re thrilled she s staying for our after-concert jam. We open with Barbara solo. Then she ll be accompanied by Jeff Loy for bluegrass, Hen3ry Nerenberg for swingin standards, and finally Russ Stewart will make his banjo accompanist debut. Finally, audience and performers will swap songs deep into the night in our exciting, new and recently acclaimed Erratic Robin fashion. For reservations, directions and questions call Mark Schaffer, (973) 989-4429 or inquire at the Minstrel front desk. Admission is $10 and seating is limited. We encourage contra dancers to go to Swingin Tern instead, and we ll miss you. September Evening o Music Sat., Sept. 13, 4pm Leslie Brown s Enchanted Garden Note early starting time the gardens have never looked better so come early and enjoy. A grill will be available for dinnertime. Bring instruments, voices, songs, munchies (and/or real food for dinner) and beverage to share to 5 Ironia Rd., Chester Twp. (973) 927-4404 Directions: From 78 West to 287 North to Bedminster exit North 206; Chester center turn Right on Rte. 24, left onto Hillside (Public House). Will change to Pleasant Hill; go 4.5 miles turn right onto Ironia Rd. Morristown area: Sussex Tpk. West thru Mt freedom/randolph to Calis Rd. Turn left (gas station); continue straight thru light; name changes to Pleasant Hill Rd. then to Ironia Rd. From Route 10 west to Dover Chester Rd; two lights turn RIGHT onto Pleasant Hill Rd; name changes to Ironia Rd. Handicap driving is in the upper driveway. You can drop off items by the lower drive before parking. Parking is tight. Please follow signs to avoid the Long Arm of the Law.
The Minstrel Coffeehouse September 2008 presented by Sept. 5: Bill Staines and Russ Rentler For just about as long as anyone currently involved in folk music can remember, BILL STAINES is the archetypical contemporary folk singer. People have been singing his songs on stage, in recording studios, and around campfires for over 30 years. He is responsible for such classics as "Roseville Fair", "All God's Critters Got a Place in the Choir", and "River", all with choruses that beg to be sung with. Come and see a true living legend. Opener RUSS RENTLER is a talented multi-instrumentalist performing original and traditional songs on hammer and Appalachian dulcimers, guitar, banjo, mandolin, bouzouki, autoharp and dobro. His songs have a humorous streak to complement the instrumental virtuosity. Shows at 8:00pm Sept. 12: Open Stage Our almost-monthly opportunity for you to take to our stage. We provide this service to the local acoustic music community, Folk Project members and non-members to perform a 15-minute set of music. The music is diverse and often surprising. Visit http://www.folkproject.org/fp_minstopen.html for information on how to sign up to perform. Sept. 19: Magpie and Arlon Bennett Greg Artzner and Terry Leonino have been married and performing together as MAGPIE for over 25 years. It only follows that their music as a duo is instinctively tight. Their vocal harmonies blend perfectly. Their instrumental work on guitar, mandolin, and harmonica is top notch. And their music ranges from '30's swing to environmentally and socially active folk music. Opener ARLON BEN- NETT lists among his songwriting influences Harry Chapin, Jim Croce, Don Maclean, and modern day artists like John Gorka and Richard Shindell. He loves to tell a story in song without making it obvious, and from unique perspectives. Sept 26: Andrew Dunn and John Flynn (split bill) Tonight two songwriters, one a regional favorite, and one of the Folk Project s best share the evening. ANDREW DUNN's unassuming stage demeanor belies a performer with strong writing skills. He makes astute observations of the world around him, and translates those observations into songs filled with personal contact, passionate language, and a gentle view of the world. JOHN FLYNN was just too good a songwriter for Nashville. In the early 90's he left his comfortable staff songwriter position at a major Music Row publishing house to pursue the music that simply didn't fit the commercial strictures of the Country Music world. The result was a stream of brilliant songs, brilliantly delivered, touching all aspects, personal and social, of contemporary life. (Note: Zoe Mulford, originally scheduled for this date has had to postpone her US tour. She will be rescheduled.) UPCOMING: 10/3: SIOBHAN QUINN & MICHAEL BOWERS; 10/17: Bluegrass with STRAIGHT DRIVE; 10/24: SAINTS & STRANGERS A melding of local favorites, WSAGNBSCALARME and LEFT FIELD; 10/31: CROWFOOT: Instrumental and vocal excellence from Montreal; 11/7: OPEN STAGE (Note: Not our usual 2nd Friday); 11/14: Hot Canadian fiddling & step dancing with THE APRIL VERCH BAND; 11/21: A special local night with 4 FAVORITE FOLK PROJECT SONGWRITERS Details TBA; 11/28: SMALL POTATOES The Minstrel Coffeehouse is run by the Folk Project, a non-profit folk music and arts organization, We use the facilities of the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown, NJ. Shows every Friday. 2nd Friday of the month is open stage/audition night. We present folk music in its broadest sense. That is, we welcome music of contemporary, primarily acoustic songwriters, and other types of music more folkie in attitude than in content. Shows start at 8:00pm. We serve coffee, teas, and baked goods. There is no alcohol or tobacco on the premises. Admission is $7.00 on your way in, and, if you feel the show was worth it, an additional amount at your discretion on the way out, which goes to the feature performer. For show info, (973) 335-9489 or visit http://www.folkproject.org To volunteer call Sandie at (908) 501-3842 volunteers@folkproject.org Members Gigs & Friends Mike Agranoff: Fri., 9/12: 8pm, Caffé Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY. www.caffelena.com; Sun., 9/28: NJ Storytelling Festival (see page 7) Frank Sole & Jean Rohe: Fri., 9/26: 7pm, Marcello s Ristorante, Suffern, NY. (845) 357-9108 Jim King: Sat. 9/27 (evening) & Sun. 9/28 (afternoon) Hunterdon Radio Theatre War of the Worlds, Clinton Community Center, Clinton. Build-Your-Resume Workshop Gain valuable experience in a friendly setting regardless of your past work history. Various positions available on a continually rotating basis. Friendly staff. Great benefits. Contact Sandie at (908) 501-3842 for this week s openings. E-Newsletter Now Available! Folk Project Members: Our monthly newsletter is now available in electronic version. Advantages of receiving the E-Newsletter are: You will receive it much earlier each month. You will be less likely to misplace it. This will save, trees, energy and greenhouse gases. You will save the Folk Project almost one dollar ($1.00) per month (which is our direct cost to print and mail each paper newsletter). Please sign up to receive the E-Newsletter, instead of paper, by sending an email indicating this preference to: Eddie Roffman, eroffman@optonline.net...horses Sing None of It! Is a folksy non-commercial public access TV series featuring a surprising variety of guest performers, hosted by Ralph Litwin. All types of (mainly acoustic) music, storytellers, dancers, others. Schedule available at the Folk Project web page. Seen on: Cablevision Morris area, Sundays 7:30 PM channel 21; Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN), New York City, 2:30 PM, Thursday on Time/Warner Cable channel 34 and on RCN Cable channel 82; also broadcast via streaming video on the web at www.mnn.org (popup players 34/82 http mms); Patriot Media (formerly RCN in Somerville) N. System, Fridays 3:30 PM, channel 8; Comcast Cablevision of Northwest NJ, Mondays 3:30 PM, Channel 21; Service Electric Cable TV Allentown, PA, Thursdays 9:30 PM, channel 50; Staten Island Community TV (SICTV) Saturdays 6 PM, channel 34; Fargo Access Channel 12 (www.cityoffargo.com/cable) on Cable One 6:30 PM Fridays & 3:00 PM Mondays in Fargo, North Dakota 3
4 All Venues That s Fit To Print Albert Hall/Sounds of the NJ Pines: Country/bluegrass/folk every Saturday. 125 Wells Mills Rd. (Route 532), Waretown. (609) 971-1593 or www.alberthall.org Acoustic Café: Our Lady of Mercy Church, 2 Fremont Ave, Park Ridge, NJ, 8pm, (201) 573-0718, www.goodacoustic.com/cafe.htm. Sat., 9/20: Patrick Fitzsimmons At The Tabernacle: Mt. Tabor, www.atthetabernacle.com, info (973) 714-5351 Borderline Folk Music House Club: House concerts;contact Sol Zeller (845) 354-4586 or solz1@optonline.net. www.borderlinefolkmusic.4themax.com Sun., 9/14: Magpie Bluegrass & Old Time Music Assoc. (BOTMA): Every 3rd Sun. from Sept. thru May, Embury United Methodist Church Hall, 49 Church St., Little Silver, NJ. 1-5pm. $4 for BOTMA members / $5 for non-members. Info : www.newjerseybluegrass.org Café Z: Third Saturdays: open mic, 7pm concert. $5 inc. refreshments, Zion Lutheran Church, corner of Elm and Esterbrook Aves., Rahway. (732) 388-3865 Chantey Sing: Seamen s Church Institute, 241 Water St., 2nd fl., NYC 8pm. www.woodenshipsmusic.com/nychanty/nychanty.html; Sat., 6/21 Coffee With Conscience: 1st United Methodist Church of Westfield, 1 E. Broad St. 8pm info 908-412-9105, Concerts4Causes@aol.com; www.coffeewithconscience.com. Community Theater at Mayo Center for Performing Arts: 100 South St., Morristown, NJ, for tickets/info call 973-539-8008, www.mayoarts.org, shows at 8pm Concerts 4 Causes: Powerful Women of Song series, Watchung Arts Center, 18 Sterling Rd., Watchung, 8PM, 908-412-9105, www.watchungarts.org; Crossroads Coffeehouse: 8pm, Crossroads Community Church, 104 Bartley Rd., Flanders. (973) 786-7940 or (908) 879-7739. Sat., Sept. 13: Mef Gannon and Angela Adams Delaware River Folksong Fellowship: Song circle the 2nd Sunday at the Friends Meeting House in Mount Holly, NJ, www.myspace.com/delawareriverfolksongfellowship Folk Friday in Maplewood: Informal 2nd Fri. sing-along session for all ages. Starts 7:30pm, hosted by Lisa Novemsky. Ethical Culture Center, 516 Prospect St., Maplewood. Call (973) 763-1905 to confirm date, for directions Godfrey Daniels: 7 E. 4th St., Bethlehem, PA (610) 867-2390, www.godfreydaniels.org Good Coffeehouse: 53 Prospect Park W. at 2nd St., Park Slope, Brooklyn, doors open at 7:30, music at 8pm, (718) 768-2972 or www.bsec.org/ events/coffeehouse; Sun. 9/28: Toby Fagenson and Bruce Markov Hand Made Music: Open mic 3rd Saturday, The Community Presbyterian Church, 145 Carletondale Road, Ringwood, jim1962@verizon.net The Hillside Cafe Coffee House: 45 Hillside Crescent, Nutley. Doors open at 7:30, show at 8pm. (973) 616-0106 or jrlds@comcast.net, www.hillsidecafe.com Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music Club: Fair Lawn Community Center, 10-10 20th St., Fair Lawn 8pm. (201) 384-1325. www.hurdygurdyfolk.org. Sat., 9/13: Silk City MoFiddles/Menzel Violins: 4260 Town Center Way, Livingston, NJ, Bluegrass & Old Time Music Jam 1st Thursdays 7pm, RSVP to (973) 994-1083 or mo@mofiddles.com, $12 Music at the Mission: West Milford Presbyterian Church, 1452 Union Valley Rd., West Milford, (973) 728-3081, www.musicatthemission.org. Sat., 9/20: Loretta Hagen, Milton Our Times Coffeehouse: Long Island Ethical Humanist Society, 38 Old Country Rd., Garden City, NY 8PM, www.ourtimescoffeehouse.org Outpost In The Burbs: at the Unitarian Church of Montclair, 67 Church St., Montclair (973) 744-6560. Doors open 8pm, concert at 8:30. www.outpostintheburbs.or. NExt concert Fri. Sept. 5: Steve Earle, Allison Moorer People s Voice Cafe: Workmen s Circle Building, 45 E. 33rd St., btwn. Park & Madison, NYC, 8pm, www.peoplesvoicecafe.org or (212) 787-3903; Sat., 9/13: Carl Schwartz Celebration; Sat., 9/20: Tom Pacheco; David Laibman; Sat., 9/27: Chris Lowe, Peter Pasco, Toby Fagenson. Pinewoods Folk Music Club: 444 W. 54th St., #7, New York, NY 10019, (718) 651-1115, www.folkmusicny.org Princeton Folk Music Society: Christ Congregation Church, 50 Walnut Lane, Princeton, 8pm, (609) 799-0944 $15/Members $10/$3 kids under 12. www.princetonfolk.org; Fri., 9/19: Bruce Molsky Sacred Harp Singings: Much info at http://www.fasola.org/ 2nd Sun.: 2pm, St. Paul s Church, 199 Carroll St, Brooklyn. (718) 293-2848; 3rd Sun.: 2:30pm, St. Bart s Church, 109 E. 50th St., NYC. (212) 750-8977; 4th Sun. (except July & August): 2pm, Montclair Friends Mtg, Park & Gordonhurst. (973) 509-2165; 1st Sat. (except July/August): 3pm, Living Room, 154 Ludlow St., NYC Sanctuary Concerts: The Presbyterian Church, 240 Southern Boulevard, Chatham. Most concerts 8pm, www.sanctuaryconcerts.org; Sat., 9/13: David Bromberg Second Saturdays Coffee House/Open Mic: Summit Unitarian Church, 4 Waldron Ave. Sign up at 7:30pm, shows at 8pm. If you are a singer/songwriter & would like to host one, call (908) 412-9105 Concerts4Causes@aol.com; Sat., 9/13: Open Mic South Street Seaport Sea Music Concerts: South Street Seaport Gallery, 3pm, NYC. (212) 691-7610 Stanhope House: 45 Main St., Stanhope, (973) 347-0458, www.stanhopehouse.com: Every Tues., Singer-Songwriter Night, 7-9:30pm Stony Brook Friends of Old Time Music Jam: Mannion s Pub & Restaurant, 140 West Main Street, Somerville. Starting around 7:30pm. (609) 924-5353 or visit www.diamondcut.com/oldtime/; 1st and 3rd Tuesdays each month Sunday Night Music Club: www.sanctuaryconcerts.org, The Place: House Concerts, 7pm pot luck, 8pm concert, RSVP to jamask8@comcast.net or (973) 992-7491 for info; The Turning Point Cafe: Piermont, NY, info at www.turningpointcafe.com/events.htm The Uptown Coffeehouse: Society for Ethical Culture, 4450 Fieldston Rd., Bronx, NY, 5PM (new time), $15/$3 kids under 12. www.uptowncoffeehouse.org, (718) 885-2498. Closed until October Walkabout Clearwater Coffeehouse: United Methodist Church, 250 Bryant Ave., White Plains, (914) 949-2146 or www.walkaboutclearwater.org Lotsa Jams listed at http://home.comcast.net/~epollak/jam.htm 5
NJ Storytelling Festival Workshops This year's morning workshops at the NJ Storytelling Festival are amazing. You have two to chose from; Workshop #1 focuses on preserving culture in classrooms, Workshop #2 focuses on preserving life stories and family memories. You need to preregister at folkproject.org or call Carol Titus, 973 625-8548 for more information. Catch the early bird deadline for registration $50.00 until 9/15/08, after that the fee is $60.00. The NJ Storytelling Festival needs volunteers! Email Helen Wise at HelenWise@verizon.net Preserving Culture With Storytelling and Storywriting Presenter Kristin Pedemonti recently returned from Belize where she fostered storytelling and writing with local children. Participants will learn basic story structure, story writing and storytelling techniques, along with how to teach students to write their own stories and strategies to preserve local cultures in their communities. Workshop includes lots of storytelling by Kristin and a manual to guide the process back in the classroom or other area of learning. Appropriate for educators of all flavors working with children of all ages. What Stories Teach Intentional and Otherwise "Wisdom" Presenter Ron O'Reilly of "Stories Worth Repeating- People Worth Listening To". Remembered life stories contain implications' that are sometimes clear and at other times evasive. Participants will hear and write stories from stages of personal experience and have the guidance of the facilitator and a Wisdom Panel' of peers to analyze their stories using a framework provided to uncover' the meanings in life stories. For educators, counselors, healing agents, anyone interested in reflecting on their time on this Earth. The NJ Storytelling Festival needs volunteers! Email Helen Wise at HelenWise@verizon.net PRESENTS Tales for a Waning Moon Storyteller Buck P. Creacy Sat., Oct. 25 8:00pm Rockaway, NJ $15.00 in advance $20.00 at the door I am a weaver of words since 14 years old, telling stories at Slim s Barbershop, while I shined shoes and made folks laugh. This second-annual Folk Project Halloween event features master storyteller Buck P. Creacy from Georgetown, KY. Buck s stories, geared to adult audiences, will light the night with wit and humor. He s razor-sharp, but never malicious. Buck P. Creacy has performed from Maine to California, Canada to Texas, and across the Atlantic. He is president of the Kentucky Storytelling Association, a member of the National Storytelling Network, an honest to God toolmaker with 30 years of shop experience, and a guitar and harmonica player. He has performed on XM 171 Satellite Radio The Trucker s Channel telling stories for three million truck drivers and listeners. He s been compared to Roy Clark, Jerry Clower, and Will Rogers. Come celebrate Halloween with a room full of friends and a houseful of stories and music. Bring your instruments open jam after the storytelling. Tickets are on sale at The Minstrel Coffeehouse, or online at www.folkproject.org. This is a house concert.the location will be provided with tickets. For reservations or further information contact Pam Robinson at (908) 591-6491 or e-mail concerts@folkproject.org. 6 Funding for this event has been made possible in part by funds from the Arts Council of the Morris Area through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State a Partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. See WORKSHOPS page 11 7
1/Mon. EVERY Monday: Maplewood International Dancers, 7:30pm. (973) 376-7568 2/Tues. FP Board Meeting 8pm, Pam and Bob s, 20 Fairmount Rd., New Providence. (908) 771-0187 EVERY 1st & 3rd Tuesday: Stony Brook Friends of Old Time Music Jam, 7:30pm, Mannion s Somerville. www.diamondcut.com/oldtime/ EVERY Tuesday: Northwest NJ Acoustic Jam, 7pm, Westside United Methodist Church, Hopatcong. (973) 770-0179 3/Wed. EVERY Wed.: Morristown Int l Dancers, 7:30pm, Mountain Lakes. (973) 539-7020 EVERY Wednesday: Princeton Country Dancers, 8pm, Suzanne Patterson center, Princeton. (609) 799-2073, http://www.princetoncountrydancers.org/ EVERY Wednesday: Down Jersey with Jim Albertson, 7:30pm, WSNJ am1240, am1440 and www.wsnjam.com; http://members.aol.com/downjerseyjim/ 4/Thurs. EVERY Thurs.: Scandinavian Couple Dancing, 7:30pm, Bound Brook. (973) 635-0546 5/Fri. Minstrel: Bill Staines and Russ Rentler Outpost in the Burbs: Steve Earle, Allison Moorer. 8:30pm, Montclair. (973) 744-6560 6/Sat. Swingin Tern: Mark Widmer and Steenson, Morisette and Stein FP House Concert: Barbara Lamb with Jeff Loy, Hen3ry Nerenberg, Russ Stewart, followed by Erratic Robin jam. 8pm, Rockaway. (973) 989-4429 7/Sun. EVERY Sun.: Music You Can t Hear On The Radio, 7pm, WPRB 103.3FM; www.wprb.com 11/Thurs. NJ Songwriters Circle monthly meeting, 7pm, Dave Kleiner s. (973) 429-0288 12/Fri. Minstrel: Open Stage 13/Sat. Evening o Music: Leslie Brown s, starting at 4pm. People s Voice Cafe: Carl Schwartz Celebration, 8pm, NYC. (212) 787-3903 Crossroads Coffeehouse: Mef Gannon and Angela Adams, 8pm, Flanders. (973) 786-7940 Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music Club: Silk City, 8pm, Fair Lawn. (201) 384-1325 Sanctuary Concerts: David Bromberg, 8pm, Chatham. www.sanctuaryconcerts.org Second Saturday Coffee House: open mic, 8pm, Summit. (908) 412-9105 14/Sun. Sacred Harp Singing, 2pm, Brooklyn. (718) 793-2848 Borderline Folk music Club: magpie, 2pm, New City, NY. (845) 354-4586 15/Mon. Newsletter deadline. Send stuff to newsletter@folkproject.org 19/Fri. Minstrel: Magpie and Arlon Bennett Princeton FMS: Bruce Molsky, 8pm, Princeton. (609) 799-0944 20/Sat. Swingin Tern: Donna Hunt and Contrazz Hand Made Music: open mike, 7:30pm, Ringwood. jim1962@verizon.net Music at the Mission: Loretta Hagen, Milton. 8pm, West Milford. (800) 613-1455 Acoustic Café: Patrick Fitzsimmons, 8pm, Park Ridge. (201) 573-0718 September 2008 21/Sun. Sacred Harp Singing, 2pm, St. Bart s Church, NYC, (212) 750-8977 26/Fri. Minstrel: Andrew Dunn a nd John Flynn (split bill) Frank Sole and Jean Rohe, 7pm Marcello s Ristorante, Suffern, NY. (845) 357-9108 27/Sat. People s Voice Cafe: Chris Lowe; Peter Pasco, Toby Fagenson, 8pm, NYC. (212) 787-3903 Jim King, Hunterdon Radio Theatre War of the Worlds, Clinton Community Center, Clinton. www.hrtonline.org/ 28/Sun. NJ Storytelling Festival, noon-6pm, Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton. Sacred Harp Sing, 2pm, Montclair Friends Meeting. (973) 779-8290 Jim King, Hunterdon Radio Theatre War of the Worlds, Clinton Community Center, Clinton. www.hrtonline.org/ Good Coffeehouse: Toby Fagenson and Bruce Markov, 8pm, Brooklyn. (718) 768-2972 The Pelvis Partial Page Due to the rising cost of hot air, the Pelvis Page has been downsized. If you require an extra dose of Pelvis, visit his blog at www.myspace.pelvisburlapp. For a quick response faster than you can say help me, Dr. Phil, send your problematic problems and ishkabibble issues to pburlapp@aol.com. Pelvis is a licensed aromatherapy debunker and a death coach, as well as an expert in 67 areas of questionability. Burlapp's Bagg Dear Sport, I really wanna play on my high school baseball team, but I'm not very good. Please explain this inner workings of our national sport and how I can get better, so I won't spend all spring on the bench. I think you're a really swell guy for an old person. Thank you, the next Babe Ruth Dear Person Named After a Candy Bar, Well, if you're looking for someone to tell you're great when you're not, it ain't me Babe, it ain't me you're looking for. Babe. Being great is not what it's all about. It's thinking you're great. Hard work is hard. It's easier to just believe in yourself. Look at your hero, Babe Ruth. Overweight, a boozer, lazy as the day is long. But he knew he was the Babe. Follow your hero's footsteps. Overindulge. But know you are the greatest. That's all there is to it. Words of the Weak September is here. The festivals are few, the weather is frisky, and the kids are back to school. Why not go back to school yourself? Take time to learn something new. How about learning a new chord? Sing a new song. Dissect a vegan. Join the Mamas for Obama or the Jains for McCain, and work hard for your candidate. Have a good talk with your socks. Name every tree in your yard Rupert. Paint a mustache on a cockatiel. Read a book about reading a book. It's your one and only life, so get bucking, buckaroo. Life will pass you by if you don't get on the road. Pelvis ;-)
Come to the TESTival September 20-21 The deadline to sign up for TESTival is fast approaching. If you d like to come you need to register by September 10. And if you want to perform the deadline to sign up is September 6. TESTival starts on Saturday morning and ends Sunday afternoon with concerts by Folk Project members, dances, jamming singing, and hanging out with friends. Star Lake, our new festival site, is 23 miles and 32 minutes away from the Minstrel site in Morristown. The facilities include accommodations from camping to private rooms. You can see pictures of the camp at every Minstrel and on our website at festival.folkproject.org. YOU are the performers at this weekend! Mark Schaffer has put together an exciting line-up of opportunities for Folk Project performers. On Saturday night we will have a Blues Sampler. You can choose to have the 10-piece Loving Hearts Club Big Boogie Blues Band back you up, or the Hot Love Blues Guitar ensemble. On Sunday afternoon, it s the UnBirthday Festival Party, similar to our annual Birthday show at the Minstrel. Performers will be teamed up in random pairs and work out a song to perform for us. If you re interested in performing, send an email to festival@folkproject.org. And hurry you need to get your name in by September 6. We re also doing some dancing! Donna Hunt will be calling a dance on Sunday morning, fresh from her gig at Swingin Tern the night before. If you live to dance, we suggest that you go to Swingin Tern on Saturday night and then join us at the TESTival on Sunday. The contra dance runs from 9:45 am till noon. Enjoy a catered lunch and stay for the Sunday concert all for only $25. For more information, find the Registration Form enclosed in this newsletter or visit festival.folkproject.org.see you there! Lori Falco, Festival Chair The Best Job in the Whole Project World Do it while you watch TV and make MILLIONS!!! Join the Folk Project Cut out this handy dandy membership form and mail it, with your membership fee, to Pat Rolston, membership@folkproject.org or 50 Wesley Place Box 120, Mount Tabor, NJ 07878 (973) 586-7061 Choose at least one: New Renew Do be do Name Address Home Tel. E mail 1: Work Tel. E mail 2: Do you play or sing music: [ ] For fun [ ] Occasionally perform in public [ ] Professionally or semi-professionally Basic Individual membership @ $20/year $ (You ll receive this personal monthly newsletter.) Supporting membership @ $25/year $ (Personal monthly newsletter PLUS our eternal gratitude) Family membership* $ (Additional family members @ $3 each per year) Multiple Year Membership $ number of banjo-tossing years X type of membership. You do the math. DONATION to Folk Project (Tax deductible! We are also eligible for Corporate Matching Donations and banjos.) Total amount enclosed: $ $ First the good news: The music mavens here at Project Central are as chipper as chipmunks in the birdfeeder. Retiring newsletter editor Tom Pylant is recovering well from heart surgery. We all love him, wish him well and are thrilled at his excellent progress. And former newsletter editor Liz Pagan is stepping forward (in this case stepping backward) and once again taking on the major challenge of editing our newsletter. However, the newsletter has undergone mitosis. Now we need one member of the Folk Project to be in charge of the Mailing Cell to staple, stamp and label and mail the newsletter on a monthly basis. Liz will e-mail the finished newsletter to an appropriate printer near you. You ll pick up the printed newsletters, finish them off, and get them to the post office on time. You can do it in front of the TV. This job takes about as long as watching a movie, so all you Netflix subscribers are a perfect match for this important and very easy and practically mindless position in the Project pantheon of volunteer posts. And it s a good excuse to have a party and invite your friends over to stamp and label together. Remember your smile when you found this newsletter in your mailbox? Help put that smile on a few hundred faces every month. Email Mark at president @folkproject.org. 10 NEW! Please check one: I d like to receive a print newsletter I d like to save trees and receive an Enewsletter Make your check payable to: The Folk Project *Family membership is one basic or supporting membership plus $3 for each additional family member/banjo. Please list the names of additional family members: 11
12 Folk Project Board Meeting August 2008: Board Meeting: The Summary Attendees: TRUSTEES: Lois De Ritter (08), Jim Gartner (08), Ed Roffman (10), Mark Schaffer (10), Jim West (09), Ruth Wolfish (09). OTHERS: Mike Agranoff, Connie Crawford, Lori Falco, Andy Koenig, Elizabeth Lachowicz, Evelyn Maurer, George Otto, Liz Pagan, Brad Pryor, Chris Riemer, Pam Robinson, Pat Rolston, Bob Safranek, Rick Thomas, Rivka Willick. GUESTS: Allan Kugel, Judy Bubar. ABSENT: Jim King (10), Tom Pylant, Sandie Reilly, Bobbie Rosengarten (08), Jean Scully, Scooter, Ken Galipeau. Call to order: The meeting was called to order at 8:04 PM on August 5th by President Mark Schaffer. SUMMARY: Acceptance of the Minutes: The July minutes were accepted as corrected to show that Jim West was not present at the July meeting. Treasurer s Report: We discussed the difference between budgeting and book-keeping as it applies to whether the recent Festivals have been making money or losing money. The issue is whether the distribution from the Endowment should be included in the Festival s bottom line. We decided to say that the Festival Committee had met its financial objectives. Though without a formal budget, it s hard to decide exactly what that means. Some members requested that the Festival start making a formal budget for future Festivals. Lori noted that formal budgets have been added to the Festival planning process, starting with Testival. Poster Easels: Money, not to exceed $150 was allocated for the purchase of 3 poster easels (one of which has already been purchased with permission from President Mark) to help with advertising future events at the Minstrel and S n T. Minstrel Meetings: There will be one more open meeting to discuss ways to improve the Minstrel Experience. After that, the issue will be referred to Committee for resolution. Newsletter: Liz Pagan has agreed to handle the electronic part of collecting information and doing layout for the Newsletter. She plans to stick to a 4-page layout most of the time, occasionally adding a 5th page for things like Festival or Special Concerts. Elizabeth volunteered to handle the physical part (labeling, mailing, stamping, etc) for the August Newsletter. We still need a permanent volunteer or group of volunteers to handle this for future Newsletters. If you are interested, talk to Mark. Eddie reported that the procedures are in place for doing electronic Newsletter delivery. If you want to sign up for e-delivery, talk to Eddie. It saves the Project money, reduces our carbon footprint, and with it on your computer, you can t loose it the way you can with a paper copy. There are no plans to discontinue the paper Newsletter at this time. Publicity: Please send George your material in electronic form if possible to make it easier for him to put it on the website. Minstrel: President Schaffer convened a gathering of general advisors on July 20 to sit down with the Minstrel Committee and brainstorm ideas about what's wrong with the Coffeehouse and what should be done to make it better. Rick took notes on what was said, and the Secretary will make it available for anyone interested. No decisions were made at this meeting. If you have any suggestions, please contact Mark.. S n T: Connie reports a continued hot-weather lull in attendance. Special Concerts: We are presenting a house concert on Saturday August 23rd featuring fingerstyle guitarist, Howard Emerson. We will have a house concert on Saturday Sept. 6featuring bluegrass and jazz fiddle player Barbara Lamb. Unfortunately our upcoming big concert event, with Jean Ritchie and Tao Rodriguez, has been canceled. Our Halloween Storytelling house concert is shaping up nicely and will be on Oct. 25 at 8pm. The storyteller is Buck P Creacy and the event title is Tales for a Waning Moon. This event will feature tales of the season from American and Native American cultures. Please note that this is not a children's concert. (Wellbehaved children are, of course, welcome). Tickets will be available shortly. Horses Sing None of It: Ralph met with Pro Bono Partnership's Steve Gordon regarding the plan for Stefan Grossman to use some of the HSNOI videos with John Jackson. Steve made a few suggestions, which Ralph will be following, for precautions to protect FP. Festival: President Schaffer convened a gathering of general advisors on July 20 to sit down with the Minstrel Committee and brainstorm ideas about what's wrong with the Coffeehouse and what should be done to make it better. Rick took notes on what was said, and the Secretary will make it available for anyone interested. No decisions were made at this meeting. If you have any suggestions, please contact Mark. ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING GOOD OF THE ORDER: Soon, the Good of the Order part of these minutes will be replaced by a column in our monthly newsletter. Please call or email Eddie all your news about things that you ve done, plan to do, experienced, loved or hated, during the month, to share with your fellow Folk Projectiles in this monthly column. Eddie Roffman, eroffman@optonline.net. GOOD OF THE ORDER: Pam and Bob: survived a severe hailstorm, flood and maybe a mini-tornado at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. Elizabeth and Thomas Lachowicz: are regretting that Elizabeth s sister has moved back to Chicago. Brad: just returned from his third 4-day Bluegrass festival of the summer. Jim West: recorded a Horses Sing None of It show last month with Frank Sole. Watch for it on your local cable channel. Jim and Judy: went to visit the historic Morven mansion in Princeton. While walking around the extensive gardens behind the mansion, Judy realized that she has more plants in her back yard than Morven, but she doesn t have a staff of gardeners. Lois: went to Champlain Valley Folk Festival and the Shelburne Museum nearby. Evelyn, Lois and Margaret: went together to see Kathy Mattea at the Community Theatre. This was part of Kathy s Moving Mountains Tour, a tribute to coal miners of West Virginia. George: will be helping staff the Philadelphia Folk Festival again. He recently got a new iphone 3G. Connie: just returned from her 6th year at dance camp with her family. Alan: got a chance to visit with a cousin and his wife, as they passed through the Delaware Water Gap, on a hiking trip walking the full length of the Appalachian Trail. Mike: will be performing at the clothing optional Avalon Music and Arts Festival in Paw Paw, West Virginia. Mark: just returned from a trip with his wife Robin, attending a family wedding that was held in a beautiful compound at the University of Rhode Island. Mark s parents, who are also FP members, just returned from a trip to Baltimore via Greyhound Bus Lines, visiting Mark s sister. Mark is finishing his final performance as a backup musician for a group of singers who have been raising money in performances for the Ashley Fund. They have raised a substantial amount of money for this charity. Mark says that it feels great to be playing music for a good cause. Tom Pylant: Mark reports that Tom is on his feet and healing following his heart attack and bypass surgery. He will be starting a rehabilitation program soon. He still plans to move to Florida. Joel Remde: Connie reports that Joel got married. Adjournment: AT 10:11 PM. NEXT MEETING WILL BE AT PAM AND BOB S HOUSE ON SEPTEMBER 2ND. KEEP IN TOUCH... Many of you may not know that there is a Folk Project Yahoo Group, where you can post and read messages pertinent to the Folk Project community. The messages range from the folk-specific (instruments for sale, reports on concerts, last minute changes to upcoming events, requests for music lessons, etc.) to personal (A member in the hospital, or getting married, or looking for a carpool to an event) to general (Cars for sale, looking for an apartment). To join the group, go to http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/njfp/ and follow the instructions. You can then post messages by sending an e-mail to the address you will be given. When one person posts a message, the entire group receives it. I ve found the group generally useful, on-topic, and spamfree. I would like to see more people on it so we can keep in touch. Mike Agranoff All-Day Sacred Harp Singing in NYC Saturday, September 20, 2008 From 9:30-3:30 at historic Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims in beautiful, tree-lined Brooklyn Heights. Two first-rate instructors to lead our Friday night singing school. Joining returning singing master Richard DeLong this year will be Judy Caudle, whose excellent rudiments classes were one of the highlights of Camp Fasola 2008. Filmmaker Matt Hinton wil present the new Awake, My Soul & Help Me to Sing double audio CD in a listening party following the singing on Saturday. This set features the soundtrack to the Awake My Soul documentary, plus interpretations of Sacred Harp songs performed by contemporary recording artists. Here is the run-down of NYC All-Day Singing Weekend events: Fri., 9/19, 7-9 pm: Singing School at Plymouth Church, featuring Richard DeLong and Judy Caudle; Sat., 9/20, 9:30 am-3:30 pm: New York City All-Day Sing at Plymouth Church; 4:30-6:30 pm: Listening party for Awake My Soul & Help Me to Sing 2-CD set at Plymouth Church; Sun., 9/212, 2:30-5 pm: Manhattan Monthly Singing at St. Bartholomew's Church, Park Ave. and E. 50th St. Info at http://www.manhattansing.org/events.htm Second Saturday Music Cafe at 9 Bayard Mine Street Coffee house in New Brunswick has morphed into Second Saturday Music Café and will be held monthly on the 2nd Saturday, beginning in October. and running through June. It will be held in the upstairs room, instead of the basement, and will have high quality refreshments from Via Dolce in East Brunswick. First and foremost, it will feature a level of talent such as people would find in the New Brunswick theatres. Just in case you are unable to go to the web site www.secondsaturdaymusiccafe.com, I will tell you that this includes John Gorka, David Mallett, Oscar Brand, Chuck Brodsky, Mustard s Retreat, Sloan Wainwright and Christine Lavin. Our opening show on Oct. 11 features Spook Handy and Jim Albertson. Frank Glaz, www.lowtechman.com 13
Feets Don t Fail Me Now! Blue Ribbon Cloggers: Meets in Pluckemin, Tuesdays, 7pm. Call Paula Fromen (908) 735-9133 or Heidi Rusch (908) 453-2750 for info. Center Contra: Gender-role free contra dance in NYC. LGBT Community Center, 208 West 13th St., Room 301, 7:30pm. Usually 2nd Fri. Open to all. (971) 991-0597, (347) 275-7983, or www.lcfd.org/nyc or email AmericanFolkDanceNYC@yahoo.com Country Dance * New York: Every Saturday, Metropolitan Dance Hall, 201 West 31st St. & 7th Ave., NYC. Soft soled shoes only. www.cdny.org, (212) 459-4080 Lambertville Country Dancers: Soft soled shoes only! Call for info on Contra and English Country dances and location info, (609) 882-7733 or www.lambertvillecountrydancers.org Maplewood International Dancers: Columbia High School, Parker & Valley Streets, Maplewood. Mondays 7:30pm, $4.50. Beginners welcome, partner not necessary, refreshments served. Days (908) 273-6468, eves (973) 376-7568 Morristown International Dancers: Wednesdays, Mountain Lakes Comm. Church, 48 Briarcliff Rd, 8:30pm, 7:30pm beginners. $4 member/$5 non-member (973) 539-7020 or (973) 228-5966, http://us.geocities.com/njfolkdance/fd_morristown.html North Jersey English Country Dancers: 2-5pm, Unitarian Church, Cottage Place, Ridgewood, potluck, $8/members, $10/non-mem. (201) 664-4370, (201) 652-4014. http://www.maxellute.net/njecd.html No dance in August Palisades Folk Dancers: Twice a month on Sundays, 3pm, Church of the Atonement, Engle St. & Highland Ave., Tenafly. GinnyandHallB@cs.com. Philly Family Folk Dances: Memorial Church of the Good Shepherd, 3820 The Oak Rd, East Falls, PA. 2nd Sundays, 2-4:30pm (215) 844-2474 Princeton Folk Dance Group: 7:30pm, Riverside School, Riverside Drive, Princeton. Tuesdays (except school closings) www.princetonfolkdance.org (609) 924-6930 Princeton Folk Dancers: 8pm Fridays, Susan Patterson Center, Stockton St. & Monument Dr. (behind Borough Hall), Princeton, www.princetonfolkdance.org Princeton Country Dancers: Suzanne Patterson Center, Borough Hall, Princeton, Wed. (and some Saturdays) 8pm, beginners 7:40. Pickup band musicians welcome. Usually $6. (609) 683-7956 or (609) 924-8813, email pcdinfo@aol.com. Band info only: (609) 252-0248 or srl@mail.princeton.edu performerlisting at www.princetoncountrydancers.org. Special Community Dance, www.princetonol.com/ groups/pcd/ PCD English Country Dance series: Dance 8-11, intro/basics at 7:30. $8 ($4 seniors & students). Call for info. Scandinavian Folk Dancing: Congregational Church, 209 Church St., Bound Brook, $5. Thursdays, 7:30pm, www.skandinoje.org Swingin Tern: Sat., Sept. 6: Mark Widmer & Steenson, Morissette and Stein; Sept. 20: Donna Hunt and Contrazz Valley Contra Dance Society: 7pm, 2nd and 4th Saturdays, UU Church of The Lehigh Valley, 424 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA. $9/$5 students. www.valleycontradance.org, (610) 868-7432. 9/13: Bev Smith, Dead Sea Squirrels; 9/27: Janine Smith, band TBD 14 More on dancing at the Country Dance and Song Society www.cdss.org Sat., Sept. 6: Mark Widmer & Steenson, Morissette and Stein Wes Steenson guitar & mandolin; Paul Morissette fiddle; Bob Stein accordion & piano Contras Judge Widmer lays down the law in the contra court as Steensen, Morissette & Stein represent dance defendants against alleged allemandes, grand chain larceny and breaking and entering at the top of the set. Wear your legal briefs or petty-theft-coats, lest you be charged in contempt of caller. Miss Demeanor and Miss Conduct will lead away contra convicts in ladies chains. Sat., Sept. 20: Donna Hunt & Contrazz Sam Zygmuntowicz fiddle, mandolin; Marnen Laibow-Koser fiddle, piano; Bob Jones bass; Joe DePaolo percussion Contras Donna the proverbial Project prodigy procures prototypical prodigious promenades proficient in providing a proclivity for propitious processions. Converge, congregate and connect as Contrazz concocts contra confections consummate, concordant and consonant, conferring convoluted configurations concurrently convivial, contortive and convulsant. Sat., Oct. 4: Don Flaherty & Dancewiz Bill Quern-fiddle, concertina, banjo; Steve Epstein-clarinet, sax; Adlai Waksman-accordion; Joanne Rocke-piano Contras Bob Isaacs Callers Workshop begins This is an in-depth course for the beginner caller. The workshop will be taught over four afternoon sessions by Bob Isaacs and is by pre-registration only. Contact Bob at isaacsbob@hotmail.com for info. Sat., Oct. 18: Dave Rupp & Fingerplay Lisa Bueno-fiddle; Johnathan Brandt-piano; Helen White-flute Contras Sat., Nov. 1: Richard Fischer & Village Idiot Amelia Mason-fiddle; Ross Harriss-guitar, saxophone, whistle Contras & Squares Sat., Nov. 15: Harvest Hoot Contra & Swing Non-dancing children must be supervised at all times. Beginner s workshop, 7:30pm; dance at 8pm. $10, $5 with student I.D. Soft soles only. Presented by the Folk Project. Ogden Memorial Church, Chatham Contra and Square Dancing to live music. All dances taught. No partner necessary. Located on Rte. 124 (Main St.) in downtown Chatham, northern NJ. From NJTP (exit 14) or GSP (exit 142), take Rte. 78 West to exit 48. Take Rte. 24 West to exit 7A (Chatham) onto Rte. 124 which is Main St. Ogden Memorial on right just after 4th light, across from Bean Curd Restaurant. Use Elmwood entrance. From Rte. 287 (exit 35) take Rte. 124 East 6 miles into Chatham. Ogden Memorial on left just before 1st downtown light. By train: Morristown line to Chatham station, go 1 block north. (973) 762-4947 or (973) 635-1048 or Folk Phone, (973) 822-1313 TERN ON THE NET! find us at dance.folkproject.org 15
Box 41 Mendham, NJ 07945 www.folkproject.org Newsletter submissions: Liz Pagan Email: newsletter@folkproject.org 32 Williamson Ave., Bloomfield NJ 07003; deadline is the 15th Address corrections and changes: Pat Rolston Email: membership@folkproject.org 50 Wesley Place Box 120, Mount Tabor, NJ 07878 (973) 586-7061 Folk Project Officers: President: Mark Schaffer Vice President: Evelyn Maurer Secretary: Rick Thomas Treasurer: Chris Riemer Trustees: Through 2008: Lois DeRitter, Bobbie Rosengarten, Jim Gartner Through 2009: Scooter Ferguson, Ruth Wolfish, Jim West Through 2010: Jim King, Ed Roffman, Mark Schaffer FIRST CLASS MAIL