Hereis the second chapter of folk music in New Hampshire.

This state is rife with contra dancing. There are town halls and simiar venues all over that are the sites for old time dances to live bands and live callers. Most occur on weekends as working people have to live up to their titles and cannot carouse on week nights. The University hsts a Ralph Page Memorial Weekend every January. Page was a key figure in the preservation and promotion of this old style of community dances. Current patriarchs of this tradition include Dudley Laufman and Bob McQuillen.

The French-Canadian community has "soiress" al around the state where they get together and play tunes, dance and sing. One of the keepers of this flame is Lucie Terrien of Portsmouth.

There are at least two polka bands that I know of, mainly in the Polish tradition.

Dover has the Seacoast Irish Cultural Association that has a yearly festival and events throughout the year.

Anither event is the annual Irish Show, a fundraiser for St. Mary's School. These are the definitive community events, featuring both professionals and amateurs. They are a mix of of bagpipes, skits, songs, pageants, and always a goat.

More later -- Tom