Song Circle Locations

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Jun 00 - 03:22 AM

Hi, Bert - most song circles meet on the same day of the month, month after month, year after year. In Sacramento, it's the second Friday of every month. It's on the first Friday of the month in nearby Auburn. For song circle to be successful, exceptions to the regular meeting dates should be rare.
I can't see how a calendar with exact dates would make things more clear. Or am I failing to understand what you're looking for?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: GUEST,John Leeder in Calgary
Date: 27 Jun 00 - 04:44 PM

Put me down as a contact for the Calgary Singers' Circle: John Leeder [phone] (home) or 750-1258 (work); [e-mail] (home) or [e-mail] (work).

The circle gets together approximately one Saturday per month at someone's home (date and location are determined from month to month). There is no organized society as such, and arrangements are kept as simple as possible. We maintain a phone list, and one volunteer phones people who weren't at the last session.

We've been in existence for over 20 years, and a few originals are still around, so we've developed some traditions and conventions. It's a singer's circle – some people sing a capella, some people accompany themselves and sometimes invite the other instrumentalists to play along, but nobody plays instrumentals as such. A non-singer (there are a few, singers' spouses, etc.) may tell a story or recite a poem. We go around the circle, and everyone has a turn, but may pass or request a song rather than taking the lead themselves. The core members are into traditional folk songs, but no type of song is forbidden – whatever happens happens. There's a wide range of abilities and experience, ranging from semi-pro to "can't carry a tune in a basket", but everybody has an equal shot. We try to be inclusive, to make newcomers welcome, and to encourage people and provide a safe environment for them to develop their singing skills.

Some people rely on "Rise Up Singing", and some people make a point of not relying on it – it's "the great equalizer" for the less confident. Normally there is no theme, especially not stated in advance, although sometimes a theme will suggest itself as the evening progresses.

Everybody brings finger-food, so that the host doesn't have to be daunted by putting on a spread – usually just tea and coffee are enough, and those who want cold drinks bring them themselves. (Alcohol is not forbidden, but is unusual.) We break for snacks before the final round. (A few people who are known to be gourmet cooks are not discouraged from putting on a bit more of a spread than usual when they host!)

We've had as many as 39 people and as few as 3, but 14-18 seems to be an ideal number. Fewer than that and there may be more rounds than the less confident are prepared for; more than that and there aren't enough turns to satisfy the more confident.

This sort of circle is pretty easy to start – all you need is a few people to participate, and a house to hold it in. I'm surprised to hear that there are cities which don't have one!

Any questions?

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Bert
Date: 27 Jun 00 - 04:49 PM

Give me REAL dates guys.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: GUEST,John Leeder
Date: 27 Jun 00 - 05:46 PM

Bert, the next Calgary date in July 29; after that, who knows?

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Bert
Date: 27 Jun 00 - 05:58 PM

Thanks John.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Jun 00 - 06:03 PM

Naw, Bert, it just won't work to try for dates. How about a chart with location and contact e-mail info? I would want to check before going to any song circle anyway, wouldn't you? I don't think WHEN is as important as knowing IF there is one possible--- maybe the chart could include nearest big city and distance from it, or the name of the county the place is in....

~S~

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: GUEST,Central NY
Date: 28 Jun 00 - 07:53 PM

Anyone know about song circles in Central New York? Specifically Utica/Rome area but Syracuse-Amsterdam would work if the day & time are right.

I've heard rumor of Salt City something in Syracuse but no detals.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From:
Date: 28 Jun 00 - 08:15 PM

Does anyone know of any songcircles on and around Rochester, NY? Thanks.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: GUEST,Kimba
Date: 29 Jun 00 - 09:12 PM

Hi, Everyone,

Does anyone know of any Song Circles in the Providence, RI area?

Thanks!

Kimba

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Branwen23
Date: 07 Jul 00 - 12:25 PM

I am also interested in finding something in the Dallas, Texas area....

anyone with info please email me at:

[e-mail]

-branwen-

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: GUEST,Guest HarryA
Date: 07 Jul 00 - 08:08 PM

If you're in the Detroit/Windsor area, there is an open Mic night usually on the 2nd Friday of each month from Sept to June. It's at Mackenzie Hall in Windsor. For directions you can e-mail me at [e-mail]. For 10 years from 1983 to 1993, my family ran The Old Sandwich Song Circle (Sandwich was the original European settlement in Ontario, and is now part of Windsor. It was inspired by some visits to the Vancouver Song Circle in 1982. It was fun, but we got tired.).

Cheers

Harold

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Cobble
Date: 18 Jul 00 - 07:31 PM

Sorry must have pressed the wrong thingy, will try harder next time. Im just a beginner at mudcat.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Jul 00 - 08:00 PM

If you have information that will update information posted in previous messages, please post it - I'll incorporate it into the previous messages and delete your posts. If you have NEW information, of course, I'll leave it as-is.
Thanks.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: GUEST,orua
Date: 31 Jul 00 - 10:19 AM

There is a 'song circle' - we just call it The Foyle Folk Club in Derry / Londonderry Northern Ireland. Our web address is www.foylefolkclub.co.uk We meet on the last sunday of each month in the Verbal Arts Centre. Full details on the web page.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Turtle
Date: 31 Jul 00 - 01:15 PM

Does anyone have information about song circles in Minneapolis/St. Paul?

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: GUEST,John Leeder
Date: 01 Aug 00 - 03:02 PM

The next Calgary Singers' Circle is September 9 at Jack & Nomi Kaston's place; theur number is [phone].

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Susan of DT
Date: 01 Aug 00 - 06:32 PM

I left Central NY 25 years ago, but see people from there each year at Old Songs
I was assured that the Salt City Song Miners are still there. Send me a personal e-mail for a contact person.
In Rochester try Golden Ring, contact : Mitzi Collins (address/phone unknown)

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Shanti
Date: 01 Aug 00 - 07:24 PM

Two of you mentioned song circles in a couple of places in Ohio...Canton and Salem, I believe. I'm new to Ohio, so could you tell me where those two places are in relation to Athens? I'd love to start or join a song circle in this area, if someone could tell me where and how.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Wotcha
Date: 09 Aug 00 - 02:41 PM

Shanty Sing in Chicago!!

By special arrangement (subterfuge), prior to the regularly scheduled Open Mic, on 15 August, at the Abbey Pub, 3420 W. Grace, Chicago, we will try to hold a Shanty Sing and start a new tradition in Chicagoland.

Bring your cheat sheets, shanties, forebitters, tavern songs, Fo'csl songs, irish favorites, and harmonies, and get ready to cast off at 7pm next Tuesday night. When we get established we will find a more convenient night/venue.

Mudcatters, hope to see you there!

Cheers, Brian

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: GUEST,John Leeder
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 01:14 PM

The next Calgary Singers' Circle is October 14, at the home of Steven Méthot & Natalie Manzer, 220 Hunterbrook Place NW; their phone is 730-8389.

We've already gotten a new participant via this site -- it's working!

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: mousethief
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 01:37 PM

Found this at The Seattle Folklore Society Webpage (click)

SEATTLE SONG CIRCLE --

We're just a bunch of folks who enjoy getting together to sing -- no particular expertise required (staying in key is nice, but you won't be shot if you don't). We sing mainly folksongs (your definition thereof), but you may hear almost anything at one time or another. We have no dues or other memberships requirements, though we are associated with the Seattle Folklore Society. We meet every Sunday, from 7:30-11pm, usually in somebody's living room. On the first Sunday of the month, the living room is generally at the home of Eric and Dana D'Asaro, 9739 Lakeshore Blvd NE, and on the 3rd Sunday at the home of Dick and Karen Seymour, 5415 Greenwood Ave. NW--but it's not a bad idea to call to be sure that isn't the one month it moved. Check with the people or machines at [phone], or [phone] for each week's location. People drift in and out any time between the official starting and ending times.

------------

I just may have to go to one of those! Why do these things always have to be in the north end? Sigh.

Alex
O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: GUEST,John Leeder
Date: 19 Oct 00 - 12:27 PM

The next Singers' Circle in Calgary is November 18, at the home of Bill & Candy Watson, 907 31st Ave. NW; 282-6918.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: blt
Date: 05 Dec 00 - 01:40 AM

This thread is mind-boggling. I started another thread, asking for info re Portland, OR song circles, not realizing this vintage one was already in place. It's my usual way of figuring things out, stumbling around bassakwards. I have to say that the more I spend time hanging around here, the more I realize how many false assumptions I've made about almost everything, but especially about the land of folk.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Mumbles
Date: 06 Dec 00 - 03:32 PM

Hi Joe: We have started a song circle in Toledo, Oregon, and it will be on the third Saturday of every month, at the Toledo Community Center, 138 NE 1st Street in Toledo. We are located on US Hiiway 20, 50 miles west of Corvallis, and we are also the home of the Toledo Folk Music Club. As of now we are having around twenty or so people to each song circle and everyone is welcome.Our phone number is 1-541-336-5743, or e-mail us at ....Frank and Nancy

Subject: Florida Song Circle Locations
From: Abby Sale
Date: 22 Jan 01 - 06:12 PM

I send out a monthly e-mailing of all song circles (a few), open mikes (more) and folkish jams in Central Florida. And a few other folkish things relating and also not relating to FOFF. Ask if you want it.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Alice
Date: 22 Jan 01 - 07:54 PM

Last October I started a song circle in Bozeman. It meets on the second Saturday of the month, 3:00 pm, at Wellington's Tea & Pastry.

Alice

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 23 Jan 01 - 02:36 AM

Awhile back I started a new thread - Song circle locations, part II, when this thread grew large. I tried to find it to refresh it, but came up empty. I'm doing something wrong, but it's definitely in there somewhere. I need a refresher on refreshing...but in the meantime, if anyone can find it...

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: GUEST,John Leeder
Date: 29 Mar 01 - 04:04 PM

The next Calgary Singers' Circle is Saturday, May 5, at the home of James & Priscilla Prescott, 4915 Carney Rd. NW, Calgary; phone [phone]

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Banjer
Date: 29 Mar 01 - 07:43 PM

Here 'tis the one Chanteyranger was looking for I think... http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=26724&messages=3 (Click here)

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Suffet
Date: 22 Apr 01 - 10:08 PM

We are organizing a song circle in the western part of the Borough of Queens, New York City. The tentative name is the Sunnyside Song Circle, and we just had our second session today, April 22, 2001.

Please come to our next session. All styles are welcome, traditional and contemporary.

Date: Sunday, May 20, 2001
Time: 2 to 7 PM
Location:
Home of Stephen & Marilyn Suffet
41-05 47th Street, 1st floor
near Skillman Avenue
Sunnyside, Queens, New York
Phone: [phone]

Orgaized with the support of the New York Pinewoods Folk Music Club.

Bring voices, instruments, and songs to share. Munchies and libations also welcome.

--- Steve

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: ChivalryKate
Date: 23 Apr 01 - 04:14 PM

BK -- I am in Columbia MO, too. Please e-mail me. [e-mail]

-Kate

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From:
Date: 27 Jun 01 - 12:17 PM

Our daughter, who grew up in and around song circles, is now in San Antonio and looking for one there. Does anyone know of such a thing? We do have a semi-monthly traveling one in Prescott, AZ, semi but not entirely RUS oriented.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: pete_lunt
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 09:58 AM

Looking for song circle near Fairfax, Va. I have been advised of ones in Maryland which I need to check out too. Or let me know if you are interested, I may approach local Border's to host a new one as we did down in Raleigh.

If you are looking around Raleigh, NC see http://home.aol.com/~trfolksing.

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 11:49 PM

The Folklore Society of N.E. Pa (USA) has a singing circle on the first Friday of the month at a members' house. Many use RUS but several do not. For more info see
http://folkloresocietynepa.esmartweb.com/

We also have a Folksong Weekend planned for Labor Day weekend at a camp 50 miles west of Wilkes Barre, Pa. It's a lot of singing circle type activities as well as a few other things. For info use the e-mail on the web page.

TonyK

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 02:40 AM

Song Circles, part II has been refreshed. Thanks to Banjer for locating it. -chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: GUEST,Genie
Date: 07 Sep 01 - 11:38 PM

NEW PORTLAND, OR, JAM SESSION / SONG CIRCLE*

Some of us pickers have started a new jam session at a new SE Portland coffeehouse:

where: Yola's Foster Road Coffee House corner of SE 65th and Foster Road

when: Sunday afternoons from 1:00 to 3:00 PM (often going on until 4:00PM or 5:00 PM)

It doesn't have to be any particular style of music, but it is acoustic and, so far, most folks have done folk and/or CW, with a few R&B songs thrown in -- just like other Portland song circles do (for that matter, much like Rise Up Singing). So far, we've done a song-cirlce format, with people taking turns. Having copies of music for people to play and sing with is helpful but not mandatory. This session will evolve as new people join us.

Yola's is a new coffee house and they hope to do open mikes and have paid entertainment as the business gets on a firmer footing.

For more info, please send email to [e-mail]

*I posted this under another thread "Music In Portland" before I had checked out the permathreads.

Genie

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: GUEST,Genie
Date: 07 Sep 01 - 11:46 PM

Portland,OR Jam Session/Song Circle at Artichoke Music

Kate Power has been hosting a song circle/jam session every Saturday from 2:00 to 4:00PM at Artichoke Music, about 32nd and SE Hawthorne in Portland.

Kate encourages people to bring copies of songs if they are not in the blue 'hymnal' or are not songs everybody already knows. It's more of an instrumental jam than some song circles and more of a song circle than some instrumental jams.

Tomorrow will be our first session since August 18, due to vacations. Call Artichoke for details.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Genie
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 04:07 PM

The phone number for Yola's Foster Road Coffeehouse in Portland, OR is 503-774-4516. The sunday session is an instrumental jam OR a song circle, depending on who shows up. No real rules.
Also, while the Portland Folklore Society link has been posted above, I'd like to emphasize the locations for song circles.
PFS 2nd  SATURDAY SONG CIRCLE -- 3738 SE Lincoln; 503-231-1387

Monday nights thru Oct. 29,  2001 SONG CIRCLE - 7:30-9:30PM, 941 SE Bidwell in Sellwood; Info: 503-232-3835.

2ND WED ACOUSTIC JAM - 7 - 9 PM, 503-238-1270

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Jim Krause
Date: 16 Oct 01 - 02:33 PM

If you happen to be visiting in the Kansas City area, here is a link to the local singer/songwriter scene.
Jim

Subject: Song Circles - San Diego
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Mar 02 - 02:48 PM

I spent the last three weeks in San Diego, California, taking care of my daughter's affairs while she was in the hospital (she's much better, thank you). San Diego is five or six hundred miles south of my home in Sacramento.
I found a fascinating record store called Folk Arts on Adams Street - no CD's or tapes, just records. It was hard to believe that major labels carried all those traditional songs in the 1960's. At the store found a copy of the newsletter of San Diego Folk Heritage, http://sdfolkheritage.org/. That led me to the San Diego Folk Song Society, http://www.windbourne.com/sdfss/. I went to the second-Saturday gathering of the Folk Song Society at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church on Lake Murray Blvd., and had a great time. I'd guess there were twenty people there, mostly well-accomplished musicians. The theme was cowboy songs, and it made for a lot of fun.
San Diego Folk Heritage sponsors concerts in San Diego and Encinitas, and also has a song circle. Seems that folk music is alive and well in San Diego.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Genie
Date: 30 Mar 02 - 10:03 PM

Sorry my spring visit to SD didn't overlap with your time there, Joe (I'll be at the April song circle), but I am very glad you were able to take Tricia and go back to Sacramento. Also glad you had a chance to check out the SD folk music scene while you were there.

The SD song circle in February was considerably bigger -- at least 30 people -- and, yes, there are some fine singers, players, and songwriters there! There's also a bluegrass venue there, at the Fuddruckers in La Mesa or El Cajon, I think, on Tuesday evenings, where the band invites folks to get up on stage and sing and/or play a song or two with them, I'm told.

Genie

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: nosluap57
Date: 12 Apr 02 - 10:25 PM

Looking for interseted parties to hold a song circle with in the Dallas, TX area.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Sep 02 - 09:33 PM

PORCH PICKIN', Indoors and Out

Monthly acoustic jam (all styles) and song circle 7-10 PM third Friday each month except when there is a holiday conflict.

Mansfield PA area (an hour north of Williamsport in north central PA).

Two fine pickin' porches plus other outdoor locations, and/or two to six rooms open, as numbers require.

Beginner's Jam at 7 PM followed by one or more jams or song circles by interest or instrument.

Children welcome.

Quarterly workshops (fee for instructor) on various skills, as determined by regularly-attending members.

Overnight guests for jams welcome, with varying accommodations available.

Annual weekend-long pickin' parties (Mudcat Gathering/Camp) in late April or early May.

Details, directions, latest updatesHERE.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 02 Nov 02 - 10:02 PM

Whether it's because I love a challenge or because I'm completely nuts, I've taken on the task of trying to organize (or, at least, make vague sense of) this thread. Toward that end I need more information. If there is a website people can go to or an e-mail address people can contact to find out more about your song circle, please, send it to me by PM or e-mail . Please, do the same for any updates or changes that may exist in any song circles which you currently have posted.Thanks in advance.

Stephen Lee

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Nov 02 - 11:50 PM

nosluap57, did you ever have any luck setting up a Song Circle in Dallas? I'm in Fort Worth.

SRS

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: GUEST,Foe
Date: 22 Nov 02 - 12:33 PM

Song Circle every third Sat evening at the Hyattstown Mill Arts Project in Clarksburg, MD. Email me if you want more info. I'll add you to my email Song Circle list

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Feb 04 - 04:29 PM

This page gives information on a sea shanty sing in San Pedro in the Los Angeles area, usually on the last Friday of the month. Wish I had know of this when I was working there in 1999.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Abby Sale
Date: 02 Nov 05 - 09:07 PM

I see I might post something. I like song circles.

Re Triangle area, thee is a very good weekly circle in Durham, the Folk-Jam. Info at http://www.rtpnet.org/mailman/listinfo/folk-jam
I mention this in answer to Dani's question of 1997. But of course, she already knows about it. :-)


On the other hand, Orlando (and Central Florida) has a bunch of them. One or two weekly plus one or three monthly. More S/S & personally written than trad but a certain amount of trad as well. The monthly e-news letter is archived at
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/CenFLFolk/
(You DO NOT have to Register/login just to read it.)

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Susan of DT
Date: 11 Feb 06 - 10:02 AM

There seems to have been very few postings to this thread in the last several years and I wonder if people remember it is here.

Dick Greenhaus and I now host a song circle in central New Jersey on Sunday afternoons. E-mail us for details [e-mail] or [e-mail]

after wondering thru this thread, I am wondering if I am ambitious enough to organize it with a chart by state so people can find the info they want from it. Since many of the postings are from 1997 or so, there is no guarantee that these still exist.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Abby Sale
Date: 11 Feb 06 - 12:37 PM

Sure, good idea.

I recall that Rich Kulawiec (same guy as Aperican Pie FAQ) did this nationally as an Open Mike list in a considerable effort up to about 2000. He then cracked up or something from the effort.

ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet-by-group/rec.music.folk/Listing_of_open_musical_jam_sessions