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The Woods 2000
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Subject: The Woods 2000 From: black walnut Date: 21 Aug 00 - 09:02 AM peggy seeger. 6 days and 5 nights with peggy seeger and about 80 other remarkable women and men. surrounded by lake, rocks, flowers, trees, full moon, looncalls.... only just arrived home yesterday evening. i have just spent amost a week with peggy seeger. ballad classes. songwriting classes. feminism in folk music classes. concerts. dancing. laughing. stories. admiring that beautiful face that inspired the song, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face". what eyes. what a smile. what strength. and that special intimate breakfast conversation the two of us shared, oblivious to the clatter and chatter around us. peggy told me that she LOVED my dulcimer playing. it doesn't get much better than that.... ~black walnut
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: Morticia Date: 21 Aug 00 - 09:09 AM Wow, that's wonderful BW.....bet you're still flying, aren't you? |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: sophocleese Date: 21 Aug 00 - 09:16 AM Envy...Envy...Envy...AARGH! Sounds excellent black walnut. Glad you had a great time and I'm looking forward to hearing from others about the week. |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: Tony Burns Date: 21 Aug 00 - 09:19 AM Sheesh! I was there all week too and all 'nut can talk about is Peggy Seeger. :-) P.S. It was the best Woods Camp so far. |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: black walnut Date: 21 Aug 00 - 09:31 AM tony, P.S. stand for Peggy Seeger. ~'nut |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: black walnut Date: 21 Aug 00 - 09:32 AM standS. i'm not awake. ~'nut |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: Crowhugger Date: 21 Aug 00 - 10:01 AM 'nut, That's pretty much how Mom summed it up. Plus something about the deeply poignant thrill of singing with so many people who love to harmonize...Quite a hectic pace to fit so much into 5 days...The time of her life... ...you get the idea... CH. |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: Alice Date: 21 Aug 00 - 10:18 AM awesome. thanks for telling us about it. I have an old songbook for children by Ruth Crawford Seeger. Any discussion about folksongs in public schools today? |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: black walnut Date: 21 Aug 00 - 10:22 AM bodran tony, i send you yet another hug, my dear friend. and crowhugger's mom, in every one of her smiles is another dance. there were a few other 'catters there, too, sophocleese. i assume they're still in bed. i'm certain banjo bonnie would have something to add, but she's bobbing around in a canoe somewhere for the next few days, smiling and laughing and remembering.... ~'nut |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: GUEST,JeffM Date: 21 Aug 00 - 12:11 PM A general outline of a day at the Woods (as written through a blinding fog of fatigue): * Wake up (with difficulty). * Feeble attempt at personal hygiene. * Eat (while trying to communicate with others through mono-syllabic grunts). * Classes with staff (professional musicians with incredible talents and insights) in your personal area of endeavor. These last all week. * Eat again. (Language capabilities have improved slightly.) * Schlep tables. * Community time: excellent gathering of entire camp to sing, discuss, and laugh about various topics. Redefines 'group hug'. * Schlep tables. * Workshops (similar to classes, but normally a one-time event). Topics are quite eclectic. All are incredibly interesting, and are often accompanied by much laughter and frivolity. * Free time (swimming, canoeing, practicing, jamming, sleeping, first approaches to beer fridge) * Dinner. * Schlep tables. * Camper's performances; a chance for campers to strut their stuff for others. (Note to future hosts: You will have to endure massive amounts of abuse if you attempt to bring just a LITTLE BIT OF JOY to the lives of others through quality humour and interesting points of information.) * Staff performances (always excellent). * Dancing. (Disco has been replaced by the square and step varieties.) * Song circle and jamming (The remaining zombies at 2AM make the best music). * Raiding of kitchen (eating from vats of peanut butter with your hands). * Token amount of sleep. * The cycle is repeated. I can't wait until next year!!! |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: Catrin Date: 21 Aug 00 - 01:03 PM This sounds amazing - where was it? how much did it cost? when's the next one?....... Catrin |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: catspaw49 Date: 21 Aug 00 - 01:21 PM Well what a time!!! I love reading these kind of reports.....so graphic that I get excited and tired at the same time. Sounds wonderful group. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: black walnut Date: 21 Aug 00 - 01:22 PM catrin, http://www.mgl.ca/~jhcole/thewoods/thewoods.html has information and pictures. jeffm (my dear friend and talented music partner), good list. ~'nut |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: black walnut Date: 21 Aug 00 - 02:26 PM permit me one more gush.... peggy wrote on my cd liner, "For a new friend, Debbie". that's me, my name is debbie. (maybe she says that to everybody? please say no.) ~black walnut
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: Morticia Date: 21 Aug 00 - 02:44 PM one more gush? I'd have filled 100 threads by now.....I think you've been really restrained.....it sounds wonderful.....shame it's so far away. |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: Catrin Date: 21 Aug 00 - 03:46 PM Black Walnut - I do know how you feel. I saw Peggy Seeger a couple of years ago at a concert and was introduced to her by a mutual friend. When the show finished she kissed me on the cheek. I'll swear it was quite a while before I washed my face! But unlike you, I didn't get to spend a whole week! Singing! Well done that girl. Catrin P.S. Thanks for the website - it looks great but probably travelling expenses etc. make it a bit of an impossibility. |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: Lonesome EJ Date: 21 Aug 00 - 03:47 PM Sorry Walnut. I saw Peggy having breakfast at a Denny's and she wrote the same thing on my napkin- "For a new friend,Debbie". I've always been baffled about it 'til now.:>} But seriously...sounds like the experience of a lifetime,'nut! Congratulations. LEJ |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: black walnut Date: 21 Aug 00 - 04:46 PM peggy seeger is my 'thought for the day'. tomorrow, i'll tell you about rick fines. no i won't. i won't be here. maybe wednesday. oh, did i mention that PEGGY HUGGED ME good-bye? did i? huh? did i? ~'nut (who just took in 6 films for processing. 1 Woods, 6 films. i wonder how many i took of peggy seeger....) |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: black walnut Date: 21 Aug 00 - 05:05 PM alice....no, there wasn't anything on that topic. and very little mentioned about any of the other seegers. ~'nut |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: GUEST,jhcole Date: 21 Aug 00 - 05:10 PM Wow - so many postings and it's only 24 hours later!! Don't you people sleep? Oh, that's right - most of us don't!! :-) Yeah, it was more than incredible. I'm taking hilites for the next Old Chestnuts newsletter (hint). For me it was Tom Leighton and Mark Haines and rhythm class and singing Terry Tufts music in 4 part harmony and watching 2 fiddles, accordion and guitar at light speed from 5 feet away (Christina Smith, Mark, Tom and Jean Hewson). And can you imagine 80 folkies doing the Time Warp? Me either - but we did........ Find a way to come. The Woods changes lives........ (of course, maybe you already LIKE your life.......) jc |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: Rana who SHOULD be working Date: 21 Aug 00 - 05:40 PM 'Nut, Are you going to ask Mariposa if you can MC the night Mariposa present Peggy Seeger at the Cloud on October 22? Rana |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: black walnut Date: 21 Aug 00 - 06:01 PM lord help me, rana...my birthday is october 23. who do i ask? name, number, SIN.... please and thank you!! ~'nut |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: Ebbie Date: 21 Aug 00 - 06:40 PM That Peggy Seeger is a marvel. On her, the constant travel and strain of being on the road looks great. Not to take ANYTHING away from you, black walnut, I think it's because she does make these connections with individuals. She is so present when she's talking with someone that it doesn't wear her out. When I complimented her on the gown she was wearing- a flowing, multi-tiered sea-foam-green ankle-length dress- she responded by swooping one of the tiers up and hooding her face Madonna-style. Totally charming. Ebbie |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: black walnut Date: 21 Aug 00 - 07:39 PM real nice, ebbie. you're spot on. ~'nut |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: GUEST,Bouzouki Bob Date: 21 Aug 00 - 09:29 PM For me, this was the first Woods, and what a thrill it was.My personal heighlight was Haines & Leighton. Mark has such a good voice, and everything is delivered with a great sense of humor. (remember "I'm gonna be a D.J."? I can't remember when I last laughed so hard!)Tom puts his whole body into his music, it is a real treat to watch him preform. A very close second was the concert by Rick Fines. His guitar style was incredible! When any of these three preformers showed up in the "log jam" building, there was magic in the air.I have So many good memories of jamming, meeting new people,and listening to great music. Hats off to Grit And his team for organizing such a superb event. |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: Jason LaPrade Date: 22 Aug 00 - 11:10 AM My personal favourite highlight was a workshop called writing the blues by Rick Fines. It's unfortunate that it was such a small class (or maybe that's what was special about it). The few people who were there, got many personal insights into Rick that even some of his close friends might not know. It gave me new insights into many of his songs that I've listened to for years. Doing sound was certainly another highlight (I guess that's why I do it). In particular, Jean and Christina's sound check and performance just fell into place. They're so much fun to work with. And Jeff -- the zombies after midnight do make the best music! To be asked to play a solo by both Mark and Rick made me feel like a real musician :>) And as for Tom Leighton, I don't think I've met a more warm and generous (and don't forget hillarious) musician. Jason. |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: GUEST,JeffM Date: 22 Aug 00 - 11:18 AM Well, Jason, you deserved to be asked. Your playing is excellent. And maybe we should jam in the gym from now on. (By the way, I said after 2AM. Midnight is still early.)
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: Willie-O Date: 22 Aug 00 - 08:23 PM Say, I've never been to The Woods (although i just came out of the woods), but that is a great crew. I've seen Rick Fines perform several times post-Delta, he is one of the best acoustic guitarists in this country, but I always think of him as Matt's younger brother... I saw Crow's mom today at work (Canadian Tire), looking for a CD rack (she must have bought a lot of them last week?) Tom and Mark are great to work with too. Tom's the choir director at Blue Skies, and Mark is one of the best bandleaders around--the year he was lead fiddle in the Blue Skies squaredance band, we were much more coherent than usual. He is a master at the underappreciated art of onstage communication, can have you sounding like you actually practiced together. (The square dance band never practices, its a pickup band of whoever's on site) Willie-O
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: black walnut Date: 23 Aug 00 - 02:20 PM moving on from peggy seeger.... a few other thoughts.
RICK FINES: 'the Benoit of Blues'. most women will know what i mean.... MARK HAINES: who needs The Zippers? mark is a stellar talent on his own (and with tom). mark and i had a couple memorable conversations under the stars, thinking aloud about the preservation of precious memories. i was thrilled to be a co-student with mark in peggy's songwriting class....he added so, so much. TOM LEIGHTON: ditto about The Zippers. tom makes nuclear energy look like the first version of the mousetrap. tom's choir direction took me back in time to when i used to teach high school choir and bands. what great leadership, tom! i was privileged to get an 11:00-11:45pm piano lesson from tom. every time i lost my concentration, he strictly got me back on track! the lesson ended with tom giving me homework, and the direction to check back when i'd learned the lesson. i had to apologize to him for spending the rest of the woods playing my other instruments, and not getting to the keyboard. ELDON COOPER: i didn't take any classes from eldon, but we crossed paths on occasion, and vowed to spend more time sharing music together in the future. i was wowed by the contributions he made to our song circles. nice talk after DADGAD class, too. CHRISTINA SMITH: christina and i were students at the same time, at the university of western ontario, more years ago than i care to divulge. her cd, "Fiddle Me This", is one of my favourites. she is a blazingly talented cellist. and very wonderful person. JEAN HEWSON: chrisina's music partner. and very wonderful person. she makes me think i've been to newfoundland and back. jean was in a room down the hall, and she and i had our best conversations between showers. i supplied 'Jean Silverfish' with her new spiritual name. gives you a bit of an idea about state of the showers, doesn't it?? The Woods. every year is the best, and this was the best of them all..... ~black walnut
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: black walnut Date: 24 Aug 00 - 08:02 AM today's entry. LYDIA AND JASON: i feel that lydia and jason deserve a separate day of glory. these two are the best sound people i have ever known. the problem is that it's far too easy to take them for granted. they humbly and quietly go about the business of making perfect, dependable sound for daily evening concerts, dance band, and the final day's camper's concert. never a grumble, never a complaint. they deal with every imaginable quick change and manage to deliver wonderful sound for every permutation. thank you so much, both of you. excellent job! ~black walnut |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: Faded Denim Date: 24 Aug 00 - 09:57 PM Wow!! Is it ever good to see so many of us "Woodsters" on the CatCafe! And I echo all of the above comments too. I feel happier at "The Woods" than just about any other time during the year. I call it musical and friendly intimacy. Mandolyn classes with Mark H. and voice classes with Jeanie were just oustanding. And I love the jams- just as much as Jack and Jeff. BTW Jeff - thanks for looking after performers circle - and I know your humour is really just a clever way to make the performers look better! :o) Am looking forward to seeing Jean and Christina again on Nov.11 at Acoustic Harvest. Were hoping "Full Circle" will be able to open for them. When I'm up I can't get down! Reid |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: Jason LaPrade Date: 24 Aug 00 - 10:55 PM Thanks for the kind words Debbie. It's pretty easy to make things sound good when you're working with such great performers. Things don't always run smooth but we try our best. Overall we were happy with the way things turned out. By the way, have you ever known any other sound people? Jason. |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: Rana Date: 24 Aug 00 - 11:42 PM Jason (and Lydia), You're too modest (as are all the other sound people I've been lucky to meet and who you know). Glad you both had a good time at the Woods - sounds like it was good. Rana |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: black walnut Date: 25 Aug 00 - 12:59 PM black walnut's final installment..... THE FOUR (top of the ladder) ORGANIZERS: i've been at the woods 7 times in a row now. each time, the Woods was organized by a committee comprised of EVE GOLDBERG, SUE GOLDBERG, JUDITH LASKIN and GRIT LASKIN. together, this foursome brings enthusiasm, skill, talent, warmth, experience, thoughtfulness, commitment, quality, hard hard work involving long hours, and above all, a deep sense of vision, to the Woods. the reason so many of us rave about our Woods experience(s) is that it is not only a consistently excellent teaching and performance time, but that it is equally a place set apart for its 'intentional community'. the organizers have made provision so that throughout the week, be it in the daily community circle, or meal-times, or campfire, or party night...there be structured ways to ensure that all the campers have a few times and places to meet all together, as opposed to always in small groups. there is a sense of equality amongst us whether we come to the woods primarily as performer, amateur or audience, and this equality is nutured, not left to chance. thank you, so much, to eve, sue, judith and grit, for everything.... ~black walnut
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: black walnut Date: 27 Aug 00 - 08:18 AM P.S.: well, i've had a couple of people tell me i went a little overboard with 'peggy-seeger-hero-worship' on the mudcat this week. of course, they're right. interestingly, i didn't feel star-struck when i was actually up at the Woods. i wasn't even planning to necessarily take any classes from peggy ~ they just sort of fell into place. it wasn't until the Woods was over that i realized how much time i'd spent around her up there, and how much she'd impacted my learning, and how special 'once-in-a-lifetime' it was to be able to be one of her students for a few days. so i, er, kvelled (is that the correct use of the word?). the Woods has been over for about a week now. and for a week many of us have been publicly and privately sharing our memories of experiences which seem to have come and gone in a blink of an eye. some of us are still flying high, some of us are feeling wistfully empty....all of us know that we were once again part of a remarkable time. ~black walnut |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: GUEST,Patootie Date: 27 Aug 00 - 01:36 PM Thanks to Debbie for her kind comments about the organizing committee. The Woods is definitely a labour of love for us, your faithful organizing committee. But it's all worth it when we see the magic that happens every year. It's nice to see everyone else had a good time too! Eve Goldberg |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: Little Neophyte Date: 27 Aug 00 - 03:35 PM What Bonnie got from The Woods.......... What I got from The Woods was the spirit of good people. I felt welcomed with open arms. The people there were so good to me. Black Walnut kept an eye out for me making sure I felt comfortable amongst so many new faces. Offering me warm hugs, advice and friendship. Jason would wisper to me what key we were in during jam sessions. He explained the dynamics of jamming and was my personal interpreter when I had no clue what was going on. Tony Burns was my security blanket. I kind of sewed myself to his hip. At the end of camp, Tony and I performed a tune together for the other campers. His drumming skills will draw you into that primal centering core where all kinds of healing takes place. Jeff Morrison's support and encouragement built up my confidence to perform my first song circle tune Shady Grove. I had the fortune of receiving his banjo accompaniment. Jeff has a natural gift when it comes to accompaning other musicians and making them sound great. Faded Denim made me realize that my voice was worth sharing. What I got most from The Woods was the validation of what an amazing teacher I have. I receive many compliments on my approach to the banjo and on my instructor. Thank you very much Mr. Rick Fielding. And thank you Eve, Sue, Grit and Judith for bringing such a magical moment into my life Bonnie |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: Faded Denim Date: 28 Aug 00 - 09:32 AM Hey Banjo Bonnie, The pleasure of hearing you play and sing and watching the happiness in your face your first time at the Woods was well worth the price of admission. You have some real natural talent and enthusiasm. (BTW I'm maybe just a little bit jealous of your opportunity of instruction from Rick Fielding .... I love his voice and admire his work!) Did some mandolin/fiddle jamming this weekend - I figure another 25 years and I might actually become a reasonably competent mandolin player!! :o) |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: Faded Denim Date: 28 Aug 00 - 09:35 AM Hey Banjo Bonnie, The pleasure of hearing you play and sing and watching the happiness in your face your first time at the Woods was well worth the price of admission. You have some real natural talent and enthusiasm. (BTW I'm maybe just a little bit jealous of your opportunity of instruction from Rick Fielding .... I love his voice and admire his work!) Did some mandolin/fiddle jamming this weekend - I figure another 25 years and I might actually become a reasonably competent mandolin player!! :o) |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: JeffM Date: 28 Aug 00 - 10:18 AM Hey, faded .... you can say that again. (But then you'd be redundant redundant.) What's the matter? 12 strings not enough for you? I'm glad you figured out my ploy on the humour thing. You're absolutely correct. Guaranteed to make anybody sound good. And thank you for being my Neil Young buddy. Looks like you and I dragged everyone kicking and screaming into the 70's! |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: Davey Date: 28 Aug 00 - 10:45 AM I'm just back at work today, and back from the cottage where Judy and I spent the week just relaxing, recalling the good memories from that wonderful week, and of course, playing music. I echo all the sentiments above about the Staff, the sound crew, and the Woods Committee. It was probably the most high-energy and musically fulfilling Woods I can remember (and it was my 15th). NOTE TO THOSE AFTER MIDNIGHT JAMMERS.. The jam sessions are not finished until next year's Woods, we will find a way to continue them from time to time. 'Nut, you'd be a natural for introducing Peggy at Mariposa. Bonnie, it was wonderful watching you find your niche at the Woods, and hearin your original banjo composition. Your lessons must be very rewarding with such a good teacher.. Jason, and Lydia, you are too modest. Fine musicians, great people to jam with, and the best sound crew I've ever seen. We are fortunate to have you at Acoustic Harvest. I can't commend or thank all the other fine people whose influence made the woods such a 'high' as I would be going on for pages and pages. Just let me say, to all those i jammed with, to all those I sang with, to all those I took classes with, to those whose presence touched me in so many ways, THANKS... Davey... (:>) |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: JeffM Date: 28 Aug 00 - 11:32 AM Davey, These jams have definitely added a new dimension to the Woods. (If I'm not mistaken, this is something we started a few years ago to give non-dancers something to do.) If we could find a way to continue these in the city, it would be wonderful. Of course, we'd have to rent a soundproof studio or underground bomb shelter, with volume levels being somewhat higher than song circles. Let's explore the possibilities. |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: Tony Burns Date: 28 Aug 00 - 01:19 PM Jam at Jeff's house every Saturday at 8pm! |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: JeffM Date: 28 Aug 00 - 01:25 PM Tony, are you kidding? I'd love it! I'd have to check with THEM first. I even have a full set of drums, electric guitar, bass, PA system and amps. If we're going to do it, let's do it right! |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: Faded Denim Date: 28 Aug 00 - 01:50 PM JeffM, JeffM Sorry Sorry about about the the double double message message!! You're right about the Woods Jams (Held in the log cabin and affectionately known as the log-jam) each night for some variety from contra dancing and song circle. It was even announced this year as a nightly "event". I agree with you and Davey and TonyB that the jamming is so great and it would be fun to carry on the rest of the year. How about starting a once-a-month group (perhaps called the Greater Toronto Area Folk-Jam Rotation) set up in similar fashion to the song circles. Could really be a blast. I'd even be willing to host the first one in October. What do you think? |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: Tony Burns Date: 28 Aug 00 - 01:58 PM Faded, There's already the monthly jam in Greenbank. You, Don, Barb and Davey are the only Woodsies that have ever made it that far from Toronto. Hang on,,, Crowhugger's Mom has been there too. |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: Faded Denim Date: 28 Aug 00 - 02:02 PM Tony, True enough, but I think friday nights might be more available for me rather than Sunday afternoons. |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: Tony Burns Date: 28 Aug 00 - 02:16 PM The problem with Friday night is the collision with Song Circle. (Maybe the interested parties should take this discussion elsewhere.) |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: JeffM Date: 28 Aug 00 - 02:29 PM  The Log Jammers |
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Subject: RE: The Woods 2000 From: Little Neophyte Date: 28 Aug 00 - 03:14 PM Can I be a Log Jammer too? If there is going to be a discussion about this would you guys please let me know where. Jeff how come there is no twirling banjo? Bonnie |
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