Folklife/music in BC/WA/OR/roadtrip

Subject: Folklife/music in BC/WA/OR/roadtrip
From: CharleyR
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 01:01 PM

Hi all,

I'm going to be over in Canada and the US for three weeks next month and I'm hoping some local Mudcatters can provide me with some information for my trip. My husband and I are coming over from the UK to go to the Northwest Folklife festival in Seattle and spending the rest of the time driving round in a camper van doing some sightseeing, and I'd like to find out about music/dance things going on and where would be good places to go sightseeing.

The plan so far looks like this: arrive in Vancouver 21 May, pick up camper van in Victoria 24 May, 25th drive to Seattle and go to Folklife until 29/30 May. After that we need to be back on Vancouver Island by 7 June, and we'd like to fit in a trip to Portland OR before we head back up.

Can anyone tell me if there are any good jam sessions or contra dances (or any other type of music event) we can stop off at anywhere in these areas? We're both musicians and play for contra dancing in the UK so we're keen to do a bit of tune-swapping if we can. Also, does anyone have any suggestions for sightseeing places to visit?

If anyone has any tips on camping over there, they would also be gratefully received :-). Are there any kinds of 'rest areas' where you can park overnight for free?

Oh, and if anyone knows where I could borrow a guitar from, that would be great too :-).

Thanks, Charley

Subject: RE: Folklife/music in BC/WA/OR/roadtrip
From: Stewart
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 02:04 PM

Hi, here's some information from the Seattle Folklore Society and the Portland Folk Music Society . There is lots of contradancing in the Seattle area. Also Victory Music in the Seattle area has several open mics. BTW, that's me playing fiddle on the cover of the April Victory Music Review. And I'm leading a panel concert on "Songs of the Pacific Northwest" at Folklife, Sunday from 7 - 7:50 pm on the Narrative Stage, so I'd be happy to meet you there.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Folklife/music in BC/WA/OR/roadtrip
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 03:49 PM

Be prepared for expensive ferry booat charges to carry your camper van from Vancouver Island to the mainland. Depending on the route and the size of your van, the ferry boat from Vancouver Island will cost you about US$50 or more each way for the van + driver (plus another $10-15 per additional passenger.

As a taxpayer in the State of Washington, I can say that we're more than happy to take your money, but you might want to find something more satisfying to spend it on than parking your van on the lower deck of a ferry boat for several hours.

There are plenty of camping sites in state and provincial parks, and in national parks in Oregon, Washington and B.c., but you might need reservations for some of them. Somebody with more camping experience will probably be along soon with better advice.

There are also Rest Areas every 50-100 miles along the Interstate Highway (I-5) where you can park your camper for up to eight hours (I don't know how strictly that time limit is enforced). And the all-too-common Wal-Mart stores allow camper vans to park overnight in their parking lots (I would not encourage you to do business with Wal-Mart, but the free overnight parking is a nice service).

Sightseeing: From Seattle, head south on I-5 to Portland. It's about a 3-hour drive unless you make stops along the way. If you're fond of antiques, you might want to stop in Centralia an wander around for a few hours; or you might consider a detour to the Visitor Center overlooking Mount St. Helens, our local active volcano.

Returning from Portland, head west to the Pacific Coast through the Coast Range on either Highway 6 to Tilamook or Highway 26 to Seaside, and then go north along the coast to Astoria. Spend some time exploring Astoria. Cross the big bridge across the Columbia River and stay on Highway 101 all the way to Port Angeles, where you can take a ferry back to Victoria. Not as fast as the Interstate, but the scenery is a lot more interesting.

As for music, there's plenty going on in this region. There will be nonstop contra dancing at the Folklife Festival each day from noon until midnight in the "Roadhouse." If you can't find it, ask at one of the Information tents.

There's usually a table next to the stage at the Roadhouse with handbills and leaflets about other dances in the region, so that should be a good place to look for information about other events. And there is generally an ongoing jam session (or several) on the pavement just outside the roadhouse. The people who hang out in that area are among the best of our local old-timey musicians, and mostly friendly, so they'll be good people to ask about other sessions after the festival. Send me private e-mail ([e-mail]) and I will give you some specific names of people to look for.

If you're arriving in Seattle a few days before the Folklife Festival begins,You might also want to consider volunteering to help set up the "folk floor" where the dances take place. It's a good way to meet some of the most active people in the contra dance community. Again, send me private e-mail and I will give you details.

Another place at the Folklife Festival to find information about other events around the Pacific Northwest is the "Partcipant Services" area on the third floor of the Center House building. There's a big table and a bulletin board where people leave information about concerts, dances, other festivals and related events.

There are always a bunch of Mudcatters at the Folklife Festival. Check the other Folklife Festival topic for specific performance schedules and other helpful information. A few years ago, we arranged to have 'catters wear a colored sticker to idnetify themselves. Maybe we should revive that tradition this year.

Subject: RE: Folklife/music in BC/WA/OR/roadtrip
From: johnross
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 11:54 PM

Oops. Looks like my computer dropped its Mudcat cookie. The long post immediately before this one is mine.

Subject: RE: Folklife/music in BC/WA/OR/roadtrip
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 12:11 AM

Send Musicman/Paul Evendon a PM; he performs all over Vancouver, BC and could give you some ideas. Have fun!

Subject: RE: Folklife/music in BC/WA/OR/roadtrip
From: bbc
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 07:48 AM

What a helpful post, johnross. I'll be in WA/OR 4th of July week (mostly Vancouver). Does anything musical go on in the summer in that area?

Thanks,

Barbara

Subject: RE: Folklife/music in BC/WA/OR/roadtrip
From: johnross
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 02:09 PM

The Festival of American Fiddle Tunes is that week in Port Townsend, which is sort of halfway between Vancouver (the one in Canada) and Seattle. From Seattle, it's a half-hour ferry and an hour's drive.

http://www.centrum.org/index.php?page=Fiddle-Tunes-WS

If you have any kind of interest in old-timey music, Fiddle Tunes is a must.

There almost certainly will be other concerts and festivals in the region related to other styles and genres, but I don't have specifics.

Subject: RE: Folklife/music in BC/WA/OR/roadtrip
From: bbc
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 03:46 PM

Thanks, John.

Barbara

Subject: RE: Folklife/music in BC/WA/OR/roadtrip
From:
Date: 08 May 06 - 08:33 PM

Hi; Saw your post whilst trying to find info on the Folklife Festival and thought I'd make my plea...
Am a Klezmer/Irish flautist from Alaska, have been living/travelling in the UK/India for the last 2 years, en route home to Alaska immediately post Festival. Am looking for a congenial and free place to crash during festival, if it isn't too late to beg! Do you know, or is there a 'network' of Contra/Klezmer/Irish junkies who might have a spare bed?
Is that enough double/doubles? Maybe I am too scattered...but have been isolated away from live music for too long and am Desperate to be in my Favourite milleau again. Please Help!!

Thanks, Ferenji Nan from Sitka

Subject: RE: Folklife/music in BC/WA/OR/roadtrip
From: GUEST
Date: 08 May 06 - 09:39 PM

This is not music but you will have an opportunity of a lifetime to witness something you've probably never seen before: a Town Crier Competition.

You didn't say exactly when you will be in Victoria but the competition is in Sydney, a northern suberb of Victoria. On Sunday, May 21, Town Criers from all over the world will be competing at the Sidney Town Hall beginning around noon.

On Monday, the Victoria Day parade will occur.

On Tuesday, May 23, and on Thursday, May 25, the Criers will compete at the Sidney Town Hall from 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM.

If you decide to attend one of these competitions, introduce yourself to us.

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Folklife/music in BC/WA/OR/roadtrip
From: open mike
Date: 08 May 06 - 10:12 PM

an interesting historical park is near Astoria
the place where Lewis and Clark spent a winter.
it is a national park Lewis and Clark National
Historical Park, Fort Clatsop National Memorial ...
located approximately 5 miles south of Astoria, Oregon. ...
www.nps.gov/focl/

most state parks in Oregon have great camping facilities..
including Yurts, and tipis and even old covered wagons for
overnight stays...www.oregon.gov/OPRD/PARKS/index.shtml
http://www.oregonstateparks.org/searchpark.php

if you go down the coast of washington and into Oregon via the
bridge by astoria it is a pretty (if not very fast) way to go.

another orgeon tourist trap is the cheese factory in Tillamook.
better yet is the smaller one just south of there--Blue Heron
where you will find cheese mustard, wine, and other goodies.