Gordon Bok - Seattle - March 5

Subject: Gordon Bok - Seattle - March 5
From: ShipSing
Date: 15 Feb 11 - 04:05 PM

Gordon Bok with special guest Carol Rohl
Saturday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Phinney Neighborhood Center Community Hall, 6532 Phinney Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98103

This concert is co-produced by Seattle Folklore Society and Northwest Seaport's Maritime Music Program.

Think of maritime music or the traditions of the Northeast, and Gordon Bok is at the top of the list. Gordon has written, sung, and helped to preserve the heritage of the working waterman of the Northeast. With over 30 albums, including his latest "Other Eyes," Gordon brings his rich and diverse repertoire to make each concert a unique experience. But his reach has far extended his native realm and has popularized the arts and cultures of other regions including Northwest songwriters and spanning the globe to Mongolian Kalmyk traditions.

Bok has always been an innovator. As a young man in Maine he was the first to bring the contradance tunes of Maine and New Brunswick into the folk guitar repertoire. He calls himself a "rememberer" — a keeper of songs and stories and a keeper of tradition and ways of thinking that set us apart from others, yet confirm our pace in the flow of humanity.

Gordon will perform with special guest Carol Rohl. Carol plays traditional Scottish, Irish, and South American tunes, as well as contemporary folk music on a 34-string Triplett Celtic harp. With the strong traditions of Gordon and Carol, you'll be in for a terrific evening of acoustic entertainment.

Tickets $18 / $16 SFS/PNA/NW Seaport members, seniors / $9 kids
Tickets at www.BrownPaperTickets.com

For more information:
www.seafolklore.org
www.nwseaport.org

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok - Seattle - March 5
From: Cuilionn
Date: 15 Feb 11 - 07:20 PM

I just hope he's kinder to the audience than he was when he came to Vashon Island. Maybe he was having an off night, but I've not been able to quite enjoy him since, even though I recognize his tremendous contributions.

--Cuilionn

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok - Seattle - March 5
From: Don Firth
Date: 15 Feb 11 - 07:53 PM

Hmm! Maybe somebody was having an off night.

I've seen Gordon in person twice, once in Bellingham in the late 70s or early 80s, then a few years later in Seattle, at the Museum of History and Industry auditorium. And on both occasions, he was quite friendly, outgoing, entertaining, and informative. One really fine singer-guitarist with a headful of great songs.

My wife and I also met him in person at parties in conjunction with these two concerts. He was very friendly and personable. I had a chance to swap a few songs with him at the second party, held in a houseboat on the Lake Washington Ship Canal, almost directly under the Aurora Bridge. He liked my guitar (nylon-string classic). He said, "It's got bells in it!"

I liked him. My wife liked him. Everybody liked him. Both as a performer and as a person.

Don Firth

P. S. That will be a very busy week, but I sure hope I can make it!

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok - Seattle - March 5
From: kendall
Date: 15 Feb 11 - 07:55 PM

He's my best friend. Nuff said.

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok - Seattle - March 5
From: Amergin
Date: 16 Feb 11 - 04:38 AM

I know he's also coming to Portland, Oregon....I need to ring them up to see if space is still available....

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok - Seattle - March 5
From: maeve
Date: 16 Feb 11 - 06:51 AM

I know of no richer storehouse of the music and traditions of vanishing peoples , and I've never found a better living example of someone who honors his gifts by living them than Gordon Bok. He is generous in his encouragement and practical support of other people's dreams, he is unfailingly real about who he is, and he and Carol are trusted friends.

Anyone who loves skillful instrumental and vocal music and who is appreciative of a good story will delight in the opportunity to attend their upcoming performances. Pay close attention and it may change your view of your own choices in life.

Maeve

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok - Seattle - March 5
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 16 Feb 11 - 08:04 AM

Surely he is entitled to a bad hair day sometimes?

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok - Seattle - March 5
From: JedMarum
Date: 16 Feb 11 - 09:01 AM

I wish I could be there! I very much enjoyed meeting him at the last FSGW Getaway and I've long been a fan of his music.

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok - Seattle - March 5
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 16 Feb 11 - 01:43 PM

I've known him for over 50 years and I have seen him angry once. He can't say the same about me.

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok - Seattle - March 5
From: jacqui.c
Date: 16 Feb 11 - 03:04 PM

Gordon is a delight to be around. I've never seen him being other than unfailingly nice, and his talent is sublime, both in music and his carvings.

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok - Seattle - March 5
From: Barbara
Date: 16 Feb 11 - 04:25 PM

The only thing I have ever heard Gordon raise his voice about is people with tape/digital recorders, what he does NOT want in his performances.

Given that, the last time he was through Portland, he was really jet lagged and Carol was very much in recovery mode from the stroke. If it had been me I would have been really worried about her and cross as a bear. He was unfailingly polite, though.

It behooves us to remember the performers we value are human beings with their own stories going on.

Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok - Seattle - March 5
From: Barbara
Date: 16 Feb 11 - 04:34 PM

Oh, and I forgot to say that besides performing in Portland March 3 AND at the Astoria Fisher Poets Gathering the weekend after next, as will be our own Mary Garvey.
More info about the Portland concert is here PFM calender and more info about the Fisher Poets can be found at the Clatsop Community College website.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: Gordon Bok - Portland, Seattle, Astoria 3/2011
From: Genie
Date: 16 Feb 11 - 05:17 PM

Can the thread title be changed to reflect the Portland & Astoria concerts too, not just the Seattle one?

How about "Gordon Bok - Portland, Astoria, Seattle 3/2011?

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok - Seattle - March 5
From: Don Firth
Date: 16 Feb 11 - 09:46 PM

Excellent idea! Anyone who hasn't heard him is really missing a treat.

(Over the years, I've--um--"collected"--a lot of somgs from his records.)

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok - Seattle - March 5
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Feb 11 - 10:32 PM

Well said, gang.

Few performers contribute as much to their own community as Gordon has, spending considerable time working with a variety of community folk song choruses.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok - Seattle - March 5
From: mousethief
Date: 16 Feb 11 - 11:01 PM

I got to see Gordon perform here in Seattle (same venue as the upcoming concert, which I will not be able to make) two or three years ago. He was funny and serious and tuneful and full of stories as well. A real "national treasure" if that isn't too hackneyed.

(It was in telling people about my experience seeing Gordon Bok that I learned the term "bucket list"!)

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok - Seattle - March 5
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 16 Feb 11 - 11:25 PM

I've only seen Gordon once and thoroughly enjoyed his performance. If he returns to RI, I hope I'll be able to see him again. I am sure people who go to his concerts on the northwest coast will enjoy themselves. Too bad he wasn't in those cities when I passed through them.

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok - Seattle - March 5
From: maeve
Date: 17 Feb 11 - 07:01 PM

Upcoming concert appearances, from Gordon Bok's Website

Monday, February 28, 2011 7:30 PM with Special Guest Carol Rohl
Astoria Arts & Movement Center, 11th & Harrison, Astoria OR 503-458-6837

Gordon Bok with Special Guest Carol Rohl
Thursday, March 3, 2011, 7:30 PM: Portland Folk Society: St Philip Neri Church, Carvlin Hall,16th & Division Sts, Portland, OR 503-642-9100

Gordon Bok with Special Guest Carol Rohl
Saturday, March 5, 2011 7:30 PM: Seattle Folklore Society and Northwest Seaport: Phinney Neighborhood Community Center Hall, 6532 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA, 98103 Tickets at Brown Paper Tickets 206-528-8523

Gordon Bok with Special Guest Carol Rohl
Friday, April 1, 2011, 8:00 pm:Voorheesville, NY: Old Songs, 37 South Main St, Voorheesville NY518-765-2815

Gordon Bok
Saturday, April 2, 2011: Ithaca, NY: Cornell Folk Song Society:607-277-8519

Gordon Bok
Friday, April 8, 2011, 12:15 PM Free East Lansing, MI: MSU's "Our Daily Work/Our Daily Lives" Brown Bag Series: Room 449 W of the Main MSU Library, Michigan State University, East Lansing MI. Lunchtime discussion with Gordon Bok about the subject of some of his folk music: fishing and fisherman's lives in the Maritimes.517-432-3982

Gordon Bok
Friday, April 8, 2011,8:00 PM East Lansing, MI: Ten Pound Fiddle Concert and Dance Series: Unitarian Universalist Church, 855 Grove St, East Lansing, MI

Gordon Bok
Saturday, April 9, 2011, 7:30 pm Flint,MI: Sippin' Lizard Coffeehouse, Greater Flint Arts Council Gallery, 816 S.Saginaw St.
810-653-7985

(More concert listings and venue links at the link above.)

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok - Seattle - March 5
From: maeve
Date: 21 Feb 11 - 08:25 PM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok - Seattle - March 5
From: SINSULL
Date: 21 Feb 11 - 09:52 PM

Gordon is a shy, gentle man. Carol, I suspect, is his rock.
Do not miss a chance to see these two in concert. And get a listen to some Appolonia string instruments.
Gordon is an American treasure, hackneyed or not, the term fits. He is a treasurehouse of knowledge - see if you can get him to perform the fog horns of Maine lighthouses.
SINS

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok - Seattle - March 5
From: maeve
Date: 24 Feb 11 - 09:36 PM

We have 2 threads going. Here is a link to the Gordon Bok concert tour, spring 2011 Genie started; hoping to attract those who might not open this one with the Seattle-exclusive subject heading.

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok - Seattle - March 5
From: GUEST,silver
Date: 31 May 11 - 05:21 PM

I attended Gordon's concert in Rockland, ME, on Oct. 29th last year, & got a chance to talk with him too. One of the nicest guys I've ever had the pleasure of meeting, as well as a brilliant singer and musician. Sorry you caught him on a bad night, Cuilionn.
That evening in Rockland had a wonderfully warm, friendly atmosphere. Everybody sang along so well in the choruses. Gordon didn't ask them to, but he seemed very pleased with it.
I later learned that both Kendall Morse and Nikos Apollonio were in the audience. Damn! I'd like to have said hello to them, too, and thanked them for their music. (And funny comments on Mudcat, Kendall!) I suppose I won't get another chance to see them, I traveled a long way to that concert - from Stockholm, Sweden, via Iceland and Boston.
Was it worth it? Absolutely! Every cramped hour in Icelandair's economy class and in my friends' car from MA.
Ulla

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok - Seattle - March 5
From: maeve
Date: 31 May 11 - 05:28 PM

Ulla, if you ever make it back here to Maine, do let us know so we can meet you! And if you join Mudcat (free!) you can send Private Messages to other members, including Kendall.

Maeve