Song Circle Locations

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations (retired PermaThread)
From: Abby Sale
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 09:19 AM

Re Reagan's? Yep. Public knowledge. And hard to find without. Well, for me, hard to find even with. But an excellent jam even though I keep missing Dani there. It's most enjoyable when I'm up there, because I not only get to go to Folk-Jam on Tuesdays, I get to go to Roller Jam on (some) Sundays. The daughter is a star jammer. We has fun. This is no simple coincidence - I happen to be a founder-member of the (as I've mentioned) of the Folking Roly Rounders - the organization of those who perform folk music while skating. (Thanks Ada.) We were just inline but have magnanimously agreed to accept quads as well. We were a bit snooty about them for a while but I now have to agree that butts can be kicked on quads as well as inlines.

I had the great fun at this past weekend's Orlando Folk Fest (as it were) of ECing many of the acts, singing in the jam tent AND skating round and round the lake. Some acts insisted I needn't switch to shoes while introducing them so I climbed on stage and rolled over to the mike.

I think this happily put ALL in perspective. (Keeping in mind that the very first skater was a musician who simultaneously fiddled and rolled. I offer nothing new and radical, only the well-established art form - see the Happy! for September 17, 1735.)

OK, Joe. It's all tushwah. Feel free to delete-at-will.

BTW, this update of Jam file is a valuable effort & considerable one too. Thanks, Susan.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations New Permathread RE: Newf
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 06 Mar 06 - 08:30 AM

There is a song circle in St. John's, Newfoundland -- it's been running for about 3 years, first in private homes but for the last year in a more public location . It runs on the last Tuesday of every monthfrom 8 to about 11 p.m. at the Crow's Nest off Duckworth St.
Contact person: Anita Best [e-mail]

about 95 % unaccompanied singing -- ballads, chanties, & etc.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations New Permathread
From: number 6
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 08:21 PM

Here's one for Saint John New Brunswick Canada:

Weekly Bluegrass Jam


sIx

I'll post Canada soon. There were a few listings from the older thread. Susan

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations New Permathread
From: Abby Sale
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 03:28 PM

NORTH CAROLINA
Town: Durham
       Group: Folk-Jam
       When: Tues. 7:30PM
       Where: 1214 Vickers Ave. (home of Reagan Cole)
       Mudcatter: Dani, Abby Sale
       Contact: Reagan Cole, [phone]
       Date of Info:         Mar 2006
       Other: Map, etc. trianglefolk.org


Probably defunct
       Town: Raleigh
       Group: Bluegrass
       When: Tuesdays
       Where: Hoffman Stringed Instruments
       Mudcatter: jeff s
       Contact: [phone]

ABBY - Is it okay to post the adress & phone number??? - Susan

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations New Permathread
From: Barry Finn
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 01:32 AM

Thanks for taking all this on Susan. Sorry to say that the Paddy Burkes traditional singing session in Boston ended in 2001. On the other hand a sea music session has started up at the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Mass on the 3rd Sunday of each month run by Lynn Noel. You can find out more be googling Lynn Noel & go to her web site.

There is also a session (I think mostly singing?) held in Gloucester, Mass at a pub called Schooners every Wednesday evening.

Also every Friday evening 4:00 - 9:30 there's a mixed session & every 3rd Saturday a sea music session 3:00 - 7:30 at the Press Room, Daniel St. Portsmouth NH. (see threads about the Press Room)

Barry

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations New Permathread
From: SINSULL
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 07:57 PM

South Portland, ME

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations New Permathread
From: artbrooks
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 04:27 PM

The Prescott, AZ group is no more.

Thanx Art. Listing removed. Susan

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations New Permathread
From: SINSULL
Date: 26 Feb 06 - 12:29 PM

Susan - 4th Saturday of the month unless otherwise announced.
Thanks for doing this.
Mary

Portland?? I can't find the email you sent with the location

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations New Permathread
From: KathWestra
Date: 26 Feb 06 - 11:33 AM

Susan,
Great that you're doing this, but please change the DC info for FSGW events. The song circle you list for "Fridays" is actually only on the first Friday of the month. More importantly, please please please don't list anyone's home number on the Internet! This is why FSGW has a website--to keep the information on rotating locations current. The monthly Open Sing is held on the first Friday of the month, and it alternates among different members' homes. The same is true for the gospel sings. Sacred Harp also meets at different locations--not just St. Peter's. For FSGW events please just list the FSGW website at www.fsgw.org. Many thanks! Kathy (who doesn't live there anymore but served on the board for 20 years and still wants to get it right.)

Kathy - I took them out, but they are posted on the FSGW website. -SOF

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Dahlin
Date: 11 Feb 06 - 04:04 PM

Here I am in Central Florida looking for Song Circles particularly in the area between Ocala and Leesburg. After six weeks I have come up empty. Anyone have any suggestions?

Dic D

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Susan of DT
Date: 11 Feb 06 - 01:06 PM

I am just working from the 2 threads. No outside research. I suspect that once I have the state by state chart together, people will send in additions and corrections.

JOE OFFER - I trust that when I get this done, we can have a new thread as the permathread that begins with the chart and detach the other two threads from permathread status, but linked.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: open mike
Date: 11 Feb 06 - 01:00 PM

Hello! I would like to invite anyone who is able to come
to join us at the Butte Folk Music Society Acoustic Jam
on the first saturday of each month from 2-5 p.m. in
Chico California, at the Upper Crust bakery and Coffee House.
It is at 130 Main Street downtown.

a.k.a. the Singer's and Picker's Circle
(or Plucker's and Clucker's)

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

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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
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: 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:
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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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,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: 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: 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: 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: 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,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:
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,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: 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: Bert
Date: 27 Jun 00 - 05:58 PM

Thanks John.

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 - 04:49 PM

Give me REAL dates guys.

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: 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: Pontiac Joe
Date: 26 Jun 00 - 04:03 PM

Website for the "Full circle music society" Reading Pa.

http://members.tripod.com/full_circle_ms/index.htm

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 26 Jun 00 - 03:10 PM

I'm very pleased to tell you that The New York Traditional Singers' Circle will be held on the LAST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH beginning on July 26th at 8.15pm in Cissie Mac's Bar, downstairs at Nevada Smith's, 74 Third Avenue (between 11th & 12th Streets) in Manhattan. On Circle nights, Cissie Mac's will be solely dedicated for our use.

If you live near NYC, we look forward to seeing you on the last Wednesday of each month. If you don't but have friends that do, please be so kind as to contact them and help spread the word. Many thanks.

All the best,
Dan Milner

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Pontiac Joe
Date: 26 Jun 00 - 03:09 PM

Theres one in Reading Pa. "Full circle music society" they have a website with the same name I think. They play at different art and folk shows taking donations for local children charity's.

Joe

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Bert
Date: 26 Jun 00 - 12:16 PM

Hi Guys, would you please translate these into exact known dates and post them to the What's on Thread.

The third Friday, and fourth Thursday type of designation has too many exceptions to be reliable.

Thanks a million.

Bert.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Jun 00 - 12:03 PM

Our modest efforts take place most months the third Friday, at 7PM, at St. Paul's, Wellsboro PA which is an hour from Elmira NY, Willimsport PA, Coudersport PA, and Sayre, PA.

Church holidays interrupt the schedule, and for the summer we are picking on our porch, not at the church, so contact me for info.

~S~

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Jon W.
Date: 23 Jun 00 - 04:00 PM

To update the Salt Lake City, Utah area song circle I posted above:

We meet 4 times a year, the fourth Thursday of May, August, and February; and the third Thursday of November so as not to interfere with Thanksgiving Day, 7:00 to 9:00 PM or later. The address is Borders bookstore, 132 E. Winchester (6400 South) in Murray, Utah.

Now that I've had a couple of meetings and have a contact list, I can probably organize special sessions for any Mudcatters passing through.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: GUEST,Jim McCrain
Date: 23 Jun 00 - 01:48 AM

Howdy Folks!

I am trying to either find, join, or start a song circle in the Dallas, Texas area. Does anyone know of an existing circle in this region/ Would anyone like to come out and play?

Contact me at [e-mail].

Peace,

Jim McCrain

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: black walnut
Date: 26 Apr 00 - 02:42 PM

just to update what tony burns said up above about THE TORONTO SONG CIRCLE.

we meet weekly in different homes throughout the city, every friday night, except through the summer. we sing and (some of us) play instruments, from about 8:30 pm to 1 or 2 in the morning.

i'm the email contact person for the group now, so if you want information about upcoming circles, you can email me at [e-mail], or tony at [e-mail].

~black walnut

---

Questions regarding the Toronto (Ontario, Canada) Song Circle, should now be addressed to [e-mail]
-Joe Offer, 4 April 2002 (per Black Walnut)

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Sourdough
Date: 26 Apr 00 - 01:02 PM

We have a nomadic Song Circle in Sonoma County, CA usually meeting in a home in the Santa Rosa area once a month. Anyone intrested in contact information let me know.

Sourdough

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: GUEST,Barry Finn
Date: 26 Apr 00 - 10:19 AM

I didn't see the one in Boston so here it is. At Paddy Burke's (third floor) on Portland St. (North End area of Boston) on Wed. evenings starting around 9.30 till ??? there's a singing club. Barry

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: ceitagh
Date: 25 Apr 00 - 05:15 PM

Hey, while we're on the subject....
I'm going to college in Ypsilanti Michigan next fall (I hope....stil waiting for acceptance) and I was wondering if there are any ceili's/songcircles/other mudcatters in the area.

Pax,
Ceit

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Wotcha
Date: 25 Apr 00 - 12:44 PM

Let me add, the following:
Irish Society in Kuwait; and 2 informal folk societies/circles that meet every 2 weeks in Kuwait City.
Everything is done by word of mouth, there is no postal service here, so you'll find the circles eventually! Just go to the Hash!

Cheers
Allhamdalla
Brian

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Jon W.
Date: 25 Apr 00 - 12:16 PM

I'm trying to organize a song circle in the Salt Lake Valley Utah area. Our first meeting is Thursday May 4, 7:00 - 9:00 PM, at the Borders bookstore, 132 E. Winchester (6400 South) in Murray Utah. Email to [e-mail] for more info.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 24 Apr 00 - 08:59 PM

ABout TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO!!!! Joe Offer started this thread with a question about song circles in Indiana. At the risk of seeming in an unseemly rush to get here first, here's a two-part answer for the central part of the state:

Older of the two clubs (by far) is the Central Indiana Folk Music and Mountain Dulcimer Society, which meets on the second Sunday of each month from 2:00 PM until 5:00 PM. It meets at a Lutheran Church on the north side of Indianapolis. Although I'm a member of the club, and could drive you right to it, I'm durned if I can think of the name and address of the church. If you need further details, read the rest of this thread, and I will try to find out and post it. If I haven't by the time you get that far, give me one of Max's Personal Messages, and I'll work with you.

The format of the CIFM&MDS is threefold:

First hour, Show Time! Sign up, if you like, to perform on the little stage, with PA system.

Second hour, general jam session. Perhaps 5 fiddlers, ten to twelve mountain dulcimers, one or two banjos, eight or nine guitars, an accordion maybe, could be a washboard, maybe a harmonica--whatever walks in the door. No RUS, but the club has a looseleaf songbook, free to paidup members, which is relied upon fairly heavily during the jam. In that same hour, some months someone will be conducting a workshop on some instrument in another room.

Third hour: "Sharing Circle". This is most like what we've been talking about as a song circle. Big circle, just once around: introduce yourself and play/sing, or pass. Sing or play anything you like. Very permissive and very supportive atmosphere.

The club puts together groups to play various gigs around Central Indiana, at libraries, nursing homes, etc. When there's a fee for the gig, it goes to the club to help pay for the annual Christmas party. The December meeting, with the party, is open only to current paid up members. $15.00 a year dues.

The second group, Just organized about the beginning of 2000, is the Green Pastures Folk Music Club, which meets from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM on the fourth Sunday of each month at the Noblesville Public Library, 1 Library Plaza, Noblesville, Indiana. No dues, no officers, no book, no refreshments. Just come and play or sing or listen. OT, country, folk, whatever you want to do when it comes your turn. It seems acoustic music is assumed, but there's no stated rule (on anything, really), and we've never been faced with the necessity to deal say with an electric guitar player showing up. Turnout in the four or five months it's been running has been anywhere from four to twenty plus a few listeners. It's not too uncommon for others to join in, playing along with the current performer. Some performers ask for others to join; some prefer the solo position and make that fairly obvious by their presentation. (I'm one of those.)

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: CarlZen
Date: 24 Jul 99 - 12:03 AM

We have an open jam session on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at the South Side Coffee Company, 107 South "H" Street, Lompoc, CA.

We're a small town, off the beaten track, but we often find that people get sent to work on various provects at Vandenberg AFB amble into our little sessions and enjoy it.

Lompoc was the location for W.C Fields' The Bank Dick. "Ahh, yes, Lahhhmm - pock..." Anyway, please join us.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Easy Rider
Date: 19 Jul 99 - 09:41 AM

There is an open song circle, sponsored by the Pinewoods Folk Music Society & BSEC, on the first Wednesday of every month, from 6:30 - 9:30 PM, at:

The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture
53 Prospect Park West (betw. 1st & 2nd Sts.)
Brooklyn NY 11215

See you there...

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: dusterjim
Date: 19 Jul 99 - 05:03 AM

Hey still looking for Jam sessions in the Seattle/Shoreline area (and by the way, the Jam in Scio Ore. has been canceled untill a permanent site can be located, but it still happens from time to time here and there)

Jim

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Tony Burns
Date: 21 Apr 99 - 06:45 PM

Let me offer to be the contact for the Toronto Song Circle. I can't give you a location because it is at a different person's home each week. With the exception of July and August it occurs pretty well every Friday. If you are going to be in the area let me know and I'll tell you where the circle(s) will be while you are here. You can reach me at [e-mail].

btw - I was in Victoria, British Columbia in January and was fortunate enough to be able to attend one of their Nautical Song Circles. I would be happy to pass on contact information for that event for anyone who cares to send me email.

---

Questions regarding the Toronto (Ontario, Canada) Song Circle, should now be addressed to [e-mail]
-Joe Offer, 4 April 2002 (per Black Walnut)

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Matthew B.
Date: 21 Apr 99 - 06:21 PM

Just for the record, we have some AMAZING song circles in New York City. If any of you folks ever plan to be in the area, just write me ([e-mail]) for the details.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: LEJ
Date: 20 Apr 99 - 02:07 PM

First of all, great nickname "Mudcatroid"! But second, what the heck ya mean "havt to work there a whole darn month"? Could be worse...could be Newark, New Jersey...or Casper, Wyoming (I'm KIDDIN Katlaf). Search for the Denver Folklore Center on-line. They will be sponsoring several events while you are here.

LEJ

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations (Denver)
From: Mudcatroid
Date: 20 Apr 99 - 01:54 PM

Say, did anybody find out if there's folk singing in or near Denver? I have to work there for a whole darn month, and I gotta sing!
Er....sorry, I got carried away.
-Heavens to Mudcatroid-

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 13 Apr 99 - 08:00 AM

The Branford Folk Music Society (Connecticut, USA) sponsors a song circle every month (except summer) at members' homes.

The next "house hoot" will be at our house this Friday, April 16, 1999 at 7:30. (The theme for the first round of songs will be "water.")

For more info about the BFMS and to subscribe to the newsletter, contact Brent Hall at [e-mail].

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From:
Date: 12 Apr 99 - 11:38 PM

Folk music is alive and well in New Jersey. There are several folk circles running in the northern half of the state.

Sings & Strings has been holding a sing on the 4th Saturday night of the month for 25 plus years in the Bergen/Passaic area.

The Folk Project has all sorts of sing opportunities and there is another long running sing in the Monmouth county area on the Jersey shore.

If you would like info on any the above email me at [e-mail].

Hurdy Gurdy is a folk music club with concerts 1st and 3rd Saturdays.

Enjoy - Lew

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Apr 99 - 10:33 PM

There is folk music to be heard in Los angles, George, but it's a little hard to find. See the message from jns above. When I was there a couple years back, I campe across a couple in Long Beach who had house concerts once or twice a month - I heard Cindy Mangsen and Steve Gillette there.

Oh, click here for one more recent source I found, with information about the California Traditional Music Society in Los Angeles. Have a good time, George. See if you can recruit some Southern California Mudcatteers for us.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From:
Date: 12 Apr 99 - 10:17 PM

I'll be in Los Angeles during the 6th and 7th of May. Any ideas anyone for a place to hear either the Folk Music the Singer/Songwriter or Song Circle formats during that time frame. I'll be staying in Anaheim itself.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Wotcha
Date: 12 Apr 99 - 07:21 PM

My late English aunt (a London piano teacher for over 50 years) left volumes of materials one of which included the Holiday Song Book put together by the Holiday Fellowship committee. It is interesting to note that community sings have a great tradition on both sides of the pond. This 1935 collection includes Birtish versions of well known songs -- I tried singing Rio with a British chorus (they add "Away DOWN Rio") using this thing and got very odd looks in an NYC sing ... so I can see the danger of using books like RUS since local groups use their own versions of the song.

The song book also gives some great guidance, applicable to groups in 1935 as they are in 1999: "If you have good singers in the company, see that they distribute themselves in different parts of the room ... Don't be afraid of trying the slower and quieter songs ... [t]hese form a pleasant relief from the "hullabaloo" style."

Question for the Oklahoma City folks: whatever happended to the folk bar on Classen BLvd ... I'd almost swear I saw Lou Killen play there in the early 80s (well, some Geordie with Royal Naval service anyway).

Cheers, Brian

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Apr 99 - 04:46 PM

I forgot I wanted to add a link to the Song Circle schedule of the Portland (Oregon) Folklore Society.

In the Greater Sacramento area, there are song circle gatherings on the first Friday of the month at auburn, and on the second Friday in Sacramento and in that snowbound Sacramento suburb known as Reno. Click on my name to e-mail me for details about Sacramento/Reno/Auburn.
Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Ross
Date: 12 Apr 99 - 04:43 PM

Re Joe Offer's question about circles in/near Salem,Or. There are a lot open jams where you can sing or play. Several are heavy into Bluegrass. In Dallas, 10 miles from Salem is an acoustic jam every Friday at Guthrie Park. In Salem at Spiotti's Coffee House Saturdays, except first Sat of the month. A lot of old time folk/fiddle music. Sing if you want. Some swing is creeping into the Guthrie jam.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Dan
Date: 12 Apr 99 - 04:13 PM

Bill's Music Shop and Picking Parlor, W. Columbia, S.C. Bluegrass, Folk and Traditional. Very informal in a large building where you can wander around and join in with groups of 3-10 doing their own selections simultaneously. They put out a calendar you can subscribe to for free. Nothing as organized as singing out of a book.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Barbara
Date: 12 Apr 99 - 02:27 PM

Speaking of Houston, I've been organizing a small (8-15 people) song circle in Houston for a year now. (I didn't know about the Houston Folk Music Society - I guess I should look them up). We meet once or twice a month. If anyone wants to join in, you can write to me at [e-mail] and I'll add you to the mailing list.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: folk1234
Date: 26 Feb 99 - 05:59 PM

Great thread. We really have a large and dispersed community. For JB3: look up the Houston Folk Music Society. They have an active club with house hoots and monthly concerts. Also some very warm & friendly people. I agree with whomever said there is not much West of the Mississippi and East of the Rockies. But let me tell you about our song circle, The Oklahoma City Traditional Music Association (www.octma.org). We meet on the 1st Saturday of each month. From 6:00 to 7:30 we have various instrumental workshops taught by members and I co-lead a song swap (different theme each month, but we also swap non-theme songs). From 8:00 to 10:00, we all gather in the auditorium for a play-around. Members and guest can sign up to perform a number while the rest of us enjoy the concert. From 10:00 to mid-night we break up into various jam sessions. From time to time we sponsor and host a workshop by touring performers. Last week we had Cathy Barton & Dave Para do a workshop entitled "Music of The Golden Ring". It was great. Cathy & Dave presented a concert at Rocky's Music Hall at Bricktown (a superb venue) later that day. We have close to 200 members, with roughly 100 members, guests, and walk-ins attending each month. Admission is free. But you must pay to get out. Only kiddin', we encourage a donation that helps pay our monthly rent. With respect to the RUS issue; over half of us have RUS; we all use it from time to time; it is neither the gospel, nor the dreaded; we also have the Old Town School Song Book from Chicago. To all 'catters, when in OK, please come visit us.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Feb 99 - 04:51 AM

Just got a new schedule from East Bay Fiddlin' & Pickin' in Berkeley, California. They have a Sunday afternoon potluck and sessions that's out of this world. The time I went, there were groups of musicians in the front and back yards, the basement, upstairs, downstairs, and on the front porch. There was sonething for everybody, no matter what their interests or skill level. Then there's a contra dance nearby in the evening.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Jon Bartlett
Date: 25 Feb 99 - 04:11 AM

The Vancouver Folk Song Society hosts a Folk Song Circle, every 1st/3rd Wednesday, running continuously since July 1959. It meets at the Friends Meeting House, 1090 W 70th Ave., just off Oak St., 8 pm. We also run a Summer retreat, real cheap for Americans (about $60 Canadian - what's that, $1.43 US?) at Camp Alexandra in nearby White Rock, this year June 25-7. Also at the Friends is the smaller and more intimate Folk Traditions Singaround, last Thursday each month, 8 pm. email me at [e-mail] for more details.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: joe fire
Date: 24 Feb 99 - 01:18 PM

i'm a guitar player and i/m looking for places in southern new jersey where i can play for pay. does anybody have a listing or know where i can get one???

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: JB3
Date: 29 May 98 - 02:49 AM

Does anyone know of any song circles in Houston? I have some friends in Austin that occasionally get together to sing & play, nothing formal, but would love to find some like-minded souls closer to home. I have toyed with the thought of starting up some kind of salon or song-circle and have found the various threads on the subject thought-provoking (altho evidently not action-provoking, as yet!) Is there anyone else from Houston hanging out at Mudcat?

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Bill D
Date: 28 May 98 - 10:28 PM

The next two 'Open Sings' in the Washington DC area....(July is at my house...lots of room!)we usually do 'topics' to start the brain cells working...

FSGW Page announcing various groups

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Slant
Date: 28 May 98 - 10:03 AM

At the risk of repeating (I think I sent this message a few months ago) -

There's two very informal song circles and acoustic jam sessions in southern Florida's gulf coast.

Every Thursday evening from about 6:30 or so till whenever pickers and singers get together in Gilchrist Park in Punta Gorda. Usually two - three groups form - a bluegrass/old-timey group, a singing group of modern folk and popular songs, and sometime an eclectic crew that does a little of everything. All voices and acoustic instruments are welcome.

Every Friday about 7:00 in Centennial Park in Ft Myers a group gets together which is more of a semi-formal song circle. Again - all acoustic pickers, etc are welcome. Song styles range all over with no single defining path. RUS is NOT in evidence. Song picks are left entirely to the discretion of the singer/player.

Hope to see some of you at either or both...

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 May 98 - 05:09 AM

Hi, Kicky - it doesn't take many people to make a good song circle, If you can get a core group of four people, you've got a good start. Our Sacramento circle has some 40 people each time - it's fun, but sometimes unwieldy. I also belong to one in the Gold Rush town of Auburn, and that one often has as few as 8 people - and the singing can be wonderful.
Heck, my friend Claudia and I can sing the night away, just the two of us. We find, though, that we don't sing very often when we're all alone. We can play an instrument by ourselves for hours on end, but singing seems to have a social aspect that playing an instrument doesn't have.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Frank McGrath
Date: 27 May 98 - 05:08 PM

There is the makings of a super US and Canada Song Circle guide in this thread. If nobody objects, I shall take the info from here and get cracking on the job straight away.

Please keep posting with as much detail as possible including email addresses, phone numbers etc.. I'll put the lot onto our Nenagh Singers Circle web page in a week or so.

Regards

Frank McGrath
Nenagh Singers Circle

PS: Anyone who was worried about the demise of folk music should be heartened at the number of clubs listed here and I'm sure the surface is only being scratched as yet.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Cuilionn
Date: 26 May 98 - 10:46 PM

Alricht, after luikin' thro' half a hundrit posts, I cannae find onythin' on current singin' circles in Denver or Seattle. I'm gang back tae Seattle frae th' Simmer, an' curious tae ken whae folk are gaitherin' on a regular basis besides my maist odd an' irregular group o' Gaelic singin' friends. I'll be back in Denver for th' school year for anither three years, an' wuid dearly love tae jyne in wi' Denver folk if ye'll gie me a hint o' where tae luik.

As I'm an impoverished graduate student, I'm hopin' there's folk whae meet somewhere that's served by th' public bus...

Muckle obligit for ony an' a' suggestions!

Tapadh leibh,

--Cuilionn

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: KickyC
Date: 26 May 98 - 10:36 PM

It seems like most of the good folk music activity is either west of the Rockies or east of the Mississippi. Is there anyone at all in Iowa besides me who enjoys this. I finally managed to get a small group of friends together with the help of our local librarian. We have met once so far, but it was almost chaos. We think we need a little more structure, although not too much. We would like to work on some of the same songs, and then have an open time to play some new things. I had suggested that we might want to use RUS as a basis. The debate is interesing. From a teacher's perspective, I'm not sure it has to be an either or situation. We all have textbooks to teach from, but any good teacher will use that as a basis to start and then add more material as you go along. You have to start somewhere.

Kicky

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Bert
Date: 26 May 98 - 04:03 PM

Come along and sing at Bert's place on the 12th. June.

Don't worry if you think you can't sing 'cos Erica says....

"I know a whole bunch of people who swear that they can't sing.

After pushing and prodding and finally persuading them to open their mouths, they do just fine! they may not be the sweetest songbird in the forest, but damnit, they can sing!...

...and I think what has happened is that people think singing is that solo thing, that my-voice-all-by-itself scary thing, when in actuality, some of the most fulfilling times are when your voice contributes into the group."

Bert's place is in Phoenixville, PA. email for directions. [e-mail]

Don't forget now. Bert.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: dusterjim
Date: 26 May 98 - 02:52 PM

Hey Joe, here are some song circle locations near Salem Ore. Scio Ore. South of Salem at the ZCBJ hall on main street 2nd & 4th Friday of the month from 7:00 PM until everyone is done (I've been there several times until 2:30 AM.). Guthrie Park, south of Dallas Ore. (15 miles west of Salem, 3 miles south of Dallas on Highway 233 at milepost 7) every Friday night 7:00 to 11:00 PM They also have a Gospel jam every 3rd Saturday of the month from 7:00 to about 10:00 PM. There used to be three others in Salem but I think that there might be only one of those still going and a couple in Corvallis. I'll check and see what I can find (if anyone can find a jam, it's me) For more info anyone can Email me at [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Laurie
Date: 11 Mar 98 - 07:23 PM

In Corrales, New Mexico, just outside of Albuquerque, I have a Song Circle which meets in my home, the first Friday of every month. We use Rise Up Singing for maybe half the songs.

When I moved back home here after living in San Francisco, I missed the song circle at Faith's there, so I started one. How? Well, I ran ads in the personals sections of the newspapers, and I contacted the contradance society to ask if they would publicize my event in their newsletter. It did the trick: for two years now we've had great sings.

If you would like directions, etc. please email me at [e-mail] for more details.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Jack mostly folk
Date: 18 Dec 97 - 01:25 PM

Thank you Joe Offer... I wish I would have had a computer and been on line back when folks were asking about So. Cal song circles. In Sept, jns covered a great deal of the better known happenings in and around LA LA land.Some of my old stomping grounds were those mentioned and to add to those, let me tell you about Songmakers. They are about 200 strong and have Hoots, more of a performance than song circle. My wife and I started with a song circle for Songmakers 60 miles east of LA and must admit with great success. It went over real well and continued to do so untill we relocateed to Washington State in 93. Riverside Folk Music Society is one of the oldest Folk Music groups on the west coast. They date back to the sixties putting on concerts for the likes of Seeger and Baez outdoors on hillsides.These two organizations is where I found exiting music and friends forever.The Claremont Folk Festival and The Barn are important facts of SO CAL music scene.If you play and sing, you like me know the importance of sharing music with others. You can call Jo Nell Dart of Riverside and she will put you in touch with either Songmakers or Riverside Folk Music Society. They always need new faces and a new song. [phone]. You can also e-mail me for any additional information.My only complaint to these fine organizations is; WHY DON'T THEY GET A WEB SITE? yours in music.... Jack mostly folk.....

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: jns
Date: 14 Nov 97 - 09:08 PM

It's the second Friday of the month and time for Celtic Music singing in LA. Come along. (see message above about LA)

jns

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Bert
Date: 13 Nov 97 - 01:25 PM

Folk/blue sing/circle at Bert's place this Friday Nov 14th. Theresa is cooking chile.

At Phoenixville PA. email me for details

Bert. ([e-mail])

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Sep 97 - 05:15 AM

Somebody e-mailed me, asking whether there was a song circle in or near Salem, Oregon. anybody know of one in that area, or maybe even in Portland or Eugene?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: jns
Date: 22 Sep 97 - 01:48 AM

With LA being so big, it may seem a daunting task to start talking with some of those 6 million people. Especially if you believe the media hype about it being a cultural wasteland and everyone out for themselves. But don't you believe it. Big city though we are, we're made up of little communities and in those communities as friendly a people as you'll find a way up in the mountains. I'll be happy to mention a few of the great folk music events, song circles and venues in LA.

Number One for starters contact The California Traditional Music Society (CTMS) run by Clark and Elaine Weisman in the valley (San Fernando) at 818-342-SONG. They know everything about folk music in the area (and elsewhere) They have an immense music festival every June: The Summer Solstice Festival out at SOKA University in the valley. (It's currently on hiatus this year until they find a new executive director) They (CTMS) are still producing concerts and you can get on their mailing list by leaving your address at the above number. They also usually put on a New Year's Camp (but not this year) that's loads of fun. Dancing too.There's a lot of Contra Dancing going on. Anyone who goes dancing usually knows what's happening in the folk music scene. Another festival is The Claremont Folk Festival which happens yearly in May or June. Contact them at 909-624-2928 or 987-5701 There are numerous song circles going on. One I know of is the Santa Monica Traditional Folk Music Club who meet on the first Friday of the month at a temple on Broadway or Colorado Ave. called Sha'arei Am. Try 310-3768760. They put on a yearly gift (this year number 14) to the community of a Sea Shantey Day that coincided with Clean up The Beaches day yesterday (Sat. Sept 21). There's a Celtic Music group that meets in people's homes once a month call 310-677-5377. I know there's still a song circle out in Orange County but don't have info on it any more. There are people who do Shape Note Music. (call above #) twice a month. There are other sings going on at people's homes from a group called Songmakers. Sorry, don't have their number at hand. For folk music stores there's World of Strings in Long Beach, McCabe's in Santa Monica, Shade Tree in Laguna Nigel, The Fret House in Covina, Claremont Folk Music Center in Claremont, Cal Tech puts on folk concerts, concerts in Santa Fe Springs, The Barn in Riverside, The Celtic Arts Center puts on stuff on its own and in connection with the Raven Playhouse in North Hollywood. Call 213-462-6844 There are numerous house concerts going on all the time. The above sites will know about. Try a few of those and start singing!! jns

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: dusterjim
Date: 21 Sep 97 - 08:21 PM

I wish that I had found this thread before I posted one of my own (open jam sessions) I would have posted here instead.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Bert
Date: 09 Sep 97 - 01:57 PM

There is a folk sing at my place this Friday (the 12th. Sept.) Phoenixville, PA

Very informal
Ranges from Traditional through Sixties PseudoFolk with a little Country and some Home-Brewed songs.

Come along and enjoy.

email me for directions at [e-mail].

See Ya,

Bert.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Bill
Date: 02 Sep 97 - 01:43 AM

Howdy All (again),

I'm not sure that I would classify the club I work with most as a proper song circle (but certainly would not classify it as an improper song circle). Dulci-More: Folk & Traditional Musicians meets twice a month in Salem, Ohio. We get 10-35 folks out each time, and play mostly from song books that I have put together (based largely on my tastes and requests from the members). Songs are chosen as we go around the circle, but most people choose songs and then ask me to lead them (and I'm so used to that role that I often just go ahead and lead them without asking). Most of our membership prefers to play along (on a variety of instruments), but we are gradually getting more singers involved. As I often say when introducing the group as we play out for others, "We welcome folks of any or no musical ability to come to our meeting to jam, to learn, to listen, or to perform." We regularly do have members choose to play for us rather than to do songs from our songbook, and thus become introduced to a wider variety of music.

We meet on the first Tuesday and third Wednesday of each month starting at 7 PM at the First United Methodist Church of Salem, Ohio, and welcome anyone who comes by for a meeting or to become a member. We also have a couple of potluck jams during the year, and we run a festival on the Memorial Day Weekend at Boy Scout Camp McKinley in Lisbon, Ohio. For more information, check the links page here at Mudcat or use this direct Dulci-More page link.

Allinkausay,
Bill

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Bill
Date: 02 Sep 97 - 01:19 AM

Howdy All,

One song circle that I regularly attend is the Canton Folk Song Society in Canton, Ohio. We generally meet from 1-3 PM (or thereabouts) on one Saturday of each month at the McKinley Historical Museum (somewhere upstairs). The meeting is most often on the second Saturday but regularly changes. The next one is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, September 27. I generally try to keep a listing of upcoming sessions on my performance page even though I'm not the one in charge of the group. We do use Rise Up Singing, my song books, other resources, and memories, and we encourage singalongs, playalongs, and solos. It's usually a small and very friendly group. Come on out when you're in the area and join us.

Allinkausay,
Bill

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Bill D
Date: 24 Aug 97 - 04:05 PM

hey...rechal, you are close enough to let Susan of DT and Dick G drag you down to the FSGW Getaway in October...(others are welcome too!) Look here for details and see if it might fit your schedule...

and thanks for posting "Chicken in the Fridge"...now I know what some of those words are!!

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From:
Date: 24 Aug 97 - 01:09 PM

Catfeet- I'd love the details -- could you e-mail them to me? And what's a Scadian?

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Catfeet
Date: 22 Aug 97 - 08:07 PM

Rechal-

There is a fairly good sing that happens the third thursday of every month in Brooklyn on Eastern Parkway. If you're interested, I can provide the rest of the details. It is mainly attended by Scadians, but is still worth going to, and by the way, if you like sea chanties, contact the Seaman's Church Institute, they do a really good monthly chanty sing down at South street seaport. Good hunting, Catfeet

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: rechal
Date: 20 Aug 97 - 03:49 PM

Bless you! I can't wait.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Susan of DT
Date: 19 Aug 97 - 05:41 PM

Rechal I'd love to meet you at a sing. The Princeton Folk Music Society should be starting up again for the year soon. They meet first Friday's, as i mentioned. They do not always do a September sing. They have concerts the third Friday, which is what most of the members go to. There should be a sing the first Friday in october and a Pot Luck Supper/sing the first Friday in November - the pot luck is always at a particular home in Princeton Junction. Levine's group just had its annual pot luck supper/hoot two weeks ago. They meet irregularly. I have no definate info on the next sing for either group. I will let your know when I know. Kiwi does not seem to have returned to this thread after she asked the question, but she has been on other threads. When I know I will use your email, since i do not think I should broadcast people's home addresses on the forum. The Princeton group usually has a topic for the sing, which is interpreted very broadly. they are a larger group and not terribly sophisticated as a whole. Levine's group is smaller, more sophisticated, and does not use a theme.

Susan

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From:
Date: 18 Aug 97 - 01:20 AM

Hey, Susan, Dick and Kiwi I'd love to meet you all at a song circle-- I live in Manhattan. Don't play any instruments, but I do have an eidetic memory which can come in handy for this forum and occasionally for singalongs. Plus I'm a great cook and would be happy to bring a dish, if that's what's required. Or perhaps you'd prefer more gruesome songs along the lines of National Embalming Schoool?

Kiwi, I thought you lived in NZ? Or Australia? Have you moved? If so, welcome to our humble amalgamation of strip shopping malls. Hope you'll enjoy your sojourn here.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Aug 97 - 04:01 PM

I happened on the DC folk scene for one winter in 1975, and entered it permanently in Feb of '77....and not knowing that newcomers might have to pay their dues, I jumped into it with both feet and never had a MOMENTS feeling of feeling excluded!! (probably due to my exquisite taste and scintillating personality..*grin*)I have attended 97% of all the 'open sings', as we call 'em here, for the past 20 years,(BK, I wonder if I met you?) and yes, there have been cliques and swirls of mood changes, as in any organization, but there always those who simply would not allow the music to get derailed by petty differences of personality....and for the most part, even sworn opponents managed to cooperate when certain things were at stake...I think I give the diverse music scene a lot of the credit, because there was always room here to hook up with a slightly different group if you were not happy with things.

(no particular reason to throw out all these details, except to refine the picture of what it is like to be part of one part of this big community we all share....I really do like to read about how things are with the rest of you...keep singing & playing everyone!)

Bill

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 15 Aug 97 - 11:18 AM

Dear LaMarca,

Thanks for the correction re: Dick vs. Bill Cerri. My chagrin is more than compensated by the excellent info supplied by you, BK and others.

Tail tucked, ears lowered, I am a chastened but wiser Mountain Dog...

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Barry Finn
Date: 15 Aug 97 - 02:15 AM

LaMarca In both cases it seems as if it was the old timers who left. Barry

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: BK
Date: 15 Aug 97 - 01:00 AM

LaMarka: Bill Cerri - wow! for both my wife and myself, the ultimate classical DJ; he absolutely loved what he did. My wife was listening when he went silent.... Sad, and scary, as it was, I think he went out doing the thing he loved best - may we all be so lucky! We still talk about him, particularly his wonderful impish sense of humor, and how he would occasionally - perhaps influenced by his brother - play Tom Paxton's "Monday Morning in Paradise" - on monday mornings, of course.. I never listen to that song w/out warm memories of him...

As to all groups having clique elements - of course that is so, it is always part of the spectrum of possible behaviors, but, being over 50, and having travelled and lived many places, including overseas, I still think this behavior is more prominant and less graciously counter-balanced in DC than anyplace I've lived. Even my sweet, ever-positive native midwestern social-worker wife was forced to agree with this conclusion... A sad commentary in a community with the wonderful racial and cultural diversity of the DC metroplex, not to mention the fact that in other respects, (and thanks to the hard work of many dedicated and truly outstanding people, such as Dick Cerri), DC is, I believe, the premier place in the USA for folk music. I miss the music and the cultural diversity...

We are now in the heart of Missouri.... Does any body know if there are song circles, house jams, etc, etc anywhere near Columbia, MO? I do have, and occasionally use, a copy of RUS - purchased in Silver Spring, MD. I'd even be willing to sing from it sometimes; I think of it as a useful resource. Years ago, I subscribed to Sing-Out!, so it's OK - long as folks don't get TOO dogmatic.... But I almost always disagree w/their chords...

anyway, cheers, BK

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: jeff s
Date: 14 Aug 97 - 09:08 PM

I'd say all of the circles that I've been associated with have a "leader" or set of leaders who can usually step in and keep a song going. That sounds like Joe Offer. Which brings me back to my original post. Is it just me or are RUS type circles really hard to track down. Maybe all the criticism has driven them underground?

jeff s (still looking in Chicago)

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Aug 97 - 07:08 PM

I guess I'd better be careful, La Marca. I like to think I do a good job of NOT being a leader, and here you say that I'm "publicly defined as such." I think song circles work better if they at least appear to be leaderless - although they do need some "nudging" to keep them on course. Maybe because I've been a camp song leader most of my life, I sing louder and know more songs than anyone in my circle. I try to take the lead only in songs where the group is weak, and then blend in inconspicuously when the singing is strong. It doesn't always work, though. I was really embarrassed last Friday night when I arrived late and somebody said, "Joe's here, now we can start singing." Back to the drawing board, I guess...
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: LaMarca
Date: 14 Aug 97 - 11:28 AM

Mountain Dog, Dick Cerri isn't dead (yet); it was his brother Bill who died a few years ago, on the air, no less. Bill Cerri was a wonderful classical DJ who made his life in radio; his morning show was witty, irreverent and eclectic (he mixed Mozart with Stan Freberg, for instance), and is sorely missed. Dick Cerri, the younger of the two, is still very active in organizing and promoting the activities of his "World Folk Music Association".

BK, the Bal'mer folk song circle says specifically in its ads "We will be singing from Rise Up Singing"; bringing us back around to the continuing argument about the use of RUS as a hymnal...And yes, the DC group has its share of "Insiders" who have a tendancy for cliquish behavior. I used to move every 2-4 years for the first 35 years of my life until I got settled in the DC area; in every new place I went, I joined the local community theater group. EVERY one of those groups had factions and cliques and the "In" set, no matter what part of the country I was in; it's a part of human nature and human social organizations, be they theater groups, church softball leagues or folk music societies.

People who share years of experiences with each other develop a group "history" that any newcomer CAN'T share; they weren't there, after all. However, I found that becoming part of any such group as a newcomer means joining in on as many public group activities as you can, and not feeling hurt when you aren't immediately included in private social events involving people who have known each other for a long time. I was very taken aback the one time I went to Augusta and encountered people who instantly assumed that since we were all at camp together that week, we were instantaneously each other's best and deepest friends, and should share all our innermost thoughts and feelings with each other. True friendship and trust takes time and work, whether you're talking about a singing group or other social group.

Every local folk song circle has its old-timers and group leaders - some, like Joe Offer seems to be, are publically defined as such, others are less clearly labelled. But whether it's Boston or San Francisco or Baltimore or DC, there are going to be people who have made the local folk group their entire life, and are going to react negatively to newcomers upsetting their narrow little world. Hopefully, they are balanced out by people who are friendly and more inclusive; just don't expect to be "one of the gang" immediately...

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Bert Hansell
Date: 14 Aug 97 - 11:22 AM

Talking of groups that are "kinder and gentler" there is a great group in Huntsville Alabama, The Tennessee Valley association of Folk, Traditional and Old Tyme Musicians (or something like that). Last time I was there a couple of years ago they were meeting once a month on a Sunday at the Horticultural Gardens. As their name suggests they are quite a mixed group ranging ardent traditionalists to country. They are very tolerant of different styles and one could even sneak in a "home brewed" one now and then.

Bert.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 14 Aug 97 - 09:42 AM

Dear BK,

Thanks for the reminder of Dick Cerri. As you may know, Dick passed away some five or six years ago, but his work with the Folk Society of Greater Washington and his public radio show were important in keeping folk alive and well in the Capital area.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: BK
Date: 13 Aug 97 - 10:51 PM

Mountain Dog - during MY 5 yr hitch in the DC area, I think I tried all the groups... FSGW did a lot of great stuff for which they - and Dick Cerri - must be given tremendous credit. But there were many occasions in which the main monthly song "circle" fell far short of the fair-minded idealised impression you get in this and other threads in the forum. Frankly, DC has a steadfast, deeply entrenched segment - always well represented - that are adamantly cold to people who are transient, (even if long-term, as are people in many catagories of govt employ), as well as those who are not at all "kinder and gentler" to people who sing songs they don't like.

In spite of this, I think song circles are really important, and should be supported and participated in, by any who may have the interest; therefore, my advice would be to "soldier on" and participate anyway - just don't let them intimidate you. You can learn a lot, and you might just teach some of them a thing or two.

By the way, I sometimes found the folkies of nearby Baltimore more freindly and more fun, so if you encounter too many of the less freindly varient of DC folkies, take a jaunt up to "balmer," untill you mannage to meet some of the better greater DC types.

Sorry to sound so crabby, cheers, BK

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Aug 97 - 02:59 AM

Don't despair, GG. You will find folk music in Los Angeles. There's a couple who do nice house concerts in Long Beach - I heard Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen there. From the conversation I overheard, I gathered that there are pockets of interest here and there all over the LA area. I'd say the best thing to do is check the Dirty Linen concert listings and hit a few concerts, particularly house concerts, and then start asking questions.
I know of only one folk music club in the area, McCabes; but what they had was mostly singer-songwriter performances, so I didn't go when I was working doen there. There are various outdoor festivals and scattered concerts, enough so you can hit at least a couple good concerts a month.
I could give you more specific information about what's going on here in scenic and cultured Northern California, but my house concert suggestion should work for you down there.
-Joe Offer, Sacramento-

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: GG
Date: 09 Aug 97 - 02:23 AM

Los Angels and Orange County have 16 MILLION souls and yet I do not know of a single "folk group" meeting on a regular basis. When I was in New Mexico and Maine (at the time - each state was under 1 million in popultion,) or in Humboldt County I had multiple contacts with folk enthusiasts. Folk music permeated most aspects of life. I am far more isolated in this southern ocean of people.

LA-Orange are teeming with "the Blues Cafe," the House of Blues," "the Lighthouse," and "the Ice House" however, these are sterile commercial opperations.

I am looking for a compass bearing within this vast sea of a state that contains one eighth of the nation's entire population.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: steve t
Date: 09 Aug 97 - 12:42 AM

It is hard to find song circles. My favourite was going in Ottawa for three years before I found out about it.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: jeff s
Date: 09 Aug 97 - 12:19 AM

At the risk of bringing back the thread has anybody noticed how hard it is to find song circles?

jeff s

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: jeff s
Date: 01 Aug 97 - 06:09 PM

Raleigh, NC has (or had 3 years ago) a weekly song circle or picking session at Hoffman Stringed instruments. It was Tuesdays at 7. Tell 'em I sent you :^O You might look into Pinecone also.

jeff s

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: dani
Date: 01 Aug 97 - 05:38 PM

I am in North Carolina as well, and would love to hear about any happenings in the Triangle area, formal or informal. As a (very) beginning banjo player who sings better than she plays, I'd love a chance to do something like this.

Subject: Song Circle Variations
From: LaMarca
Date: 01 Aug 97 - 03:12 PM

Couldn't resist putting my 2 cents worth...
I got started singing folk songs by joining our local monthly song circle (the same one BillD's been talking about). At the time I started, I didn't know very many songs, and wasn't very confident about my singing, but the folks who came were (mostly) friendly and supportive.

Our sing has a monthly topic, and folks are encouraged to try to sing something related to the topic the first couple of times around the circle. Some folks learn their songs by heart, others bring books or "cheat sheets". We generally don't pass out lyrics to everyone attending, but folks in the circle have become real good at picking up choruses quickly. The challenge of learning new songs to fit the monthly topic helped me build a repertoire of songs I now know by heart. Joe, my main gripe with RUS is the flip side of your comment: "The book serves as an equalizer" - it equalizes everyone to the lowest common denominator. Now, not everyone in our song circle is interested in memorizing songs; those that aren't bring books or words with them. But if a song circle starts with assumption that everyone will sing "from the Book", it's a BIG inhibition for anyone to try to break from this (I speak from personal experience).

It all depends on what the singer's goals are; all I can say is that I wouldn't know very many songs today if every month I went to a church basement somewhere, opened a book and sang a song in unison with other people. If I had wanted to do that, I would have joined a chorus (which I have done; I love doing grand choral works like Verdi's Requiem), but for folk music it bears too much resemblance to grade-school music class (Now children, turn to page 13 and sing "Down In the Valley"). If having a book or song sheets is optional, it allows singers at different levels of expertise to all have a good time. If everyone stays at an enforced grade-school level to be more "inclusive", the better singers eventually get bored and stop coming.

If an area supports more than one song circle so that folks naturally sort themselves out by musical tastes and ability, that's great, but most areas only have one active group at any given time. Acknowledging that there ARE different levels of musical expertise, and that they all deserve to have a good time, isn't elitist in my opinion; discrimination against folks for being "too talented" is just as offensive as the opposite.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Coralena
Date: 01 Aug 97 - 12:45 PM

Any in North Carolina? Music is a blessing bestowed on us all and while some may not possess a perfectly tuned voice they sing with their heart and it is alot of fun to get with other folks and sing and have a good time. Life is a song, lets all sing along! :)

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Jack
Date: 01 Aug 97 - 11:27 AM

I agree with Joe (See my post "In Defense of RUS" from a month or two ago)

Jack

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Aug 97 - 02:34 AM

I seem to find myself defending "Rise Up Singing" all the time, and I wonder how I got into that position. It's just a book, for heaven's sake, a book of 1200 good songs that somebody worked hard to put together. Well, maybe it's 1,000 good songs and 200 songs that make me gag; but that's still pretty good. I think it's admirable that these good people want to come out with another 1200 songs. It, too, will be a good resource. Heck, it's certainly more portable than the Digital Tradition.
I guess all this criticism upsets my sense of fairness, and I think it smacks of elitism. I think I can safely say that people who rely heavily on RUS are people who don't have the musical experience that many of us here have. I sing in groups three times a week, and I've led group singing for over 30 years, since I was in high school. Most of the people in my song circle sing once a month, and many prefer styles of music other than folk. The book serves as an equalizer - people who don't know other songs can pick one from the book to share with the group. I admit I mostly pick songs from the book myself, because I don't want to hog the show. I usually pick one song an evening that we can sing with the book closed, and there are others who do that or who bring photocopied songs. I kind of think a good song circle depends on the talent and sensitivity of the members who do have musical ability. Our "core people" get together every once in a while for a good jam session, and to discuss the direction where we want to take the circle. We generally agree that a good circle needs leadership, but that those who provide the leadership must do it almost invisibly, so everyone feels equal.
We must be doing something right. We have 30 to 40 people attend the Sacramento Song Circle every month, and we have started circles in Davis, Auburn, and even in Reno, Nevada. We also draw people from the song circles to sing in the Sacramento Labor Chorus.
Best of all, we all have a good time. That's what it's all about, isn't it?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From:
Date: 31 Jul 97 - 05:24 PM

Bill said: "Gee, I wonder if we announced an evening of talking & socialising, would everyone come and SING all night?"

And I would have laughed my socks off if I'd been wearing any. :)

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Bill D
Date: 31 Jul 97 - 02:09 PM

oh, Pooh! got so involved with my flowery rhetoric, I forgot to sign the above!.Max said he might make it refuse to post until you have typed 'something' in the 'from' box...might be a good idea...

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From:
Date: 31 Jul 97 - 01:21 PM

*grin*...Steve, you have pointed a very pointed finger at some of the problems we have all observed...it IS hard to get a homogenous group with similar tastes & goals together....too many folk show up with an agenda,and are NOT bashful in persuing it with little regard for the group as a whole...still, it is like certain other activities...even when it is bad, it is good! ;-)

(I asked at a sing awhile back.."Gee, I wonder if we announced an evening of talking & socialising, would everyone come and SING all night?"...got an awkward giggle from a few...)

I guess we all have to remember that in ANY group there are the polished and the unpolished, the sensitive & the oblivious, the old hands and the newbies, the ones who at least TRY to 'learn' the songs and the ones who are forever reading them out of books with barely a notion of the tune. It is worth sitting thru all the bad parts to get to some of the wonderful parts I have seen & heard in 35 years of doing this. Keep singing!!!

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From:
Date: 31 Jul 97 - 12:31 AM

Two in Ottawa, that I know of: one sort of private, one commercial.

There's a song circle which floats from house to house, once a month (usually the third Friday of the month) held ostensibly by the Old Sod Society and ostensibly emphasizing traditional tunes from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In practice, only about half the songs chosen are traditional and about a third are from RUS. Chorus songs ARE emphasized, so usually, only people very confident of the quality of their song and/or performance give us non-chorus songs. Rarely does anyone join in on an instrument without being asked by the song's leader. I love this group of people. Email me for info. Some of the people there have info for Toronto and Vancouver song circles too.

Folk jam, song circle format, every Thursday night at Rasputin's around 9:00. I like it best when there are fewer people. (If you can endure, try it from about 11:30 'till 1:00am.) In theory, you can set strict limits on everyone else's participation on your turn, but in practice, people rarely ask others to be quiet or even to listen until they know the song. It can get rough when the group is large.

So what do I think about song circles? I think they work best when everyone there shares similar goals. I prefer it when people have come to sing with others. Surprisingly, this isn't always the case. Singer songwriters sometimes show up to "try out" unpolished songs (why? with all the open stages around town -- I don't know). Guitarists sometimes show up to jam and are glumly sour each time an a capella tune comes up. Socialites are sometimes allowed to talk nearby (there's a break for talking and munching at a *good* song circle). Worst of all -- when some overconfident idiot spots an unfamiliar instrument and its owner lets the jerk try it out for a song or two.

Straight jams? Rasputin's usually has an unscheduled, informal jam for an hour before its open stage on Wednesdays. The musicians are better than you generally see at a song circle. If they like what each other plays, it's nice. If not, it doesn't work as well.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Alice
Date: 30 Jul 97 - 10:16 PM

Thanks for saying that, Susan. "Let's not deify Rise Up Singing." After reading some of the messages regarding RUS, (I'm not that impressed with the book), I began getting the impression that there is an informal "cult" of RUS, complete with jargon and "rules". My maternal grandparents homesteaded in Eastern Montana in the 1920's and 30's. My grandfather played fiddle and sang and "called for dances". My grandmother played guitar, piano, and sang. EVERYONE sang. No one had radio, records, dancehalls, operas, theaters... they had sage brush, rattlesnakes, dust bowl and hard times. They sang and played music for the joy and relief it gave them. In a meadow where there was a spring, my grandpa made a cistern and built tables so neighbors could get together for picnics and dance and make music. They would meet at each other's claim shacks, move the table and chairs back, and dance to their own music. This is the way I feel about singing together. You do it as part of life, the way people think now of turning on the tv, going to a movie, or listening to tapes. By the way, this grandfather of mine was interviewed by Charles Kuralt on the Road. He was a prospector, and when he died, he was still living on his claim on the Yellowstone River. People would float the river by putting boats in at his claim. He told me once that he would sing a Lake Michigan boat song to them, and say,"Bet you never heard that one before!". Alice in Montana

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Susan of DT
Date: 30 Jul 97 - 06:32 PM

Jeff "Song Circles" vary quite a bit with the customs of the particular group. I assume we are talking about any group of people that get together on a more or less regular basis to sing (individually or collectively) that is not a featured performer versus audience arrangement. Let's not deify Rise Up Singing. Some groups use RUS or other books some of the time.

The groups I sing with mostly meet in people's houses with people sitting in a rough circle (depending on the furniture)taking turns leading the song. One of the groups often has theme for the night, the other doesn't. One group encourages singing/playing along more than the other, but there is some singing along in each.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Bill D
Date: 30 Jul 97 - 01:17 PM

for one view of what 'song circles' can be,click here

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: jeff s
Date: 29 Jul 97 - 10:15 PM

So what do we call a song circle? I've seen two general forms. One is where the emphasis is on having the picker "perform" and everybody accompanies or joins in on the chorus. The other assumes that everybody should join in as soon as they figure out the song. The latter groups tend to use RUS the former don't. The performers seem to advertise and the RUS folks don't. I noticed that somebody posted the Homestead Picking parlor sessions which I put in the performer category. He didn't say anything about the 4 other groups that I know about (I used to live in the Twin Cities) that fall in the RUS category. The first Tuesday group at First Universalist is next one that meets. I should point out that I don't think that either format is better. I would like to find a RUS group in the Chicago area though. (Ah, a point to this post!)

jeff s

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Alice
Date: 29 Jul 97 - 09:48 PM

If you are in the area of Yellowstone Park, there is a Sunday night Irish session (every week for about the last three years) that starts at 8pm., some singing included. The location is in Bozeman, MT, the lobby of the historic old Baxter Hotel, on Main Street downtown. If you play an acoustic instrument, bring it along and join in. Alice

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Jon W.
Date: 29 Jul 97 - 03:34 PM

Here's a link to the Intermountain Acoustic Music Assn. page, which serves the Salt Lake City/Wasatch Front (Utah) area. A great organization, I really should join sometime. Includes schedule of weekly jams (Celtic, bluegrass, blues, etc.)

IAMA

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Bert Hansell
Date: 29 Jul 97 - 10:40 AM

My place, Second Friday in the Month at Phoenixville PA.

This month it's on the 8th.

Email me for directions if you want to come

Bert. ([e-mail])

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 29 Jul 97 - 10:33 AM

Anyone know of a group or groups in the Denver area (or anywhere along the Front Range, say from Colo. Spgs. to Fort Collins). I play with various friends sporadically and while it's all acoustic, it's not strictly limited to folk (however broadly one might define it!) Still, it would be fun to find a folk circle in my neck of the woods.

Thanks for any leads.

P.S. to Bill D. Wish I'd come across ther various groups you mentioned during my seven-year hitch in the DC area. I'll check on happnin's prior to my next visit and pack my guitar!

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Catfeet
Date: 28 Jul 97 - 08:24 PM

Are there any in southern Vt.? Would any one be interested in starting one if there aren't?

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Susan of DT
Date: 24 Jul 97 - 08:19 PM

Kiwi - where in New Jersey are you? Dick and I go to the Princeton Folk Music Society (first Friday, but not summer) and Dick Levine's group in Monmouth/Ocean counties (time varies). Both move from house to house (sometimes mine). There are Folk Project and Folk Music Society of Northern New Jersey up north as well as Pinewoods in NY. I can probably dig up some more if I know where you are looking for. There are several more.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Bill D
Date: 22 Jul 97 - 09:32 AM

Whipporwill---yep, that's what we hope will happen.The neat thing about all this is, that even though we put up our home page as a service for our own members, there are many things on it which could be of interest to anyone in the Folkie World!....and when you start following links, you find new sets of links, each with a slightly different focus......and pretty soon, you will have your own set of bookmarks to almost anything your heart desires!(Except a perfect memory, perfect pitch, and instruments that never go out of tune! *wink*)

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Jack
Date: 21 Jul 97 - 03:42 PM

In the Cleveland Area there is a Song Circle first WED, every month at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 23599 Cedar Road (in the suburb of Beachwood). For info call 321-7073

There is a shape-note singing club that meets bi-monthly on the West Side of town. NE Ohio Shape Note Singers. For Info Contact Virginia (email: [e-mail]) or visit their web page www-math.cwru.edu/~cfw2/sh.htm

There are others, the Kent-Cleveland area has a pretty active folk and traditional music community. To learn more about folk happenings in the area check out FolkNet www.folknet.org

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Whippoorwill
Date: 21 Jul 97 - 11:26 AM

Bill D: Went there; clicked on Links and found all manner of wondrous stuff. In the Swap Links file there were a number of databases and sources of music listed, including DT. TNX.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Kiwi
Date: 19 Jul 97 - 07:58 PM

Are there any in New Jersey that anyone knows about? I know there's a once-monthly ceili somewhere, but I only went once before they took a summer hiatus...

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From: Angus McSweeney
Date: 19 Jul 97 - 04:41 PM

Minneapolis, Minnesota has Folk "jams" at the Homestead Pickin'Parlor, 66th and Penn Ave South every other week. They also have jams for "Old Timey", Bluegrass, and a variety of other musical categories.

Subject: RE: Song Circle Locations
From:
Date: 19 Jul 97 - 10:42 AM

The Washington DC area has several regular swap circles under the umbrella of the Folklore Society of Greater Washington...some are specific, as gospel or Sacred Harp...the "Open Sing" is general and usually has a topic to help focus the mind. It has been going continuously for over 30 years and is truly 'open'-that is, any song vaguely on the subject is allowed.Because it grew within a society founded to promote traditional folk music & culture,there is much 'trad' done, but there is a lot of other stuff done too. We do not use RUS as a 'hymnal', although copies are seen around, and I have not seen one burned at the stake yet.*grin*..(I own a copy myself, along with a couple of hundred other books & magazines)

Subject: Song Circle Locations
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Jul 97 - 04:05 AM

Somebody asked if there's a song circle in Indiana. I don't know, but maybe it would be a good topic for a new thread. Do most major cities have song circles, or are they scattered here and there?
Here in the Sacramento area, we have "family song circles" in Sacramento and Auburn. These meet on Fridays, once a month each, and they use Rise Up Singing as a "hymnal."
For those interested in more sophisticated music, there is a group called Davis Pickers and Singers, and the Sacramento Labor Chorus. Anyone interested can contact me for information on any of these groups.
Are there other circles out there that people would like to publicize?
-Joe Offer (click to e-mail)-

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Also See Part 2 (click)

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Check Folk Lib Index: Folk Music Societies

for information about folk music clubs in North America.