California - folksong venues

Subject: California - folksong venues query
From: Tradsinger
Date: 23 Sep 06 - 03:36 PM

Next August, the Gloucestershire Morris Men plan to visit California. As we have a lot of singers in the side, we would like to offer a folk song evening on the itinerary. I'd be grateful for any suggestions of likely venues that we could contact.

Thanks

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: California - folksong venues
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 23 Sep 06 - 04:12 PM

It's a big state, tradsinger, where will you be?

~ Becky in Tucson, Arizona, which although in a neighboring state is only "close" to the cities southern California in an American West sense (e.g., 7 hours to San Diego, maybe 8 to L.A.), and San Francisco may as well be in yet another state...

Subject: RE: California - folksong venues
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Sep 06 - 04:31 PM

Get in touch with Open Mike. She's a Mudcatter.

Subject: RE: California - folksong venues
From: Dave Swan
Date: 23 Sep 06 - 04:42 PM

What part of California will you visit?

Dave, who lives and sings in the San Francisco Bay area.

Subject: RE: California - folksong venues
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Sep 06 - 05:01 PM

North or South California, Tradsinger? My favorite venue in Northern California is Bill Wegman's house in Davis, which holds an audience of about 30. Mudcatter DADGBE has been hosting some concerts in Davis, and can handle a larger audience. The Freight & Salvage in Berkeley is a well-known commercial folk venue, as is the Palms in Winters (which rarely hosts traditional folk music any more).
-Joe Offer, Colfax, California-
(above Sacramento in the Sierra foothills)

Subject: RE: California - folksong venues
From: Tradsinger
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 03:41 PM

At the moment the itinerary is still being worked on, but present thoughts are to start at San Fransico on one weekend and end up a weeek later in Portland, Oregan. There must be some good folk song venues mid-week between those points. Grateful for any suggestions.

Subject: RE: California - folksong venues
From: Greg B
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 04:54 PM

Try and start in San Francisco on the first weekend of the
month. Then you can go to the chantey sing on Saturday.

In between SF and Portland? Well....there's some mighty
pretty country and coastline! Not a lot of there, there.


But those Davis locations are there. Whether it's worth
while to go that far inland is another story. I guess if
you've never seen that kind of country...

Actually, if I were going that route I think I might say
'to hell with music' and check out some of what mother
nature has wrought. Particularly if you haven't been
to the Western US before. I'm thinking everything from
Yosemite to the Mendocino Coast to the Shasta-Trinity.
How about dancing under the world's biggest trees?

Lives have been changed by some of that landscape. Don't
cheat your eyes in favor of your ears.

Subject: RE: California - folksong venues
From: GUEST,Fred Fnord
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 06:46 PM

In my experience, there are approximately the same number of good folk venues midway between San Francisco and Portland, Oregon as there are midway between London and Rotterdam, and for much the same reason. (I understand there are significantly more midway between Liverpool and Belfast, which is where I hope to be vacationing sometime in the near future.)

-fred

Subject: RE: California - folksong venues
From: Maryrrf
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 07:30 PM

Too bad Virginia is out of your way on this trip, Tradsinger! Your concert in Richmond last March was brilliant and now we have a bigger venue and could accomodate your Morris Men! By the way I listen to your CD all the time and I think your version of "Old Bangum" is the best, and I love to drive around blasting "Billy Johnson's Ball" on my car stereo!

Subject: RE: California - folksong venues
From: Francy
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 08:05 PM

Hi tradsinger....We are located on the central Oregon Coast, 2 and 1/2 hours south of Portland....We are the Toledo Folk Music Club and we do hold concerts once a month......My wife & I are the club.....our number is 1-541-336-5743 and our e mail is [e-mail]..........let me know the size of the group and dates.......we'll see what we can do.....Frank of Toledo

Subject: RE: California - folksong venues
From: Maryrrf
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 08:43 PM

Hi Frank, Tradsinger performed at our folk concert series and we really enjoyed it. He does some wonderful seldom heard versions of traditional songs. Here's a review that I posted on our website: http://www.richmondfolkmusic.org/archives/032506.htm   Book him and his group, you won't be disappointed.

Subject: RE: California - folksong venues
From: Deckman
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 10:47 PM

Tradsinger: I don't know just how familiar you are with the U.S.A. But, we are a HUGE country ... I mean ... REALLY BIG!!! To do a singing trip from San Francisco to Portland could easliy take the ENTIRE SUMMER! Look at the map! Best wishes, Bob

Subject: RE: California - folksong venues
From: Tradsinger
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 04:43 AM

Thanks for all your postings and I will follow them up as soon as our Morris Side gets its act together and decides dates and itinerary. This will be mainly a Morris trip but as we have so many singers in the side we thought it would be a good opportunity to have a singing evening. It would be nice to have all summer to explore the West Coast but it's more likely to be a week.

PS to Mary in Richmond - thanks for the kind words and I hope to make it back to Va as soon as I can.

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: California - folksong venues
From: open mike
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 10:04 PM

are you planning on these being paid gigs
or do you want to do this for fun and or for free?

there is a folk music society in chico calif,
and i could direct you to some other venues.

let me know your time frame...we hold a singer's circle and
jam on the first saturday of each month in Chico and there
are halls, houses and other venues that might work.

do tell more about the dancing aspect of this tour..

the closest thing i can think of to morris dancing
is contra dancing....there is a morris element at
the renaissance fair and you might be able to get
a gig there...see renaissance pleasure faire
(google)

Subject: RE: California - folksong venues
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Sep 06 - 01:57 PM

There is also an excellent folk music society in Eugene, Oregon (about 8 hours north of S.F., 2 hours south of Portland). The guy to contact is Pete Lovell. I don't have his contact info anymore, but I believe he still works at the local public radio station KLCC, and I'm sure you could reach him there.

Subject: RE: California - folksong venues
From: DebC
Date: 26 Sep 06 - 03:19 PM

I know Pete LaVelle quite well (over 20 nyears now) PM me and I'll give you his contact information.

Debra Cowan