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06 Nov 12 - 12:15 AM (#3431641) Subject: BS: Just moved to the Tucson area. From: bet I've been in the Tucson AZ. area 1 month. I have got to find something to do. Are there any folk groups around here? I'm sure there is but where? I'm OLD, will if you count the years, but I'm really not. It's either volunteer or find a job. Would love to hook up with some "folk" people. |
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06 Nov 12 - 01:35 AM (#3431651) Subject: RE: BS: Just moved to the Tucson area. From: JohnInKansas In the time I spent in Arizona (a long time ago) I didn't observe much of any interest in traditional "folk" in any of the areas where I spent much time. Of course that can vary a lot from one town to another, and Arizona only has a handful, so it shouldn't take much exploring to find out if there is anything there. Even a little bit of "first person exploration" can put lots of miles on your bicycle, though. The visible culture there, other than people whose only interest was getting somewhere else, was mainly influenced by Spanish (Mexican) or Native American traditions. Things may have changed a lot in the 50 years since I was there though. I haven't heard much from the Reservations there, but there are frequent indications that they possibly could use lots of volunteer help; but if the ones there are like others recently reported some caution would be advised to be sure of what you're getting into before getting in too deep. (The most needed volunteers would be someone to volunteer to figure out what kind of volunteers are needed at many of the reservations elsewhere. The ones who could most benefit from help often have little idea of what would be helpful.) For finding music and folk, contact with locals probably would be as useful an approach as you'll find. Looking for festivals nearby (in Arizona that may mean within 300 miles) might help to identify locals with an interest that matches up with yours, or even local "associations" of more specialized kinds. If there's a "senior center" you probably don't really have to be a senior to figure out who's there and whether they might know anything. Even Tucson probably has a library, and small town librarians can often provide surprising amounts of information about the area. A town newspaper editor can be helpful, but a town the size of Tucson may just deliver the Phoenix newspaper. Smaller towns in some areas are more likely to have at least a "weekly" of their own than the "in-between" ones like Tucson. My comments are probably too generic (and dated) to be of much use, but single-post threads sometimes need a little kick to get started so I'll post anyway. John |
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06 Nov 12 - 03:21 AM (#3431673) Subject: RE: BS: Just moved to the Tucson area. From: Will Fly Hi Bet, my sister lives in Tucson - moved to the US many, many years ago - I'll email her and see if she knows something that may help you. |
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06 Nov 12 - 04:01 AM (#3431682) Subject: RE: BS: Just moved to the Tucson area. From: ragdall I found this on Google. It might give you a place to begin? Tucson Folk Festival The Tucson Kitchen Musicians Association (TKMA) invites all music lovers to enjoy 20 hours of free, live acoustic music on five stages in downtown Tucson at the annual Tucson Folk Festival, one of the largest free festivals in United States. Started in 1986, the Tucson Folk Festival features hundreds of local, regional, and national musicians performing live music, uplugged and plugged in, for more than 10,000 fans. Portions of the festival are broadcast live on Tucson's community radio station KXCI 91.3 FM. Date: May 4 -5, 2013 Contact: Jim Lipson, TKMA President, at jimlipson@yahoo.com or (520) 271-6943 Number of volunteers: 250 Estimated attendance: 10,000 It was on this page: http://www.visittucson.org/media/research/eventprofiles/ I also found a site for The Tucson Kitchen Musicians Association: http://www.tkma.org/tkma/index.html Good luck! rags |
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06 Nov 12 - 04:12 AM (#3431684) Subject: RE: BS: Just moved to the Tucson area. From: Richard Bridge Shouldn't this be above the line? |
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06 Nov 12 - 08:17 AM (#3431750) Subject: RE: BS: Just moved to the Tucson area. From: JJ Tucson libel, John! :-) Although not as large as Phoenix (thank heavens), Tucson is hardly Gopher Gulch. The University of Arizona alone guarantees that. Yes, there is a library (!), and the alternative newspaper is called the Weekly. There's a thriving Tucson theatre scene, led by the Rogue Theatre. Local musicians give a short concert before each of their performances. Let me also recommend Bookman's, the area's used bookstore chain. They've been a source of delight for almost thirty years of regular visits. |
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06 Nov 12 - 09:12 AM (#3431775) Subject: RE: BS: Just moved to the Tucson area. From: Rapparee Counting places like Kit Peak Observatory, there are 43 different libraries in Tucson. The population of the village of Tucson is over half a million and the metro area is over 989,000. |
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06 Nov 12 - 09:13 AM (#3431776) Subject: RE: BS: Just moved to the Tucson area. From: artbrooks Desert Dancer (Becky N.)checks in here regularly...I think she's currently on the road between San Diego and Tucson. She is very involved in both the folk music and contra dance scene. Check out the Tucson Friends of Traditional Music site for a lot of information - they are holding their annual Dance in the Desert contra dance camp this coming weekend (I'm pretty sure Becky is heading there). The Folk Shop has a number of things listed on their website, and you might just drop down and see what else is listed on their board. |
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06 Nov 12 - 10:56 AM (#3431820) Subject: RE: BS: Just moved to the Tucson area. From: GUEST,leeneia Do you like early music? Check out the Arizona Early Music Society (of Tucson.) Arizona and New Mexico have more early music than you would ever suspect. |
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06 Nov 12 - 11:58 AM (#3431847) Subject: RE: BS: Just moved to the Tucson area. From: katlaughing Hey, WillFly! Our sisters are both Tusconians?!LOL! Heyasis, I was just going to open this and tell you about someone else who moved there, too! |
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06 Nov 12 - 02:32 PM (#3431941) Subject: RE: BS: Just moved to the Tucson area. From: JohnInKansas Sometimes ya just gotta kick a couple of bushes to get the bunny rabbits out where you can get their picture. Quicker response than I expected, and some good suggestions. I did a quickie look once at the tendency for one-post threads to slide out of sight, and concluded that it's a good idea to get at least three the first day, so the second, and sometimes the third, can help even if all you've got to say is something stupid. I'll need to take another look at the odds on something a little insulting is also a help, just for JJ and Rap. John |
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06 Nov 12 - 04:46 PM (#3432010) Subject: RE: BS: Just moved to the Tucson area. From: GUEST,bernieandred You might want to check out the entertainment schedules at local RV parks & retirement communities. During the winter months they bring in lots of entertainment, often country & western, but also bluegrass & acoustic. |
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06 Nov 12 - 05:44 PM (#3432043) Subject: RE: BS: Just moved to the Tucson area. From: bet Thanks for all the suggestions! It always amazes me the help a group can give. Sometimes I just don't look in the right places when I'm searching on the internet. |
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06 Nov 12 - 06:20 PM (#3432062) Subject: RE: BS: Just moved to the Tucson area. From: Desert Dancer bet, what flavor(s) of folk are you into? And what part of town? There are some good links above, here they are again, with some more: Tucson Friends of Traditional Music - now mostly a contra dance organization, but that includes some good music makers, of course Tucson Kitchen Musicians Association - puts on the annual free folk festival in early May, there are some other good links on their site under "Local Music Calendars". The Folk Shop - used and new instruments, and a good place to connect to folkies twice-monthly Sacred Harp singing - small but warm Tucson Weekly - the alternative free rag, with a very useful calendar of events You've just missed (or not, I hope!) the "Tucson Meet Yourself" festival, which is a great gathering of ethnic and ethnic-phile arts and food. The list of performers might connect you to something of interest. The Irish and Scottish communities are pretty lively, last weekend was the Celtic Festival and Scottish Games. There's here's a monthly singing session, and an Irish music session (mostly instrumental) weekly at the Auld Dubliner Pub on University at Euclid (Sundays, 4-7pm). Desert Bluegrass Association has an October festival (and April too, I guess), lots of jams, and stuff. Southern Arizona Blues Heritage Association - just had its free blues festival a few weeks ago. 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, there's an eclectic fiddle tunes jam, and 2nd & 4th Tuesdays there's a fiddle tunes "slo jam" at the Rincon Market, on 5th St. at Tucson Blvd., only 7pm - 8:45, so don't be late. Here's a nice online article by a friend about jams around town: Jam opportunities abound around Tucson. (Not much different info.) Tucson Old-Time Music Circle - monthly jams. (Were bimonthly, but they just lost a venue.) The web site is about to go away on Dec. 2, apparently, here's an alternative address. If you're on Facebook, look for Old Time Music in Arizona. The Arizona Old Time Fiddlers Association has a Tucson chapter that meets weekly and a fiddle contest in Tucson in February. The Tucson Peace Calendar list some musical stuff, if you're that kind of folkie. I thought there was a monthly song circle that would show up there, but I'm not finding it. That oughta get ya started. ~ Becky in Tucson (but half the time in Long Beach, CA; Art was correct that I was on the road between the two yesterday. Consequently, I'm not as involved as I once was.) |
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07 Nov 12 - 08:23 AM (#3432377) Subject: RE: BS: Just moved to the Tucson area. From: JJ Thank you, Becky, for this terrific overview. Don't know about bet, but they'll certainly help me the next time I'm in the Old Pueblo. |
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07 Nov 12 - 03:51 PM (#3432635) Subject: RE: BS: Just moved to the Tucson area. From: Desert Dancer I should add, in addition to the May free folk festival downtown, TKMA has occasional fundraising events for the festival that are showcases of local musicians performing on some theme (usually an artist or band). It's worth keeping an eye out for these. There should be one coming up in December. Good entertainment, and a good way to meet people. The last one I went to was a tribute to Doc Watson, held at the Boondocks bar & grill on First Ave. between Ft. Lowell & Prince. That venue was not the greatest - packed and noisy, but it was a happy crowd. Sometimes they've had them at the Unitarian church on 22nd east of Swan. ~ Becky in Tucson |
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09 Nov 12 - 10:25 AM (#3433643) Subject: RE: BS: Just moved to the Tucson area. From: Desert Dancer (refresh - because I seem to be posting right after Bet checks the threads...) |
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09 Nov 12 - 10:45 AM (#3433657) Subject: RE: BS: Just moved to the Tucson area. From: Stilly River Sage bet - you also need to orient yourself to the desert. The best place, hands down, is to visit the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. Get on Speedway, headed west, and drive into the mountains following the signs. Plan to give yourself at least a half day there, and be sure to take a hat and sunglasses. Mornings are best for cooler temperatures. It's a great introduction to the region and what lives there. I took my son out on a trip before he accepted a scholarship to attend the U of Arizona (he's a junior this year) and the desert museum was part of the crash course on getting the feel of Arizona. A drive south of town to the mission of San Xavier del Bac is always a delightful excursion. Take lunch and have a picnic there. I don't practice any religion, but I thoroughly enjoy visiting that spot, it has had such a sustained amount of human activity for so many years. Father Kino was one of the few catholic priests of his day who opposed enslaving the native populations of the area. The best thrift store I have ever visited, bar none, is in Green Valley, about 20 miles south of Tucson. It is the White Elephant and is open only from 9am till noon Monday - Saturday. It has become a tourist destination since it has such great stuff and prices. (Think prosperous retirement community here - the donations come from people who are moving, from people entering assisted living, and from estates.) That's where we got a good variety of items for my son when he moved into a house this year (instead of the dorm). Take cash or a checkbook, no cards accepted. And if you're looking for good volunteer activities, they have 500 volunteers a week there. There are also a lot of immigrant/illegal alien support groups who do excellent work in the desert north of the border and in Mexico right across the border. If you're interested in this I'll PM the name of my friend who is so active with the groups. Age isn't a limitation - my friend who does this is 78. SRS |
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13 Nov 12 - 12:33 AM (#3435632) Subject: RE: BS: Just moved to the Tucson area. From: Desert Dancer As say they on TV, "but wait, there's more!" A few concert promoters: Rhythm and Roots concert series - still going strong after the death of its founder Jonathan Holden last year. In Concert Tucson - a few concerts a year, mostly Irish or Scottish. Tucson House Concerts - Irish and Scottish artists. And, not in Tucson, but about 2-1/2 hrs away on the north side of Phoenix: the new The Musical Instrument Museum. Plan to spend several hours, and then to return several more times. There is much more than can be absorbed in one visit. They have an amazing small concert hall with a schedule of performers as eclectic as their collection. ~ Becky in Tucson |
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13 Nov 12 - 01:34 PM (#3435967) Subject: RE: BS: Just moved to the Tucson area. From: open mike early music? how early? these links look interesting: http://www.tucsonfolkschool.com/ Located conveniently near the 4th Avenue, the school occupies a room in the Historic Y building on 5th and University, which is also home to The Rogue Theater, Zuzi Dance Company, The Tucson Audobon Society, and many more art and environmental groups. not much looks acoustic here, but a lot of history...: http://www.tucsonmusiciansmuseum.org/ http://www.lavamusic.org/Live Acoustic Venue Association (LAVA) Hosting a concert this saturday With Ted Ramirez, who created and hosted the "Sounds of Arizona", a folk music radio program which aired for 10 years on 580 AM. Ted is Tucson's "Official Troubadour" and founded a band called "Santa Cruz River Band". the concert is in the Abounding Grace Sanctuary, which looks like a beautiful venue. you might want to go wherever these guys are playing.. http://www.facebook.com/thedustybuskers there is also an active bluegrass community http://www.desertbluegrass.org/ and southern az arts and cultural alliance http://saaca.org/Marana_Backyard_Concerts.html I hope you find something you like in your new home. there is Irish and Cowboy music, too , no doubt, and Zocalo magazine, and I hope you find a good radio station! this guy is near Phoenix..Joe Bethancourt... a.k.a. http://www.sam-hane.com/ http://www.westernmusic.com/performers/arizona.html http://www.azcowboypoets.org/ |
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13 Nov 12 - 04:01 PM (#3436060) Subject: RE: BS: Just moved to the Tucson area. From: katlaughing Jeez, I am getting jealous, bet! Talk about an abundance! |
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13 Nov 12 - 04:23 PM (#3436073) Subject: RE: BS: Just moved to the Tucson area. From: CupOfTea Bet, I hope you have as splendid a time with the Folk folks of Tucson as I did during one memorable February (I think it was 1993) when I was there for the North American Folk Alliance Conference back when it was very traditional and just starting to become an international organization. The conference started out with a trolley tour of a slew of different venues with entertainment. There was dancing, and singing sessions and the Tucson locals were all over making sure we all had a good time and all got to see what regional music and dance was like. In those days, New Englander Margaret MacArthur wintered there and the fondness for her spoke well to me of the people in the region. Admittedly, Tucson doesn't always have the cast of luminaries who were there that magical week, but I have such a vivid impression of that being a GREAT place for folk music and dance. My conference companion, Kate Early, from Chicago, and I went shopping in the local folk music store. I came away with a uke-lin that hangs on my wall (won't stay in tune) that I bought for a song. Kate fell in love with an English concertina, and after having Lou Killen give it a look-see, she took it home with her. More than any of the dozen FA conferences I attended over a couple decades, Tucson was THE most memorable, and I give at least half of that credit to the local organizers. Joanne in Cleveland |