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16 Nov 99 - 11:26 PM (#137172) Subject: Ever been to Swannanoa Gathering in NC? From: katlaughing Was looking for Scottish dance classes in South Carolina for another Catter when I found a neat looking site for a place called the Swannanoa Gathering. They had some well-known people listed on their board and as staff members. They also have a Celtic Week coming up on Jul 4-10, 1999, with TONS of classes in all kinds of things including Advanced Scottish Fiddling, Contra Dancing, Celtic Dance, Bouzuoki playing, etc. etc. You can find program info here. Looks like a lot of fun! |
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17 Nov 99 - 10:04 AM (#137318) Subject: RE: Ever been to Swannanoa Gathering in NC? From: folk1234 Been there. Loved it. Learned alot. A very lovely setting on the campus of Warren Wilson College. I think it was back in '93, I went for the Contemporary Folk Week. The highlight of the week was my 5-day song writting workshop under Bob Franke. What an experience! It was more of a self-psychonalysis process than a technical music session. Bob, a true Master, makes (I shouldn't say 'makes", but rather 'encourages') you dig deep down into your feelings to find something you truly want to sing about. Another highlight was our Thursday night concert at (forgot the name) in downtown Asheville. Eric Garrison was the week coordinator. Other instructors included Cosy Sheridan, Steve Gillette, and Cindy Magsden (Sp). Although I truly enjoyed the experience, I was somewhat intimidated by the skill, professionalism, seriousness of most of my fellow students. I've also been to Augusta '95, Davis-Elkins College, Elkins WV. Less stressful than Swannanowa. Highlight was a week long string emsemble workshop led by a great group of accomplished folk musicians. I took guitar under Dave Para. Great learning and lots of fun. My favorite, however, is Pinewoods Folk Music Week. Been there '89, '91, and '98. This is an amazing week in the Pine Forest of Plymouth, MA. Absolutely relaxing, great informal instruction, lots of variety, wonderful people. In fact, I was thinking about trying to get a Mudcat group at Pinewoods Folk Music Week in late July 2000. Wherever you may go for "folk camp", you'll love. |
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17 Nov 99 - 02:30 PM (#137457) Subject: RE: Ever been to Swannanoa Gathering in NC? From: Mary G Can't say that I have been there, but there are some great camps coming up in the NW soon...Thanksgiving weekend (I think) should be a lovely one up past Vancouver B.C....and then Rainycamp near Seattle in February and Sing Time Frolics out of Portland a ways in March..... mg |
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17 Nov 99 - 10:25 PM (#137715) Subject: RE: Ever been to Swannanoa Gathering in NC? From: Dani Haven't been to Swannanoa myself (that'll be in another lifetime. The FSGW Getaway was what I could squeeze out for myself this year). But I have lots of friends who do it, and wouldn't miss it. They say it's wonderful. Great energy, great focus. |
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17 Nov 99 - 11:44 PM (#137750) Subject: RE: Ever been to Swannanoa Gathering in NC? From: ddw Hey Kat.... Just tho't I'd point out that a July 1999 thing isn't "coming up." — unless I've gotten into that damned time warp again. But you're right about an impressive lineup of classes/instructors. You might also check out a number of other good festivals around that area, tho' I can't reel off any names except the Sourwood Festival in Black Mountain. It's not specifically a music festival, but every time I've been in town for it there has been a lot of good music going on — street square dances, things like that. And there are several folk venues that go year round — The Grey Eagle in Black Mtn. and Be Here Now in Asheville spring to mind. If you decide to go, let me know when and maybe the strife and I can make one of our three or four times a year visits and you could crash at our place there. The house I was born in is only about 10 miles from Warren Wilson College. That's home turf. cheers, david |
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18 Nov 99 - 10:08 AM (#137874) Subject: RE: Ever been to Swannanoa Gathering in NC? From: folk1234 Dear Kat: I thought you would get more responses and that this might develop into a discussion of festivals and folk camps. It still may develop that way. I go to 3 or4 fests a year and to camp about once every other year. I plan to go to camp next year. I prefer "camps" over "festivals". Festivals are usually 2 to 3 days of crowds, harried activities, and seeing your favorite performers in concert or workshop along with 40 to 2,000 other people in the audience. If you are lucky a "big name" may stop by a campground or parking lot jam for a while. Camps, on the other hand, are characterized by 5 to 6 days of group living a life of exploring, learining, and sharing, in an enviroment of music, song, and dance. Work shops run an entire 5 to 6 days, giving the instructors and campers a chance to really get to know each other and to share knowledge, technique, and experience. There are also mini and impromptu workshops and, of course, spontaneous jams throughout the day and night. At Pinewoods, for example, everyone has a small job (perhaps clearing the tables after one meal a day, or sweeping the dance pavilion each evening), which furthers the sense of communal belonging. The instructors live like the campers in small cabins and share the entire camp experience. The only bad point, is that its really Hell to get back to the 'real life' of schedules, dress-up, traffic, meetings, presentations, and political correctness. Go to camp as an adult, you'll be hooked for life! |
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18 Nov 99 - 01:46 PM (#137960) Subject: RE: Ever been to Swannanoa Gathering in NC? From: BeauDangles Howdy, I attended Swannanoa Gatherings Dance Week two summers ago. Prior to that my only experience was at Augusta Heritage for Irish Week. I had just started learning Irish Flute like 6 months before and I was taking an intermediate class (the lowest they offered). When it was learned that there were only two of us in that class, they cancelled it and moved us into the advanced class. What followed was a not very pleasant week. There were some good moments, but I was left in the dust musically by the other students, and I played worse when the class was over than I did before I went. I didn't play flute again for nearly a year. My experience at Swannanoa was so very wonderful. I danced nearly 9 hours a day, stayed up late playing music, made some close camp friends. I pushed myself to exhaustion. But the staff, students, accomodations, setting--all of it was great. I highly recommend Irish Week there based on the experience of some of my friends. Dance week was not very well attended. So it was very intimate. Irish week draws a lot of people. A great selling point of the Gathering is that you pay one fee and can take as many classes as you can stomach. I hope to go back next year after I pay off some instruments. BeauD |
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03 Apr 00 - 10:17 PM (#206299) Subject: RE: Ever been to Swannanoa Gathering in NC? From: ddw Caitrin — I'm refreshing this so you won't have to go looking for it and I'll try a blue clicky here hope it works. david |
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03 Apr 00 - 11:34 PM (#206337) Subject: RE: Ever been to Swannanoa Gathering in NC? From: Ebbie From what I hear from family in Hickory, NC, Swannanoa is great. Here in southeast Alaska we don't have music camps- too bad! but we do have a wonderful 7 days and nights of a folk festival every year. Starts next Monday in fact. This year's Guest Artists are Charivari, a cajun group from Louisiana. It's a different genre every year. There is one stage, 15-minute sets beginning at 7 pm, weekend afternoons beginning at noon, workshops, jamming in the halls and on the streets and in the stores, all-nighters, all free; it's a magic time. We get people from all over Alaska and Canada and the Pacific Northwest as well as some from the east coast. So if you're in this part of the US next week, come on up! Ebbie |
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03 Apr 00 - 11:34 PM (#206339) Subject: RE: Ever been to Swannanoa Gathering in NC? From: katlaughing Hey, David, thanks! I guess I missed your kindly invite before and boy! did I have the year wrong! We won't be able to take this in this year or probably any time soon, but I wanted to say thanks, anyway. katlaughing |
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04 Apr 00 - 12:06 AM (#206348) Subject: RE: Ever been to Swannanoa Gathering in NC? From: ddw You're welcome, Kat. |
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04 Apr 00 - 12:10 AM (#206350) Subject: RE: Ever been to Swannanoa Gathering in NC? From: Mbo :-( |
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04 Apr 00 - 12:31 AM (#206359) Subject: RE: Ever been to Swannanoa Gathering in NC? From: lloyd64 Kat... I live about 30 miles from the Swannanoa Gatherings. A great place, I have attended a few Old Time weeks and plan on going again this year. Drop me an email if you are going to be in the area. I live in Hendersonville NC, 30 mile south east of Ashville. Opal and I would love to show you around. lloyd62 (lloyd61) |
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04 Apr 00 - 01:07 AM (#206369) Subject: RE: Ever been to Swannanoa Gathering in NC? From: katlaughing Had a birthday, didja, Lloyd?! Congratulations. It's just not going to be in the cards for me anytime soon,to go to this, much as I'd like to, esp. now with invitations from Dave AND you and Opal. Oh well, anyone who goes, pelase come back and tell us about it, okay? How's the grandbaby and mom doing, Lloyd? kat |
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04 Apr 00 - 01:20 PM (#206587) Subject: RE: Ever been to Swannanoa Gathering in NC? From: Sean Belt My lovely wife and I are going to Swannanoa for Dulcimer Week, July 23 (I think that's the date, anyway). Maybe we'll run into some of you Mudcatters there. Otherwise, I'll certainly deliver a full report to anyone who's interested. :-) - Sean |
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04 Apr 00 - 01:37 PM (#206598) Subject: RE: Ever been to Swannanoa Gathering in NC? From: GUEST,Mrrzy-at-work I thought Swannanoa was in Virginia, right near Twin Oaks (the only still-working commune of which I know, recently written up in The Washington Post)? I've been to Swannanoa, and I don't remember having to drive out of state... Could there be more than one? |
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04 Apr 00 - 05:10 PM (#206684) Subject: RE: Ever been to Swannanoa Gathering in NC? From: Caitrin Thanks, David! I'll be up there for Orientation this summer, so hopefully I'll be able to get there. Must be, Mrrzy, because this one's definitely in NC. |
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04 Apr 00 - 05:35 PM (#206696) Subject: RE: Ever been to Swannanoa Gathering in NC? From: Peg I saw someone's brochure on this recently and it looked like an absolutely wonderful thing! Wish I could come, I have friends in Asheville, NC, somewhat nearby maybe??? And I do know someone at Twin Oaks... wish I could come! Peg |