|
FFMS Performers |
The Lizzard News News
from the Flint Folk Music Society * www.flintfolkmusic.org Vol. 7, Number2 - January 2006 These
activities supported by the Michigan
Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and
the Greater Flint Arts Council Hard
Times IV- It's a Potluck Fundraiser Concert! Mustard's Retreat
once again headlines this potluck fundraiser for the FFMS on Saturday,
February 4 at the GFAC. With grant funding dwindling and costs rising this
fundraiser is critical. Please attend and bring a dish to pass. *Admission
is $10 per person and a dish to pass. *50/50
Raffle - $1 per ticket *Additional
donations beyond the price of admission will be gratefully accepted. *Doors
open at 5:00, the potluck dinner starts at 6:00 and the musical
entertainment begins at 8:00 pm. *Reservations
are encouraged - (810-238-4096) or e-mail (jim@flintfolkmusic.org). Membership
- Thanks to everyone who has already renewed their membership for
2006. Memberships are now just $10 per household per year so renew now and
support folk music in Flint. Remember that beginning in 2006, you must
show your membership card to receive the discounted member admission to
FFMS concerts. Come
listen! - Upcoming concerts! Saturday,
January 21 - Jim Balcerski Saturday,
February 4 - Mustard's Retreat Saturday,
February 18- Barb Barton Saturday,
March 4 - Stonecross Saturday,
March 18 - Matter and Ghost (Neil Woodward and Sheila Graziano) Saturday,
April 1 - John D. Lamb Saturday,
April 22- Lisa Pappas Greater
Flint Arts Council Gallery, 816 S. Saginaw St., Flint $12
per person, $10 for FFMS members. Children and students admitted free. Doors
open at 7:00 p.m., concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Information:
www.flintfolkmusic.org or 810-238-4096 Board
Elections! The 2006 Board of Directors and FFMS officers were
elected at the annual meeting of the Flint Folk Music Society Board on
December 1, 2005. No new applications for the Board membership were
received. The 2006 Board consists of Johnnie Jones,
Jim McTiernan, Bob Miller, Sherri Miller, Jerry Peterson, Al
Rachwitz, and Steve Rodgers. The Board elected Jim McTiernan as President
and Treasurer and Sherri Miller as Secretary. The Board meetings are
announced on the FFMS web site. The next annual Board Meeting for Board
selections and election of Officers is Dec. 7, 2006 You are invited to
attend any Board meeting. Thanks,
Denny! The FFMS Board sincerely thanks Denny Lindeman for his
service on the FFMS the past few years. Denny decided not to remain on the
Board for 2006 due to schedule conflicts. During his time on the Board,
the FFMS benefited from his knowledge, ideas and judgment. Thanks, Denny! Been
to an open mic? - Try these! The
Lunch Studio, 444 S. Saginaw, Flint (810-424-9868) -third Wednesday Borders
Books and Music on Miller Rd. on the first Friday of each month. Want
more information? Visit the Flint Folk Music Society website (www.flintfolkmusic.org)
for current schedule and event news. You will find links to venues,
artists and other sites of interest to those who follow folk
music. There are also links to all of the sites of artists who have
performed for the FFMS over the five years of FFMS concerts. Artist
Preview Jim
Balcerski - Jim is one of the FFMS members who possesses great musical
talent and deserves to be showcased in this concert. Jim sings in a mellow
tenor voice and plays with wonderful finger-style guitar technique. An
easy going stage presence and a set list of favorite folk and popular
songs will make Jim's performance
an enjoyable evening of music for all. Mustard's
Retreat - FFMS friends David Tamulevich and Michael Hough return for
their annual Hard Times Potluck Fundraiser performance. Their support of
folk music in Flint is unrivaled and their musical contribution unmatched.
Barb
Barton - With clear voice, strong guitar, compelling and often witty
lyrics Barb Barton's songs draw you inside her passion - for nature and
family, against injustice far and near.- Debra D'Alesandro, Host/Producer; Amazon Country, WXPN 88.5 Philadelphia PA Stonecross
- A solid duo, (Susan O'Rourke and Ziggy Zeitler) STONECROSS is not
your average Celtic/World music group. Well founded on strong vocals and
woven together with a broad mix of instrumentation, they have been
bringing their music not only to fans of Irish music in Michigan but as
far East as
New York, West as Chicago and as South as Puerto Rico Matter
and Ghost - Matter and
Ghost is a traditional musical collaboration by multi-instrumentalist,
singer and songwriter Neil Woodward and stepdancer Sheila Graziano. The
matter of this duo is a show that highlights a variety of styles of
traditional music, songs and dance that represent our American culture and
the roots from which it has flourished. Both historical and original
material is offered up in the course of a presentation, with stories and
anecdotes adding perspective to individual pieces. Our ancestors built the
foundation for the traditions, and their ghosts hover about us, constantly
encouraging the perpetuation and evolution of these folk arts which are
the heart and soul of our civilization. John
D. Lamb - Singer-songwriter John D. Lamb has spent most of his life in
Michigan, but he writes songs as if he's spent his whole life on the road
- which, I suppose, isn't surprising considering his busy touring
schedule. A
tireless performer, Lamb spends quite a bit of time trekking around the
state and nearby areas, continuously winning new fans with his brand of
Midwestern roots rock. His brand-new CD "A Novel Day" (Schoolkids'
Records)
demonstrates Lamb's finesse with simple, evocative and catchy songcrafting.
The songs range from quiet meditations on broken relationships ("You
Threw Me") and deferred dreams ("Matador") to bouncy,
countrified pop ("I Want You Bad," "Don't Sound
Sound") and straight-up roots rock ("Comin' Undone"). His
songs speak with a Hemingwayesque world-weary romanticism, particularly in
"Matador," which is something of an informal tribute to Papa. -
Lisa Wexton/Metro Times Lisa
Pappas - Lisa Pappas, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, wrote her first song
when she was 12. That was the same year she received her first acoustic
guitar. She's been writing and performing music ever since-inspired by
such artists as Catie Curtis, the Indigo Girls, and Bonnie Raitt. Lisa
began performing at cafes while attending Michigan State University in the
1980s. She recorded her first CD of original material, Stranger in Town,
in 1998 shortly after relocating to Kalamazoo from Ann Arbor. Erica
Wheeler - Erica Wheeler is an award-winning songwriter based in
western Massachusetts. She has been a nationally touring artist for over a
decade and has four critically acclaimed releases to her credit. A
Signature Sounds
Recording artist, she has been featured on NPR's All Things Considered,
WXPN's World Cafe and her CD "The Harvest" remained on
Billboard's Gavin Americana chart for five months with a solid month in
the top ten. Erica has appeared as clubs, concert halls, colleges and
festivals across the country and has shared the bill with Shawn Colvin,
Indigo Girls, Greg Brown and many others. This is a return visit for
Erica, who helped launch the FFMS concert series with a performance on
June 10, 2000. The
Lizzard News News
from the Flint Folk Music Society
www.flintfolkmusic.org Vol.
7, Number 1 – September 2005 Come listen!
Saturday, September 24 – Eliza Gilkyson“ . . . her work is too good to be ignored. She sings with plaintive power and writes with soulful strength.” – Dallas Morning News Saturday, October 8 – Joel Mabus“ . . . sings with sincerity and character, he writes with veracity and vision. ...this is a refreshing return to the folk side of singer-songwriters, full of heart-felt music honestly performed.” Singout! Saturday, October 22 – Terri Hendrix“Folk, pop, country, blues, Latin, and country swing. None of it evades Terri Hendrix, who has a fresh enthusiasm and a divine voice, which equals an electric stage presence.” Chicago Sun Times Saturday, November 5 – Joe Jencks“Picking up a wide tradition of folk music styles and themes, Jencks carries them forward for a new generation of musicians and listeners alike.” The East Oregonian Saturday November 19 – Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnnie Irion“The distinguishing feature throughout is the couple’s caressing harmonies, which carry on the legacy of Johnnie and June, Gram and Emmylou.” Maverick Saturday, December 3 – Rod MacDonald "Rod MacDonald is a
brilliant folk singer and composer. His melodic songs possess words that
go straight into your heart and soul." Atlantic City (NJ) Press Greater Flint Arts Council
Gallery, 816 S. Saginaw St., Flint$12 per person, $10 for FFMS members.
Children 3 to 12 are admitted free. Children under 3 are not admitted.
Doors open at 7:00 p.m., concert starts at 7:30 p.m. More
information
- Visit the Flint Folk Music Society website (www.flintfolkmusic.org)
for current schedule and event news. You will find links to venues,
artists and other sites of interest to those who follow folk music. There
are also links to all of the sites of artists who have performed for the
FFMS over the seven years of FFMS concerts. Ticket
Prices
- The FFMS Board, faced with a depleted treasury due to the loss of
several grants during the past year, voted to increase member concert
admission fees to $10 per person effective immediately. The Board regrets
the necessity of the increase but acted to insure the survival of the FFMS. Tickets
in Advance
– Advance tickets to upcoming shows can be purchased at any FFMS
concert. In addition, tickets will be held for any concert on a “will
call” basis at the ticket counter up until 7:15 p.m. the night of the
concert. You can request that tickets be held for you by e-mail to
tickets@flintfolkmusic.org or by calling 810-238-4096. Membership
changes - The FFMS Board voted at
its September 15 meeting to make the following changes to FFMS membership.
First, all current memberships will expire on December 31. Future
memberships in 2006 and beyond will span the calendar year. The membership
fee for 2006 is set at $10 per household. New
Board Member
- Sherry Miller was elected to the Board at its meeting on
September 15. Sherry will officially assume the duties of Board secretary.
Welcome aboard, Sherry! Thanks! - Thanks to everyone who attend the Flint Folk Festival and helped make it a success. Thanks also to The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, The Greater Flint Arts Council, Mott Community College, and Citizens Bank for their financial support. A special thanks goes out to all the volunteers for their work on the festival. The
Lizzard News News
from the Flint Folk Music Society www.flintfolkmusic.org Vol.
6, Number 3 – Summer, 2005 Flint Folk Festival - July 16, from 1 to 9 p.m. – Don White, Sons of the Never Wrong, Mustard’s Retreat, Matt Watroba and Annie Gallup will provide the music at the Flint Folk Festival on Saturday, July 16 at the GFAC, 816 S. Saginaw, Flint. Our new indoor festival location provides an intimate, air conditioned, rain or shine setting in which to enjoy a great lineup of talented musicians. New this year are “In the Round” sessions. These sessions will feature several artists on stage simultaneously playing and discussing their music. Check the artist profiles and stage schedule in this newsletter or www.flintfolkmusic.org/festival05 for more information. *Admission is $10 per person
– stay all day or come and go, as you desire!*Tickets: by mail (P.O. Box
1000, Flint, 48501); at East End Books (at Farmers Market); or at the
door*50/50 Raffle and door prizes*Refreshments available on site*Bring an
instrument and JAM when the festival is over – 9:30 until ? Art
Walk – Open Mic – July 8, from 6 to 9 p.m. - The
Flint Folk Music Society hosts an Open Mic Session at the GFAC on Friday,
July 8 in conjunction with the July Art Walk. Bring your instrument and
talent. Sign up is at the door! Folk
Gallery – the Radio Show! – Saturdays, 9 to Noon The
Flint Folk Music Society presents the “Folk Gallery” on WKUF, 94.3 FM
on Saturday mornings from 9 until noon. Steve Lacrosse, Johnnie Jones, Bob
Miller and Jim McTiernan host the show on a rotating schedule and play a
variety of classic and contemporary folk music for your enjoyment. WKUF is
a low power FM community radio station operated by Kettering University
students. Signal strength limits the reception area to about 10 miles so
you may not be able to pick up the show where you are, but give a listen
if you can for some fine folk music on the airwaves Memberships – Half-year rates in effect - New and renewed memberships are now at half-year rates - $7.50 for individuals and $12.50 for families/households. Memberships expire December 31. Remember, the admission charge for FFMS concerts was raised to $12 for non-members at the annual meeting. This makes your membership more valuable than ever! You save $5 with every concert admission. So keep your membership current and save. Come listen! – Upcoming concerts! Saturday, September 24 – Eliza Gilkyson Saturday, October 8 – Joel Mabus Saturday, October 22 – Terry Hendrix Saturday, November 5 – Joe Jencks Saturday, November 19 – Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnnie Irion Saturday, December 3 – Rod
MacDonald Greater Flint Arts Council Gallery, 816 S. Saginaw St., Flint $12
per person, $7 for FFMS members. Children and students admitted free.
Doors open at 7:00 p.m., concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Information:
www.flintfolkmusic.org Been
to an open mic? – Try these! The Lunch Studio, 444 S. Saginaw, Flint (810-424-9868) –third Wednesday 6:30-9:30 p.m. Borders Books and Music on Miller Rd. on the first Friday of each month. 7-9 Flint
Folk Festival Stage Schedule and Artist Profiles
2:00 –Matt Watroba 3:00 – In the Round: Annie
Gallup and Sons of the Never Wrong 4:00 – Mustard’s Retreat 5:00 – Annie Gallup 6:00 – In the Round:
Mustard’s Retreat, Don White and Matt Watroba 7:00 – Sons of the Never
Wrong 8:00 – Don White 9:30 - Jam Don WhiteIf you laugh and cry within the same ten minutes, you
either need a vacation or you are sitting in the audience at a Don White
show. This working class family man from Lynn, Massachusetts has emerged
as the thoughtful songwriter of the decade whose relevance to our lives is
evidenced by the powerful reaction he evokes at every concert. Radio
audiences, too, are not safe from the Don White experience. Valerie Adams
of WNCS Radio, Vermont said, "I've never seen anything like it. Every
time I play I Know What Love Is the phones light up like a Christmas tree.
Stereo Review Magazine called it "...A candidate for song of the
year."
Sons of the Never WrongSons
of the Never Wrong are a folk trio from Chicago made up of Bruce Roper, Deborah Lader, and
Sue Demel. The band has been creating original "turbo-charged folk
music" for 12 years to a cult-like national following. Although the
band name harkens back to the traditional harmonies of old-time acts, Sons
are anything but. The Sons’ 4 cd releases have brought them stunning
national and international reviews as well as extensive radio-play. It is
their live performances though that win the audience's hearts. The group
can barely stand still on stage and insty-choreography results in a
non-stop show of stories, dancing, and oddball humor. Yet it is when the 3
step up to the mic and give out one of many stunningly arranged songs that
you know you are in for something special. Mustard’s RetreatEverything Mustard's Retreat
does on a stage is aimed at pleasing, moving and engaging their audience.
Whether singing their own gentle love songs and vivid ballads, telling
tall tales or offering treasures from America's vast traditional song bag,
a Mustard's Retreat show always feels like it's designed for the people
who have come to see them that day, in that coffeehouse, school, concert
hall or festival. Audiences sense this from the moment David and Michael
hit the stage, are drawn to it like hungry kids to Sunday supper and
reward it the best way they know how. They come to see Mustard's Retreat
again and again. Matt WatrobaMatt
brings a very special set of talents to the stage whenever he appears as a
folk musician. His excellent guitar playing, mellow voice, friendship with
his audience, and knowledge of his presentations is impressive. Add to
that Matt’s own special brand of humor and you are in for a most
entertaining and enlightening evening. You will feel his obvious love of
folk music, both traditional and contemporary--the writers and performers,
the heroes and villains. Matt sings songs of compassion, inner strength,
humor, and every day living. He sings songs that you will feel and
remember for a long time. You will love his music, you will love the
journey that his music takes you on, and you will love the place that his
music takes you to. Annie GallupAnnie Gallup's writing is unabashedly imaginative and richly sensual. She is a teller of short, elaborate tales — song-length works of fiction that sparkle with the complexity and polish of poetry; tightly packed lyrical strands that crackle with intelligence and spry wordplay, and pulse with insistent rhythm. Hold Annie's work up to that of many contemporary literary lions: she's the real thing. So it's no small compliment to say that her musical instincts are a match for her pen. Annie is a gifted, inventive instrumentalist. Her guitar work is a fresh, welcome interplay of short lead runs and complex picking patterns. The
Lizzard News News
from the Flint Folk Music Society *
810-235-1442 * www.flintfolkmusic.org Vol. 6, Number2 – January 2005 These activities supported by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Greater Flint Arts Council
The
Lizzard News News
from the Flint Folk Music Society *
810-235-1442 * www.flintfolkmusic.org Vol.
6, Number1 – September 2004 These activities supported by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Greater Flint Arts Council Come
celebrate! You’re invited to the
Flint Folk Music Society’s fifth
birthday party featuring – what else - a performance by Canadian fiddler
and step dancer April Verch. Free drinks, snacks, and birthday cake! Door
prizes will be awarded! Join the celebration Saturday, September 18. Doors
open at 6:30 for this show. The concert starts at 7:30 in the Greater
Flint Arts Council Gallery. Admission is $7 for members, $10 for others.
Come
listen! Saturday, September 18 – April Verch Saturday, September 25 –Open Mic (no admission charge) Saturday, October 2 – Valdy Saturday, October 9 – The Kennedys Saturday, October 16 – Community Sing Along (no admission charge) Saturday, October 23 – Jake Armerding Saturday, October 30 – Mad Agnes Saturday, November 13 – Members’ Performance Night ($5 admission) Saturday November 20 – Bob Bovee and Gail Heil Saturday, November 27 – Small Potatoes Greater Flint Arts Council Gallery, 816 S. Saginaw St., Flint $10 per person, $7 for FFMS members. Children 3 to 12 are admitted free. Children under 3 are not admitted. Doors open at 7:00 p.m., concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Information: www.flintfolkmusic.org. or 235-1442. Thanks!
Thanks to everyone who attend the Flint
Folk Festival and helped make it a success. Thanks also toThe
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, The Michigan Council for the Arts and
Cultural Affairs and its Region 5 Regranting Agency, The Greater Flint
Arts Council, Mott Community College, The Torch Bar and Grill, Citizens
Bank, Halo Burger Restaurant, Elderly Instruments and WJRT TV-12
for their financial support. A special thanks to all the volunteers
for their work on the festival. Come
Stomp! It’s
the "Mama Java Stomp II” - a great opportunity for all you singers
and pickers. On Saturday, September 18, East Village Java (823
Commonwealth, near the corner of E. Court St. and Franklin) is hosting a
block party to celebrate their third anniversary. The Flint Folk Music
Society will provide and coordinate music for the event. The "Mama
Java Stomp II" runs from 10-4 p.m. If you want to play, call Jim at
235-1442 with your preferred performance time so you can get on the stage
schedule. Sets are 30 minutes. You must be on the schedule to play, so
call ASAP. Help
1! Sound Workshop: Learn
how to set up and operate the sound equipment used by the FFMS for our
concerts. Those participating are asked to work the sound equipment (with
supervision) at a future FFMS concert. This is a great chance to learn
about and explore the other side of concert production. The workshop will
take place Saturday, September 25, GFAC, from 1-4 p.m. If you are
interested in participating please call 235-1442 or just show up! Help
2! Volunteer Workshop:
The FFMS needs your help to keep the organization running and
growing. Stop by and learn about how you can help the FFMS – from web
site to newsletters, from selling CDs to taking admissions, long term or
one-shot commitments. Drop by the Greater Flint Arts Council on Saturday,
September 25, GFAC, between 1-4 p.m. or call 810-235-1442 anytime to find
out how your time and talents can help. Want
information? Visit the Flint Folk
Music Society website (www.flintfolkmusic.org) for current schedule and
event news. You will find links to venues, artists and other sites of
interest to those who follow folk music. There are also links to all of
the sites of artists who have performed for the FFMS over the five years
of FFMS concerts. Need
a gift? FFMS concert tickets make
great gifts or, if you’re thinking Christmas already, great stocking
stuffers for folk music fans in your family or for friends. FFMS members
can now buy advance tickets to future shows by mail or at any concert.
Each ticket is good for one admission to any concert. The cost is the $7
member admission charge. Been to an open mic? The FFMS has scheduled an open mic night on Saturday, September 25 at 7 p.m. following the workshop described above. Other open mic opportunities in the area include The Lunch Studio, 444 S. Saginaw, Flint (810-424-9868). and Borders Books and Music on Miller Rd. on the first Friday of each month. These are great chances to hear some local talent or try out your own performance. Come sing! Community Sing Along: Join us in an evening of singing! FFMS members will lead the audience in
a selection of songs from the “Rise Up Singing” songbook published by
Sing Out magazine. Lyric sheets with chords will be provided. If you have
a copy of the songbook bring it with you. If you play an instrument bring
it and play along, too.
Lost!
(and Found): Two jackets left at
the folk festival. Call 235-1442 to claim them. Upcoming
Concert information (check the web
links for more information) April
Verch: Emerging
from the thick of the traditional music scene, the fiddling of April Verch
is a breath of fresh air. Though she has deep roots in the fiddling of her
native Ottawa Valley in Canada, April's broad repertoire features
traditional and contemporary tunes ranging in source and inspiration from
French Canadian to Appalachian, from Bluegrass to Celtic, and Brazilian to
Old Time - not to mention her own colorful compositions. EnRoute magazine
says, "April's strings burn with energy, whether she's playing
waltzes, airs, reels, or polkas. This is the hottest old time music of the
year." No matter what you call it, April's music is beguiling in the
way it brilliantly balances contemporary élan and traditional resonance. Valdy:
Valdy, born Valdemar Horsdal in Ottawa, Canada has been part of the fabric
of Canadian pop and folk music for over 30 years. A man with a thousand
friends, from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island to Texas to New Zealand,
he's a singer, guitarist and songwriter who catches the small but telling
moments that make up life. Remembered for Play Me a Rock and Roll Song,
his bitter-sweet memory of finding himself, a relaxed and amiable
story-teller, facing a rambunctious audience at the Aldergrove Rock
Festival circa 1968, Valdy has sold almost half a million copies of his 13
albums, has two Juno Awards (Folk Singer of the Year and Folk Entertainer
of the Year), a total of seven Juno nominations and four Gold albums to
his credit. The Kennedys: Their folk-funk fusion has garnered them a loyal following, and they've toured almost every state in the union. Critics enjoy Pete's guitar pyrotechnics and Maura's inventive melodies. Their songs are often anthemic
and catchy, favoring arrangements where Pete and Maura both play guitar.
Pete is an outstanding instrumentalist who can foray into classical, rock,
extended overtone solos and electric guitar effects with equal ease. When
not slinging his acoustic six-string, he is known to employ a Rickenbacker
twelve-string electric for a McGuinnish twang. Maura primarily plays
rhythm guitar while taking the vocal lead on most of the songs. Their
songwriting tends to be upbeat and idealistic, and everything about them
indicates that this is a natural extension of who they are. (Editor’s
Note: I saw The Kennedys in concert in Virginia last year and they are
great! Great, music, great performance and great personalities.) Jake
Armerding:
When a kid grows up in Massachusetts, you’d think he’d be safe from
stuff like bluegrass music. Thanks to a mandolinist father who spent his
weekends touring the region with newgrass group Northern Lights, Jake was
doomed from the start. He began violin lessons at four, joined Northern
Lights at 13, and released his own album of original, folk-and-bluegrass
material while still a teenager. He currently performs on fiddle,
mandolin, guitar and vocals, with his dad, Northern Lights frontman Taylor
Armerding, on mandolin and high lonesome vocals. (Editor’s Note: I
hadn’t heard much of Jake’s music until I heard him at the Falcon
Ridge Folk Festival this summer. I was really impressed by his
musicianship and stage presence.) Mad Agnes: Quirky,
intelligent, warm, insightful, and humorous - Mad Agnes’ music –
created by Margo Hennebach, Adrienne Jones, and Mark Saunders –
delights, incites, and heals. They do it with rich, heart-rending
three-part harmonies, synergistic musicianship, and clever songwriting
that is at once familiar and completely unique. Although the band Mad
Agnes may be relatively new, their musical bond stretches across three
bands, two solo careers, one and a half decades and a vast repertoire
encompassing ten releases. In concert, they move from bold, lushly
arranged songs to pared down, spare and simple ones, showcasing their
ample musical range. (Editor’s Note: Feedback from last year’s
appearance by this group encouraged a return engagement. Mad Agnes gave a
wonderful show. If you missed them then, see them this time.You’l have a
good time at a very polished and professional performance.) Bob Bovee and Gail Heil: Since 1980 Bob and Gail have traveled the country together taking old time music to audiences of all ages at festivals, fairs, concerts, dances, schools, libraries, music camps, radio and TV programs. This is rural music as played in homes, at dances and for earlier entertainments such as minstrel shows and country radio. Along with a repertoire including dance tunes, ballads, cowboy songs, humorous and sentimental numbers, blues and rags, they spice their shows with stories, history and folklore. They both sing (Bob yodels, too) and play fiddle, banjo, guitar and harmonica. The
Lizzard News News
from the Flint Folk Music Society *
810-235-1442 * www.flintfolkmusic.org Vol. 5, Number 2 –
January 2004 These activities supported by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Greater Flint Arts CouncilConcert Season Part IISaturday, January 24 – Hard Times Banquet II featuring Mustard’s Retreat, an FFMS Fundraiser (see below) Saturday, February 7 – Open Mic at GFAC (see below) Saturday, February 21 – Ron & Gail’s Pot Luck and Jam Session at Thornridge Apts. Clubhouse (see below) Friday, February 27 – Lou and Peter Berryman Saturday, March 13 – Open Mic at GFAC (see below) Saturday, March 20 – Mike Agranoff Saturday, March 27 – Claudia Schmidt (CD Rummage Sale precedes concert at 6:00 p.m.) Saturday April 10 – Easily Amused Saturday, April 17 – Colleen Sexton Friday, April 23 – Lynn Miles Saturday, May 8 – Flint Sings #3 *All concerts are at the Greater Flint Arts Council, 816 S. Saginaw St., Flint, except where noted in the schedule. Please note the two Friday concerts in the listing above. Admission for all concerts, except where noted in the schedule, is $10 per person, $7 for members. Children 3 to 12 are admitted free. Children under 3 are not admitted. All concerts start at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. * For more information about the artists, check our web page www.flintfolkmusic.org. Links to each performer’s web page are provided on our concert schedule page. Information about each artist will be e-mailed to the FFMS list during the week before the concert. Hard Times Banquet II Unlike last year, the FFMS received grant from the Viola E. Bray Charitable Trust this year. However the amount of our Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs Grant through the Greater Flint Arts Council was cut! We did receive several gifts from members that helped us through part one of our concert season. Last year the “Hard Times Banquet” fundraiser helped pay the bills and gave FFMS members and friends an enjoyable evening of fun and music. So we have scheduled The Hard Times Banquet II to help fill the financial gap left by this year’s grant cuts. Hard Times II will be held Saturday, January 24 beginning at 5:30 at the GFAC. Admission is $10 and a food item to share. There will be a musical showcase by FFMS members at 7 and a performance by FFMS friends Michael Hough and David Tamulevich, otherwise know as Mustard’s Retreat at 8 p.m. As you may remember, Mustard’s had to cancel their Flint Folk Festival performance this past summer due to David’s illness. I’m glad to say that David has recovered and Mustard’s is back on stage again. Hard Times
II will feature the ever-popular 50/50 raffle during the evening and,
of course, donations will be accepted at the banquet. Reservations are
encouraged so that we will know how many tables to set up and have an idea
of what food items people are bringing. Beverages will be available for
purchase or you may bring your own. You can make reservations by phone
(810-235-1442) or e-mail (jim@flintfolkmusic.org). Be sure to tell us how
many will be attending and what you will bring to eat. Desserts are always
welcome! CD
Rummage Sale – Donations needed Have used, duplicate or ignored CDs? Give them to the FFMS! The FFMS will hold a sale of donated CDs prior to Claudia Schmidt’s concert on Saturday, March 27. Proceeds go to support FFMS activities. If you have CDs you want to donate to the sale, you can bring them to any FFMS concert or activity. Guest
Pass Enclosed Members receiving this newsletter will find
a guest pass enclosed. We encourage you to give it to someone you feel
would enjoy the musical entertainment the FFMS presents. The person using
the guest pass cannot be a current or former FFMS member. Make sure you
sign the guest pass, too. If someone attends an FFMS concert using your
guest pass, you will receive a ticket for one free admission to any future
FFMS concert. Kickin’
Around Ideas The FFMS Board spent a great deal of time discussing ideas to enhance and expand FFMS activities. A lot of ideas were presented and discussed but we decided that we need and want your ideas, too, before we make any decisions. So put on your thinking caps and either call, mail or e-mail your inspirations to the FFMS. I’ll post them to the web site so everyone can read what suggestions come in and comment on them. Annual
Board Meeting set for March 25
The
FFMS Board holds its annual meeting on Thursday, March 25. The purpose of
this meeting is to elect the FFMS Board for 2004 and its officers. If you
are interested in serving on the FFMS Board, let me know by phone or
e-mail. The FFMS Board welcomes new members with the time, energy and
skills to help make the FFMS a dynamic and successful organization. The
Flint Folk Festival-2004 The Flint Folk Festival-2004 is scheduled for July 17 at Riverbank Park in Flint. Brewer and Shipley will headline the festival, which also features Four Shillings Short, Tullamore Dew and Mustard’s Retreat. Check the web site frequently for new developments and additions. Again this year we will offer space for informational booths and exhibits by area groups and organizations. Space will be provided free of charge to non-profits. If you belong to or know of a group that would like to have an informational booth at the festival, call 235-1442 or e-mail jim@flintfolkmusic.org with the organization’s name, a contact name and a contact phone number. Food concessionaires are also needed for the festival. Anyone wishing to operate a concession at the festival should respond as described above. Other
folk music events Open Mics FFMS Open Mic Nights: The FFMS will host open mic nights on Saturday, February 7 and Saturday March 13 from 7-10 p.m. Players are encouraged to participate and listeners are encouraged to applaud. Seriously, if you want to hear some good music by local folks and have a good time for a little money ($2 admission), come have a listen on this or any open mic night! Ron and Gail’s Open Mic: FFMS members Ron and Gail Woods will host a combination pot luck/open mic/jam session/sing along on Saturday, February 21 at the Thornridge Apartments Clubhouse from 6-10 p.m. Bring a dish to pass, a voice to sing with and/or an instrument to play. Borders:
7:00 p.m. on the first
Friday of each month. Java:
FFMS member Rich Marr passes along some
information about a new place called "Java", which is a brand new
coffee/cigar cafe that has basically a perpetual open mic. They have comedians on Friday
nights and established acts of various natures Thursdays and Saturdays,
but the rest of the time there's an open mic for anyone to play, speak and
perform in any way they see fit. The contact for this new place is Ricardo
Leos; he can be reached at 810-564-9387, or on his cell at 489-528-9049.
Rich notes that this is a genuine opportunity for anyone who plays or
appreciates music. Watch the Web! Stay up to date on scheduling and locations of Flint Folk Music Society concerts at www.flintfolkmusic.org. You can find out more about the performers who will perform on our stage and even hear selections of their music. The Flint Folk Music Society web site always includes links to performers’ sites. So visit our site and then click on the performer’s name in the schedule to go to their web site. E-mail If you give us your e-mail address you will receive regular announcements about our concerts and performers as well as other folk music news. If you change your e-mail address let us know immediately so you don't miss any announcements. Vol. 5, Number1 – September 2003
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