ContraNews from Contracopia Nation-wide Contra Dance information and music news 24 August 2003 *************************************************************************** ContraNews is the monthly email newsletter produced by Contracopia. Here you will find out what new CDs have been added to the Contracopia collection, some tour schedules for contra dance musicians and bands featured on Contracopia, web links to popular contra dance festivals, plus any other contra dance related news that comes my way. Please forward this email to friends who enjoy contra dancing. Contracopia was created by a contra dancer for contra dancers. If you enjoy the site, please tell your friends! Send them to: www.contracopia.net You can list contra dance related events and workshops here for free! send info to: contranews AT contracopia.net Thanks - patrick **************************************************************************** IN THIS ISSUE ~A FEW WORDS ~NEW STUFF AT CONTRACOPIA ~REAL AUDIO SHOW ~PERFORMANCE SCHEDULES ~FESTIVALS, SPECIAL DANCES, CAMPS, VACATIONS, AND SUCH **************************************************************************** ~A FEW WORDS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Again, travel and personal stuff has prevented me from keeping up with this newsletter, I apologize to those folks who sent me information and did not get a posting. My intent is still to return to a regular monthly schedule. One bit of news that doesn't fit elsewhere: Childsplay has just released the cd The Great Waltz (www.contracopia.net/cd-files/rc2) as a book, complete with melodies and harmonies written out for violin, viola and cello, plus chords for piano and bass. Go to their web site www.childsplay.org for more info. As always, send ideas, event info, comments , questions, et cetera to: patrick AT contracopia.net **************************************************************************** ~NEW STUFF AT CONTRACOPIA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Four new CDs this month, and I dare say it is a diverse offering. Groundswell by Atlantic Crossing The third CD from Atlantic Crossing has some of that funky, progressive stuff they play at dances and some traditional songs from both sides of the pond. http://www.contracopia.net/cgi-bin/cdpage/cdpage.cgi?cdreq=ac3 or www.contracopia.net/cd-files/ac3 Come Sit By My Chair by Brendan Taaffe In his debut CD, Brendan plays some of the Irish and New England tunes he does at contra dances, plus sings a few of his favorite songs. http://www.contracopia.net/cgi-bin/cdpage/cdpage.cgi?cdreq=bt1 or www.contracopia.net/cd-files/bt1 Going Elsewhere by The Clayfoot Strutters I am really glad the Strutters finally put out a CD. They have been playing together since 1989, but they live all over the place, and only occassionally get together to play a dance. If you have the good fortune to get to one of their dances, you won't soon forget the experience. Fun beyond funky...have a listen. http://www.contracopia.net/cgi-bin/cdpage/cdpage.cgi?cdreq=cs1 or www.contracopia.net/cd-files/cs1 Childsplay Live by Childsplay Childsplay is a unique experience. Twenty-four very talented fiddlers, all playing Bob Childs' violins, got together last year for a concert tour that will not soon be forgotten. This is a masterfully done recording of one of those performances. http://www.contracopia.net/cgi-bin/cdpage/cdpage.cgi?cdreq=rc3 or www.contracopia.net/cd-files/rc3 You can listen to all the CDs on Contracopia by going to www.contracopia.net NEW VIDEO What's Not To Like? by David Millstone David has done it again! This is a joy to watch, whether you are a contra dancer or not. Through a series of interviews with dancers and musicians, accompanied by some great dance footage, David explores the importance of the Norwich, VT dance to the dance community. http://www.contracopia.net/cd-files/dm2 **************************************************************************** ~REAL AUDIO WEBSHOW I did not have time to put together a new webshow, but the old one is still there. It was recorded in March, 2002 at the Burlington, VT contra dance. The caller is myself, Patrick McCullough. http://www.contracopia.net/cdfiles/webshow/webshow.ram I will be taking requests for show topics and tunes, email contranews AT contracopia.net **************************************************************************** ~PERFORMANCE SCHEDULES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Many of the bands on Contracopia have websites with schedules. Try the Contracopia Links Page at www.contracopia.net/links.html +++++++++++++++++++++++ Donna Hebert www.contracopia.net/cd-files/dh1 Sept. 13 - Greenfield MA - Guiding Start Grange - Contradance with Groovemama (Donna, Liza Constable, Lise Brown, Jane Rothfield) and Rick Mohr calling Sept. 20 - Nelson NH - Town Hall Concert - w/Chanterelle Sept. 27 - Barre VT - Armory - Nat. Traditional OT Fiddle Contest - French-Canadian fiddling workshops Oct. 5 - Fitchburg MA - Acadian Historical Society - French-Canadian Fiddle Concert Oct. 18 - Vergennes VT Opera House - Fiddle Contest Judge Oct. 31 - Lyndon VT - Lyndon State College - w/Chanterelle Nov. 1 - Manchester NH - Manchester Historical Society - w/Chanterelle Nov. 8 - Amherst MA - Groove Camp Reunion Nov. 15 or 16 - Amherst MA - Alan Jabbour Old-Time Fiddling Workshop +++++++++++++++++++++++ Ryan Thompson www.contracopia.net/cd-files/rt1 www.contracopia.net/cd-files/rt2 Ryan and the The Crawdad Wranglers will be back to the Hampton Seafood Festival (Hampton Beach, NH) again this year, performing on the shell stage at Hampton Beach on Saturday, Sept 6. +++++++++++++++++++++++ Golden Griffon Stringtet http://www.contracopia.net/cgi-bin/cdpage/cdpage.cgi?cdreq=gg1 or www.contracopia.net/cd-files/gg1 September 6, 2003 Civil War Ball by The Golden Griffon Stringtet, Karen Missavage calling Old Masonic Temple, 115 E. Green St., Marshall, MI 49068 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm, admission $10.00 Call for info: 616-781-8921 Modern participants/spectators are welcome September 20, 2003 Civil War Ball by The Golden Griffon Stringtet, Karen Missavage calling St. Clair County Park West of Port Huron on old M-21, Lapeer Rd, Goodells, MI 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Admission: Free Call for info: 989-773-7015 Modern participants/spectators are welcome September 21, 2003 Concert by The Golden Griffon Stringtet Romulus Pumpkin Festival Kingsley House, 11120 Hunt, Romulus, MI 48174 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, Admission: Free Phone: 734-753-8863 September 27 & 28, 2003 Concert by The Golden Griffon Stringtet Clinton Fall Festival Clinton Community Center, Tecumseh-Clinton Rd., Clinton, MI 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Admission: Free Phone: 734-753-8863 **************************************************************************** ~FESTIVALS, CAMPS, VACATIONS, AND SUCH Donna Hebert's "Groove Camp" Donna is a GREAT French-Canadian fiddler www.contracopia.net/cd-files/dh1 FALL FIDDLING CLASSES - Monday and Wednesday nights Fiddling and Improvisation Class: Sept.8 - Oct 27 - in Amherst, MA, with Donna Hebert Teen/Novice Fiddling Class: Sept. 10 - Oct. 29, with Donna Hebert http://www.dhebert.com/inthegrooveworkshops/fall03courses.html OTHER LESSONS, WORKSHOPS, RESIDENCIES In addition to these classes, Donna also teaches private lessons, teacher in-service trainings, fiddling residencies in schools, and workshops for musicians. Email or call 413-253-4058 for more information. +++++++++++++++++++++++ October 31 and November 1 Hey Fever All Saints Anglican Church, 317 Chapel St. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Featuring: Flapjack Tuq Lisa Greenleaf Catherine Burns info: web storm.ca/~oldsod, email oldsod AT storm.ca +++++++++++++++++++++++ November 28 and 29 Thanksgiving Dance Weekend Featuring: Flapjack Groovemongers (www.contracopia.net/cd-files/gr1) Kathy Anderson info: http://www.rochestercontra.com +++++++++++++++++++++++ December 26-30, 2003 Contradancer's Delight Holiday Lakeview Resort, near Morgantown, WV Performing: The Elftones www.contracopia.net/cd-files/et1 www.contracopia.net/cd-files/et2 www.contracopia.net/cd-files/et3 New Balance Beth Molaro Robert Cromartie High Class dance experience! contact warren wdoyle AT mountain.org **************************************************************************** SUBSCRIBE: send a BLANK email to contranews-subscribe@topica.com . 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