FolkWorks FUN-raiser PARTY
HELLO FOLK MUSIC and DANCE LOVERS!
FolkWorks is pleased to announce our end-of-the-year virtual musical celebration/party, a FUN-Raiser
Saturday, November 6th 4-7pm PT, 5-8pm MT, 6-9pm CT, 7-10pm ET …
(There is no hard cut off time. If there are folks who want to, we can keep the party going! 🙂 )
Click to register for the party (Confirmation will be sent out within 24 hours!)
We will feature live performances on-line with a variety of musical genres –something for everyone. Just like all music parties … There will be hosted rooms for song/tune swaps and chatting.
SCHEDULE (See below for information about all the performers/Breakout Room leaders)
| 4:00pm | Welcome/Orientation/Chat | |
| 4:15pm | Breakout Rooms | HOSTS |
| Old Time | Jane Rothfield / Allan Carr | |
| Celtic | John Whelan | |
| Eastern European | Trudy Israel / Rebecca Stout | |
| Folk Song Circle (all ages and genres) – Song Swaps |
Harriet Aronow / Stefani Rosenberg | |
| Story Telling | Yael Schy | |
| Singer Song-writer (all ages) – Song Swaps |
Jackie Morris | |
| Contra | Becky Tracy / Rachel Bell | |
| MISCELLANEOUS – Surprises | ||
| Featured Artists | ||
| 5:00pm | Nevenka | (East European Folk Ensemble) |
| 5:15pm | Suzy and Eric Thompson | (Blues to Bluegrass to Old-time) |
| 5:30pm | Mamak Khadem | (Persian vocal group) |
| 5:45pm | John Whelan | (Irish Accordion) |
| 5:45pm | Main Room Gathering | |
| 6:00pm | Breakout Rooms | HOSTS |
| Old Time | W.B. Reid / Bonnie Zahnow | |
| Contra | Arroyo Seco Stringband (Olivia Breidenthal, Emil Olguin, Ben Graubart) |
|
| Folk Song Circle (all ages and genres) – Song Swaps |
Harriet Aronow / Stefani Rosenberg | |
| Celtic | Jeff Spero / Kira Ott | |
| Americana | Susie Glaze with Rick Shea and Ernest Troost | |
| Singer Songwriters | Jackie Morris | |
| Acoustic Blues | Bernie Pearl with Mike Barry | |
| MISCELLANEOUS – Surprises |
Invite a few podded friends (or your band) to join you and us at your home connection. Have your own drinks and snacks by your side. Stay safe and have a blast!
As most of you know, FolkWorks has made great improvements this year. The new website is more accessible, more responsive and covers a much wider geographical area than ever before.
Our goal is to deliver to you the latest on musical and dance events, classes, articles, album evaluations, and opportunity to contribute content and/or post your own performances and events. Of course, the expanded services and access to more events – in your particular area and around the world –– comes with more expenses.
The new website was expensive to set up and we must pay ongoing maintenance costs each month. Our operating funds were severely depleted this year and we need everyone’s help!
Please hold the November 6th date to attend our FUN-raiser. Enjoy, and donate to show your appreciation for the music and for the community that FolkWorks builds.
You are most welcome to donate right now – no amount is too small!
Click to register for the party (Confirmation will be sent out within 24 hours!)
Thank you for your ongoing support,
The FolkWorks Board
Featured Artists
Nevenka (East European Folk Ensemble)
The group was formed in 1976 by women who shared a common interest in the complex harmonies and compelling rhythms typical in Balkan music. Very much in the Eastern European tradition, Nevenka includes women of all ages making music together.
Their repertoire includes songs from Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Russia, Ukraine, and from the Ladino Sephardic and Romani cultures.
Suzy and Eric Thompson (Blues to Bluegrass to Old-time)
Suzy Thompson is one of the rare musicians today who has a deep mastery of multiple styles of Southern old-time fiddling, from prewar acoustic blues to Cajun and Creole to old-time fiddle, especially the kind that has a ragtime or blues feel. A powerful blues singer in the styles of Memphis Minnie and Bessie Smith, and a highly respected blues fingerpicking guitarist, Suzy is unique in her ability to combine fiddle, vocals and guitar in the old-time, Cajun, blues and ragtime idioms.
Eric Thompson took up the guitar as a teenager in Palo Alto, California in the early 1960’s, at a time when very few folk guitarists were playing more than basic rhythm guitar. Among his earliest bands were the Black Mountain Boys (with Jerry Garcia and David Nelson) and Mother McCree’s Uptown Jug Champions. He quickly became nationally known as an exceptional lead flatpicker, winning the World Championship Cup at Union Grove, North Carolina with the New York Ramblers (which also included David Grisman and Winnie Winston) and flying to Nashville, Tennessee to record “Beatle Country” with the Charles River Valley Boys (reissued on Rounder).
Mamak Khadem & Ensemble (Persian vocal group)
Mamak Khadem- vocal / Dimitri Mahlis- oud, guitar / Mehdi Bagheri – kamancheh / Chris Votek – cello / Mathias Kunzli – percussion
Called “…one of the wonders of world trance music”, by The Los Angeles Times, Mamak Khadem captivates audiences by blending her roots in the ancient poetry and music of the Persian masters with a bold and revolutionary new sound. By nature, she is a nomad, one who thrives on open spaces. By occupation, she is a bridge, one that connects geography to lore. In music, she is open to cultural influences, but she has chosen the classical Persian style as her base. Formerly of the sensational cross-cultural fusion ensemble AXIOM OF CHOICE, Mamak weaves a canopy, both simple and rich, for a stunningly emotional and spiritual musical experience that inspires new listeners to embrace cultural diversity and an awareness and appreciation of Persian arts and culture through a blending of old and new.
Mamak Khadem was born in Iran, at a time when tides were changing. She was part of the Children’s Choir for National Radio and Television of Iran, but it wasn’t until after the Iranian Revolution that her passion for singing waxed. Inspired by works of master musicians, she seized every opportunity to further her vocal art, regularly traveling back to Iran to study with some of the finest Persian vocalists and masters. She also benefited from the study of classical Indian singing tradition at the Ali Akbar Khan College of Music in Northern California and from singing with the Los Angeles based Balkan choir Nevenka.
John Whelan (Irish Accordion)
Often hailed as one of the world’s best living Irish button accordion players, seven-time All-Ireland champion John Whelan was born to Irish parents living in Dunstable, England. He was raised in the vibrant London Irish music scene of the 1970s, learning his craft from such legends as Lucy Farr, Roger Sherlock, Paddy Taylor, Mick O’Connor, and his teacher, Brendan Mulkaire.
John embodies the dichotomy of being forward-thinking while still deeply rooted in tradition. He fearlessly explores the creative reaches of music, artistry, and expression while carefully preserving the musical roots from which he originally flourished, and passing those on to the next generation.
Breakout Room Leaders
Jane Rothfield / Allan Carr (Old Time)
https://www.janerothfield.com/jane-rothfield-and-allan-carr
Husband/wife duo, Jane Rothfield (fiddle, banjo, vocal) and Allan Carr (guitar,vocals) have been playing their unique blend of traditional and original Celtic and Appalachian style music for over
30 years. The combination of Jane’s fiddling and clawhammer banjo with Allan’s powerful and inventive guitar skills PLUS great singing creates a marvelous sound and musical journey! They have toured together throughout the United Kingdom and the US and Canada and concerts and festivals such as Philadelphia Folk Festival, New Bedford Folk Festival, Champlain Valley Festival, Old Songs Festival, and many more! They have recorded over 8 albums together and have plans for a new recording in 2020!
John Whelan (Celtic)
Often hailed as one of the world’s best living Irish button accordion players, seven-time All-Ireland champion John Whelan was born to Irish parents living in Dunstable, England. He was raised in the vibrant London Irish music scene of the 1970s, learning his craft from such legends as Lucy Farr, Roger Sherlock, Paddy Taylor, Mick O’Connor, and his teacher, Brendan Mulkaire.
John embodies the dichotomy of being forward-thinking while still deeply rooted in tradition. He fearlessly explores the creative reaches of music, artistry, and expression while carefully preserving the musical roots from which he originally flourished, and passing those on to the next generation.
Trudy Israel / Rebecca Stout (Eastern European)
Trudy Israel (Nevenka)
Trudy Israel has had a passion for Folk music throughout her adult life. She danced and sang with the Aman Folk Ensemble for eight years and performed with the Nama Folk Orchestra for six years. In 1976 she and other women with a mutual love of Balkan music formed the Nevenka East European Folk Ensemble. As director of Nevenka, she has produced hundreds of performances and 4 CDs throughout the years. Trudy sang on the soundtrack for the Xena–Warrior Princess television series. She has taught Balkan singing workshops throughout the United States and France and has been a guest lecturer at several college music appreciation classes.
Rebecca Stout sings, writes and performs for a variety of groups and projects — including Los Angeles-based, Eastern-European women’s choir Nevenka; silky-smooth, lounge- pop ensemble Vermouth; her own music projects including Hendersonville Song Company, Baby Stout and the occasional musical theater project. Rebecca gives percussive dance its own spotlight as a serious art form. “It’s not just a trick anymore; it’s my heritage, and I’m just so proud and excited to share it with the world.”
Harriet Aronow / Stefani Rosenberg (Folk Song Circle (all ages and genres) Song Swaps)
Harriet Aronow
Harriet Udin Aronow grew up in a musical, activist, family. Singing union, civil rights, and anti-war songs at home, picnics and parties, meetings, and demonstrations was part of the fabric of her upbringing. In Boston and Cambridge she was part of the 1960s and 1970s folk scene and an officer in the Folk Song Society of Greater Boston. After moving to Los Angeles, raising a family, and forging a career in health care research, she has come back into the more formal promoting of folk music through her volunteer involvement in the Ash Grove Foundation and Folkworks. She plays several instruments, none very well, and mostly to accompany singing – her true passion.
Stefani Rosenberg
Stefani Rosenberg grew up in a musical family. Her father was the youngest of seven brothers and one sister, all of who played an instrument or had wonderful singing voices. Many evenings were spent around the piano singing from The Fireside Book of Folksongs. Her musical influences come from every corner of the world. She sings melodies of the Baka people (formerly of equatorial Africa), sea shanties, British folk songs, bluegrass, old time music and political and satirical topical songs. One of her specialties is the music and poetry of Robert Burns.Since retiring, Stefani has been teaching a beginning level international folk dance class at the Griffith Park Adult Community Center.
Yael Schy (Story Telling)
https://www.improv.org/actors/yael-schy/
Yael Schy is a dynamic theater and dance instructor, improviser, storyteller, singer/songwriter, and stand-up comedian known for her creative approach to learning and performance. Yael has been performing and teaching theater and dance to people of all ages for almost 50 years. She is the director of All That Jazz, a Bay Area musical improv troupe, and a founding member of the Applied Improvisation Network, an international association of business professionals and academics who use improv tools, experience, and theory for human development, training, and coaching in communities and organizations. In her spare time, Yael writes original jazz and blues songs!
Jackie Morris (Singer Song-writer (all ages) – Song Swaps)
Releasing five albums in twelve years, singer/songwriter Jackie Morris has built a reputation for engaging “story songs” that combine traditional Folk and Americana styles with contemporary themes. A Pandora artist, she is best known for her insinuating melodies and her way with words – lyrics laced with humor and irony, sometimes poignant, and often thought-provoking – as well as an uncommon vibrato whistle. These qualities, plus the accompaniment of some truly inspired instrumentalists, have put her last four albums on the Folk Radio Airplay Charts, as well as placed her fourth album, “Can’t Fix Crazy,” at #35 on RMR’s Top 100 Americana Country Albums Chart for 2014.
Becky Tracy & Rachel Bell
Becky Tracy (https://blackislemusic.com/)
Becky Tracy has dance music in her blood. Her grandparents were active in the dance scene around Boston in the 1930’s and were involved in the early years of NEFFA (New England Folk Festival Association) – still an important institution in the New England dance scene. Becky began playing for contra dancing in Maine, bending her early classical training to the demands of dance music. Later, she studied Irish fiddling styles with Brendan Mulvihill and Eugene O’Donnell and French Canadian fiddling with Lisa Ornstein. She brought things full circle when she appeared as the featured soloist with the New Hampshire Symphony Orchestra in their performance of Evan Chambers’ Fiddle Concerto.
Rachel Bell (https://www.rachelbellmusic.com/)
Rachel draws her inspiration from Celtic, French, English, and Quebecois traditions, cranking out new material while deeply respecting the melodies that have been around for hundreds of years. Based in Brattleboro, VT, she is busy during non-pandemic times touring all over North America and abroad for concerts, contra dances, French BalFolk dances, English country dances, workshops, and festivals.
She thrives on collaborative musical work, especially with her bands Eloise & Co., Peregrine Road, Alchemy, and Old World Charm School. Her playing spans an enormous range of emotion—from nuanced and sensitive to exhilarating and powerful—pushing the boundaries of what is expected from an accordion.
W.B. Reid / Bonnie Zahnow (Old Time)
W.B. Reid
WB Reid has been playing all kinds of music with all kinds of folks throughout the West Coast and points East for over 35 years. He is known as a fine singer, guitarist, fiddler, and also for his work on banjo-guitar and banjo-mandolin. He has also taught music in a variety of settings from individual lessons to major workshops throughout most of his career and continues to do so.
WB’s music crosses many boundaries and he’s been sought after by top groups in several traditions and across several generations. He’s played for many years with Seattle’s premier traditional New England contra dance band, The Rhythm Rollers which includes the great New England piano player Bob McQuillen whenever he’s in town. WB has been the fiddler with the hottest young old-time band, The Tallboys, whose members are roughly the same age as his children. WB was the principal accompanist for the legendary Alabama fiddler Lee Stripling until his death in 2009. He also plays regularly with a fine jug band, The Todalo Shakers, with his pals Eric and Suzy Thompson and Frannie Leopold, and less frequently with The Carolina Jug Stompers which includes original Holy Modal Rounder Luke Faust.
Bonnie Zahnow
Bonnie Zahnow began playing violin in the fourth grade but became an old-time fiddler after meeting up with the Seattle music community in the mid 1980s. For nearly 10 years she played with the legendary open band for square and contra dances at the G-Note and New Melody Taverns, and also for family dances and with the Mexican music ensemble “Los Chalados.”
She performs as a duo With her husband WB Reid, and in several other groups. She is an accomplished fiddler, guitar accompanist, and singer, specializing in old-time country music, jugband and blues, and Mexican and hispanic music, especially the twin fiddle traditions of Michoacan and the Tohono O’odham people of Arizona.
Arroyo Seco Stringband (Olivia Breidenthal, Emil Olguin, Ben Graubart) (Contra)
https://www.facebook.com/Arroyo-Seco-String-Band-113414506875155/
The Arroyo Seco String Band’s name comes from the famous Arroyo Seco (which means dry stream) that runs from the foothills above Pasadena to the Los Angeles River. It runs along the western edge of Pasadena and South Pasadena.
Jeff Spero / Kira Ott (Celtic )
Jeff Spero
Jeff Spero has been playing piano and singing since he was five years old. At a young age he discovered an affinity for popular music and developed his style emulating musicians like James Taylor, Elton John, and Bruce Hornsby. In his 30s, he brought his rhythmic style to American and Celtic folk and dance music and now travels around the country playing dances, concerts and festivals with bands such as Syncopaths and Rhythm Raptors.
Jeffrey is also a contradance caller and choreographer whose dances have been enjoyed all across this country and overseas.
Kira Ott
Kira Ott is a fiddler and fiddle teacher from Los Angeles and has been very active on the LA Irish music scene for many years. As a child she studied classical viola, but left that behind to play Irish music as a teenager. After spending many winters traveling to Donegal Ireland to learn at the Frankie Kennedy Winter School she took a few summers festival hopping around Ireland, learning and playing with many of the greats. She has performed and toured with several local bands and is currently a member of Rattle the Knee, A Gaelic Gathering and Jibberish. She is also a co-host of Teachín Ceoil and host of Fiddler’s Friend. When not performing she is an Irish fiddle teacher to all levels and ages. Her music is also frequently heard in sessions around the LA area.
Susie Glaze (Americana)
A native Tennessean, Susie grew up in the shadow of the Grand Ole Opry, learning the craft of country and bluegrass from a short distance by regular immersion of Flatt & Scruggs, Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn among others. When just 16 she sang for her brother Rick’s writer’s nights song showcases in Nashville. New York audiences saw Susie’s Broadway debut when she played the role of the young Southern matriarch Mary Jane Wilkes in the original Broadway company of Roger Miller’s musical play “Big River.” During her two years with that company, Susie began researching the works of the pioneering artists who developed country, folk and bluegrass music from the early years in America and was led inevitably to the work of The Stanley Brothers, The Carter Family, Bill Monroe, Doc Watson and Jean Ritchie among many others. After relocating to Southern California and joining the bluegrass group The Eight Hand String Band, Susie debuted as a recording artist with the group’s 2000 release “The Simple Truth” and was the winner of the Los Angeles 1999 Topanga Banjo and Fiddle Contest and Folk Festival for Traditional Singing. In 2002, Susie’s debut solo CD “Home On the Hill” reaped praise from Sing Out! and Bluegrass Unlimited magazines.
Bernie Pearl with Mike Barry (Acoustic Blues Guitar)
The blues is life itself to Bernie Pearl. A guitarist with an upbeat, finger-poppin’ picking style he learned at the elbows of bluesmasters Sam ‘Lightnin’ Hopkins, Mance Lipscomb, Mississippi Fred MacDowell, and others. Yet, Bernie Pearl is no hidebound traditionalist. As music critics and aficionados have said for years, he is a craftsman who packs his songs with melodic interpretations that are new and personal each time he picks up his vintage Martin or National. To hear him tell it, “I’m not a retro player. I’m playing real blues for right now.”
Bernie, who grew up in the Los Angeles community of Boyle Heights, took up the guitar in the 1950’s. Later, at his brother’s legendary blues showcase, the Ash Grove, he met, studied with, and often performed with greats like Hopkins, Lipscomb, and MacDowell as well as with Freddie King, Albert Collins, and Big Mama Thornton. Bernie played duets with John Lee Hooker at Gerde’s Folk City in Greenwich Village. “They were my teachers,” he says, “and it wasn’t just music they were teaching. If you took Mance or Lightnin’ out fishing you got philosophy, history, and lessons in life”.
