Join us for a weekend full of lively activity in Shepherdstown as we bring two world class Celtic music bands to town for concerts and workshops with Irish songsters, Nuala Kennedy and Eamon O’Leary on the first night of their East Coast tour and ending with a workshop and concert with Shetland fiddle player, Kevin Henderson backed by one of the US’s top Scottish style piano players, Neil Pearlman. On Saturday, we feature our monthly contra dance with Sugar Beat featuring Scottish fiddle champion Elke Baker, Susan Brant on flute and Marc Glickman on piano. We are taking COVID precautions and require attendees to wear medical grade N-95 or KN 95 masks for the safety of all. Details of each event on the website at smad.us.
Nuala Kennedy & Eamon O’Leary * Shepherdstown, WV
Friday, March 3 * 8 pm
With an engaging stage presence and understated virtuosity, Nuala Kennedy and Eamon O’Leary present a timeless selection of songs and instrumentals. Nuala and Eamon offer a memorable concert experience; their songs range from the ancient Irish tradition to reflections on the present day accompanied by exquisite instrumentals on flute and bouzouki. At the Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church, 100 W. Washington St., Shepherdstown, WV. Tickets are $22 adults, $20 seniors and $15 students in advance (Brown Paper Tickets) and $25, 22 and 15 at the door. Info: Joanie Blanton, 304-263-2531 or at smad.us. Audience members are requested to wear medical grade masks.
Saturday, March 4: Shepherdstown Contra Dance with Sugar Beat
Join us as Santa Barbara, CA based caller Jon Southard calls to the lively tunes of Sugar Beat with Elke Baker (fiddle), Susan Brant (flute) and Marc Glickman (piano) at the Shepherdstown War Memorial Building, Beginners Workshop at 7:30, dance starts at 8pm. Admission is $10. Masking is required for the safety of all.
Scottish Music from Shetland and the USA with Kevin Henderson and Neil Pearlman* Shepherdstown, WV
Sunday, March 5 * 4 pm
Uniting two stand out voices in Scottish music today, the fiddle and piano duo of Kevin Henderson and Neil Pearlman is a transatlantic collaboration that has set stages alight from Scotland to California. Each known for his high-energy, joyful and fresh approach to the tradition, their combined sound is fiery yet precise; moving from heart-wrenching airs to sparkling reels in the blink on an eye. At the Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church, 100 W. Washington St., Shepherdstown, WV. Tickets are $22 adults, $20 seniors and $15 students in advance (Brown Paper Tickets) and $25, 22 and 15 at the door. Info: Joanie Blanton, 304-263-2531 or at smad.us. Music workshop on Shetland Fiddle Music for fiddle, piano and mixed instruments from 1:30-3pm, $35 for the workshop, $50 for both workshop and concert. Concert audience is requested to wear medical grade masks, masks are optional but recommended for the workshop. Advance testing is appreciated.
Join us for our February 4th dance featuring The Boneshakers!
We are delighted to feature a return of talented musicians Joe DeZarn, Paul Hammerton, Gina Faber and Ralph Gordon to play for our February 4th dance.
David Giusti will be the caller for a fun filled evening of contras and squares from 8-11 p.m.
Join us at 7:30 for a workshop and bring a friend. Masks are required and social distancing is practiced at our snack/break time.
SMAD is looking for volunteers to help with our monthly dances. We can always use a few minutes of your time after the dance to put away sound equipment and chairs. Our Board is small in numbers but still large in enthusiasm and we’d love to see our dance grow and new dancers join.
NO experience is necessary. We are a friendly small group who have been dancing in S-town for decades!
The dance takes place at the Shepherdstown War Memorial Building. Admission is $10.
Yes, after a long hiatus, we are back dancing again… so plese come join us for the first one…
Saturday, September 3… 8pm… War Memorial Building in Shepherdstown
Janine Smith Calling to Joe DeZarn (fiddle), and Paul Oorts (everything else).
Put on your dancing shoes for a fabulous evening as Janine Smith calls to the music of Joe DeZarn on fiddle, accompanied by Paul Orrts on mandolin, guitar, melodeon, bouzouki and more. We aim to keep our dancers safe, so vaccinations are highly recommended (to keep you safe) and masking with medical grade KN95 masks required to keep everyone else safe. Come a few minutes early, because we want to make sure that we have contact information for tracing later, just in case… and a short workshop to help new and returning dancers get oriented and a learn a few moves to make the evening more enjoyable.
Since it has been a long time since we have collected ANY membership dues, we are charging $10 admission for ALL at the door.
After a long hiatus due to the pandemic, we are back with some great concerts online and our first in-person events since March 2020! For your safety at ALL of our in-person events, we are requiring full vaccination (please be prepared to present your card at the door), and masking. We care about the safety of ALL of our members. Thank you!
Upper Potomac Dulcimer Concerts this weekend!
Every year since 1988, we have co-sponsored concerts with the Upper Potomac Dulcimer Fest, and like last year, these concerts are again online. You can listen for free, but we encourage you to make a donation to help cover the costs, and to keep them coming. In case you have missed our concerts, we have done online concerts for all of the Upper Potomac events and you can find them on the Upper Potomac Concerts YouTube Page.
As part of the Upper Potomac English Dance musician’s weekend, we are co-sponsoring a concert and two dance events.
Friday, April 29, at 8PM: Concert with Paul Oorts and Dave Wiesler
Join us for a concert with these two consummate musicians who are part of 3 popular dance bands together and are favorite accompanists many years at our Fiddle Summit. Paul Oorts, is a native of Belgium, and is adept on many things with strings including mandolin, tenor banjo, guitar and bass, and also plays musette accordion. Dave Wiesler is well known for his prowess on the piano, and his brilliant compositions of dance music for English, contra and waltz forms. Together, they will give a concert sure to satisfy our most discerning audiences. Concert admission is $20 adults, $18 seniors, $15 SMaD members, and $10 students. Vax and Mask required!At St Peter’s Lutheran Church.
Saturday, April 30, 2022 Workshop 2-5pm Evening Dance 8-11pm
English country dancing draws from a tradition dating to the 1600s. Revived in the early 1900s, the modern form includes folk, classical, and modern music, with corresponding dances that range from stately to romping, jaunty to driving, that can be playful, serious, sweet or meditative.
An afternoon workshop, and an evening dance is designed to be enjoyable for dancers of mixed abilities to experience old favorites and learn some new dances as part of the Upper Potomac English Dance Musician’s Weekend workshop activities and co-sponsored by Shepherdstown Music and Dance.
Dance leader, Melissa Running will be leading the workshop and evening dance. Her clear teaching and knowledge of the dances make her programs both lively and fun, and full of interesting dances.
Liz Donaldson and Tina Chancey provide the music for the afternoon program, the evening dance will feature the Oorts-Wiesler Orchestra, which includes many of our favorite local musicians in a large ensemble led by Paul Oorts and Dave Wiesler.
Cost: $15 per session, or $25 for both.
$12 per session or $20 for both for SMaD members.
Attendance will be limited to 50 dancers for maximum enjoyment. For your convenience, tickets are available online atBrown Paper Tickets. Vax and mask Required! At the War Memorial Building in Shepherdstown.
May Day in Shepherdstown! Sunday May, 1 at 12:00 Noon
Join us for a traditional English May Celebration on the McMurran Lawn with participatory singing, dancing and weaving of the Maypole. There is no parade this year. Find out more on the Facebook page.
After a long hiatus due to the pandemic, we are back with some great concerts online and our first in-person events since March 2020! For your safety at ALL of our in-person events, we are requiring full vaccination (please be prepared to present your card at the door), and masking. We care about the safety of ALL of our members. Thank you!
Upper Potomac Dulcimer Concerts this weekend!
Every year since 1988, we have co-sponsored concerts with the Upper Potomac Dulcimer Fest, and like last year, these concerts are again online. You can listen for free, but we encourage you to make a donation to help cover the costs, and to keep them coming. In case you have missed our concerts, we have done online concerts for all of the Upper Potomac events and you can find them on the Upper Potomac Concerts YouTube Page.
As part of the Upper Potomac English Dance musician’s weekend, we are co-sponsoring a concert and two dance events.
Friday, April 29, at 8PM: Concert with Paul Oorts and Dave Wiesler
Join us for a concert with these two consummate musicians who are part of 3 popular dance bands together and are favorite accompanists many years at our Fiddle Summit. Paul Oorts, is a native of Belgium, and is adept on many things with strings including mandolin, tenor banjo, guitar and bass, and also plays musette accordion. Dave Wiesler is well known for his prowess on the piano, and his brilliant compositions of dance music for English, contra and waltz forms. Together, they will give a concert sure to satisfy our most discerning audiences. Concert admission is $20 adults, $18 seniors, $15 SMaD members, and $10 students. Vax and Mask required!
Saturday, April 30, 2022 Workshop 2-5pm Evening Dance 8-11pm
English country dancing draws from a tradition dating to the 1600s. Revived in the early 1900s, the modern form includes folk, classical, and modern music, with corresponding dances that range from stately to romping, jaunty to driving, that can be playful, serious, sweet or meditative.
An afternoon workshop, and an evening dance is designed to be enjoyable for dancers of mixed abilities to experience old favorites and learn some new dances as part of the Upper Potomac English Dance Musician’s Weekend workshop activities and co-sponsored by Shepherdstown Music and Dance.
Dance leader, Melissa Running will be leading the workshop and evening dance. Her clear teaching and knowledge of the dances make her programs both lively and fun, and full of interesting dances.
Liz Donaldson and Tina Chancey provide the music for the afternoon program, the evening dance will feature the Oorts-Wiesler Orchestra, which includes many of our favorite local musicians in a large ensemble led by Paul Oorts and Dave Wiesler.
Cost: $15 per session, or $25 for both.
$12 per session or $20 for both for SMaD members.
Attendance will be limited to 50 dancers for maximum enjoyment. For your convenience, tickets are available online atBrown Paper Tickets. Vax and mask Required! At the War Memorial Building in Shepherdstown.
May Day in Shepherdstown! Sunday May, 1 at 12:00 Noon
Join us for a traditional English May Celebration on the McMurran Lawn with participatory singing, dancing and weaving of the Maypole. There is no parade this year. Find out more on the Facebook page.
We regret to say that due to the Corona Virus epidemic, we have decided it is wise to cancel all of our Public events for the rest of March and April. We will be deciding about our May dance in early April.
Stay safe and healthy. Please enjoy and play music in smaller groups until we return!
Come join us for this high energy dance at the Shepherdstown War Memorial Building as Ron Buchanan calls an amazing round of contras and squares to high-energy band from the Shenandoah Valley, The Bouncers with Jim Harrington (accordion), T. J. crow (mandolin), Richard Adams (horns and bass), and Bill Wellington (guitar and banjo). Beginners workshop at 7:30, the dance starts at 8pm. No experience necessary, no partner needed. Potluck snacks at the break. Wear soft-soled shoes to protect our nice floor!
Admission prices $12 adults, $8 members, $10 students and $5 under 12. New student membership price! $10/yr.
CELEBRATION OF STRINGS: OUR ANNUAL HAMMERED DULCIMER SHOWCASE
The hammered dulcimer is alive and well in Shepherdstown, West Virginia; not only does the area boast two of the instrument’s most respected builders and designers, but also is home to the Upper Potomac Music Weekends, where hammered dulcimer players, fiddlers and other musicians share tunes and techniques and explore a range of musical styles over three days of workshops, concerts and jam sessions on Shepherd University’s campus and the surrounding historic buildings several times each year. The concert this year features special guests, Belgian-born multi-instrumentalist Paul Oorts and his wife, hammered dulcimer player Karen Ashbrookwho play inspiring arrangements of Celtic and continental pieces, as well as music to soothe the soul, which Karen specializes in her work in area hospitals. Representing our dulcimer staff will be Colin Beasley, Mark Wade and Ruth Smithplaying a range of repertoire from Classical to Cuban and from Celtic to Appalachian. Come and be amazed!
Advance tickets are $20 adults, $18 seniors and $15 members and $10 students. At the door: $25 adults, $22 seniors, $20 members and $10 children/students.
For more information call Joanie at (304) 263-2531 or email updf@earthlink.net.
This month, Brian Hamsharcalls contra dances and maybe a few squares to the lively old-time tunes of Strings on Wings with Barb Schmid (Fiddle) and Todd Clewell (Fiddle and Guitar). The dance is held at the War Memorial Building, 102 E. German St., Shepherdstown, WV. All levels welcome, no partners needed. Please wear clean, soft-soled shoes to protect the floor. Pot-luck snacks at the break. Free introductory workshop at 7:30. $12; SMAD Members $8; $5 under 12. Info: John Sauer at 301-542-3272 or smad.us
MASTER AND APPRENTICE: LEGENDARY IRISH FIDDLER, BRENDAN MULVIHILL WITH EMILY MARTIN
Coming together in concert and to lead a traditional Irish session are Brendan Mulvihill, master and legendary Irish Traditional fiddler and his apprentice, Emily Martin, a talented musician who also comes from a family tradition of traditional music. Brendan Mulvihill and his band, the Irish Tradition, are credited for establishing traditional Irish music as a integral part of the Washington D.C. and Baltimore areas musical fabric. Also based in the Washington DC region, Emily Martin, of The Martin Family Band, carries on the tradition of playing, teaching and performing. Her styles include Old Time Appalachian traditional music and Irish music on the mandolin, mountain dulcimer, tenor banjo and voice. Emily started an apprenticeship with Brendan in July 2018. Learning tunes, style and variations from Brendan, Emily also skillfully and beautifully compliments Brendan’s unmatched style.
Brendan’s strong tone, remarkable bow work and unsurpassed musicianship come from a deep love of the music and from a surprising influence. Though inspired by many traditional Irish musicians, Brendan also developed a passion for classical music. This classical influence can be heard most clearly perhaps in his playing of the baroque music of Turlough OCarolan (Toirdhealbhach Ó Cearbhalláin). The final distinctive result of Brendan’s many influences was best summed up by a quote printed by the Washington Irish Folk Festival, “Its often said that the difference between a fiddle and a violin lies not in the instrument but in the player. If that’s the case, then Brendan is not the player one should look to when trying to draw such distinctions. Here is a man whose heritage, background and training epitomize that of the fiddler, but whose full, firm tone, exquisite bow work and subtle, sensitive musicianship bear all the hallmarks of the classical violinist.”
Micheál Ó Súilleabháin referred to Brendan as “a rare genius.” Inducted into the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Mid-Atlantic Region Hall of Fame in 2008, Brendan Mulvihill has deep Irish roots. Brendan’s Grandmother Bridgid was a fiddler and her brothers were all musicians as well. Brendan’s father, the late National Heritage Fellow, Martin Mulvihill of County Limerick, Ireland, was a renowned fiddle player and one of the most highly respected Irish music teachers in America. Brendan’s music, however, reflects decades of his own travels and dedication to gathering tunes from the great Irish traditional masters. Brendan’s playing shows respect, excitement, and love of the music. His style and variations give the music dimensions and depth that is surprising from a solo instrument; paired with Emily, the music is mesmerizing.
An Irish Seisun, led by the performers, follows the concert. Musicians are encouraged to bring their instruments and join in the fun.
Advance tickets are $20 adults, $18 seniors and $15 members and $10 students. At the door: $25 adults, $22 seniors, $20 members and $10 children/students.
Advance tickets will be available online from Brown Paper Tickets , by mail (send a check to SMaD, PO Box1293, Shepherdstown, WV 25443 with your order), or for full price at the door.
SMaD celebrates 40 Years at annual Holiday Potluck and Dance!
Saturday, December 7th we will mark the 40th Anniversary of Shepherdstown Music and Dance with our annual holiday potluck and dance. Susan Taylor will call to Critton Hollow String Band who have been a favorite band in Shepherdstown since our early days!. Potluck Dinner at 6pm (bring a dish and memories to share)
Dance starts at 8pm
If you have been to our dance in the past, and want to share your memories, see old friends and meet new ones, we encourage you to come to the potluck. Bring a dish, and your memories! Even if you no longer enjoy a whirl on the dance floor, all are welcome to join us as we celebrate “40 years of building community through traditional music and dance! ”
Callers and musicians who have been a part of our rich history are encouraged to come, and maybe call a dance or play one tune with our beloved Critts! Join in the fun!
Love of Sicilian and Southern Italian roots music drives Rosa Tatuata to passionately interpret the traditions and melodies of their ancestors.
For this concert, Michela Musolino and the band bring you seasonal favorites of Sicily. “These aren’t the familiar Christmas songs one would expect to hear, simply being sung in Italian. These ancient carols are exclusively Sicilian, and pre-date many common traditions. Yet somehow they convey the universal spirit of the season without the overt references to fireplaces, reindeers, wreaths, and snow!”, Musolino quipped.
She continued, “Our name, Rosa Tatuata, comes from Tennessee Williams’ beloved play about the happy, raucous collision of immigrant and American cultures in the 1950’s. In performance, we relate that incredible, exciting, commingling to the audience through song and dance. We think our band’s name is quite apropos!”
Research into traditional instruments fuels their compelling presentation. Expect to hear the tammburro (Sicilian frame drum), marranzanu (jaw harp), brogna ( conch shell), friscalettu (reed flute) and zampogna (Italian bagpipes)— rare sounds indeed! The enchanting mix of ballads and dance tunes will take your imagination to sunbathed Southern Italy and the clear, crystal-blue waters surrounding Sicily.
Advance tickets are $20 adults, $18 seniors and $15 members and $10 students. At the door: $25 adults, $22 seniors, $20 members and $10 children/students.
FIDDLE SUMMIT SHOWCASE
FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 8PM
SHEPHERDSTOWN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
This annual concert presents some of the finest fiddlers from a variety of traditions, including French Canadian, English, Scottish, Irish, New England, and Appalachian into a showcase concert with some extraordinary accompaniment. Sean Heelyis a national Scottish Fiddle champions whose fiery renditions of Scottish and Irish fiddle music are in great demand, Elke Baker, too is also renowned for her Scottish chops, as well as being a popular dance musician for English, Scottish and contra dances. French Canadian fiddler, Lisa Ornstein is the dynamic fiddler who drives the music of Le Bruit Court dans le Ville. David Kaynor has been a mainstay of the New England contra dance fiddling for over 40 years, and is also know for his lovely playing of Scandinavian fiddle. Rebecca Weissis a fantastic young fiddler whose dynamic playing drives the band Tea and Honey. They will all be joined by one of the finest dance pianists, in the country Dave Wiesler, who drives all sorts of dance ensembles with his accompaniment. Old-time fiddler, Erynn Marshall has been steeped in the traditional music of West Virginia, studying with old master Melvin Wine, and will be joined by her husband Carl Jones on guitar and banjo and last, but not least, master hammered dulcimer player and fiddler, Ken Kolodner will be with us again to round out the show. Co-sponsored with Upper Potomac Fiddle Retreat. Jam session to follow.Visit the web page to get more information to sign up for classes. Early bird discount before Dec. 1!
Advance tickets are $20 adults, $18 seniors and $15 members and $10 students. At the door: $25 adults, $22 seniors, $20 members and $10 children/students.
Come join us for our first Dance of the year at the Shepherdstown War Memorial Building as Janine Smith calls an amazing round of contras and squares to the Fiddle Retreat Open Band! Always a great time as our band swells to fill the front of the hall with energy and a unique sound as this years students and teachers provide the music for the dance. Beginners workshop at 7:30, the dance starts at 8pm. No experience necessary, no partner needed. Potluck snacks at the break. Wear soft-soled shoes to protect our nice floor! Admission $12 adults, $8 members, $5 students and included in Fiddle Retreat tuition.
The bellows-blown bagpipe is a quieter, more parlor-oriented cousin to the great highland bagpipes most folks are familiar with. You’ll see pipes that are far more likely to be played with flutes, guitars, mandolins, bouzoukis, drums and other instruments in a session-like atmosphere for concerts or dances in smaller, more intimate settings. Four kinds of bagpipes will be featured: the Scottish smallpipe, the quieter cousin of the great highland pipes, the Irish uilleann (or Union) pipes, Northumbrian smallpipes and the Border pipes which are played in the border region between Scotland and England.
The concert is divided into three sections… We’ll open with the tiny Northumbrian pipes of England with Dick Hensold, then we’ll move to Irish section of the program with an outstanding uilleann piper and step dancer, Brian Bigley whose lovely playing and lively dancing have won him a national reputation. John Skelton is one of the foremost authorities on the Irish flute and has toured with the House Band and the Windbags, his great playing and his wonderful sense of humor make him one of our most popular performers. The Scottish section of the concert will feature piper, Rosalind Buda, a professional bassonist, and also renowned performer on highland, border and smallpipes, as well as Iain MacHarg, a versatile piper who grew up steeped in piping from French, Scottish and Irish traditions who runs the Vermont Institute for the Celtic Arts. The will be joined by Scottish fiddle champion Sean Heelyalong with Scottish piper, Tracy Jenkins. It will all be tied together by our host piper, Bob Mitchell and more, in a set of music from the highlands and border regions of Scotland and Cape Breton on both Scottish smallpipes and Border pipes.
The concert will take place at Shepherd University’s Reynolds Hall.
Co-sponsored with the Upper Potomac Pipers Weekend. Classes available in many kinds of bellows blown bagpipes, flute, whistle and mixed-instruments. More information is on the web page.
Advance tickets are $20 adults, $18 seniors and $15 members and $10 students. At the door: $25 adults, $22 seniors, $20 members and $10 children/students.
Tickets from Brown Paper Tickets available here.
Bill Wellington calls contra and square dances to music of Alexander Mitchell (fiddle), Henry Koretzky (guitar and mandolin) and Ralph Gordon (bass). The dance is held at the War Memorial Building, 102 E. German St., Shepherdstown, WV. All levels welcome, no partners needed. Please wear clean, soft-soled shoes to protect the floor. Pot-luck snacks at the break. Free introductory workshop at 7:30. $12; SMAD Members $8; $5 under 12. Info: John Sauer at301-542-3272 or smad.us.
Over the past 18 years the trad Quebec group Genticorum has become a fixture on the international world, trad, folk and Celtic music circuit. The band’s six albums met with critical acclaim in Canada, the United States and Europe, assuring the band a brilliant future. Known for its energy and its stage presence, Genticorum has given more than a 1000 concerts in more than 15 countries.
Firmly rooted in the soil of their native land, the energetic and original traditional ‘power trio’ also incorporates the dynamism of today’s North American and European folk cultures in their music. They weave precise and intricate fiddle, flute and accordion work, gorgeous vocal harmonies, energetic foot percussion and guitar accompaniment into a big and jubilant musical feast. Their distinctive sound, sense of humour and stage presence makes them a supreme crowd pleaser.
Pascal Gemme is a leading light in Quebec’s traditional music scene.Known as much for his original compositions as his fine interpretation of traditional tunes, Pascal is the fiddler, singer and arranger of the band, Genticorum, whose CDs have met with critical acclaim in several countries. From a young age, the fiddle music and songs of his native province have captivated him. After graduating with a degree in composition and band arrangements at Montreal’s St Laurent College, he immersed himself in the traditional music around him, playing, collecting and recording music found all over Quebec. Pascal has developed a vast knowledge and is a leading exponent of the music.
Yann Falquet is a very active and creative acoustic guitar player on the Québécois music scene. He has explored many styles of music and completed a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz. Since then, he has developed a personal guitar style for Québec folk music, inspired by the playing of the accompanists of different cultures (Brittany, Scandinavia, Ireland, North America). His involvement in the province’s traditional music scene has brought Yann to perform on numerous recordings, and to tour regularly throughout Canada, the U.S., Europe and Australia with Genticorum but also with JUNO award-winning Celtic and world group The McDades, the Jean-François Bélanger Trio and with cellist Natalie Haas.
Nicholas Williams has developed a reputation as a versatile and sought-after musician in the traditional music scenes of Québec and New England. His rhythmic yet nuanced style of flute playing draws from Irish and Scottish traditions, as well as from his studies of classical North Indian music. After completing a BFA in world music and composition at York University, Nicholas moved to Québec in 2000, where he has enjoyed exploring the common ground of his own diverse musical experiences with the rich Québécois musical tradition. Also an accomplished accordion and piano player, he has been a member of the band Crowfoot since 2005, plays with fiddler Laura Risk, and in the Alex Kehler & Nicholas Williams duo.
Advance tickets are $20 adults, $18 seniors and $15 members and $10 students. At the door: $25 adults, $22 seniors, $20 members and $10 children/students.
Workshop fee is $25, preregistration is highly recommended. Space is limited.
Advance tickets will be available online from Brown Paper Tickets , by mail (send a check to SMaD, PO Box1293, Shepherdstown, WV 25443 with your order), or for full price at the door.
TRADITIONAL MUSIC FROM DENMARK WITH GANGSPIL
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29 AT 8PM ST. PETER’S LUTHERAN CHURCH
Gangspil, (Sonnich Lydom (accordion, harmonica),Kristian Bugge(fiddle) and Vidar Skrede (guitar) will take you on an entertaining and variated journey through the traditions of Danish folk music. These lively musicians performs old dance tunes and songs from every corner of their Scandinavian home country. From rural islands like Læsø to the metropol Copenhagen, including a few of their own compositions. Expect everything from wild polkas and jigs to lyrical waltzes, fiery reels and happy hopsas, plus the exotic “Sønderhoning” dance tunes from the famous Island of Fanø, and long forgotten songs from all over the country. An unforgettable live experience spiced up with humor and stories from their many years on the road. They perform and have performed with some of the most exciting and well-know musicians from the Danish and Nordic folk scene. In 2016 after releasing their first album, Gangspil received the”Tradition Award” at the Danish Music Awards (Danish Grammy.)
Sonnich Lydom (accordion, harmonica, vocal) is a master of Irish, French–‐Canadian, and especially Danish traditional tunes. During the last 25 years he’s been leading the revival for diatonic accordion and harmonica in the Danish folk music. Sonnich holds a special place in his heart for the music from the Western Island of Fanø, where his family is deeply rooted. He is best know from his work with the ULC trio and later quintet (adding jazz pianist Peter Rosendal and bassist Mads Vinding). ULC recieved the Danish Music Award (Danish “Grammy”) in the category “Folk Album of the year” in 2001 and 2004.
Kristian Bugge (fiddle) has specialized in the strong Danish folk music traditions. He is very active on the Danish and Scandinavian folk music scene as well as in the rest of Europe and North America, both as a musician and teacher. His debut CD was awarded “Danish debut of the year”, and “Danish Folk Instrumentalist of the year” at the Danish Music Awards Folk 2006 (Danish “Grammy”). At the same occasion in 2012, Kristian recieved the prize as ”Danish Folk Artist of the Year!” In 2016 Kristian was once more awarded “Danish Folk Instrumentalist of the Year”.
Vidar Skrede (guitar) (from Haugesund, Norway) is a freelance Nordic folk musician on guitar, harding fiddle, fiddle and Greek bouzouki. He has a background in the traditional music from Rogaland (South West of Norway), and has a master degree in Nordic folk music at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm. Vidar has appeared on national television in Norway and Iceland, and has been heard on radio across the Nordic countries and throughout the USA. Vidar has released several CD’s which received many awards and great acclaim in his native Norway. Vidar is a leading musician on the Nordic folk music scene and a popular tune writer – his compositions are played and recorded by bands like Fiddlers’ Bid and Blazing Fiddles besides with his own projects.
Advance tickets are $20 adults, $18 seniors and $15 members and $10 students. At the door: $25 adults, $22 seniors, $20 members and $10 children/students.
Advance tickets will be available online from Brown Paper Tickets , by mail (send a check to SMaD, PO Box1293, Shepherdstown, WV 25443 with your order), or for full price at the door.
END OF NOVEMBER POST… DECEMBER MARKS OUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY… CELEBRATE WITH US AT OUR HOLIDAY CONTRA AND CONCERT IN DECEMBER!
Shepherdstown Music and Dance 