Latest Posts

☼ Contra Dance: Nelson Town Hall | Caller: Don Primrose | Music: Heathen Creek

Contra Dance, Events

Nelson, NHHeathen Creek
Saturday, March 8th
Beginner’s Workshop 7:30
Dance 8:00 – 11:30
Admission: $8 / $6 seniors, students
Information: 603.827.3044 or E-mail: Lisa Sieverts
Poster Download

~

So, Nelson’s own Don Primrose is calling with the Heathen Creek – who’s going to have more fun? The dancers! What a night this is going to be. If you haven’t heard this band, grab a sound-sample right here.

[display_podcast]

Heathen Creek hails from various parts of New England: mandolin player Mark Koyama from Western Massachusetts, guitarist Pete Johannsen from Boston, and fiddler Maia Rutman from the Upper Valley of New Hampshire. Since their first jam on a New York hillside almost seven years ago, they’ve been playing their own special brand of high-energy music, leaving a trail of blissfully tired dancers in their wake. All avid contra dancers, the Heathens lay traditional Irish, French Canadian, and Old-Time tunes on a bed of hard-hitting rhythm, creating a unique, sock-knocking sound.
~
Directions/Map

Contra Dance: Nelson Town Hall | Caller: Lisa Sieverts | Music: Rumblestrip

Events

Saturday, December 8
Beginner’s Workshop 7:30
Dance 8:00 – 11:30
Admission: $8 / $6 seniors, students
Rumblestrip:
 Nat Hewitt ~ fiddle
Liza Constable ~ guitar
Glen Loper ~ mandolin

Nat Hewitt has been described as a demon fiddler with a glint in his eye, playing in a style that is grounded in New England tradition and further informed by both rock & roll and jazz. Liza Constable throws some mean driving guitar chords underneath the tunes, rendering them highly danceable and giving a unique perspective for the ear of the beholder. Glen Loper fills out innovative textures and harmonies with tenor banjo and mandolin. Lisa Sieverts has been calling contra dances for twelve years and provides a rock-solid foundation for learning and enjoying contra dancing.

For information: 603.827.3044 or E-mail: Lisa Sieverts
Directions/Map

Nowell Sing We Clear | Dublin Community Church

Events

We will be presenting our annual Nowell Sing We Clear concert 8:00pm December 7th, Dublin Community Church, Dublin, NH. Admission: $12 in advance (and for Sr/Jr/) $15 at the door. Special holiday refreshments available!
Click here to buy your tickets now.

In its 33rd year, this event has become a local tradition in its own right – a celebration of songs, carols. stories, and customs. The program consists of two parts: The Christmas Story (as you may have never heard it before) and a look at “pagan” solstice traditions.

Drawn largely from English-language folk traditions, the songs tell a version of events and characters involved in the Christmas story, and detail the customs which make up the twelve magical days following the return of the light at the winter solstice. Many of these ancient customs are the basis of today’s holiday’s traditions: visiting and feasting, gift-giving, carol singing, travling, and the adorning of houses and churches with garlands of evergreen.

If you have questions, please Email MFS

Click here for directions

FolkNotes: November

FolkNotes

Sometime in or around 1980 there was a sitting-around-the-kitchen meeting between a group of friends that resulted in the formation of the Monadnock Folklore Society. The group consisted of myself, Mary DesRosiers, Gary Heald, Jennifer Price, and Ken Wilson. It took a couple of years for MFS to be officially set up as an organization with 501-C3 status, but the ball was rolling.

There were two great influences for founding MFS. One was the Monday night dance, which had been started by Peter Temple in Harrisville in January of 1978 (look for 30th anniversary coverage on this Web site coming up). Not that contra dancing wasn’t already popular in these parts, but this particular dance provided an opportunity for new callers and musicians to get experience. It wasn’t until many years later, after the dance had moved to Nelson, that MFS became the official sponsor, but I know that the early Monday night dances certainl enriched the environment – making it fertile folk ground.

Read more

FolkNotes: October

FolkNotes

Now October’s growin’ thin, and November’s comin’ home . . .

I never move into October without having these lovely lyrics come into my head. It’s from Turning Towards the Morning, a song Gordon Bok wrote, way back in 1975. I probably heard it for the first time a year or two later, and I’ve remained enchanted with the song all these years.

We’re moving into the time of year where there are many ancient folk traditions celebrated. At the end of October, Sawhain, an ancient Celtic festival on which, with typical modern American distortion, the “tradition” of Halloween has sprung. On the other hand, perhaps the strongest original American tradition is the Thanksgiving holiday that follows, though that too has been subject to increased commercial influence. We hardly dare mention Christmas in that regard, but will note the more relevant Solstice. Read more

Contra Dance: Nelson NH Town Hall 8:00 | Jeff Petrovitch Caller, Music by Randy Miller, David Kaynor, Gordon Peery

Events

Jeff Petrovitch is the caller for an evening of lively contra dancing with music provided by Randy Miller and David Kaynor on fiddles, and Gordon Peery on piano.

Jeff is rapidly becoming a favorite caller on the New England dance scene thanks to his enthusiastic delivery and ever expanding repertoire of new innovative dances as well as classic contras. Randy Miller has been at the heart of the New England dance scene since the early 1970’s, and in addition to playing is the author/complier of several tune books. David Kaynor is well known as a dance caller, but this evening is a rare opportunity to hear his equally stellar fiddling expertise.

The evening begins at 7:30 with a workshop for beginners, and those who want a bit of refreshing. The main dance starts at 8:00. Admission is $8, $6 for senior citizens and students. The Nelson Town Hall is in the center of Nelson, NH. For more information call 603-827-3044.

Download the POSTER

E-mail: Lisa Sieverts