From: FOAOTMAD mailout [mailout1_at_foaotmad_dot_org_dot_uk]

Sent: 15 March 2012 17:55

Subject: mailout 15th March

IN RECENT WEEKS I'VE HAD A LARGE PROPORTION OF MAILOUTS REJECTED AS sPAM. WHILE WE INVESTIGATE ALTERNATIVE MEANS FOR MAILINGS THAT AREN'T LIKELY TO UPSET YOUR EMAIL PROVIDERS AND OUR WEB HOSTS, I INTEND SENDING OUT JUST THE NEW DETAILS. OLDER DETAILS CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE: - www.foaotmad.org.uk/news.htm

Footnote... that seemed to make a great difference, mainly valid rejections. I'll expand this to cover the previous week as well but for anything before that you will need to check the web page.

THIS WEEKS NEWS

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Orwell Bluegrass Festival (11-13 May, for details checkout website) now has dance team booked for the festival. Festival organisers would like to thank all those who responded to the invitation in previous mailout and your details will be kept on file for possibilities next year.

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Change of sessions details:

The session that was at The Hop Pole Aylesbury on the first Monday of the month has now moved to The Eight Bells, 51 High St., Long Crendon, Bucks HP18 9 AL, on the last Sunday of the month at 3pm.

Details from Alan Pridgeon 01844 238203 alamopridgeon_at_btinternet_dot_com

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The date for the April session at the Union Hotel, Penzance, Cornwall, has changed from Thursday 5th to Thursday 12th.

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Visiting the north of Scotland?

Bed & Breakfast - Scottish Highlands - 192 Polbain, Achiltibuie.

5% Disc on B & B ( or Free overnight Motorhome parking) for FOAOTMAD members with instruments in exchange for a tune.

www.achiltibuie.net 01 854 622228

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Press Release from Kate Lissauer:

Buffalo Gals Ride to Assistance of the Merlin

The Merlin Theatre, Frome's successful and thriving arts centre, suffers from arts funding cuts, and Buffalo Gals want to make a contribution to helping support them, through and exciting and dynamic event at the theatre on Thursday, April 5.

Buffalo Gals Stampede represents a new dimension to the Buffalo Gals' popular and high-energy old-time country string band performance. It's a thrilling new show featuring the talents of seven of the UK's finest step-dancers, in a music and dance extravaganza. The dynamic synchronised and syncopated foot music of the team of dancers is woven in with Buffalo Gals' ever popular mix of old-time American music, humour, stories, and audience involvement. Percussive step dance is presented from its roots to its present form in an entertaining and captivating fashion.

The Merlin is a 240 seat theatre on the Frome College campus. They have an outstanding reputation for presenting the very best in performing arts and run an extensive community and education programme. April 5 sees the premier of a show that will excite and delight everyone, musically and visually. Don't miss it, and don't miss the chance to support this very important Frome institution.

Buffalo Gals leader, Kate Lissauer, says, ?The Merlin Theatre is a very important place for us, as our centre for community arts, and as a performance venue supporting great acts. The theatre and its directors have always been supportive of us, and we want to give as much back as we can. We hope to have a full hall on April 5, as all proceeds will be going to the Merlin.'

Buffalo Gals Stampede

April 5, Thursday, 7:45pm

Merlin Theatre, Frome

Bath Road

Frome, BA11 2HG

Box Office 01373 465 949

Tickets ?12/?10

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Peggy Seeger will be playing the Portland Folk club at 6.30pm on 13th May, at the Golden Hind, Milton Rd, Cambridge. Peggy is internationally known for her musicianship, songwriting and political activism. A member of the American first family of folk, Peggy was also a driving force behind the British folk revival, and ran the Singers' Club with Ewan MacColl. This

will be a unique opportunity to see a folk icon in Cambridge. Tickets are ?15, and you can buy them in person at the folk club or online at http://www.wegottickets.com/event/155202.

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Dance the Tune Step Dance Workshop

Nic Gareiss (Feet) and Scott Hartley (Fiddle)

Sunday 18th March 2012, 2.00-4.00pm, Cecil Sharp House, London

Nic Gareiss is a US step dancer extraordinaire who will be passing through London and running a workshop ?Dance the Tune'. Fiddle music will be provided by Scott Hartley, an exciting young fiddle player originating from the Lake District. If you want to check Nic out try these links or just search for him on YouTube!

www.nicgareiss.com/

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aphScE2oZts&feature=fvsr

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ5mp0LAAus

/www.youtube.com/user/pwclap

Booking: Space is very limited so please email Toby Bennett as soon as possible to reserve your place (tobyclog_at_gmail_dot_com) if you are not on my list you may not be admitted, I will email a confirmation back to you.

Price: ?10.00

Please note: The workshop is for experienced dancers only.

Dance the Tune (for students with some percussive dance experience)

Utilizing improvisation, organic movement and drawing from a myriad of percussive dance styles, come explore the sheer musical potential of your feet. Using imitation, idiomatic ornaments as well as alternate shoe-sounds and textures, we will learn to construct lines of rhythm imitating traditional fiddle tunes from Ireland, England, Quebec and America as well as contrast the melody by setting up shoe-grooves using contemporary musical sensibility.

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STOMPIN' DAVE ALLEN's upcoming dates reminder more info at www.stompinstore.com

Mar 14th, Dunster Castle, Dunster, Near Minehead, adv tickets ?10 with Dave Saunders

Sublime Folk tour with Maurice Dickson & Catherine Ashcroft + Stompin' Dave www.sublimefolk.com

Mar 15th, Sublime Folk, The Railway, Winchester, adv tickets ?12 (with Dave Saunders & Washboard Dave)

Mar 16th, Sublime Folk, The Assembly Rooms, Glastonbury, 8pm, adv tickets ?10(conc.?9)

Mar 17th, Sublime Folk, The Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis, 8pm, adv tickets ?10

Mar 19th, Sublime Folk, The Boileroom, Guildford, 8pm, adv tickets ?10

Mar 22nd, Sublime Folk, The Blackmore Theatre, Exmouth, 8pm, adv tickets ?10 (with Edward Bennett)

Mar 23rd, Sublime Folk, Dorchester Corn Exchange, 8pm, adv tickets ?10 (with Edward Bennett)

also Mar 20th, Maurice Dickson & Catherine Ashcroft, _at_ Ringwood Folk Club

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Somerset session - bluegrass with oldtime - Crossways Inn, West Huntspill, between Bridgwater and Burnham

Alternate Tuesdays from about 8pm (next one is March 20th). Contact Ken Jackson 01278 685292

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Friday 30 March 2012 Davis, Locker & Winquist at Court Sessions Folk Club: County Arms, 345 Trinity Road, London SW18 3SH.

http://sessioneast2.tripod.com/index.html

Thursday 12 April 2012. New Deal String Band at Islington Folk Club. The Horseshoe: 24 Clerkenwell Close, London EC1R 0AG http://www.islingtonfolkclub.co.uk/ifc.html

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LAST WEEK'S NEWS

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Debby McClatchy has been in touch and and is recovering well from the second of her hip replacements. Although she's not aiming for any marathon running she will have a marathon visit to the UK in the summer, covering most of July and August.

She plans to spend the first weekend of summer camp at Sacrewell but is in need of a modestly roomy tent and some camping gear for that time. Is there anyone able to lend her such who might possibly be coming for the latter part of the week but could arrange for the gear to be set up in advance or have spare equipment. Reply to me using this email in the first instance and I'll pass details on.

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Sara Grey & Kieron Means (unless indicated)

More details and contacts from www.saragrey.net

31 Mar - 1Apr Sara Grey (solo)

Sat 10:00 - 4:00 Banjo Workshop Sat 8:00pm Concert

Sun 10:00 - 4:00 Accompanying Traditional American Songs

Gleanings Rural Study Centre, Crosfields, Gravels Bank, Minsterley, Shropshire SY5 0HG

May - Western Songs presentation concert (with Brenda Frier) - venue, date and time tbc

8 May Argyle Hotel, Ullapool, Scotland

10 May Greenhouse Coffee Shop, 14 High Street, Dingwall IV15 9RU (open mike first)

11 May The Lighhouse, Dunnet Head, Caithness, KW14 8XS

12 May Five Banjos House Concert, Inverness contact Elizabeth Garrow 01463 712626

14 May Boston Folk Club, The Eagle, West Street, Boston, Lincolnshire, UK

15 May Exeter Traditional Music Club The Twisted Oak, Little John's Cross Hill, Ide, nr Exeter, EX2 9RG

16 May (with Hector Gilchrist) The Wheatsheaf on the Green, 40 Esher Green, Surrey KT10 8AG

18 May Musical Traditions Folk Club, The King and Queen, 1 Foley St, London

19 May Somers Traditional Folk Club (members only) The Albion, Bath Road, Worcester WR5 3EW

20 May House Concert, Stiwdio Felin Fach, Ty'r Felin Fach, Heol Ross, Abergavenny, NP7 5RF Wales dylanflowler1_at_mac_dot_com

24 May Lymm Folk Club The Spread Eagle, 47 Eagle Brow, Lymm Cheshire, WA13 0AG

25 May (with Mike Whellans) St Boswells Live, Village Hall, St Boswells, Scotland

26-27 May Girvan Folk Festival, Westcliffe Hotel, Louisa Drive, Girvan KA26 9AH

1-4 June Chippenham Folk Festival, Wiltshire

September 2012 - Ireland & Scotland

28 Aug (Sara solo) The Wee Folk Club, Royal Oak, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh

1 Sept Potsoy Folk Club, Salmon Bothy, Links Road, Portsoy, Banff AB45 2SS

8 Sept J.J.Harlow's, The Square, Roscommon9 Sept Mannions Pub, Balla, Co Mayo

10 Sept Mick Murphy's Pub, Ballymore Eustace, Kildare11 Sept Ireland tba

12 Sept Carnegie Arts Centre, Shelbourne Street, Kenmare, Co Kerry

13 Sept St John's Theatre, The Square, Listowel, Co. Kerry

14 Sept The Markethouse Tavern, Miltown Malbay, Clare

15 Sept Belfast and District Set Dancing and Traditional Music Society

Daytime Workshop 10:30am - 4:30pm

Evening concert - to be confirmed

Crescent Arts Centre, 2-4 University Road, Belfast BT7 1NH

16 Sept Belfast and District Set Dancing and Traditional Music Society

Morning Workshop Crescent Arts Centre, 2-4 University Road, Belfast BT7 1NH

16 Sept Gleeson's Bar, Westgate, Clonmel, Co Tipperary

October 2012 - Sara solo

5 Oct Seaford Folk Club, The Beachcomber, Dane Road, Seaford

6-7 Oct Tenterden Folk Festival, Tenterden, Kent

8 Oct Stockton Folk Club, The Sun Inn, Knowles St, Stockton on Tees TS18 1SU

26-28 Oct (with Ben Paley) South Roscommon Singers Festival, Knockcrogherty, Roscommon, Ireland

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Harmony Singing Week

Laurieston Hall, Castle Douglas, South West Scotland

Saturday 8th - 15th September

If you love old time harmonies and want to learn how to do them, or do them better! This week is for you. You will have small group tuition with one of the US's leading old time vocal tutors, Val Mindel.

At Laurieston's 2012 Harmony week she'll be leading classes in country harmony and the traditional repertories of Appalachia and American south. Debra Clifford from the Lonesome Sisters is also planning to join Val, offering a rare opportunity to hear harmonies from two great old time singers.

Val is a long-time performer and a well known teacher of American traditional music in the US. She teaches harmony workshops at the Augusta Heritage (Old Time week) in West Virginia, Village Harmony and other popular music camps, teaching variations on duets, basic country harmony, and honky-tonk styles. Working often works with daughter Emily Miller and Jesse Milnes (both of the Sweetback Sisters fame), focusing on trio singing. Also works with Joe Newberry and Kate Brislin, doing country duets.

This week also offers a wonderful week of harmony singing, playing and contra dancing. With other styles of harmony singing taught by acomplished tutors Kate Howard and Ali Burns from the UK and Peter and Mary Alice Amidon from the US on shape note, gospel, South African, English and old plus contemporary Scottish compositions taught by the song writer. For musicians there are informal sessions and a dance bands to play for.

Laurieston Hall is an old baronial mansion that has been an intentional community for the last 40 years. In the summer it hosts a wide variety of events including music and dance weeks. The hall is set in 200 acres of forest, has a walled garden, a four mile loch, sauna and extensive gardens for you to relax in. Food is vegetarian, plentiful with much coming from the garden in the summer months.

Cost: ?379 (conc.), ?385, ?425, ?464.

For booking forms and information about Laurieston Hall please contact Sarah Kleppsattle on 01644450 602 or email her on sarah_at_lauriestonhall_dot_demon_dot_co_dot_uk

For information about the week please contact Kate Howard on 01364 644471 or email her on kate.sings2000_at_virgin_dot_net

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Those of you who enjoyed hearing Christine Cooper, Barry Southern and Alan Wright with Chris Marshall on bass at Gainsborough may be interested to hear recordings they made at the festival. Although they are still pondering about a formal band name the recordings can be found here:

http://soundcloud.com/theship

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Picking weekend at Runswick Bay near Whitby, Thurs May 3rd onwards

Use of separate camping field at Runswick Bay Caravan Park

Concessionary prices - Adult ?8, Schoolkids ?5, Hook-up ?8.50

Musicians welcome to play evenings in Runswick Bay Hotel except Saturday.

Some idea of numbers would be useful to have.

Contact Noel - noelwhite1_at_live_dot_co_dot_uk

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Erynn Marshall & Carl Jones will be following their appearance at Sore Fingers, Apr 9-13th, with a gig for the Willesden Folk Union on Apr 15 at the Masons Arms, Harrow Rd, London NW10 5NU. ?8 in advance, ?9 on the door.