uNi Coffeehouse Concert Folk
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From the minute she begins to
sing, Debra Cowan grabs her audience and doesn't let go.
She is an exceptional interpreter of traditional and contemporary songs, using that ability to communicate the story within the song. Her rich voice conjures images of stony grey Celtic castles, green and rolling English landscapes, and humorous American urban scenes. Just as the audience is left spellbound after Debra presents a woeful traditional ballad of love gone wrong, she immediately brings laughter with an outrageous comic song. Her concern for social justice and equality is reflected in her set choices; included are songs describing life in the jute mills of Scotland, the meat-packing plants of the USA and strikers fighting for dignity on the picket line. Since leaving a public school teaching career in 1997, Debra Cowan is enjoying success as one of America's foremost interpreters of traditional and contemporary folksongs. |
Jeff Davis is one of America’s
most respected collectors and interpreters of traditional music. He
has traveled far to visit “source singers”--farmers and miners who
remembered the old songs and tunes--and closer at hand to libraries and
archives, always look for the best of the music that was once common in
out towns and villages. An event with Jeff might include New England ballads sea songs, African-American banjo tunes, cowboy ditties, rare Yankee fiddle tunes and more. You will “meet” singers and players from the North Carolina mountains and coast, Nova Scotia farmers, African-American sailors, New York loggers and many others. Jeff plays fiddle, banjo, mandocello, guitar, spoons, jaw’s harps and a few instruments hand-made by folk craftsmen. He has toured extensively throughout the United States and to festivals in Canada, England, Ireland, The Netherlands, and Norway. |
1. Getting close (how to get to Converse St. in Longmeadow)
1a. Coming from the North, East,
or West
NOTE: The directions below assume that you have stayed on I 91
to Exit 1; please do not make the mistake of leaving I 91 before
Exit 1 if you are coming
- from the NORTH: I 91 South to Exit 1
- from the EAST: Mass Pike (I 90) to Exit 6; I 291 West; I 91
South to Exit 1
- from the WEST: Mass Pike (I 90) to Exit 4; I 91 South to Exit
1
Take I 91 Exit 1 (Longmeadow); follow Route 5 south (Longmeadow St.) to
the THIRD traffic light; turn left onto Converse St.
1b. Coming from the SOUTH there is
no
access to Exit 1 from I 91 when coming from the south
Take I 91 Exit 49 turn right onto ROUTE 5 north
which becomes Longmeadow St. Go JUST OVER 3 MILES to turn right
onto Converse St. (at a large intersection with a traffic
light)
2. Final Directions (from Converse street)
- follow Converse St. slightly less than one mile
to turn left
onto Porter Lake Drive
NOTE: if you miss the turn for Porter Lake Drive, you will see
a Jewish Community Center on the left. Turn around there & try
again watching for Porter Lake Drive on the right now.
- UU Meetinghouse is less than a mile along Porter Lake Drive, on
the right. It is a low brick building with a parking lot.
NOTE: if you miss the turn for Porter Lake Drive, you
will
see the Jewish
Community Center on the left. Turn around there & try again,
watching for Porter
Lake Drive on the right now.
P.A.C.E. = Pioneer Arts
Center
of Easthampton
(MA) http://www.pioneerarts.org
- presents a mix of concerts, open mic nights, jam sessions,
theatrical productions,
classes and more,
Musi-Cal - A very comprehensive
listing of
concerts and festivals; you can even search by performer to follow your
favorites.
NEFFA: New England Folk Festival
Association-
A well constructed site with special emphasis on the northeast but with
many links
to other sites
Folk Legacy Records - An excellent
source for
folk music recordings
Dirty Linen - A strange
name perhaps,
but a wonderful magazine and major internet presence providing
information about
the folk music scene.
Folk Alliance - A major force in
supporting the
interests of folk music in North America
SingOut! - The premiere folk
music publication,
publisher of "Rise Up Singing", and so much more!
New Song Library -
a unique song
resource library that collects and preserves songs about people's
lives, hopes and
struggles, and helps performers, teachers and community activists share
these songs
with a wide variety of audiences
Robin Blecher Celtic Arts -
Includes a calendar
of Celtic concerts within 100 miles of Boston,
updated weekly plus information about over 200 venues, radio outlets,
and more
Pioneer Valley
Folklore Society Song and Story Swap
- Provides
a chance for anyone in the Pioneer Valley to share their songs and
stories with others.
Dulcimer Folk Association
of CT-
a wonderful, welcoming group of folks who encourage others to join them
in making
music together just for the joy of it. Beginners warmly welcomed and
helped with
learning to play; also NOT LIMITED TO DULCIMERS, all acoustic
instruments and voices
welcomed.
Sounding Board Folknotes
http://folknotes.org/
- online
version of
the newsletter of the Sounding Board which has presented the finest of
folk music
for over 30 years; lots of other venues' schedules as well as folk
radio and festival
listings
ezFolk.com -- Folk Guitar, Banjo,
and Ukulele
Website with Free Tabs & Tutorials!
Folk
Festivals
Click below for the
Excellent
Listing of Festivals by Dirty Linen Magazine
http://www.dirtynelson.com/linen/special/events.html
Watch
below for
just a few festivals
that we have personally enjoyed in the past, as the time for each
approaches again.
