FSGW Washington Folk Festival 2006
anniemal and I went to the FSGW Folk Festival last weekend. All local performers, all volunteer, and all free (although there was a clear request for donation$, since the last two Festivals have lost money); music, dance, story-telling; some to watch, and some to do. It's the first time we've gone since 2000. (They didn't have a festival the next couple of years because of major renovation work at Glen Echo Park. If you last saw the park more than 5 years ago, you will be majorly impressed by the changes. Structures that were collapsing are now attractive and useable spaces.) Some of my pictures are in an on-line album here. There were 7 stages, with things going on most of the day on most of the stages. Here's a list of the things I went to. anniemal went to many of these too, but we weren't doing the same things all the time. There were people just jamming on their own too, much of the time. There were crafts vendors, but nothing we succumbed to. And many of the performers had CDs available. We didn't buy any over the weekend, but there are a few I might look for. The weather was excellent. (It looked uncertain Saturday morning, but that just made it easier for us to get a parking space.)
Washington Folk Festival
Schedule for Saturday, June 3, 2006Karma GyaltsenTraditional, classical, folk music, and opera of Tibet, with accompanient on the tra-nyen (Tibetan lute) and dulcimer.Blaskapelle Alte KameradenThe "Alte Kameraden" preserve the musical heritage and festival spirit of Bavarian village bands.IonaIona's music is a unique, acoustic weave of the traditional music of Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, the Isle of Man, and Galicia.Shahriar SalehPersian classical pieces, rhythmic and non-rhythmic improvisations. Shahriar Saleh, master of the santur, or hammered dulcimer, and Ali Analouei on the dumbek.Barnes and HamptonLinn Barnes and Allison Hampton blend the sounds of guitar, lute, and Celtic harp in performing a mixture of songs from Renaissance melodies to the 12 bar blues.Unusual Instruments WorkshopReed Martin will entertain you with music-making novelties in a tribute to unusual instruments that you don't get to hear every day.Schedule for Sunday, June 4, 2006City of Alexandria Pipes and DrumsThe City of Alexandria Pipes & Drums brings us stirring music of Scottish bagpipes.OceanThe Ocean Orchestra crosses Irish jigs and reels with a rock and roll rhythm section; mythology and classical symphonic themes with shimmering electronics. Celtic Music for Ancient Moderns!Hoag, Kelley, and PilzerAndrea Hoag, Loretta Kelley, and Charlie Pilzer combine their fiddles, bass, and talents to offer the finest Scandinavian music.Washington Toho Koto SocietyThe Washington Toho Koto Society performs Japanese traditional and classical music with the distinctive, lovely sounds of the plucked strings of the Kotos, and some of the pieces will be accompanied by the Shakuhachi, a bamboo vertical flute.Samovar Russian Folk Music EnsembleSamovar Russian Folk Music Ensemble Russian and Ukrainian folk songs, both instrumental and vocal.Culkin School of Traditional Irish DanceSean Culkin; music by Mark Hillmann, Brendan Mulvihill, Jesse Winch.Natyabhoomi School of DanceThe Natyabhoomi School of Dance focuses on preserving the rich culture and heritage of India, by offering classes in an extremely popular Indian classical dance form called Bharathanatyam the classical dance from South India.KlezmosKlezmos transports you to the Eastern European Jewish communities of the early 1900's with tunes both lively and soulful.