Pioneer Valley Folklore Society Happenings

December 2002

Contents

  • Storyteller John Porcino will join Dec. 13 Song & Story Swap
  • Pioneer Arts Center of Easthampton (P.A.C.E.) opens
  • Winter Solstice Celebration in Colrain
  • Holiday gift suggestions — local music and storytelling books
  • Lou's Reviews
  • Calendar

John Porcino will be December 13 Song & Story Swap guest

Please come share in an evening of music and stories at the December Pioneer Valley Folklore Society SONG & STORY SWAP.

John Porcino -- December 13 at the Black SheepFriday, December 13, 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the Black Sheep Café, 79 Main St., Amherst, Mass.  

Appearing as guest performer will be storyteller John Porcino. Since 1981 John Porcino has been spreading the joy of story, song and instrumental music around America. Presenting some 250 performances and workshops annually, John has delivered his uniquely uplifting brand of entertainment from stages, podiums and pulpits to captivated audiences of all ages. John's tales are enlivened by his skillful playing on an array of instruments including guitar, violin, African drums, pennywhistle and jaw harp.

Several of John Porcino's wintertime stories have been collected on his recording, A Heck of a Way to Stay Warm. His work also appears in two storytelling anthologies, Join In on Yellow Moon Press, and Spinning Tales, Weaving Hope by the Stories for World Change Network.

Learn more about John Porcino at his web site, http://www.johnporcino.com.

The Song & Story Swap is an event where people of all ages gather to share stories and songs that may be traditional, newly written, or of personal experiences. You can tell, sing, or lead everyone in singing, play an instrument or request a song or story.  Listeners are welcome, too.  Admission is free, with donations accepted.

The warm-up theme this month is Light.

The PVFS Song & Story Swap happens the 2ND FRIDAY of every month.  For information contact Paul Kaplan, (413)-253-9484 or Jeff Lee, (413)-256-0433 or visit http://www.filbert.com/pvfs.

Pioneer Arts Center of Easthampton opens

P.A.C.E.The Valley has lost the Fire & Water Cafe in Northampton which recently closed its doors after eight years of providing a stage for musicians, poets and storytellers.  However, a few miles up Rt. 10 a new haven for the arts community is taking shape in the form of the Pioneer Arts Center of Easthampton, or P.A.C.E.

Housed at 41 Union St., the organization has lined up regular weekend concerts, weekly Monday evening open mic's, and open comedy nights the first Thursday of each month.  In addition, plans are underway to host theater performances, workshops and an art gallery.

Learn about P.A.C.E. activities and events at http://www.pioneerarts.org.

Winter Solstice Celebration at Roundhouse in Colrain 

The Roundhouse at 68 Van Nuys Rd. in Colrain will be the site of a Winter Solstice Celebration featuring storytelling, music, juggling and a mummer's play.  Davis Bates, Jay Goldspinner, Katie Green, Robert Harris, Rob Peck, John Porcino, Bekki Tippens, Kym Zombik and Tim Van Egmond will be among the performers.

The event is scheduled for December 21 at 7:00 p.m.  Proceeds will benefit Oxfam America and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.  Call (413) 624-5140 for information.

Holiday gift suggestions — local music and storytelling books

Baby Let Me Follow You Down by Jim Rooney & Eric Von SchmidtThe Hundred Thousand Fools of Gold by Theodore LevinThe Essential Klezmer by Seth RogovoySpinning Tales, Weaving Hope by John Porcino et al.

If you are gift buying or hungry for a good read, you might consider one of the following folk-related books with a local connection.

Baby Let Me Follow You Down (1994) is an amazing assembly of photographs and interviews that document the explosive folk revival centered in Cambridge, Mass. in the early sixties. It was written by two musicians who were in the thick of it — Eric Von Schmidt and Jim Rooney.  Among the anecdotes are Rooney's account of how he, fellow Amherst College student, Bill Keith, and Joan Baez's promoter, Manny Greenhill, founded the "Connecticut Valley Folklore Society" in the spring of 1960.  Check it out.

The Hundred Thousand Fools of God (1999) is the work of another Amherst alum and former Folklore Society member, Ted Levin.  Now a prominent ethnomusicologist, Levin has written a report of his travels through Central Asia while documenting the current state of its music and culture.  Highly readable and accompanied by a CD.

The Essential Klezmer (2000) is Seth Rogovoy's critically acclaimed panoramic guide to Klezmer, or "Jewish roots and soul" music.  Rogovoy is a journalist and WAMC commentator from nearby Great Barrington who publishes a lengthy guide to musical goings on in the Berkshires at http://www.rogovoy.com. 

Spinning Tales, Weaving Hope (2002) is a storytelling sourcebook containing 29 children's stories from around the world aimed at fostering an appreciation for peace, justice and the environment.  It was edited by 5 Massachusetts storytellers, including this month's Song & Story Swap guest, John Porcino.

Lou's Reviews – Coming soon... Silk Road review

Lou Wigdor is taking a brief holiday hiatus this month, but he has filed this preview of writing to come:

Check back in the reviews section of this web site later this month for a Lou’s Reviews critique of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road CD and a companion Smithsonian Folkways two-CD set, which features a wealth of Silk Road roots performers. The review includes an interview with Ted Levin, curatorial director of the Silk Road Project and professor of music at Dartmouth College. (Ted, who is America’s leading scholar on Central Asian roots music, wrote the liner notes to both Silk Road albums.)

He’s also a former active member of the Pioneer Valley Folklore Society. A 1973 graduate of Amherst College, Ted studied banjo with one of the society’s founders, Bill Keith. If you’ve ever gone contra dancing at Munson Library in south Amherst, you have Ted, in part, to thank. He and fellow PVFS member, Jerry Wein, started the ball rolling in the early 1970s. But over the past two decades, Ted has done much of his dancing in the field in the “Stans”—i.e., Uzbekistan, Tajikstan, Kazakhstan, etc. His celebrated book, One Hundred Thousand Fools of God (Indiana University Press), documents many of his travels while offering fantastic musical insights. Without question, Ted knows Central Asian musical roots. But he’s never forgotten his roots in the Pioneer Valley!

Watch for the update at Lou's Reviews. 

PVFS and Friends Upcoming Event Calendar

  • Dec. 10 - Route 9 A Capella.  Buckley Recital Hall, Amherst College,  Amherst, MA.  8:00pm.  413-530-8949.
  • Dec. 10 - Paul Barere and Fred Tacket.  Iron Horse, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7:00pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 11 - Meg Hutchinson, Brian Webb.  Club Helsinki, 284 Main St.,  Great Barrington, MA.  8:00pm.  413-528-3394.
  • Dec. 11 - Mark Rust.  Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, 375 Church St.,  North Adams, MA.  12:00pm.  413-662-5120.
  • Dec. 11 - Boys of the Lough.  Iron Horse, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7:00pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 12 - Gaelic Storm.  Iron Horse, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7:00pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 13 - PVFS Song & Story Swap with guest John Porcino.  Black Sheep Café, 79 Main St., Amherst, MA.  7:30pm.  413-253-9484.
  • Dec. 13 - Rick & Lavinia Ross.  Dream-Away Lodge, 1342 Country Rd.,  Becket, MA.  9:00pm.  413-623-8725.
  • Dec. 13 - Jennifer Greer & Inner Orchestra.  P.A.C.E. Arts Cafe, 41 Union St., Easthampton, MA.  8:00pm.  413-527-3700.
  • Dec. 13 - Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra.  Club Helsinki, 284 Main St.,  Great Barrington, MA.  9:00pm.  413-528-3394.
  • Dec. 13 - Wintergreen.  TurningStone Coffeehouse, 233 Main Street,  Greenfield MA.  8:00pm.  413-772-0831.
  • Dec. 13 - Scott Helland.  Thirsty Mind Cafe, Village Commons,  South Hadley, MA.  8:30pm.  413-538-9309.
  • Dec. 14 - Erica Wheeler.  Maplewood Restaurant, 138 Belchertown Rd.,  Amherst, MA.  413-256-3276.
  • Dec. 14 - Limited Edition.  TurningStone Coffeehouse, 233 Main Street,  Greenfield MA.  8:00pm.  413-772-0831.
  • Dec. 14 - Scott Helland.  Montague Bookmill, 440 Greenfield Rd,  Montague, MA.  8:00pm.  413-367-9206.
  • Dec. 14 - Shemekia Copeland.  Iron Horse, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7:00pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 14 - The Tarbox Ramblers plus Mary McBride.  Iron Horse, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  9:30pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 14 - Brooks Williams, Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem.  Berkshire Museum, 39 South St.,  Pittsfield, MA.  8:00pm.  413-443-7171.
  • Dec. 14 - Peter Blanchette.  Memorial Hall, 51 Bridge St., Shelburne Falls, MA.  7:00pm.  413-625-2082.
  • Dec. 14 - Bob Franke.  U'n'I Coffeehouse, 245 Porter Lake Dr.,  Springfield, MA.  8:00pm.  413-562-3990.
  • Dec. 14 - Matt Haimovitz. Full Moon Coffeehouse, Town Hall, Wendell, MA. 7:30pm.  978-544-0240.
  • Dec. 15 - Sally Rogers & Howie Burnsen.  Stone Soup Cafe, Bob Blue's, 170 E. Hadley Rd.,  Amherst, MA.  2:00pm.  413-256-8784.
  • Dec. 15 - The Nields, The Kennedys, Katryna & Nerissa Nields, Susan Werner.  Mahaiwe Theater, 70 Railroad St.,  Great Barrington, MA.  8:00pm.  413-528-8885.
  • Dec. 15 - Jim Scott.  All Soul's Church, 399 Main St., Greenfield, MA.  10:30am.  413-773-5018.
  • Dec. 15 - David Mallet plus Kerri Powers.  Iron Horse, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7:00pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 15 - Rural Rennaisance.  Memorial Hall, 51 Bridge St., Shelburne Falls, MA.  3:00pm.  413-625-2082.
  • Dec. 16 - Open Stage & the Villa Jidiots.  Iron Horse, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7:00pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 16 - Anni Clark.  Lions Den, Main St.,  Stockbridge, MA.  8:00pm.  413-298-5545.
  • Dec. 18 - Tom Carroll.  Red Lion Inn, Main St.,  Stockbridge, MA.  9:00pm.  413-298-5545.
  • Dec. 20 - Marika Music.  TurningStone Coffeehouse, 233 Main Street,  Greenfield MA.  8:00pm.  413-772-0831.
  • Dec. 21 - Molly Scott, Grace Paley, Martin Espada, Doug Anderson, Pete Siegel, Gideon Freudmann, Amandla Chorus and Joseph Goldstein.  Concert for Peace, Amherst Regional HS, 21 Mattoon Street, Amherst, MA.  7:30pm.  413-253-0444.
  • Dec. 21 - Winter Solstice Celebration.  Roundhouse, 68 Van Nuys Rd., Colrain, MA., MA.  7:00pm.  413-624-5140.
  • Dec. 21 - Levon Helm.  Club Helsinki, 284 Main St.,  Great Barrington, MA.  9:00pm.  413-528-3394.
  • Dec. 21 - John Sheldon.  Iron Horse, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7:00pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 21 - Tom McCabe.  Plainfield, MA.  413-586-3353.
  • Dec. 22 - Jane Siberry.  Iron Horse, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7:00pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 22 - Wonderland Holiday Concert - The Nields, Brooks Williams, Jim Henry, more.  A.P.E. Gallery, 150 Main St.,  Northampton, MA.  1:00pm.  413-665-4036.
  • Dec. 22 - Dick Solberg.  Red Lion Inn, Main St.,  Stockbridge, MA.  9:00pm.  413-298-5545.
  • Dec. 24 - Mad Agnes, Margo Hennebach, Adrienne Jones, Mark Saunders.  Kripalu Center, West Street, Route 183,  Lenox, MA.  7:30pm.  413-448-3331.
  • Dec. 26 - Gokh-Bi System.  Club Helsinki, 284 Main St.,  Great Barrington, MA.  9:00pm.  413-528-3394.
  • Dec. 27 - Reed Foehl country, folk, pop.  Club Helsinki, 284 Main St.,  Great Barrington, MA.  8:00pm.  413-528-3394.
  • Dec. 27 - Norman Schell.  TurningStone Coffeehouse, 233 Main Street,  Greenfield MA.  8:00pm.  413-772-0831.
  • Dec. 27 - Sonya Kitchell and Friends.  Iron Horse, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7:00pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 28 - Aztec Two-Step plus Mad Agnes.  Iron Horse, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7:00pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 29 - Lui Collins.  Stone Soup Cafe, Bob Blue's, 170 E. Hadley Rd.,  Amherst, MA.  2:00pm.  413-256-8784.
  • Dec. 29 - Rory Block.  Iron Horse, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7:00pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 31 - Dar Williams plus Nerissa & Katryna Nields.  Calvin Theatre, 19 King St.,  Northampton, MA.  8:00pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Dec. 31 - Brooks Williams.  Northampton First Night, Various locations,  Northampton, MA.  413-584-0784.
  • Dec. 31 - Erica Wheeler.  Northampton First Night, Various locations,  Northampton, MA.  413-584-0784.
  • Dec. 31 - Rani Arbo.  Northampton First Night,  Northampton, MA.  413-584-0784.
  • Dec. 31 - Klezamir.  Northampton First Night,  Northampton, MA.  9:15pm  & 10:30pm.  413-584-7327.
  • Dec. 31 - Jim Henry.  First Night Orange, Various locations,  Orange, MA.
  • Dec. 31 - Yankee Notions.  Sturbridge First Night, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Sturbridge, MA.  9:00pm and 10:00pm.
  • Jan. 3 - Rachel Cross.  P.A.C.E. Arts Cafe, 41 Union St., Easthampton, MA.  8:00pm.  413-527-3700.
  • Jan. 3 - Livingston Taylor.  Iron Horse, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7:00pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Jan. 4 - Jackson Gilman.  Stone Soup Cafe, Bob Blue's, 170 E. Hadley Rd.,  Amherst, MA.  7:30pm.  413-256-8784.
  • Jan. 4 - Livingston Taylor.  Iron Horse, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7:00pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Jan. 4 - Bob Francke.  First United Methodest Church, 55 Fenn St.,  Pittsfield, MA.  8:00pm.  413-499-0866.
  • Jan. 5 - John Hammond.  Iron Horse, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7:00pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Jan. 9 - Karen Savoca.  Wachusett Village Inn, Rt. 2,  Westminster, MA.  6:00pm.  978-874-2000.
  • Jan. 10 - PVFS Song & Story Swap with guest Cath Oss.  Black Sheep Café, 79 Main St., Amherst, MA.  7:30pm.  413-253-9484.
  • Jan. 10 - The Atomic Scissors.  TurningStone Coffeehouse, 233 Main Street,  Greenfield MA.  8:00pm.  413-772-0831.
  • Jan. 11 - Catie Curtis.  Stone Soup Cafe, Bob Blue's, 170 E. Hadley Rd.,  Amherst, MA.  7:30pm.  413-256-8784.
  • Jan. 11 - Tim Van Egmond.  University of Mass., Amherst, MA.  10:00am.
  • Jan. 11 - Diana Jones.  P.A.C.E. Arts Cafe, 41 Union St.,  Easthampton, MA.  8:00pm.  413-527-3700.
  • Jan. 11 - Russ Thomas, Jennie McAvoy.  St. James Coffeehouse, 8 Church Street,  Greenfield, MA.  7:30pm.  413-772-2213.
  • Jan. 11 - Bo Bo Dank.  TurningStone Coffeehouse, 233 Main Street,  Greenfield MA.  8:00pm.  413-772-0831.
  • Jan. 11 - Assembly.  Iron Horse, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7:00pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Jan. 11 - Ferron plus Deb Pasternak.  Hilltown Folk & Jazz, Memorial Hall, 51 Bridge St., Shelburne Falls, MA.  7:00pm.  413-625-2580.
  • Jan. 11 - Lui Collins, David Roth.  U'n'I Coffeehouse, 245 Porter Lake Dr.,  Springfield, MA.  8:00pm.  413-562-3990.
  • Jan. 12 - Cheryl Wheeler.  Iron Horse, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7:00pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Jan. 13 - The Be Good Tanyas.  Iron Horse, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7:00pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Jan. 16 - Flora Reed, Eliot Bronson.  Iron Horse, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7:00pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Jan. 17 - Falls River String Band.  TurningStone Coffeehouse, 233 Main Street,  Greenfield MA.  8:00pm.  413-772-0831.
  • Jan. 17 - Chris Smither plus Jeffrey Foucault.  Iron Horse, 20 Center St.,  Northampton, MA.  7:00pm.  413-586-8686.
  • Jan. 17 - Patty Larkin.  Berkshire Museum, 39 South St.,  Pittsfield, MA.  8:00pm.  413-443-7171.
  • Jan. 18 - Rani Arbo & Brooks Williams.  Coffee & Soul Coffeehouse, All Soul's Church, 399 Main St.,  Greenfield, MA.  7:30pm.  413-773-5018.
  • Jan. 18 - Greg Brown.  Berkshire Museum, 39 South St.,  Pittsfield, MA.  8:00pm.  413-443-7171.
  • Jan. 18 - Peter Mulvey.  Full Moon Coffeehouse, Town Hall,  Wendell, MA.  7:30pm.  978-544-8339.
  • Jan. 19 - Tim Van Egmond.  White Church, Old Deerfield Village, Deerfield, MA.  1:00pm.
  • Jan. 23 - Turkey Hollow.  Wachusett Village Inn, Rt. 2,  Westminster, MA.  6:00pm.  978-874-2000.
  • Jan. 24 - Bob Brozman.  Berkshire Museum, 39 South St.,  Pittsfield, MA.  8:00pm.  413-443-7171.
  • Jan. 26 - Deb Cowan.  Stone Soup Cafe, Bob Blue's, 170 E. Hadley Rd.,  Amherst, MA.  2:00pm.  413-256-8784.

If there is a folk event you'd like included in the calendar, please forward information to pvfolk@yahoo.com.

If you'd like to be removed from this mailing list, please send an email to pvfolk@yahoo.com with the word REMOVE in the subject.

Pioneer Valley Folklore Society, Amherst, Mass.
Web site - http://www.filbert.com/pvfs/
Newsletter archives - http://www.filbert.com/pvfs/news/
Email - pvfolk@yahoo.com
Director/Host: Paul Kaplan
Webmaster: Jeff Lee
December 8, 2002