Today is Friday, March 12, 2010
Keeping Folk Music Alive for the Next Generation

CTMS News & Updates

Don't miss JAY UNGAR & MOLLY MASON at the Center
Friday, March 26, 2010 | Music starts 8:00p Encino Community Center - 4935 Balboa Blvd, Encino, CA 91316 General Admission: $22 adv / $25 door - Reserved Tickets: $30 CTMS members - $18 general / $25 reserved (EMAIL US for discount codes) What is it they say about the family that plays together? Well, even if they don't all live under the same roof, this family makes terrific music and has a rip-roarin' good time while they're at it. The Jay Ungar & Molly Mason Family Band features Jay, Molly, Jay's daughter Ruth Ungar Merenda, and her husband Michael Merenda. The band travel's with Ruthy and Mike's son Will, born January 28, 2008. He's not playing an instrument yet but is sometimes heard none the less. With exceptional musicianship and a vast knowledge of a number of music styles, Jay Ungar & Molly Mason are one of the most celebrated duos in American acoustic music. They achieved international acclaim in 1990 when their performance of Jay's composition Ashokan Farewell became the musical hallmark of Ken Burns' The Civil War on PBS. You may know Ruth and Mike Merenda from their band, The Mammals. Ruth Merenda cut her teeth on traditional music, and grew up to be a top-flight performer. She brings fiddle, ukulele, guitar and deeply moving vocal performances to the Family Band. Mike Merenda favored rock and ska before being drawn into the world of acoustic music. He adds old-time banjo, guitar and percussion to the mix. Four terrific musicians. Put them together and the sum really is greater than its parts. Double fiddles, sweet vocal harmonies and rhythmic energy abound as two generations collaborate to entertain you with music from the heart and soul of America.

NEW CLASSES @ the Center!
Tom Corbett teaches all levels of traditional styles on Mandolin and Guitar as well as beginning traditional fiddle. He brings years of teaching experience from a professional musical background. He has worked with many of the top west coast acoustic musicians including John McEuen (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), The Acousticats featuring Phil Salazar as well Robin and Linda Williams from the Prarie Home Companion. He has two CD's out and a third on the way which features the talents of such fine musicians as David Hidalgo (Los Lobos), Herb Pedersen, Nina Gerber (Kate Wolf) and David West (Cache Valley Drifters) to name a few. His lessons can be structured to meet the student’s desires and will have you pickin' and grinnin' in no time. For more information, go to www.tomcorbett.net. In addition to private lessons, Tom will be holding workshop style classes. Classes for the upcoming months include: Introduction to Mandolin - Sat. April 10, 10am-12pm Introduction to Flatpick Guitar - Sat. May 8, 10am-12pm Jamming 101 – Wednesday, March 24th and Wednesday, May 21st, 7pm-9pm Classes are $25 each. To reserve your space, please contact the Center for Folk Music at info@ctmsfolkmusic.org or by calling 818-817-7756.

STACEY EARLE & MARK STUART tickets are ON SALE NOW
STACEY EARLE & MARK STUART Wed, March 17, 2010 | Music starts 8:00p Regular price: $15 advance / $18 door Center for Folk Music - 16953 Ventura Boulevard, Encino, CA 91316 Few husband-wife musical duos provide audiences with the complete entertainment package that Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart dish out in a live performance. Armed with clever acoustic guitar interplay, autobiographical songwriting, lovely harmonies, and humorous storytelling this couple captivates your attention from the first moment they are onstage. Based out of Tennessee, Earle and Stuart draw from blues, pop, country, rock, and more in their heartfelt music. The years of touring the folk/Americana circuit (playing 170 concerts a year) have given them a knack for reaching out to the audience in an intimate “come in to my living room” fashion. Stacey and Mark own their own record label, Gearle Records, and have made 8 CDs over the years. They left the environment of pursuing a major label deal in Nashville in 1998 to target small intimate venue crowds in theaters, coffeehouses, festivals, clubs, and house concerts. This has become their home and they are a recognized fixture on the folk music trail they blaze. TO BUY TICKETS, VISIT: panioloproductions.com

CELTIC SESSION @ CTMS
Join us this Sunday at the Center for Folk Music as we host our monthly Celtic Session led by Roland Sturm. The Session takes place from 3pm-5pm at the Center, 16953 Ventura Blvd, Encino, CA 91316. To find out about our other jams, check out our jam page: www.ctmsfolkmusic.org/oldtimejam.asp

Bluegrass Jam!
This Sunday is the Bluegrass Jam led by Jeff Fleck of the Bluegrass Association of Southern California. The Jam will be held at the Center for Folk Music from 1pm-5pm. As always, this event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. See you there! For more information on this jam (and others!) and directions to the Center for Folk Music, please visit the jams page at www.ctmsfolkmusic.org/oldtimejam.asp or give us a call at 818-817-7756.

THE STAIRWELL SISTERS - Workshop & Concert
Paniolo Productions presents... THE STAIRWELL SISTERS Opening act: Madame Pamita Sat, January 23, 2010 | Music starts 8:00p Center for Folk Music - 16953 Ventura Boulevard, Encino, CA 91316 Limited $10 tickets! Just enter password "OHCROW" when ordering online! Regular price: $15 advance / $18 door San Francisco’s all-gal old-time teardown, THE STAIRWELL SISTERS, play a deep and rowdy repertoire of timeless tunes plus a solid standing of smart, original material that is winning praise on a national level. The Stairwell Sisters lay down concerts and square dances for counter-culturalists everywhere, infusing the old music with intoxicating energy and soul. The stairwell has never sounded better. "... a pep stepping girlie-girl, swamp-chthonic yet leather-tough take on early American roots music... The Stairwell Sisters swept out of San Francisco to assume its present role as collective dominatrix of allemandes and other unsquare moves." - Michigan City Pulse MADAME PAMITA is a strange duck. I’m sure she’d have no problem with that statement. Here’s a modern woman living in California who has recorded her new record on wax cylinders. Furthermore at her live shows she dons a mystical outfit reads fortunes of her audience members all the while strumming her ukulele and singing her odd songs. – Songs:Illinois Old-Timey Harmony Singing Workshop - Come Sing! The Stairwell Sisters lead you through singing in the Carter Family style. January 23 from 4-5:30pm. $15 or $10 w/ purchase of full price concert ticket. For more information on this concert, visit the concerts page at www.ctmsfolkmusic.org/sales

The Summer Solstice Festival is returning!
Help support CTMS and make the return of the Summer Solstice Festival better than it's ever been before by becoming a member.
With numerous membership options, there's bound to be something that fits your budget.
Check out our "donations" page for more information. Donate!

Folk Song Jam!
Like all our jam sessions, this is free and open to the public (street parking on Sunday is also free). The song circle will be led by Janet Cornwell, a seasoned folk singer and song leader with a genuine love for sharing traditional songs.
The Center is located at 16953 Ventura Blvd, Encino, CA 91316

John McCutcheon
John McCutcheon is America’s balladeer. His songs sing of the nation’s heritage. His words channel the conscience of our people into streams of poetry and melody. He writes about subjects small and great, from a child’s haircut to freedom and human dignity – issues equally eternal and enduring. Think of McCutcheon as an incarnation of Pete Seeger and Mr. Rogers, Will Rogers and Bruce Springsteen, and above all Everyman, righteously passionate and impishly playful, blessed with gifts as a songwriter, historian, musician and storyteller. Perhaps the greatest among McCutcheon’s gifts is to bring his listeners together, including those who might not otherwise share common generational or political ground. “Some of them know me through my albums for children,” he explains. “Some know me as a hammered dulcimer player. Some know me for writing topical songs. Yet all of these people find themselves sitting next to one another at my shows. They laugh and cry. They get nostalgic and they think about the future. They think about their kids and their ancestors. They get inspired and energized. And this inspires and energizes me too.”
Get tickets online at:
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/77135

Did you hear who's coming to Encino?
Both events will take place at the Encino Community Center (located at 4935 Balboa Blvd, Encino, CA 91316). Tickets are on sale now. Check out the sales page (www.ctmsfolkmusic.org/sales) for more information.

Jamie Laval Workshop
I am once again proud to announce that Jamie Laval is returning to the California Traditional Music Society to conduct a two-hour fiddle workshop on Saturday, November 7th beginning at 11:00 AM at the CTMS center in Encino (16953 Ventura Blvd). If you missed out on in his workshop last February, well, now's your chance once more; if you were among the participatns then, you'll undoubtedly want to return. The cost for the workshop is $25 with an advance reservation or $30 at the door/unreserved ($20 w/ reservation, $25 w/o reservation for fiddlers under 15 years of age). Reservations are strongly recommended - here's the honest truth why: we need a minimum of 8 reservations or the workshop could be cancelled : ( Reserve your slot by calling CTMS at 818 817-7756 or (preferably) by emailing me: ronm@ctmsfolkmusic.org. Don't Delay! I look forward to seeing lots of folks there! Ron Milberger President, CTMS Board of Directors

New Folk Song Jam!
Beginning September 13, CTMS will host a Folk Song Jam on the second Sunday of each month. These singalongs, featuring all kinds of folk and folk music, will take place between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the CTMS Center for Folk Music in Encino Park, 16953 Ventura Boulevard, Encino (one block west of Balboa).

Like all our jam sessions, this is free and open to the public (street parking on Sunday is also free). The song circle will be led by Janet Cornwell, a seasoned folk singer and song leader with a genuine love for sharing traditional songs.

For more information click here.

Schedule for the TASTE OF FOLK MUSIC available
The schedule of events for the 8th Annual “Taste of Folk Music & Dance”, a FREE festival, is now available by clicking here.

The festival will be presented on Sunday October 11, 2008 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, in conjunction with the Encino Chamber of Commerce 20th Annual “Taste Of Encino” street fair. The Music & Dance Festival is one of the largest gatherings of folk music organizations and artists in Southern California, and is an official event of the Daniel Pearl World Music Days.

The event will include a "Best of Topanga Banjo Fiddle Festival" stage, an array of world music on the Elaine Weissman CTMS Stage, a dance tent with wooden floor and live music, storytelling in our Center, a song circle with the Santa Monica Traditional Folk Music Club, and children's craft area.

This project is made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission and the support of the Department of Recreation and Parks, the Encino Community Center, and the Encino Chamber of Commerce.

A-RENTAL CONNECTION is a Bronze Level Festival sponsor.

Conjunto Los Pochos will perform courtesy of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission .

We have limited free space available for folk-related nonprofits to have information tables. Please call Lisa Richardson at 818-817-7756 for more details.

Concert Series Starts With Slaid Cleaves Sept 10!
CTMS & Paniolo Productions present Austin singer-songwriter SLAID CLEAVES
opening act: Dafni
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Music starts 8:00p
$17 advance / $20 door ($15 for CTMS members)
Center for Folk Music - 16953 Ventura Boulevard, Encino, CA 91316

"I'm glad I found Slaid Cleaves, because my life would have been poorer without him. You'll feel the same... go to one of Slaid's shows, take a friend, and pass on the news: not all the good guys wear hats." - Stephen King

For tickets, please visit: http://www.panioloproductions.com/events.html

For information on Slaid Cleaves, visit: http://slaid.com/



OTHER CONCERTS IN THE SERIES INCLUDE:

Saturday, Oct. 24 I See Hawks in L.A. (Jonathan McEuen opening)

Saturday, Nov. 14 Bop Ensemble

Friday, Jan. 8 John McCutcheon (AT THE ENCINO COMMUNITY CENTER)

Friday, Mar. 26 Jay Ungar and Molly Mason (AT THE ENCINO COMMUNITY CENTER)



Please visit the Paniolo Productions link above for more details!

CTMS Needs Your Help At "Taste!"
“The Taste of Folk Music & Dance” will take place on Sunday, October 11, at Encino Park. But we can't do it without YOU!

Please consider volunteering for the following jobs:
Festival Setup - Saturday Morning 9am – 1pm (approximately)

Booths Setup - Sunday Morning 8am – 10am

Artist Coordination (assisting with load-in, load-out)

Instrument Check-In

Country Store (T-Shirt, Raffle, Concert Ticket and LP/CD sales)

Children's Crafts Area

Infomation Booth

Performer CD Sales Booth

Stage/Sound Team

Grounds Crew (trash, troubleshooting)

Festival Tear Down – Sunday Night 5pm to 7pm (approximately)

Shifts: Shift 1: 9am – 12pm (includes booth setup)
Shift 2: 12pm – 3pm
Shift 3: 3pm – 6pm (includes booth take down)

This event is always fun! If you can help please let us know by sending a message (by clicking here) with the job and shift you would like (please indicate a second choice just in case)

For more information about the festival itself click here.

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