Near and far
Every Monday from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Irish Ceili and set dance workshops. These dance workshops will be led by Barry Taylor and Eileen Capt, and are designed to help build skills in Irish dance with the intentions of creatubg a dance community leading to organized dances. $4.00 per person. Citadel Dance Center, 91 Hinkley Street, Benton Harbor, MI (from I-94 take the Pipestone Street exit, 29). For more information call Barry, 269-639-8584 or Eileen Cropley at the Citadel, 269-925-9440.
Every Monday, 8 p.m., Irish Session. Lead by Kim Hoffmann and David James (of Paddy’s Racket). Fiddler's Hearth Public House, 127 North Main Street (Bus. 31), South Bend, Indiana. Call (574) 232-2853, e-mail info@fiddlershearth.com, or visit http://members.tripod.com/fiddlershearth/index.htm.
Every Monday, 6:30 - 9:30 “Irish Musician Time”, Open Irish session featuring Kennedy's Kitchen. Lula's Café, 1631 Edison Road, corner of Edison and U.S. 23), South Bend, IN. We sing more during the early part of the evening and play more tunes as the night progresses. This is a beginner/intermediate friendly session. A good place for those who are interested in learning the music. Call 574-273-6216 for more information.
Every Monday, 7 p.m., Scottish Country Dancing. Oshtemo Township Fire Station at the corner of Stadium Drive and Parkview, Kalamazoo, MI. Voluntary contribution $1.00 Beginners welcome Call 344-1726 for details
First Monday evening of the month (from September to June), 7:30 p.m., Community Sing. The songbook, Rise Up Singing is a large, spiral-bound book published by SingOut! magazine, and it will be used as the base source of songs for these community sings. The songbook will be available for purchase on site. Community sing will be held in the fireplace room at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 855 Grove Street, East Lansing. Suggested donation is between $2 - $5 to help pay for room rental costs. For more information e-mail Sally at [email protected], or visit www.singingfestival.com
Every Monday, 7:00 - 9:30 p.m., Kalamazoom Community Dances at the Westminster Presbyterian Church. Dances for singles and couples. $5 per person An excellent place to meet your friends and enjoy an evening of great fun! Two lessons, open dancing, free light refreshments. Westminster Presbyterian Church is located at 1511 Helen Ave. From Portage Road, turn left next to Bravo's Restaurant (about ½ mile south of (I-94) and continue on Helen Ave. until it ends at the Church. For more information call Bob, 269-352-9407. Organized by Bob Northrop & Melissa Muha. Music by DJ Plays. Smoke & Alcohol free. More info at www.kalamazoom.com.
Every Tuesday, 7 p.m., The Old Time American Clogging and Southern Appalachian Square Dance School. Big Circle taught and danced. 1417 Johnson St.Lake Odessa, MI. 5.00 per person. Old time musicians are welcome. Call Bob Warner for more information at 1-616-374-8205 or e-mail at
[email protected] or visit www.thunderfloorcloggers.com
The first & third Tuesday of every month, JAM NIGHT at the Coopersville Farm Museum, 375 Main Street, Coopersville MI. Doors open at 5 p.m. Jam Session begins with the Pledge of Alligence at 6 p.m., and the music goes until 9 p.m. Sign up to do your own song with back up or back up others. Dance, sing along or kick back and listen a while. Accoustics only please. Musicians Corky Pals & Peg Becker, from the band, Calico, will be hosting this event focussing on Country, Blue Grass, Old Western and Gospel music. All ages are encouraged to come by. $3 fee at the door. Refreshments will be available also. If you've never jammed surrounded by John Deere & Farmall tractors, then come on down and give it a try! For more information visit the museum's webiste e-mail [email protected], or call (616) 997-8555 ext. 10.
Every Wednesday and Saturday mornings, from about 9:15 until noon. Lonesome Moonlight Trio. Old-time, bluegrass, and more. Pete Humphries on guitar and with a huge repertoire of songs; Jim Cooper on mandolin and harmonica; and Pat Mertaugh on fiddle, banjo, and his own amazing creation of a resophonic guitar out of a dish pan. No cover charge. Cooper Cafe, 7759 Douglas (north of Kalamazoo, MI, just before D Ave.)
Every Wednesday, 8 - 11 p.m., Acoustic Open Stage. Folk Music, Bluegrass, Original tunes or songs, Old Time Fiddle Tunes, Irish. Buoys' Grill at the Clarion Hotel, 100 Main Street, St Joseph, Michigan. No charge. Event moderated by Dan Geib and Bev Hahn. For more information call Bev Hahn at 616-429-4450 or Dan Geib at 616-429-5516.
Every Wednesday, 7:30 - 10 p.m., Open Mike Night for singers, songwriters, musicians, poets & storytellers.(beginning October 30.) Fiddler’s Hearth Public House, 127 North Main Street (Bus. 31), South Bend, Indiana, 46601. For more information call (574) 232-2853, fax: (574) 232-2863, or e-mail [email protected].
Every Thursday, 7 - 8:30 p.m., Irish Ceili and Set Dancing. Grand Rapids, MI, 649 6th Street NW between Muskegon and Davis Avenues. Donation admittance charge. For more information e-mail Mike McGuire,
First and third Thursdays of the month, 7 p.m., Silver Strings Dulcimer Society. Old time music jam immediately following a members meeting. The jam features the hammered dulcimer, but other acoustic instruments are welcome. If a given month has a “fifth Thursday”, there will be an open staged called “Variety Night. Good Hope Lutheran Church, 28680 Cherry Hill Road, west of Inkster Road, Garden City, Michigan. For more information call 734-482-2902 or visit http://geocities.com/ssdsociety/.
Fourth Friday of every month, 7-11 p.m., Contra and Square Dance. Community based, just-for-fun. With caller, local musicians and instruction. St. Adalbert's Aid Society (Fifth Street Hall):
701 Fifth Street, on the Northwest side, Grand Rapids - upstairs (5th Street Hall). Wooden floors, air conditioning; non-smoking environment All ages and all experience levels of dancers, musicians, callers. No partner necessary. $5 per person at the door. Flat or low-heeled smooth-soled shoes recommended. Please bring a snack or non-alcoholic beverage to share. Volunteer assistance with set-up, take-down, music or running of this event, please contact Julie 616-361-9219 or [email protected]. Sponsored by Grand River Folk Arts Society.
Most Saturdays and Sundays, Workshops taught by professional musicians and dancers. Offered on a wide variety of disciplines, so check the schedule frequently! Sponsored by the Old Town School of Music, 4544 N. Lincoln, or 909 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago, IL. For more information visit the website or phone 773-728-6000.
First and third Saturdays, 4-6 pm. Folk music jam. Pittsfield Grange Hall in Ann Arbor (A2-Saline Rd, just south of I-94 strip development). We use Judi Morningstar's Ruffwater Fakebook. All musicians welcome (dearth of trapezoids at the moment). Free, dutch treat dinner out afterwards. Sometimes we play for the contra dance that follows at 8 pm. For further information e-mail [email protected].
First Saturday of each month, Contra Dance. Sponsored by the Ten Pound Fiddle. Usually held at Central United Methodist Church, 215 N. Capitol Ave Lansing. (corner of Ottawa - one block north of the capitol building.), so be sure to check The online schedule. For more information call 517-458-193 or visit [email protected].
First Saturday of each month (September - May), Goshen Old-time Dancing. 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. Contras, Squares, Circles, Waltzes, Hambos, etc. All dances are taught. No experience or partner necessary. Dances are led by experienced callers. Live music provided by local and regional bands. Beginner's workshops held before the dance from 7:30 to 8:00 p.m.. Location: The First United Methodist Church, 215 South 5th St. at the Northeast corner of S. 5th & E. Jefferson, in downtown Goshen, IN. For more information call 574-533-9906.
First Saturday of each month, 7:30 p.m., The Grand River Folk Arts Society Dances. Contra, Irish, International and Swing dance styles. Beginner's workshop begins at 7:00p.m. before the dance. Dance to a live band The Dances will be held at Grace Bilble College Athletic Center, Grand Rapids, MI. Ticket Prices: $8 general, $7 Students & seniors, $ 6 members For more information visit http://www.grfolkarts.org/
Second Saturday of each month, Contra dancing. Country Dancing of Kalamazoo sponsors Contra and English Country dances throughout the year. Dances are held at the Oshtemo Grange Hall and begin at 7:30 p.m. There is often short workshop before the dance, beginning at 7 p.m. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes suitable for energetic dancing. Smoking and alcohol are not allowed. All dances are $3 for students, $5 for members, and $6 for all others. The Wednesday evening dances are $3 for all. Check the online schedule for details. http://www.albion.edu/math/ram/cdk/.
Second Saturday morning of each month from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m., Goshen Old-Time Dancing hosts an Old-Time Fiddle Tune Jam at the Mill Race Farmer's Market in Goshen, IN. More details available at the web site, http://homepage.mac.com/philg2/GoDancing.html#music.
Second Saturday of each month, (from September to May), 7:30-10:00. Old time traditional dances (Contras, Squares, and Circle Dance) are sponsored by the Midland Traditional Dancers and feature live music provided by Morpeth Rant. Beginners' welcoming session for new dancers at 7:00 p.m. followed by the dance from. Unless otherwise noted, dances are held in the Mirror Room of the Midland Community Center 2001 George Street Midland, MI 48640. Cost: $5.00 per person for each evening or $50 for a season pass. For more information visit http://www.dulcimers.com/fmsm/dances.htm
Last Saturday of each month (September - May), 6:00 p.m., Adrian area Musical Jam for acoustical stringed instruments. West Adrian United Church of Christ, 4545 Wolf Creek Highway, Adrian, MI. Call Marilyn Mullins (517) 264-6119 or Pennye Scheiber (517) 547-7448 or [email protected] for further information.
First and Third Sundays of each month, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Kalamazoo International Folkdancing. Ethnic dancing to recorded music. Informal group doing line and circle dances. Beginners welcome and no partner needed. $2.00 admittance charge, but your first visit is free. Ballet Arts Studio, 2018 Rambling Road, in Kalamazoo. The studio is located behind Gale's Hardware, near the corner of Rambling Road and Stadium Drive. This intersection is east of 131 and west of Howard Street (near WMU). Coming from I-94, take the exit for 131 North to the Stadium Drive exit, and turn right (east). Call to confirm, 616-665-5981.
First Sunday of each month beginning at 2 p.m. and ending about 5 p.m., K'zoo Folklife Organization hosts a fun acoustic jam held on the first floor of the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, 230 N. Rose St., Kalamazoo, MI. This jam has a stronger focus on singing, but instrumental music is also welcome. Come join us, sing and/or play an instrument, or just sit, relax, and enjoy the music and good company! No cover charge!
Second Sunday of each month, 3 p.m., Irish Session. Lead by Kim Hoffmann and David James (of Paddy’s Racket). Fiddler's Hearth Public House, 127 North Main Street (Bus. 31), South Bend, Indiana. For more information call (574) 232-2853, e-mail [email protected], or visit http://members.tripod.com/fiddlershearth/index.htm
Third Sunday of each month, 2-5 p.m. GLAMA Jam, Plainwell Community Center, east of Plainwell on M-89 just over the bridge. All types of acoustic music, beginners welcome. Hosted by Blaine McCloud and Jayne Stender, 269-327-8972. Sponsored by the Great Lakes Acoustic Music Association (GLAMA).
Last Sunday of every month, 2 - 4 p.m. Riversong Music Society's Song Share and Jam. All ages are welcome to participate by playing, singing, or just attending and listening. The monthly Riversong Music Society meetings will be held directly after the jam, and all members – old and new – are welcome. Please join us at the Whitcomb Tower, 509 Ship St., St. Joseph, on the last Sunday of every month, from 2 to 4 p.m. On nice days, RMS will use the outdoor patio. Should the weather be inclement, the song share will be in the Whitcomb's very large and lovely living room. For more information e-mail [email protected]
Check out K'zoo Folklife's Jam Etiquette page for information about our own jams, too!
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