The FSGW Calendar can be viewed two ways:
For more information see the Song Circles page.
Anna Rain calls the dances to the playing of Elisabeth Epstein (flute), Paul Oorts (mandolin and accordion), and Liz Donaldson (piano).
The dance is held in the upstairs room of the Glen Echo Town Hall.
General information on our English Country Dances
John Robinson will lead, teach and organize the request dancing.
No experience or partner necessary.
Lessons 8:30 - 9:00pm
Request dancing 9:00-10:45pm.
More information: International Folk Dancing (Greenbelt)
Caller & Musicians:
General information about the Sunday Night Contra and Square Dance
Melissa Running calls the dances to the music of Colleen Reed (flute), Owen Morrison (guitar), and Liz Donaldson (piano).
Jake Blount--Award-Winning Fiddler
Friday, January 31 • 8 pm
Jake Blount is an award-winning fiddler, banjoist, singer, and scholar whose performances, compositions, and research venerate and reflect the traditional music of African-American and Indigenous communities in the southeastern US.
He is half of the internationally touring duo Tui and a 2020 Strathmore Artist in Residence. In 2016, Blount became the first Black person to make the finals at the prestigious Appalachian String Band Music Festival in Clifftop, West Virginia, and the first to win in the traditional band category. In the following year, he received a bachelor of arts in ethnomusicology from Hamilton College and released his debut EP, Reparations, with award-winning fiddler Tatiana Hargreaves. He has shared his music and research at the Smithsonian Institution, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, and other museums, colleges, and universities. Blount’s live performances are truly inspiring and wholly mesmerizing.
Come see for yourself as we celebrate his receiving this year’s Claude Martin Memorial Award!
8 pm Concert (7 pm Doors), $15 for Members, $20 for Nonmembers.
Learn more about Jake Blount at jakeblount.com. Potter Violins 7711 Eastern Avenue, 20912.
General information on Concerts
Ben Hole will lead, teach and organize the request dancing.
On Tuesday, February 4, 2020, the FSGW Board will meet from 8pm to 10pm at Glen Echo Park in classroom 201, in the building with the POPCORN sign on it.
Board meetings are open to members. If you have agenda items you wish to have considered, please contact the FSGW President at: president@fsgw.org
Ann Fallon calls to the music of Susan Brandt (flute), Tom Wright (10-string mandolin), and Melissa Running (piano).
Friday February 7, 8PM
Topic: February Blues: Love Gone Wrong
Home of Heather and Tony Pierce, Montgomery Village MD
Parking on the street is limited, but there is lots around the corner.
Phone: 301 869-7551
cell:301 922-5420
heatherpier@gmail.com
Larry Weinerwill lead an
Oldies but Goodies Night
all request evening featuring recorded music international folk dance favorites - many easy dances to just follow along -
Request dancing 8:30-10:45pm.
Storytellers and listeners are invited to the home of Miriam Nadel, just across the street from the Vienna Metro station, for an evening of shared stories and potluck snacks. Free. Contact Miriam at mhnadel@alum.mit.edu for RSVPs and directions.
General information on Story Swaps
Elly Wininger
Country Blues & Folk from the Catskills
Saturday, February 8 * 8 pm
Attendees at the FSGW Getaway this past October were thrilled with Elly Wininger’s music and winning ways. Now she is coming through town again and will play a house concert in Kathie Mack’s Craftsman bungalow in Takoma Park!
Inducted into the NY Blues Hall of Fame in 2014 and signed to Adelphi Records in 2019, Elly Wininger's album "Little Red Wagon" was #8 on the Folk Music DJ Chart for January 2018 and in the top 100 for the year. She is known for her engaging performances and her accomplished finger style guitar playing. She has won numerous awards for her songwriting as well. Having played historic NYC venues in the 70s and 80s, Elly now tours nationally. Elly is also a producer, educator, and host of the live and podcast variety show: "Catskill Cabaradio." Elly produced "Rockin' the Boat," a series of music documentaries for Public Radio which won several awards including one from the United Nations. www.ellywininger.com
Suggested donation: $15. For reservations and more information, contact Kathie Mack at 301-270-5367 or kpmack2@gmail.com. (Note: Cats are in residence and there are six steps up to the front porch.)
The Ballroom Annex is attached to the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park. It is on the left side (as you face the ballroom entrance). Glen Echo Park Map
General information on the Family Dance
Gospel Sings are held the second Sunday of every month at various homes. Group singing starts at 4 pm and breaks for a covered dish supper at 6 pm, with more group singing after supper until 8 pm. Everyone is welcome!
This month’s Gospel Sing will take place at the home of Kathy Heller in Silver Spring MD. Info/directions: email kathyo1942@yahoo.com or call 301-681-3484.
General information about Gospel Sings
Indigo is Jared Kirkpatrick from Jwalk (fiddle, piano) and Mo Brachfeld (fiddle, foot percussion).
Contra Sonic, FSGW's alternative music contra series, is the Washington region's only techno contra series! Come on out to the Back Room and contra dance to a selection of electronic, techno, pop, or club music one Tuesday every other month. Featuring by new and upcoming performers, a new sound system, and club-style lights, Contra Sonic is proud to present a dynamic form of the living contra tradition. Contra Sonic uses non-gendered role terms. All newcomers welcome!
Admission: $9, $7 for members, youth, and students
Dancing 8:00 - 10:30pm with an orientation to contra dancing at 7:30
February is upon us and the season is a season for stories! The Grapevine is spoken word performance for adults and teens, celebrating the timeless art of the story, hosted this month by storyteller Renée Brachfeld.
Our featured tellers this month are the hilarious and musical duo Spark & Rhonda and Rachel Ann Harding, a believer in fairy tales for all ages. The show opens with up to three open-mic storytellers, followed by our featured tellers. Put your name in the hat to be one of our open-mic tellers! Traditional or true, happy or blue, tell the story that you have in you to tell within five (5) minutes(-ish). Admission is free. We ask for a $15 donation to support our featured tellers.
General information about The Grapevine (Storytelling)
Stephanie Smith calls the dances while Anna Rain (recorders), Becky Ross (fiddle), and Ralph Gordon (cello) play.
Caller & Musicians: Gabe Popkin will call (using Ladies and Gents). Slow Down Tommy will provide the tunes with Marty Frye, Jonathan Een Newton, David McKindley-Ward,and Anders Fahey. A free workshop beginners workshop will be at 7:00.
General information on the Silver Spring Contra Dance
Linda Mansdorf will lead, teach and organize the request dancing.
This monthly family-friendly song circle is about the joy of singing, not about talent. Come for informal group singing or just to listen, but do come to enjoy delightful songs! Words will be provided; no need to read music.
Wendy Lanxner will be a song leader and guitar accompanist. Other song leaders and instrumental accompanists welcome.
April Blum calls the dances to the playing of Barbara Heitz (flute), Bruce Edwards (bassoon and concertina), and Liz Donaldson (piano).
Andrea Nettleton calls the dances while Catherine Chapman (fiddle), Carrie Rose (flute), and Liz Donaldson (piano) make the music.
Will Brown
Folk, Appalachian, Maritime and Transatlantic music
Friday, February 28 * 8 pm
Will Brown will present an evening of his arrangements of songs and tunes from the Folk, Appalachian, Maritime and Transatlantic genres. He’s been a guest at the FSGW Getaway in 2012 and 2017 and plays a fine finger-style guitar.
Will lives in coastal Maine and has played and recorded with many Maine musicians during the past 35 years, including Gordon Bok, Cindy Kallet, Grey Larsen, and George Fowler. He also added his “fave” Utah Phillips song to the 2009 Grammy-nominated compilation Singing Through The Hard Times.
This evening’s concert will cover a lot of ground, in song and story, from both sides of “the puddle” and singing along is encouraged.
Bob is a Nebraska native whose family sang and played the old-time songs. Many of the western and railroad songs he does were learned from his grandmother and uncle. He plays banjo and autoharp, sings and yodels, and can drive a dance band with his guitar and harmonica. Bob is well known and loved for his dry and witty stage humor. He has published numerous articles and reviews for The Old-Time Herald and Inside Bluegrass and been an instructor for a course called "The History of Country Music" for the Honors Division at the University of Minnesota. Bob is also the Artistic Director for the Bluff Country Gathering and the organizing force for the Lanesboro Barn Dance.
On Tuesday, March 3, 2020, the FSGW Board will meet from 8pm to 10pm at Glen Echo Park in classroom 201, in the building with the POPCORN sign on it.
Luk Na Glavata – what kind of a name is that? Well, it’s a long story (you can ask us sometime!), but suffice it to say that we’re named in honor of a Macedonian musician and dancer who was our esteemed friend and sometimes mentor, Pece Atanasovski.
Dances will be taught using recorded music, followed by live music with Luk Na Glavata for dancing during the remainder of the evening.
Admission $12 - Seniors and Students half price
Lessons: 8:30 - 9:15pm
Dancing with live music: 9:20 -10:45pm.
World champion fiddler MARI BLACK presents a joyous extravaganza of dance-inspired music from around the globe! With her virtuosic playing, sparkling stage presence, and fun-filled stories tying the whole journey together, Mari will have you tapping your toes and dancing along to fiddle music from around the world: Celtic, Canadian, and American fiddling, swing, tango, klezmer, and more. Family-friendly and full of fun, fiddling, and musical surprises!
The nights grow shorter and the days grow longer, but there's always time for a good story. The Grapevine is spoken word performance for adults and teens, celebrating the timeless art of the story, hosted this month by storyteller Tim Livengood.
Our featured tellers this month are the enchanting Rachel Dunstan Muller and the spectacular Renée Brachfeld. The show opens with up to three open-mic storytellers, followed by our featured tellers. Put your name in the hat to be one of our open-mic tellers! Traditional or true, happy or blue, tell the story that you have in you to tell within five (5) minutes(-ish). Admission is free. We ask for a $15 donation to support our featured tellers.
Caller & Musicians: Don Fahey will have you on your feet (gender free calling) to Marty Frye & Friends. A free dance workshop begins at 7:00
Caller & Musicians: TBD
The weather won't be hot, but the dancing will! Join us in the Glen Echo Bumper Car Pavilion for the third Hash Dance Weekend. Silver Sail (Kristen Planeaux, Miriam Larson, Kelsey Wells) returns and is joined by Pete's Posse (Pete Sutherland, Tristan Henderson, Oliver Scanlon). Calling, hashing, challenging and shenaniganning will be Emily Rainbowface Abel and Alexandra Deis-Lauby.
Get all the details on the #dance Weekend
A traditional and powerful singing of American shape-note hymns, fuging tunes, and anthems in unaccompanied four-part harmony from The Sacred Harp and The Shenandoah Harmony.
Note location change FOR BOTH DAYS to: Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department, 3900 Lee Highway, Arlington VA 22207.https://www.cherrydalefire.org/
See the Shape Note Singing in DC All Day Singings web page.
See Potomac River Shape-Note Singing Convention annual event page on fsgw.org.
On Tuesday, April 7, 2020, the FSGW Board will meet from 8pm to 10pm at Glen Echo Park in classroom 201, in the building with the POPCORN sign on it.
Caller & Musicians: Abigail Hobart will provide the gender free calls to the up beat music of the Bouncers - Jim Harrington (accordion), Richard Adams (Bass and horns), T. J. Crowe (Mandolin) A free dance workshop will be held at 7:00
The showers of April are upon us, and there's nothing better to do while sheltering from the rain but to listen to a great story. The Grapevine is spoken word performance for adults and teens, celebrating the timeless art of the story, hosted this month by storyteller Renée Brachfeld.
Our featured tellers this month are Cooper Braun, formerly of Boulder, and Suzie Afridi, formerly of Jericho. The show opens with up to three open-mic storytellers, followed by our featured tellers. Put your name in the hat to be one of our open-mic tellers! Traditional or true, happy or blue, tell the story that you have in you to tell within five (5) minutes(-ish). Admission is free. We ask for a $15 donation to support our featured tellers.
On Tuesday, May 5, 2020, the FSGW Board will meet from 8pm to 10pm at Glen Echo Park in classroom 201, in the building with the POPCORN sign on it.
Please visit the 2020 Washington Spring Ball (34th) page for details (music, program, cost, etc.)
The days grow long, the air is warm but still gentle, the nights are... just right. A perfect time to hear some stories! The Grapevine is spoken word performance for adults and teens, celebrating the timeless art of the story, hosted this month by storyteller Tim Livengood.
Our featured tellers this month are the absolutely unbelievable Kevin Kling and the entirely credible Noa Baum. The show opens with up to three open-mic storytellers, followed by our featured tellers. Put your name in the hat to be one of our open-mic tellers! Traditional or true, happy or blue, tell the story that you have in you to tell within five (5) minutes(-ish). Admission is free. We ask for a $15 donation to support our featured tellers.
Caller & Musicians: Megan Wilson provides the gender free calls to the wonderful music of Triple Helix - Keith Gillis (guitar), Colleen Reed (flute), Alexander Mitchell (fiddle) A free dance workshop begins at 7:00.
Steve Cormier
Cowboy and Western
Saturday, May 23 * 8 pm
Steve Cormier comes to us from New Mexico, where he has been a musician, a cowboy, a film actor, and a college professor. He sings of cowboys and the other colorful characters who made up Western American history and myth. He has learned both from research and from practical experience with the ranch-hand's craft--how to throw a lariat, how to brand a calf, and how to use songs and stories to deal with the boredom that's the bulk of a cowboy's life. His songs and stories are about real people and real situations, much of the time. He'll like as not open with a set of pre-WWII cowboy work music. His sources range from Woody Guthrie to Powder River Jack Lee. He sings about farmers, cowboys, factory workers, horses, and homes on the range. Steve Cormier's concerts provide an insight into people and a way of life that is far removed from the reality of most of us. Join us in the front parlor of Kathie Mack's Craftsman bungalow. It may be only three blocks from the Takoma Metro Station on the Red Line, but expect to spend most of the night with your mind transported to the American West.
The 40th Washington Folk Festival will be full, as usual, of fabulous musicians, storytellers, and artisans, plus plenty of time to dance! All sorts of American music styles as well as International genres. It's always an amazing event, and FREE. Family friendly. Rain or shine.
On Tuesday, June 2, 2020, the FSGW Board will meet from 8pm to 10pm at Glen Echo Park in classroom 201, in the building with the POPCORN sign on it.
The last day of the storytelling season is upon us, and the best possible way to mark the occasion is by hearing some great stories. The Grapevine is spoken word performance for adults and teens, celebrating the timeless art of the story, hosted this month by storyteller Noa Baum.
Our featured tellers this month are the hilarious Willa Brigham and a founding mother of the modern storytelling Renaissance, Barbara Freeman. The show opens with up to three open-mic storytellers, followed by our featured tellers. Put your name in the hat to be one of our open-mic tellers! Traditional or true, happy or blue, tell the story that you have in you to tell within five (5) minutes(-ish). Admission is free. We ask for a $15 donation to support our featured tellers.
Online registration will not open until the 2020 prices are set and ratified. Any prices shown on this page were for 2019. Unfortunately, prices will need to be raised for 2020, although the scholarship fund can help offset the increases for those who can't afford them. Contact Dean Clamons at 703-980-2853 or dclamons@cox.net.
This dance will be called with non gendered role terms
Bands: THE MEAN LIDS; UNCLE FARMER; BUDDY SYSTEM
Callers: Will Mentor, Gaye Fifer, Sarah VanNorstrand
When: October 4, 2020 from 1pm to 11pm. There is a break between 6pm and 7pm for the contra dance world's best potluck.
The 10th annual full day of dancing will feature three amazing bands and callers, with hours and hours of blissful dancing!
Please use fragrance sparingly or not at all. Contrastock is being called with non- gendered dance role terms
