The FSGW Calendar can be viewed two ways:
School's out! Bring kids and grandkids for some summertime songs and other great songs.
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.
For more information see the Song Circles page.
Dan Gillespie calls the dances while Tom Wright (10-string mandolin), Jeff Steinberg (fiddle), and Sophie Chang (cello) make the music
The dance is held in the upstairs room of the Glen Echo Town Hall.
General information on our English Country Dances
Fresh from their U.K. tour together, Grimsby Folk Club cofounder John Conolly and Takoma Park’s own Janie Meneely & Rob Van Sante bring maritime folk music from both sides of the pond and their own instant-classic originals. These are songwriters whose material is often mistaken for old folk songs. The mug-swinging chorus of “Fiddler’s Green” has been sung in pubs “from Brittany to Bermuda, from Washington to Warsaw and from Berlin to Baltimore,” notes johnconolly.co.uk, and he wrote that song. Janie has heard “Twiddles” performed by artists who introduced it as a traditional forebitter; nope, it’s one of hers. And guitarist Rob Van Sante, when not touring with Janie in the wake of their duo CD Partners, tours and records with Alan Reid of the Battlefield Band. At Seekers Church, 276 Carroll St NW, Washington, DC 20012 (Metro: Takoma). $20; members $10.
Ben Hole 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:
Laura Brophy, fiddle;, Kevin Johnsrude, guitar; Michael Proctor, bass; Ness Smith-Savedoff, percussion. SF Bay Area caller Kelsey Hartman come to call The Nettles play... ...Celtic music that’s progressive, exciting and a little bit dangerous. This band ignites audiences with fiery music that blends traditional music with modern spices. The Nettles play improvisational music based on traditional tunes, a Celtic jam band that makes audiences move and groove.
Laura Brophy, fiddle;, Kevin Johnsrude, guitar; Michael Proctor, bass; Ness Smith-Savedoff, percussion. SF Bay Area caller Kelsey Hartman come to call
The Nettles play...
...Celtic music that’s progressive, exciting and a little bit dangerous. This band ignites audiences with fiery music that blends traditional music with modern spices. The Nettles play improvisational music based on traditional tunes, a Celtic jam band that makes audiences move and groove.
General information about the Sunday Night Contra and Square Dance
Anna Rain calls to the playing of Tina Chancey (fiddle), Ralph Gordon (cello), and Francine Krasowska (piano)
Linda Mansdorf will lead, teach and organize the request dancing.
Caller & Musicians: Emily Rainbowface Abel comes to call with those high energy, dynamic, loud and fast musicians: Andrae Raffield (fiddle), Joey Dorwart (drums, sax), Jimi Periano (guitar), Karin McQuade, vocals - Contraforce!
John Robinson will lead, teach and organize the request dancing.
Channeling Django Reinhardt, Stéphane Grappelli, and the legendary Quintette du Hot Club, DC Ambiance is a “Gypsy jazz” quartet bringing together talent from Puget Sound to Yale to Sarajevo. Buco Cavar (guitar) studied jazz guitar under Tony do Rosario and Alfonso Ponticelli; Bill Parmentier (guitar), influenced by DjangoFest Northwest, studied under jazz guitarists Robin Nolan and Lollo Meier in Europe; Randy Stein (concertina) has performed at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall and on John Lennon’s last album, Double Fantasy; and bassist Shawn Simon has played with Sage Jazz and the Ashley Mitchell Band. At Seekers Church, 276 Carroll St. NW, Washington DC 20012 (Metro: Takoma). $20; members $10.
Caller & Musicians: Quena crain calls with
Jonah Sidman: Fiddle Corey Walters: Flute, Mandolin Michael Friedman: Piano Ness Smith-Savedoff: Percussion Ross Harriss: Sax/Guitar
General information on the Silver Spring Contra Dance
Susan Taylor brings her high energy when she calls to the wonderful music of Caroled Rand (guitar), Bob McCluskie (fiddle) and friends! Free workshop begins at 7:00!
The notes from her web site say it best: "Martha Burns sings old-time American folk songs the old-time way. Heart songs, cowboy songs, tragic ballads and comic ditties--songs from the mountains and songs from the range. Songs from the earliest period of recorded country music and songs never sung in a studio. Her haunting voice is perfectly suited to her old-time repertoire. An accomplished guitarist, Martha's accompaniments bring out the pith in a song. She has been singing and playing American folk music since Hoover was in the White House — well, almost — and has performed throughout North America and abroad.
Cosponsored by the Office of Historic Alexandria and FSGW, this is the July show in the Alexandria After Work concert series held in the heart of Old Town Alexandria at 6 pm on the second Friday of each month. Take the free trolley that runs every 15 minutes from King Street Metro station! At Lloyd House, 220 N Washington St. 22314. (Indoors or outdoors depending on weather.) $15 suggested donation; cash bar.
Storytellers and listeners are invited to the home of Lauren Martino for an evening of shared stories and potluck snacks. Free. Contact Lauren at lauren.ashley.martino@gmail.com or 301-996-2225 for RSVPs and directions.
General information on Story Swaps
Join us for the #dance Weekend. What's trending?
(the schedule, to date) Link to the schedule!
FRIDAY: 8:30 to 11:30 PM dance in the fabulous, famous, Glen Echo Spanish Ballroom.
For the fourth straight summer, Friends of Peirce Mill and the DC Square Dance Collective are joining forces to bring you a free evening of outdoor music and dancing in Rock Creek Park! On Saturday, July 20 we’ll fill the meadows and grounds of Peirce Mill with old-time music and dance ’til the stars come out.
Tunes will be provided by local musicians; members of the DC Square Dance Collective will call the figures. As always, no lesson, experience, partner or fancy clothes needed. Everyone is welcome!
And a bonus: This dance is free! But donations to Friends of Peirce Mill are much appreciated. You can donate at http://www.friendsofpeircemill.org/give-now/ or if you really enjoy what they do, you can become a member at http://www.friendsofpeircemill.org/membership/
This dance is sponsored by the Folklore Society of Greater Washington and Friends of Peirce Mill. Peirce Mill is the last remaining 19th-century gristmill in DC, one of several that used to grind the wheat, oats and corn for our city using waterpower from Rock Creek. It’s been lovingly restored and will be open late into the evening so you can see how it all went down. Back in the day, the mill was also a community hub and meeting place — and even hosted dances — though we’ll be dancing outside on the grass. See https://www.nps.gov/places/peirce-mill.htm for more info.
Address: 2401 Tilden St. NW, Washington, DC Directions: http://www.friendsofpeircemill.org/hours-and-directions/ Parking: across Tilden St. from the mill
More information visit the DC Square Dances.
Come out for the Family Dance!
This dance is not on the regular date, and our next dance after is in September!
Find general information about Family Dance here
Calling will be role free, dances will work exactly as they always have!
JWalk is Jared Kirkpatrick and Jakob Raitzyk (Fiddle player in the Organic Family Band).
Summer Vacation - no Friday night folk dance in Greenbelt during August.
General information on the Silver Spring Contra Dance Caroline Barnes will have you on your feet to dance to the high energy sounds of the Sligo Creek Stompers: Sarah Foard (fiddle and vocals), Jess Eliot Myhre (vocals, clarinet, washboard and kazoo), chris Ousley (archtop guitar, banjo, bass, banjolele, bodhran and vocals) and Adrian Erlinger (bass, steel guitar, mandolin, dobro and vocals). Free workshop from 7:00 to 7:30.
In the tradition of Peter, Paul & Mary or Dan Zanes or even Pete Seeger, MASSIVE DONUT performs traditional Americana arranged to enthrall young children without being too sappy for grownups. In fact, “seasoned” fans of Piedmont blues will recognize most of this local quintet (Mark Casale, Pearl Bailes, Brendan Bailes, Tom Cox, and Charlie Bean) from the Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation Saturday jam sessions or from the Capitol Hillbillies. MASSIVE DONUT has delighted crowds of all ages at the Washington Folk Festival and the Midwinter Festival (“Minifest”) since 2017 and performed a Fourth of July concert live on Takoma Radio with internet listeners on three continents.
Cosponsored by the Office of Historic Alexandria and FSGW, this is the August show in the Alexandria After work concert series held in the heart of Old Town Alexandria at 6 pm on the second Friday of each month. Take the free trolley that runs every 15 minutes from King Street Metro station! At Lloyd House, 220 N Washington St. 22314. (Indoors or outdoors depending on weather.) $15 suggested donation; cash bar.
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
Storytellers and listeners are invited to the home of Eve Burton and Roger Metcalf for an evening of shared stories and potluck snacks. If the weather cooperates, we’ll meet around the fire pit. Free. Contact Eve at ebnineteen@hotmail.com for RSVPs and directions.
Caller & Musicians: Dave Langford (fiddle, guitar), Bill Tomczak (clarinet, sax, banjo, uke, dumbek), Kate Barnes (piano, guitar, flute, harmonica), A New England based dance band featuring a trio of musicians fervent with the desire and talent to ignite flames under dancing feet. With a wide ranging and hopelessly eclectic repertoire including everything from Irish and Scottish traditional jigs and reels to Balkan, blues and swing tunes (often juxtaposed next to each other) the Latter Day Lizards bring excellent musicianship, playfulness, drama and unrelentingly infectious rhythm to their dance performances. The incredible Carol Ormand of Wisconsin comes to call
Caller & Musicians: Andrea Hoag (violin), David Wiesler (piano), Paul Oorts (button accordion, mandolin, banjo, guitar),
Larry Weiner will lead, teach and organize the request dancing.
This dance will be called with non gendered role terms
Bands: THE RIPPLES; THE ORGANIC FAMILY BAND; ED HOWE, STUART KENNEY, CASEY MURRAY, AND EMERALD RAE
Callers: Will Mentor, Lindsey Dono, Alex Deis- Lauby
When: September 22, 2019 from 1pm to 11pm. There is a break between 6pm and 7pm for the contra dance world's best potluck.
The 9th 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
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.
Caller & Musicians: Owen Morrison - guitar, Anna Patton - clarinet, Naomi Morse - fiddle
We have the date and are working on the details!
More info: Washington Spring Ball
