Welcome to NW HOOT

WELCOME to the Pacific Northwest Folklore Society’s e-zine the NW HOOT (as in hootenanny). We will announce upcoming events and include articles on folk music, folklore and the traditional music scene in the Pacific Northwest.

 

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER, 2010    Vol. 2, No. 6

Jillian.Mireille.Murph.Jerry-Couth Bookstore
 
The June Coffeehouse Concert featured Jillian Graham and Mireille Gotsis (see videos) and the July Coffeehouse Concert featured Orville Murphy and Jerry Middaugh (see videos), both at Couth Buzzard Books & Espresso Buono. We continue our series of folk music jams at the Couth Buzzard on 2nd and 4th Saturdays from 11 am to 1 pm. Upcoming concerts for August and September include Pint & Dale on July 13, and Morgan & Graves on Sept. 10, at the Couth Buzzard starting at 7:30 pm. Check the Video Page later for more videos of these upcoming concerts.

In this issue is a regular column – The Busking Musician – by Artis the Spoonman, an article on the first NW Folklife Festival, and CD Reviews: Historic Northwest Tugboat Tales, and Northwest Legends Vol. 1.  
   

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ARTICLE
Old Time Fiddlers
Washington Old Time Fiddlers performing at the Plaza of the States,
NW Folklife, 1972
The First NW Folklife Festival – 1972
A Modest Beginning
by Stewart Hendrickson

After recently witnessing the 39th Annual (May, 2010) NW Folklife Festival, with a budget of $1.5 million, and 7,000 musicians, dancers and artists playing to 250 million visitors (Seattle Times), it’s hard to realize that this festival had a very humble beginning in 1972. I recently found some early Journals from the Seattle Folklore Society and thought it would be interesting to reprint several articles about the first Folklife Festival. I think it is useful to re-examine its roots and history in order to guide future development.

Read more: First NW Folklife Festival

   

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CD REVIEW
NW Tugboat Tales
NORTHWEST TUGBOAT TALES
Maritime Folknet           CDBaby

I didn't think there would be so many songs about tugboats, but this is a great collection. Some are new, composed for this CD, and some are not so new. They are all well performed. Many relate to specific tugboats and people, and bring with them a wealth of history and folklore of the Northwest. It begins with a rousing version of Geoff Noble’s song One More Pull, sung by Hank Cramer with the able assistance of a local crew. From Canada and Fraser Union is another great towing song by Vic Bell, Snap the Line Tight.

Read more: Tugboat Tales CD Review

   

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CD REVIEW
 
NORTHWEST LEGENDS, Vol. 1 is a winner. As a native Puget Sounder, I find delight in hearing these familiar legends put to music. Al Hirsch is a talented song writer and performer who took it upon himself to add some new songs to our local folk material. He has that rare talent to make his ballads sound old and fitting, which can only come from a strong respect for traditional folk music.
 

Read more: Northwest Legends CD Review

   

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COLUMN
Artis the Spoonman with Jim Page at Ballard Farmers Market
THE BUSKING MUSICIAN
WHAT'S YOUR SCHTICK?
by Artis the Spoonman

Dear Readers: What are you gonna do? What kinda show are you going to bring to the diverse audience - more diverse than any auditorium, any staged (professional) venue, be it TV, school assembly, coffee house, theatre, you name it.

Read more: What's Your Schtick

   
FEATURED VIDEO OF THE WEEK
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it us your suggestions for a featured video
 
"Travelin' the Highway Home" by Squirrel Butter and guest, Carolyn "Red" Arnold: fiddle & vocals; Charmaine Slaven: Guitar, vocals, clogging; Charlie Beck: banjo. From "Dare To Be Square West," 2009, Seattle Washington, a fun old-time weekend filled with workshops, square dancing, and jamming.