CONCERT & DANCE LISTINGS • CD REVIEWS • FREE EVENTS FREE BI-MONTHLY Volume 5 Number 5 September-October 2005 THESOURCE FOR FOLK/TRADITIONAL MUSIC, DANCE, STORYTELLING & OTHER RELATED FOLK ARTS IN THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA “Don’t you know that Folk Music is illegal in Los Angeles?” — WARREN C ASEY of the Wicked Tinkers THE TILT OF THE KILT Wicked Tinkers Photo by Chris Keeney BY RON YOUNG inside this issue: he wail of the bagpipes…the twirl of the dancers…the tilt of the kilts—the surge of the FADO: The Soul waves? Then it must be the Seaside Highland Games, which are held right along the coast at of Portugal T Seaside Park in Ventura. Highly regarded for its emphasis on traditional music and dance, this festival is only in its third year but is already one Interview: of the largest Scottish events in the state. Games chief John Lowry and his wife Nellie are the force Liz Carroll behind the rapid success of the Seaside games. Lowry says that the festival was created partly because there was an absence of Scottish events in the region and partly to fill the void that was created when another long-standing festival PLUS: was forced to move from the fall to the spring. With its spacious grounds and variety of activities, the LookAround Seaside festival provides a great opportunity for first-time Highland games visitors who want to experience it all. This How Can I Keep From Talking year’s games will be held on October 7, 8 and 9, with most of the activity taking place on the Saturday and Sunday. Dave’s Corner The origins of Scottish Highland Games are a bit vague. The Braemar Games, held each year in Scotland, claim a Voices In My Head pedigree that dates to the year 1057. Originally, they were only athletic competitions, organized by clan chiefs for the Old-Time Oracle purpose of choosing warriors and pipers and for keeping fighting men fit. CD Reviews Scottish life changed forever after the Battle of Culloden in April of 1746, where the Highland Scots, under the inept Uncle Ruthie leadership of Bonnie Prince Charlie, were slaughtered and decimated by the forces of the English Crown. A way of life Law Talk that had existed in Scotland for centuries came to a screech- ing halt as the clan system was dismantled. The wearing of & much more... TILT OF THE KILT page 27 Page 2 FolkWorks September-October 2005 EDITORIAL Dear Readers ideas There is limited space, so if PUBLISHERS & EDITORS Leda & Steve Shapiro Our last editorial was a plea for you are interested, please let us LAYOUT & PRODUCTION help, and although we still have know We plan on doing more writ- Alan Stone Creative Services opportunities for volunteers, the ers workshops in the future, as well FEATURE WRITERS response has been gratifying. We as forums such as performer promo- Brooke Alberts, Lookaround want to take a moment to tell you tion , Balkan singing for the novice, Ross Altman about the people who have stood and other fun skills and useful tools. How Can I Keep From Talking up and said “Here I am!” Join our FolkWorks online group David Braggar, Old-Time Oracle One of our requests was for and get up-to-the minute informa- Uncle Ruthie Buell someone to pick up the papers from tion about our workshop schedule. If Halfway Down the Stairs Joanna Cazden the printer and deliver them to our you have an idea for a workshop, The Voices in my Head house. It was answered by not one, A SONES please let us know. To join, go to our Valerie Cooley, That Reminds Me... but two good men: Roy Wells and website (www.FolkWorks.org), Linda Dewar, Grace Notes our regular columnist, Ross scroll to the bottom, click on the Richard Gee, Law Talk Altman. They picked up the last Yahoo Groups. It’s quick and easy. Roger Goodman PHOTO BY SONY issue and delivered it to our garage On the concert front, due to read- Keys to the Highway BY LEDA & STEVE SHAPIRO in record time (though it took two ers’ requests, FolkWorks will be Dennis Roger Reed men to replace our Stan Smith).. James Daginger vol- producing more concerts. Two are coming up in Reed’s Ramblings unteered to deliver papers to the West Valley, Sharon November/December, so plan ahead! Instrumental in Dave Soyars, Dave’s Corner Gates to Long Beach and Milt Rosenberg to some yet this decision has been our new volunteer, Michelle Larry Wines, Tied to the Tracks to be determined other places. We always need more Nosco. Her handiwork can be seen in the nifty concert EDITORS people for distribution. David King and KZ will dis- ad she created for our Liz Carroll and John Doyle con- David Ascher • Marie Bruno th Mary Pat Cooney • Britt Nicole-Peterson tribute at concerts - a great idea that we’d love others cert on November 12 . So SAVE THE DATE. It will Diane Sherman • Chris Stuart to emulate. be at the Neighborhood Church in Pasadena. Get tick- CONTRIBUTING WRITERS On the writing end of things, we were also suc- ets online or by sending in an SASE. Marie Bruno • Donald Cohen cessful. We have some new writers and you will see We are thrilled that so many folks have come out Ellen Friedman • David King some of their names in the CD Review section. In to our meetings. We plan to spend more Sunday after- Michelle Nosco • Ben Rotenberg addition, many of our regular writers have come to noons discussing ideas, figuring out what the content Michael Stone • Ron Young DISTRIBUTION meetings and taken on additional writing commit- for future issues will be, and making FolkWorks more Brooke Alberts • Ross Altman ments. And, in order to encourage those of you who of a collective effort. We are looking to a future that Beverly/Irwin Barr • Jim Cope are interested in writing, but unsure of your skills, will involve many more folks from diverse communi- James Daginger • Mary Dolinskis Dennis Roger Reed will be leading our first Writers ties around Southern California. Be on the LOOK- Marge Gajicki • Sharon Gates Workshop at the end of August (with more to follow). OUT…we may be coming to a library or coffee house Cliff Gilpatric • Scot Hickey Sue Hunter • Julie James It is available for all skill levels; our experienced writ- near you! And if there is somewhere you hang that Nan McKinley ers as well as the new ones will be contributing their you think MUST have FolkWorks, let us know! Bea Romano • Milt Rosenberg Daria Simolke • Mimi Tanaka Roy Wells • Lynn Worrilow LOGO DESIGN Tim Steinmeier BECOME A MEMBER Thanks to all those who have supported and SEE PAGE 28 inspired us, especially Warren Casey of the Wicked Tinkers. Published bi-monthly by FolkWorks a 501 IN THIS ISSUE (c)(3) non-profit organization an affiliate of Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS). Music at the Skirball EDITORIAL..............................................2 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MAKING SCOTTISH WHISKY: THE Brooke Alberts • Linda Dewar ART, SCIENCE & TRADITIONS..........3 MEDIA SPONSOR: HISTORY OF SCOTTISH WHISKY Kay Gilpatric • Roger Goodman Don Kiger • Holly Kiger • Gitta Morris KEYS TO THE HIGHWAY .................. 4 STRING THEORY Steve Shapiro • Mimi Tanaka Promoting Monika White • Ron Young Folk/Traditional Arts LETTERS ................................................ 4 www.FolkWorks.org THE VOICES IN MY HEAD ................ 5 Leda Shapiro, Executive Director TROPICAL TROUBADORS ADVISORY BOARD TIED TO THE TRACKS ....................... 6 Richard Gee • Howard & Roz Larman FESTIVAL PLANNING FORUM Colin Quigley • Cait Reed MUSIC LEGENDS FEATURED ON Lisa Richardson • Tom Sauber TSUNAMI RELIEF ................................ 6 CONTACT INFORMATION FREE CONCERTS ................................. 7 P.O. Box 55051, Sherman Oaks, CA 91413 FADO: THE SOUL OF PORTUGAL ....7 Phone: 818-785-3839 DAVE’S CORNER .................................. 8 [email protected] • www.FolkWorks.org ON-GOING STORYTELLING ©2005 FolkWorks All Rights Reserved EVENTS .................................................. 8 INTERVIEW............................................ 9 LOWEN & NAVARRO - PART2 AD RATES Sidi Goma REED’S RAMBLINGS ........................ 10 Size 1 X 3X 6X Wednesday, September 28 SIDI GOMA CULTIVATING THE MUSE Full Pg $660 $600 $550 8:00 p.m. West Coast debut! Discover the captivating and powerful CD REVIEWS ................................. 10-14 1/2 pg $385 $350 $300 $25 General sounds of the Black Sidis, a long-hidden African-Indian ON-GOING MUSIC HAPPENINGS . 15 1/4 pg $235 $210 $185 $20 Skirball Members community, when the ensemble Sidi Goma brings their CALENDAR OF EVENTS ............. 16-17 1/8 pg $150 $125 $100 $15 Students joyful, exuberant music, drumming, and dancing to the ON-GOING DANCE HAPPENINGS...18 1/16 pg $85 $75 $65 stage. Presented as part of the World Festival of Sacred OLD TIME ORACLE .......................... 19 TOUR ORGANIZED BY KAPA Music, Los Angeles (September 17–October 2, 2005). SPECIFICATIONS PRODUCTIONS, LONDON, UK THE PRESERVERS OF OLD-TIME - PART 2 Visit www.festivalofsacredmusic.org. THAT REMINDS ME .......................... 20 Full Pg............................ 9.5 x 15" PASSING IT ALONG 1/2 pg H ................... 9.5 x 7.375" “Spectacular, mystical and, most importantly, fun.” INTERVIEW.......................................... 21 1/4 pg V................ 4.625 x 7.375" —Rhythm Magazine LIZ CARROLL 1/8 pg H................ 4.625 x 3.625" CD REVIEW ......................................... 21 1/16 pg V ........................... 2 x 3" Thursday, October 6 BOUBACAR TRAORE UNCLE RUTHIE ................................. 22 8:00 p.m. 1/16 pg H ........................... 3 x 2" L.A. premiere! Hear unforgettable, inspiring songs dealing I’M MOVIN’ ON with life, love, politics, and solidarity by renowned Malian Artwork should be submitted for $25 General LOOKAROUND ................................... 23 printing as 1-color black or grayscale. $20 Skirball Members blues guitarist/storyteller Boubacar “Kar Kar” Traore.