DC Area Musical Events

Concerts
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Sierra Hull will be performing for the Spotlight by Starlight series in the amphitheater at George Mason District Park. 7:30 pm, Friday, June 10.

The Institute of Musical Traditions presents Genticorum at Saint Mark Presbyterian Church in Rockville. 7:30 pm, Saturday, June 11.

The Birchmere presents a Dave Giegerich Tribute Show & College Fund Benefit, featuring Mike Auldridge, The Aloha Boys, The Hula Monsters, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, Robin & Linda Williams, & more special guests opening. 7:30 pm, Sunday, June 19.

The Institute of Musical Traditions presents fiddlers Brittany Haas (from Crooked Still) and Lauren Rioux in a CD release celebration of Lauren's new album, engineered by Darol Anger and produced by Brittany. An IMT Next to the House concert, at Airshow Mastering in Takoma Park, Md. 7:30 pm, Wednesday, June 22.

See the Festivals section for the Del Ray Music Festival on June 25.

The Filene Center at Wolftrap presents Béla Fleck & The Original Flecktones, The Carolina Chocolate Drops and Abigail Washburn. 7 pm, Sunday, July 10.

See the Camps, Schools & Classes section for the CCE Music Arts and Dance Week, July 18-22.

The Institute of Musical Traditions and the O'Neill Malcom Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann (CCE) present the annual MAD Week Faculty Concert. Faculty members include-- Fiddle: Martin Hayes, Patrick Ourceau, Cleek Schrey, Robert Spates, Donna Long; Flute/Whistle: Kevin Crawford, Laura Byrne; Song: Len Graham; Uilleann Pipes: Jerry O’Sullivan; Guitar: Josh Dukes; Bodhran (Irish Drum): Jesse Winch, Myron Bretholz; Button Accordion: Sean McComiskey; Sean-Nos (Old Style) & Set Dancing: Shannon Dunne, Marilyn Moore. . At the Community Center in Takoma Park, Md. 7:30 pm, Wednesday, July 22.

The Institute of Musical Traditions presents a solo performance by Gabrielle Louise. Gabrielle last appeared in the DC area at a Sunspot concert in 2007. An IMT Next to the House concert in Takoma Park, Md. 8 pm, Saturday, August 13.

Festivals
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April 30: The 33rd annual Celtic Festival of Southern Maryland, with 3 music stages, a dance stage, storytelling, pipe band, fiddle and harp competitions, a geneology workshop, fencing demonstraton and rugby games. Performers include IONA, Tinsmith, Letter of Marque, Pyrates Royale & The Devil's Tailors. At the Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum on the Patuxent River in Calvert County, Maryland. 10 am to 6 pm.

May 7: The second annual Loudoun Bluegrass Festival will feature the Della Mae and Nothin Fancy bands. There will be pickin contests (mando, guitar, fiddle, banjo) with cash prizes ($100 first prize for each category) and indoor and outdoor places to jam all day long. Wine tastings and community supported agriculture, plus food by Carolina Brothers Barbeque. Proceeds fund scholarships for Loudoun students. At the 4-H Fairgrounds, 17558 Dry Mill Road, Leesburg, Virginia, 9:30 am to 9:00 pm.

May 14: The Rockville High School Pipe Band celebrates 50 years with its annual Scottish Festival. The Festival will be replete with Scottish pipe bands, including the amazing City of Washington Pipe Band, Celtic dancers, ceilidh bands, renowned Scottish fiddler Bonnie Rideout, the Irish Breakfast Band, Sleat, the Scottish Country Dance Society of Washington, food, crafts, and a silent auction. Also, for the first time ever, there will be an interactive children's room with children's entertainment, face painting, and many educational and fun activities. Rockville High School Gymnasium, 2100 Baltimore Rd., Rockville, Maryland. 11 am to 4 pm.

May 26-29: DelFest features performances by The Del McCoury Band, Old Crow Medicine Show, Yonder Mountain String Band, Railroad Earth, The Travelin’ McCourys, Punch Brothers, Psychograss, Dailey & Vincent, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Donna The Buffalo, The Infamous Stringdusters, Scythian, Sierra Hull & Highway 111. In Cumberland, Maryland.

June 4-5: The Folklore Society of Greater Washington presents the 31st Annual Washington Folk Festival at Glen Echo Park, with many of the local folk and roots musicians who make the Washington area their home. Noon to 7 pm, Saturday and Sunday.

June 25: The Del Ray Music Festival includes performances by Mars Rodeo, 50 Man Machine, Janna Audey, Vaughn Ambrose Quartet, Jonny Grave, Justin Trawick Group, Harley String Band, The Walkaways, Kate Moran Band, Elroy Jenkins and Emmet Swimming on the main stage and Jason Ager, Kid Goat, Keira Moran, Feel Free, The Mavins, Amber Dutton, Red Carrigans, Ted Hovis, Ken Francis Wenzel and Subtle Maddnessk on the side stage. 2701 Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandria. 10 am to 9 pm.

Dances
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The Great American Square Dance Revival at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. No experience or partner necessary. 1525 Newton St. NW, Washington, DC. 8:30, Saturday, May 7.

Sessions and Jams
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Sundays (first and third each month): The Frying Pan Park Acoustic Jam is held in the country store at Frying Pan Farm Park in Fairfax from 1 to 4 pm. 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon, Va. Call 703 437-9101 for information.

Sundays (second and fourth each month): The Capital Area Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association jams are held on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, from 2 to 6 pm, at Lyon Park Community Center in Arlington, Va. There is a slow-jam that usually meets in the Community Center building from 2:00-3:00 pm. Information on the CABOMA website.

Sunday (first Sunday each month): The only regular Scottish session in the greater D.C. area is at the Royal Mile Pub in Wheaton, Maryland (2407 Price Avenue). All instruments are welcome. 4 to 7 pm. Call the pub at 301-946-4511 to confirm.

Sundays (second Sunday each month): Bluegrass jam at Sterling Golf Swim & Tennis Club, Sunday evening, 6 to 9 pm. Outside on the deck, weather permitting. For information contact Dirk Johnson at 703 406-4698 or djohnson@roiwebsites.com.

Mondays (first and third each month): DC Bluegrass Union Bluegrass Jam at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 350, 6420 Orchard Ave., Takoma Park, MD. 7 to 10 pm. Contact Barb Diederich at barb@barbdiederich.com for information.

Wednesdays (first and third each month): Beginning April 6, 2011, Mitch Fanning and Zan McLeod lead an Irish session at The Limerick Pub in Wheaton. 8 to 11 pm, 11301 Elkin Street, Wheaton, MD.

Wednesdays: Open Irish Song Session at the Hard Times Cafe in Springfield, Va., 8:30 pm. For information contact Wayne Jordan at wvjordan@aol.com or 703-407-2445.

Camps, Schools & Classes
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March 21 - April 25, Mondays: Continuing/Intermediate Bodhran with Jesse Winch. This class picks up where Jesse's Beginning class ended and continues working on all of the Irish dance rhythms. Class will include video presentations and discussion. Prerequisite: Beginning Bodhran (offered in the Fall), a solid understanding of traditional Irish tune-types and good, basic stick control. Washington Conservatory at Glen Echo Park. Info: jessewinch@hotmail.com, 301.613.0753.

April 12 - May 17, Tuesdays: Irish Flute with Tina Eck of the band “LILT". Basic Irish flute instruction for beginning and intermediate players. Explore tuning, scales, simple techniques, fingering, embochure, posture, ornamentation, basic repertoire and recommended listenings. Washington Conservatory at Glen Echo Park. More info: tinaeck@yahoo.com. 7 - 8 pm.

April 12 - May 17, Tuesdays, Section 1: Irish Bouzouki with Keith Carr of the band “LILT”. Course will cover techniques of accompaniment and melody using Irish-style GDAD tuning. Well known session tunes will serve as examples and include reels, jigs and hornpipes. Also included: instrument set up, string types and pick types. Bring Irish-style bouzouki, octave mandolin, cittern or similar. Washington Conservatory at Glen Echo Park. More info: 703.969.6909 or kcarr@pobox.com. 8:00 - 9:15 pm.

May 22, Sunday: The Institute of Musical Traditions will host a workshop by Sarah McQuaid, "An Introduction to DADGAD, A Guitar Workshop with Sarah McQuaid." Airshow Mastering, 7014 Westmoreland Ave., Takoma Park, Md. 1:30 pm.

June 7 - July 12, Tuesdays, Section 2: Irish Bouzouki with Keith Carr of the band “LILT”. Course will cover techniques of accompaniment and melody using Irish-style GDAD tuning. Well known session tunes will serve as examples and include reels, jigs and hornpipes. Also included: instrument set up, string types and pick types. Bring Irish-style bouzouki, octave mandolin, cittern or similar. Washington Conservatory at Glen Echo Park. More info: 703.969.6909 or kcarr@pobox.com. 8:00 - 9:15 pm.

June 27 - August 12: Karen Ashbrook's Sligo Creek Hedge School is a series of week-long Irish Music & Culture day camps for children 6 to 8 years old taught in Karan's home in Silver Spring, Maryland.

July 18-22: CCE Musical Arts & Dance Week (MAD Week) is a week-long (9 a.m.- 4 p.m.), fun-filled and immersive experienceof traditional Irish music and dance for children (7+), teens and adults. Group classes (organized by instrument, experience & ability of player) take place twice daily in violin fiddle, flute & whistle, guitar/bouzouki accompaniment, uilleann pipes, bodhran (Irish drum) tenor banjo and button accordion. Irish set dancing and Sean-Nos (Old Style) classes are also offered, and a variety of lunchtime electives, including Celtic crafts, singing, session playing, ceili band coaching and more help round out the day. Instructors include-- Fiddle: Martin Hayes, Patrick Ourceau, Cleek Schrey, Robert Spates, Donna Long; Flute/Whistle: Kevin Crawford, Laura Byrne; Uilleann Pipes: Jerry O’Sullivan; Guitar: Josh Dukes; Bodhran (Irish Drum): Jesse Winch, Myron Bretholz; Button Accordion: Sean McComiskey; Sean-Nos (Old Style) & Set Dancing: Shannon Dunne, Marilyn Moore.

 

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For comprehensive lists of area shows, see Mary Cliff's "Who's Where" list at her Traditions web site, Wayne Kahn's Right on Rhythm list or Neal Emerald's calendar on his DC Celtic Events Yahoo! group.