March 2019 Quimper Grange News: Old Time Jam, John Reischman & John Miller Concert, Square Dance, Bertram and Madeline Levy Music & Dessert Competition, Contra Dance, Steve James Concert, Plant and Seed Exchange, Traditional Jam


March 6th (1st Wednesday) 7pm  Old Time Jam 
led by Joanne Pontrello 

The First Wednesday Jam focuses on Old Time fiddle tunes and is led by a different person every month. The leader chooses and starts all of the tunes, usually playing in two keys to minimize retuning for banjo players. The jam is participatory and geared to intermediate players, but all levels of players are welcome.

This month's jam will be led by multi-instrumentalist, square dance caller and local wonder Joanne Pontrello.  She will start off by teaching an Aurthur Smith tune,
Evening Shade. We'll be playing in the keys of G and D.

Doors open at 6:45
Bring cookies or snacks for the break. A suggested donation $1 or $2 helps pay for hall use.
Organized by Marla Streator



Mar 7th (Thurs) 7pm  
John Reischman and John Miller in Concert
Latin classics and Originals

Mandolinist John Reischman and guitarist John Miller have been performing and recording together for over 25 years now.  John Reischman has been described by David Grisman as "one of the unsung heroes of the mandolin", and Duck Baker said of John Miller, "He has few peers for percussive right-hand work or beautifully voiced harmonies."  The duo's repertoire of Latin classics and originals abounds in memorable melodies and lively rhythms.  Here is an opportunity to bask in their beautiful sounds.
Doors will open at 6:30 PM.  Suggested donation $15 - $20.
For more information see www.johnmillerguitar.com  
Publicity Sheila Long and Farren


March 9th (Saturday) 8pm Square Dance

The winds of March are blowing Rats Gone to Rest up from Portland on March 9 to play for the

Caller Dave Thielk plays
for his hens
 Quimper Grange Square Dance and Social. Rats gone to rest is a high-energy square dance band including long time friends Joel Brown and Devin Forest-Hines.  Joel and Devin are musical collaborators who arrived into traditional Old time music through punk music. Rats Gone to Rest channels the lawless energy and spirit of late night fiddle festivals, and rogue square dances.  Calling that night will be Dave Thielk with a great selection of old dances, visiting squares, circles and mixers.  Dave's approach to traditional squares is erase the boundary between dancer, band and caller.  Come prepared for an evening of frivolity, rhythm and rockin'.  

Rats Gone to Rest

All dances are taught. All experience levels are welcome and encouraged. This is a family friendly event (no alcohol). Quimper Grange is located at 1219 Corona in Port Townsend. Admission is $5 if you arrive on bike or foot or bring a non disposable water bottle; $7 for car drivers; 16 and under is free. Bring yourself, a special friend, the family, or the whole tribe. Come at 7 and jam with the band. For more information, call Dave Thielk at 360-602-1270.



March 10th (Sunday) 6pm Local Spotlight  Social 
Concert and Dessert Competition!
This new Second Sunday series will feature a local musician in a quiet setting, and a home-made dessert competition at the long break!


Our first local act is Bertram and Madeline Levy - International touring father-daughter old time banjo fiddle duo.
For the Dessert Competition: 
Bring a home-made dessert with an ingredient list (allergies)
Winner will get a free pass and get to help judge at the following Local Spotlight Social event.
Doors will open at 5:30 PM. Suggested donation $10, or $5 with a home-made dessert.
publicity Farren and Sheila Long

March 16th (Saturday) 7:30-10:30 Contra Dance
With the North Beach Drifters
Caller Carol Piening

The North Beach Drifters are new old friends playing driving upbeat old-time dance music. Carol Piening calling. Carol will be up from Olympia to call for us. She's been calling for 20+ years and has a fun relaxed way of teaching and calling.
1/2 free lesson at 7:30
Admission $6
16 and under free 1219 Corona, Port Townsend
? call Tinker (360) 379 2882

tunes to cheer us all into spring. Bobbi and Roland Nikles on fiddle and guitar, Katya Kirsch on banjo, and Len Feldman on English concertina.

Organized by Tinker Cavallaro



March 21st (Thursday) 7pm Steve James in Concert
Soulful Country Blues


Steve James is a blues musician, a notable songwriter, one of the best modern bottleneck slide players, a storyteller and a compendium of interesting facts. In the world of contemporary acoustic and roots music, he’s earned his reputation with decades of tireless international touring, a stack of solo recordings, a funny, kinetic stage presence and an unmistakable style of playing and singing.
Steve has appeared on “A Prairie Home Companion”, “Austin City Limits Live”, “NPR Morning Edition” and many other syndicated broadcasts worldwide.
Doors open at 6:30pm.  Suggested donation $15-$20.
Publicity Sheila Long and Farren

March 24th (Sunday) 10:00-3:00 Plant and Seed Exchange
The 8th annual Plant and Seed Exchange will be held outdoors under canopies and in the Quimper Grange hall, 1219 Corona Street (at the north end of Sheridan). Bring your extra seeds, plant divisions, spare potted plants, trees, bare roots, bulbs, and whatever else needs a new garden to thrive in and take away the plants and seeds you’d like to grow.  Books will be on hand to help answer plant and seed questions.  Hot tea will be provided. Please bring a cash donation to help keep this event going. For more information call: Ashley Kehl at 360-821-2092 Organized by Ashley Kehl and Jennimae Hilliard -Quimper Grange assistance from Marla Streator


March 31st (Last Sunday)  1pm-3:30 pm Traditional Music Jam
We are trying a new type of jam here at Quimper Grange!
  • Tunes/songs must be traditional (Old Time, Bluegrass, Cajun, Irish, Swedish, “Gu-Achi”,…), moderately paced, and fairly easy to pick up.
  • Songs should have a call and response or a chorus or both
  • Round robin – when it’s your turn you may:
    • Call out a tune/song name, the key, and the tradition it comes from
    • Pass
    • Say a tune you’d like but need someone else to start it
    • Whoever starts a tune ends it
Doors open at 12:30. Suggested donation $5
Bring a snack to share at the long break!
Listeners are welcome.
Organized by Sheila Long