special events

Fall is here! Happened for me the other day, just like turning a switch: big maple leaf drop, new smells in the air. A fresh page turn to a new chapter. Lots going on:

THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED is the title of Dick Weissman's new memoir of his life in music. Student, session player, label deal folk group member (the Journeymen with Scott McKenzie & John Phillips), composer of songs, film scores and everything else, educator, author of twenty books and MUSICIAN, with a new album called "Night Skies," Dick Weissman will be in town this week. It'll be part book talk, part storytelling, part music and it's all happening this Friday, Sept. 9th at 7 PM at the Foundry, Sam Bond's Brewing Company, 540 E 8th Ave in Eugene (97401). This is a one-of -a-kind evening. Admission by donation. And great beer & food available.

And…

Thursday, Sept 22nd at 7 PM, I'll be at TERRITORIAL VINEYARDS, (3rd & Adams in Eugene). Solo, but well armed, singing and playing whatever comes into my head: folk songs old and new, instrumental music, my own songs, material from the American Roots concerts past. Multiple guitars, banjo and surprises.

Saturday, Sept, 24th at 6:30 PM: The FIRST annual LABOR MUSIC FESTIVAL at the Eugene Garden Club, 1645 High Street, Eugene. It's called Music for a Better World: a Labor Music Showcase and it celebrates the Solidarity that music has been and the inspiration that it can be. George Mann, Mark Ross, Chico Schwall, the ValE 4, Monday Morning Denial AND…the Raging Grannies! All ages, sliding scale. Inspiration guaranteed.

Friday, Oct 7th at 7 PM: Chico Schwall and Friends (aka Kells Bells) play Irish music at the Foundry.  Can't wait.

Saturday, Oct 8th in solidarity with musicians on two continents rejoin with others for the second WE SHALL OVERCOME weekend at the Tamarac Center in south Eugene. Originating in the UK, the idea that social change musicians should do simultaneous shows as though we were all singing together. Details at www.weshallovercomeweekend.com and on Facebook. A RAISED FIST AND A HELPING HAND.

Feel free to share widely.

Hope to see you soon. Meanwhile, take care.

Chico Schwall

Sumer is a-cumin in news from Chico Schwall

Happy Summer!

Weather's good and I'm getting out  to play.

Yachats Farmstore. I'll be joined by Wendy Washboard Warrior Princess (who also plays guitar, uke & harmonica) for a diverse evening of folk music from everywhere.

Thursday, July 7th at 7PM (that's 7/7@7) at Territorial Vineyards. No band, no Gang, just me playing a raft of instruments and singing whatever comes into my head. Do come down for a show that's free, unique & interactive.

Saturday, July 9th at Noon, I'll be at the Oregon Country Fair, singing and playing at the Still Living Room, just to show I'm still living.

Thursday,  July 28th at 6 PM, The Low Tide Drifters at Whirled Pies. After drifting around the coast & the Valley we're back in Eugene. All ages, fam friendly, no cover (donations accepted). Pizza, beer and revolution for the Whole Family.

Friday, July 29th, Kells Bells (Chico, Ben & Rachael) RETURN to the Foundry (Sam Bond's Brewing Company) for an evening of Irish music & song.

Sunday, July 31st at Noon, 2 Rivers Morris will dance out as past of Sunday Streets. Bring your skates!

Friday, August 12th at 7:30PM at Tsunami Books. The Return of the Marxist Brothers! Marco, Chico and Anarcho (Mark Ross, Andy Cohen and myself) will revive the mayhem we toured the NW with a couple of years back. This doesn't happen every day and even we don't know  what will ensue.

Hope all's well with you and that our arcs intersect soon.

Cheers,

Chico

Blossom time

Dear Friends,

Spring is with us and new life is all around. I'm getting out a bit and I'd love to see you. Check out the cool & unique events…

TONIGHT! Thursday, April 14 at 7 pm Chico Schwall & Friends, a.k.a KELLS BELLS playing Irish music at Territorial Vineyards and Wine Co. Nice atmosphere, nice cover, yummy wine and Excellent Irish music.

Saturday, April 16 at 11 am Uncle Chico's all-ages ‪#‎Americana‬ Sing-Along atEugene Saturday Market. Come on down and sing & dance. Tutu's and Fairy wings optional.

SAME DAY! Saturday, April 16 at 2 pm I'll be back with Kells Bells on the market stage. AND a caller and some dancers will convene to create a contra dance right there at Eugene's Saturday Market. Dances taught; no partner necessary.

Wednesday, May 4 at 7:30 at the The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts. The next Chico Schwall's American Roots program is a special one: "Hillbilly Blues and the Birth of Rock and Roll." Along with Alli Bach, Matthew Trederand Mark Schneider. I'll explore the music of Memphis Minnie, Frank Hutchinson, Louis Jordan, Jimmie Rodgers, Howlin' Wolf and others and how it has shaped our cultural landscape. It'll be a rocking' evening and, as always, a totally unique show you won't hear anywhere else.

Happy Spring!
Chico Schwall

Something Special Wednesday 3/9

Dear Friends,

Thank you all for your understanding of recent events. It's a long road ahead and I appreciate your understanding.

I'll be re-entering the world outside with a concert this Wednesday, March 9 at the The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts. It's all music from the Harry Smith Archives Anthology of American Folk Music. I have wonderful collaborators, exciting arrangements and the best material one could ask for. I get chills at practice.

Music and technology are intertwined, as they always have been. Two major technological waves have shaped American music in our time. In the 1920's commercial recording began.It really took off with the invention and adoption of the dynamic microphone. Scads of American music was recorded for commercial release on 78 RPM records in the twenties and thirties. Suddenly the music of Blind Lemon Jefferson, who lived in Texas, and Georgia fiddle players could be heard far from their local communities, and it was. In 1952 Harry Smith, an experimental film maker and audio archivist put out a three volume anthology of that music, sorted and annotated as only he could, on LP records, introducing a whole new generation to this heritage music. It was all here: Mississippi John Hurt, theCarter Family, sanctified singers, Charlie Poole, Uncle Dave Macon, and it provided the template for the folk music revival in the U.S. Dave Van Ronksaid, " The Anthology was our Bible. We knew every word of every song on it." People like John Sebastian, Mike Seeger, Joan Baez, and Bob Dylanfeasted on this rich banquet.

I couldn't ask for better collaborators. Alli Bach sings everything from Child Ballads to Strayhorn (both here at the Shedd). She has been a part of several American Roots shows, and tours with the Zappa tribute outfitPojama People. Billy Barnett presides over Gung Ho! studio, recording and producing a lot of great music and plays guitar with Mood Area 52. Jim Caudle is a long time fiddle model for me and has played thousands of jams and square dances over decades. You'll hear about the Old Lady and the Devil, John the Revelator, murder ballads, jug band blues, the stories of Casey Jones, Frankie & Albert, and get a taste of our shared American heritage. It's a one-off: be there or wonder why you weren't.

Hope you can make it; I'll be glad to see you.

Best,
Chico Schwall

Music in the New Year

Happy New Year! (It's still pretty new)

Tomorrow is February's First Friday and downtown will be hopping with galleries, Morris Dancers on the street and all the local color you could want. At New Zone the featured artist is my dear friend PATTI LOMONT. Widely known for her fused glass work, she also is doing sculpture and ceramics and she'll have new work to share. And in the front gallery I will be holding forth instrumentally, on guitar, sea-foam green mandola and electric 5 string banjo.  Fall by if you can.

On Thursday,  February 25th I'll be joined by Ben and Rachael Young for some Irish music at Territorial Vineyards (3rd & Adams in Eugene) starting at 7 PM.

And on Wednesday, March 9th, I'll be back at the Shedd for the latest Installment of Chico Schwall's American Roots. This one is called "Sail Away, Ladies: the Harry Smith Anthology of American Folk Music." Avant grade film maker, audio archivist and cultural provocateur Harry Smith created the first 'bootleg' recording, putting out three volumes of re-issued 78 rpm recordings and provided the basis of the folk revival. If that sounds dry, think "Sail Away, Ladies, "House Carpenter," "Wagoner's Lad," Staggerlee," "Minglewood Blues," "Frankie," … you get the idea. New spins on classic Americana, in special arrangements with special guests.

Hope all's well with you. Treasure the ones you love.
Cheers,
Chico Schwall

Turning leaves -- and John Lilly in Eugene!

Dear Friends,

Well, the worm has turned. Leaves are falling and all that outdoor work I should do has acquired a deadline. 

Something special is coming up in September. West Virginia singer, guitarist, Honky Tonk scholar and ace songwriter John Lilly will be in Eugene on a very busy tour through Idaho, Washington and Oregon. 

One reason this is special is because he has seldom made it out this way before. The other reason is because he's just awesome. He writes new songs that already have dust on them. He seamlessly strings together divers strands of Americana music that have been described as "all the things that are missing from contemporary country music." The authenticity and focus in his shows are wonderful and his low-key delivery is like gravy on biscuits. 

Check out his music, and, even better, come see him sing. His only Eugene appearance will be a house concert on Thursday, September 10. Gather at 7:00, downbeat at 7:30. Suggested donation is $10-15. Call 541 684-8216 for reservations and directions. You won't regret it.

Also coming up:

September 5 the Low Tide Drifters play the Tumbleweed Festival in Richland, WA

September 11, 7:00 pm Kells Bells music with Chico Schwall and Friends at the Foundry (Sam Bond's Brewing Company)

October 9, 7:00 pm CS & F at the Foundry

AND… Wednesday, October 28 at the Shedd, the first concert in this year's Chico Schwall's American Roots series. This one is called The Legacy of Lead Belly and Odetta.

Current Events!

Dear Friends,

The warm spring breeze is intoxicating. Here's what's in the air:

Thursday, April 23 at 7:00 pm THE CHICO SCHWALL GANG at Territorial Vineyards, 3rd and Adams Street in Eugene's favorite historical neighborhood. We will dish up our usual merengue of jazz & swing, cafe waltzes, schottisches, bluegrass & klezmer while you imbibe and socialize. Hope to see you there!

Saturday, April 25 at 7:30 A HOUSE CONCERT featuring DICK WEISSMAN in a rare Oregon appearance. Dick Weissman enjoys a varied and colorful career that has involved almost every aspect of music. He traveled and performed widely with the Journeymen (with Scott McKenzie and John Phillips), has composed music for plays and films,  done studio work, taught music at colleges and written a ton of songs. is most recent albums are "Near and Far" and "The Four Directions," all newly composed original music. Since he moved back to Denver his NW appearances are rare. Don't miss this one. Call 541 684-8216 for reservations and directions.

Dick will also present a WORKSHOP on the Business of Music the same day at 1:00 pm at Tsunami Books 2585 Willamette Street. Cost is $10; FREE to Musicians' Union members. For more info, scroll to the bottom.

Thursday, April 30 at 7:30 pm at The Shedd (Broadway and High Streets, www.theshedd.org) "WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED: SONGS OF WORK, LABOR AND PROTEST" This is the next project in the Chico Schwall's American Roots series and a topic near to my heart. On the 100th birthday of the song "Solidarity Forever" and the centenary of the death of Joe Hill let's celebrate songs of solidarity and social change. Be ready to sing with us!

Friday, May 8, 7:00 pm CHICO SCHWALL & FRIENDS at THE FOUNDRY (Sam Bond's Brewing Company at 540 E. 8th Ave.)  Irish Music without a net. 

In other news, The Community Center for the Performing Arts (the W.O.W. Hall) will hold its annual meeting on April 28 at 6:30. New Board of Directors members will be elected and a budget presented for approval. The Hall is at a crossroads. This year an independent group at the U of O did a "SWOT" study (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats), interviewing 30 people and collating the results. The lack of administration (no review for enforcement of Hall policy), the work environment, the lack of community involvement and other issues suggest that the Hall is in trouble and may even be in danger of losing its non-profit status unless some changes are made. Will the same forty people, mostly staff and their families and friends show up and elect a compliant Board that will not take responsibility? Or will folks show up and call for change?  Consider this.

And finally, my friend Milton Takei asked that I share a link with you. Milton knows a good deal about the current climate change crisis and about grass roots organizations, so it may be worth checking out. He says:

The Citizens' Climate Lobby (CCL) has recently released a two-minute video.  Please send the video to family and friends.  People who register with CCL after seeing the video can expect maybe one e-mail per month from CCL headquarters, and two letters per year via postal mail.

You can view the video on CCL's Web site here.

The following information is from CCL headquarters:

We didn't have $16 million to show the video during the Super Bowl, so we're asking for your help to get it seen by as many people as possible.

E-MAIL: Share the link above with people you know and ask them to

watch the video and share on their social networks. See below for

more on social network sharing.

FACEBOOK: Go to our Facebook post about the video at this link. When you get to the post, click "like" and also share on your timeline by clicking "share."

TWITTER: If you're on Twitter, you can retweet the tweet we sent which you can find on our feed at @citizensclimate.

You can also send out your own tweet. Suggestion:

#Climate solution: Watch the new @citizensclimate video and learn how

you can #SpeakUp4Climate

http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CitizensClimateEduca/10c29ae19e/d3f5a77b38/80065cdf05

You can also just retweet the tweet we sent out, which you can

get to at this link.

As you can see, we're using the hashtag #SpeakUp4Climate. If you have room for a second hashtag, use #LivableWorld.

https://citizensclimatelobby.org/ 

----

AFM LOCAL 689 PRESENTS COMPOSER, AUTHOR MUSICIAN AND EDUCATOR DICK WEISSMAN ON THE BUSINESS OF MUSIC.

WHEN:  Saturday, April 25, 2015, 1:00-3:00 pm

WHERE:  Tsunami Books 2585 Willamette Street, Eugene, OR 97405

WHO IT'S FOR: Musicians, composers, songwriters and anyone involved in or interested in a career in music

WHO'S PRESENTING: Dick Weissman has worked in almost every area of music. He has performed, in the Journeymen, as a solo artist and in various collaborations, done recording session work, composed film scores and music for plays, produced album projects, taught music and the Business of Music at the college level and has published over twenty books. He composes, performs and serves on the board of the Musicians' Union in Denver.

COST:  $10 for the general public, FREE to Musicians' Union members!

Topics will include:

. Music publishing and copyright, performing rights- if you are playing your own music in public, you should be getting paid by BMI or ASCAP,

. Placing songs in Tv and film, and how these deals work

. The role of the unions in today’s music business

. Various revenue sources for musicians, including grants and Musicians' Union and other bonus funds

. Music publishing, self-publishing, and co-publishing

. Free internet resources for staying current in today’s confusing music business

. The value and problems of the internet: Spotify, Pandora, social media, etc.

. The role of record companies in today’s business

. Invisible work and developing multi-dimensional careers

. Personal managers 

For more info, call Local 689 at 541 484-0951

or Chico Schwall at 541 337-8614

yes, it's tonight!

Dear Friends,

A special evening of music tonight, a program never heard before by anyone anywhere. It's been a journey for me getting here, months of research, tons of reading and help from some wonderful people. It's called "Thunder and Lies: The Ballads of Francis James Child," and it's an evening of narrative ballads, old stories full of Big Themes, passion, love and death. Each song is a unique amalgam of texts and melodies from every source I could find, and the settings feature an amazing group of onstage collaborators. 

It's at the Shedd, and tickets are available through the Shedd box office or on line at www.theshedd.org 

If you'd like a little taste of the music, there's a radio interview with a couple of songs at www.klcc.org 

What's a "Child Ballad" anyway?

Francis james Child was the first professor of English at Harvard College. Having done groundbreaking research into Chaucer and the Elizabethan playwrights, he turned his attention to folk song. He was looking for the epic poetry of the English language and what he found was ballads, the stories and poetry that have stayed with us from the distant past, surviving waves of social and cultural change. He published five volumes of "English and Scottish Popular Song" between 1882 and 1898 (over three hundred songs). He sorted them by theme, wrote rich annotations and compared them with versions in other languages. His numbering system was used by almost everyone that followed, (Cecil Sharp, B.H. Bronson, Vance Randolph, etc.) and we see them on CD's today. 

And they are with us today. We have heard and sung "Scarborough Fair" and "Barbara Allen," "House Carpenter" and "The Golden Vanity." We know the recordings by Paul Simon, Joan Baez, Fairport Convention and a whole new generation of singers: Sam Amidon (2014), Anais Mitchell and Jefferson Hamer (2013).  The stories are timeless, as Shakespeare and Homer are, tales of passion and darkness, of sorcery and clever escapes and true love.

What we have here is everything I have been able to learn about them, from multiple texts in Child, from the collections of Randolph, Bronson and Sharp, from commentaries by A.L. Lloyd and Albert Friedman and others, from interviews with academic folklorists Linda Danielson and Diane Dugaw and tune settings from recordings by Martin Carthy, Nic Jones, June Tabor and others.  As singers have for hundreds of years, I worked up the stories, swapped out verses, fitted melodies to texts and invited some able collaborators to join me. And now we're ready to share them.

This is not the music of antiquity, not "Early Music" or Merrie Olde England, and we will, as others have, share our own unique and contemporary take on each song. I will be joined by Alli Bach, (voice, whistle and percussion), Ryan Chaney (trombone), Ben Young (banjo and whistle) and Rachael Young (accordion, piano, bass and voice). 

Albert Friedman wrote "A mounted butterfly is a poor thing  beside a hovering one, and a ballad in a book is a poor substitute for one sung…" I think we owe it to the material to let them fly now and again.

Thanks!

Chico Schwall

P.S. About the title: in one of those "Riddles Wisely Expounded" stories, the king asks the clever young woman, "What can be heard the farthest?"  She answers, "Thunder and Lies."

Happy New Year!

Dear Friends,

I hope your winter lights and festivities were warm and meaningful, and that maybe you got a little break in there. 2014 is past ( and if I could I'd rake it into a pile and burn it) and a new year is upon us, full of music and possibility. Starting tonight!

Friday, January 9th at 7pm at the Foundary, the Sam Bond's Brewing Company tap room (540 East 8th Ave, down by the new Federal Building) it's Irish music as it should be, played and sung by Chico Schwall and Friends: Ben Young playing whistle, banjo and guitar, Rachael Young playing piano and whatever else she picks up and m'self playing fiddle. A great space, with a Eugene-historical vibe and a great rack of Sam Bond's beers. It's a new space to Eugene and a fun place to gather. No door charge. Stop and say hi.

Tonight (Saturday, January 10th) the same group will rock the Eugene Folklore Society contra dance at the old Dunn School.  Teaching at 7:00, dance at 7:30.

February's big fun: On February 12 the eclectic Chico Schwall Gang (with Rachael Young and David Andersen) will bring our Twenty-first Century Globicana to Territorial Vineyards at 7 p.m. and the Irish music trio will be back at the Foundary on … Friday the Thirteenth. On the 14th I'll join Linda Danielson (fiddle) and Janet Naylor (harp) for an hour of acoustic music in the Saturday Atrium series at 2:00 p.m. (Tenth and Olive downtown). All these events are free.

But the big one is on February 26 at 7:30. The Shedd Institute for the Arts presents "Thunder and Lies: the Legacy of James Francis Child."  It'll be twenty debut performances of the classic "Child Ballads," gleaned from the five volume "English and Scottish Popular Ballads" that Child published in the 1880's and '90's. This is the epic poetry of the English language, an old heritage that remains contemporary, as Joan Baez, Paul Simon, Fairport Convention, Sam Amidon and many others have shown. I'll be joined by some great singers and players, a just-for-the-occasion ensemble, and a unique musical evening.

Hope your 2015 is off to a great start.

cheers,

Chico Schwall

Chico Schwall's musical happs

Dear Friends,

The change of season has been one big 3-D action show: big winds, rain storms, temperature fluctuations, the lot. Hope you're staying cozy. Here are the musical happenings in the next few weeks:

Friday, October 31, 7:00 pm  Chico Schwall and Friends at Territorial Vineyards (3rd & Adams in Eugene) Dressing up is encouraged but not required.

Saturday, November 1, 2:00 pm The Atrium Building (10th & Olive) The Emerald Chamber Players'  acoustic music series. I'll be doing a special show, playing solo guitar (etc.), singing a few songs and sharing some music from some of my wonderful students in a cool acoustic space. Free.

Saturday November 1, 7:00 pm Sam Bond's Brewing Company (540 E. 8th Ave, Eugene) Irish music from Rachael, Ben & me. After the Ducks game. Nice new space. Come on Down!

Sunday, November 2, 3:00 pm Planktown Brewing Company (340 Main St, Springfield) The Low Tide Drifters play an afternoon show as part of the Grrlz Rock celebration. Low Tide Drifters is a gender parity band.

Friday, November 7, 5:30 pm  New Zone Gallery (164 W Broadway, Eugene) It's First Friday Art Walk and I'll be dishing out the ambience at New Zone.

Saturday, November 8, 11:00 am  Eugene's Saturday Market  I'll be doing a kid-oriented sing-along show featuring a lot of American classic folk songs. Come and sing along, even if you're not a kid. Catch the Market before it moves indoors for the winter.

Saturday, November 22, 5:00 pm  Tsunami Books (2585 Willamette St, Eugene) host a Harvest Hoot with the Low Tide Drifters and our friends Wildflowers. Great music in a great space. Books are 20% off. Donation for the bands.

Sunday, December 7, 1:45 pm  Red Pajamas will play at the Holiday Market at the Fairgrounds. Come down and see everyone you know.

And… Linda Danielson, David Stuart Bull and m'self will bring back our Celtic Holiday show, including music and David's reading of "A Child's Christmas in Wales"  to our winter home at Cafe Soriah (384 W. 13th Ave, Eugene). Afternoon shows on December12, 13,19 and 20. Late Night shows on December 18, 22 and 23.  Call the Cafe for reservations 541 342-4410.

There's plenty of music  about in our town. Grab your raincoat and catch some!

Chico

Autumn's here!

Dear Friends,

Fall is here. That first sustained rain was great: I opened the window and listened to the welcome rain. I'm ready for the change of season, for cooler weather and longer nights. Wood smoke and wool socks.

Summer was a blur anyway. In May there were road trips with the Marx(ist) Brothers and the Low Tide Drifters. In June I did a Dave Van Ronk retrospective show at the Shedd, which was a major deal to prepare and a blast to do.

August took me to Colorado and Illinois for shows and now it's time to start up again. Fall is the New Year for me anyway. Got some shows coming up, mostly timed to historical happenings and holidays:

Friday, October 31 (Hallowe'en) at 7:00 pm
Chico Schwall and Fiends will be at Territorial Vineyards (3rd & Adams, Eugene).
Suitably sinister tunes & songs. Come down, dress up or not. Great libations, no door charge.

Saturday, November 1 (All Saints' Day) at 2:00 pm
I'm playing a totally unique show at the Atrium Saturday Chamber Music Series. I'll pay mostly instrumental solo guitar (& banjo, etc.) music from a variety of musical traditions. May throw in a song or two. The big highlight is that I will be joined by some of my guitar students to share pieces! How cool is that? Free and open to the public.

Saturday, November Twenty-tooth at Tsunami Books
The Low Tide Drifters' Harvest Hoot. Great space for great music.

Sunday, December 7 (Pearl Harbor Day) at 1:45 pm
Red Pajamas at Eugene's Holiday Market. At the Fairgrounds.

(And I already have booked shows on Abraham Lincoln's Birthday and Shakespeare's Birthday in 2015)

The annual "A Child's Christmas in Wales" show will happen again this year at Cafe Soriah. Dates to be determined.

Have a great change of season! Hope to see you soon.

Chico

Special Music Business Workshop in Eugene

Dear Friends,

If you work in the business of music, this is for you. Musician, author and educator Dick Weissman will present a workshop next Sunday, June 29 at Tsunami Books 2585 Willlamette Street in Eugene.

It's a multi-faceted Music Business Workshop. Topics will include copyrights, publishing (self publishing and using music publishers), film and television placements, ASCAP and BMI, Union Bonus funds, pensions, guaranteed contracts, agents and managers and more.

Dick Weissman has been a professional musician for decades, has written 20 books (some of which are on various aspects of the business of music) and has taught at the college level. He was already a studio musician when he and John Phillips and Scott MacKenzie formed the Journeymen. He has worked in just about every aspect of professional music. Book titles include "Music Publishing: the Roadmap to Royalties," "Promoting Your Music" and "Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution: Music and Social Change in America." He has composed music for plays and films and has had placements in TV and movies.

The workshop will be at Tsunami Books on Sunday, June 29 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  The cost is $10 for the general public and it's FREE to Local 689 members. Yes, you heard that right.  Feel free to share this with your mailing list, songwriter group or professional network.

Hope to see you there!

spring thots and a quick harangue

dear friends,

Spring has returned to my home town (and so have I).  Everything's in bloom and the petals blow like spring time snow.

I'm back from the Marxist Brothers tour and brewing up fun here at home.

Saturday, May 10 at 11:00 a.m. I'm doing the young folks' set at SATURDAY MARKET

Saturday, May 10 at 9:00 pm The AXES OF EVIL STRING QUARTET will be at the Wandering Goat Coffee House, sharing the evening with my good friend & colleague CORWIN BOLT and his PDX friend STINKY PETE IRVING.  A rare appearance for the Axes and a fun collaboration.

Saturday, May 17 at 2:30 pm CHICO SCHWALL AND FRIENDS will play Irish music for the Eugene Scottish Festival at Peace Presbyterian Church.

Saturday, May 17th at 7:30 pm I'll be singing and playing at WE SHALL OVERCOME, a Pete Seeger-themed evening at Temple Beth Israel with Rob Tobias and others.

Saturday, May 24 at 5:00 pm THE LOW TIDE DRIFTERS  will continue the celebration of our new CD/download "MUSIC FOR THE REST OF US"  with a show at TSUNAMI BOOKS. Great place to gather and books are 20% off…

AND… tickets are on sale now for "BEYOND LLEWYN DAVIS: THE (REAL) MUSIC OF DAVE VAN RONK"  at THE SHEDD. This is a totally unique project and it'll be a one-off so be there or be square.

Hope to see you at a show!

Now the harangue:

The general meeting and annual elections for the Community Center for the Performing Arts, the W.O.W. Hall are coming up on May 14.  A few years ago I served on the Board of Directors of the CCPA and it was a curious mix: it's community owned and has by-laws in place to keep it democratic and responsive to the community. At the same time, the place is largely run by its employees without administration or oversight and this has resulted in a loss of its role as a community center for the arts. It's currently a dance hall with no investment in education or outreach. High production costs place it out of reach for local artists. There's no employee review, no policy direction, no diversity plan, no equal opportunity hiring etc. Every year the staff and their families and friends dominate the general meeting and try to elect an inexperienced and tractable board of directors to okay their actions and maintain the status quo.
 

Like a lot of folks, I pretty much turned my back on the CCPA and turned toward other ventures. But some things have shifted. Some good people have been on the Board and are working to make the hall more accountable. An employee was even disciplined last year, an unusual step. With a little support, the Board could bring the Hall back. Some employees with good skills are also making positive changes. But it's not easy. One board member and several employees have talked about leaving, due to an "unprofessional" environment and a "negative work place."  The Hall needs these folks more than it needs its old habits.

Seems like the CCPA is at a turning point. If people show up at the meeting and elect/re-elect responsible directors the structures are in place to put the CCPA back on a more community oriented track. If you have any interest in making this happen, or even if you're just curious, re-up your membership, or join, and go to the general meeting. Listen to the candidates for board, ask questions about the budget. The reason that things have gone astray is that not enough folks have cared. All it takes is folks showing up in sufficient numbers.  I encourage you to show up and see if we can make a difference.

Hope all's well,

Chico Schwall

THE MARXIST BROTHERS

A SPLENDID ORCHESTRA

Is in town, but has not been engaged.

ALSO, A DEN OF FEROCIOUS WILD BEASTS

Will be on exhibition in the next Block.

MAGNIFICENT FIREWORKS

Were in contemplation for this occasion,

but the idea has been abandoned.

A GRAND TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION

May be expected; in fact, the public are privileged

to expect whatever they please.

The doors open at seven. The Trouble starts at 8.  (from Mark Twain, describing his speaking engagement. )

The MB's are (redoubtable, all of 'em) ANDY COHEN, blues scholar, road squaller, Memphis-to-the-Yukon driver and unaffiliated sociologist of all things traditional, MARK ROSS, Greenwich Village folk scene veteran, collaborator with U. Utah Phillips, folk and labor historian, and CHICO SCHWALL, multi-instrumentalist, song wrangler and all around trouble maker. Last time we were all in one place we played fiddle-banjo-guitar (etc.) ensemble music and decided to

share it the next time it occurred. Well, it's happening. We can charm your ears, rock your square dance and fan the flames of discontent all at once. With a phalanx of fiddles guitars, banjos and g-d knows what-all, three singers and a collective repertoire that even surprises one another, we're ready to update the sound of the North Carolina-to-New Lost City Ramblers for the era of Yellow Alert. And yes, we have each played a few gigs in our life.

Andy Cohen lives in Memphis when he's not in his car. He plays a lot of guitar and a little of a few other things, and takes the whole Southeast, Chesapeake to Texas, as his source: fiddle tunes and blues, work songs and medicine show routines, tearjerkers and playparties,  ballads and yodels.

With a working repertoire of close to 500 songs, Mark Ross runs the gamut of American Roots Music from hobo ballads & train songs, blues, western swing, mountain ballads, fiddle tunes, raucous banjo melodies, early jazz to the works of contemporary songwriters.  

 

Folksinger, Multi-instrumentalist and songpoet Chico Schwall believes there IS enough to go around and we CAN figure out how to make it work. He has sung at labor rallies, played in pit bands, designed folk music camps for kids, burned up the road with Northwest Touring Theatre and Young Audiences, released three CDs of (mostly) original music and played for countless contra dances. He teaches "Everything with Strings" at the Shedd Institute in Eugene and plays with the Low Tide Drifters and the Axes of Evil String Quartet.

This saturday evening

Dear friends,

Sorry to add to your embarrassment of musical riches here in Eugene, but here are some special shows in the offing.

THIS SATURDAY, April 19 (Lexington & Concord & all that) at 7:00 pm at TSUNAMI BOOKS (2585 Willamette, Eugene). The debut performance of THE MARXIST BROTHERS. ANDY COHEN, MARK ROSS and m'self present the string band from outer space. A one-time totally unique event as we head off on a Northwest tour.  Funded by your donations.

Saturday, May 10 The AXES OF EVIL STRING QUARTET will share an evening at the WANDERING GOAT  with CORWIN BOLT.  Acoustic eclecticore.

Saturday, May 24, also at Tsunami    THE LOW TIDE DRIFTERS will celebrate the release of our new album "Music for the Rest of Us."  It's ALSO a COOKIE celebration: make a batch of your favorite cookies to share and enjoy the best of the world's cookies while we sing and play. Bring the fam.

And on Thursday, June 5  THE SHEDD Presents  "BEYOND LLEWYN DAVIS: THE (REAL) MUSIC OF DAVE VAN RONK." I'll be playing and singing the man's music with some exciting musical guests.

Happy Spring!

Chico

Spring is coming

Dear friends,

  Yesterday's weather was a real treat. Got to throw open the windows and I gotta say, we've earned it. The crocuses are up and so am I. Coming….

Thursday, March 13, 7:00pm The AXES OF EVIL STRING QUARTET at Territorial Vineyards (907 W 3rd, Eugene)

Twenty-fiirst Century Globicana with fiddle cello, bass and guitar

Friday, March 14, 8:30pm  GHILLIE DHU & THE DHON'TS and DIRTY SPOON at The Axe & Fiddle (657 E Main, Cottage Grove, OR) 

Whizzbang Keltcore and Gritty Americana music

Monday, March 17, 6:00pm ST PATRICK'S DAY  with GHILLIE DHU & THE DHON'TS at Sam Bond's Garage (407 Blair Blvd, Eugene) 

Special early show. No door charge. Come for dinner!

Saturday, March 22, 7:00pm  The LOW TIDE DRIFTERS release party for "MUSIC FOR THE REST OF US" at the Wandering Goat (268 Madison)

In April I'm in and out, on a brief tour with THE MARX(IST) BROTHERS: folk legends Andy Cohen and Mark Ross… and     me.

April 19 at Tsunami Books in Eugene

then to California,

April 27 at Sam Bond's Garage

May 1 in Seattle

May 2 in PDX

May 3 in Newberg

Saturday May 17, 2:30 pm  CHICO, BEN & RACHAEL at the Eugene Scottish Festival

Saturday, May 22, 5:00 pm THE LOW TIDE DRIFTERS at Tsunami Books

Friday, May 30, 7:00 pm  THE LOW TIDE DRIFTERS at the Cannon Beach History center & Museum (1387 South Spruce St, Cannon Beach)

Saturday, May 31 and Sunday June 1 at 9:00 pm THE LOW TIDE DRIFTERS at the Adrift Hotel and Spa (409 Sid Snyder Dr,  Long Beach,  WA)

And finally, for something completely different:

Thursday, June 5, 7:30 pm The Shedd Presents Series "Beyond Llewyn Davis: the (real) Music of Dave Van Ronk" at The Shedd, 868 High Street, Eugene

Come to a show and say hi.

Keep the Faith,

Chico Schwall

www.chicoschwall.net

A Seriously busy November

Dear Friends,

Back from weeks away (big thanks to my house sitting/cat care team!) and it's great to be home. After weeks of hotel room camping, eating out, bumming meals and cooking in others' kitchens, the first thing I did was make soup!  I'm back to a changed Eugene: darker, rainier, piles of leaves in the street. And Boy, are things busy!

A mess of projects are in play, all of 'em fun. The AXES OF EVIL STRING QUARTET  is coming back to life and I'm excited about that. David Andersen (guitar), Nisha Calkins (cello), Rachael Young (double bass) and m'self (fiddle, with occasional mandolin & bouzouki) take "eclectic" to new extremes. Jazz, cafe waltzes, jigs & reels, surf music, etc. I call it Beatgrass. Our debut show is at Territorial Vineyards on December 6, but if you can't wait, 75% of us are playing at the Saturday Market THIS Saturday, November 9 at 2:00 p.m. Free!

 The LOW TIDE DRIFTERS are finishing our album, recording the last racks for a whole new CD of original Drifters music and inspiring songs by Harry Stamper and Alistair Hulett. We're raising rent for mixing and mastering with a special HOUSE CONCERT on November 16. Art work by Ian Moore, special guest performers and a really cool evening are planned. Deets below. BTW, it's a private home, so you have to call ahead for reservations (541 221-2233).

I'm Back In Black this month, playing banjo with the EUGENE SYMPHONY in a set of pieces from "Porgy and Bess" at the Hult Center on November 23. 

Earlier in the day GHILLIE DHU AND THE DHON'TS will unleash our Whizzbang Celtcore at the Holiday Market. Saturday, 11/23 at 1:45 p.m.

AND, coming in December I'll join Linda Danielson and David Stuart Bull for our annual Celtic Holiday show featuring David's reading of Dylan Thomas' "A Child's Christmas in Wales" and music by Linda and me. Afternoon shows on 12/ 14-15 and 12/21-22, evenings on December 17-19 and 12/23, all at Cafe Soriah. Call the cafe for reservations (541-342-4410) because we often sell out.

The calendar in brief:

Saturday November 9, 2:00 p.m. the AXES OF EVIL TRIO at Saturday Market. Free!

Saturday, November 16, 6:00 p.m. (Note early start time!) The LOW TIDE DRIFTERS album launch and rent party. Call 541 221-2233 for reservations.

Saturday, November 23, 1:45 p.m. GHILLIE DHU AND THE DHON'TS at Holiday Market.

Saturday, November 23, 7:30 p.m. the EUGENE SYMPHONY presents "Love and Fate" at the Hult Center (including selections from "Porgy and Bess")

Friday December 6, 7:00 p.m.  THE AXES OF EVIL STRING QUARTET  at Territorial Vineyards (3rd and Adams Street, Eugene).  Free!

Saturday, December 14, 3:00 p.m. "A CELTIC HOLIDAY" begins eight shows at Cafe Soriah. Call ahead for reservations.

More about the DRIFTERS show:

WHAT: Low Tide Drifters Private House Concert and “mastering fundraiser”

WHO: Low Tide Drifters, Melissa Ruth & The Likely Stories, Cross Current, and Wildflowers

WHEN: November 16^th, 6pm

WHERE: To RSVP for directions, call 541-221-2233 or email rachael.anne.young@gmail.com 

COST: Donations for our mastering fund—no one will be turned away for lack of funds. 

DETAILS: For the last few months, Low Tide Drifters have been recording their sophomore release, Music for the Rest of Us.  Featuring seven original songs as well as songs by acclaimed Oregon folksinger Harry Stamper and Scottish songwriter Alistair Hulett, the album pays homage to the extraordinary stories of working people in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.  From the Depression-era romance that unfolds in “My Vivian” to the contemporary struggles of low-wage workers in “Living On Too Little,” Music for the Rest of Us paints a lyrical picture of hope in the midst of hard times.  Low Tide Drifters are working closely with Thaddeus Moore of Sprout City Studios to record and mix the tracks. 

This house concert is to be both a fundraiser for the mastering of Music for the Rest of Us and a showcase of folks who have shared the stage with Low Tide Drifters over the years.  Low Tide Drifters will, of course, play a lively set of tunes, old and new, for your listening pleasure.  This will be an all ages event.

The band will be offering some "sweet deals" at the event.  Fans who kick in twenty dollars will receive an advance copy of the album before its official release date.  Fans who donate fifty dollars or more will receive an advance copy of the album plus a signed, limited edition "song-print" by artist Ian Moore.  Ian is illustrating the Low Tide Drifters' forthcoming lyric book.

With the following special guests:

Melissa Ruth & The Likely Stories (http://www.melissaruthmusic.com)

Cross Current featuring Steve Gibson and Ken Zimmerman (http://www.reverbnation.com/crosscurrent)

Wildflowers featuring Machiko Shirai

If you cannot attend the event, but would like to contribute to the cause via paypal, feel free to make a donation to dsoper@uoregon.edu.