Magic Foot with calling by Nils Fredland and food by Potluck and Annual Meeting by Our Members!
Date: May 31 2008
Potluck and Annual Meeting: 6:00 in the BJM Cafeteria
Workshop: For newcomers at 7:30
Dancing: 8:00-11:30 PM
Band: Magic Foot
Caller: Nils Fredland
Venue: Beverly J Martin School
Admission: $8 for HFDI members, $10 for General Admission
Flyer: HFDI_may_31
Come to our next Hands4 combo event: potluck, annual meeting and dance with MAGIC FOOT and calling by NILS FREDLAND on Saturday, May 31st at the Beverly Martin Elementary School (302 W. Buffalo Street, Ithaca)! The fun begins at 6:00PM with a potluck and brief annual meeting in the BJM cafeteria (nonmembers are welcome to bring a dish to pass and share in the meal), followed at 7:30PM with a beginner’s workshop and then hours of dancing starting at 8:00PM.
If you haven’t heard of Magic Foot, then you will be in for a real treat. Fast on the heels of their Southern Tour (Glen Echo, Asheville, Atlanta, River Falls), the exuberant New England band Magic Foot will make its first Ithaca appearance, along with inventive, wildly popular caller (and trombonist) Nils Fredland. Colin Lindsay on fiddle and concertina, Chris Stevens on button accordion, Brendan Taaffe on guitar, feet, and vocals, and Stefan Amidon on percussion and vocals have a decidedly Celtic bent, but are sure to toss in some surprises.
Caller Nils Fredland wowed the crowd at last year's Fiddlehead Frolic with fun, interwoven dances never before seen in Ithaca, taught clearly and with high spirit. Colin, who fiddles in the sweet Irish style, is on staff at Pinewoods, was a top student of Brian Conway, and has played with the Greenfield Dance Band and members of Wild Asparagus. Chris handles the accordion with tremendous drive and good taste, is prominent in Boston sessions, performs regularly with Wild Asparagus, and teaches for CCE Boston. Brendan, rock-solid and imaginative on guitar, got a Master's in Irish music at the University of Limerick, where he played with All-Ireland champion Danny O'Mahony and fiddler Colin Farrell. He's toured Europe with Northern Harmony and Turtle Dove, and played for contra dances throughout the Northeast with top players including George Wilson, and Pete Sutherland. From a tender age, Stefan has provided percussion for contras, most famously with Popcorn Behavior/Assembly, Lift Ticket, and Lissa Schneckenburger. He's on staff at Pinewoods, did a recent turn on Prairie Home Companion, and has toured Europe with Northern Harmony. Turn out to give these lads a fine welcome!
Do bring your favorite dish to share at the potluck and enjoy the company and culinary talents of your fellow dancers. We will take the opportunity to have our annual meeting by reporting on our last year’s activities, getting your comments, and holding elections to the Hands4 board.
We are looking for a few Hands4 members who would like to be more involved in putting together our dances by being a part of the board. Please contact Jennifer or call 607-273-7076 for more details. You can also nominate people from the floor but please don’t surprise them!
As always, please bring clean, soft-soled shoes. See you on May 31st!