Many of the links probably still work, but the downloads have been disabled.

SEPTEMBER 2008

Friday Evening September 5, 2008, 8 pm: Slow Scottish Jam Sessions led by Lance Ramshaw, in Concord Mass. Very friendly and fun. Usually Fridays, about once a month. "Marvellous tunes at moderate tempos." Info: email Lance at lance.ramshaw doink gmail.com or go to the web Slow Jam, for updates and very useful tune resources. Always a great evening of tunes.

Weekend of September 19-21, 2008: New Hampshire Highland Games. Loon Mountain, Lincoln, N.H. The place to be and the thing to do for all Scot-o-philes within striking distance of this beautiful mountain site. Watch for the Fiddle Zone (see link at left); Friday Concert with Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas; Fiddle Competitions on Saturday; Scottish Country Dance Party on Saturday evening; much much MUCH more! For info on the Games, go to the New Hampshire Games and Scottish Clans website. For info on fiddle and dance events, and ideas for places to stay, get in touch with Barbara McOwen at bmcowen doink comcast.net. Fiddle Zone website updates coming soon.

AUGusT 2008

Weekend of August 1-2, 2008: Glengarry Highland Games, one of the fiddliest Games around, with Troy MacGillivray, the Glengarry Strathspey & Reel Society, the MacLeod Fiddlers, and Massed Fiddlers. To keep up with the 2008 info, go to www.glengarryhighlandgames.com. On Saturday afternoon all the fiddlers and their friends gather in the dining area and play play play, a true Cape Breton session. And everyone gets up at the end. Highly recommended!

August 3-8, 2008: North Atlantic Fiddle Convention 2008. A once-every-three-years fantastical fiddle event is happening again this very summer, after only two years! Location: Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada. "After two very successful North Atlantic Fiddle Conventions hosted by The Elphinstone Institute, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, NAFCo is crossing over the Atlantic, to explore and celebrate the rich fiddle and dance traditions of Atlantic Canada, the North Atlantic rim, and beyond. Once again an international academic conference will combine with performances and workshops to create an event devoted to the theme of Crossing Over, conceived broadly as including transference of musical styles from the Old to the New World, and back again." For current info, go to the NAFCo website.

Week of August 9-16, 2008: Boston Harbor Scottish Fiddle School is a residential camp for all ages, all instruments, all levels, with emphasis on traditional Scottish tunes for fiddle. Fees include 7 overnights in comfortable dorm rooms, all meals, music instruction, parties, concerts, ferry service to the island, and limitless Scottish fiddle enjoyment. Keep up with the latest at the website or download the flier HERE. We're full for this year but there's time to get inspired about next year!

Week of August 10-17, 2008: T.A.C. Summer School Welcomes All Scottish Country Dancers! Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Dance Teachers are Janet Johnston (from Edinburgh, Scotland), Geoffrey Selling (from Philadelphia, Penn.) and Val Mitchell (from Hastings, New Zealand) and additional guest teachers. Dance classes and 4 levels. Musicians are Bobby Brown (from Mississauga, Ont.), Laird Brown (from Brampton, Ont.), Mara Shea (from Raleigh, N.C.), and Ken Nattrass (from Winnipeg, Manitoba). Bobby Brown & The Scottish Accent will play for the Saturday Night Ball. For further information about class levels, etc, go to www.tac-rscds.org and click on Summer School. This is one of the "mecca" events for Scottish country dancers in North America.

Tuesday August 12, 2008, 2-9 pm: Visitors Day on Thompson Island - Come for the famed world-class concert at The Hollow on Thompson Island, Boston Harbor, Boston, Mass. Shady location under the trees, ocean breezes, sailboats, view of Boston, and, AND great music from fiddlers Carl MacKenzie, Gregor Borland, Laura Cortese, Hanneke Cassel with pianist Janine Randall and piper Lezlie Webster. Time for visiting with the artists, your family and friends, then a session & barbeque under the Big Tent. Can't beat that with a stick! Download the flier / application HERE, or go to the BHSFS Website.

Saturday evening August 16, 2008, 8 pm: Scottish Fiddle Concert at Club Passim with Hanneke Cassel & Gregor Borland, with special guests Natalie and Brittany Haas. A historic venue, an incomparable foursome, kinetic atmosphere - just do it! Location: 47 Palmer St, Cambridge, Mass. 02138, 617-492-7679.

Monday evening August 18, 2008, 7:45 pm: Scottish country dancing at Springstep. YES this happens nearly every Monday night of the year, with great teachers and great music. Lots of fun and fellowship for all ages, all levels. THIS particular Monday will feature Kent Smith teaching, and music by Gregor Borland & Barbara McOwen on fiddles, Ken Allen on piano, Robert McOwen on bass, and Howard Lasnik on drums. The same band for the following weekend at the N.H. Highlands at the village in Contoocook, N.H. Hope you can make it Monday and hope you can make it to the weekend!

Tuesday evening August 19, 2008, 8 pm: Scottish Fiddle Concert at Historic Kendall Tavern, otherwise known as The Bells' Ballroom. Gregor Borland, fiddle. Come and hear traditional march-strathspey-reel sets played in the old style alongside wild and woolly contemporary tunes. Location: 746 West Street, Leominster, Mass. Contact Jerry at jeremyjbell doink verizon.net. A big PLUS - there will be a fiddle session after the concert! Download the flier HERE.

Wednesday evening August 20, 2008, 6 pm: Workshop and Concert with Gregor Borland. From Linda Bliss: "We have an opportunity to have a workshop and concert with Gregor Borland, a fabulous Scottish Fiddler currently living in Spain. Gregor was a student of Hector MacAndrew, whose grandfather was a student of Neil Gow. I have been in classes with Gregor all week, and he is an excellent teacher. Clayton has graciously agreed to let us hold the workshop and concert at Johnson Strings in Falmouth - follow the directions to the Cape Cod store. The workshop is at 6:00 and the concert is at 8:00." For more information, contact Barbara McOwen at 781-648-3955 or 617-504-7945.

Weekend of August 22-24, 2008: New Hampshire Highlands (formerly Hillsboro Highlands) - a Scottish country dance weekend. The new location had rave reviews last year - it's the St. Methodios Faith & Heritage Center, Camp Merrimac Rd, Contoocook, N.H. (formerly known as the Greek Camp or the Fiddle Village). Beautiful woodland setting complete with good swimming lake, comfortable dorms with new bathrooms, great wooden floors, and above all the FOOD! Oh yes, three dance courses offered - Intermediate, Experienced, and Advanced. Dance Teachers: Robert McOwen, Norah Link, Andy Taylor-Blenis. Live music for classes and Ball by Barbara McOwen on fiddle, Gregor Borland on fiddle, and Ken Allen on piano, with Howard Lasnik on drums and Robert McOwen on bass for the evening parties. Info: phone Morven Troost at 207-967-3813, download the FLIER, or go to the website.

Saturday All Day, August 23, 2008: 2008 Long Island Highland Games. Everything Scottish, including Piping, Athletic & Dance Competitions, and The Cameron Ensemble, the New York Branch RSCDS Demonstration Team, and Two Men In Skirts. Also a Shortbread Competition! Go to the LISCOTS website to catch the latest. Location: Old Westbury Gardens, Old Westbury, New York. A particularly nice location!

JULY 2008

Week of July 7-11, 2008: Pinewoods English-Scottish Session. The Outstanding 2008 Dance Staff: Robin Hayden, Stella Fogg, Jen Schoonover, Laurie Cummings, Karen Lavallee-Tente, John Mayberry, Tom Spilsbury. You know you're in good hands when you have someone in charge of "general revelry"! Musicians: Liz Donaldson (Music Director) and cKaren Axelrod, Dan Emery, Mary Lea, Paul Oorts, Becky Ross, Nora Smith, Paul Woodiel. Download the flier ; call Jean Farrington at 617-864-3410 for the application form.

Week of July 11-19, 2008: Pinewoods Scottish Sessions at beautiful Pinewoods Camp in Plymouth, Mass. Join dance teachers Helen Russell, Mairi Hand, Terry Harvey, Dale Birdsall and Lezlie Webster and the music staff led by Anne Hooper, with Peter MacFarlane, Liz Donaldson, Terry Traub, Etienne Ozorak, Barbara McOwen, Emerald Rae, Robert McOwen and Howard Lasnik. Applications available on-line from the RSCDS Boston Branch website beginning Feb 1, 2008. Please visit www.rscdsboston.org for details and to print the application. Download the flier . Hope to see you there.

Week of July 13-19, 2008: Celtic Week at Swannanoa. Warren Wilson College, Asheville, N.C. The Scottish presentations include: Kimberley Fraser (Cape Breton fiddle), Margaret Bennett (Scottish folklore), Jim Malcolm (Scots balladeer), Jane MacMorran (Scottish fiddle), Billy Jackson (harp). More TBA. And there are several other weeks, running July 6 - August 9. Info - click HERE.

Week of July 13-19, 2008: Alasdair Fraser's Fiddle Camp in Spain. Just when you think there's enough fun to be had, suddenly there's more! Go HERE for all the info.

Week of July 20-25, 2008: Lanaudiere Traditional Quebecois Fiddle Music Camp. At Camp Mariste in Rawdon, Quebec, Canada. Inaugural year! Info: call 450-588-0918, go to the website www.ViolonTradQuebec.com, or download the pdf brochure HERE.

Week of July 27-August 3, 2008: Jink & Diddle School of Scottish Fiddling. Director and Senior Instructor is John Turner, with Colyn Fischer, David Gardner, Melinda Crawford, Andrew Dodds, Resident Teachers. This will be the 25th year! Beautiful location at Valle Crucis, in the mountains of North Carolina. They will take residents and day students. Go to the Jink & Diddle Website for all the info and the application and/or download the application HERE.

JUNE 2008

Sunday June 8, 2008: Scottish Performances. Two Men In Skirts (Gaitley and Jim Stevenson-Mathews, baritone and piano) and the Clan Gordon Pipe Band will be performing at Roslyn Presbyterian Church, 140 East Broadway, Roslyn, New York. Time to be annouonced.

Saturday June 14, 2008, 6:00 pm: Downeast Fling Scottish Country Dance potluck supper and dance party. 6 pm supper at Christ Church, Kennebunk, Maine. 7:30 pm dance at Kennebunk Town Hall. Music by Highland Whisky with special guest Cathy Goode. Info: download flier HERE, or contact Morven Troost at 207-967=3813, modatra doink roadrunner.com. This is always a special weekend.

Sunday Evening June 15, 2008, 7:30 pm: Club Passim Presents Emerald Rae, and Annalivia.
Some great fiddling in store!

Week of June 15-21, 2008: Northeast Heritage Music Camp. Great lineup of teachers of various instruments and styles, including Dwayne Cote (Cape Breton) and many more world-class instructors and performers. Directed by Ken Perlman & Peter Langston. Location - Johnson State College, Johnson, Vermont, near Stowe. Defintely check this one out! The evening program features jams and concerts, as well as contra-dancing and square dancing. Don't miss this rare opportunity to learn technique, style, and repertoire in groups small enough to guarantee personal attention. Website is HERE.

Friday Evening June 20, 2008, 8 pm: Slow Scottish Jam Sessions led by Lance Ramshaw, in Concord Mass. Very friendly and fun. Usually Fridays, about once a month. "Marvellous tunes at moderate tempos." Info: email Lance at lance.ramshaw doink gmail.com or go to the web Slow Jam, for updates and very useful tune resources. Always a great evening of tunes.

Weekend of June 26-29, 2008: Cape Cod Celtic Festival. Yea! Robert and I can't go! Boo! This is a must for Irish and Cape Breton fans. Performers/teachers include: Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill, Mary Jane Lamond, Wendy MacIsaac, Julie Glaub & Mark Weems, Mac Morin, Kimberley Fraser, Pat Gillis, more. This is a weekend full of concerts, workshops and sessions. Info: Lew Taylor, 508-760-8199, lew doink the musicmeister.com, info doink capecodcelticsociety.org, website www.capecodcelticfestival.com, or download the flier.

Monday Evening June 30, 2008, 8 pm: End of Season Party & Ice Cream Social Scottish country dance party. Location: Springstep. Music by Tom Pixton & Susan Worland, MC Gregor Williamson. "You provide the toppings; the class provides the ice cream!!!"

MAY 2008

Friday Evening May 2, 2008: Boston Ball Welcome Dance. Location - Springstep at Medford Square, Mass. Music by - Tom Pixton. Info - Boston Branch website, or Melissa Bennett at bennettm doink comcast.net.

Saturday May 3, 2008, 5:30 pm: Boston Highland Ball Location - Nevins Hall, Framingham, Mass. Music by - Boston Hospitality. Reception at 5:30, Dinner at 6:30, Dancing at 8:30. Info - Boston Branch website, or Melissa Bennett at bennettm doink comcast.net. This is one of the premier Scottish dance events in New England, a very special event!

Friday May 9, 2008: Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas In Concert. Old Meeting House, Montpelier, Vt. Info: 802-229-9593, Old Meeting House.

Saturday May 10, 2008, 8 pm: Cape Breton Dance! With Andrea Beaton & Kimberley Fraser. Cape Breton Sets and Boston Sets, all fun dancing and memorable music. At the Canadian-American club, 202 Arlington Street, Watertown, Mass. Download the flier HERE.

Saturday May 10, 2008: Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas In Concert. Stone Mountain Arts Center, Brownfield, Maine. Info: 207-347-6277, http://www.bloomarts.com/.

Sunday May 11, 2008: Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas In Concert. Boothbay Harbor Opera House, Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Info: 207-633-5159, Boothbay Harbor Opera House.

Friday May 16, 2008: Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas In Concert. North Madison Congregational Church, Madison, Conn. Info: 203-421-3241, Fire in the Kitchen.

Weekend of May 16-18, 2008: New York Branch Pawling Weekend. Teachers are Jean Martin of Aberdeen, Muriel Johnstone and Bill Zobel from B.C. Music by Bobby Brown and the Scottish Accent. Info: see the New York Branch website. Very nice location, great teachers, great band!

Saturday May 17, 2008, 5:30 pm: Spring Fling, a Scottish country dance party presented by the Reel & Strathspey Society of Fairlee, Vermont. Music by Viveka Fox & Peter MacFarlane on fiddles and Susie Petrov on piano. Walk Through at 3 pm, Potluck at 5:30, dance at 7:00. Fairlee Town Hall, Rt 5, Fairlee Town Hall. Info: Boston Branch Website, or phone Gary Apfel at 802-439-3459. Download the flier HERE and the dance instructions HERE.

Saturday May 17, 2008: Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas In Concert. Rhode Island Scottish Festival, Richmond, R.I. Info: 860-889-8022, Rhode Island Scottish Festival.

Sunday May 18, 2008: Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas In Concert. Union Hall, Carlisle, Mass. Info: 978-287-5745, Union Hall Coffeehouse.

Saturday Evening May 24, 2008: Memorial Day Weekend Party, presented by the Penobscot Bay Scottish Couontry Dancers. Location: American Legion Halll, Belfast, Maine. Music by Peter MacFarlane on fiddle, Susie Petrov on keyboard, Dan Houghton on Scottish border pipes. Also, a Potluck Brunch & Ceilidh on Sunday (May 25), 10 am - 2 pm, hosted by Joan and Al Andrews. For Party Information or Hospitality contact Kim Jacobs at 207-722-3139.

Saturday May 31, 2008, 8 pm: Music for Robin Concert with Trouz Bras (pronounced True Brazz), Music and Dance of Brittany. This is the only Breton band in the United States. Location: First Baptist Church, 1580 Mass. Ave., Lexington, Mass. First a concert, then push the chairs back and dancing after intermission. From Billie Hockett: "The music is driving, insistent and mesmerizing." Tickets from Sandy's Music, Minuteman Music Center, Spectrum Music, or contact via www.music-for-robin.org.

APRIL 2008

Saturday April 5, 2008, 2-4 pm: Romanian Fiddle Workshop presented by the Folk Arts Center. Taught by the renowned, the incomparable, the inspirational Miamon Miller. This is a great opportunity to meet Miamon and get a taste of Romanian fiddle music, a huge and wonderful repertoire. If you're a Scottish fiddler, you might find this workshop very accessible and interesting. "Miamon will be teaching music by ear, and would like to work with intermediate-level players. Registrants should plan to arrive 15 minutes early to set up and tune their instruments." Location: private residence in Newton, Mass. Contact the Folk Arts Center before April 1 to register and to receive directions to the workshop location. There is also a Romanian singing workshop 11-1, led by Teodor Anastasoaie. Please bring a bag lunch if you are attending both sessions.

Saturday Evening April 5, 2008: Salem Class Dance Party, a Boston Branch Monthly Dance. Annual dance party at the Unitarian Church in Salem, Mass. The contact person is MaryEllen Scannell.

Saturday Evening April 5, 2008: RERR TERR, the big fun dance party for the New Jersey Branch. Music by Highland Whisky.

Thursday April 10, 2008: The Evelyn M.E. Murray Scholarship Fund Application is due. It is sponsored by the Scottish Scholarship Fund of New Hampshire. "Note to Schools/Instructors: Application may be copied for distribution to deserving students currently studying Scottish Arts with you or your organization." You can download a pdf of the information and application HERE.

Saturday April 12, 2008, 10 am - 3 pm: Scottish Music Workshop presented by the Cameron Scottish Music Ensemble. A fun and informative monthly gathering, this month features Barbara McOwen, Scots fiddler. Location: Forest Hills, Long Island, N.Y., easily accessible by subway. Info: Isabelle Smith, 718-793-6238, i.a.smith doink att.net. Check back for the flier.

Saturday April 12, 2008, 7-11 pm: Springstep Fundraiser. The annual Radiance Event, very classy and a very highly recommended event. Folk performances, hors d'oeuvres, fine wine, dessert, and a grand auction, very exciting! At Springstep, 98 George P. Hasset Dr, Medford, Mass. Buy tickets in advance - call 781-395-0402 or go to the Springstep website.

Saturday April 12, 2008, 7:30 pm: 27th Spring Concert presented by The Scottish Fiddlers of Los Angeles. With Special Guest Laura Risk and Piper Robert Hackney. At the Hermosa Beach Playhouse, 710 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach Calif. Info: call Chris Hendershot at 310-266-8080, email info doink scottishfiddlers.org, or download the pdf flier HERE. Always a festive occasion!

Sunday Afternoon April 13th, 2008: Canadian American Club Fundraiser. From Peggy Morrison: "You will hear lots of good music and have a grand time I am sure." Location would be the Canadian American Club, 202 Arlington St, Watertown, Mass. Time and other details - we'll have to look for more info!

Monday Evening April 14th, 2008, 8 pm: Passim Celtic Music Monthly with Aoife Clandy, Susie Petrov, Dan Houghton, Mairin Ui Cheide, and Janine Sirignano & Sean Smith. Club Passim, 47 Palmer St, Harvard Square, Cambridge, Mass. A great excuse to get taxes done EARLY!

Tuesday April 15th, 2008, 5 pm: CD Signing Party! From Lissa Schneckenburger: "Come and celebrate the national release of Song at our favorite local record store, with live music and refreshments. This is the big national release day, and you will be able to purchase the new CD for the first time on line. In addition, Keith Murphy, Corey DiMario and I are planning an in store CD signing event at In The Moment in Brattleboro VT (a great local music store that sells hard to find LPs and CDs)." Location: In The Moment, 143 Main Street, Brattleboro, Vt. Call 802-257-8171 for more information. And also check out Lissa's NEW WEBSITE, at www.lissafiddle.com. Way to go Lissa!

Friday Evening April 18, 2008, 8 pm: Slow Scottish Jam Sessions led by Lance Ramshaw, in Concord Mass. Very friendly and fun. Usually Fridays, about once a month. "Marvellous tunes at moderate tempos." Info: email Lance at lance.ramshaw doink gmail.com or go to the web Slow Jam, for updates and very useful tune resources. NEW: "Note that we're going to try something a bit different on the pacing side. In order to give newer fiddlers a chance to get really comfortable with a few tunes, we're going to pick maybe half a dozen tunes for the 8:00-9:30 period, and just go through that list over and over. (That's how we spent the whole evening years ago, when this series first got started.) Then for the second half of the evening, we'll segue into going around the room as usual, having folks suggest tunes."

Week of April 20-27, 2008: The 2008 Southern Hemisphere International School of Scottish Fiddle (SHISSF) is shaping up to be another fantastic camp. Venue - Camp Kaitoke, Upper Hutt, NEW ZEALAND. Instructors for 2008 are now confirmed - Fiddle classes will be led by Gregor Borland, Scotland via Spain; Laura Risk, Canada, and Catherine Fraser, Australia. Accompaniment classes (all instruments welcome) will be led by Duncan Smith, USA/Australia. SO.....save the dates and start planning your travel for SHISSF 2008! Online payments and application forms available soon. Keep checking www.shissf.com for updates.

Weekend of April 25-27, 2008: NEFFA. NEFFA stands for the New England Folk Festival Association, and they create NEFF. Scottish events include a dance workshop on Saturday evening with Evelyn Murray, music by the White Cockade; performance by Highland Dance Boston on Sunday. High & Middle Schools, Mansfield, Mass. More later.

Weekend of April 25-26-27, 2008: Spring Concerts 2008 with The San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers and Alasdair Fraser. Friday at 8 pm in Oakland, Calif., Saturday at 7:30 pm in Grass Valley, Calif., and Sunday at 3 pm in Santa Rosa, Calif. Great stuff here, worth a big trip! Download the one-pager HERE or the beautiful 4-pager HERE. PLUS a rather nifty youtube HERE.

Saturday Evening April 26: The Kilts and Gillies Ball. Connecticut. Musicians will be Alice Backer, Barbara McOwen, Jim Stevenson. More info soon!

Saturday Evening April 26, 9 pm: Family Square Dance, presented by the MacLeod School of Fiddling. With East Coast fiddling sensation Troy MacGillivray. Location: Dunvegan Recreation Hall, Country Rd 24, Dunvegan, Ontario CANADA. Also featuring local youong fiddle Cassie McDonell. Everyone Welcome. Includes Lunch [or midnight supper?]. Download the flier HERE.

Sunday April 27, 3 pm: Jerry Holland in Concert. With Kimberley Fraser. This is a great opportunity to catch this Reknowned Cape Breton Fiddler and Composer. Presented by the Boston Scottish Fiddle Club. Location: The Regent Theatre, Medford St, Arlington, Mass. Tickets: available at the Regent Theater, Sandy's Music in Cambridge, Wood & Strings in Arlington, or call 781-862-2949 or 508-339-2010. Download the flier HERE.

MARCH 2008

Saturday Evening March 1, 2008: New Haven Ball. Music by Thistle House. For more info, go to New Haven Branch.

Weekend of March 1-3, 2008: Winter Cape Breton Fiddle and Dance Camp. Featuring Jerry Holland, Mairi Rankin and Beth Telford. From Beth: "Our annual winter camp will be held again in the historic Pond Village, Brookfield Vt, near the floating bridge. Enjoy 3 days of music, dance, relaxation (!?!) and fun. Sleeping bag accommodations are included, although people are welcome to stay elsewhere if they desire. Tentative plans call for a ceilidh on Sunday night. Hope to see a bunch of you there!" Info: Beth at: 802-728-6351, lukeydog doink innevi.com.

Saturday March 8, 2008, 2 pm: Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and The Band of the Coldstream Guards. Boston debut. Pipes, drums and highland dancers perform music of Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales, producing a grand martial spectacle that makes any performance unforgettable. Presented by the Celebrity Series of Boston, Symphony Hall, Boston, Mass. Tickets - Celebrity Series website. Download the flier HERE and take a look at them on YouTube.

Saturday March 8, 2008, 8 pm: St Patrick's Day Fiddle Frenzy. Double bill featuring Emerald Rae with Eugene Friesen, and Andy Reiner with Stash Wyslouch and Eden Forman. At The Stone Church, 20 Church St Bellows Falls, Vt. Info: Emerald's website at www.emeraldrae.com.

Monday March 10, 2008, 8 pm: Celtic Music Monday at Club Passim, 47 Church St, Cambridge, Mass. Hosted by Emerald Rae and Eden Forman, and featuring The New Tyme Sisters, Kimberley Fraser, Emerald Rae, Dan Gurney and Jeremy Ball. Info: Emerald's website at www.emeraldrae.com.

Friday March 14, 2008, 8 pm: Synthesis: An Evening of Contemporary Celtic Dance. "Step dance choreographers from three major East Coast cities converge to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a program of high-energy, offbeat perspectives on Celtic dance." Featuring Darrah Carr Dance, Turnstyles Dance Project, and Nicholas Yenson. At the Julie Ince Thompson Theater, The Dance Complex, 53 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, Mass. For reservations, call: 617-645-3743. Check out the websites: www.darrahcarrdance.com, kieranjordan.com, and nicholasyenson.com and come see these great dancers, a real Boston-area opportunity.

Saturday March 15, 2008, 8 pm: Ed Rawson Benefit Dance. First Parish Church, 349 The Boston Post Rd, Weston, Mass. MC & Program by Jeanetta McColl. Music by Barbara McOwen & Matt Petrie - fiddles, Marianne Taylor - piano, and Howard Lasnik - drums. For info, call Nancy Rawson, 781-894-7754, or download the flier. This is one of the great spring dance events.

Saturday March 15, 2008: The Bertha MacDonald Scholarship Application is due. It is sponsored by the St. Andrew's Society of New Hampshire. "Students of the Scottish performing arts in music, dancing, piping, fiddling, clarsach, drumming, and song, etc. are eligible for grants." You can download the information and application HERE.

Sunday March 16, 2008, 8 pm: St Patrick's Day Celebration with Julia Kwolyk on fiddle & voice, Jon Peiffer on percussion & piano, and Herb Archer on guitar & voice. "Bourbon's on 21 Congress St, Portsmouth, N.H. has the perfect set up to bring a group of friends, eat some tasty barbacue, throw back a pint, and hit the dance floor, or just kick back. You willÊlove the ambience of the place." See Julia on the web at www.myspace.com/juliakwolyk.

Sunday March 16, 2008, 8 pm: Horn Concert in Jordan Hall. Yes, we remember you Daniel and Carol, long-time Scottish- and folk-dance friends! From Nancy Rawson: "After 29 years on the horn faculty of NEC, Daniel Katzen will be leaving New England, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and NEC. This is his last public appearance in solo recital. On the program: the last of the six Bach Cello Suites adapted for horn byKatzen, and Strauss's Till Eulenspiegel, a setting of the orchestral tone poem for quintet, joined by New England Conservatory horn students." Freeeee!

Saturday March 22, 2008, 5 pm: Peterborough Fiddles Concert Series presents a Scottish Fiddle Workshop and Concert with Emerald Rae on fiddle and Flynn Cohen on guitar. At the Peterborough Town Library, 2 Concord St, Peterborough, N.H. 03458. Phone 603-924-8040. Go Emmy!

Saturday March 22, 2008, 8 pm: Double Bill Concert: One duo is Janine Sirignano on celtic fiddle and Sean Smith on guitar and vocals. From Sean: "Since our performance at the Boston Celtic Music Fest in January, Janine and I have been putting together some new songs and tune sets, and hope to trot out a few of these at the gig. The other local duo is Avi and Celia, who play a fascinating blend of blues, folk, Americana, and even a bit of rock 'n roll." At SoniYoga, 290 Concord Ave, Cambridge, Mass. Download the flier HERE.

Friday Evening March 28, 2008, 7-10 pm: Cape Breton House Concert with Kimberley Fraser & Troy MacGillivray, fiddle & piano (they tend to trade instruments, they're both outstandingly proficient on both). Location: Arlington, Mass. You must sign up in advance with Barbara McOwen - 781-648-3955, bmcowen doink comcast.net. This will be a great opportunity to hear these two gifted musicians while they're in town! Bring instruments for a bit of a session afterwards, both concert and workshop. Their websites - www.myspace.com/kimberleyfraser and www.troymacgillivray.com. And, download the very nice flier for the event HERE.

Friday Evening March 28, 2008, 8 pm: Slow Scottish Jam Sessions led by Lance Ramshaw, in Concord Mass. Very friendly and fun. Usually Fridays, about once a month. "Marvellous tunes at moderate tempos." Info: email Lance at lance.ramshaw doink gmail.com or go to the web Slow Jam, for updates and very useful tune resources. NEW: "Note that we're going to try something a bit different on the pacing side. In order to give newer fiddlers a chance to get really comfortable with a few tunes, we're going to pick maybe half a dozen tunes for the 8:00-9:30 period, and just go through that list over and over. (That's how we spent the whole evening years ago, when this series first got started.) Then for the second half of the evening, we'll segue into going around the room as usual, having folks suggest tunes."

Saturday March 29, 2008, 10:30 am - 1:30 pm: Cape Breton Fiddle & Piano Workshops with Kimberley Fraser & Troy MacGillivray. Location: Arlington, Mass. Space is limited; you must sign up in advance with Barbara McOwen. First come first served. Don't miss this if you can! Download the very nice flier for the event HERE.

Sunday March 30, 2008, 2:30 pm: Scottish concert with New Rigged Ship with pianist Jacqueline Schwab and cellist Reinmar Seidler, who performed on Ken Burns' recently premiered PBS series The War. They will perform Tunes and Tales from Scotland and the Shetlands. Place: Fitchburg Public Library, 610 Main St, Fitchburg, Mass. Information: 978-345-9635 or fitchburgpubliclibrary.org.

Sunday March 30, 2008, 3 pm: Anne Hooper Recital. Anne Hooper will be performing a recital dedicated to the Hunger Project, at the Follen Church, 755 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, Mass. She will share the program with pianist George Kern and soprano Sarah Arneson. Program will include works of Handel, Brahms and Bartok.

FEBRUARY 2008

Sunday February 3, 2008, 2-6 pm: Boston Scottish Fiddle Club Workshop & Session, with Barbara McOwen. Slow Workshop 2:00, Intermediate Workshop 3:00, Performance & Session 4:00. Pleasant St Congregational Church, 75 Pleasant St, Arlington, Mass. Give it go! Download the Newsletter HERE.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON (NOT SATURDAY) February 3, 2008, 3 pm:: English-Scottish Dance Party. Sponsored by the Boston Branch RSCDS. Location - Parish House, Church of Our Saviour, 25 Monmouth St, Brookline, Mass. Music by - Jacqueline Schwab (piano) and Vince O'Donnell (fiddle). MC & Program - Marianne Taylor. Info: contact Jean Farrington, jffar doink rcn.com, or download the flier HERE.

Weekend of February 8-10, 2008: Cardigan! Weekend getaway at AMC lodge in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Scottish country dancing, cross country skiing, jamming. Very inexpensive, flawlessly organized, comfortable warm rooms, great food by Mary Ellen Scannell, wood fires, puzzle corner, group hikes, moving-table music, comraderie with all the best people including hopefully Sally Dee, lots more. It's more fun than you can shake a ski-pole or fiddle bow at! Info: email Lance, lance.ramshaw doink gmail.com, or check Lance's website.

Sunday February 10, 2008, 4 pm: Old Blind Dogs are coming to Cape Cod, Presented by the Cape Cod Celtic Society. O'Shea's Olde Inne, Rt 28, West Dennis, Cape Cod, Mass. Call Lew Taylor at 508-760-8199 for tickets. The Old Blind Dogs are lots of peoples' fave band - Winner of the Scottish Traditional Music Award for 2007. To download the flier for this concert, click HERE. To get a CCCS membership form, click http://www.hamiltonpa.org.

Saturday Evening February 16, 2008: Toronto Branch Tartan Ball. Location - Fairmont Royal York Hote. Music by - Bobby Brown and the Scottish Accent. Celebrating the 50th year of the Toronto Branch. Info - Toronto Branch.

Saturday February 16, 2008: Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas. Old Songs Festival, Vorheesville, N.Y. Info: 518-765-2815, Old Songs Festival.

Sunday February 17, 2008: Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas, In Concert at the Valley Forge Convention Center, King of Prussia, Penn. Info: 610-825-7268, http://www.eohebrides.com.

Weekend of February 22-24, 2008: Tokyo Branch Scottish Country Dance Weekend. Music and teaching by Barbara & Robert McOwen. We will also be seeing our Boston Branch friend Chika Kawasaki. Scottish country dance classes specifically for teachers, a music class, and a step dance class. Music for Friday night social by Barbara & Robert, and for the Saturday night ball by the Japanese band. Info: email Tom Toriyama at tomtori doink aol.com, and check out the Tokyo Branch website.

Friday February 22nd at 8 pm: Slow Scottish Jam Sessions led by Lance Ramshaw, in Concord Mass. Very friendly and fun. Usually Fridays, about once a month. "Marvellous tunes at moderate tempos." Info: email Lance (NEW EMAIL) at lance.ramshaw doink gmail.com or go to the web Slow Jam, for updates and very useful tune resources.

Tuesday February 26, 2008 (time unknown): Natalie MacMaster in Concert. Location: Chandler, in Randolph, Vt. Info: Chandler. Run don't walk any time Natalie performs! AND AND AND - Natalie has donated a one-hour private lesson with her, which will take place on Wednesday February 27 at 3 pm (probably in the vicinity of Chandler in Vermont). A drawing for this lesson will be held during the Tuesday concert - send $25 (checks made out to Chandler) for each raffle ticket to: Chandler, 71-73 Main Street, Randolph, Vt 05060. Proceeds go to JERRY HOLLAND.

Wednesday February 27, 2008, 7:30-9:30 pm: FAC Jam Session, sponsored by the Folk Arts Center of New England and the Beebe Estate. 4th Wednesdays, 235 West Foster St, Melrose, Mass. The February Session is Scottish Music led by Hanneke Cassel. Zowie! For all instruments, all levels, all welcome! Info: 781-662-7475, FAC Website. I usually don't put prices on the website, but this is FREEEEEE!

JANUARY 2008

Tuesday January 1, 2008, 2:30 pm: New Year's Day Dance & Potluck Dinner. A great dancing tradition, presented by the Nashua Scottish Dance Class. It all starts at 2:30, with dancing for all. Then a sumptious supper with all the trimmings. Then more dancing. Music by Highland Whisky. Info - Loren Wright at NashuaSCD doink comcast.net, 603-891-2331, Nashua webpage.

Tuesday Evening January 1, 2008: Northampton New Year's Day Party. Check back really soon for more details! Meanwhile, check the Boston Branch website.

Sunday January 6, 2008, 2-6 pm: Boston Scottish Fiddle Club Workshop & Session, with Anne Hooper. Slow Workshop 2:00, Intermediate Workshop 3:00, Performance & Session 4:00. Pleasant St Congregational Church, 75 Pleasant St, Arlington, Mass.

Sunday Evening January 6, 2008. 6:30-10 pm: Twelfth Night Party, sponsored by the Brookline Class of the Boston Branch, RSCDS. Location is the Church of Our Saviour, Parish House, 25 Monmouth St, Brookline, Mass. Music by The White Cockade. Program and MC by Evelyn Murray. Come to dance, sing and socialize - an event not to be missed!

Weekend of January 11-12, 2008: BCMFest! That's the Boston Celtic Music Festival, held in several venues in Harvard Square, this will be the FIFTH ANNUAL! Go to the BCMFest website for all the info and inspiration!

Weekend of January 12-13, 2008 - note corrections - I just now got some info: Arkansas MidWinter Workshop and Ball. Dance instructor - Robert McOwen, 9-noon, 1-2:30. Music for the Ball is provided by John Turner (fiddle) and Pete Campbell (piano), 8 pm. Location for Workshop & Ball: Park Hill Presbyterian Church, JFK Blvd, North Little Rock, Ark. There will be an afters party after the Ball and a Brunch on Sunday. More info: Judy Robertson at jrobertiii doink hotmail.com, 501-221-9167. Go! Go and celebrate Robert's birthday!

Saturday January 19th: Robert Burns Supper, presented by the Saint Andrews Society of New Hampshire. Location - Great Bay Gallery, 25 Willand Rd, Somersworth, N.H. Program includes pipes, highland dancers, Burns poems, Salute to the Haggis, and performances by some of the Society's Scholarship recipients. Info - SASNH.

Wednesday January 23, 2008, 7:30-9:30 pm: FAC Jam Session, sponsored by the Folk Arts Center of New England and the Beebe Estate. 4th Wednesdays, 235 West Foster St, Melrose, Mass. The January Session is Celtic Music led by Jerry & Nancy Bell. For all instruments, all levels, all welcome! Info: 781-662-7475, FAC Website. I usually don't put prices on the website, but this is FREEEEEE!

Friday January 25th at 8 pm: Slow Scottish Jam Sessions led by Lance Ramshaw, in Concord Mass. Very friendly and fun. Usually Fridays, about once a month. "Marvellous tunes at moderate tempos." Info: email Lance (NEW EMAIL) at lance.ramshaw doink gmail.com or go to the web Slow Jam, for updates and very useful tune resources.

Weekend of January 25-26-27, 2008: Scottish Weekend at Mohonk Mountain House, nr New Paltz, N.Y. Performances by the Loch Leven Dancers, Highland Whisky. More info soon.

Saturday January 26, 2008: Worcester Kilty Pipe Band Burns Supper. A great long-standing event. Highland dance performances by Highland Dance Boston. More info soon!

Sunday Afternoon January 27, 2008, 3 pm: Anne Hooper and Jacqueline Schwab will perform a concert on Sunday, 27 January at the Eliot Church, 45 Eliot Street (Rte. 16) in South Natick. The program will include the Solo Partita No.1 in B minor of J.S. Bach (Wow!) and Scottish music for fiddle and piano. It is given in memoriam of Dr. Paul Curtiss. To download the Press Release, click HERE.

DECEMBER 2007

Saturday Evening December 1, 2007, 6 pm: Pinewoods Benefit Ball. Always a most wonderful affair. The date has changed back and forth a bit, but has now landed on December 1st. 6 pm - Potluck Dinner. 7:30 - Dancing. Music by Susan Worland-Bentley (fiddle), Beth Murray (piano), and Michael Bentley (bodhran). At the First Unitarian Universalist Church (Sally's Church), 211 Bridge St, Salem, Mass. Info: Boston Branch RSCDS website.

Friday December 7th, 2007, 8 pm: CD Release Concert followed by a traditional Irish music session - musicians, singers, dancers and listeners welcome! The Bull Run Restaurant and Tavern presents Matt and Shannon Heaton for the release of their latest CD "Fine Winter's Night." Location is Rt 2A, Shirley, Mass. For info, dinner & seat reservations, call 978-425-4311 or go to the aforementioned website.

Saturday Evening December 8, 2007: Concert and Raffle to Benefit Jerry Holland. Featuring the great Ashley MacIsaac, at the Chandler Music Hall, Randolph, Vt. Also appearing are John Doyle, Tony DeMarco and Anna Colliton. The raffle drawing will take place during the concert; prizes include hand-made violins, bows, jewelery, a handmade quilt, more. For info on the concert and the raffle, go to www.jerryhollandfund.org.

Thursday Evening December 13, 2007, 8 pm: WGBH's A Christmas Celtic Sojourn with Brian O'Donovan is an intimate sharing of Christmas music, songs, dancing, poetry and stories to warm the winter nights. With Solas, Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas, Paddy League, Dougie MacLean, Aoife O'Donovan, the O'Donovan Family, and dancers Kieran Jordan, Niall O'Leary, Darrah Carr, and Ben Power. Wow! Shows in Boston: December 13 at 8, December 14 at 8, December 15 at 3 & 6, December 16 at 3, December 21 at 8, December 22 at 3 & 8. Also shows in New York: December 19 & 20.

Friday December 14th at 8 pm: Slow Scottish Jam Sessions led by Lance Ramshaw, in Concord Mass. Very friendly and fun. Usually Fridays, about once a month. "Marvellous tunes at moderate tempos." Info: email Lance (NEW EMAIL) at lance.ramshaw doink gmail.com or go to the web Slow Jam, for updates and very useful tune resources.

Sunday Evening December 16, 2007, 6:30-8:30 pm: Brookline Class Christmas Party. Live Music, Refreshments. Location: Parish Hall, Church of Our Saviour, 25 Monmouth St, Brookline, Mass. Info: phone Evelyn Murray at 617-864-8945.

Monday Evening, December 17, 2007: Holiday Party sponsored by the Cambridge Class, Boston Brach, RSCDS. Program and MC: Lance Ramshaw. Music: Tom Pixton, Barbara Pixton, Debbie Billmers, Mike MacNintch. Raffle & refreshments featured. For more info, go to the Boston Branch website, or download the Flier.

Friday, December 21st, 2008, 7:30 pm: Beggar Boys' Celtic Christmas featuring carols old and new, storytelling, Irish dancers and footstomping tunes from Ireland, Scotland and Wales! The Beggar Boys are Michael Albert, Henry Lebedinsky, Kate Minogue and Larry Young. Joining them will be former Revels soloist John Rockwell on vocals, bodrhan and guitar as well as some terrific dancers from the Bremer School of Irish Dance in Salem. Location: Community House of Hamilton and Wenham, 284 Bay Road, Rt 1A, South Hamilton, Mass. For more information please call 978-468-4818 ext. 11 or visit www.communityhouse.org or Poor Richard's Penny.

Friday, December 28, 2007, 8 pm: Weston Class Early Hogmanay Celebration. First Parish Church, Weston, Mass. Music by Highland Whisky and Friends. MC & Program - Murray Nicolson. For info contact Heather Day, 617-244-6914, or download the flier.

NOVEMBER 2007

Weekend of November 2-4, 2007: Fiddle Hell! From David Reiner: "I'd like to invite you to attend Fiddle Hell, for a few hours, a day, or the whole weekend, at the Stagecoach Inn in Groton, Mass. The main activities are fiddle jams, workshops, and a gathering on Saturday night for each fiddler to play a tune and for all of us to play some tunes together (hence the name "Fiddle Hell"). I expect New England, bluegrass, Irish, Texas, Cape Breton, Scottish, Scandinavian, swing, oldtime, French Canadian and other styles to be represented, and there are fiddlers flying in from as far away as Texas, Florida, and Wales! There's more info on my website, including the schedule and a list of common tunes: Fiddle Hell." Wow! We'd better check this one out!

Saturday Evening November 3, 2007: Jeannie Carmichael Ball, sponsored by the New York Branch, RSCDS, at the Thayer Hotel, an elegant hotel in the grouonds of the West Point military academy, overlooking the Hudson River. For more info and applications phone Teresa Perez at 914-909-0616, or go to the website at www.rscdsnewyork.org. Musicians are Hanneke Cassel on fiddle and Dave Wiesler on piano.

Week of November 3-7, 2007: Alasdair Fraser's Fiddle Train! Wow What a concept! Riding on the Canadian Railway from Vancouver to Toronto, through the Canadian Rockies, Plains, Forests, interesting cities, with Alasdair Fraser, Natalie Haas, and for that Quebecois touch, the band Genticorum. Non-stop fun - sessions, open mic, workshops, concerts. Sleeper berths, great meals, the works. For the full info, go to the Fiddle Train website.

Sunday November 4, 2007, 2-7 pm: Boston Scottish Fiddle Club. Monthly 1st-Sundays meetings include workshops, jamming, performance, refreshments. Location: the Pleasant Street Congregational Church, 75 Pleasant St, Arlington, Mass. Info: contact Anne Kaufman at am.kaufman doink verizon.net or go to the website at BSFC.

Saturday November 10, 2007, 3 pm & 7 pm: 14th Annual Scottish Concert, presented by the Boston Branch, RSCDS. Featuring Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas, Anne Hooper (fiddle), Peter Barnes (flute, piano), Lezlie Webster (pipes), Highland Dance Boston, and the Demonstration Dancers of the Boston Branch. Location: the National Heritage Museeum, 33 Marrett Rd, Lexington, Mass. Info: www.rscdsboston.org. A very special annual event.

Sunday November 11, 2007, 10:30 am - 1:30 pm: Scottish Music Workshop by Alasdair Fraser. Space is limited, first-come-first-served. Location - Arlington, Mass. Workshop 10:30 - 12:30, then an informal jam session 12:30 - 1:30. Please bring some contributions to a light lunch - cider, cheese, ham, crackers, muffins, cookies, etc. The workshop is sponsored & organized by the Boston Branch RSCDS; contact Barbara McOwen for info, driving directions & reservations: bmcowen doink comcast.net, 781-648-3955.

Friday November 16th at 8 pm: Slow Scottish Jam Sessions led by Lance Ramshaw, in Concord Mass. Very friendly and fun. Usually Fridays, about once a month. "Marvellous tunes at moderate tempos." Info: email Lance (NEW EMAIL) at lance.ramshaw doink gmail.com or go to the web Slow Jam, for updates and very useful tune resources.

Saturday November 17, 2007, 6 pm: 18th Century Ball. Greenland Parish Hall, Greenland, N.H. Potluck & Dance to Elegant 18th Century Music. Info: Laurie Stevens, 603-773-9795.

Sunday Afternoon November 18th, 3-7 pm: The Gaelic Club, at the Canadian-American Club, 202 Arlington St, Watertown. Come play, dance, listen, visit, have a beer/tea/refreshments; group jam at the beginning and end. Very informal and real. Usually 3rd Sunday of the month, Sept-June. Info: email Peggy Morrison at margaret.morrison doink comcast.net. NOTE: This month's session will also be a benefit for Colin McKenzie, son of Cape Breton Step Dancer and great friend of the Cape Breton community Judy McKenzie. Colin was in a near-fatal car accident, and will make a recovery, but is in need of financial assistance after multiple surgeries. There will be a raffle; donations to the raffle table would be greatly appreciated. Download the flier HERE.

Saturday November 24, 2007, 6 pm - midnight: Los Angeles Branch St. Andrews Ball. South Bay Masonic Center, 520 Main St, El Segundo, Calif. Light Supper 6:30, Grand March 7:30, great dance program, snacks & desserts at breaks. Music by Barbara McOwen - fiddle, Robert McOwen - bass, and Barbara MacDonald Magone - piano. To download the flier, click HERE, or go to the Los Angeles Branch Website.

Saturday November 24, 2007, 7 pm: Maeve Gilchrist in Concert. Maeve Gilchrist, Scottish harpist, will be performing a concert at the W. Dennis Graded Schoolhouse, Cape Cod, Mass. Maeve's repertoire and original compositions draw heavily on Scottish and Irish folklore with strong jazz and Latin influences. Visit her website at www.maevegilchristmusic.com to check it out. For information on the concert contact Anne Paus, 508-896-6385.

Saturday November 24, 2007, 7:30 pm: A Cape Breton Night of Square Dancing, Step Dancing & Music on Thanksgiving Weekend. Featuring the popular Fiddler, Piano Player, and Stepdancer Troy MacGillivray (fiddle) and Allan Dewar (piano). At the French American Victory Club, 193 Elm St, Waltham, Mass. Also Featuring the Country Masters. For more info, contact Gabe Arsenault at 781-893-2884 (home) or 781-718-4394 (mobile).

Sunday November 25, 2007, 2:30 pm: Gala Scottish Concert, presented by the Strathspey & Reel Society of New Hampshire. Featuring Nova Scotia fiddler & pianist Troy MacGillivray & Allan Dewar, plus the Calder School of Highland Dance and of course the SRSNH Ensemble of more than 40 musicians! Concord City Auditorium, Concord, N.H. Info: 603-437-3497, srsnhgala doink gmail.com, www.srsnh.org. A great way to spend the Sunday of Thanksgiving Weekend with family and friends.

OCTOBER 2007

Monday October 1st, 2007, 7 pm & 9 pm: Harp Workshops, with Grainne Hambly and William Jackson. Info & reservations: 781-862-7837, Music-for-Robin.

Friday October 5th at 8 pm: Slow Scottish Jam Sessions led by Lance Ramshaw, in Concord Mass. Very friendly and fun. Usually Fridays, about once a month. "Marvellous tunes at moderate tempos." Info: email Lance (NEW EMAIL) at lance.ramshaw doink gmail.com or go to the web Slow Jam, for updates and very useful tune resources.

Friday October 5, 2007, 8 pm: Annalivia in Concert and CD Release. Annalivia is one of the latest hip young alt-traditional bands to emerge to from the potent Boston fiddle music scene. The acoustic quartet features vocalist Liz Simmons, fiddle ace Brendan Carey Block, guitarist/vocalist Flynn Cohen, and bass player/banjo picker Stuart Kenney. Bull Run Restaurant, Shirley, Mass. A traditional celtic jam session will follow the concert. Doors open at 6pm. Call 978-425 4311 for advance dinner and seat reservations, check out the Bull Run Restaurant website and the MusicVisions website.

Saturday October 6, 2007: Goshen Games, sponsored by the St Andrews Society of Connecticut. A very nice event; hopefully we can get more info on this.

Sunday October 7, 2007: Highland Festival in Scotland, Conn.

Sunday October 7, 2007, 2-7 pm: Boston Scottish Fiddle Club. Monthly 1st-Sundays meetings include workshops, jamming, performance, refreshments. The October session will feature a workshop by Barbara McOwen. Location: the Pleasant Street Congregational Church, 75 Pleasant St, Arlington, Mass. Info: contact Anne Kaufman at am.kaufman doink verizon.net or go to the website at BSFC.

Monday October 8, 2007, Evening: Celtic Music Monday series at Club Passim, Cambridge, Mass. Celebrated Brattleboro-based traditional artists Keith Murphy and Becky Tracy join forces with local musicians Matt and Shannon Heaton as well as recent Brattleboro transplants (and former Bostonians) Lissa Schneckenburger and Corey DiMario for "Brattleboro to Boston, In Search of The King: The Vermont-Boston Traditional Music Connection." For tickets, go to www.clubpassimorg.

Friday October 12, 8 pm: Slow Scottish Jam Sessions led by Lance Ramshaw, in Concord Mass. Very friendly and fun. Usually Fridays, about once a month. "Marvellous tunes at moderate tempos." Info: email Lance (NEW EMAIL) at lance.ramshaw doink gmail.com or go to the web Slow Jam, for updates and very useful tune resources.

Friday October 12, 2007, 8 pm: BCMFest Goes West(ford), with fiddlers Eden Forman, Katie McNally, Amanda Cavanaugh, Doug Lamey, flutist Rebecca McGowan, guitarist Cliff McGann, singer Kira McGann, accordionist/pianist/dance caller/author/arranger/leading expert Susie Petrov, and stepdancer Debbie Billmers. Location: The Westford Museum, Westford, Mass. Info: 978-692-5550, Museum doink Westford.com, or the BCMFest Website.

Saturday October 13, 2007, 2-4 pm: Fiddle and Guitar Workshops in Scottish Music. Featuring two of Prince Edward Island's finest solo artists - Roy Johnstone, fiddler, and winner of the East Coast Music Award, and Steve Sharratt, guitarist. Call Gary Hume, 603-679-5795, to register, and for payment instructions, directions and information about area restaurants if staying for the evening concert. Location: Nottingham Community Church, Nottingham, N.H.

Saturday October 13, 2007, 3-5 pm: Fiddle and Accompaniment Workshops in Scottish Music. Featuring Laura Risk on fiddle - "What Makes a Tune Scottish?" and Susie Petrov on piano - "How to Make a Tune Dance." Location: Topsham Grange Hall, Pleasant St, Topsham, Maine. Info: contact Patti Tillotson at 207-833-2329, ptillotson doink suscom-maine.net.

Saturday October 13, 2007, 5:45: Fall Dance Party, presented by the Brunswick Maine Dance Class. Topsham Grange Hall, Topsham, Maine. Potluck Supper 5:45 pm, Dance 7:00. Musicians Laura Risk on fiddle, Susie Petrov on piano. For info: contact Patti Tillotson, 207-833-2329, ptillotson doink suscom-maine.net.

Saturday October 13 and Sunday October 14, 2007, 7:30 pm: Fiddle & Guitar Concerts. Two concerts (one on Saturday, one on Sunday) featuring two of Prince Edward Island's finest solo artists - Roy Johnstone, fiddler, and winner of the East Coast Music Award, and Steve Sharratt, guitarist. Call Gary Hume, 603-679-5795, to register, and for payment instructions, directions and information about area restaurants if attending both the afternoon workshop & evening concert. Location: Nottingham Community Church, Nottingham, N.H. For their entire New England tour, go to www.ceilidh.org.

Thursday October 18, 2007, 7:30 pm: Childsplay at the Latchis Theatre, Brattleboro Vermont. Please go to www.childsplay.org for more information.

Thursday October 18, 2007: The Battlefield Band. Founded in 1969, Battlefield Band have been bringing their distinctive sound of ScotlandÕs past and present to audiences around the world. They pioneered the integration of bagpipes with fiddle, keyboards, guitar and voice, and mix the old songs and tunes with new self-penned material, playing them on a unique and tasteful blend of ancient and modern instruments, including bagpipes, synthesizers, fiddles, guitars, cittern, bass, whistles, and bouzouki. At the Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St, Manchester, N.H. Ticket info: 603-668-5588.

Friday October 19, 2007, 7:30 pm Childsplay at the South Portland Auditorium, South Portland Maine. Please go to www.childsplay.org for more information.

Saturday October 20, 2007, 10 am - 3 pm: Scottish Music Workshop presented by the Cameron Scottish Music Ensemble. A fun and informative monthly gathering, this month features Barbara McOwen, Scots fiddler. Location: Forest Hills, Long Island, N.Y., easily accessible by subway. Info: Isabelle Smith, 718-793-6238, i.a.smith doink att.net. Check back for the flier.

Weekend of October 20-21, 2007: Fiddling Events at the Stone Mountain Games. Each day in the Fiddle Tent: 10-11 am - The Oatcakes playing Cape Breton Tunes. 11-11:30 - Performance by Laura Risk. 11:30-1 - Workshop with Laura Risk. 2-2:30 - Performance by Laura Risk. 2:30-4 - Jam & Ceilidh. It's a beautiful Games; Stone Mountain is an amazing mountain, one big rock; it's 15 miles from Atlanta Georgia. Workshops with Laura Risk are a treasure. For Fiddle Tent info, contact Jane McLendon at janemc99 doink juno.com. Or visit the Games Website - www.smhg.org.

Saturday October 20, 2007, 2 pm: Second Annual Autumn Social, a Scottish country dance party sponsored by the Fairlee Class of the Boston Branch, RSCDS. Fairly, Vermont. Musicians will be Susie Petrov, Norb Spenser, and Katie McNally. Contact Gary Apfel at garyapfel doink mybluelight.com for all the info.

Saturday October 20. 2007, 8 pm: Childsplay at the Somerville Theatre, Somerville Massachusetts. Please go to www.childsplay.org for more information.

Sunday October 21, 2007, 2 pm: Childsplay at the National Heritage Museum, Lexington Massachusetts. Please go to www.childsplay.org for more information.

Sunday October 21, 2007, 3:30-7 pm: The Gaelic Club, at the Canadian-American Club, 202 Arlington St, Watertown. Come play, dance, listen, visit, have a beer/tea/refreshments; group jam at the end. Very informal and real. Usually 3rd Sunday of the month, Sept-June. Info: email Peggy Morrison at margaret.morrison doink comcast.net. 3rd Sundays, October-June.

Wednesday October 24, 2007, 7:30-9:30 pm: FAC 4th Wednesday Jam Session. A regular session for all instruments, all levels, all ages, and listeners too. sponsored by the Folk Arts Center, and it's free! Held at the historic Beebe Estate, 235 West Foster St, Melrose, Mass. The October session will focus on Cape Breton music, and will be led by renowned fiddler/pianist Kimberley Fraser. To download the flier, click HERE.

Saturday Evening October 27, 2007, 8 pm: Jacqueline Schwab in Concert. Piano solo arrangements of vintage American and traditional Celtic music, played by Jacqueline Schwab. McConnell Auditorium, Daniel Arts Center, Simons Rock College of Bard, Great Barrington, Vt. Information: 413-528-7212.

Weekend of October 27-28, 2007: Albany Fall Frolic. Saturday 10 am - 3 pm: Dance Workshop, Party Review, Demo Technique, with teachers Terry Glasspool, Dale Birdsall, Robert McOwen. Dinner at 6 pm, Grand March with piper Kippy Brezner at 8 pm, Dance Program til midnight with music by Barbara McOwen, Cathy Goode, Robert McOwen and Louis Kaplan (2 fiddles, guitar & bass). Sunday 10:30: Brunch. Info: Lois New, loisanew doink nycap.rr.com, and Boston Branch RSCDS website. Click to download the flier.

SEPTEMBER 2007

Saturday September 1st, 2007, 7 pm: Scottish & Cape Breton Concert at The Mill! From Sean Smith: "Labor Day Weekend, the last, wistful blast of summer -- how are you going to spend it? Well, I for one am going to be rocking and reeling the night away, with Doug Lamey and Abbie MacQuarrie at The Mill in Bristol, N.H." This is a neat place in a neat town in N.H., full of history, which we should all get to know, and which wants to get to know fiddlers and Celtic artists. Go to their website and check it out virtually, and in person.

Friday September 7th, 2007, 8 pm: Opening Night of Scottish Country Dancing In Weston. Beginners Especially Welcome. First Parish Church, Weston, Mass., Intersection of Church & School Sts. & Boston Post Road, Weston Center. Thereafter - 1st, 3rd, 5th Fridays. For more information and to check on storm cancellations, call Nancy Rawson, 781-894-7754, or download the flier.

Friday September 7th, 2008, 8 pm: Ari and Mia Friedman in concert. A rare reunion appearance by the cellist-and-fiddler sister duo. Location: First Parish Church, 35 Church St, Watertown, Mass. For info, call 617-782-8718 or go to the Tremendal Concerts website.

Sunday September 9, 2007, 2 pm: Concert for Jerry Holland, featuring Seamus Connolly, James Keane, Joe Derrane, Eileen Ivers, Kieran O'Hare, Joe Cormier, Liz Knowles, Doug Lamey, Jimmy Noonan, Janine Randall, Cliff McGann, Dedo Norris, the Rita O'Shea/Chaplin Dancers and a host of other fine musicians from Ireland, Cape Breton, and North America. Check the website for the up-to-the-minute performers' list. Sponsored by Boston College, Harvard University, and Boston University. Hosted by Earle Hitchner of the Irish Echo and Wall Street Journal. Location - Jacob Sleeper Auditorium, 871 Commonwealth Ave, Boston University, Boston, Mass. Download the flier HERE. For tickets in advance, contact Mary Lamey, 508-653-3482.

Friday September 14th at 8 pm: Slow Scottish Jam Sessions led by Lance Ramshaw, in Concord Mass. Very friendly and fun. Usually Fridays, about once a month. "Marvellous tunes at moderate tempos." Info: email Lance (NEW EMAIL) at lance.ramshaw doink gmail.com or go to the web Slow Jam, for updates and very useful tune resources.

Saturday Afternoon September 15, 2007, 12:30 - 2:30 pm: Piano workshop with Barbara MacDonald Magone. Barbara is one of the most eminent Cape Breton / Scottish pianists, hailing from a musical Cape Breton family in Detroit originally, now San Diego. She is a highly favored accompanist for Cape Breton, Scottish and Irish music, and is especially known for her sympathetic, yet powerful accompaniment for slow airs. Come and find out how she does it. The workshop will be held in Arlington, Mass. - limited number, first come first served, $35. Please get in touch with Barbara Magone directly to sign up, or for more information; check out her website at www.barbaramagone.com, email her at bmagone@sonic.net.

Thursday September 20, 2007: Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas in concert at the Iron Horse, Northampton, Mass. Info: the Iron Horse website.

Friday Evening September 21st, 2007, 8 pm: Musical Soiree. Quincy Artists Sarah Arneson, soprano, Anne Hooper Webb, violin, and George Kern, piano, performing Mozart, Joseph Marx, Scriabin, Faure, and Scottish Fiddle. United First Parish Church (The Church of the Presidents), 1306 Hancock St, Quincy Center. For further information, please call 617-472-2029, or download the FLIER.

Weekend of September 21-23, 2007: New Hampshire Highland Games. Loon Mountain, Lincoln, N.H. The place to be and the thing to do for all Scot-o-philes within striking distance of this beautiful mountain site. Watch for the Fiddle Zone; Friday Concert with Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas; Fiddle Competitions with Douglas Lawrence, Judge; Scottish Country Dance Party on Saturday evening; much much MUCH more! For info on the Games, go to the New Hampshire Games and Scottish Clans website. For info on fiddle and dance events, and ideas for places to stay, get in touch with Barbara McOwen at bmcowen doink comcast.net. Fiddle Zone website coming soon.

Saturday September 22, 2007, 9 am - 4 pm: New England Fiddle Competitions. Judge is Douglas Lawrence from Glasgow, Scotland. Competition Chair is Bob Schecter, with Isabelle Smith, Head Steward. Four different competitions - Beginner, Novice, Junior Championship, and Open Championship. The application deadline has passed, but the Judge and Steward may be taking field registrations. For info, call Bob at 508-820-7789, or email at bartscriv doink rcn.com. Competitions give you an opportunity to stand up and be heard, so give it a go and good luck!

Saturday Evening September 22, 2007, 8:30 pm: The Loon Mountain Assembly, a wonderful new Scottish country dance party sponsored by the N.H. Highland Games and the Boston Branch RSCDS. New location - the Governors Pavilion, adjacent to the Governor Adams Lodge, Loon Mountain Recreation Area, Lincoln, N.H. Great band - Hanneke Cassel on the fiddle and Cali McKasson on the piano. Inimitable MC - Dale Birdsall. Tickets available at the Games website and the Boston Branch website and at the door; download the flier HERE.

Sunday Evening September 23, 2007: Ken Burns' documentary "The War" series begins on PBS, which includes piano accompaniment by Jacqueline Schwab.

Monday Evening September 24th, 2007, 6-8 pm: Scottish Fiddle Workshop with Douglas Lawrence. At Johnson's Strings, 49 N. Main St, Falmouth, Mass (not too far out on the Cape). Thanks to Clayton and Johnson's for helping to set this up on such short notice! No need to sign up, just show up. For questions, call Barbara during the weekend at 617-504-7945. Home phone and email won't work til Tuesday morning.

Tuesday Evening September 25, 2007, 7 pm (NOTE-correct date is the 25th, not the 26th): An Evening With Douglas Lawrence. Douglas, from Buckie in the north of Scotland, now living in Glasgow, is the famed protege of the great Northeast Scots fiddler Hector MacAndrew. Come for an evening of solo tunes performed by a master - Reels and Jigs, Slow Airs, Marches and Strathspeys old and new, from his native region and beyond. Located in Arlington, Mass. Seating is limited - reservations in advance are required. Dessert, coffee and conversation served. Please send in your reservations to Barbara McOwen, bmcowen@comcast.net, 781-648-3955.

Saturday September 29th, 2007, 2:30-4:30, 7:30-10:00: Won't You Join the Dance? Newer and established dancers alike are invited to attend an Afternoon Workshop to review Scottish Coutry Dance Basics and an Evening Dance Party full of fun and flirtatious Scottish Country Dances to the music of some of New England's finest Scottish dance musicians! Workshop instructor Beth Murray, party MC MaryEllen Scannell. Universalist Church, 211 Bridge St, Salem, Mass.

Saturday September 29th, 2007, 8-12 pm: Cape Breton Dance. Making the trip from Mabou for this fun-filled night of music and dance merriment will be Wendy MacIsaac and Mairi Rankin. You don't want to miss out on all the great fiddle, piano, stepdancing, and squares tonight! Cash bar, downeast tea, potluck snacks. Canadian-American Club, 202 Arlington St, Watertown, Mass. Click to download the flier.

Sunday September 30th, 2007, 1-5 pm: Strathspey & Reel Society of N.H. Gatherings take place on Sundays, at the Annichiaricho Music Theater, Thompson St at S. Main, Concord, N.H., wonderful potluck refreshments, all welcome, FREE! Comfortable theater seats for listening, lots of room on the stage for our large group. Sessions include teaching of current tunes, playing through (with & without sheet music) of repertoire & request tunes. Session dates for 2007: Sep 30, Oct 28, Dec 28.

Sunday September 30th, 2007, 7:30 pm: Masters of the Celtic Harp, featuring Grainne Hambly and William Jackson. House concert in Lexington, Mass. Info & reservations: 781-862-7837, Music-for-Robin.

AUGUST 2007

Week of August 4-11, 2007: Alasdair Fraser Skye Fiddle Course. Unparalleled location at Sabhal M˜r Ostaig, Sleat, Isle of Skye, Scotland. Do it! Info: Skye Website.

Friday August 10, 2007: Catherine Fraser & Duncan Smith in concert at Passim's. "Internationally renowned fiddle & piano duo, Catherine Fraser & Duncan Smith present a vibrant & dynamic program of music from Scotland & beyond, exploring their traditional roots alongside contemporary & original works. Scottish fiddling at its finest." Info: www.clubpassim.org and www.catherinefraser.com, and download the tour flier HERE. Other local performances on Aug 14th, 19th & 22nd.

Week of August 11-18, 2007: Boston Harbor Scottish Fiddle School!! Location: Thompson Island, Boston Harbor, Boston, Mass. Fiddle teachers will be Catherine Fraser from Adelaide, Australia; Stan Chapman from Antigonish, N.S., and Hanneke Cassel from Boston, Mass., with Anne Hooper teaching beginners. Plus Abby Newton on cello, Duncan Smith on piano, and Robert McOwen on Guitar. All instruments, all ages, all levels welcome. Bed & board, classes, sessions, dancing, party fun. Check the website for up-to-the-minute updates.

Tuesday August 14, 2007, 2:30-9:30 pm: Visitors Day Concert, Dinner & Session at Boston Harbor Scottish Fiddle School. Featuring Catherine Fraser & Duncan Smith, Stan Chapman, Hanneke Cassel, Anne Hooper, Abby Newton, Robert McOwen. A very special and unique event. Parking near the South Boston pier is easy, the ferry is included. Reservations are required by August 10th. Download the Flier & Form here.

Sunday August 19, 2007: Catherine Fraser & Duncan Smith in concert. "Internationally renowned fiddle & piano duo, Catherine Fraser & Duncan Smith present a vibrant & dynamic program of music from Scotland & beyond, exploring their traditional roots alongside contemporary & original works. Scottish fiddling at its finest." Location: First Congregational Church, Wellflett, Mass. Info: 508-349-6677 and www.catherinefraser.com, and download the tour flier HERE.

Wednesday August 22, 2007: Catherine Fraser & Duncan Smith in concert. "Internationally renowned fiddle & piano duo, Catherine Fraser & Duncan Smith present a vibrant & dynamic program of music from Scotland & beyond, exploring their traditional roots alongside contemporary & original works. Scottish fiddling at its finest." Location: North Shore Unitarian Universalist Church, Danvers, Mass. Info: www.hurdsmith.com and www.catherinefraser.com, and download the tour flier HERE.

Weekend of August 24-26, 2007: New Hampshire Highlands (formerly Hillsboro Highlands) - a Scottish country dance weekend. New Location! St. Methodios Faith & Heritage Center, Camp Merrimac Rd, Contoocook, N.H. (formerly known as the Greek Camp or the Fiddle Village). Three dance courses offered - Intermediate, Experienced, and Advanced. Dance Teachers: Dale Birdsall, Stella Fogg, Charlie Ingles. Musicians for classes and Ball: Anne Hooper, Christine Anderson & Marianne Taylor. Info: phone Morven Troost at 207-967-3813; download flier HERE.

Week of August 24-September 1, 2007: Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddle Camp. The classic! Applications are available now; announcements of teachers and more details will come soon. Info: VOM Website.

Sunday August 26, 1 pm: Cape Cod Celtic Society Picnic. Members and friends are invited to the 2nd Annual. Bring your instruments! Picnic food, dessert and soft drinks provided, BYOB. Limited number of tickets available. Phone Clayton March at 774-280-0899 or Lew Taylor at 508-760-8199.

JULY 2007

Week of July 2-6: English Scottish Session at Pinewoods Camp, Plymouth, Mass. Info: Jean Farrington, or check the Boston Branch Calendar Page for updates.

Week of July 6-14, 2007: Scottish Pinewoods of course! World-class dance lessons at all levels, top music directed by Terry Traub, as well as off-the-charts parties and sessions, plus the indescribable "Pinewoods moments" and ambiance, so mark your calendar now. Dance teachers: David Queen from the U.K., Norah Link from Montreal, and Andrew Smith from Atlanta. Music staff: Terry Traub, Hanneke Cassel, Dave Wiesler, David Knight, Anne Hooper, Marianne Taylor, Barbara McOwen, Matt Petrie, Howard Lasnik. Info: download the pre-flier or go to the Scottish Pinewoods website.

Wednesday July 25th, 2007: Jam Sessions for All Instruments - All Levels - All are Welcome! This will be an ongoing series, 4th Wednesdays, 7:30-9:30 pm, presented by the Folk Arts Center of New England, and the Beebe Estate. Location: The Beebe Estate, 235 West Foster Streete, Melrose, Mass. This month's session led by Lance Ramshaw, of the Concord Slow Jam fame. Nominal charge for players, free for listeneers. Refreshments available. Call the FAC at 781-662-7475 for more info, or download the flier HERE.

July 25-29, 2007: Halifax International SCD School. Location: University of King's College, Halifax, N.S. CANADA. Dance Teachers: Mary Murray, Robert McOwen, Joe Wallin, Duncan & Maggie Keppie, Merrill Heubach. Musicians: Tullochgorum and The Macadians. Early registration is encouraged to avoid disappointment. There will be a class for Young People (aged 8-14). Info: Lydia Hedge at 902-827-2033, email lydiahedge doink accesswave.ca, or Glen Leduc, email leduc doink ns.sympatico.ca. Website: ISCDS; or download pdf flier HERE. This happens only once every three years, and I hear it's almost full!

Week of July 29-August 5, 2007: Jink & Diddle School of Scottish Fiddling. Director and Senior Instructor is John Turner, with Colyn Fischer, David Gardner, Melinda Crawford, Andrew Dodds. This will be the 24th year! Beautiful location at Valle Crucis, in the mountains of North Carolina. They will take residents and day students. Go to the Jink & Diddle Website for all the info and the application.

JUNE 2007

Saturday June 9, 3:30 - 6:30 pm: Arlington Traditional Music Sessions. All acoustic instruments, musical traditions and levels welcome. About every other week at the Fox Library, corner of Mass. Ave. & Cleveland St, East Arlington, Mass. Next meetings will be in September. For information, email Laura at lbleib doink gis.net.

Saturday June 9, 5:30 pm: Scottish Country Dance End-of-Season Party, presented by the Northampton Dancers. Potluck Supper 5:30, Dance 7:30, with Tom Pixton & Friends. Also a benefit for First Churches (repair of sanctuary repairs). Location: Lyman Hall, First Churches, Center Street, Northampton, Mass. Download the beautiful flier HERE.

Sunday June 10, 2007: Highland Dance Concert. A full concert produced by Highland Dance Boston. Location: Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center, 41 Second St, Cambridge, Mass. Cambridge, Mass. Download information HERE and watch for further details. Tickets available at the CMAC website, and info about the performing group is at the HDB website.

Saturday June 16, 2007, 6 pm: Downeast Fling. Come help Morven and Daan Troost celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversay. Music by David Knight, Dave Wiesler and Dan Emery. Potluck Supper 6 pm, Unitarian Church Parish Hall. Dance 7:30 pm, Kennebunk Town Hall, Kennebunk, Maine. All kinds of reasons to celebrate at a perennial favorite event! Download the flier HERE.

Sunday June 17, 2007, 3:30-7 pm: The Gaelic Club, at the Canadian-American Club, 202 Arlington St, Watertown. Come play, dance, listen, visit, have a beer/tea/refreshments; group jam at the beginning and end. Very informal and real. Usually 3rd Sunday of the month, Sept-June. Info: email Peggy Morrison at margaret.morrison doink comcast.net. Next date is Sunday September 17.

Weekend of June 21-24: Cape Cod Celtic Festival. Like last year only more so! Concerts, workshops, sessions by the Best in Irish and Cape Breton musicians, set in a great vacation location in Massachusetts. Info and downloadable concert ticket order form now available at www.capecodcelticsociety.org. Order concert tickets now, they will sell out. Also plan for classes Friday, Saturday, Sunday, with the BEST fiddlers, dancers, pianists, guitarists.

Monday June 25, 8 pm: Cambridge Class End-of-Season Party. At Springstep, Medford, Mass. Music by Sprig of Ivy, five-piece fiddle & pipe band led by Terry Traub. Robert McOwen - Program & MC. Featuring the popular Sundaes on Monday. Info: Laura Billmers 781-862-1950; download the very colorful flier AFSFC Website.

MAY 2007

10 days May 2-11, 2007: Scottish Dancing through the Greek Isles on a 3-mast Schooner! Dancing on the deck of the M/S Hellenic Beauty to the music of Barbara & Robert McOwen while sailing the Aegean waters from Athens to 7 islands in the Cyclades - Kythnos, Paros, Santorini, Naxos, Mykonos, Delos, Syros. Organized and hosted by Ken McFarland. Info: Trips by Ken McFarland. For a blog of sorts, on books, history, movies on Greece, click the Greece button over there on the left. This trip might be full; check out the Second Sailing below, May 17-25.

Saturday May 5, 2007: Boston Highland Ball. Music by Three Gentlemen and a Lady: Anne Hooper, Terry Traub, Howard and Scott Weaver. Plus Lezlie Webster on pipes. Location: Nevins Hall, Framingham, Mass. Also look for a Welcome Dance on Friday night and a Brunch on Sunday morning. Info: phone Joan Hill at 617-868-4578 or email her at hillwalden doink aol.com.

Saturday May 5, 3:30 - 6:30 pm: Arlington Traditional Music Sessions. All acoustic instruments, musical traditions and levels welcome. About every other week at the Fox Library, corner of Mass. Ave. & Cleveland St, East Arlington, Mass. Next dates: May 19, June 9. For information, email Laura at lbleib doink gis.net.

5 days May 11-16, 2007: Non-Dancing Land Tour: The Classical Sites of Ancient Greece. An optional add-on to the above trip. Corinth, Mycenae, Nafplio, Olympia, Delphi, Meteora, Kalembaka, Thermopylae, Athens. Organized and hosted by Ken McFarland. Info: Trips by Ken McFarland. Robert and Barbara will be going along on this part also. Start brushing up your Greek alphabet! Read Herodotus, the Iliad, look at maps, go to the Museum of Fine Arts and get a load of the pottery, rent Iphigenia (with Irene Papas as Clytemnestra) and Zorba the Greek, get re-acquainted with your favorite gods, read a Mary Renault book or two...

Saturday Evening May 12, 2007: Middlebury Dance Party. Peter MacFarlane, fiddle. Location: Cornwall Town Hall (I'm guessing Vermont). Download a general informational flier and look around for more info.

10 days May 17-25, 2007: Scottish Dancing through the Greek Isles on a 3-mast Schooner! Dancing on the deck of the M/S Hellenic Beauty to the music of Barbara McOwen & Marianne Taylor. This is a duplicate of the above schooner itinerary, added on by popular demand! See above (May 2-11) for details; more info at Ken's website. Latest news - 3 places left. Think about it for a minute, then sign up immediately! Also, check Ken's website for English dance and contra dance sailings in September!

Saturday May 19, 3:30 - 6:30 pm: Arlington Traditional Music Sessions. All acoustic instruments, musical traditions and levels welcome. About every other week at the Fox Library, corner of Mass. Ave. & Cleveland St, East Arlington, Mass. Final spring date: June 9. For information, email Laura at lbleib doink gis.net.

Saturday May 19th, 2007, 5:30 pm: Scottish Country Dance Party. The Reel & Strathspey Society of Fairlee, Vermont is pleased to announce itsÊ6th annual Spring Fling. The dance will be held at the Fairlee Town Hall, which features a wonderful wood sprung floor. Music will be provided by Viveka Fox (fiddle), Peter MacFarlane (fiddle)Êand Susie Petrov (piano/accordion). The dance begins at 7:00 and, for those interested, there will be a potluck dinner at 5:30 beforehand.ÊWeÊwill also host a walk through of the harder dances at 3:00 at the town hall without additional charge. Info: Gary Apfel, 603-353-4647, garyapfel doink mybluelight.com. Download the FLIER and the DANCE DIRECTIONS.

Sunday May 20, 2007, 3:30-7 pm: The Gaelic Club, at the Canadian-American Club, 202 Arlington St, Watertown. Come play, dance, listen, visit, have a beer/tea/refreshments; group jam at the beginning and end. Very informal and real. Usually 3rd Sunday of the month, Sept-June. Info: email Peggy Morrison at margaret.morrison doink comcast.net. Next date is Sunday June 17.

APRIL 2007

Sunday April 1st, 2-6, 2007: Boston Scottish Fiddle Club. Monthly 1st-Sundays session will feature a workshop by Barbara McOwen. Meetings include workshops, jamming, refreshments, at the Pleasant Street Congregational Church, 75 Pleasant St, Arlington, Mass. Info: contact Anne Kaufman at am.kaufman doink verizon.net or go to the website at BSFC.

Sunday April 1st: The Saint Andrew's Society of Massachusetts is announcing the Dr. Robert D. MacCurdy Memorial Scholarships. "We have the ability to award three or four scholarshps to any student of the Scottish Arts ... " The due date is April 1, 2007. For eligibility and application form, contact the Society via Evelyn Murray, or go to the website at www.st-andrews-of-mass.org.

Wednesday April 4, 7 pm: Concert & Ceilidh featuring the Stornoway Kids. Looks to be an intriguing event, even the flier is fun - download it HERE. The kids are from the Nicholson Institute, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides (isles west of Skye which is west of the Scottish mainland - way out there). Fiddling, Gaelic Singing, Piping, Dancing, Refreshments. Presented by the New York Caledonian Club and the New York Scottish Pipes & Drums. Location: McAlpine Hall, West Park Presbyterian Church, 86th St. & Amsterdan, New York City.

Thursday April 5, 8 pm: Fiddle & Guitar Concert with Maeve Donnelly, Irish fiddler with Tony McManus, guitar. A Duo Not To Be Missed! Location: Blackstone River Theatre. Blackstone River Theatre, Cumberland, R.I. Other New England locations and dates March 30 - April 6 - Info 401-725-9272; download the flier HERE.

Saturday April 7, 2005: Salem Dance Party. Once again in historic Hamilton Hall, Salem, Mass. Info: MaryEllen Scannell at 781-593-5949. Stay tuned for more info on this popular event.

Due Tuesday April 10th: The Scottish Scholarship Fund of New Hampshire is announcing the Evelyn M.E. Murray Scholarship. It is to be postmarked no later than April 10, 2007. For info, contact Jo-Ann St. Pierre, 4 Bridge Street, Berwick, ME 03901-2212. You can download the form HERE. This is often used for music and dance students to take lessons and attend workshops and institutes.

Friday April 13th at 8 pm: Slow Scottish Jam Sessions led by Lance Ramshaw, in Concord Mass. Very friendly and fun. Usually Fridays, about once a month. "Marvellous tunes at moderate tempos." Info: email Lance (NEW EMAIL) at lance.ramshaw doink gmail.com or go to the web Slow Jam, for updates and very useful tune resources.

Weekend of April 13-15, 2007: Lethbridge 25th Anniversary Music & Dance Workshops and Ball. Friday night ceilidh, Saturday workshops, dinner & ball, Sunday combined class. Music class taught by Barbara McOwen, dance classes taught by Robert McOwen, Rebecca Blackhall-Peters, Mairi Hand. Music for classes & ball by Scotch Measure. Location: Lethbridge Lodge Hotel, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. An excellent time to go to beautiful Alberta! Info: email Fiona Miller, fsmiller doink telus.net, or download the flier.

Saturday April 14, 3:30 - 6:30 pm: Arlington Traditional Music Sessions. All acoustic instruments, musical traditions and levels welcome. About every other week at the Fox Library, corner of Mass. Ave. & Cleveland St, East Arlington, Mass. Next dates: May 5, May 19, June 9. For information, email Laura at lbleib doink gis.net.

Sunday April 15, 2007, 3:00 pm: Recital with Anne Hooper Webb (violin), Joel Cohen (cello) and George Kern (piano) performing works of Faure, Martinu and Ravel. No Scottish tunes this time, but perhaps Anne will throw in an up-driven bow here and and a hammer-on there. Location: Follen Church, 755 Mass. Ave., Lexington, Mass. Reception following the concert. From Barbara: I heard the music today - Thursday - and it is strong, lovely, remarkable. Wow! Please everyone go. Here's a nice FLIER, and you can also take a look at Anne's Website.

Sunday April 15, 2007, 3:30-7 pm: The Gaelic Club, at the Canadian-American Club, 202 Arlington St, Watertown. Come play, dance, listen, visit, have a beer/tea/refreshments; group jam at the beginning and end. Very informal and real. Usually 3rd Sunday of the month, Sept-June. Info: email Peggy Morrison at margaret.morrison doink comcast.net. Next date is Sunday May 20.

Week of April 15-22, 2007: Southern Hemisphere International School of Scottish Fiddle. Fiddle teachers for 2007 are Laura Risk, Iain Fraser, and Catherine Fraser. Accompaniment (piano, guitar, cello, etc) teacher is Duncan Smith. Location is a beautiful location in the woods in the south part of the North Island, New Zealand. Directors Catherine Fraser and Duncan Smith. For all info and application materials, go to the SHISF website.

Weekend of April 20-22nd, 2007: NEFFAAAAA! This is the New England Folk Festival Association's festival, and it "is a fabulous blend of dance, music, crafts, and food from many lands." It's been at Natick High School since 1974, but it's MOVING to Mansfield High and Middle Schools, Mansfield, Mass. It will be the 63rd Festival. Among the wonderful variety of music, dance, and crafts, check out the Scottish events on FRIDAY (Marianne Taylor teaching dance; Terry Traub in concert; the Boston Scottish Fiddle Club in concert), SATURDAY (the Strathspey & Reel Society of N.H. in concert; Howard Glasser - Scottish song collector; Neal MacMillan - smallpipes; Tiffany Rozenas - Scottish fiddle; Scottish country dancing with Evelyn Murray and The White Cockade; and Highland Dance Boston in concert) and SUNDAY (McMorland & McIntyre - Scottish ballad singers; the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society in concert). Keep current at the NEFFA website.

Sunday April 22, 2007, 1:30 - 6 pm: Annual Workshop presented by the Glengarry Strathspey & Reel Society. Teaching fiddle will be Ian MacLeod of Glengarry County, Ontario. Location: Alexandria Curling Club, Alexandria, Ont. CANADA. Program includes opening presentations, massed fiddlers, individual guest fiddlers & groups, and the workshop. Light lunch available. For info: Donaldson MacLeod, 613-225-3664, macleodd doink cyberus.ca. Download flier HERE. This is a great group and a great event; highly recommended. They also sponsor the Massed Fiddles at the Alexandria Games, usually the first weekend of August.

Sunday April 22, 2007, 2 pm: The Seisiuns. A one-off concert with a great local cast - Hanneke Cassel, Natalie Haas, Keith Murphy, The Boston Kiltics, Shannon Heaton, Martin Langer. Location: Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St, Arlington, Mass. Info: Regent Theatre or download the Flier. The Boston Kiltics are a new local group, with Doug Lamey, Cliff McGann, Christine Morrison, Pam Campbell; their website is here!

FLASH! Week of April 22-27, 2007: Learn Scottish Fiddle in Spain! Gregor Borland's brand-new "Spanish Fiddle Camp" will take place "in the lovely town of Biar, situated in the mountains north of Alicante. We will have fun in the sun - learning marches, jigs and reels." Get this: it's limited to 8 (eight) people - be one of the Lucky Few! Gregor is one of Scotland's top fiddlers and fiddle teachers, and is currently living in Spain. For info, download the flier, and/or contact Gregor at gregorborland doink yahoo.co.uk.

Saturday April 28, 2007, 10 am - 3 pm: Scottish Music Workshop presented by the Cameron Scottish Music Ensemble. A fun and informative monthly gathering, this month features Calum Pasqua, Scots fiddler & piper. Location: Forest Hills, Long Island, N.Y., easily accessible by subway. Info: Isabelle Smith, 718-793-6238, i.a.smith doink att.net. Download the flier (includes driving & public transportation directions) HERE.

MARCH 2007

Thursday March 1st, 2007: The Glengarry Collection goes to the Publisher! This is the current due date for Barbara, Peggy and Laura to turn in all materials for Angus Grant's long-awaited book. After this date, Barbara might be spotted at these events a bit more often! For info on Angus, check out Aonghas's Website. Release is scheduled for spring 2008. Hold your breath! Update March 14th: Well, it didn't happen, but it will! I'll keep you posted.

Friday March 2nd, 2007, 7:30 pm: Cynthia MacLeod and Gordon Belcher in Concert. Acclaimed Prince Edward Island fiddle and guitar duo is going on tour in the Northeast U.S. March 2-13. This concert takes place at the Unity Centre for the Performing Arts, at 42 Depot Street, Unity, Maine. For ticket information, email show@unitymaine.org or phone 207-948-7469. Info on the rest of the tour dates available soon.

Friday March 9, 2007: Greek Island Music Concert with Beth Bahia Cohen, fiddle, and Paddy League, bouzouki and vocals. Those Scottish dancers going to the Greek Isles in May with Ken McFarland may be particularly interested, but it'll be open to anyone. House concert in Arlington, Mass. With Greek refreshments and dancing. Their concert at Springstep was superb, absolutely beautiful music, and these are top musicians, again we're so lucky in the Boston area. ... Any interest in a Greek fiddle workshop with Beth?

March 9th, 2007: Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas in Concert. Stone Mountain Arts Center, Brownfield, Maine. Info: 207-347-6277 or Alasdair's Website.

Saturday March 10, 3:30 - 6:30 pm: Arlington Traditional Music Sessions. All acoustic instruments, musical traditions and levels welcome. About every other week at the Fox Library, corner of Mass. Ave. & Cleveland St, East Arlington, Mass. Next dates: March 31, April 14, May 5, May 19, June 9. For information, email Laura at lbleib doink gis.net.

Weekend of March 16-18, 2007: Cardigan! Weekend getaway at AMC lodge in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Scottish country dancing, cross country skiing, jamming. Very inexpensive, flawlessly organized, comfortable warm rooms, great food by Mary Ellen Scannell, wood fires, puzzle corner, group hikes, moving-table music, comraderie with all the best people, lots more. It's more fun than you can shake a ski-pole or fiddle bow at! Info: email Lance, lance.ramshaw doink bbn.com.

Weekend of March 16-18, 2007: 4th Annual Niel Gow Festival. Dunkeld & Birnam, Perthshire, Scotland. Concerts, workshops, sessions, ceilidh dancing. Watch the Niel Gow website for more info. It is envisaged that through time the festival and other activities will gather enough funds to erect a fitting memorial to Niel Gow in Dunkeld & Birnam.

Saturday March 17, 7:30 pm: J.J. Chaisson and Kevin Chaisson and Friends. Fiddle, guitar, piano and more, from PEI. Location: The Captain Charles Leonard House, 663 Main Street, Agawam, Mass., near Springfield! Info - Meg & Dan Sullivan; and tickets can be reserved by calling 413-789-9267 or email msullgreen doink aol.com.

Sunday March 18, 2007, 3-7 pm: The Gaelic Club, at the Canadian-American Club, 202 Arlington St, Watertown. Look for info on a Special Event for this month's session! - download the Flier. (PS It's always special, the best fiddlers come along EVERY month!) Come play, dance, listen, visit, have a beer/tea/refreshments; group jam at the beginning and end. Very informal and real. Usually 3rd Sunday of the month, Sept-June. Info: email Peggy Morrison at margaret.morrison doink comcast.net. Next date is Sunday April 15.

Saturday March 24th, 2007, 8 pm: Ed Rawson Celebration Dance. This will be the 20th annual celebration of Ed's many and varied contributions to Scottish country dancing. At the First Parish Church, Unitarian in Weston, Mass. Music by Highland Whisky with Guest Fiddler Terry Traub. Proceeds go to The Ed Rawson Fund of the Scottish Dance and Cultural Education Association. Info: download the flier, or go to the Boston Branch Calendar Page.

Wednesday March 28th, 2007, 7 pm: Shetland Fiddle Workshop with Chris Stout, a "hot hot hot" young fiddler from Shetland. Location: Lexington, Mass. Space extremely limited, may be sold out. For info, contact Barbara McOwen at bmcowen doink comcast.net.

Saturday March 31, 3:30 - 6:30 pm: Arlington Traditional Music Sessions. All acoustic instruments, musical traditions and levels welcome. About every other week at the Fox Library, corner of Mass. Ave. & Cleveland St, East Arlington, Mass. Next dates: April 14, May 5, May 19, June 9. For information, email Laura at lbleib doink gis.net.

FEBRUARY 2007

Saturday February 3, 8 pm: O'Hanlon's Pub Presents Irish Flute Concert. Traditional Irish flute player Peter Maguire will perform with Eamonn Dillon, a great piper from Belfast, and Billy Kelly on guitar, banjo and vocals. O'Hanlon's is in Ayer, Mass. For info & tickets, contact Peter at chucki80 doink hotmail.com, or call 617-365-0663. According to Peter, the restaurant/pub also has great food.

Saturday February 3, 8 pm: The Ivy Chord Coffeehouse Presents Lissa Schneckenburger and Friends in Concert. Old South United Methodist Church, 6 Salem Street, Reading, Mass. at the Corner of Rte. 28 and Rte. 129. For advance ticket sales, call 781-229-9394 (9 am to 9 pm); for info contact Beth Murray at bethpiano doink rcn.com; you can download the flier HERE. Lissa is one of the New England fiddle stars we are so lucky to have close by.

Sunday February 4, 2-6, 2007: Boston Scottish Fiddle Club. Monthly 1st-Sundays session will feature a workshop by Barbara McOwen. Meetings include workshops, jamming, refreshments, at the Pleasant Street Congregational Church, 75 Pleasant St, Arlington, Mass. Info: contact Anne Kaufman at am.kaufman doink verizon.net or go to the website at BSFC.

Saturday Afternoon February 4, 2007, 3 - 5:30: English-Scottish Party. Program of English and Scottish dancing, with MCs Graham Christian and Marianne Taylor, and music by Anne Hooper & Karen Axelrod. Location: Church of Our Saviour, Brookline, Mass. Info: Marianne Taylor at taylorgorman doink juno.com. Just an idea: plan to stay over for the Brookline class, with a potluck supper between the two events.

Friday February 9th, 2007, 8 pm: Slow Scottish Jam Sessions led by Lance Ramshaw, in Concord Mass. Very friendly and fun. Usually Fridays, about once a month. "Marvellous tunes at moderate tempos." Info: email Lance, lance.ramshaw doink bbn.com; web Slow Jam, for updates and very useful tune resources.

Saturday February 10, 3:30 - 6:30 pm: Arlington Traditional Music Sessions. All acoustic instruments, musical traditions and levels welcome. About every other week at the Fox Library, corner of Mass. Ave. & Cleveland St, East Arlington, Mass. Next dates: February 24, March 10, March 31, April 14, May 5, May 19, June 9. For information, email Laura at lbleib doink gis.net.

Saturday February 17, 7:30 pm: Celtic Fiddle Concert, with Zoe Darrow. Location: The Captain Charles Leonard House, 663 Main Street, Agawam, Mass., near Springfield! Info - Meg & Dan Sullivan; and tickets can be reserved by calling 413-789-9267 or email msullgreen doink aol.com.

Sunday February 18, 2007, 3-7 pm: The Gaelic Club, at the Canadian-American Club, 202 Arlington St, Watertown. Come play, dance, listen, visit, have a beer/tea/refreshments; group jam at the beginning and end. Very informal and real. Usually 3rd Sunday of the month, Sept-June. Info: email Peggy Morrison at margaret.morrison doink comcast.net. Next date is Sunday March 18.

February 21st, 2007: Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas in Concert. Location: Blackstone River Theatre, Cumberland R.I. Info: 401-725-9272 or Alasdair's Website.

Wednesday-Friday February 21-23, 2007: Fiddle Camp and Workshops with Jerry Holland. Take a weekend to play and learn tunes from renowned Cape Breton fiddler Jerry Holland. Location: Brookfield, Vt. All meals included. For info, call Beth Telford at 802-728-6351. Highly recommended!

February 22nd, 2007: Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas in Concert. Location: First Baptist Church, Brattleboro Vt. Info: 802-257-1571 or Alasdair's Website.

February 23, 2007: Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas in Concert. Location: Me and Thee Coffeehouse at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 28 Mugford Street, Marblehead, Mass. The coffeehouse has been presenting great folk music for 30 years. Phone 781-631-8987, web www.meandthee.org or www.alasdairfraser.com.

Saturday February 24, 2007, 3:30 - 6:30 pm: Arlington Traditional Music Sessions. All acoustic instruments, musical traditions and levels welcome. About every other week at the Fox Library, corner of Mass. Ave. & Cleveland St, East Arlington, Mass. Next dates: March 10, March 31, April 14, May 5, May 19, June 9. For information, email Laura at lbleib doink gis.net.

Monday-Wednesday, February 26-28, 2007: Workshops with renowned Cape Breton Fiddle Jerry Holland. Don't miss this if you can! For intermediate & advanced fiddlers. Location - Montpelier, Vt. For information, or to register, please call Beth Telford at 802-728-6351.

JANUARY 2007

Monday January 1st, 2007, 2:30 pm: New Year's Day Dance & Potluck Dinner. Location: Church of the Good Shepherd, 214 Main St, Nashua, N.H. Music by Howard Lasnik, percussion, Beth Murray, piano, Terry Traub, accordion & fiddle, Matt Petrie, pipes. Info: Nashua SCD Website, or download the flier or email Loren Wright at nashuascd doink comcast.net.

Monday January 1st, 2007, 5:30 pm: Northampton New Year's Day Potluck and Dance. Music by Tom Pixton & Ken Allen. First Churches Northampton, Lyman Hall, Northampton, Mass. Potluck at 5:30, dancing at 7:30. Download the flier, or contact Karen at 413-527-3407. A first-class event!

Saturday January 6, 2007, 12 noon - 4:30 pm: Fiddle Workshops with Laura Cortese. Start the New Year off right! Learn to chop, learn THE tunes! With Laura, though she says she lives around here, it's a rare opportunity. "THE CHOP (12-2) Let's get down and dirty with the chop, chords and rhythm. Accompaniment on the fiddle for all levels. HIP TUNES R US (2:30-4:30) Ever wanted to know those hip tunes that come up at sessions. Learn as many as we can in one 2 hour block and I'll record the rest of 'em for future practice. All levels welcome. RSVP soon. Space is extremely limited" - lauracortese doink earthlink.net.

Sunday January 7, 2007, 6:30-10 pm: Twelfth Night Dance Party. Annual dance party hosted by the Brookline Class. Music by the White Cockade. MCs Evelyn Murray & Gillian Charters. Location - Parish Hall, Church of Our Saviour, 25 Monmouth St, Brookline, Mass. A light supper will be served during the intermission - contributions to the refreshments are welcome. Info including driving directions: download the flier.

Weekend of January 12-13, 2007: BCMFest. The Boston Celtic Music Fest. A wonderful showcase for our own brilliant LOCAL musicians. In various historic locations in Harvard Square, Cambridge, Mass. For the schedule and all info, check the bcmfest website.

Here's a note from Sean Smith, to give just a taste of ONE of the performing groups: "My new band Tooremoor will make its grand debut this coming Saturday, January 12, at the fourth annual Boston Celtic Music Fest, which takes place in Harvard Square. We'll be performing at approximately 1:45 pm at the Club Passim Stage, 47 Palmer St. Our repertoire is tunes and songs mainly from the Scottish tradition - with certain notable exceptions - played in an intimate yet stirring fashion. The talented and ever-amiable Kristin Sherwood is our fiddler, spinning reels, strathspeys, hornpipes and the odd Scandinavian melody; Eugene Rothman bangs out that worldbeat rhythm on various percussive devices, some of which are more commonly found in Israeli and Middle Eastern locales; and I'll be providing the guitar, bouzouki and occasional vocals. If you've never been to BCMFest, come early and stay late: You'll get a real flavor of the flourishing Celtic music and dance scene we're lucky to have in Greater Boston."

Weekend of January 12-14, 2007 Chicago Branch New Year's Banquet and Ball. Plus Concert on Friday Night 8 pm by Jacqueline Schwab and Susan Conant, at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva, 102 S. 2nd St, Geneva, Ill. Banquet and Ball Saturday, Reception 5:30, Banquet 6:30, Ball 7:30, with Music by Barbara McOwen, Anne Hooper, Jacqueline Schwab, at the Ukrainian Cultural Center, 2247 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, Ill. Sunday Brunch 10 am, Scottish Tea Dance 11-1, English Country Dance Party, 1:30-4, at the Bethany United Church of Christ Hall, 4250 N. Paulina, Chicago, Ill. Info: Chicago Branch, or download the flier.

Saturday January 13, 3:30 - 6:30 pm: Arlington Traditional Music Sessions. All acoustic instruments, musical traditions and levels welcome. About every other week at the Fox Library, corner of Mass. Ave. & Cleveland St, East Arlington, Mass. Next dates: January 27, February 10, February 24, March 10, March 31, April 14, May 5, May 19, June 9. For information, email Laura at lbleib doink gis.net.

Friday January 19th at 8 pm: Slow Scottish Jam Sessions led by Lance Ramshaw, in Concord Mass. Very friendly and fun. Usually Fridays, about once a month. "Marvellous tunes at moderate tempos." Info: email Lance, lance.ramshaw doink bbn.com; web Slow Jam, for updates and very useful tune resources.

Sunday January 21, 2007, 3-7 pm: The Gaelic Club, at the Canadian-American Club, 202 Arlington St, Watertown. Come play, dance, listen, visit, have a beer/tea/refreshments; group jam at the beginning and end. Very informal and real. Usually 3rd Sunday of the month, Sept-June. Info: email Peggy Morrison at margaret.morrison doink comcast.net. Next date is Sunday February 18.

Sunday January 21, 2007, 2 pm: Dramatic Reading of Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War. Well, not much to do with Scottish fiddling and dancing, EXCEPT those Scottish dancers in the Boston area who are going on Ken's Aegean cruise in May might be interested. It's at the Museum of Fine Arts, Huntington Ave, Boston, Mass. "Commentary by Donald Kagan, Professor of Classics at Yale University, directed by David Muse, Associate Director of the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington D.C., and performed by the Yale School of Drama. "The Spartans debate whether to go to war; Pericles urges the Athenians not to yield to Spartan threats. Actors bring to life the issues captured in Thucydides' classic account of the epic struggle of ancient Greece that still resonate for us today." Reception follows. To order tickets, go to the MFA Website or phone 617-369-3306.

Sunday January 21, 2007: Alasdair & Natalie Haas in Concert. New York, N.Y. Artists Conference Showcase Info: 888.820.ARTS, or Alasdair's Website.

Weekend of January 26-28, 2007: Scottish Weekend at Mohonk. A New York state mountain castle built in the 1870s in the Hudson Valley, Mohonk is an otherworldly retreat with many intriguing theme weekends. For this particular weekend, enjoy lively Scottish dancing, a single malt scotch talk and tasting, bagpipe and drum classes, a Celtic art workshop, a talk on Scottish history, and a workshop on kilts, clans, and tartans. With the Loch Leven Dancers directed by Naomi Lasher, Sandy Brunson for singalongs, and the band Highland Whisky with Barbara & Robert McOwen playing for dancing and performances. For info, go to the Mohonk website.

Saturday January 27, 3:30 - 6:30 pm: Arlington Traditional Music Sessions. All acoustic instruments, musical traditions and levels welcome. About every other week at the Fox Library, corner of Mass. Ave. & Cleveland St, East Arlington, Mass. Next dates: February 10, February 24, March 10, March 31, April 14, May 5, May 19, June 9. For information, email Laura at lbleib doink gis.net.

Saturday January 27, 2007: A Night of Scottish Music and Dancing. Commemorating the 248th Anniversary of the Birth of Scotland's Immortal Poet, Robert Burns. Presented by the Worcester Kiltie Pipe Band, at historic Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St, Worcester, Mass. Featuring WOW The Battlefield Band! And of course the pipes and drums of the Worcester Kiltie Pipe Band. "Order soon, a complete sellout is likely." You can opt for dinner and concert, or concert only. Info: WKPB Website.

DECEMBER 2006

Saturday December 2, 3:30 - 6:30 pm: Arlington Traditional Music Sessions. All acoustic instruments, musical traditions and levels welcome. About every other week at the Fox Library, corner of Mass. Ave. & Cleveland St, East Arlington, Mass. Next dates: save December 16, and look for the winter-spring flier. For information, email Laura at lbleib doink gis.net, or download the flier.

Saturday December 2, 5:30 pm: Pinewoods Benefit Ball, at a new (to Scottish dancers) but wonderful location: The Scout House, 74 Walden St, Concord, Mass. 5:30 reception, 6:00 potluck supper, 7:30 dancing. Music by Anne Hooper, Ed Pearlman, Beth Murray. Info: Gail Wine & Lance Ramshaw, 978-371-8030, lance.ramshaw doink bbn.com.

Saturday December 2, 8 pm: Springstep is featuring a Greek Night! "Featuring traditional songs and dances, this performance celebrates the diverse influences that have shaped Greek island culture." Musicians Panayiotis (Paddy) League and Beth Bahia Cohen and Dance Director Nikos Bekris with dancers from Mediterranean Greece, as well as Greek communities in the US. Both Paddy and Beth have performed in Boston-area Scottish concerts (in fact Paddy is a native Gaelic speaker as well as Greek speaker!). Go to the Springstep website for ticket info. (This isn't exactly a Scottish fiddle event, but the nutty Scottish dancers who are going on Ken McFarland's Greek trips in May might be interested.)

Friday December 8th at 8 pm: Slow Scottish Jam Sessions led by Lance Ramshaw, in Concord Mass. Very friendly and fun. Usually Fridays, about once a month. "Marvellous tunes at moderate tempos." Info: email Lance, lance.ramshaw doink bbn.com; web Slow Jam, for updates and very useful tune resources.

Weekend of December 8-10: Fiddle Hell! "It's a free, informal gathering of fiddlers to meet, jam, learn ... Location: The Stagecoach Inn, 128 Main Street, Route 119, in Groton, Mass. The weekend runs Friday 6 pm - Sunday 5 pm. Come join us for a single day or the whole weekend. Rooms available at the Inn for a group rate." Some featured session leaders: Dave Reiner, Mark Cordova, Paul Harty, Cathy Goode, more. Many fiddle styles, all ages, all levels. Lots more info: Fiddle Hell Website.

Saturday December 9, 7:30 pm: Celtic Harps in Concert. Sophie Dickenson and Friends. Location: The Captain Charles Leonard House, 663 Main Street, Agawam, Mass., near Springfield. Info - Meg & Dan Sullivan; and tickets can be reserved by calling 413-789-9267 or email msullgreen doink aol.com.

Thursday December 14, 8 pm: Ari and Mia Friedman CD Release Party. "Our daughters, Ari and Mia are having their debut CD release concert/party on THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14TH AT 8PM AT CLUB PASSIM in Harvard Square. It's going to be a lively and awesome event filled with original and traditional folk music. It's best to buy tickets online because seating is limited. You can purchase them at Club Passim (click on "calendar"). Their restaurant Veggie Planet is a great place to eat before the show." I second the motion!

Friday December 15th, 7:30 pm: Beggar Boys in Concert.. This is a Celtic/Early Music Ensemble, with Michael Albert on fiddle & whistle, Larry Young on fiddle & vocals, Henry Lebedinsky on guitar & bouzouki, with special guest Kate Minogue on guitar and flute. This is a Celtic Christmas performance featuring music from Ireland, Scotland and Wales, including carols old and new as well as foot-stomping dance tunes. Location: First Church, Main & Arbor Sts, Wenham, Mass. For info, phone Larry Young at 978-526-7401, or email larrypromusica doink hotmail.com.

Saturday December 16th, 7:00 pm: Beggar Boys in Concert. See above for details on this very interesting musical ensemble. Location: Abbot Hall in Marblehead. This is a benefit for a wonderful children's charity called Someone Else's Child. For more information on the Marblehead concert please call 781-639-8740.

Sunday December 17th, 3-7 pm: The Gaelic Club, at the Canadian-American Club, 202 Arlington St, Watertown. Come play, dance, listen, visit, have a beer/tea/refreshments; group jam at the beginning and end. Very informal and real. Usually 3rd Sunday of the month, Sept-June. Info: email Peggy Morrison at margaret.morrison doink comcast.net. Next date is Sunday January 21.

Monday December 18, 8 pm: Cambridge Class Holiday Dance Party. Music by Tom Pixton, Debbie Billmers, Ken Allen and Mike MacNintch. MC is Gregor Williamson. Location is Springstep, Medford Square, Mass. Info: Laura Billmers, 781-862-1950, or the Boston Branch Website. Or, download the flier, the Mini-Crib, and the Raffle.

Friday December 22nd, 8 pm: Aine Minogue at Club Passim. Aine is our local Celtic harp star. 47 Palmer St at Church St, Harvard Square, Cambridge, Mass. Info: Aine Minogue website and Club Passim website.

Week of December 24-31: Cindycast. It's a weekly podcast produced by Boston area music organizer/promoter/connoisseur Cindy Howes. This week will feature a brief preview of the events and personalities you'll enjoy at 2007 BCMFest. For more details, go to the Cindycast website and get plugged into BCMFest.

December 28, 2006 - January 5, 2007: New Zealand Branch Summer School. 50th Year! Largest RSCDS branch in the world! Great location: Knox College, Dunedin, South Island, NEW ZEALAND. Dance Teachers TBA, including a music class. Info: website at NZ Branch Summer School 06.

Friday December 29th, 8-11 pm: Early Hogmanay Party. All are invited to a Scottish country dance party hosted by the Weston Class. It will take place in The First Parish Church, Unitarian, 20 Lexington Road, Concord, Mass. The party will conclude with a champagne toast at around 11 pm. Our MC is Flo Hearn and music will be provided by Tom Pixton (accordion) and Debbie Billmers (piano). Come and bring friends and family visiting for the holidays, enjoy great music and lots of fun dances -- how long is it since you did an Eightsome Reel? Contributions to the refreshment table happily accepted. Info, call Heather at 617-244-6914.

Sunday, December 31, 4:15-5:00 pm: Worcester First Night. Howard Lasnik will be leading some audience participation dancing at Worcester First Night, Worcester, Mass. Anyone interested in joining in the fun (either the dancing or First Night itself), come join us! Location: DCU Center Convention Hall, North Hall. Info: First Night Worcester website.

Sunday, December 31, 7:30 - 10:30 pm NEW YEAR's EVE!!!!!!!!!!!! Concert with Laura Cortese, Jake Armerding Band, and Hanneke Cassel with Christopher Lewis, Ariel Friedman, and Jake Armerding. Park Street Church, 1 Park Street. FREE! For info visit Park Street Church Website.

NOVEMBER 2006

Thursday November 2nd, 8 pm: Dance Party in Salem!. Special musicians tonight: Susie Petrov and James Gray. Location: Universalist Church in Salem, Mass. Info: susiepetrov doink earthlink.net.

Friday November 3, 7:30 pm: "The BUC@BC"-Boston Urban Ceilidh at Boston College." Join Laura Cortese and other outstanding local Scottish, Irish and Cape Breton musicians for another installment of Boston's best Celtic dance party. Location: the Irish Room, Gasson Hall, Boston College, Boston, Mass. This event is part of the Boston Celtic Music Fest's community outreach. For more information, see the BUC website and BCMFest website.

Friday November 3rd, 8 pm: Bonnie Rideout in Concert. U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion Bonnie Rideout will be p