11th Portland Old-Time Music Gathering

[hrowrew]

Ladies and gents, its time to get he't up for the biggest picking party of
the year, The Portland Old-Time Music Gathering.

First the boilerplate:

The 11th Annual Portland Old-Time Music Gathering
January 13-17, 2010
Held at six locations around Portland, Oregon
http://www.bubbaguitar.com/festival/index.html

Then the poetry:

The gathering has gained a national, even international, reputation as the
best old-time music party around. There are pub parties with fabulous music,
superb concerts, several old-fashioned square dances you can bring the
family to, workshops, song jam sessions, a family dance, a kids' show - but
the heart of it all are the 17,342,503 jam sessions all over Norse Hall all
day long and all evening, too, on Saturday, Jan 16.

If you know who to ask, there are wonderful music and dance parties in
private homes during the week. I remember leaving one party about 2am, after
having square danced in the livingroom for three hours, and passing a jam
session in a car, windows all fogged up and fiddles and banjos a-ragin'! Its
a week to remember I garauntee you.

Most of the festival is free, the exceptions being the big concert Friday
and the evening square dances Saturday. The gathering opens with a
rollicking party on Wednesday, usually featuring music that is a little out
of the old-time bailiwick. For instance, Caleb Klauder's fine country band
will be playing dance music and singing fine country harmonies.

Thursday is a kick-you-know-what square dance with two bands and two
callers. Yours truly's band will be there. At the same time, at two other
locations, there will be an open hot jam session and another song-oriented
jam session. And a night owl's party afterward, somewhere... maybe in a car?

Friday is the big concert, featuring quite a varied roster of the finest
old-time music we can nab. There is a lounge attached to the room, with
music in there also. The MC is not only famous, glib, so smart, cute, an
all-round wonderful individual - he's also cheap.

Saturday is hard to describe. Beginning at noon its jam sessions in every
broom closet and landing in Norse Hall. Plenty of singing, workshops,
dancing, and just having a great time. Bring the kids, its free all day
long.

Saturday night is an incredible square dance. We have two dance halls, seven
callers and seven bands! You don't need to know how to do any kind of dance
at all, and the kids are invited too.

Sunday is an aftenoon cabaret hosted by Miz Kitty at The Mission Theater.
The sets are short, 10 minutes, scads of performers, and its often the most
interesting part of the festival. And FREE.

Sunday night Foghorn hosts the traditional goodbye party at The Moon &
Sixpence. No sound system, just good music, good food and brew, and a
relaxed wind down for our exhausted partiers.

Go to the website, get all the details:
http://www.bubbaguitar.com/festival/index.html

Bill