Steve's Blog
Final update of the week
Friday April 23, 2010

Hi everyone

1. Swing Dance Lessons, Saturday April 24, 7:15pm, St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)

Last weekend at April In Paris we were unable to offer the advertized Swing Dance lessons. We are delighted to announce that we will be able to offer them tomorrow evening, prior to the Van Django / Roma Swing concert. Doors open at 7:15pm and there will be dance lessons. Plus the Rogue Bistro will be offering sandwiches fromage et dinde (cheese and turkey) as well as our usual selection of wine and beer and cider etc.

2. Fiddle Workshop, Saturday April 24, 5:15pm

Calling all fiddle / cello players! (Actually we even had a whistle player at last week's fiddle workshop, so ....) Gypsy fiddle workshop with Roma Swing's Lache Cercel in the Small Community Room, downstairs at the back of the hall. Entry is via the back door off the lane. Cost $30 for one hour. Learn the rudiments of Roma Swing and Gypsy Jazz from a celebrated master teacher from Romania.

3. Guitar workshops, Saturday April 24, 5:30pm, and 6:45pm

We have two guitar workshops for you tomorrow. $30 each, payable to the workshop host.

5:30pm Don Ogilvie of Roma Swing will host Tricks, Tips and Shortcuts for Gypsy Jazz Guitar. Emphasizing different techniques for the left hand and the right hand and how to make the best use of these tips on some of Django's tunes. This will be at the rear of the Large Community Hall, at street level.

6:45pm Budge Schachte of Van Django will demonstrate and teach some techniques and tips for improvisation within the Gypsy Jazz format. This will be in the Small Community Room.

4. April In Paris finale concert, Saturday April 24, 8pm

Van Django will kick things off with their original string quartet format, featuring Cam Wilson - who became a father on April 15th - playing violin, Budge Schachte and Finn Manniche on guitars, and Brent Gubbels on bass. Then Lache Cercel will lead the Roma Swing Ensemble and several guest singers and gypsy dancers in the closing concert. This promises to be a spectacular finale, and definitely a unique and unforgettable experience. The show starts at 8pm and will finish around 11pm. We still have plenty of tickets available, so come on down and enjoy this truly magical showcase of BC's finest gypsy jazz.

5. The Edge On Folk, Saturday April 24, 8am to noon on CiTR fm 101.9 and www.citr.ca

Please join me for 4 hours of amazing Roots music from around the world, including new songs from Natalie Merchant's remarkable new double CD as well as previews of upcoming shows and some hot new releases.

6. Rogue Folk Review

The mailing party will be held on Tuesday April 27th, so you should receive a copy in the mail - if you have requested one - before the end of the week. It will also be available for download on our website on Monday.

7. Concert Calendar update

Here is our schedule for the next few weeks. Full details are on the Concert Calendar - where you may also purchase tickets.

Saturday April 24, 8pm - Van Django & Roma Swing Ensemble at St. James Hall

Sunday May 2, 8pm - stunning songwriter from the midwest, Krista Detor at St. James Hall

Friday May 7, 8pm - Shari Ulrich CD Launch, with a wonderful band of guest performers at St. James Hall

Friday May 14, 8pm - Joy Kills Sorrow, hot young bluegrass / old time / original quintet, at St. James Hall

Saturday May 15, 8pm - Madison Violet and The John Henrys, two excellent folk / country rock roots combos from Ontario, at St. James Hall (preceded by our Annual General Meeting at 6:30pm)

Sunday, May 16 8pm - Little Miss Higgins - SK's queen of the Prairie Blues, at St. James Hall

Sunday May 30, 8pm - rescheduled appearance by Quebec's wonderful Le Vent du Nord at St. James Hall

Friday June 4, 8pm - the world's first all-star Celtic Grateful Dead jam band, Wake the Dead at St. James Hall

Thursday June 10, 8pm - fabulous rootsy songwriter from Boston, Eilen Jewell at a new venue at the CBC downtown, Studio 700 (700 Hamilton St.) Yes, it will be licensed too.

Friday June 18, 8pm - CD launch for Vancouver gospel trio The Sojourners, plus the Black Hen band with Steve Dawson & co. at St. James Hall

Wednesday June 23, 8pm - finally, the rearranged CD launch for Vancouver's old time quartet Plough, which was postponed last September - at St. James Hall

8. Vancouver Folk Music Festival tickets (July 16-18)

Weekend passes are available to April 30th for $125 for adults. After May 1st they will cost more. We're not sure of the amount yet, but will print it in the Rogue Folk Review next week. This increased price will only be available to Friday June 11th. After that we won't be offering them any more, and the price will go up to $150 from the festival itself ($175 at the gate!!)

If you wish to purchase your tickets through The Rogue, you must be a fully paid up member and you must send us a cheque or call the office on 604-732-1305 on Tuesday April 27th or Wednesday April 28th or Thursday April 29th between 10am and 4pm to pay by credit card. The Rogue price up to April 30th will be $113 for adults. If we receive enough orders, we might be able to offer discounts on tickets for Students (19+), Elders (65+), and Youth (13-18). If you are eligible for these concession prices, please add a note to that effect with your cheque. Cheques must be mailed to Rogue Folk Club, #31 - 1465 Lamey's Mill Road, Vancouver B.C. V6H 3W1. Please make them payable to Rogue Folk Club (NOT the folk festival). We must receive your payment before April 30th.

N.B. we will not be mailing them out this year, due to severe problems with mail theft in the past few years. You will have to pick them up at one of the following concerts: The Sojourners on June 18th or Plough on June 23rd.