NEFFA Event Catalog
Preliminary Schedule — Subject to Change!
-- Saturday 3:00pm Ritual Dance (Outside Trade Center)
-- Sunday 2:00pm Ritual Dance (Outside Trade Center)
-- Sunday 12:00noon Ritual Dance (Outside Trade Center)
-- Saturday 1:00pm Ritual Dance (Outside Trade Center)
-- Saturday 11:00am Ritual Dance (Outside Trade Center)
-- Saturday 10:00am Ritual Dance (Outside Trade Center)
-- Saturday 12:00noon Ritual Dance (Outside Trade Center)
-- Saturday 2:00pm Ritual Dance (Outside Trade Center)
-- Sunday 1:00pm Ritual Dance (Outside Trade Center)
-- Sunday 11:00am Ritual Dance (Outside Trade Center)
A whirlwind tour of Appalachian, Blues, Bluegrass, Cajun, Celtic, Chanteys, and Early Country music performed on fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, button accordion, along with some wild stories.
Participants will learn the basics of Appalachian flatfooting and buck dancing.
Play tunes for Argentine tango. I will supply links to sheet music.
Balkan and International dancing with music by Sladka.
Come listen and dance to a brass band playing music from Macedonia, Serbia, and Bulgaria.
Favorite Balkan dances with live music by Rakiya.
To honor the year 2024, we will learn dances in the odd Balkan rhythms 11 and 22. Efficient teaching for maximal dancing to great live music.
Some easy dances done to music which just takes your breath away. Many of these songs and dances were brought to this country by people like Yves Moreau and Martha Forsyth.
Fresh tunes for well-loved dances. Joyful and energetic or soulful and haunting: while the dance music may be new to you, it always works for familiar Balkan dances.
Come sing along (or just enjoy listening) to "old city songs" and/or dance songs from Macedonia and surrounding areas, evoking the pleasure ("kefi") of singing with old friends around the table at a celebration, or in the village tavern or coffeehouse.
Sing and/or play Balkan music. Music is provided.
Learning some Balkan songs, Warm ups, Vocal technique and Stage presence.
Stories, sung and told, with an emphasis on recitation. Stories told in rhyme after the fashion of Robert Service.
Ballo Liscio from Italy: Polcas, Tangos, Waltzes, Mazurcas
Some great Beatles songs are perfect for contras. Dance and sing your heart out!
This year we will be singing songs from Abbey Road. We are really looking forward to this one!
A variety of lovely waltz music for your dancing and listening pleasure.
Three styles of belly dance from different instructors: folkloric, cabaret and global fusion. Instructors will demonstrate and teach common moves. With live drumming by the Drum Nomads ensemble.
Great contra choreography is alive and well! Come dance some of the best recent dance compositions from all over the country.
Bluegrass slow jam for all instruments and abilities. We'll play some familiar favorites with 2-3 chords in the open keys of G, D and A. All are welcome!
Fabien Goulay and Lisa Tamres will teach dances from Brittany (Bretagne, France) that are popular on the Balfolk dance floors, including hanter dro, laride, gavotte, avant deux, and more.
Ganivelle plays lively traditional French dance music from Brittany, Haute Savoie and the Auvergne, on fiddle, mandolin, crumhorn, cornamuse, recorders, bagpipes, hurdy gurdy, accordion, and concertina.
Zdravets plays and sings village-style music "mostly from Bulgaria," using traditional Bulgarian folk instruments and vocal styles.
Easy Bulgarian dances: music by Divi Zheni and Zornitsa, women's and men's Bulgarian singing groups with instrumental accompaniment.
Cajun Fiddle Workshop. (Int./Adv). Learn a Classic Cajun Tune and seconding.
Colleyospin (Bernadette Colley and Richard Yospin) will lead and coach singers in a capella technique. Bring your own songs, or work on others'. This workshop is a chance to improve your delivery, confidence, pitch, harmonies, ornamentation and style. Solos and small groups welcome.
From Turlough O'Carolan to Loreena McKennitt featuring Clairseach (Traditional Irish wire-strung Harp), Electric Harp, Irish Penny Whistles, Wooden Flutes, Hammered Dulcimer, Bowed Psaltery, vocal harmonies, and more.
An open sing of sea chanteys, forebitters, and other maritime-related songs, old and new. Bring one with a chorus, or just follow along.
A Master of melodic clawhammer style presents a varied program of Appalachian and North American Celtic fiddle tunes, with special emphasis on the tunes that Ken collected from traditional fiddlers on Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton.
Wind up the festival with a big song-sharing session, voices and instruments welcome, choruses preferred but not required. Allen has led the Closing Sing-Around for 25-plus years.
Bring your kids for a delightful session of songs of peace, love, joy, and justice. Cherished classics include spirituals, songs of Pete Seeger and Ella Jenkins and more.
Fun and accessible dances for all ages.
What's inside your box? Hints on some basic repairs and maintenance.
Members of the Connecticut Sea Music Festival will lead a chantey sing for all to enjoy. Raise your voices in maritime song!
Mostly original folk music.
I’ll be leading a number of ballads and chanties I’ve composed and recorded over the years: songs of survival, songs of disasters, songs about very weird things that may or may not have happened on the Seven Seas. There will be time set aside for others to lead similar songs.
We'll dance some of our favorite classic contras, along with some spirited commentary on those dances from NEFFA co-founder Ralph Page. Money Musk may make an appearance.
Group discussion about trends in contra choreography.
Learn the basic figures of contra dancing, as well as tips for how to dance safely and enjoyably! No experience necessary.
A fun contra dance geared to kids ages 6-12. All are welcome!
The traditional no-walk-through extravaganza of six run-on dances and six callers--for experienced dancers with a positive attitude!
The traditional no-walk-through extravaganza of six run-on dances and six callers--for experienced dancers with a positive attitude!
The traditional no-walk-through extravaganza of six run-on dances and six callers--for experienced dancers with a positive attitude!
Lively contras for dancers (new and old) who just can't get enough!
Dave and Chris will lead a slow jam session of favorite traditional tunes commonly played for New England style Contra Dancing. All instruments and levels welcome! No written music; all tunes will be played by ear.
A selection of easy contra, square and circle dances drawn from or inspired by the Quebecois heritage. Fun for all ages, tykes to "golden-agers."
Contra dance to the music of the creative and BIG band Rum & Onions! Some experience helpful.
Choreographed couple dances from different traditions, pretty, lively, fun.
Review, improvise, rehearse and perform an original Mummers' Play. For all ages. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Feel free to bring costumes or props!
Traditional music and dances from the country of Croatia.
Dance to gorgeous music from Armenia and Turkey!
We will feature some of the most popular Balkan dances of the late Yves Moreau.
Songs about dances and dancing – barn dances, ballroom dances, dances at country fairs, dances with improbable partners. All rollicking good fun.
Dances choreographed by the late great David Kaynor - influential caller and fiddler from Western Massachusetts and known well beyond its borders - paired with tunes composed by, with, or for David.
Blue Jersey Band plays jazz, swing, bluegrass, and folk on guitars and mandolin- tight harmonies, masterful flatpicking- something for everyone.
For players interested in exploring manouche jazz as exemplified by the music of Django Reinhardt. We will play melodies with possible improvisation on the form.
Fiddler Cathy Mason and multi-instrumentalist Sarah Jane Nelson will be twinning up on old time tunes. In addition to twin fiddling, we will include viola and another *novelty* instrument to be revealed during the session! A traditional ballad or two will also be in the mix.
A good warm up session of accessible contras to hot music.
Familiar favorites from the ECD repertoire, accompanied by the English Open Band, open to all ECD musicians! (Musicians may join a practice session at 1:30 Saturday in Southborough.)
ECD Medley --
NX Saturday 7:00pm Ballroom CDE (Hotel East)
English country dances called in succession with no teaching! Dancers are expected to know all of the usual calls and be able to respond quickly.
The cello played a huge role in Scottish dance bands from the mid-18th century into the 19th. This performance is a reclamation of the tradition, drawing from inspiring baroque cello performance.
Enjoy learning English country dance basics in context through fun, varied dances.
Familiar favorite English dances with great music and minimal teaching. Let's dance!
Casey Murray & Molly Tucker present a concert of original and traditional tunes in New England, Celtic, and Old Time styles, featuring fiddle, cello, guitar, and banjo.
Fun dances for everyone, from the child dancing with a parent as one person, to dancers whose grandchildren have left home.
Join Revels North's Artistic Director, Alex Cumming, for a fun hour of dances for the whole family. We'll explore dances from the Ceilidh, Barn Dance, and Contra repertoires.
Sparkling with energy, wit & whimsy, Jackson incorporates interactive song, movement and stories in a rollicking mix of comedy and music for all ages.
Fun and accessible dances for all ages. Everyone welcome!
Easy folk dances, appropriate for families with young children. Line, circle, and partner dances to music from around the world.
Easy sequences for everyone at any experience level. Enjoy the pairing of dance and music with your fellow participants!
Suitable for all ages and abilities, this will be a chance to learn a dance or few and enjoy the world of Morris dancing as a family.
All ages and abilities welcome for energetic and engaging traditional Scottish social dancing. Geared toward people who are newer to Scottish Country Dancing. Gender-free terminology.
Learn the melody and accompaniment for a few traditional French dance tunes, and jam with us. All instruments, intermediate and up.
Your chance to play some favorite Old Time fiddle tunes at advanced beginner pace. Friends from the Berlin MA OT jam will help get you going on Angeline the Baker, Over the Waterfall, Liberty, Seneca Square Dance and other old favorites..
Join us for our traditional big, open-band finale. We'll dance good, fun contras and the amazing Merry Go Round square to the joyful sound of the Festival Orchestra.
A stylish blend of English country dances: from elegant to energetic, playful to thoughtful, flowing to frolicking!
Discussion, chat, question and answers. Discuss fiddle technique, How to play without pain.
A talk/performance featuring selections from 'Fishermen's Ballads and Songs of the Sea', a compilation of 120 pieces published by the Procter Brothers of Gloucester, MA in 1874
This performance features folk songs from various regions of the Balkans, Roma, Middle East, and Mediterranean. We encourage audience members to join us in clapping, singing, dancing, and more!
Folk songs and hymns from the Republic of Georgia, reflecting their unique polyphony and distinctive musical tradition.
We will share classic songs with the audience. Participation is warmly encouraged.
Songs of desire, despair, and delight from the 16th and 20th centuries set the mood, with lutes, violin, viola da gamba, mandolin, mandocello, and voice performed by Renaissance Jukebox.
As in the years ago open jams at the Fox Library in Arlington, we’ll go around and each person can start a tune, fast or slow, OT, Celtic, Contra Dance, or request a tune or pass.
Come learn the most common balfolk dances seen out on the dance floor.
French Jam --
GB Saturday 9:00pm Sudbury (Hotel West)
A guided jam session of French Trad, Balfolk and Breton dance music. Lively, fun and easy! Tunebooks provided. All levels welcome, no prior experience with the genre required. Music session, not a dance.
The Watertonics (Watertown's leading [and only!] Front Porch Busking Troupe), will be playing an eclectic selection of music from Contradance to Folk to Klezmer to Italian Restaurant music.
Everyone is welcome to join our folk singing party. The song leaders will get us started but every attendee is welcome to suggest songs that we can sing together.
Fusion is a partner dance trend done to a wide variety of music that borrows elements from blues, contact improv, ecstatic, tango, etc., and spans several aesthetics. Lesson at beginning.
Nineteenth century aerobics! French and English country dances and squares featuring GALLOPING! Guaranteed to leave you breathless! Basic couple dance experience will be helpful.
Use your visual connection to partners and others to heighten the dancing joy. Challenging figures to exquisite music. Exceptional English Country Dance for advanced, attentive dancers.
Groovy contras with good flow, connection, and balance. Groovy good times!
We will be presenting songs from our new project (Ginger Sea 'Neath the Celtic Moon) revolving around the Atlantic Ocean, songwriting, boat building, and red hair...
Dances that flow choreographically (not necessarily without balances).
Greek Dance --
DB Friday 8:00pm Ballroom AB (Hotel East)
Greek music for dancing! A combination of the most popular Greek festival dances and regional folk dances, with walk-throughs for less-known dances.
an easy to understand guide to making up and singing harmony - a sprinkling of theory, and a chance to practice. 50 years of singing with vocal groups (the Short Sisters, the Solstice Sisters), and at large group and pub sings.
Let’s demystify the hammered dulcimer! We will demonstrate various tunes and encourage participants to share a piece of music or just learn the basics of how to start playing.
Join Alex Cumming as he celebrates the launch of his brand new album, Homecoming, which is fresh off it's launch tour in March with Audrey Jaber and Max Newman. Join Alex for this special solo performance of songs and tunes from the brand new album, along with stories and maybe a special guest or two.
Sing along to classic country and honky-tonk songs with the Planet Banjo Country Band. Songs by Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard… All words provided.
Singalong to some well-known folk songs that are fun and have easy to sing choruses! We will sing songs from different cultures that have informed the American folk song tradition.
English Country dance party.
NEFFA has been welcoming new performers for 80 years. Are you thinking about becoming a performer? Wonder about how to submit a successful application? How can we encourage new performers to apply? Come join this discussion on how the Program Committee works and how we can help you join our community of performers.
basic instructions on how to play, how to get better and demonstrating various styles
Jeanne Hansberry, Dave Miller Introduction to Irish Bodhran: a demonstration of handling technique. Explore Irish music rhythms. We'll consider session etiquette, play some tunes with the fiddler, explore ornamentation.Bring a bodhran or substitute.
How to work with an engineer to get the best sound with the least aggravation. What's possible; what isn't; what you can do to avoid feedback and more.
Humor Us! --
E Saturday 6:00pm Sudbury (Hotel West)
Humorous songs, played on the ukulele. Lots of sing-alongs.
Hypnotic, moderately paced Old-Time Jam. Improve your jamming skills and lock in with other musicians in a moderately-paced Southern old time jam.
David sings a cappella with an English accent, drawing on British and American sources in his songs and parodies. Moments of seriousness may occur, but not many. Songs with choruses encourage participation.
Come dance to a variety of our favorite International tunes from the Balkans and beyond!
A mixture of easy, moderate, and advanced international dances. A perfect dance for beginners, experienced dancers, and those who need to jog their International Dance memories and muscles.
Old and new international folk dances with old and new musical arrangements.
Intro to Balkan Dancing featuring live music. Dance to Balkan rhythms showcasing the magnificent Gajda (Macedonian bagpipe).
This upbeat called partner dance originated in 1950's Cuba and is continually evolving. We'll learn the basic step, partner switching, and more while grooving to salsa & timba.
The dances of the American colonial period lay the foundation for our dancing today. Come learn how contradances used to be done, with some of the period steps and styling.
Learn the basics or try a role you haven't danced before. Beginners and experienced dancers all welcome!
Learn the basic steps and figures of English Country Dance while dancing to beautiful music.
Come learn the basic figures while dancing to beautiful music.
In this intro to waltz session we'll learn how to create a satisfying dance connection with a partner, how to use dance frame to communicate with a partner, basic steps, and basic turns. You will leave with a solid understanding of fundamental folk waltzing and be well on your way to having melty, lovely waltzes! This session is for the type of folk waltzing usually done at contra dances, not ballroom waltz.
Come learn the basics of Balkan and other International dance styles. Enjoy efficient, cheerful teaching and wonderful live music!
Learn dances from many different countries. No partner needed. Enjoy efficient, cheerful teaching, and good music.
Basic concepts and a repertoire of steps to give you the confidence to join in the dances at international folk dance sessions at the festival or at your local dance!
Fun and easy introduction to French Canadian step dancing (aka jigging or "la gigue"). Learn basic steps combined into a routine to fit a classic Quebecois reel.
A dynamic and highly theatrical dance style seen in Indian films. Dance with your entire body including neck and head movements, hand movements, feet placement, facial expressions, and more!
Beginners will come away with a good understanding of the basic figures used in this style of dance.
We will perform a short, simple piece, followed by a hands-on workshop. Participants will learn basic ringing techniques and perform as a group at the end of the session.
For anyone interested in learning the basics of hand drumming, this workshop will show you how to get a decent sound from a variety of hand drum types and then you will learn how to play common rhythms from a variety of cultural traditions. No prior experience required. Enough drums will be available for 40 people to participate (you are welcome to bring your own drum if you can).
Traditional Irish tunes at slow and moderate tempos, by ear (the traditional way), starting with more common session tunes. Tunes include jigs, reels, waltzes, hornpipes, polkas, slip jigs, and more.
Jim Sharkey is a singer-songwriter who grew up in County Roscommon, Ireland. His songs blend traditional Irish influences with contemporary issues of family, society, and friendships.
Join the circle to dance Israeli favorites with easy to follow patterns. All dances taught and cued.
Israeli Dances from 1948 to 1980 will be played and danced.
From 1651 to the present, ECD tunes delight us with their variety. Let’s play melodies from the spritely to the sumptuous. If possible, bring Barnes books and music stands to share.
Come dance your heart out to Outrageous Fortune's rootsy jug band stylings of classic '20s and '30s blues and jazz. Listeners are also welcome!
Keen (adj.) 1: Great, splendid, fine. 2: Ardent, enthusiastic. 3: Sharp, vivid, strong. 4: Pungent. All definitions apply here, with fine transitions, splendid music, vivid choreography, and ardent (pungent?) company.
Useful movements to incorporate into our lives so that our bodies are more comfortable and can continue to dance and make music. For bodies of any age and ability!
Come play tunes with us! All ages welcome, but kids especially welcome. We will be playing contra repertoire tunes; see https://lilywise.com/tunes
Klezmer Jam --
GS Sunday 11:00am Westborough (Hotel West)
Eastern European Jewish music from the Old/New world
We'll explore some English country dances created in the early 18th century by Nathaniel Kynaston.
Learn Rørospols, a Norwegian dance popular all over the world in Scandinavian and International folkdancing circles. Efficient teaching, with maximal moving to music.
Learn all of the dances for this year's English dance medley! Includes tips for expeditious recoveries. No obligation to participate in the actual medley.
We'll start out with a little primer on how to lilt and learn a few example tunes by ear and then attendees will be invited to request or teach their favorite tune for us all to sing.
Participatory family concert, with songs to help young children understand, cope with, and express their big feelings safely, and to help them understand the feelings of others.
Learn about it's history and purpose, hear basic playing concepts explained and demonstrated, and sing along to some songs!
Context from Content in Maritime Music – Chris Koldewey - Deciphering "clues" that were left for us in the work songs and ballads of 19th and early 20th C maritime trades and folksongs. We’ll look at singing the songs that might contain obscure, or confusing references and terms, and explore potential meanings and definitions in order to sing them with more intent and understanding. Although some chanteys may be used, the sources will be largely from the “non-work song” maritime themed ballads and songs.
Dave and Chris will lead a slow jam session of favorite tunes composed by Bob McQuillen, a New England piano and accordion player who inspired many of us. Music will be provided, but playing by ear is encouraged. All instruments and levels welcome.
Clawhammer banjo. How to play authentic-sounding Celtic reels in clawhammer style.
Mike (1946-2023), a longtime NEFFA workshop leader, was known for traditional sea songs, Cicely Fox Smith poems, and original compositions. We’ll lead songs from Mike’s 2023 CD, A Dog’s Life, and invite audience participation.
This is a workshop on Missouri fiddling from the Little Dixie region (Central Missouri). We will learn the tune "Marmaduke's Hornpipe".
Some of the most beautiful Celtic tunes relate to sad lyrics- lost love, life, home. But tempered with some lively mayhem!
Concert by Boston-Based contra dance band Good Company. Mostly celtic, but we're not too picky. Expect tunes, songs, laughs, and friends.
We will be hosting a jam of our favorite Scandi tunes. We'll have a tune book available for those new to the tunes.
Fiddle tunes from all over plus various unusual instruments.
Scottish and Cape Breton tunes arranged by Neil Pearlman bring a unique sound while keeping to tradition. Our big fiddle sound is enhanced by flute, whistle, guitars, mandolins, cellos and more.
Learn about NEFFA the organization! Meet new and old members of the Board!
This is the 80th NEFFA Festival. Where have we been, and where might we be going in the future?
Funny songs, silly songs, and other songs to make you laugh. Audience participation is encouraged.
Ever have an incredibly melty, molasses-y waltz and wonder how to re-create that? Learn how to enhance the maximum melt factor with delightful flourishes. For those comfortable with folk waltzing.
Original music and some covers.
Swedish fiddle and nyckelharpa concert with tunes old and new, traditional and modern. What makes a tune feel more at home on one instrument than the other?
Get your rhythm on in this interactive session for budding old time guitarists. We'll start with the basic boom-chuck and quickly move on to iconic bass runs that get your from one chord to the next (and back). You'll walk away with your next few months of practice material. It's easy, once you know how! It is helpful to know your chords in the most often heard keys of C, G, D, and A.
Fiddle and Banjo go together like chips and salsa! This concert will bring out the best in each instrument as we explore Southern Appalachian music, both old and new.
Bring your voices to an Old Time Gospel Sing where we'll sing songs and hymns from the old time tradition, including songs sung by the Carter Family, EC & Orna Ball, and others.
Heart songs, cowboy songs, tragic ballads, and comic ditties. Songs from the mountains and songs from the range.
Clawhammer banjo tunes, sharing the particular fun, versatility and deeper voice of banjos having a low sixth string in addition to the usual five.
Celtic music featuring fiddling, Gaelic songs, , and percussive dance from Scotland, Cape Breton, Ireland, and America, fused with percussion from South America, the Caribbean, Africa, and the Middle East.
Acoustic folk duo The Mail will play original songs written by Jeremy Van Cleave on the guitar accompanied by Nathaniel Diamond-Jones on fiddle.
Ottoman court music from 17-18th century
In the 1800's groups gathered ‘in the parlor’ to play music using whatever instruments were at hand. This participatory workshop includes songs by Stephen Foster, Isaac Baker Woodbury, Henry Clay Work, and others. Instruments welcome.
Exciting contras written by Philadelphia-area callers and choreographers, including Rick Mohr, Donna Hunt, Scott Higgs, Jim Kitch, and Ridge Kennedy!
This program showcases groundbreaking female musicians from the 1920's and beyond, their stories, songs and struggles. Artists include Jean Ritchie, Cousin Emmy, Lilly Mae Ledford and more.
This session features a variety of progressions to surprise and delight you.
A 50-minutes showcase of various Polish folk dances
Come and plan to lift your voices! As Power Harmonies, Lynn Noel and Ken Mattsson sing with depth, power, and passionate attention to the spirit in the song. As experienced dancers of contra, English country, and Scandinavian gammaldans, their duo sound can be described as "ballroom dancing for the voice." They are noted for inspiring harmonies and making the rafters ring.
Come practice the tunes that will be played at the English Open Band ECD session on Saturday evening (8:30 pm in Ballroom CDE)
A group sharing circle of songs for direct actions & other protests. Optionally, you can practice song-leading too!
Pub Sing --
GB Friday 9:00pm Trade Center Tent
We may not have a pub, but we can still raise the rafters! A traditional English-style pub sing, emphasizing chorus songs. Bring one to share, or just follow along.
Join with Jack in the Green Morris for a traditional Pub Sing. No experience needed. Bring a song to share (preferably with a chorus for others to join in with) or just come to sing along! Spectators welcome.
A variety of contras all written by queer choreographers!
In historical record and the modern community, queerness is threaded through sea songs from Sweet Mary Starbuck to the Handsome Cabin Boy. Learn about sailors, singers, and the queer sea.
I play a melodic musical instrument called Sarod. It is truly a majestic instrument derived from an instrument called Rabab in Afghanistan. Typically, my performance involves myself on the Sarod and another artist accompanying me in traditional North Indian Classical drums, called Tabla. It starts off with a melodic segment, followed by a duet involving the Tabla and myself.
Super-easy couple dancing! The original foxtrot of the 1910s before it became a standardized ballroom dance. Lively and fun!
Enjoy lively and lovely ECD dances from the past 5 years.
Christine Helwig was a role model, both in dance and in her support of others. She was a dance writer, leader, organizer, and reconstructor. These dances most remind me of Christine.
Join us as we celebrate the life of Phil Ochs, whose songs about society and struggle are as timely now as they were in the 1960s.
Play Romanian music. Music for C instruments is provided. Some guidance offered on Romanian styling.
We play dance tunes from the Røros region of Norway for your dancing pleasure - vals, reinlander, hoppvals (polka), and of course Rørospols.
The blues have travelled many routes through American music. Join Cousin Louis for a few stops along the way to sample the sounds that the blues have made.
Join us for shape-note singing from the Sacred Harp, in the traditional "hollow square."
A gathering to share tender moments of sweetness, sadness and melancholy. Bring your voice, your tissues and your best 2 AM pub night songs.
The words may be sad, but it feels so good to sing them! We'll do melancholy covers from Leonard Cohen, Jeffrey Foucault, Gordon Bok, Cyril Tawney, etc. plus Ergo Canto originals.
From authentic cowboy songs collected 1880-1920, to "singing cowboy" Tin Pan Alley songs written for the movies, the American cowboy's image has been shaped by the songwriter's art. Many choruses for audience participation.
Come and request your favorite Swedish tunes to play or listen to. You may learn some new favorites as well.
Learn Scandinavian Schottis basics and variations as both leader and follower. We'll all be partners!
Hila and Torrent present a variety of set and circle dances traditionally found at a ceilidh, designed to get folks mixing, mingling and having a great time on the floor.
Fun Scottish figures and great tunes.
Come try out easy and fun Scottish Country dances! We will teach a few steps and figures and enjoy dancing to great tunes.
From 50+ years of listening, here are favorite songs from 4 centuries of collections, ballads of the Travelling People, trad & newer songs learned from Willie Scott, McMorland & McIntyre, Andy Hunter, mostly absent in concert & media. As usual, songs to take, choruses to join.
Ever wonder just how those old sea chanteys were used during the age of sail? Join Chris in singing and “virtual” demonstration of the working of a 19th century square-rigged sailing vessel, and the specific songs that helped get the jobs done together and more easily. By use of a Powerpoint demonstration, and Chris’ knowledge gained after a 20-year association as Chanteyman with the demonstration squad of Mystic Seaport Museum and sailing square-riggers, participants will “sail” a 19th century vessel through Cyberspace, singing as we go. In addition to the songs themselves, we’ll learn how the form, pace, and style changed depending on their specific use. We’ll learn about shipboard life aboard a 19th C square-rigger as well as some of the “rituals” that included their own songs.
Chanteys are work-songs, fitted for task and purpose. Learn about the tasks chanteys were used for, the choruses to common chanteys, and how to lead a chantey with confidence even if you don’t know the words.
Three Sheets will perform a variety of sea songs, chanteys and instrumental pieces with great cheer to abound. Audience participation to sing along is welcomed.
Seated square dances are great fun for all, and may be particularly enjoyable for people with mobility issues or those who cannot participate on the main dance floors.
A talk on the research for a forthcoming book on sailor work songs, their history, origins, context, use, decline, and their place in contemporary culture.
Join us for a singing school, early New England, shape-note style. We will have you singing the rich and powerful 4-part harmonies that brought colonial communities together. No experience necessary.
This workshop will introduce players to a traditional Shetland reel or march, and a slow listening tune. Geared for fiddlers who learn by ear; other instrumentalists are also welcome.
The pulse of a jig can vary so widely, from light-hearted to lyrical to military march. Learn to play jigs in different styles, and to choose the best style for a given dance.
A mix of elegant and rowdy contra dances.
Nervous to lead a song, sing along, or harmonize? Join us for a workshop on tips and etiquette, and a structured sing to get even the shyest singers comfortable.
An open folk song sing-around. Bring a song to share — preferably something that others can pick up and join in on — or just come sing and listen along on the choruses and harmonies.
A concert of songs from Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and beyond.
Tavern singing from Italy and Italian immigrant families.
The event would be a participatory event, in which participants are asked to contribute a song in a language other than English.
Jackson Gillman with a mix of earthy, loony, and heavenly songs, accompanied by his favorite star, daughter Jillian Estelle.
19th and 20th century songs about miners and mill workers, their lives, their work, and their unions. Many have choruses or refrains.
Songs about highways and railways, and the folks who built them, worked on them, or traveled on them. Many songs have choruses or refrains.
Open sing focused on very enthusiastic group participation! Get ready for callbacks, hand motions, stomping your feet, and a great time! Come raise your voices in a joyous cacophony of song!
Just what is "gain"? What is a "DI" and how is it related to an "XLR"? When there's feedback, who or what is doing it? In this workshop we'll explain the most common terminology used by sound engineers, and along the way get a better understanding of how sound engineering works.
Rhode Island and Connecticut have strong fiddling traditions stretching back to Colonial days. We will present tunes from the repertoire of Freedman Occramer Marycoo (b1746), Uncle Joe Shippee (b1856) and Frank Moon (b1916) and others. Sheet music provided for audience participation.
Nadine contributes flute/foot-percussion, Barbara contributes piano, and both contribute the joy of tunes from driving to lyrical, featuring originals and arrangements of tunes from Quebec, Ireland, England and beyond.The interplay of flute and feet adds special energy. Touches of Latin and blues appear.
Not wild about squares? We get it. Which is why these squares are designed for contra diehards, with minimal walkthroughs, fun moves, and lots of swinging. You might even like it.
Organizers, callers, musicians and dancers: come to this knowledge-sharing session. Aimed at those who are growing a dance series or starting one from scratch. What worked? What failed? What new ideas are you trying? Why isn't everybody here?!
We invite you to celebrate our 20 years together in stellar song and sing our greatest hits with us! Our galaxy includes works by traditional, original, and contemporary songwriters around the globe. You will be immersed in a harmony-rich blend of music that empowers and inspires, as well as honors the natural world. There will also be a song or two that tickles your funny bone!
Traditional and original stories on adult themes
Non-stop, no walkthrough, continuously changing contra dance medley!
Succession! --
C Saturday 12:30pm Southborough (Hotel West)
Over the long-term, thriving groups find ways to identify core values, nurture new leaders, and hand-off the reins to the next generation. We can all agree with that concept, but "the devil is in the details." Join us for lively conversation about success stories, best practices, and strategies to help your group thrive.
Bring a song, story, ballad, or anecdote about ghosts, supernatural phenomena, or local cryptids to share!
A session of Swedish couple turning dances -- regional polskas along with hambo, schottis, waltz, and more.
A Tale or Two invites you to join our family in stories of times long gone, misadventures, and farm life. Some stories are told, some sung, and... we have Crankies!
Surprising, satisfying contras that take you away from your hands four and back again
The Yale Slavic Chorus will perform SSA arrangements of traditional folk music from Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and Georgia.
A happy celebration of the iconic contra and square dance caller, Tony Parkes. We will dance and enjoy material Tony wrote or made popular, all to fabulous music.
In honor of Yves Moreau, I will teach some of his more difficult dances, breaking them down into their component parts to make them accessible and enjoyable to most dancers.
Contras in 3-couple sets.
Having recently moved from England to New England, Tim brings tunes from home, taught by ear within a friendly session environment. All instruments and levels of ability are welcome.
Group will write a tune and Larry will explain and demonstrate how he writes them.
Uke Power --
G Saturday 5:00pm Westborough (Hotel West)
Any type of song on the ukulele. You can bring a song to perform, listen, or sing along.
Have you been an ukulele player who is always asking "Where's the songsheet?" This is your chance to get off the page! We'll be playing easy songs that everyone knows that have three or four chords (C, Am, F, and G). If you're not sure which chord to play, there are only a couple options to try. There will be no handouts, and this will help players who tend to be attached to a songsheet to practice hearing chord changes and play along.
Take a tune everyone knows. Write new words. Make it fun and easy to sing along with and share it with everybody at NEFFA. It's the Ultimate Parody Jam!
A performance of music from the south of Veracruz, Mexico, called Son Jarocho. This music is reinterpreted for flute, voice, and jarana.
Waltz Jam --
GS Saturday 6:30pm Princess (Hotel East)
An open session of multi-instrumentalists playing 3/4-Time Music for more than 2 decades at NEFFA. Led by Bob Alessio and Boston area acoustic musicians. Sheet music booklet provided.
We play for waltzing, you dance.
Becky and Nicole sing traditional songs and songs-in-the-tradition with beautiful poetry, enchanting stories, and delicious harmonies. In this concert they’ll share songs involving various bad decisions and their consequences, with many opportunities for the audience to sing along.
Short waves, long waves, ocean waves, you name it! This session will feature dances that make use of the wavy line formation in fun and creative ways.
Contras with plenty of Neighbor interaction and maybe a Shadow or two.
All kinds of English country dances: old, new, familiar, different, gentle, lively... all fun!
If you have a tragic ballad, bring it! We will be sharing the sad and tragic story songs that haunt us. Expect adult themes, bloodshed, death, and unhappy endings.
Sing and play music from rural English churches, from the time of Thomas Hardy, Jane Austen, and King George III. For all voices and melodic instruments.
Techniques for whistling with the lips, with special focus on dance tunes, as well as considerations for performance in general.
Dancers come together and drift apart. Partners are lost and reunited. Contras to toy with your emotions and build anticipation.
We wish to perform folk music either written or accomplished by women.
The presenter will start with a few lesser-known songs on the topic followed by general sharing from attendees. Any era, country, or language is fine. Chorus songs encouraged but optional.
Early American parlor songs written by Maury's ancestors, noted songwriters Isaac Baker Woodbury (1819-1858) and Hattie Nevada (1861-1953). Sing along or bring your own parlor songs; audience participation welcome.
Boston Harmony, a multi-generational community choir, will perform a variety of singing traditions from the Balkans, Caucasus Georgia, and South Africa, as well as American shape-note songs and early music.
Counting songs, finger plays, zipper songs for young children. 3-7 year olds will get the most out of this, but all are welcome. Sing along, move along, circle along!
Shanties and maritime ballads sung by a born and raised Gloucester girl. Come ready to sing along!
Zwiefachers go way back in the Bavaria region. They’re dance tunes where the rhythm changes back and forth. We’ll warm up with a few easy ones, then raise the bar.
New England Folk Festival Association