Roy Parsons and crew w/George Hamilton IV
On Ocracoke Island
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ocrafolk Festival Chill Chaser Contra Dance Weekend
David DiGuiseppe and Pete Campbell provide lively song and dance
While the rest of the Molasses gang was on the road with Roy, Fiddler Dave helped host the Ocrafolk Festival Chill Chaser Contra Dance Ball Weekend at the Ocracoke School. Contra caller Joan Kelly (and husband Ernest) drove in from Memphis on Thursday, and musicians David DiGuiseppe and Pete Campbell (from the Chapel Hill contra dance band -- Footloose), skidded in on Friday afternoon to set up for the evening family dance. About 35 local folk were on hand for contra instruction at the weekend opening. Saturday began with a morning intermediate contra workshop and a musician workshop which led into the evening Chillchaser’s Ball. About 50 folks came out for a hopping night of fiery contras, smooth waltzes, and homestyle singing squares (courtesy of Donald Davis).
On Sunday, John Wilson and Kathleen Fogerty hosted an Organic Farming workshop at Deepwater Theater. John, who farms on five acres in Virginia Beach, talked about his roots in organic farming and spoke about many important issues close to our hearts, including Community Supported Agriculture, national and international organic standards, genetic engineering, and chemicals used on food. After the class William Howard gave a tour of a new solar heating system installed at a new building constructed by the Pony Island Motel for employees.
Special thanks to Joan and Ernest Kelly, David DiGuiseppe and Pete Campbell, John Wilson and Kathleen Fogerty, Philip Howard and Pat and Steve Tweedie (for housing), the Ocracoke School for hosting the dance, the Ocracoke Family Resource Program for partnering on the weekend, and all the other volunteers and weekend participants. We hope that the weekend will become an annual event.
Ocrafolk Festival 2006 Artisan Application Posted Online
This last week, the festival posted the Ocrafolk Artisan Applications online for the June 2-4 event. For application information, to apply online, or to download PDFs of the Ocrafolk Festival Application, artisans can visit the Ocrafolk Festival website at www.ocrafolkfestival.org. March 30 is the deadline for all artisan applications.
There are a few changes to this year’s selection process:
-- Juried selection of 2006 Ocrafolk Artisans will be made by the Ocracoke Arts Council. Due to the increased number of applications, returning artisans from previous years can no longer be granted automatic acceptance to the festival.
--A limited number of artisans will be permitted to set up also on Sunday, June 4.
--This year, the Ocrafolk Festival Live Auction has been moved to Friday night at the community center, after the community potluck. Artisan donations to this Friday night fundraiser are showcased to the Ocracoke community and visitors. The evening presents a wonderful opportunity for artists to showcase their work to potential buyers.
Any questions on the Artisan Application can me directed to:
Ocrafolk Artisan Coordinator
Kim Meacham
2006 Ocrafolk Festival Artisan Coordinator
PO 604
Ocracoke Island, NC 27960
(252) 928-3855
e-mail: ironheartforge@yahoo.com
Soundside Studio News
Gary hosted a number of recording artists at Soundside Studio these past couple of weeks, including John Golden, Donald Davis, and Fiddler Dave. He has also been working with Ocrafolk stars for a new Ocrafolk Sampler album which is due out this summer.
Since January of 2005, Dave has been working on a project of original fiddle tunes at Soundside Studios. He has just finished laying down the final tracks at Gary’s with bass from Kevin Hardy and Lou Castro, mandolin from Marcy Brenner, and cello from Emily Devan. Fiddler Dave’s album will also be ready for this year’s festval. Next week, Fiddler Dave and Gary will travel to Chapel Hill to Jerry Brown’s “Rubber Room Records,” to mix Fiddler Dave’s new original album.
OPS Sponsors Basket Making Class
The weekend of February 17, Ocracoke Preservation Society Sponsored a basketmaking class at Deepwater Theater. Amy Howard taught the beginner class. Here are some pictures.
Off Ocracoke Island
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Roy Parsons and Friends Travel to Nashville, TN
Roy tells the camera how many times he has flown
This last weekend a royal entourage accompanied Roy Parson’s on the trip of a lifetime to the Grand Ole Opry at Ryman Auditorium. Thursday, February 23, Gary, Kitty and Katy Mitchell, Sundae Temple and daughter Caroline, Noah Paley, and Marcy Brenner and Lou Castro of Coyote drove Roy up to the Norfolk airport to fly out to Nashville, TN. The crew’s evening flight was canceled, so the airline but everyone up at the Doubletree and they resumed travels the next morning.
Arriving in Nashville, they settled in at the motel and picked up tickets for the show, where they were given a royal back-stage tour by George Hamilton IV. After some mighty fine dinner with George at Jack’s Barbecue, they caught the evening show and then retired to catch an early flight the next morning. Although the passengers on the morning flight included Ricky Skaggs and his band, Noah Paley was the only musician to get recognized by the stewardess, who was a big fan!
Ocracoke Opry Travels to the Mainland for “Music Across the Sound,” March 4
Molasses Creek and the Ocrafolk Opry are joining together with some of the top performers in Hyde County and eastern NC on Saturday March 4 for an all-star variety show called “Music Across the Sound”. Hosted by Molasses Creek, the show will include funnyman Rodney Kemp from Morehead City, great bluegrass from Mac McRoy & the New Gospel Grass, ‘new old-time’ music with Carolina Still, the beautiful piano and strings of Jamie Tunnell and Cheryl Roberts, the fun-old-songs of Earl Carawan, wonderful songwriting and sweet sounds of the husband/wife duo ‘Coyote’, exciting energy of the Danny Simpson group (w/ keyboard legend Randy Hignite), the sacred sounds of the Gloria Burrus Gospel Chorus, terrific singing of recording artist Katy Mitchell with young guitar prodigy Aaron Caswell, and some fancy footwork by special guests ‘the Green Grass Cloggers’.
The free show is sponsored by the Beaufort County Arts Council and the NC Arts Council, and will be held at Mattamuskeet High School in Englehard, NC on Saturday March 4 at 7 pm. Phone 252-928-4280 for more info.
