Details
Tonight’s band is Birch Trio: Casey Murray on Cello/Guitar, Molly Tucker and Daphne Pickens on Fiddle.
They’ve been teaching at the Kanack Fiddle Camp, our local source of young talent, so we may be treated to a new musician, too!
Introduction to contra at 7:00, and the dance starts at 7:30.
Caller
Margaret Mathews
With more than 35 years experience as dancer, musician and caller, Margaret’s easy-going, engaging style gets everyone out on the dance floor. Her ability to smoothly adjust the dances to the experience level of the dance community make it a fun and accessible evening for everyone. In addition to contra dances, she calls for traditional Old Time square dances, Civil War reenactments, hoedowns, weddings and other joy filled occasions. Her dance calling has taken her up and down the East coast, from the Carolinas to Vermont, as well as the Northwest and Canada. When not calling, Margaret plays bass in Wild Root String Band, a Southern Old Time band.
Band
Birch Trio
Casey Murray, Cello, Guitar, Daphne Pickens, Fiddle, Molly Tucker, Fiddle
Birch Trio unites fiddlers Daphne Pickens and Molly Tucker alongside cellist/guitarist Casey Murray. Childhood friends Daphne and Casey are natives of Rochester, NY who have been playing tunes and improvising together at the Kanack School of Musicsince they were 4 years old. Daphne and Molly, a native of Thousand Oaks, CA, later met at Oberlin College and Conservatory, overjoyed to find their mutual love for the New England contra dance repertoire. The three first came together in 2016 at the Dandelion Romp, Oberlin’s contra dance weekend, where they discovered an immediate joyful spark in making music with one another. With roots in traditional New England, Celtic, Québécois, and Old Time music, the three bring a fresh spirit to dance music through their improvisatory style, vocal harmonies, and original compositions. Their rich harmonies, flowing lines, and driving grooves fill dance halls with warmth and propel dancers across the floor.