By Molly Walsh Crossing old-time folk with percussive dance, Oakland, California-based duo Evie Ladin and Keith Terry bring a fresh take to the longstanding old-time-music tradition. Echoing the rich sounds of Appalachia, Ladin and Terry marry notes from a clawhammer banjo, bass and guitar with dance and storytelling. A daughter of a folk-dance teacher, Ladin …
By Molly Walsh A hometown act, Yodelady, has been kindling the traditional music scene in Olympia and surrounding areas since forming in 2010. The members of this triple threat trio have deep roots in the Pacific Northwest old-time music community, and their sets boast three-part harmonies that send audience members to their feet for a …
By Ned Hayes In 1991, MC Hammer was huge. I was a published music critic; yet I wouldn’t write about Hammer’s platinum hit “U Can’t Touch This.” Instead, I was obsessed with a young, touring folk musician. In an era when hip hop was going corporate and rap and rock bands were increasingly signing their …
By Aigner Loren Wilson This February, the Arbutus Folk School will host their volunteer-run Oly Old Time Festival that aims to bring together fans, players and appreciators of old-time fiddle music. Events at the festival celebrating old-time music in Olympia last for several days and feature musical performances, workshops and dances all around the theme …
By Adam McKinney You may be forgiven for, after hearing that a band calls themselves the Tallboys, envisioning a field of littered cheap beer empties after an ill-advised rager. In actuality, the Tallboys aren’t quite that rowdy. Oh, sure, the Tallboys want you to have a good time, and I’d hazard a guess that they’ve …
By Adam McKinney Roots music has never really been far away from the contemporary, American-music landscape, but the past couple decades have seen it enjoy a resurgence in popularity and visibility. Some of this has to do with the indie folk-rock boom we experienced about 10 years ago, which undoubtedly served to shed a light …
By Adam McKinney In music, there are few pleasures so simple and satisfying as hearing two simpatico voices becoming sweetly intertwined in duet. For the singers, thought and care surely go into planning harmonies and other intricacies, but the effect comes across as effortless – the audience is free to be swept away by those …
By MELINDA MINTON This year’s Oly Old Time Festival brings food, music, workshops and new musical talents. Among its featured performers are Allison de Groot and Nic Gareiss. Making use of the South Bay Grange’s beautiful dance floor, they’ll hold a workshop called “Play a Tune/Dance a Tune.” It’s intended to, as Gareiss described it, “reveal …
by Karen Lunde for OLY ARTS Old-time music is perhaps the oldest form of North American folk music, pre-dating Bluegrass. Vocalist, guitarist and bassist Sabra Guzmán was first drawn to its raw stylings at the turn of the millennium when she lived in Portland. Now, Guzmán is preparing to pick and sing old-time tunes with …
Concerts, Shows, and DancesSouth Bay Grange Thursday Night Kick-off Dance (2/15) 7pm – 10pm South Bay Grange Band: The Bow Weevils Caller: Kelsey Nelsen Saturday Family Dance (2/17) 2pm – 3pm Downtown …