2018

Every first Friday: The monthly community dance features Chrissy Fowler calling with the All Comers Band, open to all musicians.

January 5: Chrissy Fowler calling with Steampacket (Tamora Goltz – fiddle, Glen Loper – mandolin & banjo, David Stimson – guitar) and sound by Glen Loper

January 31, Wednesday – Film: Together in Time: A Story of New England Contra Music and Dance starts at 6 pm at the Belfast Free Library, 106 High Street. Panel discussion with local youth about the role of contra dance in their social lives. Free to the public. (Special programming supported in part by a grant from the Maine Expansion Arts Fund of the Maine Community Foundation)

February 2: Chrissy Fowler calling with the Gawler Family (Ellen Gawler – fiddle, Molly Gawler – fiddle, Edith Gawler – fiddle, Elsie Gawler – cello, John Gawler – banjo & harmonica, Bennett Konesni – guitar) and sound by Eric Johnson

February 28, Wednesday – Film: Paid To Eat Ice Cream: Bob McQuillen and New England Contra Dancing starts at 6 pm at the Belfast Free Library, 106 High Street. Free to the public. (Special programming supported in part by a grant from the Maine Expansion Arts Fund of the Maine Community Foundation.

March 2: Sarah VanNorstrand calling with Sassafras Stomp (Johanna Davis – fiddle, John Pranio – fiddle, harmonica & banjo, Adam Nordell – guitar & foot percussion) and sound by Glen Loper

March 28, Wednesday – Film: The Other Way Back: Dancing with Dudley starts at 6 pm at the Belfast Free Library, 106 High Street. Free to the public. (Special programming supported in part by a grant from the Maine Expansion Arts Fund of the Maine Community Foundation.

April 6: Chrissy Fowler calling with Cloud Ten (Cedar Stanistreet – fiddle, Donal Sheets – guitar & cello, Arthur Davis – banjo, keyboard & trumpet, and Ness Smith-Savedoff – percussion) and sound by Eric Johnson

May 2, Wednesday – Film: What’s Not To Like? A Community Contra Dance starts at 6 pm at the Belfast Free Library, 106 High Street. Includes a community conversation about our own dance culture: the BFS first Friday community dance and contra dance. Free to the public. (Special programming supported in part by a grant from the Maine Expansion Arts Fund of the Maine Community Foundation.

May 4: Chrissy Fowler calling with Joy Compass (Clara Stickney – fiddle, Jamie Oshima – guitar, keyboard, foot percussion) and sound by Eric Johnson

May 20, Sunday – Stage Performance: The Dancingmaster starts at 2:00 pm at the Marsh River Theater in Brooks. Admission $15-35, sliding scale. A whimsical musical portrait of influential caller and musician, Dudley Laufman. This one-of-a-kind musical theater experience features performances by Keith Murphy, Becky Tracy, Larry Siegel, and local traditional dancers; choreography by Molly Gawler; dance music by The Waldo County Country Dance Orchestra (open to all musicians); and calling by Dudley Laufman. (Special programming supported in part by a grant from the Maine Expansion Arts Fund of the Maine Community Foundation.

June 1: Adina Gordon calling with Maivish (Jaige Trudel – fiddle, Adam Broome – guitar & cittern, Jamie Oshima – keyboard, mandolin, feet, cajon) and sound by Eric Johnson

July 6: David Millstone calling with The Organic Family Band (Rebekah Geller – fiddle, Jakob Raitzyk – fiddle & foot percussion, Michael Raitzyk – guitar, Judith Geller – french horn) and sound by Eric Johnson

August 3:Chrissy Fowler calling with Atlantic Crossing (Viveka Fox – fiddle, Peter Macfarlane – fiddle, low whistle, mandolin & feet, Donal Sheets – cello, Rick Klein – guitar) and sound by Eric Johnson

September 7: George Marshall calling with Wild Asparagus (Becky Tracy – fiddle, David Cantieni – woodwinds, Ann Percival – piano & guitar, George Marshall – concertina & bodhran with Corey DiMario on bass) and sound by Wild Asparagus

October 5: Rick Mohr calling with Eloise & Co. (Becky Tracy – fiddle, Rachel Bell – accordion, Bethany Waickman – guitar) and sound by Eric Johnson

October 7, Sunday: SPECIAL Rock & Roll Contra at 7pm at the Rockport Opera House featuring Rick Mohr calling with John, Paul, Glen, and RingOs (John Pranio, Paul D’Alessio, Glen Loper, Jamie Oshima, Sean Oshima, Toki Oshima, et al) and sound by Eric Johnson (Part of special programming supported in part by a grant from the Maine Expansion Arts Fund of the Maine Community Foundation)

November 2: Chrissy Fowler calling with Heyday (Amy Richardson Larkin – fiddle, Shirley White – fiddle, Jonathan Larkin – Cajun accordion, George White – guitar)

December 7 – Celebrating 13 years of BFS! Will Mentor calling with Stomp Rocket (Dave Langford – fiddle, Glen Loper – mandolin & banjo, Bethany Waickman – guitar & piano) and sound by Eric Johnson