The Talent

Bands

The Free Raisins (MA, VT, WA)

An energetic dance band from Boston, the Free Raisins fuse New England roots with a modern groove. They promise a versatile mix of supremely danceable tunes—come out and get your two scoops worth!

Uncle Farmer (Northern California)

Uncle Farmer is Ben Schreiber on fiddle and Michael Sokolovsky on guitar. With an Irish and New England sound at its core, the duo is known for its original dance tunes, modern twists on old favorites, and sets mixed with pop rhythms and improvisational flair. Their performances range from sweet and nostalgic to gritty and energetic, and their sound truly fills both the room and the hearts of dancers.

Callers

Will Mentor (Vermont)

Will Mentor is a contra and square dance caller from Northern Vermont known for his clear teaching, upbeat wit, and relaxed stage presence. He loves to choreograph evenings with a variety of dances and tempos that at times surprise and always delight, all the while keeping intact his guiding principle as a caller: "It's about the dancers!"

Susan Petrick (Redwood City, CA)

Susan Petrick grew up in New England, and has been enjoying contra and square dancing for many years. Her dance enthusiasms also include couple dancing and Scottish and English Country dancing. Susan started teaching and calling for contra dances in 2000. She also teaches couple dances, including waltz, cross-step waltz, and hambo. When she is not touring throughout the country calling for dance weekends and festivals, Susan lives in Redwood City, CA, and is a cognitive psychologist who manages a group of user experience researchers at Google.

Sound

Alan Roberts (Seattle, WA)

Alan is a fiddle player (plays with Southwest Passage) and dancer in addition to being an excellent sound man. He is aware of the nuances that make us all happy, and is able to provide a great experience for the callers, band members and dancers.