(current) Contra Weekend  Contra Weekend 2010 

Corvallis Contra Weekend Talent for 2010

Bands

Footloose (Chapel Hill NC)
Rex McGee Playing fiddle or Banjo, Rex brings high energy, creativity, and a knowledge of the music's roots. David DiGiuseppe David is well-known for his fiery accordion playing, extending into Irish, contra dance and southern old-time styles. Pete Campbell Pete plays piano and bass for contra dances, English and Scottish country dancing and international folk dancing, in addition to being a caller for contra and squares dances. And he loves to join in on any song-fests to share his wealth of silly songs. His prodigious memory for songs and inexhaustible energy have enlivened many a late night parties. Jim Roberts Jim's experience as a percussionist covers a wide spectrum. He has studied West African music in Senegal and The Gambia with various djembe and balaphon masters. His background covers Zairian Soukous, Rhythm and Blues, Afro-Cuban, Alternative, and many other types of contemporary music. Adding his eclectic background to contra music takes it to a whole new level.
KGB (Seattle WA)
Claude Ginsburg: Violin
Claude's violin melts, swings, growls, soars. He infuses KGB's music with passion, rhythm, hitting notes high on the fingerboard with power and sweetness. Claude deftly inserts elements of Klezmer, Latin American, jazz fusion and French Romantic music into New England fiddle tunes, while years of contradance playing keeps his music connected to the dancers.
Dave Bartley: Mandolin, guitar, cittern…
Dave Bartley strikes sparks with his wicked mandolin, driving guitar and lush cittern. He glides from melody to harmony to rhythm to counterpoint, throwing in rock riffs, cross-rhythms, classical motifs and Eastern tonalities. From the casual oberver's viewpoint, his fingers move faster than light, making notes flow like water.
Julie King: Piano
Julie King fully exploits the percussive range of seven octaves. Her piano style is driving, richly chordal, providing KGB's music with emotional tension. Julie has been the rhythmic backbone in numerous bands for over 15 years. She is also a composer, bringing a jazzy nuance to the band.

"As their music changes in character from tune to tune, the dancing changes with it, alternating among smooth and pulsatile, calm and passionate, whimsical and profound... However, no matter how wild or imaginative their music becomes, it comes back from the edge just in time to support you when you need it, and their steady, driving beat is always there, inexorably pulling your feet across the floor." -- Mike Richardson

"I'd follow them over hot coals!" -- Sharon Gavin

Callers

Rick Mohr (Philadelphia)
Rick is a caller, choreographer, and tunesmith who has been pleasing dancers of all levels at numerous dances and festivals in New England and around the US. He is known for his top-notch choreography, and clear calling as well as his warmth and humor. His specialties include "grid squares" and "megamedleys".
Susan Petrick (Redwood City, CA)
By profession Susan Petrick is a cognitive psychologist. In contra dance circles, she has been calling contra dances since 2000. Her greatest pleasure is to program interesting, varied dances with great flow, and to teach them clearly and concisely. She has enjoyed working with wonderful bands, traveling and calling throughout the country in addition to up and down the West Coast. Susan is well known for her exceptionally clear teaching, expert pacing, and gracious manner. Her efficient guidance makes even complex dances accessible to all.
 

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.