JumbleJam

How would you like to jam with the pros, create an original piece of music and perform it on stage at Summerfolk – all on the same day?

If you sing or play an instrument and you can spare a few hours on Saturday, apply for the JumbleJam workshop. You just might find yourself in a band with Robert Priest, James Gordon or Beckon(Connie Rositter and Beth Hamilton).

Varying skill levels are welcome – 15 musicians will be chosen by lottery for a diverse and entertaining mix. Some instruments are provided but you’re more than welcome to bring your own.

Deadline for all entries is 11:15 am Saturday August 20th.
Apply in advance by contacting the Georgian Bay Folk Society office (519) 371-2995 gbfs@bmts.com for an Application Form.
Or... pick up an Application Form on-site at the Information Booth just inside Main Gate.
Drop off applications at the Information Booth by Saturday morning. Space is limited.

Gather at the JumbleJam Zone (just north of the Amphitheatre Stage) at 11:45 am to see the band lists. Each band will have a 1 hour and 45 minute songbuilding session beginning at 12 noon, 2 pm or 4 pm. Bands take to the Down By the Bay stage at 7:00 pm Saturday evening.

Sharing Circle, Summerfolk Choir, Circus Court, Musical Petting Zoo

During the weekend, a multitude of workshops are scheduled at Summerfolk.
Some of these are designed for active audience participation and opportunities exist for patrons to join in – to be involved in the creative process and in making music with others.

Additional details and times are available at: http://www.summerfolk.org/Concerts&Workshops2011.pdf

The Sharing Circle
All the sessions at The Sharing Circle are meant to be ‘kitchen parties’ where everyone is invited to participate. Lead by performers from the Summerfolk lineup, you can sing and play along. There is no sound system and there’s no pressure. Join in the circle and be a part of the action. There will be drum and storytelling sessions, a ‘play your song’ with the band session, as well as Celtic, bluegrass, song, banjo, ukulele and fiddle music circles.
Bring your instrument to the Festival - you can store it safely at ‘Stash Yer Stuff’ next to the Sharing Circle tent.
Hours for Stash Yer Stuff are 11:00 am – 5:00 pm Saturday, Noon – 5:00 pm Sunday.

The Summerfolk Choir
If singing is your thing, I hope you consider joining the fabulous Summerfolk Choir. Under the direction of the enthusiastic Tom Leighton, the choir has four rehearsals before taking to the amphitheatre stage to open the Sunday night concert. How cool is that! With an emphasis on fun, Tom prepares a wonderful selection of songs to sing.
Come out to the first rehearsal, Saturday morning at 11:00 am, and be part of a Summerfolk tradition.

The Circus Court
The Circus Court will be a new Summerfolk adventure this year. Along with performances by Lookup Theatre's Youth Troupe, there will be workshops for both kids and adults to learn circus arts like acrobatics, juggling and aerial. And in the same vein, Vita Twirlin’ Diva will be offering a demonstration where you can learn more about the art of poi spinning.

Musical Petting Zoo
Todd Crowley’s ‘Musical Petting Zoo’ is back for a third year at Summerfolk. Todd brings more than a hundred instruments of all description from all over the world, and you are encouraged to try them out. That’s right – you can touch. Play them as long as you like. See how they are made and hear what they sound like. Little jam sessions break out and truly incredible things happen at the Petting Zoo.

The Zoo Workshop Room
Beginning last year, we added ‘The Zoo Workshop Room’ to Todd’s location as a way of farther exploring instruments and learning about music. Inside the tent we hold intimate sessions where you get hands-on instruction or information about specific topics. I am very excited about some of the themes we present this time out. As examples, publisher Jack Cooper will demonstrate transcribing music, Ken Whiteley and David Baxter will talk about how to produce a recording and Orchid Ensemble will show their exotic traditional instruments from the Far East.

First Nations Village
The First Nations Village provides workshop sessions that focus on aboriginal teachings and traditions. These interactive sessions like drumming, storytelling and singing, happen in and around the teepee.

Children’s Village
There are performances especially for kids in the music tent of the Children’s Village along with workshops at the Circus Court, the Kelso Beach Park playground and the new splash pad to enjoy. Plus...an amazing hands-on Crafts Tent!

Open Stage at Summerfolk

Summerfolk’s Open Stage is an opportunity to play your music at the Festival.

Interspersed between workshop sessions at the Café of the Senses, 9 time slots are designated for open mic performances on the Homemade Jam stage.
Each slot is shared by 2 or 3 performers, providing participants with approximately 8 minutes time (2 selections).

The exciting thing is: One act is selected for the following year's Festival.


HOW TO "RESERVE" YOUR SPOT - sign up in advance by contacting the Folk Society office or sign up on site.
- A limited number of slots are available for pre-registration and designated as advance sign-up (see schedule below).
To reserve, contact the Georgian Bay Folk Society office (519) 371-2995 - gbfs@bmts.com
- On-site registration (festival sign-up) is on a first-come, first-served basis.


You must be in possession of a ticket for that day or be on site as a volunteer. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your assigned performance time and check-in with the Homemade Jam crew.


One performer/act from the weekend’s Open Stage will be selected to join the Summerfolk lineup in 2012. That selection will be done by our Homemade Jam Tent crew and will be announced from the Amphitheatre Stage between 8:00 and 9:00 pm on Sunday evening.


HOMEMADE JAM STAGE SCHEDULE – Open Stage


Saturday:
12:30 - Open Stage Slot - advance sign-up
1:00 - Open Stage Slot - festival sign-up
1:30 - Open Stage Slot - festival sign-up
3:00 - Open Stage Slot -advance sign-up
3:45 - Open Stage Slot - festival sign-up


Sunday:
1:00 - Open Stage Slot - festival sign-up
1:30 - Open Stage Slot - advance sign-up
3:00 - Open Stage Slot - advance sign-up
3:45 - Open Stage Slot - festival sign-up

Come Dancing at Summerfolk

Contra to Afro, Klezmer to Big Band .....Summerfolk is Dancing.

The Over the Hill Dance tent features a wooden dance floor and a fine sound system.

There are plenty of great dance sessions this year!

SATURDAY

11:00 - 'Bohemian Delights'... Eastern European Dances - Russian Troika dance to Romanian style Hora
Music by Gypsy Jive Band with Lorraine Sutton calling

12:30 – ‘Quebecois Dance'
Music by Réveillons with Jean-Francois Berthiaume calling

2:00 – ‘Contra Dance’ ...old and new
Music by Elixir with Nils Fredland calling

3:30 – ‘Big Band Dance’
Music by the Lighthouse Swing Band

***** SATURDAY NIGHT DANCE
7:30 – ‘Contra and More’
Music by Elixir with Nils Fredland calling

SUNDAY

12:00 – ‘Heel & Toe’ with Ciccone & Hyatt and Réveillons

1:00 – ‘Mediterranean Soul' ...dances from Greece, Israel, Serbia- easy steps in lines and circles
Music by Gypsy Jive Band with Lorraine Sutton calling

2:15 – ‘Afro Dance’ ...learn the steps and dance
Music by H’Sao

3:30 – ‘Singing Squares’ ...American singing squares
Music by Elixir with Nils Fredland calling