Featured Sets for February

Valerie & Yvon Raoul and friends — Valerie writes, “Both of us sing in the Solidarity Notes Choir, but at home we favour French songs, including old folksongs and songs from France and Québec in the 1970s. On retiring Yvon took up the bagpipes, honouring his Breton roots, and more recently he has gone back to the harmonica, the ruine-babines.” Valerie and Yvon will be joined by special friends.

The Amorphous Folk Collective is a gathering of folks with a fluid structure who are interested in keeping the tradition of social singing alive. Not a choir, not band, but something else entirely… Join Bevan Bartlett, Dylan Brown, Ben Rogalsky and the amorphous spirit.

Rattlebone — Featuring VFSS favourite Graham Baldwin, Rattlebone Band’s infectious tunes are sure to drive all your cares away. They bring their up-tempo jigs and reels, plus the odd hornpipe and waltz, to dances and concerts up and down the west coast. Rattlebone Band currently comprises:
Graham Baldwin – melodeons, guitar
Brian Chisholm – guitar, banjo, mandolin
Gerry Forte – tuba, trombone
Bill MacLachlan – whistles, pipes, flute, mandolin

Michael Pratt & Lynn McGown bring a wonderful sense of fun and passion wherever they go. The harmonious blend of their voices is truly compelling, with lively accompaniment by fiddle, guitar and percussion. They love it when people sing along on the choruses. Don’t miss these long-time VFSS members!

Robin Holmes — Robin has taken to folk singing like a duck to water. His dramatic style brings life to his diverse song choices. Robin loves the “Filk” tradition, which draws from the sci-fi and fantasy genres.

Heidi and Andy Rose both grew up on the folk music and protest songs of the ’60s and ’70s. Many decades and detours later, they decided to try singing and playing some of these together, along with other songs they find meaningful or just funny. Andy took up ukulele in the deluded belief that with only four strings, how hard could it be? He has sung in High Spirits Choir and the a capella groups Quartessence and My Lady’s Chamber. Heidi has a subconscious scrapbook of melodies and lyrics picked up over the years, often in bawdy or satirical versions.

Tom Rawson — Folksinger Tom Rawson, from Orcas Island, Washington, is the Northwest’s very own version of Pete Seeger. Armed with longneck banjo and other weapons of mass delight, Tom is a master of warmth and wit who loves to share his musical treasures with an ‘I know something you don’t know and you’re gonna love it too’ kind of smile. From gospel to contemporary, profound to downright silly, Tom will have you singing, clapping, and laughing along. Tune up your vocal chords; you’ll need ’em!