Blues at Centrum

Join our Blues Social Network

If you are reading this post, you are connected in some way to the Blues community here at Centrum. Perhaps you are a workshop participant. Or a music teacher, or beginning blues musician. Maybe you are a concert attendee, a blues club hound, a blues program volunteer--or maybe you just like reading/watching/listening online to what is going on here.

We would like to make it easier for you to connect with each other--and us--online.

I would like to personally invite you to join a new social community network that we have set up at for you. It is a community focused on Blues at Centrum, and it is located at http://centrumblues.ning.com.

Centrum is starting to roll out some social networks for each of its major program areas (blues, jazz, residencies, literature, fiddle tunes, and young artists). We're doing this as part of a broader effort to rethink the work we do. We are recognizing and acknowledging that a lot of what we do is centered around creating, and sustaining community. That means that we want and need to provide tools to allow the community to grow and connect.

It's a shift for us, and I'm sure we'll stumble occasionally. But in the end, we hope to serve you all better by doing a better job of listening and learning.

Our intention is to provide a place where folks can network and learn about the people who are coming to or interested in Centrum blues programs. Beyond that, we really have no specific agenda...we want the network, and the community, to grow and evolve organically.

This main site--will continue to be the "official" site for Centrum blues activities, but we'll be participating right along side you on the community site as well.

So please dig in and participate. Upload your photos, videos, songs, recordings, and the like. And please feel free to contact me at any time if you have any suggestions, questions, or concerns. My email is keven (at) centrum (dot) org.

2008 YouTube Channel

This YouTube Channel contains videos recorded by a variety of 2008 Port Townsend Country Blues Festival attendees.

Videoblogging 206 Video Guide:
Interviews, Jams, Concerts (4.5+ hours)

1. Interview Phil Wiggens 15:23 - 2003-2008 Artistic Director
2. Interview Ari Eisinger (Part 1) 04:53
3. Interview Ari Eisinger (Part 2) 08:53
4. Interview Ari Eisinger (Part 3) 07:55 - College drop-out, Xeroxer, C++ Programmer, Teacher
5. Interview Ari Eisinger (Part 4) 03:30
6. Interview Reverend Robert Jones Sr (Part 1) 08:36
7. Interview Reverend Robert Jones Sr (Part 2) 07:42 - First songs and buying a National Guitar
8. Interview Reverend Robert Jones Sr (Part 3) 09:49
9. Interview Reverend Robert Jones Sr (Part 4) 06:56 - What is the blues? Where is the mecca of blues?
10. Interview Reverend Robert Jones Sr (Part 5) 05:57
11. Interview Reverend Robert Jones Sr (Part 6) 09:02
12. Interview Reverend Robert Jones Sr (Part 7) 07:46 - 08Blues Fest highlights
13. Interview Rick Franklin (Part 1) 08:37
14. Interview Rick Franklin (Part 2) 07:07 National Guitar Tricone explained
15. Interview Jerron Paxton Medley 08:31 - Singing Interview
16. Interview Rev. John Wilkins (Part 1) 07:56 -
17. Interview Terry "Harmonica" Bean (Part 1) 08:18
18. Interview Jay Summerour (Part 1) 09:05
19. Interview Shirley Smith, Gospel Choir 15:39
20. Interview Roy Brown WA Blues Society 05:48
21. Blues In The Clubs Reverend Robert Jones Sr 08:50
22. Blues In The Clubs Jerron "J-Dog" Paxton Plays The Uptown Pub 05:25
23. Blues In The Clubs Rick Franklin Plays The Public House 02:46
24. Participants' Concert JT Moor 04:22
25. Participants' Concert - Jerronettes 05:45
26. Participants' Phil Wiggens and Zoë Carpenter Concert 03:02
27. Participants' Concert Shirley Smith Gospel Choir 04:30
28. Student Mary Hilts 03:51
29. Student Tanner Wells 05:21
30. McCurdy Pavilion Friday Night Performances 05:33
31. McCurdy Pavilion Saturday Afternoon Performances 14:02
32. Jam Rev. John Wilkins 204 Sing-a-Long 05:37
33. Jam 204 Jerron Paxton 07:12
34. Jam 204 Tuesday 09:32
35. Jam 210 Jerron Paxton, Jay Summerour, Warner Williams 02:26
36. Jam 204 Monday 09:13
37. Historial Blues Musicians Mural 04:12 - A Medley of Blues Icons by Helah Blumhagen

Interview with Rick Franklin

Rick Franklin demonstrates the Piedmont blues finger picking style he taught in his class.

Rick explains the internal speaker system of his National Reso-Phonic Tricone Guitar.

Why We Love Crossroads Music

Here at Centrum, we take great pleasure in creating environments that enable transformational experiences for artists. Of course, we can't do it on our own--it really does take a village (so to speak).

One of our favorite partners is Crossroads Music in Port Townsend. This independent music store is run by Dan and Sarai Lopez, and they are an important part of our Blues week (not to mention Centrum's other music gatherings).

If you come to a Centrum workshop, and want to avoid airport security hassles, you can rent instruments from them. When you are at our 2008 Country Blues Festival, Dan and Sarai will be on-site here at Fort Worden to supply you with everything you'll need to keep the music playin.' That includes instruments, books, CD's, DVD's and official Centrum merchandise.

Perhaps the coolest thing they do, however, is support Centrum's core mission. Dan and Sarai are underwriting scholarships that are making it possible for three participants from the North Olympic Peninsula to attend the 2008 Port Townsend Country Blues Festival workshops.

Thank you Dan and Sarai--we truly couldn't do it without you.

2008 Blues Information

As September draws to a close, we want to make sure you know a few things about items close to the Blues universe at Centrum in 2008:

1. Dates for the Port Townsend Country Blues Festival are July 27-August 3, 2008.
2. We'll begin taking workshop registrations for the Festival in about a month (October/November).
3. We'll be doing a serious Bottleneck Slide Intensive with Orville Johnson, Steve James, and Mike Dowling, January 31-February 3, 2008. You can register for that today.
4. We'll also be doing Dobro and Lap Slide Intensives in the summer and fall of 2008. Stay tuned.

Subscribe to the RSS feed for this site to get updates as we post them.

Instrument Rentals for Music Workshops

Centrum is pleased to announce that Port Townsend’s independent music store, Crossroads Music, is providing rental instruments for use at selected Centrum music workshops. Rentals are perfect for those who are traveling by plane and don’t wish to risk damaging their own instruments, or for those who just want to try something new. Visit Centrum's Information Center for more information.

Centrum's Bottleneck Slide Weekend

BOTTLENECK SLIDE WEEKEND
Workshop: January 31–February 3, 2008
Concert: 7:30pm, February 2, 2008

Join Mike Dowling, Steve James, and Centrum’s Artistic Director for Slide and Steel, Orville Johnson (pictured left), for a weekend gathering celebrating one of the most expressive and tuneful sounds ever conceived! The weekend will include workshop sessions, faculty demonstrations, tutorials, and open jams.

Participants for this gathering must have a basic technical command of their instrument(s) and a basic knowledge of music theory. “Differing levels of ability are expected, and the classes are designed to accommodate these differences,” says program manager Peter McCracken.

As part of the workshop, participants will also receive free admission to the February 2 public evening performance in the Joseph F. Wheeler Theater.

• For Workshop Registration, call Centrum at 360.385.3102 x114 or register securely online.
  $550 includes all meals and lodging.
• For Concert Tickets, call Centrum at 360-385-3102 x117.

THE ARTISTS

In 1995, Mike Dowling launched his solo performance career with the release of the critically acclaimed Swamp Dog Blues. Dowling’s engaging voice, self-deprecating wit, and arsenal of elegant interpretations of old blues are well known—as is the quality of tone he produces when he lays a slide on a string.

Steve James is known internationally for his playing, songcraft, and original approach to the roots music he’s heard since childhood. A workshop veteran, Steve has published numerous articles and books, as well as instructional DVDs. His studio work, both solo and in support of other artists, has earned him many accolades, including Grammy nominations.

Orville Johnson, the Artistic Director of Slide and Steel, came up in the St. Louis music scene, where he participated in a wide variety of blues, bluegrass, and American roots music. He moved to Seattle in 1978, where he was a founding member of the folk/rock group the Dynamic Logs. Johnson has played on over one hundred albums and released four recordings.

Fundraiser for Country Blues Festival

This post refers to an event that occurred in the past. For current event/workshop information, visit www.centrum.org/blues, and follow the workshop or performance links at the top right,

Barbara Hammerman and Raymond Lavine are inviting the Centrum community to their home in Gig Harbor to hear some fine music, have some great fun, and raise money for the Port Townsend Country Blues Festival's scholarship program.

The private concert will be held inside the beautiful Mighty Wurlitzer music room in Barbara and Raymond's home, and is produced by Amanda Gresham's Delta Music Experience.

The fundraiser will take place on Sunday, June 17, from 2-6 pm and will feature three musicians: Alice Stuart, Lloyd Jones, and Eric Taylor.

Barbara, Raymond, and Amanda will underwrite all costs so that every contributed dime supports the Country Blues Festival's workshop. a $20 donation is requested, as is a dish to share. For further information, reservations, address, and directions, please contact Barbara at 253.858.4435.

Mainstage Performance Schedule

This post refers to an event that occurred in the past. For current event/workshop information, visit www.centrum.org/blues, and follow the workshop or performance links at the top right,

Get ready to take a musical journey August 3-4, 2007.

At it's core, The Port Townsend Country Blues Festival is a weeklong workshop where people from all over the world come to live and learn with the finest blues musicians this planet has to offer. On the weekend, we turn on the lights and the renowned artist/faculty take to the stage for mainstage performances in Fort Worden State Park's WWI-era McCurdy Pavilion, and for club performances in Port Townsend's historic downtown and uptown districts.

Now in its 15th year, the Port Townsend Country Blues Festival is one of the few gatherings in the U.S. whose focus is on acoustic, pre-war blues. Thanks to the guidance and artistic direction of harmonica legend Phil Wiggins, we’ve assembled a truly outstanding lineup of internationally known performers along with the finest blues artists in the Northwest.

Friday, August 3, 7:30 pm
McCurdy Pavilion
Reserved seats $16 (kids free)
Purchase tickets (sales begin May 1)

National Heritage Fellow Concert:
Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the National Heritage Award 
1) Eddie Pennington 2) Henry Gray 3) John Cephas and Phil Wiggins

Saturday, August 4, 1:30 pm
McCurdy Pavilion
Reserved seats $20
Purchase tickets (sales begin May 1)

Club Sampler Set--one tune each by:
1) Steve James 2) Lauren Sheehan 3) Eric Freeman 4) John Miller 5) Eleanor Ellis 6) Terry "Harmonica" Bean 7) Allen Holmes 8) Andra Faye 9) Elijah Wald 10) Del Rey 11) Lightnin' Wells 12) Erwin Helfer

Plus Full Sets by:
1) Shirley Powell 2) Cheick Hamala Diabate 3) Paul Rishell and Annie Raines 4) Gaye Adegbalola 5) Robert "Wolfman" Belfour

FAQ

1. Who should come?
   YOU! Playing professionals, ensembles, aspiring musicians, beginners, lovers of acoustic blues--all are welcome.
   
   Blues at Centrum is not just about learning a song. It's about experiencing in a meaningful way the sounds, the stories, the laughter and the pain--indeed the lives--of the faculty and participants at the gathering. It's about making cultural and musical connections. And it's about finding your own voice.
   
   The workshop is a living community with players jamming, sharing and learning. All ages, all abilities--if you're into the blues, you'll do fine here, finding plenty of challenges and opportunities.
       
   
2. What is the cost?
   Adult tuition for the week is $440.
   Room and board costs range from $200-$380.
   SPECIAL: If you are a returning participant and refer a FIRST-TIME participant, we'll take $100 off of your tution.
   
3. How old must I be?
   All ages are welcome, but if you are under 18, you must be with a registered adult participant. Tuition includes admission to all performances.
      
   
4. Where do we stay?
   Your home for the week is historic Fort Worden State Park, a turn-of-the-20th century fort that overlooks the Strait of Juan de Fuca, with expansive views of the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges. Meals are served in Fort Worden Commons--the park's conference center dining facility.