Slide & Steel Guitars at Centrum

Tricks, Licks, and Techiques for Dobro

[Orville Johnson playing guitar]

For those of you dobro players ready to take your abilities to the next level, Centrum's Artistic Director for Slide and Steel, Orville Johnson, will be leading an intensive workshop in the dobro at Fort Worden July 10-13, 2008. Joined by Mike Neer, Mike Witcher, and Don Rooke, the gathering combines morning and afternoon workshops with access to dobro masters found almost nowhere else.

Registration is available here, as well as by calling Centrum at 360.385.3102, x114.

Orville Johnson Launches New Website

Centrum's Artistic Director for Slide and Steel, Orville Johnson, has launched a new website. Keep up-to-date with Johnson's traveling and gigs at www.orvillejohnson.com, part of which we'll reprint here!

From Orville's Blog:

"It's been awhile since we talked! I did some fun things this summer so let me fill you in. We can call it 'What I did on my my summer (not) vacation.' Mostly the same kind of stuff I'm always doing, playing music and thinking about music. Occasionally my thoughts drift toward dessert but always circle back to music.

Did some solo gigs, a couple of things with my good pal Mark Graham, participated in an extremely rare reunion of the Dynamic Logs, a band I was one of the founding members of way back in 1978, late 20th century! We gathered for a benefit for one of our singers Valerie Rosa, who had some medical expense troubles (national health care anyone?). It was a smashing success, we packed the Triple Door and had a fun time in the process. We raised a bunch of dough, helped a friend, and made a deposit in the good karma account. It was pretty amazing how songs you haven't played in 20 years come back to you. I read a cool book about how your brain processes music entitled This Is Your Brain On Music by Daniel Levitan. Lots of interesting studies on how you remember musical stuff. Now what was I talking about again?..."

Read more at www.orvillejohnson.com. Orville Johnson leads a special weekend workshop in bottleneck guitar at Centrum January 31–February 3, 2008. $550 includes all meals and lodging, and he's joined by Mike Dowling and Steve James in a weekend gathering celebrating what is considered by many to be the most expressive and tuneful sound ever conceived. The weekend will include workshop sessions, faculty demonstrations, tutorials, and open jams.

Participants must have a basic technical command of their instrument(s) and basic knowledge of music theory. As part of the workshop, participants will receive free admission to the February 2 public evening performance in the Joseph F. Wheeler Theater. For Workshop Registration use our secure link or call 360.385.3102, x114. Faculty bios are beneath the jump.

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.

Orville Johnson Named First Artistic Director of the Port Townsend Slide and Steel Festival

Orville Johnson has been named the first Artistic Director of the Port Townsend Slide and Steel Festival.

"We’re blessed to be working with Orville,” said Centrum program manager Peter McCracken. “Orville is someone who has the greatest respect of players and the field. The combination of characteristics that make Orville unique, his superb musicianship, his multi-instrument virtuosity and his singing ability, will serve the Slide and Steel workshop well.”

The Port Townsend Slide and Steel Festival is the only week-long experience in the nation devoted to the repertoire and technique of slide and steel guitar. The Festival is a total-immersion workshop presenting many styles of slide guitar music and pedal steel guitar music. The workshop’s wide spectrum includes workshop sessions, faculty demonstrations, tutorials, concerts, open jams, parties, and informal and spontaneous gatherings.

Participants in this gathering have basic technical command of their instrument, as well as basic
knowledge of music theory. Differing levels of ability are expected, and classes are designed to accommodate those differences.