July 4-6, 2013 at Fort Worden State Park, the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes will showcase the bearers of the North America’s fiddle traditions with a full bevy of concerts and dances. Fiddlers, guitarists and mandolin players from such diverse musical regions as Basque country in Spain, Cape Breton, Mexico, Québec, and many various American styles will play in master jams, lead dances and headline mainstage shows in McCurdy Pavilion, a World War I-era balloon hangar that has been converted into a 1,200-seat concert hall.

The more than thirty-year tradition of Fiddle Tunes at Centrum started in 1977, when named Bertram Levy began the Festival in order to bring the music of the traditional Southern Mountain fiddle to the Pacific Northwest. Levy hired fiddlers to teach a week-long workshop that culminated in a full weekend of performances. About 150 people attended the workshop. The Festival of American Fiddle Tunes now serves more than twice as many people and the original vision of the Festival has remained, said Centrum executive director Rob Birman.

“Centrum’s international recognition was attained, in large measure, by the renown and meteoric growth of the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes,” said Centrum executive director Rob Birman. We’re honored to be one of the few places in the country that is preserving all elements of traditional fiddle music, from those of the U.S. and beyond. In that sense, Centrum is sustaining the role of passing culture from one generation to the next, which has always been a vital part of shaping history and influencing what is known as contemporary music. Pound for pound, Fiddle Tunes performs way above its weight class. There is nowhere else in America where one can experience such variety and innate talent in one setting.”

Performers include (Old Time) Chirps Smith and Dot Kent, Bobby Taylor and Kim Johnson, Vivian Williams and Phil Williams, Curly Miller and Carole Anne Rose, Joseph Decosimo, Rich Hartness, Riley Baugus, and Dan Gellert; (Basque) Joseba Tapia, Arkaitz Miner and Xavier Berasaluze; (Down East) Don and Cyndy Roy;
(Klezmer) Cookie Segelstein and Joshua Horowitz, and Mark Rubin; (Texas-Polish) Brian Marshall and family; (Quebecois) Yvon Mimeault and Guy Bouchard; (Turicato, Michoacán) Los Jilguerillos del Huerto; (Cape Breton) Dawn Beaton and Barbara Magone; and (Louisiana) Edward Poullard, Cedric Watson, and Desiree Champagne.

Thursday, July 4
Fiddlin’ on the Fourth Afternoon Show
McCurdy Pavilion
1:30 pm; $20/25
Joseph Decosimo and friends—Tennessee
Brian Marshall and Family—Texas-Polish
Curly Miller and Carole Anne Rose—Arkansas
Dawn Beaton and Barbara Magone—Cape Breton

Fiddlin’ on the Fourth Evening Show
McCurdy Pavilion
7:30 pm; $20/25

Cookie Segelstein and Joshua Horowitz with Mark Rubin—Klezmer
Yvon Mimeault and Guy Bouchard—Quebec
Rich Hartness and friends—North Carolina
Chirps Smith—Midwestern Fiddler

Friday, July 5
Free Fridays at the Fort
Nora Porter Commons
Noon to 1 pm; free
Fiddle Tunes Showcase

Cajun and Creole Dance
Littlefield Green
7 pm; $15
Edward Pouliard, Cedric Watson, Desiree Champagne, Joel Savoy, Jesse Lege, and friends

Saturday, July 6
Fiddle Finale
McCurdy Pavilion
1:30 pm; $20/25
Joseba Tapia, Arkaitz Miner and Leturia—Basque
Don and Cindy Roy—Down East from Maine
Dan Gellert—Old-time from Indiana
Bobby Taylor and Kim Johnson—Old-time from West Virginia
Vivian and Phil Williams—Old-time from Washington state
Jos Jilguerillos del Huerto—Michoacán, Mexico

Fiddle Tunes ticket packages are also available. Visit www.centrum.org or call 800.746.1982 for more info.

June 27 through June 29, 2013 at Fort Worden State Park, Centrum presents Voice Works: A Week of Singing. The public capstone to a full week of singing and slide guitar workshops, Voice Works shows include both concerts and dances. Mainstage shows take place at McCurdy Pavilion, a World War I-era balloon hangar converted into a 1,200-seat performance hall. Dances and smaller performances take place in Fort Worden’s dance halls and in the Joseph F. Wheeler Theater.

Headlining Voice Works this year are the Birmingham Sunlights, who will be performing their special brand of four-part a cappella gospel. The group developed their style within the Church of Christ, where no musical instruments are permitted. Three brothers—James, Barry, and Steve Taylor—founded the group and were joined by Reginald Speights and, later, Bill Graves, in performing well-known hymns as well as original pieces. Besides appearing at numerous festivals across the nation, the Sunlights have toured in Africa and performed extensively in Europe, the Caribbean and Australia.

Voice Works’s performers also include bluegrass mandolinist Caleb Klauder, guitarist Reeb Willms, Linda and David Lay, Cajun musician Yvette Landry, singer/songwriters Pharis and Jason Romero, vocalist and dobro player Laurel Bliss, banjo player Riley Baugus, singer/songwriter Kristin Andreassen, jazz singer Meredith Axelrod, guitarist John Lilly, and blues singer and fiddler Suzy Thompson.

“The use of one’s voice to convey meaning is about as elemental as it gets,” said Centrum executive director Rob Birman. “Centrum’s Voice Works performances explore the wide variety of applications of singing and songwriting and I think audiences will be impressed with the profundity and sheer variety that stems from such a simple starting point. In a sense, Centrum’s summer builds with each week, and it seems fitting that it all begins with Voice Works. I encourage audiences to see and hear what our artists have to offer, especially at our opening event showcasing women singer/songwriters on Thursday, June 27th at 7:30 p.m. It’s going to be a highlight of the entire summer season.”

To Order Tickets visit www.centrum.org; call Centrum at 800.746.1982 or visit the Centrum office at Fort Worden State Park from noon until 4 pm, Monday through Friday. Tickets are also available at the box office beginning one hour before each show.

VOICE WORKS

Thursday, July 27
Women’s Singer/Songwriter Showcase
Wheeler Theater
7:30 pm; $15
Pharis Romero
Yvette Landry
Kristin Andreassen
Suzy Thompson
Nancy Thorwardson
…and more!

Friday, June 28
Concerts for Kids
Fort Worden Chapel
11 am to noon; $5 for adults/kids free
Kristin Andreassen

Free Fridays at the Fort
Nora Porter Commons
Noon to 1 pm; free
Voice Works Showcase

Honky Tonk Dance and Polka Dot Contest
USO Building
7:30 pm; $10
Voice Works Faculty All-Star Band
(Please note: tickets only available at the door)

Saturday, June 29
Roots and Branches of American Singing, from the Secular to the Sacred
McCurdy Pavilion
7:30 pm; $20
Caleb Klauder and Reeb Wilms
Laurel Bliss
Yvette Landry
Riley Baugus
John Lilly
Jason and Pharis Romero
Meredith Axelrod
The Birmingham Sunlights
…and more!

Tickets are on sale now for The Port Townsend Main Street Program’s Taste of Port Townsend, one of the most exciting culinary events of the year.  Mark your calendar for Thursday, June 13 from 4 to 7:30 pm, and come with friends and have fun sampling some of the finest quality food Port Townsend has to offer.

One ticket gives you admission to all 13 restaurants on the tour. There are six new participating restaurants this year. From Doc’s Marina Grill at Point Hudson, downtown venues and up to The Food Coop, The Cup and Manresa Castle Restaurant and Lounge, there are dishes for every taste.

Enjoy gluten-free pizzas and clam chowder, vegetarian options and many choices for the omnivores! Blackened Halibut Bites, Chicken Pesto Crepes and Rustica Pizza are on the menu. There are Teriyaki Drummettes, Tangy Green Papaya Salad, Lamb Balls with Roasted Beet Tzatziki, crab cakes and surprises for your sweet tooth.

The  Taste of Port Townsend is a fundraiser for the Port Townsend Main Street Program, a 501c3 nonprofit.

Tickets are $30; children (12 & under) $20.
Buy tickets on-line at www.eventbrite.com or at:
Safeway on Sims Way;
Quimper Sound, 230 Taylor Street or
The Food Coop, 414 Kearney Street.

2013 VENUES

Manresa Castle Restaurant & Lounge – 7th& Sheridan
Bruschetta & Smoked Salmon Chowder

The Cup – 600 Sims Way
Deep Fried Button Mushrooms with Yogurt Dill Dipping Sauce, Grown Up Mac & Cheese & Blackened Halibut Bites with Bacon & Lettuce

The Food Coop – 414 Kearney Street
A Picnic ~ Traditional Potato Salad & Teriyaki Drummettes

Water Street Creperie – 1046 Water Street
Chicken Pesto Crepe, Vegetarian Crepe & Nutella Crepe

Cellar Door – 940 Water Street
Mediterranean Deviled Eggs & Lamb Balls with Roasted Beet Tzatziki
Drink Samples for those 21 & Over

The Belmont Restaurant – 925 Water Street
Chicken Adobo

Perfect Dreams Cupcakes – 909 Water Street
Lavender Cupcakes

The Brickhouse Bistro – 232 Taylor Street
Pizza Samples: Rustica, Firma, Classic, & Apple Chicken Gorgonzola

Silverwater Café – 237 Taylor Street
Crab Cakes with Lemongrass Aioli & a Sweet Surprise

Khu Larb Thai/Little Rose – 225 Adams Street
Moo Ping (marinated and grilled pork satay), Som Tum (tangy green papaya salad)
& Sticky Jasmine Rice

Addie Mae’s Southern Kitchen – 634 Water Street
Hush Puppies, Crawfish Ettouffee & Chipotle BBQ Ribs

The Boiler Room – 711 Water Street
Samples of Chocolate Chip Cookies, Peanut Butter Cookies, Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, Snickerdoodle Cookies, Sunrise Coffee & Homemade Chai

Doc’s Marina Café – 141 Hudson Street, Point Hudson
Gluten-Free Clam Chowder, a taste of our Fish & Chips and an El Portal Slider