Golden Griffon at WC3 Downriver

Even with all the pouring rain here, last night, we had an audience of about 25 at Heinz C. Prechter Educational and Performing Arts Center, Wayne County Community College Downriver (Golden Griffon at WCCC). 


We had a wonderful time talking about the history of our instruments and the music we play, and shared several tunes. The guests particularly enjoyed the holiday tunes.

Jim & Loretta playing some music (Playing the Tack; displaying the Lost Valley)

Talking about the music and instruments

 

 

 

Now we're ready for Friday for playing at the historic Samuel Kingsley house in Romulus, on Hunt Street. We'll play from about 5 until about 6 when Santa arrives, probably chauffeured by fire truck. This isn't much time, but we'll love playing all of the holiday tunes, and getting everyone into the spirit!

The News Herald ran a story about the event on November 19 (http://bit.ly/Romulus). We're mentioned in the article as "volunteerism of community members". Loretta grew up in Romulus, so we appreciate being able to participate here.

Tommy says that his performance in the Huron High School Drama Club's play "A Christmas Carol" will also be brief -- maybe one partial holiday tune on the fiddle. But it's still so exciting. The play will be in the Huron Civic Auditorium Friday night (12/2) at 7 and Saturday (12/3) at noon.

Golden Griffon's Week Ahead

We have such a busy week ahead -- other than our usual day jobs -- yes, we both have day jobs -- and boy scouts and music lessons. We've been working up the program and practicing for the Wayne County Community College "All About the Arts" presentation for tomorrow (11/28/2011) -- All About the Arts. We'll be talking about our music and instruments and playing some tunes along the way.

Since we're also working on some house painting, Loretta's dulcimer is cramped a bit, but still accessible . . . barely.

Dulcimer squeezed in

Thursday night, we're having a practice session at home with Renzo. These are difficult, because we just want to play and not "work" on arrangements and embellishments when we're together. But we do have some big gigs coming up that we need to prepare for, so we have to do it.

On Friday, December 2, from about 5-7, Jim and Loretta will be playing holiday music at the historic Samuel Kingsley house in Romulus Historic Park on Hunt Street. We've been playing for Santa's arrival here for years and years. This is one of our favorite locations. You can come and tour the house for free, so see you there!

Usually, Tommy plays this one with us, but he'll be busy playing violin in the Huron High School Drama Club's production of Scrooge - A Christmas Carol Friday night and Saturday. Tommy was just 3 months old and came to this event, so we've been playing here for at least 15 years.

But Saturday night, we should all be at our friends', the Kaisers, for one of their huge music parties, playing just the most fun music! They are also a busy family, playing for lots of events. They all have a natural ability for playing fun tunes and are just great people, besides  --  The Kaiser Family Band

 I think the dulcimer will be squeezed into that corner for a while, because I don't know how that painting is going to fit into this schedule.

Great Dance Last Night!

We went to a wonderful dance last night, sponsored by Ann Arbor Community for Traditional Music and Dance (http://www.aactmad.org) at AACTMAD's Concourse Hall in Ann Arbor. This was the "Fourth Saturday" dance, featuring contras, squares, English, and couple dances. Caller Glen Morningstar and musicians Judi Morningstar, and Eve and Luke Panning of "Fiddlefire" made it an energetic and FUN evening.

See more about Judi -- Judi's Dulcimer Page
and Glen --  Glen Morningstar's Website

Fiddlefire has a new CD out that is just unbelievable. Check out info on the Panning Family and purchase the CD -- http://fiddlefireband.com/disc.htm.
 

Glen M calling, Judi M on piano, Luke & Eve Panning on fiddles

Dancing at Concourse Hall

Introducing our new blog!

Hi. We’re Jim and Loretta McKinney from New Boston, Michigan. We’re starting this blog so we can share our interest in traditional music and dance. Our focus will be mostly on Michigan, since this is where we were born, raised, where we work, and where we play.

We have an acoustic, instrumental, square dance & contra dance band -- The Golden Griffon Stringtet. Jim plays fiddle and guitar, and  Loretta plays hammered dulcimer. We also have Renzo Hutchinson on guitar and Irish flute, and Bob Ewald on upright bass.  Our son, Tommy, plays fiddle with us, too, and even some guitar.

Loretta

Jim playing at the Novi Heritage Festival.
(He was Mr. August on their calendar.)

Tommy

From left: Jim, Renzo, Bob, John Freeman
(one of the dance prompters we work with), and Loretta

We play for square dances, contra dances, weddings and wedding receptions, holiday and Christmas parties, civil war re-enactment dances, heritage festivals, living history events, community fairs, concert performances, educational programs, etc., etc., etc.

Our website is: GoldenGriffonStringtet.com

We’ll be blogging about what is on our performance schedule, as well as what we’re participating in just for fun. And, we’ll also be blogging about some events that we might not be able to attend, but that are worth mentioning.

Our instruments and music will be another topic for discussion. In fact, on Monday, November 28 at 7:00pm, we’ll be at Heinz C. Prechter Educational and Performing Arts Center, Wayne County Community College Downriver, playing some tunes and talking about our instruments and music. More info at Golden Griffon at WCCC.