Paaaaaaaaasadena... and a few other places.

[kayshapero]

The Pasadena Folk Music Society, along with the Pasadena Public Library, presents a very different kind of show in 8 days, Saturday, March 23 at 11:00 AM at the Pasadena Central Library and the program is free! Cambalache is a unique Los Angeles-based group that you just don't get many opportunities to hear. We learned of them at last year's FolkRoots Festival (this year's festival is coming up on April 13!) and we felt that it was time that we present some music from south of the border. The group is led by Cesar Castro (vocals and requinto), who grew up in Veracruz, Mexico, and became fascinated with son jarocho music, the mix of African, Spanish, and the indigenous culture of the Caribbean. You may not be all that familiar with son jarocho music, but this show is a perfect opportunity to find out about it. Cesar is joined by his wife, Xiochi Flores (vocals, jarana), who does a bit of dancing, Chuy Sandoval (jarana, electric guitar), and Juan Perez (electric upright bass). The music is joyous and fun, mostly traditional, with a few originals. Get a taste of their music from a performance of La Iguana at the Ford Theater, with the common call and response heard in son jarocho. Get a look at Xiochi's dancing from this show up in San Francisco. She'll probably have the kids and some of the adults up and dancing a bit. They sing in Spanish, but tell you about the music in English.

This will be a family show, perfect for kids and adults. Cesar is a luthier, and he'll likely talk about the instruments a bit, and you will also learn about the music. We are able to make this a free show with a generous gift from the Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest & Folk Festival folks. In their spirit of encouraging musicianship for all ages, we wanted to especially appeal to the youth, and we hope to have a good representation of parents with children, but we're confident that there will be room for people of all ages. Tell your friends! Bring some kids! This show will give you a strong appreciation for the music and the rich heritage of Mexico.

We hope you will join us! No need to call the Ticket Office or buy tickets for this one. Just make plans. The Pasadena Central Library, dedicated in 1927 and designed by the firm of Myron Hunt and HC Chambers, is a destination in itself. It is located at 285 E. Walnut Street. See a Google map here. The Donald Wright Auditorium, at the west end of the building is a great venue. There is free parking behind the Library off of Garfield Avenue. If the lot is full, there will be free parking just north of that lot in a commercial lot. The sign there reads “299 North Euclid Parking,” which is kind of confusing. Rest assured that this is auxiliary library parking and that it is free. If the gate is down, take a ticket and that ticket will open the gate when you leave. All spaces are available on Saturdays. Our thanks to the Library for providing the venue! If you have questions, you can leave a message at (626) 616-4559 and we'll get back to you.

The Folk Music Society is still battling web site problems. You can get to our web site by clicking here. If you try go in by a search engine, you're likely to find dead links or the French Pharmacy. We thank you for your patience.


Coming right up is the special Dublin’s Irish Tenors and The Celtic Ladies program, put on by Caltech Campus Programs, on Saturday, March 16 with a $5 discount in Beckman Auditorium (the large, white, round building where we had Lunasa a couple of weeks ago). It will be a few hours shy of Saint Patrick's Day, on Sunday, but this show will qualify as a celebration of Saint Paddy's Day if you stay up real late, into the wee hours after the show. Two superb Irish groups come together in one magical concert featuring wonderful harmonies and lifting melodies. You get a $5 discount if you mention the Pasadena Folk Music Society when you purchase tickets, either in advance or at the door. The regular prices are $49, 44, 39 / $10 for Youth. Call the Caltech Ticket Office or see the Campus Programs web site. You will have to deal with them directly to get the discount. You can purchase tickets at the Caltech Ticket Office, 1200 E. California Blvd (southeast corner of Wilson Avenue and California Blvd) between 10:00 AM and 4:30 PM today and tomorrow. You can buy tickets in person without a service charge, or by phone with a service charge at (626) 395-4652. And you can buy them at the box office at Beckman Auditorium on the night of the show. The box office will be open by 7PM.


A quick reminder that the Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest & Folk Festival will be on Sunday, May 19 at Paramount Ranch. Consider entering as a musician here. We hope to see you there!

Our friends at FolkWorks are getting all set for their 2019 FolkRoots Festival on Saturday, April 13. This one is called Exploring Our Roots from Zimbabwe to Appalachia and will feature 13 hours of great performances, musical workshops and much more. You can hear people like Dom Flemons, formerly of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Sausage Grinder, Barbara Morrison, Lisa Haley and the Zydekats, our own Nick Smith, telling stories, and much more. Here's a list of performers, the schedule, and a list of the workshops. The event is in West Los Angeles, within walking distance from the Westwood/Rancho Park Station of the Expo Line. It is a big event to put together and they're looking for volunteers if you can help out. An event definitely worth attending! This is the event where we learned about Cambalache last year, so who knows what great music you discover in 2019!