The Tenth Annual Woods Hole Trad Stroll is Saturday, May 4, Noon to 10 PM
AtsFalmouth, Inc., presents its Tenth Annual Woods Hole Trad Stroll and Artisans Market on Saturday, May 4, from 10 AM to 6 PM, with a Contra Dance following, from 7:30 to 10 PM. The Stroll takes place rain or shine, and all events are free and open to the public.
The village will resonate with lively Celtic, old-time, folk, country, and roots music, with a touch of jazz and Native American-inspired chants. Performers include Cat’s Melodeon, The Familiars of Cape Cod, Dawna Hammers, the Olivia Yingling Trio, the Darley Trio, the Falmouth Fiddlers, Rare Ould Times, the Sonnay Fiddlers, Ganivelle, and Harissa. The Vineyard Swordfish and the Nobska Lights will dance along Water Street. After a break for dinner, the Stroll continues with a Contra Dance with caller John Alden and the Woods Hole Folk Orchestra.
Cat’s Melodeon, led by Bill Black, specializes in Irish traditional music on fiddles, guitars, pipes, banjo, and flute. They will play from noon to 2 PM on Coffee Obsession’s porch, 38 Water Street. From noon to 1 PM, the Falmouth Fiddlers perform at Woods Hole Community Hall, 68 Water Street.
The Falmouth Fiddlers play bluegrass, old-time, Celtic, country, and folk music on fiddle, mandolin, guitar, cello, string bass, banjo, Irish whistle, and bodhrán.
In the early afternoon, weather permitting, the Vineyard Swordfish and the Nobska Lights will be found dancing along Water Street. The Vineyard Swordfish is a longsword dance team based in Falmouth, and the Nobska Lights is a youth dance team based in Woods Hole.
From 1:15 to 2:15 PM, Rare Ould Times takes the stage at Community Hall. Band members are “Irish Kevin” McGeough on vocals, guitar, mandolin, and bodhrán; Jack Dolan on vocals and bodhrán; and Amy Larkin, on fiddle. They play traditional and contemporary Irish pub favorites, including ballads, rebel songs, sea shanties, and more.
The Familiars of Cape Cod are singer/guitarist Manny Dias and violinist Linda Dias. They will perform a mix of folk, fiddle, country, Irish, and popular music at Martha’s Vineyard Bank, 2 Water Street, from 2 to 3 PM.
From 2:30 to 3:30 PM, The Sonnay Fiddlers perform at Community Hall. Led by their teacher, Nikki Engstrom, the fiddlers, age 5 and up, perform a large repertoire of Celtic tunes.
Singer/songwriter Dawna Hammers performs from 3 to 4 PM at the Woods Hole Historical Museum’s Boat Exhibit Barn and Patio at 579 Woods Hole Road. She will sing traditional May Day folk songs and her original songs and chants inspired by Native American and African American concepts and traditions.
From 3:45 to 4:45 PM, Ganivelle plays at Community Hall. This group of seven musicians on fiddle, mandolin, crumhorn, cornamuse, recorders, bagpipe, hurdy gurdy, accordion, and concertina offer lively traditional French dance music from Brittany.
Jazz vocalist Olivia Yingling performs from 5 to 5:30 PM at Pie at Community Hall with her band: Greg Potanik on guitar and Bill McManus on saxophone.
The Darley Trio plays Celtic traditional and “contemporary traditional” music from 5 to 6 M at Woods Hole Market & General Store, 87 Water Street. The band is comprised of fiddle player Heather Swanson, bodhrán player Don Gauland, and bouzouki player George Arata.
Harissa performs traditional tunes from the Middle East and North Africa from 5:30 to 6 PM at Community Hall. The band includes Crystal Stillman on violin, Sharon Arslania on the nay, a Middle Eastern flute, Beth Giuffirda on double bass, and Lisa Esperson on percussion.
The Artisans Market opens at 10 AM and runs to 6 PM in the Old Fire House, 72 Water Street, where local vendors will display and sell their wares.
Attendees are encouraged to enjoy dinner at one of Woods Hole’s restaurants during the break from 6 to 7:30 PM.
All are welcome to join the Contra Dance from 7:30 to 10 PM in Community Hall. John Alden will provide instructions and lead the dancers through the lively dance moves, while the Woods Hole Folk Orchestra plays on.
Parking is provided by WHOI and Marine Biological Laboratory. Attendees may use the WHOI Shiverick Lot at 11 School Street, the WHOI School Street Lot at 49 School Street, the WHOI Dyer’s Dock Lot at Water Street by the drawbridge, and the Cornelia Clapp Auditorium Lot at 7 Mbl Street. See posted event parking signs.
For more information, visit artsfalmouth.org.
Notes on The Arts 