Second Annual Labor Folk Festival Planned
at USM’s
L-A College
March 2005
Students at USM's Lewiston-Auburn Campus and Apprentice's
of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local
567, will be hosting the Second Androscoggin Labor Folk Festival
on Saturday, March 5th. The event will feature noted performers
Andy Cohen, Dale Robin Lockman, and Lex Romane, along with
the celebrated contra-dance caller John McIntire.
After its gala success last year, the festival has been
brought back by popular demand. This effort is being undertaken
by students of Barry Rodrigue (USM-LA) and of Don Berry (IBEW,
Local 567). Their courses explore working people's lives
around Maine and around the world, and include community
service as important parts of their learning experience. "We
examine the unique impact of labor unions, rural worker's
organizations, and other labor support associations on the
cultural life of North America," noted Rodrigue. "This
festival is a natural and exciting outgrowth of what we have
been studying and acknowledges workers important contributions
to the communities of the Androscoggin Valley" he added.
Proceeds will go towards helping worker solidarity projects
around the world and the "Pennies for Peace" program,
which works with the larger Seeds of Peace effort in Maine.
Seeds of Peace, formed to help war torn teens learn to coexist
with peoples of different religions and cultures, runs a
summer camp every year for these teens in Maine.
The event is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. with an open
mike session of poetry, songs, jokes, and stories, as well
as cider and cookies. Dale Robin Lockman will provide songs
and music from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. A contra-dance (beginners
and experts welcome!) will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00
noon. At noontime, there will be a potluck lunch, and everyone
is welcome to bring their favorite dishes to share.
At noon, there will also be the 2nd International Tortière
Bake Off, after the judging, slices of these delicacies will
be sold for a dollar each. Rodrigue's students in "French
Settlement of the Northeast" will sponsor the Bake Off
and bring other Franco-American foods for purchase at the
event. The proceeds from the food sales will be donated to
needful Franco-Haitian communities. For information about
the Bake Off, please contact Lorraine Perrault Heikkinen
at (207)-783-3337 or (207) 795-9618 (voice mail).
In the afternoon,
Lex Romane will sing, play music, and tell stories from
12:30 to 1:30 p.m. The day's festivities
will be capped by internationally known Folksinger and
Bluesman, Andy Cohen, from 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Andy Cohen has been playing one kind of old-time music or
another since he was barely tall enough to reach the piano
keys. His best-known virtuosity is in the Blues - the good
old, honest, down-to-earth, licks-filled acoustic Blues.
Andy's broad repertoire includes old-time string band music,
gospel, Celtic fiddle tunes, country songs, piano rags, southern
mountain music, and English Music Hall material.
Robin Lockman is a member of the folk trio, Mom's Home Cookin',
as well as a solo singer and multi-instrumentalist who plays
guitar, banjo and Appalachian dulcimer. Her musical delight
is uncovering forgotten songs, old and new, and dusting off
these treasures with great care, voice, a sharp wit and extensive
song repertoire. She brings her audiences songs of love,
work and laughter.
Lex Romane is known in and around New England as one half
of the jazz/blues band Lex & Joe's Blueswing. His live
performances are remarkable for his full, clean guitar sound
and his gutsy, expressive singing style. Lex's original songs
tap into the soul of the workingman and reflect the struggles
and challenges of the common man with humor, depth and insight.
The folk festival will be held at USM/L-A at 51 Westminster
Street in Lewiston (off Turnpike Exit 80, formerly Exit 13).
Members of the public are encouraged to attend and should
feel free to come at any time. Attendees will be asked to
pay an admission fee of $5, with children under 12 admitted
free. Tickets may be purchased at the door. Anyone interested
in the potluck supper is asked to contact Barry Rodrigue
at 753-6574 or email rodrigue@usm.maine.edu for more information.
Back to News & Events
|
