(Photo by Andy Cripe/Gazette-Times)

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(Above: The First Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir directed by Colette Schlegel at Tuesday’s advent recital in the church sanctuary.)

Listen in as the Chancel Choir sings “Little Drummer Boy,” “The Jesus Gift” and “Do You Hear What I Hear?” at a recent Advent recital in the sanctuary of the Corvallis First Presbyterian Church.

The Corvallis church, located at 114 S.W. Eighth Street, hosts the concerts from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. each Tuesday during the season of Advent. The concerts are free and brown-bag lunches are welcome. The idea is to give everyone, including people who might only have a short lunch break, a chance to have a completive time during the holidays (and listen to some excellent performers).

So far, this year’s concerts have featured the vocal quartet of Judy Hedges, Gale Hazel, Jerry Bowman and Paul Pritchard, accompanied by pianist Judy Freeman; flutist Diane Hawkins and organist Colette Schlegel.

Remaining Advent concerts:

- Carillon Revelry Handbell Choir, 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15

- Dave Cudo (saxophone) and Laura Zaerr (harp), 12:15 Tuesday, Dec. 22

For more information on First Presbyterian Church, or to learn how to support next year’s music series call 753-2228 or see, www.1stpres.org.

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(From left: Alice Tucker, Jane Sivetz and Claudine Dayton will reopen the Majestic Theatre with a retelling of Oregon Christmas stories both personal and historical this weekend. Bill McCarthy will also read.)

A christmas party for 1,000 kids at the Majestic Theatre movie house in 1924, a taste of the Corvallis society column in 1936 and a call to service for fraternities and sororities in a 1937 editorial:

“But, wouldn’t it make you feel more in the spirit of Christmas to go home with glad hearts and a happy spirit, knowing that you had helped and given joy to someone less fortunate than yourself? … Indeed, it would!”

Listen in as Alice Tucker, Jane Sivetz and Claudine Dayton share Christmas stories from historic editions of the Corvallis Gazette-Times and Daily Barometer. The stories are just a taste of what will be shared in Majestic Theatre Management’s “Christmas in Oregon” readers’ theater presentation, at 7 p.m. Dec. 11-12; and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 13, at the newly-reopened Majestic Theatre, 115 S.W. Second St., Corvallis.

The show is directed by Robert Leff, who also gathered together the material for the show by searching library archives and gathering personal accounts. Bill McCarthy will also read. The show retells stories of Christmas celebrations in Oregon that date back to the Lewis and Clark expedition, when the Corps of Discovery spent a rugged Christmas holiday in Fort Clatsop in 1805, to recent local history. In fact, the second act focuses entirely on Christmas celebrations in Corvallis.

Admission is $8. Information: 738-7469 and www.majestic.org

To read the full article, click here.

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I’m having a bit of trouble with the audio quality of my interview with Greensky Bluegrass dobro player Anders Beck, while I work on that, click below to hear some selections from the band’s new CD “Five Interstates.”

In it you’ll hear: “Into the Rafters,” “Train Junkie,” “Old Barns” and “The Reverend.”

The band will play at 10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at Bombs Away Cafe.

Click here to read the original article.

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Listen in as Oregon State University sociology students past and present read haiku that they wrote for professor Kristin Barker’s classes. A collection of some of the most insightful pieces written by students was recently published in the book “Haiku for Sociologists.” This podcast also includes remarks from co-editor Gary Tiedeman, an emeritus professor at OSU and a poet and David Ash of Basho Press.

Click here to read the original article “Professor embraces the power of haiku” from the Oct. 13 Gazette-Times.

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Read the full article.

Entertainer editor Nancy Raskauskas chats with Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum. The country group recently scored the No. 1 single on the country music charts with ‘I Run to You.’

CHECK IT OUT

WHAT: Benton County Fair & Rodeo Mainstage Entertainment
WHO: Lady Antebellum 8 p.m. Thursday, July 30.
WHERE: 110 S.W. 53rd St.
COST: Reserved tickets to concerts are $20 Wednesday through Friday and $10 Sunday. Festival seating behind the reserved seating is included in fair admission.
Daily admission at the gate is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and $3 for youth. Children under 5 are admitted free. Tickets bought in advance of the fair get a $1 discount and season passes are also available. Parking is $4.
INFO: www.bentoncountyfair.com or 766-6521.

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Local Scottish fiddler teams up exuberant celtic group for concert

In this podcast Entertainer editor Nancy Raskauskas talks with Scottish fiddler Rebecca Lomnicky and Pete Haworth of Molly’s Revenge. You’ll here selections from Lomnicky’s CD “The Call” including “The North Set” and “The Royal Hurricane,” as well as tunes by Molly’s Revenge including “The Big Set,” “Dram for the Piper” and “The Long Drive.”

CORVALLIS — In review after review, traditional celtic band Molly’s Revenge has been noted for its exuberant on-stage presence.

“I think it just came naturally,” said band member Pete Haworth. “We all really enjoy the music we play so much.”

“If we’re not enjoying ourselves up there on the stage, we can’t expect the audience to,” he laughed.

The group based out of Santa-Cruz, Calif., includes Stuart Mason on mandolin, John Weed on fiddle, David Brewer on whistle and pipes and Haworth (a native of England, who moved to the U.S. with his family in 1982) on bouzouki. Their music has been featured on popular shows such as National Public Radio’s “Thistle and Shamrock.”

The band thrives on the challenge of being a traditional music group in modern times, bringing old classic songs to life, scouring songbooks for obscure works that haven’t been played to death and composing new pieces that meld traditional and contemporary elements.

The group will join forces with local Scottish fiddling champ Rebecca Lomnicky for a concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 5, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2945 N.W. Circle Blvd. The event is sponsored by the Corvallis Folklore Society.

To read the full article, click here.

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“I followed a young lady who was from Portland,” he said.

Things didn’t work out with the girl, but Kaiser quickly fell in love with the Rose City and its vibrant music scene and to his surprise he found that Portland crowds embraced him, even if they didn’t always understand the words.

To read the full article, click here.

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(Contributed photo)

CORVALLIS — Folk singer and musician John McCutcheon — he plays fiddle, banjo, guitar and hammered dulcimer, among other instruments—can still remember his first West Coast tour circa 1980 when he played at the Old World Deli during a stop in Corvallis.

Over the years, he’s accepted the Corvallis Folklore Society’s invitation to return many times, and at 8 p.m. on Saturday, he’ll be playing at one of his favorite venues, the First Presbyterian Church at 114 S.W. Eighth St. Admission: $16 for adults, $14 for children in advance, price goes up $1 at the door. Tickets available at Grass Roots Books & Music and WineStyles. Information: 753-9224 or http://cfs.peak.org.

McCutcheon’s brings songs to celebrate, poke fun and make a point on a wide variety of social and political topics.

In recent years, he’s written about Hurricane Katrina survivors, and recently he has been performing a song about Sara Tucholsky, a softball player from Western Oregon University who was carried around the bases by her opponents last year after tearing a ligament while running in a home-run hit.

“I thought people need to hear this story,” McCutcheon said. “And I turn stories into songs.”

Note: A full podcast of Entertainer editor Nancy Raskauskas’ interview with McCutcheon will post Friday evening. In the meantime, click here to be directed to a page of his recently released songs, including a video of the song about Sara Tucholsky.

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