April Grant introduces “Jolly Roving Tar.” Although it may sound like an old English sea ballad, the song was written in the United States for the Broadway musical Old Lavender.
We are in search of several camp staff for summer 2025. Please check the Jobs page for details on the positions and how to apply.
This episode of From the Mic features Diane Silver. Diane says: “I love that moment when I can stop calling—when I can pull back, pull back, pull back, and ultimately you’re not calling anymore. And the dancers are just dancing to the music.”
Folk Tunes from the Women, curated by Kathryn Tickell, is a tune book like no other! This is a bumper book of more than 150 contemporary tunes by 100 unique composers from different areas, traditions, and backgrounds.
There’s a wide selection of jigs, hornpipes, reels, airs, marches, polkas, waltzes, mazurkas, and more. All tunes are presented as melody lines with chord symbols, making it a useful book for teachers and players alike.
Peter and Barbara Snape introduce “There Is a Tavern.” Similar to the well-known “Died for Love,” this song is by Lancastrian folk singer Emma Vickers. It is sung to the tune “McCafferty,” very similar to “Lord Franklin,” and has many floating verses.
John Roberts (1944-2025) receives the Lifetime Contribution Award in recognition of his contributions as a singer, song collector, historian, accompanist, teacher, and mentor. His award was presented posthumously on May 10, 2025, in Schenectady, NY. (We hope to share a recording of the award event, but there were technical issues causing delays.)
For the past six decades, John fostered a wonderful set of communities through his music and song, including the English folk music scene, the morris dance world, the Irish music world, the sea music world, CDSS camps at Pinewoods, and at folk festivals from coast to coast.
Supported by concertina, banjo, guitar, or melodeon, John’s solo performances offered a great balance of wit, historical knowledge, and musicianship—and always a warm invitation to join in. When John sang, he had the remarkable ability to transport listeners to the place and time of the song, a notable talent that engaged the audience with ease and confidence.
Tony Parkes (1949–2024) receives the Lifetime Contribution Award in recognition of his contributions as a caller of contras and squares for more than 50 years, choreographer, musician, band leader, author, workshop leader, dance historian, and dance organizer. His award was presented posthumously on November 22, 2025, in Concord, MA. (A recording of the celebration is coming soon.)
Tony Parkes touched the lives of innumerable dancers, musicians, and callers throughout his career. He was the author of Contra Dance Calling: A Basic Text, the comprehensive book on calling, and more recently Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century, and his legacy will live on in those foundational volumes for decades to come. But Tony also embodied the consummate caller and musician, appearing weekly at the Concord (MA) Scout House for more than 20 years with the band Yankee Ingenuity, which he co-founded.
We are delighted to announce the three recipients of the CDSS Lifetime Contribution Award: John Roberts, Tony Parkes, and David Surette. More info about their award celebrations will be posted later this year.
David Surette (1963–2021) receives the Lifetime Contribution Award in recognition of his contributions as an inspiring music performer, teacher, scholar, and mentor. His award was presented posthumously October 19, 2025, in Concord, NH.
David will be remembered as a talented, kind, and generous person who fostered the love of participatory folk music in all those around him. He taught and mentored many young musicians and was an extraordinary talent on mandolin, guitar, and bouzouki. David toured with numerous contra dance bands, including Fresh Fish and Airdance. Each of these bands was arguably the finest in the country at their time and left a lasting impact on the evolution of contra dance music.
The Contra Connection was a series of articles for organizers and beginning callers by Larry Jennings, Dan Pearl, and Ted Sannella, published in the Country Dance & Song Society News between 1988 and 1995. All 24 articles are now in the Online Library for your perusal.
Thanks to the Massachusetts Cultural Council for their generous support.