TradMad Virtual Camp 2020 Airs on Folk Music Notebook, Aug. 31-Sept. 3

Each summer, folks flock to Pinewoods Camp in Plymouth, Massachusetts for an annual six-day gathering of live music and dance for adults interested in Anglo-American traditional music and dance known as TradMad. Although the current COVID-19 pandemic prompted the Folk Music Society of New York (aka Pinewoods Folk Music Club) to postpone this year’s event, TradMad Virtual Camp 2020 will be presented Monday, August 31-Thursday, September 3, from 7-10 p.m. ET / 4p-7 p.m. PT each evening, via FolkMusicNotebook.com.

Ron Olesko, a veteran folk DJ and creator & curator of the 24/7 Internet folk radio channel, said “Folk Music Notebook will proudly carry on the spirit of the camp each night as we present concerts from many past and present staff members.” Among the artists slated to share their music are (not in order of appearance) AJ Bodnar & Liza DiSavino, Amy Conley, Andy Cohen, Anni Fentiman & Dave Weber, The Vox Hunters with Sally Rogers & Howie Bursen, Aubrey Atwater & Elwood Donnelly, Becky Tracy & Rachel Bell, Ben Paley, Bennett Konesni & Edith Gawler, Bill Peek, Brian Peters, Brigitte Kloareg, Carolyn Robson, Chris Koldewey, Chris Newman, Coracree (Allan Carr, Sarah Gowan, Bill Quern, Jane Rothfield), Dave Para & Erika Gerety, Dennis Stroughmatt & Doug Hawf, Eliza Carthy, Emily O’Brien, Forest Huval, George Wilson, Gina Forsyth, Harry Tuft, Heather Wood, Hubby Jenkins, Ian Russell, Iona Fyfe, Jen Larson, Jody Kruskal, John Kirk & Trish Miller,John Roberts, Katell Kloareg & Fred Boudinau, Linnea Paton, Lorraine & Bennett Hammond, Margaret Bennett, Mark Gilston, Martin Wyndham-Read, Max Cohen & Rose Clancy, Michael & Carrie Kline, Moira Craig, Molly Hebert-Wilson, Ryan & Brennish Thomson, Sally Rogers & Howie Bursen with Armand Aromin & Benedict Gagliardi, Susan Trump, Tim Eriksen, and The Vox Hunters (Armand Aromin & Benedict Gagliardi) with Rogers & Bursen

Co-directed by Joy Bennett (who is also executive director of Old Songs, Inc.) and Heather Wood (who also performs), TradMad has previously hosted daily workshops on a variety of topics, instrument instruction, dancing to live music, staff concerts, vocal coaching, camper concerts, jamming, singing, swimming, and more. This year, traditional folk fans will have to supply their own campfires and marshmallows, but each evening’s concert will feature some of the finest purveyors of traditional music from both sides of the Atlantic, according to Bennett and Wood. “You can tune in and become a virtual camper — and you won’t need bug spray to listen at this camp!,” they noted.

“Joy and Heather approached me after the overwhelmingly successful broadcast of the Old Songs Festival “ that aired on Folk Music Notebook earlier this summer and featured new performances by artists who would have been at this year’s festival celebrating traditional music and dance at the Altamont Fairgrounds in update New York, along with archival recordings from past festivals, said Olesko. “They asked if I would be interested in streaming a virtual version of TradMad… I did not have to think long before I said ‘yes.’ I have known Heather and Joy for many years. Since they started TradMad five years ago, I have heard so many glowing reports from campers — and their list of ‘tutors’ reads like a ‘who’s who’ of the world of traditional music.”

Noting that folk music has become a term for so many different styles, particularly contemporary acoustic singer-songwriters,” Olesko said: “I’ve always felt that we need to remind people of the our roots – and those deep roots contain the treasures that can be found in Anglo-American folk music. I try to incorporate a great deal of traditional folk into Folk Music Notebook, and this event will help strengthen our connection to the music and the powerful artists that are perpetuating these styles. “ He believes that listeners will be surprised at the diversity within these root styles and also the connections between all the countries that are represented that influence our contemporary folk world.

Over the span of four evenings, listeners will be virtually transported across the pond to the UK and Ireland, as well as to rural Appalachia and many other locales. “Artists, who have been staff instructors/tutors/campers at TradMad in the past, will share not only the songs, but will offer context and background in addition to sharing great memories of TradMad Camp,” he said.

“Each night, we will feature 10 to 12 artists performing from their homes — people like Eliza Carthy, Hubby Jenkins, Sally Rogers and Howie Bursen, John Roberts and so many more,” Olesko continued. “Listeners will be treated to classic ballads, dulcimer and fiddle tunes and some surprises too! This event will be much more than just performances – we will [seek to] capture the spirit of the annual gathering and the magic that takes place when devoted TradMad campers descend upon the beautiful and historic Pinewoods Camp in Plymouth, Massachusetts each year.”

Olesko noted that there would be “encore” broadcasts the following morning at 3am ET and again at noon ET – for all of our listeners around the globe!

“TradMad is truly is a unique and important event that I hope more people will discover,” said Olesko. “There are so many wonderful festivals, but an event like TradMad is a way for us to reconnect with our roots, and happily younger folks are discovering the bounty of offerings that traditional music holds.”

Launched on May 3, 2019 — the 100th anniversary of the birth of late folk music icon Pete Seeger — Folk Music Notebook is a 24/7 online folk music channel that also can be accessed via free apps and listened to through your smartphones, car speakers, and other Bluetooth streaming devices. In addition to Olesko, Folk Music Notebook features programs hosted by other folk DJs. Olesko views the channel as “a place to ‘discover’ new artists and songs as well as honor the established names who created this living tradition.”

Established in 1965, the Folk Music Society of New York (aka Pinewoods Folk Music Club, folkmusicny.org) is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Country Dance and Song Society of America and engaged in concert presentation and community music-making. Besides concerts, it hosts weekends, workshops, singing parties and get-togethers — all with an emphasis on traditional folk music of all types and flavors.