Northwest Forklife News - October 3, 2008

It's YOUR Folklife!

After 37 years, the Northwest Folklife Festival is still free, but the challenge is greater than ever to keep it open to anyone who wants to participate. Folklife is the best place in the northwest to share your culture, your community, YOUR FOLKLIFE!

Our goal is to raise $19,500 by October 18th. There are over 5000 people on this email list - if each person gave just $5, we'd make this goal! We need your help to keep Folklife alive!

You can make a donation here: http://northwestfolklife.chipin.com/northwest-folklife

Celebrate Folklife Benefit Auction

November 8th, 5:30pm
Fisher Pavilion, Seattle Center
Buy your tickets now!

Bid on one-of-a-kind items in the live and silent auctions and dash for a delicious dessert.  Join us for fabulous food, exciting entertainment and an exclusive sneak peek at our 2009 cultural focus, the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition.

Live Auction Spotlight:
That Famous Lobster Dinner
Join Northwest Folklife board member Luther Black & Christina Wright at their Wallingford home for a delicious multi-course seafood dinner, featuring Maine Lobster and Northwest shellfish, with all the fixings.  Luther & Chris will prepare and host the dinner for your party of six - all you need to bring is your appetite!

Silent Auction Spotlight:
A Yearlong Dual Membership to Town Hall
Town Hall is home to dozens of art and civic organizations; its programs are famous for their "impact and immediacy." With your dual membership, you and your partner or friend will receive a mailed monthly calendar and newsletter, invitations to special member events, discounts on books and events, and more!

Reserve your Auction seat early and save!  
You can purchase tickets online now for $65 (after October 17th, tickets are $75).

Our official caterer for the Auction is Foodz Catering.  

To receive weekly auction updates, please email Molly Haas at mollyh@nwfolklife.org with the subject line "Auction Hotlist."

Audio Picks of the Month

This month, your trusty editor (that would be me, Erin Doherty, Development Associate here at Northwest Folklife) will be serving up the Audio Picks.  Enjoy!

Folklives Podcast #14: New Year's Eve
This podcast about Québécois New Year's parties is my favorite Folklives podcast.  The music (featuring Lisa Ornstein, André Marchand and La Bottine Souriante) and stories are beautiful, warm and inviting.  I can just picture the kitchen: laughter, food and music, people dancing, kids and pets underfoot.  I've never even been to a veillée, but this podcast puts you there.  

Los Mex Pistols Del Norte (2007 Northwest Folklife Festival)
The first time I saw this band was at the Festival a few years ago.  The audience on the grass in front of them was one of the most age-diverse groups I've ever seen: hipsters in their teens and 20s, long-time Folklifers in their 50s...and frenetic toddlers moshing in the front.  Combining elements of traditional Mexican music genres with the speed and attitude of punk, they've got an original and completely danceable sound. (We've also featured them in Folklives podcast #9.)

Danbert Nobacon (2008 Northwest Folklife Festival)
Formerly of Chumbawumba fame (you know the song: "I get knocked down, but I get up again!"), Mr. Nobacon's solo efforts show his true talents much better, in my opinion.  His sound is hard to define, clever lyrics coupled with music that's a rough-cut mix of political folk, sea-shanty and blues.  Yep, it's a bit odd, but never boring.

Upcoming Events

Croatia Fest
Saturday, October 4, 6-10pm & Sunday, October 5, 12noon-8pm
Seattle Center | Free

Celebrate the history and heritage of the Pacific Northwest Croatian American Community
Go here for more info or visit the Festál website to learn more about other October festivals, including Utsav, Turkfest, and Dia de Muertos.

Seattle Presents: Eduardo Mendonça
Thursday, October 9 | noon
City Hall - 600 4th Avenue, Seattle | Free

Folklife veteran & Brazilian showcase community coordinator performs.

Presented by the Mayor's Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs.  Details here.

An Evening with Jonatha Brooke
Saturday, October 11th | 7:30pm
Shorecrest Performing Arts Center
Tickets $20/22
An intimate evening with the singer/songwriter, highlighting songs from her newly released album The Works, featuring the lyrics of Woody Guthrie.

To find out more about this concert, visit the Shoreline Arts site.

Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
October 17-26 | various times & locations
$9 for most tickets

The 13th annual event celebrating films by, for and about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people & their families. threedollarbillcinema.org for more info.