Author: Sharon

My passions include photography, music, people, teaching, learning, taking risks and asking "I wonder what would happen if I..."

Local Music Schedule-Feb.8 – Feb.14

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Joanne Silva has created a very comprehensive local music blog. If you send me your gigs for the week, I’ll pass it on to her to post. Click here or on the picture above to go to Joanne’s blog.

HERE FOR HAITI – Last Night

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Click on photo for more.

The Unitarian Universalist Church was filled with love and compassion for the hard-hit Haitian citizens. The music asked us to reflect on our place in the world. Primal drumbeats, eerie strings, melodious harmonies, “fearless dancers” created a  unified energy. The whole room moved to the rhythm and became one with the music. An incredible night.

A huge thank you to Brian King (who asked “Are we really in Gloucester??) and all the musicians and speakers who made this memorable event possible.

OH NO! We Baby Boomers are becoming our parents!

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Some of the artists of the 60’s are revising their hits, with new lyrics to accommodate aging baby boomer’s who can remember doing the “Limbo” as if it were yesterday .

They include:
Bobby Darin — Splish, Splash, I Was Havin’ A Flash

Herman’s Hermits — Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got A Lovely Walker

Ringo Starr — I Get By With A Little Help From Depends

The Bee Gees — – How Can You Mend A Broken Hip?

Roberta Flack— The First Time Ever I Forgot Your Face



Johnny Nash — I Can’t See Clearly Now.


Paul Simon— Fifty Ways To Lose Your Liver


The Commodores — Once, Twice, Three Times To The Bathroom



Procol Harem— A Whiter Shade Of Hair

Leo Sayer — You Make Me Feel Like Napping


The Temptations — Papa’s Got A Kidney Stone

Abba— Denture Queen
“You haven’t seen my teeth have you?�
Tony Orlando — Knock 3 Times On The Ceiling If You Hear Me Fall

Helen Reddy — I Am Woman, Hear Me Snore

Leslie Gore— It’s My Procedure, And I’ll Cry If I Want To

And Last but NOT least….
Willie Nelson — On the Commode Again

Thanks, Joanne, for forwarding this. 🙂

Docksiders’ Aloha show last push for Hawaii trip – Manny Simoes Photos

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photo by Manny Simoes

The student musicians in the Docksiders, Gloucester High School’s stage band, made their last big fund-raising push for their trip to Hawaii.

The trip to Hawaii, April 16 to 23, is not the first trip the group has taken. In the nine years the band has been together, it is given concerts throughout the Cape Ann area, and tries to take a trip every two years. The Docksiders have traveled as far as California to play at Disney Land and to Florida, where the group twice played at Walt Disney World.

It was the Docksiders’ trip to Walt Disney World two years ago that led to this excursion for the band. See Times article here.

BankGloucester President Patrick Thorpe - Photo by Manny Simoes

Spirit of Massachusetts

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Built by New England Historic Seaport at the Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA.
*Launched in 1984*

Length Overall: 125 feet
Length of the Waterline: 81 feet
Length on Deck: 100 feet
Draft: 11 feet
Height from Waterline to Main Topmast Truck: 100 feet 6 inches
Beam: 24 feet
Gross Tons: 90 tons
Sails: Mainsail, Foresail, Jumbo, Jib, Jib Topsail, Fore Gaff-Topsail, Main Gaff-Topsail,Fisherman
Sail Area: 7000 Square Feet
Keel: Greenheart
Hull: Long Leaf Yellow Pine and White Oak
Frames: White Oak
Masts: Douglas Fir
Spars: Douglas Fir
Deck: Douglas Fir
Main Engine: 220 h.p. John Deere
Freshwater Capacity: 600 gallons
Diesel Fuel Capacity: 570 gallons
Number of Students: 20
Number of Crew: 8-11

Spirit of Massachusetts was launched on April 28, 1984 at the Charleston Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts. She is modeled after the 1889 fishing schooner Fredonia, designed by Edward Burgess. The Gloucester fishing schooners were widely known as “fast and able” vessels, and Fredonia was widely known for her speed. Spirit of Massachusetts proudly upholds that  tradition to this day.

Spirit of Massachusetts was built by her original owners for service as a sail training vessel for young people. She also served as a good-will ambassador for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from 1984 until 1987.  Ocean Classroom Foundation began chartering Spirit for our own educational programs in 1997, and subsequently purchased her in 2000.

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Plum Island

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I went up to Newburyport this morning for a dr.’s appointment and took a ride out to Plum Island on my way back. I tried posting from my iPhone, but it didn’t work. This is a test(still from my phone, but home). Maybe it’ll work.

Explore the Secret World of Bubbles

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From the Beacon
Rockport —
All programs at the Rockport Public Library are free, open to the public and handicapped accessible. The library is at 17 School St. For more information on all events, visit rockportlibrary.org.

Bubble artist Keith Michael Johnson will entrance youngsters with bubbles that seem to defy the law of gravity when he appears on Saturday, Feb. 6, at 10:30 a.m. in the Brenner Friends Room.

Bubbles are fun to make, but there are reasons why they seem to behave magically. In a program geared to children in grades K-6 and up, the science behind the magic unfolds like a mystery. The audience learns why water won’t make bubbles on its own and where rainbow colors come from.

Johnson notes that for good, clean fun, nothing beats a soap bubble the size of your car. His eye-pleasing tricks include creating bubbles with his bare hands and building a tower of bubbles on top of an inverted glass.

A graduate of Ringling Brothers Clown College and a professional performer for elementary audiences, Johnson uses science and art to help children use their imaginations and creativity to explore and understand the world around them.

The program is appropriate for elementary youngsters and the young-at-heart of all ages. In case of severe weather, the snow date for the event will be Sunday, Feb. 7, at 2 p.m. This event is funded by the Friends of the Rockport Public Library.

Message from Brian King re: Here for Haiti

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Hi there,

I strongly believe that when tragedies happen in places that are out of our reach, many feel powerless to help.
Coming together where we are, HERE, helps strengthen our energy, vision and ability to help.
It pulls us out of isolation, to join in effort and voice.  We have the power to help right HERE.

Reach out, spread the word!

Share these links:
http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?ref=mb#/event.php?eid=266078476052&ref=mf
http://act.pih.org/page/event/detail/wrwf

xoxo
Brian

“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else” – Judy Garland

http://www.whattimeisitmrfox.com
http://www.myspace.com/whattimeisitmrfox

Official Press Release for HERE FOR HAITI

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GLOUCESTER IS HERE FOR HAITI

On Saturday, February 6th, 2010, the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church presents HERE FOR HAITI: Raising Song, Spirit & Help for Haiti.

GLOUCESTER, MA.    Saturday, February 6, 2010.  Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church. 10 Church St. Gloucester MA. 7pm.  $10.  All ages.  All proceeds to Partners in Health (working in Haiti for over 20 years)  HERE FOR HAITI will include performances by What Time Is It, Mr. Fox?, Sarah Rabdau, Kristen Miller, HUM, Dan King, an African drum ensemble, dancers, and other special guests.  Hosted by Chloe Erdmann and U.U. Minister, Steve Wilson.

In July of 2006, Chloe Erdmann visited Port-Au-Prince and Jacmel, Haiti, with a group of dancers led by choreographer, Jean Appolon and musician, Juju, (both from Haiti.) The U.S. visitors were welcomed into the community and participated in rituals, including Jean’s initiation ceremony as a Vodou Priest, and a pilgrimage to Saut d’Eau waterfall in Ville Bonheur.   Chloe fondly remembers the experience, “The emphasis on community sharing, helping and healing was palpable and contagious.  And the dancing! I really don’t know how, but all ages danced during these rituals for days–and I mean that quite literally.  It was nothing short of amazing.  My friends and I would collapse at the end of the day and be dazzled by the idea that people were still dancing and would be up earlier than we would the following morning and at it again.  If dancing is any measure of joy in the soul, they have it to overflowing.”

Despite abominable conditions in health care, education, and access to clean water, Chloe was astounded by the unshakable spirit, pride and generosity in which she was surrounded.

“There was an instance when I truly witnessed how desperate the situation was concerning health care.  A rainstorm had flooded the concrete channels on either side of the road and a motorcyclist had skidded off the side and broken his leg.  A woman passing by had managed to get him in the back of her station wagon and was looking for any kind of medical attention in the area.  Two Haitian pilgrim/hitchhikers we had picked up in our truck gave their towels to help stop the bleeding on the way to the closest medical facility (an hour away.) Giving up towels may seem like nothing to us, but I later found out that those were their towels for the year. This is only one story, but it is one that haunts me when I imagine the scale of damage done to such a beautiful country by this earthquake. If a towel can help, every bit helps, and we need to help our neighbors much as we can!”

Chloe met Brian King first as fan of his band, What Time Is It, Mr. Fox? Through her friendship with Brian, she fell in love with Gloucester, spending the Summer of 2008 on Cape Ann, before moving to Scotland to earn her PhD in Comparative Religion and Theology.  She happened to be back in Massachusetts when the earthquake hit, and immediately she and Brian approached the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church about creating a benefit.  The church board was eager to sponsor the event.

Regarding the benefit, Brian says, “I strongly believe that when tragedies happen in places that are out of our reach, many feel powerless to help. Coming together where we are, HERE, helps strengthen our energy, vision and ability to make a difference.  It pulls us out of isolation, to join in effort and voice.  We have the power to help right HERE by raising funds that will go where they are needed most.”

Chloe also spoke about seeing Partners in Health in action.  “When I saw the hospital that Partner In Health supports, it was one of the most hopeful sights there concerning the medical situation.  Paul Farmer knows Haiti, Haitians, and the situation intimately. PIH comes highly recommended by the group I visited Haiti with- both the Haitians and the Americans – and I feel confident to donate the proceeds to their good work.”

Brian has pulled together great talent from Gloucester and Boston for HERE FOR HAITI.   Boston singer-songwriter, pianist, Sarah Rabdau was a finalist in WBCN Rock-n-Roll Rumble last year.  Her latest video, “Autumn Spills” is getting rotation on BRAVO.

Brian’s own band, What Time Is It, Mr. Fox? sold out their CD release party at the Gloucester Stage Company, and the band keeps getting bigger.  They will be joined by the newly added back-up singers, The Furies, which bring Fox’s original songs to new heights.

Mr. Fox will also be joined by songwriter and cellist, Kristen Miller, who will also offer her own set of Middle Eastern infused compositions, as well as the best cover of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” ever heard.

Local music staple Dan King will open the night with his rootsy sound that is known to turn any audience into a family.  Local songwriter and artist, Deb Hardy will perform with her vocal group, HUM.

The night will also feature an African Drum ensemble and both traditional and contemporary dance.   A speaker from Partners in Health will explain exactly where and how funds will be used.

“For ten dollars you’re going to experience a great night,” Brian King promises. “And you’re going to be glad that you’re HERE FOR HAITI.”

Please, contact Brian King hewasacloud@hotmail.com for high-resolution pictures of the Saut d’Eau Waterfall taken by Chloe, Chloe in Haiti, and images of the performers.

OTHER IMPORTANT LINKS:

Partners in Health:  http://act.pih.org/page/event/detail/wrwf

What Time Is It, Mr. Fox?:  http://www.whattimeisitmrfox.com

Sarah Rabdau: http://www.sarahrabdau.com

Dan King: http://www.danielscottking.com

Kristen Miller: http://www.cellobrew.com

An Afternoon of Scottish Music- Today

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From Michael O’Leary:

Scottish jigs, reels, strathspeys, and airs fill the Annisquam Village Church this Sunday at 4:00 PM when champion fiddler, Calum Pasqua, and the American Scottish pianist, Susie Petrov, perform music from their new CD, “In Conversation.”  Dancers from the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society are rumored to be planning to break in on a dance tune!   The public is invited.  Kilts and tartans most welcome!

Donation at the door is $15/$10 for seniors and students.

The Annisquam Village Church is at 820 Washington Street in Gloucester.
For information:  978.283.6416 or www.annisquamvillagechurch.com