Events

The Archaeological Quest for the Earliest Peoples of Western North America

With Loren Davis, PhD, Professor of Anthropology at Oregon State University

March 14, 2019 | 6:30-8:30PM; Doors open @ 5PM | $5 Suggested Donation
 

Archaeologists agree that humans came to North America sometime during the last ice age, but many questions remain unanswered, including: When exactly did humans first arrive in North America?  How did they get here?  What were their lives like?  These questions are central to the research field known as ”First Americans Studies”. 

In this talk, archaeologist Loren Davis will address these research questions by discussing current knowledge about the earliest archaeological evidence for human occupation in western North America by focusing on case studies from eastern Oregon, Idaho, Oregon’s coast, and Baja California. 

Loren Davis, Ph,D is a Professor of Anthropology and the Executive Director of the Keystone Archaeological Research Fund at Oregon State University where he specializes in the archaeology of western North America, the application of geosciences to archaeology, and the study of the First Americans.

Science Pub Eugene is a monthly event that is open to anyone and everyone. No RSVP or scientific background required. Just bring your curiosity, sense of humor, and appetite for food, drinks, and knowledge! For more information or to sign up for our mailing list, email: sciencepub@omsi.edu.

Diggin’ Dirt

Diggin Dirt began planting its roots back in 2011 in the town of Arcata, CA in Humboldt County. The original lineup was a jammed out quintet that consisted of a double guitar rhythm section and a tenor saxophone. The original five (Rory Urquhart, Joey Incorvaia, Drew Weitzel, John Callahan and Aaron Gottesman) had high hopes of getting house party gigs and maybe one day performing on a stage. Practices, gigs, and seasons passed as the band traveled through many incarnations of members and genres. The band took pieces from each chapter and kept moving forward, all the while staying anchored to the heavy groove element that Diggin Dirt has become known for.

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In 2016, Diggin Dirt found its current form when it added a Humboldt local, the soul man, Zach Alder, and his commanding vocal element into the mix. The horn section also evolved when it rounded out its sound with the addition of Tyler Martin on baritone saxophone. The newly conglomerated 7-piece band had instant chemistry, and after only a few months of playing together, released their Full Season LP. Their debut album is comprised of 11 tracks that showcase musical influences ranging from afrobeat to reggae and rock, always with that characteristic funky Diggin Dirt soul.

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The band began touring outside of Humboldt County in the spring of 2017 throughout California and Oregon, and was met with a tremendous response. A reputation of quality original music backed by high energy performance grew around the Dirt’s name, and in turn inspired them to keep growing. With this growth came new tunes and the recently released Bedrock EP. Showing more musical maturity and a new depth of identity, the album is a true sign of more to come.

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The band is influenced by funk heavy hitters such as James Brown, Funkadelic, Bootsy Collins and Sly and the Family Stone as well as reggae bands like Steel Pulse and modern funk like Orgone. Dirt has appeared at several festivals including High Sierra Music Festival, Salmonfest, Emerald Forest, the Trinity River Jamboree, Northern Nights, and the Benbow Summer Arts and Music Festival among others.

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The Dirt is more inspired than ever, and ready to bring the music to the people. With more expansive West Coast tour dates, and fresh material coming out of their preparations, the group shows no signs of slowing down as they expand their reach. Earn that paycheck, and dust off those dancing shoes because we’re looking at you tonight! Keep checking in on this funky force, and make sure to come out and groove when you happen to find them in your neck of the woods.

You gotta dig that dirt!

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“Dusty Roads, gonna take me there…I aint traveling far. Packing my suitcase…tie my knapsack tight and I took off down the road. Telling all my friends not to miss me none, down in the valley below…and I know, I’m gonna find it…it’s just a matter of time”

 – Diggin Dirt

Far Out West

Far Out West brings a unique and energetic brand of funk that features groovy beats and rootsy vocals. The quartet performs a spectrum of sounds; their original songs fuse together soulful folk-inspired lyrics with crunchy instrumental endeavors guided by the stylings of jazz and rock. Popular cover songs by artists like James Brown, The Grateful Dead, The New Mastersounds, and Sharon Jones are also often sprinkled into the set list. Far Out West has been performing around the Pacific Northwest since 2016 and consists of Liz Chibucos (guitar and vocals), Chad Kimbler (mandolin), Danny Lee (bass), and Forest Carter (drums).

RJ Sellmore – Lead Vocals and Percussion

AKA Rich Sellers: The lead singer and Band leader has always prided himself on being a professional on and off stage. He recently was able to spend time at one of the oldest marinas and yacht clubs in San Francisco, The Aeolian Yacht Club. His main duty was to be in charge of the Launch Ramp but also managed its famous Friday Night gatherings. RJ has been playing music since he was in grade school and when he is not singing or playing the congas he prefers to relax in ancient roman style bath houses with as many friends he can get.

Judd Thunder – Drums, Lead and Back Up Vocals

AKA Jon Raden Judd Thunder started playing drums in high school and has worked in many projects since his first hair band. This includes a variety of 80’s cover bands including Eurasia, UB69, Dick Astley and Jon Bovi. Jud Thunders likes watching the movie, Moby Dick when he is not rehearsing or performing, and has it saved on his computer, iPhone and iPad, for easy access.

Rusty Brown – Trombone

AKA Joe Freuen Adding to the Ginger Bread Horn section, Rusty blows a good bone.

Geoff Prince – Bass Guitar, Lead and Back Up Vocals

AKA Zac Johnson: Is our only real multi talented musician. As well as playing Bass he can play almost every instrument including the lute, bouzouki, and Koto but he prefers the oboe. CAB is very lucky to be blessed with the talents of Jeff and one of the only reasons he is in CAB is because of his very close friendship with RJ. He has his doctorate of ancient instruments and recently earned his PHD from the unaccredited University of Redwood. Jeff also double majored in Nautical Engineering and manufactured his own Sailboat.

Leif Gunner – Guitars and Back Up Vocals

AKA Paul Wurster: Since the polygamous marriage last year Leif has been very focused on performing while at the top his game. He spends the majority of his days rehearsing and getting ready for “the next gig”. He started playing guitar at a very young age likes tuning his instrument to get the most velvety sound possible. John and Leif are the only members to commute to the gigs because they live in a compound in eastern Oregon inside John Day.

Chaz Pennington – Keyboards

AKA Ben Scharf: Chaz recently won a scoring award for the softcore movie “Candy and Apples”. The film was only released on Betamax and LaserDisc formats. The soundtrack only is available via 8 track tapes.

John Stache’man – Saxophones

AKA Sean Flannery: John recently started playing the saxophone last year because it’s “smooth and helps get women”. Leif and John recently became aware they were dating the same woman and decided it was best to join forces into a polygamous relationship with her. She has since married three other men and the sextuplet recently started a religious band that performs in Mormon stake centers in and around greater Idaho and eastern Oregon.

And evening with GlassRoots Band, jamming out classics and originals of and eclectic blend. free , all Ages!!!!!!!!!

Here’s a show you don’t want to miss! Our featured artist this month is…darbuka roll please…Ritim Egzotik!

Founded in 2010, Ritim Egzotik – Turkish for ‘Exotic Rhythm’ – brings the fascinating melodies and rhythms of ‘Golden Era’ Egyptian and Turkish music of the 20th century, blending traditional and modern instruments with rock and jazz influences, in the spirit of composers and musicians such as Ahmed Fouad Hassan and Omar Khorshid.

Featuring:
David Reihs – creator and musical director, Arabic keyboards and accordion, Egyptian/Turkish percussion, elektro saz, oud. Sean Daly – Arabic fretted bass and guitar
Jason Ramirez – Egyptian Tabla/Turkish Darbuka drum

Check them out at:
www.RitimEgzotik.com
www.facebook.com/RitimEgzotik

But, that’s not all! The breathtaking dancer, Henna, will also be performing with the band along with these fabulous dancers: Sabrina, Nicole, Souzana,Fatifah, Mezdulene and Ann!

Word has it that there will be time for some open dance too, so don’t miss out on your chance to dance!

MEDGE monthly shows are held at Whirled Pies located at 199 W 8th Ave in downtown Eugene, Oregon and are always family-friendly. $7 admission, please bring cash to pay at the door. Join us for an evening of music and dance!

Vipertoons Productions and Whirled Pies present Eugene Women in The Blues, a benefit for Womenspace on International Women’s Day, Friday, March 8th. The benefit features Eugene area blues musicians including Halie Loren, Barbara Healy, Nicolette Helm, Matrisha Armitage, Lynda Duffy, Teresa Cunningham, Claudia Paige, Paula Vaden, Anya Lecuyer, and Sue Hunnel.

Halie Loren whose work spans varying genres is perhaps best known as a sensitive and transformative singer/songwriter who tours internationally and whose recordings have topped the jazz charts in Japan and Canada.

Barbara Healy’s soulful vocals and lyrics have ignited West coast stages and radio waves for more than thirty years. She currently performs with Barbara Healy & Groove Too.

Seasoned blues veteran Nicolette Helm performed with her own Nicolette Helm Band for many years and is now performing jazz standards.

Matrisha Armitage is one-half of the rock and blues band Bajuana Tea, and the Executive Director of the Music Education & Performing Artists Association which produces the GRRRLZ ROCK Music & Arts Festival.

Lynda Duffy is currently the lead singer in the band GROOVIN’; her voice gives all a true Sense of Soul, Getting’ down with the Blues, Kickin’ out with Rock, and Takin’ back with Retro.

Soulful improvisation and heart-felt expression characterizes Teresa Cunningham’s performances featuring tenor, soprano, and alto saxophones and clarinet, as well as vocals.

Drummer Claudia Paige has played with premier artists such as Jerry Garcia and Bonnie Raitt, tours with Druid Sisters Tea Party, and plays locally with several bands including Barbara Healy & Groove Too, Complicated, and Soulicious.

Paula Vaden is vocalist and percussionist with Soulicious.

Anya Lecuyer sings and performs with her band Anya Lecuyer and Friends and her quartet doing rock, R&B, blues, funk, and jazz.

Long-time Eugene area vocalist and fiddler Sue Hunnel currently performs with the Fiddlin’ Big Sue Band.

Womenspace believes each person has the right to live a life free from violence and fear of abuse. The agency’s mission is to prevent domestic violence in intimate partner relationships in Lane County and support survivors in claiming personal power. One in four women and one in seven men will experience some form of domestic violence in their lifetime. By providing support and resources to survivors of intimate partner violence, educating the community and working together Womenspace knows we can decrease the rate of domestic violence and create a healthier and safer community for everyone.

Tickets at the door are on a sliding scale donation of $5 to $50 with a suggested donation of $20. Whirled Pies is at 199 West 8th in Eugene. Show time is 7:00 pm.

Pizza, music and fun in downtown Eugene, OR.. with Andrew Kasab!

Whirled Music Series featuring St. Germain Street Band
3 piece Jazz Trio

There is no label to accurately describe the music of Joe Craven and the Sometimers. Acid-Rockgrass? Jazz Fusion Americana? To try to box it in would be to crush the exuberant creative spirit that happens when Craven, Jonathan Stoyanoff, Bruce MacMillan, Barry Eldridge and Hattie Craven play together. “No genre left behind” is their musical motto, and they accomplish the task with joyful abandon, playing paradigm-shattering free range music that entices and excites. Joe Craven is a creativity educator and prankster savant and, while a multi-instrumentalist proficient with strings and percussion from mando to canjoe to bongo, he is also a eulogist, wordsmith and fashion insultant.

“Everything Joe touches turns into music” says mandolinist David Grisman, with whom Craven played for almost 17 years. Craven has rubbed creative elbows with Jerry Garcia, David Lindley, Alison Brown, Jason Marsalis, Inga Swearengen, Roy Rogers, Howard Levy and many others. Joe also sings the praises of incredible, inspiring souls he has collaborated with that many folks may never know of. His creative genius sparks and ignites his fellow musicians, who travel to other worldly musical destinations not explored by many others.

Fittingly, Joe & The Sometimers’ new album Garcia Songbook pays homage to, while re-imagining, the music of one of the better known pioneers of Experiential Jam Music. Joe recorded and performed with Jerry in the acoustic quartet Garcia Grisman.

The Members…

35 years in the biz, Joe Craven wears a lot of hats; instrumentalist, vocalist, music producer, actor, storyteller, visual artist, carnival barker, noisemaker, fashion insultant, former museologist and creativity educator. He enjoys ‘playing forward’ folk tradition and process by mashing up ideas and sound tools from a variety of unexpected places, creating new music altogether. Joe has made music with Jerry Garcia, David Lindley, David Grisman, Alison Brown, Howard Levy, Vassar Clements, Rob Ickes and many other innovative artists. He is a featured artist/educator in the PBS television series, Music Gone Public, and Joe has created music and sound effects for commercials, soundtracks, computer games and contributions to several Grammy-nominated projects. From Carnegie Hall to street-corner busking, around the world and back – Joe’s at home and loving every minute. As an award-winning educator, Joe has taught with jazz vocalist Inga Swearengen, bassist Victor Wooten, children’s music innovator Paul Reisler and jazz percussionist Jason Marsalis. He’s the Executive Director of Vocáli Voice Camp and RiverTunes Roots Music Camp in California, the recipient of a Folk Alliance Far-West Performer of the Year Award and the Swannanoa Gathering’s Master Music Maker Award in North Carolina where Joe has taught for over a decade during Fiddle Week and, more recently, Contemporary Folk Week. “Joe Craven is magical” – San Francisco Chronicle

Jonathan Stoyanoff is a first call bassist who is a fan of, trained in, and very proficient at, a wide variety of vernacular music. He attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA on a performance scholarship and, since then, Jonathan has been involved in a variety of musical projects. He has kept musical company with Larry Coryell, B.B. King, Robert Cray, Huey Lewis, Dave Mason, Jackie Greene, Ozomatli, Spearhead, Maceo Parker and many more. Jonathan has also played at some of the nation’s most prestigious festivals including the Monterey Jazz Festival, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, High Sierra Music Festival and Delfest.

Bruce MacMillanis a wonderfully intuitive musician dedicated to the holy temple of American Roots Music. His passion for the history and variety of America’s musical heritage has resulted in a versatility across many musical genres. From Blues to Bluegrass, Country to Jazz and Rock & Roll, Bruce plays with wonderful energy and artistry. He has performed upon many stages and at many music festivals, including the Strawberry Music Festival, High Sierra, and California Worldfest. With his wife Sally, they have two fine music stores in Chico and Redding, CA, known as The Music Connection where Bruce displays his chops as an educator, repairman and salesman. Bruce’s impressive skills on vocals plus all manner of guitars, Dobro and lap steel, bring a broad palette of sound to Joe Craven & The Sometimers.

Barry Eldridge The deep pocket grooves of drummer Barry Eldridge can be heard across an array of musical styles. His diverse skills cover wide territory: from high-intensity jazz-rock to world beat fusion and hip hop; from folk-grass Americana to one-drop reggae and second line and to backing a host of the region’s top singer-songwriters, Barry’s ability to support the music and bring inspired playing to the stage has earned him a reputation as one of the most versatile and in-demand drummers in Northern California. Having performed throughout North America at hundreds of venues and festivals with dozens of artists and bands, there is always something eclectic brewing in Barry’s creative cauldron.

Hattie Craven has built a reputation as one of the finest young, if not youngest, performers on the stages of the Strawberry Music Festival, Kate Wolf Music Festival, California World Fest, Hangtown Music Festival, The Redwood Ramble, Parkfield Bluegrass Festival, Wintergrass, Live Oak Music Festival, Delfest, Millpond Music Festival and others – and all to standing ovations. She has two recordings to her credit, “Eleven” (recorded at age 11) and “Bright” (recorded at age 15) both produced by her father Joe Craven. Hattie brings the important presence of a woman to the Sometimers sound with her stunning vocal work and captivating stage presence.