Calico Jack (and Friends)
Schedule
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Calico Jack Winter Calendar
Don't we love the gold of winter! Today is sparkly and sunny, with the last of autumn's colors shimmering against the sky. Oh my.
Which reminds me: Paul has been feeling MUCH better lately, and we enter into our winter season full of optimism about the future. That said, we're gearing up for a fun winter season, full of music by Calico Jack and a host of our friends.
Hope to see you soon!
Janie & Paul
First, 
It’s Time for a Chesapeake Christmas
Three Performances in 2012!!!! Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon Dec 14-16
This year’s Calico Jack’s Chesapeake Christmas features special guests Pint and Dale, fresh from Seattle, and Washington, DC’s Jennifer Cutting and Steve Winick for an evening of seasonal songs from the maritime traditions of the Eastern Shore and the world beyond. Take your pick of three separate performances (see details below) in either Easton, Annapolis or Havre de Grace. Sit back with a cup of spiced cider and revel in songs and stories about skipjacks, oystering and holidays afloat, led by Steve Winick, as the gallant Captain Christmas.
“Back by popular demand,” says Janie (last year’s “Sailing into the Season” program drew audiences from Washington and Annapolis), “this year we’re tightening our focus a bit and adding more regional material to the show, which features spoken word and instrumentals as well as plenty of singing.”
Meneely, songwriter and chronicler of all things Chesapeake, brings her vision of Chesapeake Bay traditions to the stage, joined as ever by her partner Paul DiBlasi. “Expect some new songs with a holiday twist,” says Meneely, who culls her material from years of living on the Eastern Shore and interviewing watermen from all over the Chesapeake region. Featured at the show will be her Bay tale called Santa and the Skipjack, copies of which will be available for sale after the performance.
This year’s special guests William Pint and Felicia Dale have spent the last twenty years presenting traditional sea music with a modern flare. Their driving rhythms and lyrical arrangements derive from a solid backdrop of research into the origins and variations of maritime texts. To this they add, in addition to their powerful vocals, the hurdy gurdy, Irish whistles, fiddle, octave mandolin and guitar.
Returning for a repeat performance this year, Dr. Steve Winick, from the Folklife Center of the Library of Congress, will reprise his role as Captain Christmas, acting as the colorful rhyming MC for the evening’s events. His rendition of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic poem Christmas at Sea brings tears to the eye, but his lively song about old Roger Rum will soon have you laughing out loud.
Washington, DC ethnomusicologist and OCEAN Orchestra band leader Jennifer Cutting (also from the Library of Congress) brings her button box on stage to add even more color to the evening’s instrumentation. Her Song of Solstice has become a perennial sing-along favorite.
Cider and cookies will be served at each locale.
Friday, December 14, 7-9 p.m.
Talbot County Historical Society Auditorium, 25 South Washington Street, Easton, Md.
$15 advance ($5 students) or $20 at the door ($10 students)
This is a family-friendly alcohol-free fundraiser for First Night Talbot.
First Night badges will be available for sale at a discounted advance rate.
410-819-8067; www.talbotpartnership.org
Saturday, December 15, 7-9 p.m.
Annapolis Maritime Museum, 723 Second Street, Annapolis, Md.
$15 advance/$20 door (kids free); 410-295-0104; www.amaritime.org
Sunday, December 16, 3-5 p.m.
Havre de Grace Maritime Museum, 100 Lafayette Street, Havre de Grace, Md.
$15 suggested donation (kids free); 410-939-4800; www.hdgmaritimemuseum.org
More Wintertime Gigs
Thursday, Dec. 6
Santa and the Skipjack at the Annapolis Bookstore
35 Maryland Avenue, Annapolis, 6-9 p.m.
Let's start with a book signing, shall we?
Some of you might recall the children's book I wrote about 20 years ago: "Santa and the Skipjack." It sold out long ago, but we scraped our pennies together a did a short reprint run so the book is available again (2nd edition). You'll be able to pick it up at any of our winter concerts OR come to the Annapolis Bookstore (35 Maryland Avenue) on Thursday, Dec. 6 between 6-9 p.m. and get it while it's hot. While you're at it, the Annapolis Bookstore has a wonderful range of new and used books, including some real gems like Chris White's skipjack book, signed by all the skipjack captains (at least it was still there when last we looked). For info contact me at 443-786-0463 or call the Bookstore at 410-289-2339. (See below for more fun things happening at the boostore, starting with Pint & dale's Bookstore Sing-along on Friday, Dec. 7.)
Sunday, Dec. 9
Calico Jack at the SOS Christmas Brunch
Doubletree Inn, 210 Holiday Court Annapolis,11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
It's probably not too late to join Singles on Sailboats if you're so inclined. If you're already a member, make sure you sign on for the annual Christmas Brunch, to be held this year at the Doubletree Inn (Annapolis) from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. We'll be doing a single set following the feast. Go to www.singlesonsailboats.org to learn more about this fun organization that connects single boat owners with interested crew members (no experience necessary--they'll teach you what you'll need to know). Believe me, this is NOT a dating service, just a group of enthusiastic folks who need crew or enthusiastic folks who need boats.
Friday-Sunday Dec. 14-16
Calico Jack's Chesapeake Christmas
See Above
Monday, Dec 31
Calico Jack at First Night Talbot
Talbot County Historical Society Auditorium, 17 South Washington Street, Easton
There be pirates about! And heading your way to help bring the New Year in good and proper, with booty to spare. Stow your treasure maps, buckle your swashes and cruise on over to the Talbot County Historical Society Auditorium (Downtown Easton, MD) for an evening of high seas hijinks featuring Calico Jack along with Pint and Dale for an evening of piratical frivolity that will carry you into the New Year and beyond. Details have not yet been posted, but check back in a week or so: www.easternshore.com/firstnighttalbot/
Saturday, Jan 19
Calico Jack at the Morattico Waterfront Museum
General Store, Morattico, Virginia, 7-9 p.m.
Presented by the Morattico Waterfront Museum and the Rappahannock Foundation for the Arts, this show will be held in the cozy intimacy of the newly restored General Store that forms the heart of Morattico, a waterfront community on Virginia's Northern Neck. Attendance is limited so advance reservations are strongly recommended. 7-9 p.m. Tickets are $15; contact Jean Poythress at 804-712-8603 or jimkoon4@gmail.com.
Other Concerts Not To Miss!!!!
Friday, Dec. 7
Bookstore Sing-along
Annapolis Bookstore, 35 Maryland Avenue, Annapolis
Speaking of the Annapolis Bookstore, our friends William Pint and Felicia Dale will be leading the second-ever Bookstore Sing-along from 7-9 p.m. Browse the stacks, enjoy a cup of latte from the bookstore cafe and join in on your favorite sea songs. Browse the stacks, buy a few CDs and breath in the store's gentle ambience. There's a $10 requested donation for those who stay for the whole show.
Saturday, Jan 5
Chester River Runoff
Galesville Memorial Hall, 952 Main Street, Galesville, 7:30 p.m.
If you enjoy bluegrass, listen to these guys play. Janie will be presenting this showcase featuring Chester River Runoff's original blend of Eastern Shore bluegrass at the Galesville Memorial Hall’s First Saturday Concert from 8-10 p.m. Relative newcomers to the bluegrass scene—going on seven years now, hardly enough time for them to grow out their beards—the Chester River Runoff players offer up a raft of traditional tunes alongside a growing list of powerful originals peppered with strong vocals and flashes of instrumental genius. Oh, and humor--lots of unabashedly corny jokes made up on the fly. These guys put on a really good show, and they’re charming as all get out.
Tickets for the First Saturday Concert are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Beer and wine will be for sale; proceeds will benefit the West River Improvement Association. The Galesville Memorial Hall is located at 952 Galesville Road, Galesville, Md. Come any time after 3 p.m. to reserve a seat; advance tickets will be on sale till 5 p.m. (Make it a date night; Galesville is a lovely place to have dinner.) Doors open at 7:30 p.m. For reservations/info call 443-786-0463 or e- mail FirstSaturday13@gmail.com.
Friday, Jan 11
Bookstore Sing-along II
Annapolis Bookstore, 35 Maryland Avenue, Annapolis
Pint & Dale will again lead the Annapolis Bookstore Sing-Along, which will be held monthly on the second Friday, from 7-9 p.m. Requested donation $10. 35 Maryland Ave; 410-289-2339.
Saturday, Jan 12
The Pyrates Royale
Annapolis Maritime Museum, 723 Second Street, Annapolis, 7-9 p.m.
For those who aren't already familiar with these goofy picaroons, the Pyrates Royale consists of Capt. Fletcher T. Moone, First Mate Long John Skivee, Navigator Kat Fairbanks, Spaniard Louis the Moor, and Cabin “Boy” Robyn Stubbs. As the Pyrates Royale they play a mix of traditional and modern acoustic maritime music, and they play it well. They began as an improv comedy act in late 1986, when founder Brad Howard (Capt. Fletcher T. Moone), along with three other character actors at the Maryland Renaissance Festival (where they won best Music Act in 2010, 2009, and 2007) decided to raise havoc as a merry crew of pirates. The group soon decided to expand the act to include music of the seafaring, Irish, and rugby variety. The Pyrates Royale have kept audiences in gales of laughter at a variety of venues, including renaissance, maritime, celtic, folk music and pirate festivals--even weddings--ever since.
They will perform at the Annapolis Maritime Museum from 7-9 p.m. Admission is $15/museum members; $20 advance general admission; $25 at the door. For information and tickets, all 410-210-0104 or visit the museum website at www.amaritime.org.
Save the Dates!!! Details to come.
Friday, Jan 25
Lisa Mosciatello at Folkie Friday at 49 West
49 West Coffeehouse, Winebar Gallery, 49 West Street, Annapolis
Hosted by Janie Meneely and Jeff Holland
Saturday, Feb 2
Jenifer Cutting's Bawdy Songs Concert
Annapolis Maritime Museum, 723 Second Street, Annapolis
Sunday, March 10
Castlebay
Annapolis Maritime Museum, 723 Second Street, Annapolis