Welcome to the website of the Olympia Folklore Society. Established in 1968, the height of the Great Folk Scare, the Olympia Folklore Society served as umbrella organization for the founding of numerous folk music events in the Olympia area, such as Hootenannies to benefit worthy causes, the Tumwater Bluegrass Festival, the Irish Cottage Fair, two coffeehouse concert series: Applejam and the Oldtime Medicine Show, and sponsors educational workshops and jam sessions such as: the Cooper Point Pub Hooley, the Medium Rare Seisiun, the Columbia St Seisiun New Years in Dublin Hooley, the Hootenanny Revival at Tradition’s, and the Humpday Hoot in the summer. Videos of many of these events can be found on YouTube: enter “burtdabard” for a list. OFS promotes the preservation of traditional music and folk arts and stands ready to assist in these areas with a pool of knowledgeable advisors, volunteers, and, sometimes, funding. Call Burt Meyer for info: 866-4296
Olympia Folk Events Calendar
Jul 9 – BUDD BAY SHANTY SING moved a week, due to the 4th holiday
Open to all who love songs of the sea. Come join in, lead a shanty, or just listen! We will happily be aat our summer quarters, on the dock at Boston Harbor. 7-9 on Sunday evening. Info 866-4296
July 9 – MEDIUM RARE SESSION
For those pickers who can handle the tunes at a slow to moderate pace. And an opportunity for more accomplished players to learn Irish and oldtime American tunes on the fly. From 1-4 on 2 Sunday afternoons each month at Mary’s. Call 866-4296 for info.
July 20 – COOPER POINT HOOLEY
A 3rd Thursday Irish event patterned after the New Years in Dublin Hooley, without a host band, but with some members of the Columbia St Seisiun and the Medium Rare Session. It’s at the Cooper Point Public House, 3002 Harrison Ave on Olympia’s westside from 7 to 9. Expect a mix of tunes and songs-singalongs, of course. No cover.
July 16 – Bluegrass Jam @ Tradition’s Jordan Bell hosts a lively bluegrass session at Tradition’s Cafe from 2 – 4:30 on the 3rd Sunday of the month. She has song & tune lists, chord charts, and lyrics available. Leave your flugelhorn at home, but bring your banjo!
July 23 – A HOOTENANNY REVIVAL
Old Folkies from the Oly area perform songs from the folk revival as they remember them, while they still remember them. Sunday afternoon from 2-4 at Traditions Cafe near Capitol Lake. Holly Graham is the hostess. Info – 866-4296
Olympia Folklore Society 