"Brother, sister, here we art," and, as some of us have for the past 56 years, we perform 187 fun songs, tunes and dances from the folk tradition.SWe have a good ol' time, you will, too.
See them all on our special question menu.
| .Sugar on the Floor |
5-string banjo, guitar, mandolin, accordion, harmonica, autoharp, fiddle
Have fun, sing along, and learn fun skills, too
......Darlene
Wahl, Harry Kuhein, Lee McEnery, Ken Arzarian, Mike
Cohen
......U.
S.National Park Service volunteers and staff, Snn Juan
Island National Historical Park
Appearances by appointment (360-378-6313) (360-378-4852)
and in programs for: (always call for appearance confirmations 360-378-6313)
FRONT STREET CAFE, Friday Harbor, opposite the ferry landing.
6:00-9:00 PM (360-378-2245)
JULY Every Friday Night 6:30-9:00 except July 26
JULY-AUGUST 2001
National Park Service programs (360-378-2902)
An Evening with George Pickett stage show (360-378-2902)
"Sugar on the Floor"
The name of our group is the title of an rollicking old time song about making rough floors more danceable by throwing sugar on them so folks could slide around easily. The song combines snatches of two old dance tunes "The Eighth of January" and "Pigtown Fling."
The historical truths, lies, heros and hard cases in the songs we sing, come from folks dealing with the effects of hard times.
Humorous or sad, as the songs entertain us and your, they also remind us of our folk heritage. They remind us that people are part of nature and that as contemporary society has taught us to exploit nature, we have learned to exploit each other. Listeners discover that too often we accept this as normal.
The songs involve us in how the oppressed and disenfranchised have used the spirit of music and song to celebrate that they are prevailing through their hard times. Often the songs have become an important part of prevailing.
Some members of Sugar on the Floor have been singing. playing and peforming old time music since1946, as have other members of their family.
See our songs for you on our special
question menu.
Pick some questions you want us to answer with songs when you
visit us at our next appearance.
A sampling of the songs and their descriptions (from our concert at the Community Theater):
THE WILD ROVER: A lad leaves home but discovers that folks only welcome him when he has money. Disillusioned, this prodigal son returns to his parents
THE DIAMOND The crew of a whaling vessel salute themselves and their ship. A year later, they and their companion fleet (The Resolution, Elisa Swan, and Battle of Montrose) perished when the Arctic sea froze them in for the winter.
STORMALONG JOHN and DEEP BLUE SEA. Two of many songs that share the same verses about a funeral that takes place in vastly different settings. Join us in the chorus to help remember these otherwise unsung folk..
HAND ME DOWN MY WALKING CANE Jailed for unruly drunkenness, a prisoner celebrates his forthcoming release by singing a dance tune about prison hardships and his imminent ride to freedom on the midnight train.
FLY AWAY A rejoicing of death, the flight to heaven, the escape from this life's prison walls.
COTTON FIELDS How it might sound if they ever grow cotton in Kentucky and sang about it in the bluegrass.
LA BASTRANGE: The French translates into a woman saying, "You're wrong sir, I'm not too tired to continue dancing." He responds "OK, truth to tell, I can't go on because my corns hurt."
Also see our Menu of Folk Song Antiques
.
Appearances by appointment (360-378-6313) (360-378-4852)
and in programs for: (always call for appearance confirmations 360-378-6313)
| Sugar
on the Floor P.O. Box 1605 Friday Harbor, WA 98250 360-378-6313 ...360-378-4852 email#1 .. email#2 |
Wolf Hollow Open House
April 6, Saturday 11-2:00 PM 378-5000
FRONT STREET CAFE, Friday Harbor
April 6, Saturday Evening
6:00-9:00 PM
and
April 20, Saturday Evening 6:00-9:00
PM
Friday Harbor Grange Contra Dances
2nd & 4th Saturday every
month 8:00PM
Senior Citizens Birthday Lunch
Last Thursday of every
month
Farmers Market
(Every
Saturday 10AM-1PM June-September
Courthouse Parking Lot, Friday Harbor)
Updates: Call 378-6313
March 28, 2002 11:45 AM Mullis Center Senior Birthday Dinner
Front Street Café, Friday Harbor 6:30-9:30 PM every Friday Evening November 23-Dec 28, 2001 Pick out questions from our question menu. and ask us to sing the songs that answer them
DECEMBER 15, 2001 English Camp National Park Service Old Time Christmas Party in Costume at English Camp Call 378-2902 or 378-2240 for information
SUMMER 2002 July 26 and August 23 An Evening With George Pickett, Community Theater, Friday Harbor
JULY 2001
National Park Service programs (360-378-2902)
An Evening with George Pickett stage show (360-378-2902)
Library Program June 27, 2001
Community Theater July 7, 2001
Saturday July 21 Arts Council Street Fair. Court Street 12:00-1:00 PM
July 27 An Evening with George Pickett stage show (360-378-2902)
AUGUST
Aug 17 and 18th evenings San Juan County Fair
August 19 aboard the Adventurer Schooner mid day
August 24 An Evening with George Pickett stage show (360-378-2902)
Elderhostel
NOVEMBER
Front Street Café, Friday Harbor 6:30-9:00 PM Friday Evening November 3, 2001 (360-378-2901)