Great Bay Folklife Festival, NH, 1990-1991

Ryan Thomson running the sound board for the dance hall

Bob Nilson's sketch of the folk music artist community in the seacoast area of New Hampshire, in 1990. Includes, clock wise; Ryan Thomson - accordion, Brenda Curry, Rocky Rockwood, Harvey Reid, Taylor Whiteside, Larry Garland, David Behm.

Great Bay Folklife Festival

by Ryan Thomson

For two years in a row, 1990, 1991, I helped produce a local folk festival. It was an ambitious undertaking. I was in charge of the dance portion of the festival, and others worked on the performance end. It was a weekend event, and took place at the Newmarket High school in Newmarket, New Hampshire. I contacted and booked many participatory dance groups including Scottish and English country dancing, contras, squares, cajun, zydeco, swing/jitterbug, clogging, Swedish, Irish, English Morris, and more. All of the musicians and organizers donated their time. I was combination sound man, stage manager, clean up crew, etc. We had a small dedicated group of volunteers to take tickets, give directions, etc. I'd like to sincerely thank everyone who contributed.

1990 festival:

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Poster of the Great Bay Folk Festival, Newmarket, New Hampshire, 1990

1990 Great Bay Folk Festival Poster, art by Bob Nilson

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Great Bay Folk Festival schedule, August, 1990

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The newspaper article below consists of three separate pieces. Click on each one of the three in order to enlarge them

Great Bay Folk Festival article from the New Hampshire Seacoast Sunday, August 12, 1990, image 1 of 3.

photo of dancers at the Great Bay Folk Festival, 1990

Great Bay Folk Festival article from the New Hampshire Seacoast Sunday, August 12, 1990, image 2 of 3.

Festival Dancers

Tom Hall in the middle, Ryan Thomson on top playing accordion and then going to the right, clockwise, is Brenda Curry, Rocky Rockwood, Harvey Reid, Taylor Whiteside, Larry Garland, David Behm. art by Bob Nilson

1991 Festival:

Participating performers, including dance teachers, bands, and workshop leaders at the dance stage in 1991 included, in alphabetical order:

1. Anne Deminov

2. Beth Eldridge

3. Bill Perry

4. Bob McQuillen

5. Cathy Mason

6. Cindy Larock

7. Crawdad Wranglers: Ryan Thomson, Steve Brown, Brian Richardson, Jeff Lind, Paul Mangion,

8. Creaggach: David Levine, Bill Thomas

9. David Bateman

10. Lamprey River Band: Rick McAulay, Steve Panish, Peter Yarensky, Sarah Hydorn, David Cousineau