Carl Friedman - Fiddle, Irish Flute

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:59:29 -0400

I'm Carl Friedman. I've been fiddling for about 30 years; then I fell in love with the Irish flute about eight years ago.

I'm the fiddler for Mortal Wombat, which also includes regular Open Bander Robin Wilson, and occasional OB'ers Michael Friedman and Ralph Barthine. I get to play both fiddle and Irish flute in Rocket Surgery, with OB'ers Andrew Marcus and Ralph Barthine.

I also fiddle for Charm City Rapper, a rapper-sword and step-dance team from Baltimore. I have been on the Board of the Baltimore Folk Music Society for about 20 years, currently serving as American Dance Chair

UPCOMING MORTAL WOMBAT PERFORMANCES
Sunday, March 28, 2010 Glen Echo SND
Wed, March 31, 2010 Lovely Lane (Baltimore)
Friday, April 2, 2010 Glen Echo FND
Saturday, April 3, 2010 Shepherdstown, W.Va., contra dance

Kathy Kerr - Fiddle

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 16:19:06 -0400

I played classical violin as a child but changed my tune after I got turned on to folk music and contra dancing in the 1970s. When I moved to DC in 1981, I started going to Open Band. I've enjoyed many years of playing with the many friends I've made there.

I met Keith Gillis and Colleen Reed through Open Band. In 2003, we created our band, "Gypsy Meltdown." We play for dances and coffeehouses and in 2006 we released a CD.

Jim Besser - Concertina

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 14:05:39 -0400

I'm the guy honking away on various Anglo concertinas. I've been squeezing with the Open band for...I don't know, 10 years?
Who's counting?

I've played in contra dance bands, I'm in a
traditional French dance band, a band that does civil war reenactment dances and a mostly-waltz band and I'm a musician for the Foggy Bottom Morris Men, which is why I wear knee britches once a year when we
perform at the Glen Echo dance break. You didn't think that was my
advanced fashion sense, did you?

I play for a bunch of other Morris dance groups, as well, including
the ladies of the Arlington Northwest Morris team, many of whom are
Friday night dancers. You can see their antics on my Web site.