The 2009 EASTERN MASS RHYTHM FESTIVAL
Saturday, August 22nd, 2009 from 10 am to 6 pm
River Bend Farm State Park, 287 Oak Street, Uxbridge, MA
FREE and open to the public (donations welcomed)
~ RAIN OR SHINE ~
NEW! The EMRF now has a presence on Facebook! Just log on to FB and do a search for "Eastern Massachusetts Rhythm Festival". We invite you to become a Facebook EMRF fan and to invite others who you think would be interested in this event. Help spread the word!
The Eastern Mass Rhythm Festival is an all-day, outdoor celebration of hand drums, percussion and dance. The core of the festival is both the ongoing free-style drumming and dancing in the main circle and your choice of free workshops in the mini-circles. The festival is a family-oriented event, so all ages and skill levels are welcome to attend. There's no need to pre-register; just show up when you can and stay as long as you like!
Schedule of events:
10:00 to 12:15
~ Free-style drumming in the main circle
12:30 to 1:30 - 1st workshop session
~ Drum Circle Survival Tips (Dave Curry)
~ Beginner-level Belly Dance (Cristina Soares)
~ Zone Chanting (Julie Woods)
1:45 to 2:45 - 2nd workshop session
~ Pow Wow Drumming and Chanting (Susan West)
~ Middle Eastern Drumming (Greg Fisher)
3:00 to 4:00 - 3rd workshop session
~ African Drumming (Mike Morse)
~ Gong Bath Sound Healing (Deb Stevens & A Michelle)
~ Intermediate Level Belly Dance (Erzulie)
4:00 to 6:00
~ Grand finale drumming & dancing in the main circle
6:00 to 7:00 Cleanup Time
~ Everyone please pitch in to leave the park the way we found it!
The main circle will feature free-style drumming and dancing for the entire day, except during the 3rd workshop session when the African Drumming workshop will be held in the main circle.
In the event of rain, the festival will still go on, but the schedule will need to be adjusted in order to fit all the workshops under the available tent space.
Here's What Is Provided:
~ Plenty of free parking
~ Restrooms in the visitor's center
~ Bottled water
~ Some sun shelters and folding chairs (not enough for everyone)
~ Some common-use drums
Here's What You Can Bring:
~ Any kind of drum or percussion instruments
~ Picnic lunch and snacks
~ Extra drinking water
~ Sun screen and bug dope
~ Chairs and/or blankets
~ "Easy-Up" sun shelters (must be free standing)
Some State Park Rules & Regs:
~ No alcoholic beverages
~ Fires are only allowed in grills provided in the picnic area
~ Vendors cannot sell items or services directly to the public
Although we can't have vendors making direct sales during the festival, you are welcome to promote your services or products on the festival's public bulletin board near the Welcoming Station. Anyone can use the bulletin board to post their event fliers, business cards, advertisements or announcements.
The Rhythm Festival is sponsored by the Eastern Mass Drum Council, an all-volunteer, non-profit organization of drum circle facilitators who promote the culture of hand drumming and percussion through fun, informative public events.
The Drum Council members include:
~ Rick Cormier (Yarmouth ME drum circle facilitator)
~ Dave Curry (Milford MA drum circle facilitator)
~ Ed Rooney (Fairhaven MA drum circle facilitator)
~ Susan West (Grafton MA drum circle facilitator)
The Drum Council gives special thanks this year's guest workshop leaders:
Mike Morse, Greg Fisher, Julie Woods, Cristina Soares, Erzulie, Deb Stevens and A.Michelle
