The SFFMC may need to move from 885 Clayton Street soon, and we need suggestions for alternative places to hold the Musical Meetings. Meanwhile, there are some changes, especially in Musical Meeting times and rooms available.
Please read the articles: Friday Musical Meetings Update and Dear Friends of the S.F. Folk Music Club for details.
The SFFMC campout will once again be in the redwoods at the Boulder Creek Scout Reservation—the same place as last year’s July 4th and Labor Day campouts. It’s about a mile from Boulder Creek, off Bear Creek Road. The address: 250 Scout Ranch Road. See the attached flyer for a map.
Dates: The camp will be for three nights—Friday night, August 30; Saturday night, August 31; and Sunday night, September 1. Leave Monday, September 2 at 11:00 a.m. New checkout time.
New Rates: Adults: $17/night per person, kids under 16: $8/night per person, up to two kids in a family. Additional kids in the same family: free. Day use: $10/person.
Registration: Again, no advance registration. Register at camp only. It’s first-come, first-serve for campsites and tent cabins. The 17 tent cabins can usually accommodate everyone who wants them.
Jams and workshops: Informal jams in the daytime and around the campfires at night, two nights of open mics, and varied workshops. We’re planning workshops on sea songs, two and three-chord songs, Utah Phillips, and many more. Some suggestions: songs of the Carter family, Malvina Reynolds, Bill Staines, and instrument instruction.
Anyone can lead a workshop. If you’d like to lead one, or have suggestions for a topic, e-mail Phyllis at
Open mics: The second and third nights of camp, about 8:00 P.M. at the main outdoor amphitheater. A sign-up list will be at the registration table.
Swimming: Bring your swimsuit! The Labor Day weekend is usually great weather for swimming. We plan to have the required lifeguard and open the pool on the second and third days.
Potluck: Community potluck Saturday night, 6:30 p.m. at the outside dining area near the kitchen. We can use the camp’s kitchen, with refrigerator and freezer, stove, oven and microwave to store and heat potluck food. Also available: plates, silverware, pans, and serving utensils. All dishes, pots and pans, and other utensils that you use need to be washed afterwards. Label any leftovers you want saved.
IMPORTANT: The kitchen must be kept cleaned up if we want to continue using it; this is a do-it-yourself chore for anyone who uses the kitchen. If you use the kitchen, plan to clean up.
Hiking: Several hiking trails begin at the camp: a self-guided historical trail about 3.5 miles long, and a nature trail about 2.5 miles long, among others.
SFFMC T-Shirts: will be for sale at the registration table at $15.00 each. Newest color—burgundy—plus blue or maroon, in various sizes.
The camp capacity is several hundred, so there is plenty of room. Many campsites have fire pits, and there is usually firewood available. Near the kitchen is an outdoor dining area and deck, picnic tables and umbrellas (and a machine with free ice).
Also nearby are the swimming pool, eight tent-cabins with cots, and a bathroom with showers and flush toilets. At the bottom of the hill by the parking lot is Cubland, a large flat site for tents; bathrooms with flush toilets and running water are nearby. RVs are welcome; they park in the parking lot.
For tent campers: we cannot drive directly into campsites; we have to park vehicles in the parking lot or alongside the paved road temporarily and use carts provided by the camp to take our gear a short distance to the campsites.
The camp has neighbors directly across Bear Creek, so any music near the creek after 10:00 p.m.—the usual curfew for noise—needs to be quiet. If you plan to sing late, please locate your circle as far from Bear Creek as possible, also at a distance from the ranger’s house.
Everyone over 12 years old (except day-use attendees) does an hour of camp duty: registration and parking, cleanup after the potluck, or camp cleanup or traffic control on the last day. Please sign up for a chore at the registration table as soon as possible after arriving. And please show up for your chore. If you can’t, leave a note at the registration table so we can cover the time.
If you arrive early (before 2:00 p.m. Friday, August 30), you can help post signs, register campers or direct parking. Contact Phyllis Jardine at if you can come early and help out. Or just volunteer when you arrive.
We want to publicize this campout widely again this year to increase attendance so we can afford to keep coming to this location—one of our favorites. Spread the word to all your friends who are interested in folk music! It is not necessary to be a member to attend, although we encourage new members.
Membership forms will be available at the registration table at camp for new members and renewals, also on line at sffmc.org. Notice the new rates for dues.
We distribute publicity to several folk clubs, music stores, libraries and other organizations. If you can distribute flyers or color post cards about the campout, please contact Phyllis Jardine at
We have been compiling a list, which will be separate, but included in a mailing of the folknik. If you have any additions or corrections to your contact information, please send them to: Thad Binkley at by September 30, 2013.
DUES: If your membership isn’t current, you can pay your dues at the Labor Day campout. Save postage for yourself and save the SFFMC the expense of a reminder card.
If you are not sure if your membership is current, we can look you up at camp.
The fold-in is at noon, Sunday, August 25, at the home of Hali Hammer, We’re always looking for more hands to help at fold-ins. It’s a great jam with a bit of folding and tabbing on the side. We help with the folknik, enjoy a meal afterwards, and make music. Bring a potluck dish and instruments.
Join us at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park on Saturday, September 14, 2013, for a day and evening of traditional and contemporary music of the sea, during America’s Cup. Music will be presented on two outdoor stages on the Hyde Street Pier, aboard the 1890 ferryboat Eureka, and the 1886 sailing ship Balclutha.
Time: 9:30 a.m.—5:00 p.m. Shipboard demos begin at 10:30 a.m. Music on the stages and aboard the vessels begins at 11:00 a.m.
Admission: Hyde Street Pier stages, free. Vessel admission: $5 adults, ages 15 and under (accompanied by an adult) free. Free with national park passes. No advance ticket sales; purchase vessel admission tickets from the booth halfway along the pier.
Performers include Gordon Bok, Liz Carroll, Jeff Warner, Shay Black, William Pint and Felicia Dale, Holdstock and MacLeod, Amelia Hogan, Rahiti Polynesian Dance Company, Dogwatch Nautical Band, Salty Walt and the Rattlin’ Ratlines, Celia Ramsay, the Chinese Instrumental Ensemble, Autumn Rhodes, Riggy Rackin, Peter Kasin and Richard Adrianowicz, Aaron Clegg, Megan Messinger, Nathalie Reginster, The Hot Frittatas Duo, Fiddle Rising, Nicola Swinburne, Melani Van Petten and Sarah Brody.
The park’s costumed Living History Players will be on hand to demonstrate life in San Francisco in the year 1901. Join the evening chantey sing at 7:30—9:30 p.m. on the pier. Reservations for the evening chantey sing are required: 415-561-7171.Web page: www.nps.gov/safr/planyourvisit/seamusicfestival2013.htm
Information: 415-447-5000 (Visitor Center)