Atlanta Folk Orchestra

This Folk Orchestra is for the folks and is made up of volunteer musicians. That means anyone is welcome to join us to play traditional tunes. Any age or skill level! We encourage folks to attend practices and review the tune lists. We call it an orchestra because there is a band leader who is leading the tunes, mentoring players, and coordinating gigs and practices.  Most events we play are contra dances and waltz events in the Atlanta area and are interested in traveling to play! 

We are a new group, formed in the summer of 2023. Contact us if you have any questions! We look forward to playing with you!

Our “higher purpose”  is to get out into Atlanta and surrounding areas and showcase traditional music to folks who don’t know what they are missing. To inspire folks to take up an instrument and see traditional music and dance as something that might be a fun alternative to worn-out modern-day leisure activities like TV, shopping, doom scrolling, etc. Community and connection is our goal. 

 - Yes, yes, and yes. The band is at it's best with a wide range of levels, backgrounds, and instruments. All levels are welcome.

-  This group is a place for you if you are looking to have a good time, learn some cool tunes, grow as a musician, learn how to successfully play a “gig”, and make some friends.  

- Bring your friends and family to hear you play  at the gigs!

- Check out the tune list and videos above. Email us with any questions!

- This is an all-inclusive group made up of anyone who has an instrument and wants to play traditional tunes with others 

- Our band mostly plays for contra dances and waltz events.

- A tradition in contra dancing is dancing to a live band. And even more traditional is that the band is made up of community members who play for the joy of it. It’s an “open” band concept which means anyone can play, anytime. This was central in creating a community of not just music, but a community of people who are looking for fulfilling ways to spend their free time. 

- Folk music and folk dance are inherently for “the people”. This means traditional folk tunes and folk dances, like contra dance, are meant for the average person. Its meant to be approachable to anyone. Back in the day they didn’t have time to take dance or music lessons. So the music and the dances all had to be easy to pick up. Traditional tunes have a basic structure that once you get started, you figure it out. 

- This group of musicians will be led by an orchestra navigator during the dance. We call it an orchestra, not a band, because there is a conductor there to help pick the tunes for the dances, calibrate the tempo, and bring in dynamics that really elevate the dance. If you know anything about contra dance, you know the dancers have a caller that guides them through a dance. Here the orchestra has a director to guide them through the tune. It’s so fun!

- The orchestra navigator helps you learn the dynamics of playing live music for a dance. There is a unique relationship the musicians have with the dancers that makes playing for a community dance band a magical and fulfilling experience.

Contra Dancing is a whole lot great fun, exercise, and community connection. It is a casual, social American folk dance. A contra dance is casual in nature and focused on community. It is inherently inclusive of anyone who wants to dance, “if you can walk, you can contra dance” is the general motto. There is no fancy foot work! Being multi-generational, people of all ages dance in lines to live Southern Appalachian, Celtic, Old Time, and all sorts of other music played by live bands who play dynamically with dancers. The origins of contra dancing come from 17th century English, Scottish, and French dance styles. About 200 years ago it evolved in Appalachia with African influences into the dance it is today. 

In the North East, community bands are the norm. For some great examples of other group that we would like to grow to become: 

• Portland Maine, InTown Contra Dance: Really great info with videos to show the “orchestra director” guiding the group! http://portlandintowncontradance.com/open-band
• Belfast, Maine Contra Dance “All Comers Band": https://belfastflyingshoes.org/all-comers-band/
• This link is old, but it has a great collection of over 80 open community bands that played for contra dancing (before COVID). http://www.contradancelinks.com/openband.html

This is truly a community effort. The folk orchestra is lead by Fiddlers Edward Howe and Max Godfrey with the organizational help of many people such as Harvey Young, Anne Lawing, Ralph Reiley, Bill Porter, Tami Howe, and many others who help make this work. Funds from gigs are split between the band leader of the event and a general "Folk Orchestra Fund" to provide food and beverages at practices.

We want to share our gratitude for our late friend Wilder Smith. He was the impetus that got this group together - he created a community that gave us a reason to play together. For that we will always be grateful.  

The Atlanta Folk Orchestra emerged from the Atlanta Open Band (AOB) and some other local music groups. The AOB group was led by Bob Kirkman for many years. Bob served as a tenacious leader educating and leading the band. There have even been 2-3 occasions where the Atlanta and Asheville Open Band, lead by the late Laura Light, played together - making a sort of  A^2 open band.  Bob set up a solid group that continues to play and be grateful for his time and energy.