This workshop focuses on practical ways to find creative inspiration in your daily life and turn it into the expression of song — whether you’re a song-writing virgin or seasoned busker.
We won't necessarily be writing songs in this workshop, but rather we’ll focus on finding the raw materials within what you already know, removing those mental blocks that shut you down, and sharing techniques you can apply at home or wherever you feel most inspired. This workshop will include information on the latest science of the creative process (nerd alert!), and interactive exercises for fostering creative thinking. And of course, sharing of your own techniques and experiences in songwriting will be welcome!

Anmarie (Amie) Trimble: I’m a poet who began writing songs only a few years ago. I find that the creative approaches I use in writing and teaching, as well as my background working in several creative industries, apply directly to my process of making songs. I also teach at Portland State University, where I bring both theoretical and practical creative studies into my interdisciplinary curriculum. My band “little hexes” (with Amy Spreadborough) was inspired in part by my first experience at Slabcreek four years ago, and I developed this workshop to express my gratitude for the collaborative spirit that shapes this gathering.

This workshop will focus on performing songs, any songs, adapted for acoustic format.
If you know your way around a fretboard, keyboard or horn, or if you're a singer and have a song you'd like to jam on, bring your instrument and/or chord chart and we'll try it on for size.
Bring a chart for your favorite disco, gypsy jazz, alt-country, rap, or 80's hairband song and we'll play it until 'the wheels fall off.

Join us for an hour of light-hearted Celtic fun! We'll set off with some tunes many of us already know and then perhaps pop a legger into the wild clover.

To be sure, if you’re wantin’ lead sheets and links, here be a few of our favorites:

Little Beggarman (Listen) (Lead Sheet)
Temperance Reel (Listen) (Lead Sheet)
Si Bheag Si Mohr (Listen) (Lead Sheet)
Soldier’s Joy (Listen) (Lead Sheet)
Star of the County Down (as a waltz) (Listen) (Lead Sheet)
Whiskey Before Breakfast (Listen) (Lead Sheet) (Lyrics)
Strayaway Child (Listen) (Lead Sheet)
Lord Inchiquin (Listen) (Lead Sheet)
I’ll Tell Me Ma (Listen) (Lead Sheet) (Lyrics)

All are welcome, don’cha know, and may your troubles be less, your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come to your door!

This gathering of all festival participants has become a centerpiece of the festival.  Come to the circle ready to share songs, poems, revelations, inspirations and epiphanies.  Enjoy a  blossoming of spiritual energy that will touch your heart and cradle you in the essence of music.  No sign-up required, just show-up and sing.

"One of these mornings, you're going to Rise Up Singing"... join in a sing-along using the great “Rise Up Singing” book with 1,200 songs. An all-request event where everyone knows all the words – a music circle led by Ted Kaye. Singers and instrumentalists of all ages and skill levels welcome. Bring your book if you have one.

Studies have proven that singing makes you happy!

We’ll start with four standards – All Of Me (C), Black Orpheus (Am), Moonglow (G) and Summertime (Am) – and then wing it with your favorites!
We’ll have lead sheets for these, and if you’d like to brush up, you can get them here now:

All of Me (Listen) (Lead Sheet) (Chords) (Backing Track)
Black Orpheus (Listen) (Lead Sheet) (Chords) (Backing Track)
Moonglow (Listen) (Lead Sheet) (Chords) (Backing Track)
Summertime (Listen) (Lead Sheet) (Chords) (Backing Track)

All instruments, vocalists and aficionados welcome.  If you'd like to do something particular, bring some lead sheets and we’ll give it our best shot!

Join us to explore the ukulele together! This 4-stringed instrument is not just for Hawaiian songs. We will share an assortment of seasonal, rock, and English-Hawaiian tunes suitable for the novice. Basic tuning and Hawaiian pronunciations will be included. A few extra ukuleles will be available to use.

Join Nick and his wailing mouth harp for some down and dirty blues, from the steaming swamps of the delta to the gritty streets of Chicago. Come as you are – all instruments, ages and attitudes welcome!

For novice guitarists: Do you ever wonder how the other musicians can change keys at the drop of a pick? Do you want a clear explanation of how to play in one key when the music is written in another? Here is your chance to learn the basics, in a hands-on session combining a little bit of music theory, a dash of capo manipulation, and a lot of common sense.

If you know some chords and are ready to start picking single-note runs, this class will show you how to do it. There are five simple fretboard patterns that virtually all lead guitarists use, they’re easy to learn, and they can make a dramatic difference in your ability to play.

A look at new ways to play songs in major, minor or blues keys, concentrating on ballads, blues, broadsides, and old (sometimes very old) popular tunes. A great way to enlarge your guitar vocabulary while playing familiar favorites.

We will have a Bulletin Board available for you to post your interests, wishes and dreams for Sunday afternoon.

Do you want a ride to the beach?  Are you looking for a musicians to back you up on a song?  Do you want to sing some more?  How about a babysitter?

Sound Checks

If you plan to participate in either the Saturday or Sunday night performances, stop by the auditorium and sign up for a fifteen-minute sound check so you and the sound folks know what you’ll need onstage.
Try out the microphones and see just how good you sound with our concert sound system!

A memorable night of inspired musical performances ending with our own in-house dance band!

The Sunday night performances continue where we left off on Saturday, followed by our traditional Fire Circle until the wee hours of the morning!