Pittsburgh’s Calliope Folk Music Scene
Contents
The Pittsburgh Calliope Folk Music Scene is a vibrant and ever-growing community of musicians and music-lovers.
Pittsburgh’s Calliope Folk Music Scene
Pittsburgh has a thriving folk music scene, and Calliope is at the heart of it. This quaint little music store has been a fixture in the Pittsburgh music community for over 30 years, and it’s the perfect place to find all your favorite folk tunes. From bluegrass to Celtic to Appalachian music, Calliope has it all.
The Calliope Folk Music Society
The Calliope Folk Music Society, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a not-for-profit organization that has been promoting traditional acoustic music since 1971. They are dedicated to preserving and promoting the music of the folk revival of the 1950s and 1960s. The Society sponsors monthly concerts featuring local, national, and international touring artists, a weekly contra dance series, an annual summer music festival (The Pittsburgh Folk Festival), and various other events throughout the year. The Calliope Folk Music Society is a member-supported organization that relies on the generosity of its members and volunteers to maintain its programs and operations.
The Pittsburgh Folk Music Society
The Pittsburgh Folk Music Society is a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to the presentation and preservation of traditional music and dance from around the world. They have been bringing folk music and dance to Pittsburgh for over 50 years, making them one of the oldest folk music organizations in the country.
The Society offers a variety of programs and events throughout the year, including concerts, dances, jam sessions, workshops, sing-alongs, and more. They also have an extensive library of folk music recordings that members can borrow, and they publish a monthly newsletter with information on upcoming events and news from the folk music world.
The Early Days of Calliope
In the early days of the folk music scene in Pittsburgh, a group of musicians got together to form a band called Calliope. The band was made up of a variety of musicians, all with different backgrounds and experience.
The First Calliope
The first calliope was built by Joshua C. Stoddard in 1856 and was used to entertain audiences during the day at circuses, carnivals and other events. The instrument was housed in a large, wheeled case that was pulled by a horse or other animal. The keys were attached to a steam whistle, which produced the music when the keys were depressed.
Calliopes were not always used for musical purposes. In the early days of the Wild West, some calliopes were outfitted with firearms and used to scare away attacking Native Americans. Later, during World War I, calliopes were used to entertain troops and boost morale.
Today, calliopes are mostly found at carnivals and fairs, playing cheerful tunes to lure passersby into games or rides. Some calliopes are even played on boats, adding an element of fun and excitement to river cruises and other water-based events.
The Second Calliope
In Pittsburgh, the second Calliope was located on the South Side and was open from about 1975 to 1978. It was started by a woman named Mary who had been involved with the first Calliope. The second Calliope was smaller, but it quickly became known as a place where one could find excellent folk music. The performers who played there were some of the best in the country and included musicians such as Bob Dylan, John Prine, and Emmylou Harris.
The Modern Calliope Folk Scene
The calliope folk scene in Pittsburgh has been growing steadily for the past few years. What started as a few friends getting together to play music has grown into a thriving community of musicians and music lovers. The calliope folk scene is a great place to find new music, make new friends, and enjoy some of the best live music in the city.
The Calliope Folk Music Society
The Calliope Folk Music Society began in 1971 as a weekly hootenanny at Negley Elementary School in Pittsburgh’s East End. The jams soon outgrew the school cafeteria and moved to Calliope House, a former church on the North Side. The house became a focal point for the city’s folk music scene, hosting local and touring artists seven nights a week.
In the early 1980s, the Society launched a monthly magazine, The Folk Rag, which helped to promote the growing folk scene in Pittsburgh. The magazine featured interviews with local and national folk musicians, as well as reviews of concerts and folk clubs. The Rag ran for eight years and was an important catalyst for the city’s folk music renaissance.
Today, the Calliope Folk Music Society is still going strong, hosting weekly jams, monthly concerts, and an annual festival. The Society is dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich tradition of American folk music.
The Pittsburgh Folk Music Society
Since its inception in 1961, the Pittsburgh Folk Music Society has been dedicated to preserving and promoting traditional music and dance. They offer a variety of events each month, including concerts, dances, workshops, and jams. The society also publishes a quarterly newsletter, The Folk Herald, which features articles on folk music and dance.
