Episode 18 - Andy Davis

Contra Pulse

The intro and interstitial tracks from today's episode areFancy Horpipe/Quindaro/Scotch Hornpipe and Valse du vieux moulin from the album Any Jig or Reel, Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight from Andy Davis, and two recent virtual recordings - Kroman’s Jig and Bouchard/Edie/JohnMcNeill by Laurie Indenbaum, Andy Davis and Arthur Davis.

See the Contra Pulse website for transcripts and more.

And the Country Dance and Song Society for information about Contra and English country dance across the continent.

See and hear Andy Davis in action:

• Check out New England Dancing Masters!
• Andy’s YouTube Channel has some tunes for you to learn.
• The Square Dance History Project has an hour of footage from a New Year’s Eve dance from 1981, with music from Andy and a few other musicians Julie has spoken with, including Kate Barnes (Episode 9). There’s some footage of the musicians starting around 7:50.
• It’s not a contra dance, but here’s Andy singing and playing accordion with Nowell Sing We Clear in 1990.

Some dances and events mentioned in this interview:

• Along with Peter and Mary Alice Amidon and Mary Cay Brass, Andy is a part of New England Dancing Masters. Mary Cay talks with Julie about some of her experiences with this in Episode 14 of this podcast.
• Here are some videos of square dances at Ralph Sweet’s Powder Mill Barn in Enfield, CT. More information about the barn.
• East Hill Farm still hosts many square dance events
• Pete Sutherland and Mark Sustic’s Young Tradition Vermont.
• Andy mentions Pinewoods Camp in Plymouth, MA as an important part of his contra experiences.

Some people mentioned in this interview:

• Laurie Andres doesn’t have a website, but here’s a video of him playing for a contra dance in 2011.
• The Square Dance History Project has a recording of Basil “Smitty” Smith calling the singing square “MacNamara’s Band” at a barn dance in West Wardsboro, VT.
• Julie interviewed Andy’s son Arthur Davis in Episode 6 of this podcast.
• Here’s a recording of Randy Miller’s piano playing — these are two Irish tunes and not necessarily for a contra, but this will give you an idea of what Andy admires about his playing.

Some musical groups mentioned in this interview:

• David Millstone has a good write-up of Northern Spy’s history on his website, including some photos
• Firecloud is Julie Vallimont, Andy Reiner, and Andrew Hlynsky. Here’s a brief clip of them playing the Amherst, MA dance in 2013.

Some odds and ends mentioned in this interview:

• Here’s a flyer from an East Alstead, NH contra dance that Andy played with Chris Madigan, Lark Madigan, and some Littles.
• Jack Perron and Randy Miller play an Irish reel.
• Like Andy, George Marshall also worked at Farm and Wilderness summer camps in Plymouth, VT. He and Julie talk about some of his experiences there, including the F and W String Band, in Episode 13 of this podcast.