A Free MATTER AND GHOST Performance by Neil Woodward & Sheila Graziano

Saturday , February 25, 2006
12:00 pm
Location: Elderly Instruments
in-store performance (free)

Matter and Ghost is a traditional musical collaboration by multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter Neil Woodward and stepdancer Sheila Graziano. The matter of this duo is a show that highlights a variety of styles of traditional music, songs and dance that represent our American culture and the roots from which it has flourished. Both historical and original material is offered up in the course of a presentation, with stories and anecdotes adding perspective to individual pieces. Our ancestors built the foundation for the traditions, and their ghosts hover about us, constantly encouraging the perpetuation and evolution of these folk arts which are the heart and soul of our civilization.

Traditional dancer/instructor SHEILA GRAZIANO and traditional musician/instructor NEIL WOODWARD--both popular figures on the Michigan old-time scene--are offering a rather unique show at Elderly. Initially they had exhibited interest in presenting separate but simultaneous (and related) workshops, Sheila in Beginning Clogging and Neil in Stringband Ensemble Playing.

Then they decided that as long as they would be teaching their respective two-hour Beginning Clogging and Stringband Ensemble Playing Workshops--and bringing the two workshops together for the final 30 minutes--they would also like to perform as Matter and Ghost for Elderly patrons before the Saturday afternoon workshops. Thus we'll all get to see a free show that highlights a variety of styles of traditional music, songs and dance, at noon that day.

This concert will be fun for everyone--and of special interest to folks who might like to learn how to clog or those who do play stringed instruments but lack stringband ensemble experience--in short, it'll interest anyone who has given thought to joining one or other of the workshops but just isn't sure.

In truth, Neil and Sheila both have exceptional teaching background, and both are long-successful instructors in their related fields--music and dance. They love what they do, and this includes not only sharing their talents through teaching but ALSO sharing their enjoyment of traditional American music and dance through performance.

Not since Ira Bernstein and Riley Baugus gave us a free in-store old-time music & dance show 18 months ago have we had a good reason to dig out the old wood "dance floor." Matter and Ghost's show will be fun to see and hear (and the dancing or group-playing might be fun to try, also). So be sure to stop in Saturday noon on February 25--we can pretty much guarantee that you'll appreciate the performance put on by this popular duo.

For more information on Neil's "Stringband Ensemble Workshop" and Sheila's "Beginning Clogdancing Workshop," see the two workshop events that follow this entry in our Special Events Calendar.

Check out recordings we carry featuring Neil Woodward